Arch Daily |
- House 1105 / H Arquitectes
- MMB – Umbau Müllerhaus Berlin / asdfg Architekten
- Properly Breathing House / H&P Architects
- Tianjin Ji County Geological Museum / TianJin University Research Institute
- Juno Academy / Ai Architects
- St. Thomas More Catholic Church / Renzo Zecchetto Architects
- Jean Nouvel Tapped to Contribute Planning Concepts for Massachusetts Town
- Wave Housing / AHAKNAP + SAAHA
- Boeing Develops World's Lightest Metal
- COP22 Village / OUALALOU+CHOI
- BIG Joins Kuma, Perrault and EMBT in Designing Stations for the Grand Paris Express Metro
- The Stealth Building / WORKac
- 10 Models Which Show the Power of Point Cloud Scans, As Selected by Sketchfab
- House Savukvartsi / Honkarakenne
- Studio Seilern Architects Unveils Plans for Skyscraper in Manhattan's Art Quarter
- Rehabilitation of Netherlands Complex Wins World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize 2016
- Leman Locke / Grzywinsi + Pons
Posted: 09 Nov 2016 07:00 PM PST
... A really small facing South plot, the result of Judith's parent's house segregation… This brief site description contains the main conditions to explain the project strategy: The size explains the height and number of floors (3) and the minimum occupation possible (40 m2). Parents are the reason to concentrate the free space converting the garden into access and lobby of the house. The orientation explains how the south facade is the main source of light and views; it does so without any limit, using a set of large recycled windows. The overtures are complemented by a polycarbonate greenhouse gallery that performs as heat collector and sun protector. Only the north facade contains other windows to allow good cross ventilation. The stairs, single-section, transversal and reversible, acts as vertical circulation and distributor of the six resulting spaces, only the bathroom and laundry are specific to it's function, the rest five assume in ambiguous way the domestic program awarded at the end by customers. The spaces are highly characterized in terms of geometry, material, and comfort but little in terms of function. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
MMB – Umbau Müllerhaus Berlin / asdfg Architekten Posted: 09 Nov 2016 06:00 PM PST
A good friend of mine bought an old house some years ago and asked us to develop a concept for its refurbishment. It became the first project of our Hamburg-based architectural studio, asdfg Architekten: the conversion of an old miller's house into a home for a family with three kids. Due to its history and location, we considered the project a big challenge, but we also saw significant potential for it to become a very unique single family house with a small garden in the center of one of the most popular neighbourhoods in Berlin. Because of its status as the oldest building of Prenzlauer Berg (built in 1844), the authorities asked us to reconstruct the facade of the heritage-protected building precisely as depicted on a historical drawing from 1844. We wanted to show the history of the old building, but we didn't want to pretend that the facade would be 170 years old. In an architectural drawing, a line can be interpreted in many different ways: e.g. as a gap in the wall, a section line or a difference in height. The concept we developed was to argue that the lines in the historical drawing could be read as differences in the height of the plaster-rendered facade using ancient techniques and materials. It took us quite some time and many visualisations and physical models to convince the authorities of our approach. As a result of its prior use as a police station and a workshop, followed by many years of vacancy, the house was in a very dilapidated condition, and the interior was divided into many very small rooms. In order to create a generous space, we only kept the outer walls and one massive wall in the middle. The staircase, kitchen, as well as the sleeping galleries for the children are 'plugged' into this wall. The main inner-staircase is divided in two parts. The first five steps lead through the big wall on a small platform, where it is possible to experience the full height of the main room. The second part hangs from an open gallery which spans from one wall to the other, creating the parents' working and sleeping spaces, which are separated by a huge sliding door. For the staircase and the kitchen interior, we reused the wood of the old beams of the former ceilings. The old brick walls were left uncovered and are visible from the inside. The design process was carried out in close consultation with the client, which resulted in many highly personalized and individually created elements. Not only the cabinets, but almost everything, from the shutters to the washbasins and even the bathtub, was custom made for this project. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
Properly Breathing House / H&P Architects Posted: 09 Nov 2016 02:00 PM PST
A "suffocating" situation Just 15 kilometers far from the center of Hanoi, the suburban district Dong Anh has witnessed pervasive urbanization - one of the major causes for a trend towards a maximum use of volume and quantity of construction areas. Lesser importance has been attached to the quality of used space and surrounding scenery. This has resulted in a large number of "suffocating" buildings as often found in newly planned, stuffy urban areas characterized with land plot subdivision for building row houses in Vietnam. A "properly breathing" solution Featured in both living and working space, a "properly breathing" house serves as a solution to the quality improvement of used space by creating a natural sense of breathing rhythm in monsoon tropical conditions, which is attributed to the two built-in functions: The Inside and outside. The inside offers many voids while the outside has double-skin facade including the inner layer as all-glass panels; the between as corridor for movement; the outer layer as recycled ceramic bricks (40cmx40cm). Pot plants are also randomly arranged to absorb the humidity and mitigate calorific radiation. Together with the inner duplex, the layer of ceramic bricks is to purify dust and smoke, suck in fresh air and take heat away through open panels alternated with pot plants on the facade. This filter helps revitalize the architectural space by balancing the breathing of human and nature, and promoting the connection and interaction between the inner and outer scenery, roofs with creepers above and pot plants and vegetables below, sunlight and shade,… As a breathing space is only considered an existence; therefore, a properly breathing space is required so that it can breathe properly towards a healthy life in both natural and socio-cultural habitat particular to each region. In this sense, the properly breathing house is expected to contribute to highlighting the local architecture in a current global context. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
Tianjin Ji County Geological Museum / TianJin University Research Institute Posted: 09 Nov 2016 12:00 PM PST
From the architect. The Ji County Geological Museum has taken "the exhibition of the history of tier and fold of rocks" as its theme, using stones of rare shapes which have evolved over billions of years to construct the outline and space of the museum. The museum imitates the special forms of geological structure, forming a spiral plane layout. The irregular curving eaves and the newly built wall made of the stones from the discarded mountain houses look just like laminating stratum formed after billions of years' sedimentation. The architecture looks so natural as if it is grown from the underground layer after layer, showcasing the unique charm which can only be seen after great changes. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
Posted: 09 Nov 2016 11:00 AM PST
From the architect. Learning and training center for hair and beauty students located in the most prestigious area of Gangnam. The 8-story building includes training rooms, auditorium for large seminars and cultural events, and a rooftop penthouse lounge space. The main training salon is a double height space on the 5th floor that is the showcase for Juno Academy. The highlight of a multi-level academy for hair and beauty, this space can transform into a venue for presentations, seminars and shows. Free-standing designer stations are easily movable allowing flexible layouts. The raw-industrial materials of pre-cast cement blocks and brushed-finish bronze ceiling panels extend outward to the underside of a double-height cantilevered terrace. Images of the moon are projected on this ceiling at night contributing public art to one of the most exclusive retail districts in Gangnam. Exposed concrete block columns are spaced according to the designer station module emphasizing the verticality of the space and bringing texture and scale to this large volume. The upper level offers views of the training activity below for visitors. The building sits on a narrow site with the main stair and elevator hall taking up over a third of the floor area. In order to maximize the public space, these fire separate halls are opened to the main function spaces so that there is constant interaction between them. The halls are used as an informal lounge space with the walls showing the history of the academy and expressing the vision and mission of its founder. The top floor with access to a lush roof garden is based on a library loft concept with sitting, dining and open kitchen areas. The library bookshelves with a mezzanine level filling the entire wall is the centerpiece of the space. Natural walnut wood floors and long dining table, wood slat ceiling, copper mesh between the kitchen and dining, and brushed metal finishes continues the industrial theme but with a much warmer tone, color and lighting. Its become a favorite place for meeting, dining, and informal parties. To accommodate large conferences and events, the basement level maximized the site area by pushing the walls to the site boundary line and eliminated columns by transferring all the structure to the outside building line. The column-free space with 5m high ceiling has movable walls for flexible space configuration and full-height pivoting glass entry doors to allow the space to flow into the foyer area. With a sunken garden planted with giant bamboo trees, this basement level gets plenty of natural light and ventilation. The typical training spaces follow the same layout as the main training salon with island movable training stations, and fixed stations along the wall. The color and material concept in wood, metal, and exposed concrete floors continue here with details and lighting to match the scale of the space. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
St. Thomas More Catholic Church / Renzo Zecchetto Architects Posted: 09 Nov 2016 09:00 AM PST
The church for 1,100 people is part of a three phase project for a Catholic parish in Oceanside, with which the firm has worked for over twenty years. Located on a hillside at the intersection of Melrose Road and Cannon Drive, the parish grounds also include a 4,000 square foot community hall, administrative offices, and surrounding garden courts. The church is built on the highest elevation of the site, with a 60 foot bell tower lending visibility and definition from afar. The solid volumes flanking the bell tower oppose harsh Western sun with staggered walls and clerestories that filter light softly into the interior. Inside, the design of the sanctuary celebrates the congregation itself as the center of liturgy. Pews made of cherry wood from the Pacific Northwest are arranged in a semicircular layout to encourage interaction and visibility among parishioners. Overhead, cherry ceiling louvers envelope the congregation and choir, providing a sense of warmth and unity. At the altar, angled walls of cross-cut Chilean travertine and raw concrete deliver diffuse light onto the sanctuary's focal point—the crucified corpus. The bronze sculpture was created by artist Lynn Kircher; the cross frame by Renzo Zecchetto Architects. The building takes advantage of natural sea breezes for cooling. An underfloor plenum supplies conditioned air through the perforated supports of the pews. The eastern elevation is defined by transparency and openness: the narthex is here reimagined as a curtain wall and overhang that welcomes parishoners directly from the courtyard and gardens. The glazed courtyard doors further increase accessibility and visual connection to the rest of the campus and its outdoor spaces which, thanks to the temperate Southern California climate, provide year-round places for contemplation and repose. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
Jean Nouvel Tapped to Contribute Planning Concepts for Massachusetts Town Posted: 09 Nov 2016 08:10 AM PST Jean Nouvel is engaged in talks to provide master planning concepts for the town of North Adams, Massachusetts, home to the renowned art institution MASS MoCA and a few miles from the Tadao Ando-designed Clark Art Institute. Initial discussions have included preliminary design proposals for three buildings in the city center along Heritage Park and on Main Street. The new plan would be tasked with contributing to the economic revitalization of the city's downtown, and would need to respond to the MASS MoCA campus, itself master planned with consult from Frank Gehry, Robert Venturi, David Childs and Simeon Bruner of Bruner/Cott & Associates. "The concept of a cultural corridor in northwest Massachusetts is unique," said Nouvel in a statement. "The existing institutions are phenomenal. The combination of elements that exists here is like no other that know of. The landscape, the topography, the colors, and the collision of Main Street, the overpass, and the railroad lends itself to an extraordinary and precise intervention or series of interventions that would preserve the scale of the city, and build on the concentration of cultural resources in the region." Also planned for the area is the new Global Contemporary Art Museum, designed by Gluckman Tang and founded by former Guggenheim Foundation Director Thomas Krens. News via North Adams Office of the Mayor. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
Wave Housing / AHAKNAP + SAAHA Posted: 09 Nov 2016 07:00 AM PST
From the architect. Wave Housing is situated in Otes, the suburban neighbourhood of Sarajevo, with the river and mountains as its close and distant surroundings. In order to extend the interior space of the apartment towards outside and the views, the wave-like structure is added to the regulated building volume from 2nd floor upwards. In this way, each unit is given a lavish and unique outdoor area/terrace, making it a defining architectural element of the project. While the inner facade of the building is clad in warm wooden ribs, outside is kept simple in white plaster with metal screens providing additional visibility protections to the apartment terraces. Product Description: Local materials Facade: Composite wooden vertical panels 4x4cm made from local spruce and fir tree. Panels are placed vertically at intervals of 1 cm and skirting laths 4x7 cm with vertical reveal façade openings and the thermal insulation boards of rock wool 12 cm thick laminated with black fibreglass mat. Glass: Triple pane glass units - combination of 4.2.2 + 16 Argon +6 Low E Safety network on the balconies: Galvanized iron profiles painted in white colour with all necessary preparation work. The network consists of squares derived from iron sheet 40x4 mm external size of 114x114 mm with all the peaks associated with cross stitch of iron with a diameter of 8 mm. Hresa stone: local stone quarried from the surrounding hills highly resistant to cold and heat. Used for lining the main staircases and entrance hall. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
Boeing Develops World's Lightest Metal Posted: 09 Nov 2016 06:05 AM PST A metal microlattice developed by Boeing and HRL Laboratories has just been awarded the Guinness World Record for lightest metal. Made from nickel phosphorus, the microlattice emulates human cell structure, reaching a density and surface area similar to lung tissue. So light it can be balanced on the top of a dandelion seed head, the material weighs in at approximately 100 times lighter than styrofoam. "The point of achieving the record for lightest metal was to show the flexibility of the manufacturing process," said Bill Carter, Director of the Sensors and Materials Laboratory at HRL. "With the same process we can produce a strong and useful material that can be made with the density of aluminum all the way down to well below the density of air (excluding the air inside). Achieving a density at any point between those requires only a small change in the creation process. It can be done quickly, relatively inexpensively, and made to order." To build the microlattice, a customizable polymer template is constructed through a "self-forming photopolymer waveguide process" and then electroplated with a layer of nickel-phosphorus with a thinness of approximately 80 nanometers, about 1,000 times thinner than the width of a human hair. The polymer is then removed using a chemical process. The resulting product is the ultra-thin material and is capable of absorbing large amounts of energy throughout its structure. The manufacturing process is both rapid and scalable, leading HRL to anticipate the microlattice could viably be used in applications including insulation, heat exchange devices, catalytic converters, airplane wings, military helmets, vehicle blast protection, and even to develop an artificial lung. News via HRL Laboratories, H/T Interesting Engineering. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
Posted: 09 Nov 2016 05:00 AM PST
From the architect. TEMPORARY URBANISM THE VILLAGE THE CANOPY THE GATEWAY THE RESTAURANT This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
BIG Joins Kuma, Perrault and EMBT in Designing Stations for the Grand Paris Express Metro Posted: 09 Nov 2016 04:30 AM PST BIG and French studio Silvio d'Ascia have been selected to design the new Pont de Bondy metro station in Paris. The station is the latest design to be announced as part of the Société du Grand París' Grand Paris Express project, which is seeking to modernize the existing transport network through the addition of nearly 200 kilometers of rail lines and a series of architect-designed stations throughout the city. Of a total of 68 new stations, nine have been labeled as "emblematic," meaning that they are expected to serve as significant neighborhood nodes within the larger masterplan. The Pont de Bondy station will constitute one of these emblematic projects, joining designs from Kengo Kuma & Associates, Dominique Perrault, Enric Miralles Benedetta Tagliabue (EMBT) and Bordas+Peiro, Agence Duthilleul, and Elizabeth de Portzamparc. 'Significant urban projects will emerge along this transport route: new neighborhoods with an array of features including housing, economic activities, university centers and cultural facilities – especially around the strategic, structural points provided by the stations,' explains the Société du Grand Paris. 'the idea is to enable business clusters to take root while rebalancing the paris region, opening it up to its more remote, isolated areas.' The Pont de Bondy station will be located along Line 15, a ring line that passes through suburban Paris. BIG and Silvio d'Ascia's design uses a looping form to connect upper and lower levels of the site and to bridge across an adjacent canal. Additionally, the Société du Grand Paris announced the appointment of six further architects for the designs of 10 stations on Line 15, including Grimshaw, Bordas + Peiro, Atelier d'Architecture Brenac-Gonzalez, SCAPE, Vezzoni & Associés and Explorations Architecture. The complete Grand Paris Express masterplan is expected be completed before 2030. See more about Grand Paris Express station designs on ArchDaily:
News via Société du Grand Paris. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
Posted: 09 Nov 2016 03:00 AM PST
From the architect. This residential development consists of a complete gut renovation and new construction behind one of New York's most beautiful and oldest cast-iron facades. It required a careful approach to the blending of contemporary architecture with historic preservation. New York City's Landmarks Commission required any rooftop addition to be invisible. The building, however, is located on a highly-visible corner with a low, two-story building across the street. This meant that the building's roof was visible from almost three blocks away. Tracing the cone of vision from the furthest point from which the building was visible, WORKac utilized three rooftop projections to mask the bulk of an addition: the triangular pediment of the historic Carey Building next door, and the circular pediment and an abandoned elevator bulkhead at the top of the building itself. The "shadow" created by these three projections created a sizeable zone for the addition and the opportunity for a distinctive angled form for the new roof. The result is a sculptural form that is – at the same time – completely invisible from the street below. For the apartment interiors and public area, WORKac created spaces that combine nature-inspired elements and systems with new ideas about urban living. From the tessellated green wall at the lobby to generous planters and balconies at the second, sixth and seventh floors, connections to the outdoors are emphasized. Within each apartment, a "third space" between bedrooms and living spaces is created at the top of the volume containing storage and bathrooms. Less than four-feet high, this "bonsai apartment" is outfitted with a futon, seating areas, and an herb garden above the kitchen. Its main feature is a fern garden connected to the master shower below. Steam from the shower collects on the glass walls of the garden and waters the plants. The penthouse combines sleeping spaces and a family room within the old fifth floor of the building with new entertaining and dining spaces under the new roof at the sixth floor. A secluded terrace is sunken behind the pediment with views to the Woolworth Building; the old elevator bulkhead is repurposed with a hot tub. The height afforded by angle formed by the cone-of-vision allows for a rear mezzanine with views toward downtown and the Freedom Tower. The 1857 façade is completely restored. The new charcoal color chosen by WORKac references the building's history of being painted in dark contrast with its lighter neighbors. As all of the building's Corinthean column capitols had been lost to history, WORKac collaborated with the artist Michael Hansmeyer to create new versions. Hansmeyer created a computer script that allowed the classical floral elements of the Corinthean order to "grow" fractally, resulting in a new design that adheres to the old proportions but is composed of clearly new forms and idiosyncrasies. Like the rooftop addition, these capitals at first glance appear quite ordinary; it is only on closer inspection that the stealthy strategy of strategic injection of contemporary design becomes clear. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
10 Models Which Show the Power of Point Cloud Scans, As Selected by Sketchfab Posted: 09 Nov 2016 01:30 AM PST Traditional 3D models made up of surfaces have for a long time aided us in visualizing buildings and spaces, but they often come at a cost: large models require a lot of storage and processing power, and can become incredibly complex to the point where they are difficult to navigate. As a part of our Selected by Sketchfab series, Sketchfab has their eye on a more efficient, increasingly common method of capturing architectural spaces; namely, point clouds. Point clouds are made up of a set of points located in a three-dimensional coordinate system, that when put together merely give an impression of the surface of an object, or the façade of a building. The method is fairly simple. The collection of data points is generated by a 3D scanner that rotates while emitting a laser that measures the distance to points on surrounding surfaces. This data can then be converted into a polygonal model that can be rendered like any other 3D model. However, the advantages of keeping the scan in point form are what makes it great; the file sizes are much smaller, and the porosity of the point clouds make it possible to see through walls and surfaces, accessing "hidden" spaces and uncommon views of seemingly familiar surroundings. Read on to find out more about the possibilities and advantages that come with point cloud modelling. 1. Generating Large-Scale OverviewsGetting an idea of the scale and relationships between spaces within a site can be challenging and time consuming using traditional polygon surface modelling, and will certainly produce a large file to work with. Using the point cloud technique minimizes these problems, as can be seen with the model below: |
House Savukvartsi / Honkarakenne Posted: 09 Nov 2016 01:00 AM PST
From the architect. A modern eco-home for three generations Savukvartsi was introduced to the public at the Housing fair 2015 in Vantaa, Finland. It's an ecological duplex house, designed for three generations of a family. Honka Savukvartsi is an excellent example of a new-generation log home, created with the Honka Fusion concept. Honka Savukvartsi was designed and built by the architects Jaakko and Elizaveta Parkkonen as their own private home. The house reflects the dream shared by the young couple and their parents of a home for several generations of the same family. The house is split into two separate properties, with the larger one occupied by Jaakko and Elizaveta and their son. The smaller property belongs to Jaakko's parents. The properties share an entrance. If desired, the apartments can be combined to create one larger property. The house has the smallest carbon footprint of all the properties showcased at the Vantaa Housing Fair area and is rated B for energy efficiency. Its eco-friendly credentials include natural, low-emission and recyclable materials offering easy maintenance, healthy living and the latest home technology solutions. "The philosophy behind this house is to minimize its climate impact. We used natural and recyclable materials and tried to avoid plastic. The building is heated using solar thermal collectors and a water heating fireplace. The pitch of the roof has been calculated to allow for the perfect angle in relation to the sun. The optimal angle is 35 degrees, and at Savukvartsi, we have gone for 34." - Jaakko Parkkonen, architect and customer The young family's bedrooms are located on the first floor, away from the public areas. The high ceilings add spaciousness and tall French windows let the daylight in. On the first floor, there's also a home office and a library. "The soundscape of a log house is quiet. Combined with the natural warmth of genuine wood and the good indoor air quality, it creates a very comfortable living environment." - The Parkkonen family The grandparents apartment is a compact double of 46 square meters, all located on one floor. The smaller apartment consists of a bedroom, kitchen, living room and a bathroom. The shared living area in the bigger apartment serves both families. The house is created with the non-settling Honka Fusion log (FXL 134) and insulated with wood fiber. The exterior cladding is spruce, treated with iron vitriol to create a beautiful grey finish. Because of the non-settling structure, the log wall could be combined with details like city corners and big windows, free of the wide architraves and settling spaces required in traditional log construction. "The Honka Fusion wall structure allowed us to design a contemporary log house with urban, minimalistic details. The non-settling log also simplifies the wall structures which ensures that the house will be there for generations to come." - Jaakko Parkkonen, architect and customer Product Description. The house is created with the non-settling Honka Fusion log (FXL 134) and insulated with wood fiber. The exterior cladding is spruce, treated with iron vitriol to create a beautiful grey finish. Because of the non-settling structure, the log wall could be combined with details like city corners and big windows, free of the wide architraves and settling spaces required in traditional log construction. "The Honka Fusion wall structure allowed us to design a contemporary log house with urban, minimalistic details. The non-settling log also simplifies the wall structures which ensures that the house will be there for generations to come." This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
Studio Seilern Architects Unveils Plans for Skyscraper in Manhattan's Art Quarter Posted: 09 Nov 2016 12:00 AM PST Studio Seilern Architects (SSA) has unveiled its design for a new skyscraper in New York, located on the riverfront of the Hudson River, which will offer views to the South West towards the river and Hoboken, as well as to the East towards the Empire State Building and Manhattan skyline. The 16.107 square meter building (24 floors) will feature commercial units in the form of a gallery in the plinth—which is reduced to form a sculpture garden—at the lower levels, while upper levels will contain residential units.
Floor plans of the building are flexible, so as to adapt in response to fluctuating market conditions. News via Studio Seilern Architects. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
Rehabilitation of Netherlands Complex Wins World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize 2016 Posted: 08 Nov 2016 10:00 PM PST Molenaar & Co architecten (Rotterdam), Hebly Theunissen architecten (Delft), and landscape architect Michael van Gessel (Amsterdam) have won the 2016 World Monuments Fund/ Knoll Modernism Prize for the preservation and rehabilitation of the Justus van Effen complex in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Originally designed by Michiel Brinkman in 1919-1921 and completed in 1922, the Justus van Effen complex is a strong example of the ideals embodied in the modern movement, particularly with its use of an elevated "street" as a means of facilitating social cohesion, which became very influential for subsequent generations of designers. The recent preservation of this site is a part of the revitalization of Rotterdam's Spangen neighborhood, which has been transformed from dangerous to livable and affordable over the past 20 years. The project additionally reflects the commitment of the property's owner—Woonstad Rotterdam—to the preservation of the complex for future generations. The biennial award will be presented at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York on December 5 at a free and public event. Learn more about the award winner here. News via the World Monuments Fund. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
Leman Locke / Grzywinsi + Pons Posted: 08 Nov 2016 09:00 PM PST
Leman Locke is a new 168 room hotel that we designed in the rapidly evolving East London neighborhood of Aldgate. This commission allowed us to continue our interrogation of the intersection of hotel and residential programs. We (and our client) had in mind that young, creative professionals who are increasingly nomadic for purposes of their work might like to have an option that combines the best of two worlds from a hospitality perspective: The design-led and convivial atmosphere one often finds in good boutique hotels, mixed with the convenience of an extended stay product. Our process was driven by the search for a way to hold on to the aspirational excitement of a hotel stay while enjoying the advantages of something more akin to a home in one's adoptive city no matter how long - or short - the stay. We faced an additional challenge in that the scheme was to be built within a newly constructed and rather sterile tower (that we did not design) so we couldn't lean on the building to augment the character of the spaces. As the construction of the frame and envelope were still underway when we were working, we were able to intervene and make some changes to structural aspects that we were positively disposed to on the interior. The reception and the cafe-bar space are bifurcated by the lift lobby and we designed them to be distinct from one another yet congruent in their prioritization of light, warmth and texture. We also created a feature stair that almost demands to be climbed to foster the connection between the cafe-bar-forthcoming restaurant space (that we are currently designing) that spans the ground and first floors and is sectionally legible from the street. We designed nearly all of the furniture within the rooms, from the sofas and beds to some of the light fixtures and tables. Much of this was driven by the desire to create a unique and harmonious aesthetic, but our other imperative was maximization of function and economy of space. We wanted to avoid the "transformer" vibe apparent in a lot of current micro-residential products that include murphy beds, retractable desks and flip up tables. While that approach appeals to the "inventor" side of us as architects, we hoped to spare guests from the chore of clearing up and manipulating their furniture when finishing a meal or getting ready for bed. Our intention was to dispel the underlying sense of being unsettled which complicates our self imposed directive to inculcate the feeling of being at home while away. Product Description. We used Viroc Cement Bonded Particle Board as an interior finish material both on the walls and some soffits. It is not only very robust and functional but helped tie in some of the spaces that were more finished with some of the areas where we chose to expose and celebrate the concrete superstructure. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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