Arch Daily |
- House of Rolf / Studio Rolf.fr + Niek Wagemans
- What's the Difference Between a Road, a Street and an Avenue?
- Victoria Gate / ACME
- House in Bescanó / Josep Ferrando
- Algotec Offices / Setter Architects
- Dengshikou Hutong Residence / B.L.U.E. Architecture Studio
- Grafton Architect's "Modern Day Machu Picchu" Wins Inaugural RIBA International Prize
- Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre / Tianhua Architecture Planning & Engineering Ltd.
- Escobar Renovation / Chen + Suchart Studio
- Aedas Wins Two International Competitions to Design Airports in Shenzhen and Hong Kong
- Enniskillen Castle Museum / Kriterion Conservation Architects
- View London's Newly-Opened Design Museum Through the Lens of Interior Architect John Pawson
- University of Toronto Faculty of Law, Jackman Law Building / B+H Architects + Hariri Pontarini Architects
- Tennis Terraces / GRAS arquitectos
- Adjaye Associates Designs Mixed-Use Building Near London's Trafalgar Square
- 5 Ways to Improve Senior Wellness through Centres for Healthy Living
- Grid House / BLOCO Arquitetos
- 15 Details of Metal Structures and Facades for Residential Projects
- New Map Celebrates Berlin's Modernist Architecture
House of Rolf / Studio Rolf.fr + Niek Wagemans Posted: 23 Nov 2016 09:00 PM PST
Introduction From office building to sculptural home and studio Spatial design Layout The Build The self-formulated goal of the project was to use all the materials of the office building, leaving nothing to waste. To achieve this objective, Niek Wagemans' skills as a designer were particularly useful. Wagemans' expertise is in designing and building architectural structures and furniture pieces using second hand materials. He finds ingenious ways to re-use materials that are ready to hand to create new functional objects. The staring point of the build was to erect two walls constructed from the numerous radiators salvaged from the office building. In this initial phase the office building had not yet been demolished. Shortly after this part of the job however, the building had to be dismantled in order to free up the materials necessary to continue the build. The vast quantities of materials that this generated, led to a giant task of working out which materials to allocate to which specific section of the design. Niek's discerning eye in looking for and picking out the most well suited material for a particular part of the construction was very important in this process. A large related challenge was to store and conserve these large quantities of materials. A part was housed in old bungalow tents on the building site. The remainder had to be contained in the coach house itself for want of other storage options. All of this amounted to a big logistical challenge. A fascinating aspect of this project was that initially there was a wealth of available materials. This being so as the office building presided over a 200 square meter surface area and the coach house a mere 50 square meters. This meant that materials could be applied liberally. For example the house includes a solid wooden partition wall constructed from trusses and purlins. A solid wooden floor was also constructed from floor beams. This generous application of materials meant however that towards the end of the build nearly the entire supply of materials had been used This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
What's the Difference Between a Road, a Street and an Avenue? Posted: 23 Nov 2016 08:00 PM PST What's the difference between a "road", a "drive" and a "way"? Or between a "street", a "boulevard" and an "avenue"? The naming conventions that we attribute to the networks that we use to move about are, in fact, a little more complex than you might imagine. In this film by Phil Edwards for Vox, the intricate world of road classification and definition is given a (long overdue) explanation – and one which might help you think a little deeper about urban mobility. Film via Vox. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
Posted: 23 Nov 2016 07:00 PM PST
From the architect. The brief for the Victoria Gate masterplan was to design a new, vibrant, key urban block in Leeds city centre which provided retail and leisure uses anchored by a department store, with an associated car park. The visibility and identity of the department store was an important part of the brief. The scheme needed to be designed as an extension of the Headrow, the city's main civic axis, and Hammerson's brief right from the beginning was that the scheme should not be a 'mall' but more a 21st century extension of the existing Victorian arcades for which Leeds is famous. Victoria Gate,in the East of Leeds city centre, forms a natural extension of Victoria Quarter and Leeds's retail district. The scheme includes a new John Lewis department store, multi storey car parking and two arcades with a mix of shops, restaurants and leisure facilities. The buildings appear as three distinct elements with individual identities that relate to each other and the vernacular of Leeds. The new John Lewis store anchors the scheme. Placed on the extension of the Headrow, the city's main civic axis, the store forms a visible gateway into the city centre. The materiality of the building draws on the history of terracotta façades in Leeds, often produced by the local Burmantoffs Terracotta works, providing a modern interpretation of a traditional material. The façade order is also influenced by the textile history of Leeds as well as John Lewis, and is designed as a layered terracotta skin reminiscent of woven fabric. The diagrid is the ordering element that repeats along the perimeter of the building ; the resulting diamonds contain infill panels which respond to the internal layout of the store and the immediate context, providing transparency and ornamentation to the building. The Victoria Gate multi-storey car-park [MSCP] is visible from all main urban approaches. From the outset the intention was to separate John Lewis from the car-park, but to acknowledge their shared purpose and relationship to the façade. Twisted aluminium fin cladding creates a diagrid pattern, emphasised by the shadows generated, which relates to the John Lewis façade. The façade efficiently provides vehicular restraint, daylight and natural ventilation. The Arcades building is designed as a two storey, twin arcade with a complex glazed roofscape continuing the grand history of Leeds's 19th century arcades. A large casino sits above the arcade, partially over-sailing it and creating a four storey civic frontage on Eastgate. The exterior of the building evolves from the 19th and 20th century language of the surrounding Blomfield and Victorian brick and terracotta buildings, with sculpturally pleated brick elevations – brick-faced pre-cast concrete panels- changing in rhythm and scale responding to the context of the site. The interiors of the arcades are inspired by the Victorian tradition through the use of curved glass and patterned stone floors, based on Leeds's woolen herringbone cloth. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
House in Bescanó / Josep Ferrando Posted: 23 Nov 2016 06:00 PM PST
From the architect. The position of the house on a topographic gap generates different relationships with its immediate environment. On one hand, the treetops are at the height of a handrail, on the other, the network of branches is a filter through which the living room overlooks. The basalt roof frames and highlights in black the views that reach different depths of field offering a range of situations for the dweller. At some points, the inclination of the slabs points towards the horizon to blend the skyline of the building with that of the mountains in the background. At others, the wavy ledge frames the domestic courtyard. The proliferation of offset walls enhances diagonal relations between spaces. The extension of the walls and the roof slabs allows the design of the interior space to the outside, while trapping the framed landscape by creating lines that link the building to the site. Thus, the house appropriates the exterior space. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
Algotec Offices / Setter Architects Posted: 23 Nov 2016 02:00 PM PST
Algotec is a high-tech company engaged in information development and processing in the sphere of medical imaging. Its corporate offices are located in Ra'anana and extend over three floors. In the new interior planning, we linked all three floors with a private interior staircase, used solely by Algotec's employees. During the design process, our planning ideas drew on the company's content world – the human body and its components. The inspiration for the interior planning and design came from images of the human body's elements, like cells, molecules, tissue, and the spinal column. Together, all these elements formed the basis for a unique design language that drew together the interior planning and design concepts. As the design team, our challenge was to use imaging from human anatomy and translate it into a fresh architectural vocabulary. We did this by processing anatomical images through filters of scale, materials, prints, and textures. The result was a distinctive design vocabulary that in turn generated a set of design ideas and solutions. Accordingly, the conference room is covered with a construction of wood strips simulating the layering of human tissue; the textures and graphics covering the partitions replicate cell patterns in large-scale; the wall coverings and floorings simulate the structure of the ribcage; and the suspended lighting fixtures are inspired by human tissue and cells. Assisted by that special vocabulary, all these imaging and design elements create a warm and inspiring workspace. It's a 'home' that encourages shared productive efforts, and preserves the fine balance between closed private spaces and open spaces for social meetings and gatherings. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
Dengshikou Hutong Residence / B.L.U.E. Architecture Studio Posted: 23 Nov 2016 12:00 PM PST
From the architect. Located in a hutong near the historical centre in Beijing, the L-shaped house is sandwiched between the old hutong wall and a two floor building. The renovation aimed to transform the dated 43 m² residence into a convenient, functional modern living space for a family of six people . The first floor is consisted of a number of wooden boxes that functioned as living room, dining room, bedroom, study room and bathroom, creating a continuous open space that offers opportunities for communication between family members, at the same time ensuring each individual have a independent living space. The size of each box is decided according to the height of people's activities in different functional areas. The open space on the 2nd floor is the kid's bedroom and playground. SoJ materials such as rugs and nets are used in order to make sure the kid's safety and also to create a warm and intimate atmosphere . The shared corridor on one side of the house is not only connected to all the interior areas but also connected to outdoor public spaces, like a extension of the Hutong. With a long skylight that goes through the entire house, sufficient natural light streams in, creating a sense of being in the outdoor space. The facade facing the backyard is made of wooden frame and transparent glass, which can be opened as a huge door. Thus the interior living space and the backyard are bridged together, diffusing the boundary between the indoor and outdoor space. The design took the inspiration of public sharing spaces in traditional Beijing Hutong, conveys the vision that a home can be a open space as a part of the public urban spaces and what defines a home is the relationships of the people who live inside and the relationships between people and the environment. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
Grafton Architect's "Modern Day Machu Picchu" Wins Inaugural RIBA International Prize Posted: 23 Nov 2016 11:01 AM PST The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) have revealed the Universidad de Ingeniería y Tecnología (UTEC), located in Lima and designed by Dublin-based practice Grafton Architects, as the winner of the inaugural RIBA International Prize. A longlist of thirty projects, published in May of this year, was narrowed down to six in October before a grand jury—chaired by Richard Rogers—selected the scheme as "an exceptional example of civil architecture." The project, which sits on the border of two residential districts in the Peruvian capital, perches on the edge of a natural inner-city ravine. It is conceived as a piece of geology, mirroring the organic curve of the landscape and accommodating itself in the city. "To its close neighbours," the RIBA have suggested, it appears as "a series of landscaped terraces with clefts, overhangs and grottos – a modern day Machu Picchu." Speaking about the building, the jury said:
They continued: "UTEC has been designed to encourage its students to interact in a unique way with the building. The vertical structure provides open circulation and meeting spaces in a succession of platforms that compose the 'frame' of the building; teaching rooms, laboratories and offices are enclosed, inserted into and suspended from the exposed concrete structure. The frame is a device providing shade, a place of rich spatial exuberance and a platform from which to view the life of the city. The entire life of this vertical campus is on full display to the people of Lima."
The campus building, designed in collaboration with Shell Arquitectos, is part of Lima's specialist engineering university which was established to give young Peruvians access to qualifications, professional opportunities and to encourage social mobility. The grand jury included:
UTEC was selected as the winner of the 2016 RIBA International Prize from the following shortlisted entries:
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Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre / Tianhua Architecture Planning & Engineering Ltd. Posted: 23 Nov 2016 10:30 AM PST
Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre is located on the E-03 Plot at the center of Waigaoqiao New Town, adjacent to North Zhangyang Road to its east, just 100 meters from Zhouhai Road to its north, near the Zhouhai Road station along the Metro Line 6. Tianhua Architecture Planning & Engineering Co,. Ltd. won the bidding for Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre in 2006, ushering in a new journey that would later last one decade. The authorities emphasizes in its master plan for the New Town that it expects the site to become a central business district with office blocks, hotels, business centres, conference centres and so forth. The project is expected to create a multi-purpose cultural and art centre to host literary and art performances, conferences, film screenings, art exhibitions, cultural, science education, reading and other public activities. Located near the Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, the Centre is 6 kilometers away from the Waigaoqiao Port. Given that the Port is home to shipping containers, financial and trade businesses, the architects involved anticipate the Centre to become an extension of the global image of this area that mirrors its cultural life. The architects employed simple approaches to highlight the building's characteristics under the geographic context. Based on the "container culture" typical of such ports, they created a juxtaposition of distinct volumes with glass and metal to enhance the visual effects while ensuring the building functions in an energy-efficient manner. Meanwhile a series of indoor and outdoor spaces are designed to prompt more public activities. The huge "box" for exhibitions is raised on other volumes to establish a dialogue with the outside world. Its exterior space enclosed by glass ribs provides views of its surroundings, such as the light rail trains in movement where passengers can also spot the box, getting first impression of the area. The theatre is designed to mainly host literary and art performances and major conferences, occasionally film screenings. The second floor which is accessible from the square connecting the out-door stair , accommodates a children's wonderland , a multi-media corner ,a reading room and a centre for the elderly. Space on this floor brings together the activities for both children and adults, and it's featured by a huge bay window for the children's wonderland there. The fifth floor is where spaces for entrepreneurs' club, an exhibition hall,a wine bar and other training classrooms are located. Construction on the Centre had to grind to a halt in 2009 for various reasons. No doubt it is an inspiration to the architects and the client that Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre is eventually completed in 2016. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
Escobar Renovation / Chen + Suchart Studio Posted: 23 Nov 2016 09:00 AM PST
Sited in the 1930's era neighborhood known as F.Q. Story, the Escobar Renovation represents the character and flavor of one of very few areas in the young city of Phoenix, Arizona that can be called historic. The majority of the 602 homes that comprise this neighborhood still retain the varying architectural styles that make this district unique. Homes in this area are distinctly smaller than today's average homes. The Escobar Renovation is a renovation to an existing home whose architectural style can be categorized as having an English Tudor style. With the exception of a small storage closet, this home has largely remained untouched for nearly 100 years. As a result, the spaces of the home served a very different need indicative of that era. The existing 1,100 square foot (SF) house was separated into many different spaces each being closed off from one another. Codes and guidelines mandated by the City of Phoenix required that any new work to the exterior maintain the character of the historic qualities of this home and neighborhood. Our proposal for the renovation and addition to the existing home is deeply rooted in an architecture that is aesthetically and functionally of our client's needs in today's era. In the main space of the public area, the decision was made to make the same footprint feel more expansive both in plan and in section. All the walls of the existing public areas were removed to promote one larger space where the living room, kitchen and dining area became one unified space. This unification of space was further expanded upon by taking advantage of the existing attic space as well, allowing for a vaulted area over the living room while returning to the original ceiling height for the kitchen and dining area. This space further expanded outwards to the backyard area where the interior and exterior spaces merge as one space joined by operable sliding glass doors. The continuous sinuous move in the ceiling plane serves to expand the sense of the space where the existing space could be perceived as something much larger. The addition of a master bedroom and bathroom occur within the construction of the new 400 SF addition. Fundamentally, connection with the historic home needed to engage in a dialogue with the existing home's language without being a facsimile of a different era. Typologically, the addition is sympathetic to the existing home while distinguishing itself as something distinctly new, as an open ended gabled form. Full height glazing and operable glass sliding doors lead out to an enclosed patio within the extrusion of this form. A cantilevered concrete patio and walkway unify the new covered patio with a covered patio of a similar language located adjacent to the dining and kitchen area. This addition also contains the new master bathroom where the gabled space expands skyward to a skylight while retaining privacy. The addition is clad with a standard 22ga standing seam metal system with a charcoal kynar500 finish. The panels continue vertically from wall surface to become the roofing surface as one unified materiality for the addition. The configuration of the end of this metal gable further reconceptualizes the iconography of the gabled form. How does one interact with the language of a much different era within the context of the current time period, and can it be modern? The Escobar Renovation proposes questions about language and iconography within the context of a 1930's era home. The proposition of an architecture which is rooted in an era nearly 100 years later became the challenge of this project. Our renovation sought to work within the confines of the existing language while establishing a distinctly different language. This dialogue being engaged unifies both the existing and current languages of the home, the spatial qualities and as a result, engages the perceptions of the iconography of both the modern and traditional home. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
Aedas Wins Two International Competitions to Design Airports in Shenzhen and Hong Kong Posted: 23 Nov 2016 08:00 AM PST Aedas have recently won two international competitions to design international airport buildings: the Shenzhen Airport Satellite Concourse and Hong Kong International Airport Third Runway Passenger Building. In recent years, Aedas have emerged as a leader in airport design, as they are also currently working on the Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 2 Expansion, and have previously worked on Hong Kong International Airport Midfield Concourse and North Satellite Concourse. With the two newly-won projects, Aedas hopes to reinforce their strength and growing influence in airport design. Shenzhen Airport Satellite ConcourseFrom the architects: As an international team consisting of GDAD as the local design institute/terminal planners, Landrum & Brown as aviation planners, and Aedas as Lead Design Architect, we have been awarded the design and construction of the new Shenzhen Airport Satellite Concourse in China. Passengers arrive in the heart of the Concourse from the Auto People Mover (APM) station which allows light filled views up to the roof over. The multi-level retail and food & beverage areas provide a rich variety of environments and areas for passengers, guiding them intuitively towards the departure gates. The roof form over, inspired by the gently curving rivers of the region, further reinforces the flow of the passengers through the Concourse. Arriving passengers are orientated to the perimeter of the building allowing them to experience natural diffused daylight as they move toward the APM and onwards to the main terminal. HKIA Third Runway Passenger BuildingFrom the architects: Again as the Lead Design Architect, along with AECOM as Lead Consultant and Engineer, and OTC as Aviation Planners, is part of the successful team appointed for the New HKIA Third Runway Passenger Building Design Consultancy. The new 280,000 square-metre building is located directly north of the existing Terminal 1 and south of the new third runway and is connected back to the expanded Terminal 2 by an underground APM system. The Third Runway Passenger Building, together with the expanded Terminal 2, can serve an additional 30 million passengers annually. News via: Aedas This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
Enniskillen Castle Museum / Kriterion Conservation Architects Posted: 23 Nov 2016 07:00 AM PST
Enniskillen Castle, which dates from the 16th century, sits on the banks of the River Erne in the centre of the Co Fermanagh town in Northern Ireland. This scenic backdrop is the setting for a landmark redevelopment by Hamilton Architects which has transformed a myriad of historic buildings into a cohesive heritage Gateway to the County. The site holds historical significance due to its location on the river bank and its role in guarding one of the main passes into Ulster. Over the centuries, its strategic importance has remained a pivotal factor, with the addition of various buildings as the site evolved from a garrison fort into a military barracks and, more recently, into a Heritage Centre. Several significant components define the historical assemblage, including The Keep, Watergate, Curved Range, Magazine, Shift House, Northern Barrack Block, Barrack Coach House. The Health Centre and Heritage Centre were much more recent additions. The site is encompassed by a perimeter wall enclosing the Castle Yard and a Rifle Range. The Keep and Watergate are monuments in State Care, while the Curved Range and the Northern Barrack Block are Listed buildings. The redevelopment has revealed the significance of the site from a historical, operation and audience perspective, enabling Fermanagh County Museum to increase access to collections of local, national and international importance and to become the first port of call for learning about the county's heritage from the Drumclay Crannog to the G8 Summit. Four buildings within the complex – Magazine, Shift House, Barrack Coach House and Heritage Centre - were restored and refurbished to pool museum, tourism and genealogy resources and create new visitor spaces. The Health Centre was demolished to create space for a new Visitors Centre with History Hub, Genealogy Centre, Castle Viewing area, Café and Shop. The refurbishment of the Barrack Coach House accommodates four new galleries, while a link building between the Visitors Centre and Barrack Coach House allows visitors glimpses of the original castle wall. A walkway on the roof of the link building offers views of the castle site and of Enniskillen town. The design was challenging in that guidelines for the historic footprint had to be met while providing facilities appropriate to the needs of a modern museum and visitor facility. The external envelope was clad with Irish blue (flamed finish) limestone to complement the original fabric of the adjacent historic buildings. An exterior courtyard populated with giant umbrellas provides an attractive and flexible all-weather event space. Product Description.The principal material used for the external façade of the new visitor centre and armoury building was Irish Blue Limestone (flamed finish and blue/grey in colour). This limestone walling gives a light, textured finish and is built in random coursed and sized ashlar which follows the precedent of the other historic buildings within the complex. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
View London's Newly-Opened Design Museum Through the Lens of Interior Architect John Pawson Posted: 23 Nov 2016 06:00 AM PST
In this new video from NOWNESS, the audience is treated to a viewing of the new Design Museum in London, courtesy of its interior architect John Pawson. Part interview and part guided tour, NOWNESS uses the unorthodox technique of giving the building's designer his own camera, making parts of the video an intriguing insight into how Pawson sees his own work. Designed in collaboration with OMA and Allies and Morrison, the project is a thorough renovation of the former Commonwealth Institute building, a 1962 structure by Robert Matthew, a founding partner of RMJM. Pawson dwells on the experience of working with their dramatic hyperbolic paraboloid roof, the materials used in the design, and the challenges of working on such a sensitive project. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
Posted: 23 Nov 2016 05:00 AM PST
An iconic new home for the University of Toronto's Faculty of Law, the new Jackman Law building designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects and B+H Architects, ushers in a new era for the school's law students. Situated next to the university's famed Philosopher's Walk and overlooking Queen's Park Crescent, a dramatic new façade comprised of glass and nickel fins bend along the curve of the street, distinguishing themselves as the most identifiable feature of this landmark new building. In total the renewal project introduces an additional 66,000 square feet, consolidating the previously dispersed faculty into one building, while also providing a new 210-student lecture hall, several seminar halls, new commons lounge and forum space, offices and food service space. The Osler Hoskin and Harcourt Atrium emerges as the new heart of the school. It features a three storey fireplace and large seating area that acts as a social hub, embracing a collaborative environment. The renovation of the outmoded and dark Bora Laskin Law Library into a luminous pavilion--naturally lit on three sides—with the stunning 2-storey Torys Hall reading room at its centre takes the notion of collaboration one step further. Gone are the days of the library so quiet you can hear a pin drop. Modern study spaces have opened up to facilitate discussion and interaction, better reflecting the conditions of today's workplace. University of Toronto's Faculty of Law Building won the Canadian Architect Award of Excellence in 2013 and was completed in the Fall of 2016. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
Tennis Terraces / GRAS arquitectos Posted: 23 Nov 2016 03:00 AM PST
From the architect. White concrete cantilevered slabs define a new tennis club in the middle of the nature that combines a social building together with tennis courts; a total of 17 courts of all surfaces: grass, clay and hard. A Master series facility. The strong natural context defines the concept of the project. The topography of the land demands a terracing strategy in order to place the different courts at different levels following the slope of the hill; The building itself is therefore conceived as a continuation of that terracing: 2 floating terraces, white concrete slabs, overlooking the tennis compound. By positioning the building at the highest point of the land, it works as the last terrace of the project and as a great viewpoint, balcony to the rest of the plot, specially to the Centre court, the heart of the project. The Centre Court is the heart of the project. A series of terraces are carved in the hill to create a natural stone stadium, a sort of "XXI century Greek Epidaurus tennis theatre". The "stadium" can seat up to 1500 spectators. The terraces are built with traditional stone masonry, using solid blocks of a Mallorcan natural stone called Mares. A natural scenario combining the stone and the natural grass is created following the context of the site. The clubhouse is designed not just as a social building, also as a viewing platform to watch the tennis games at the Centre Court. The building leans out to the court in order to enjoy views from all floors. White exposed concrete slabs cantilevers are created to maximize those views. A fully glazed ground floor welcomes the visitor with a lounge and a restaurant. The whole facade can be opened having a continuous space "in and out" so the user can enjoy the terraces, the gardens and the pool, always surrounded by the tennis courts. At the back of the lounge, the dressing rooms and service areas are located. An open steel staircase leads up to the first floor, an open plan multipurpose room with a balcony around the whole floor. Since the room can also be used as a gym, the balcony offers the possibility to install a jogging circuit around the building. A metallic mesh wraps the whole floor to protect the runners from falling. The balcony "enlarges" when facing Centre Court to create an extra wide terrace to seat spectators during the tournament. The full floor works as a terrace overlooking the surrounding tennis courts. In connection with the deck utility of the project, the rooftop is also accessible and can be used by the general public, offering extensive views of all the courts and surroundings. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
Adjaye Associates Designs Mixed-Use Building Near London's Trafalgar Square Posted: 23 Nov 2016 02:30 AM PST Adjaye Associates, alongside development manager Alchemi Group, have submitted a planning application for 5 Strand, a mixed-use scheme adjacent to London's iconic Trafalgar Square. Inspired and informed by the surrounding historic buildings, the new 5 Strand will include 62,000 square feet (5,760 square meters) of office space, 26 apartments, and two ground-level retail units. The design's most striking element is the repeated arches which make up the facade. This feature "draws from the architectural rhythms and forms of the context," states David Adjaye in a press release, "to produce something both modern and contextual, elegant and distinctive." The arches can be seen on all facades of the building, and on the undercroft which provides a separate entrance to the apartments from Craven Street. However on the front facade, which responds to the more "ceremonial" buildings on the Strand and Trafalgar Square, the arches are joined by columns to give the facade increased depth and complexity. Given the project's sensitive location within the Trafalgar Square Conservation Area, the design development extended over 12 months, with Adjaye Associates consulting with Westminster City Council, Greater London, WCC Highways Department, St James's Ward, Historic England, Westminster Society, The Grand Buildings, and Northbank BID. "The opportunity to work on the Strand, adjacent to the iconic Traflagar Square, is an immense honour and one that I do not take lightly," said David Adjaye. "My team and I have undergone rigorous investigation into the history and development of this crucial piece of London's urban fabric." News via Adjaye Associates.
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5 Ways to Improve Senior Wellness through Centres for Healthy Living Posted: 23 Nov 2016 01:30 AM PST Today we live in a rapidly aging society. The shift in the population pyramid means that traditional healthcare systems need to be reimagined in order to efficiently support an increasing senior population. This added pressure on healthcare is significant--the number of older adults in the US alone requiring long-term healthcare support is set to increase from 15 million to 27 million by 2050. By partnering with designers, healthcare providers can create valuable responses to address these growing needs. One building typology that expresses this designer-provider partnership are centers for healthy living (CHL). CHLs help to bridge the gap between the senior living and healthcare sectors, and go beyond simple clinic or exercise spaces. Taking a more holistic approach, they seek to become accessible destinations for programs that nurture wellness while providing a sense of place and community. In a new downloadable report, Perkins Eastman have explored this typology in great depth by investigating existing CHLs. Through spatial and market research, case studies and user surveys, their findings identify strategies for improving upon the CHL model in the future. Read on for our summary of their discoveries. 1. Address wellness holisticallyWellness has varied definitions and approaches--the report identifies eight dimensions of wellness in particular: emotional, environmental, intellectual, physical, occupational, spiritual, social and financial. In their research, the Perkins Eastman team found that there was more focus on the physical and social dimensions than the others. For a CHL to fully provide for their users, its physical environment and programs/service need to address all dimensions of wellness with equal thought. 2. Focus on a transition from illness to wellnessCHLs are more than clinical facilities, and so should focus on education and prevention rather than just treatment. Most of this is down to the user experience with the space and services. Spatially, environments should be inviting, with clear wayfinding and plenty of natural light. Co-location of amenities is also a chance to increase interaction. For example, by placing therapy and general fitness gyms next to each other, rehab patients are familiarized with the facility and are more likely to continue gym use even after finishing physical therapy. Circulation is another design opportunity, with accessible and appealing stairs or ramps encouraging users to move from floor to floor without relying on elevators. As for services, research found that users are looking for variety. Programs and services should offer personal, individualized options that address physical fitness, nutrition, clinical, counselling, education, social, recreational, spiritual or self-reflective, and volunteer opportunities. 3. Respond to, and work with, different sectors of the marketLong-term sustainability of the CHL itself is also important. This can be further broken down to economic, social, and environmental sustainability. To ensure this, an ear should constantly be kept out for new findings developments across multiple sectors. This convergence of ideas from healthcare, hospitality, senior living, sustainable building and market research can create a wellness that starts from the built environment itself. 4. Design flexiblyThis point also relates to long-term sustainability. As technology and lifestyles change, so too will the needs and requirements of the new generations aging into the user group. Therefore, spaces can't afford to be functionally restrictive, especially when existing CHLs are already noting a lack of space (the average floor space of CHLs studied was 36,776 square feet, or 3,400 square meters). The report points out however, that flexibility does not automatically mean a one-size-fits-all environment, and that such spaces are often unable to support any one function well. 5. Partnerships, plug, playAs mentioned earlier, the range of services provided by a CHL vary across different fields. By partnering with outside industry providers, the quality of services and programs can be increased while encouraging ties with the surrounding community. Furthermore, because of the many components of a CHL, it could also physically pair up with other buildings. As a base that could be "plugged into," a CHL could share its facilities with hospitals, hotels, housing developments or even universities. Along with sharing resources, this "plug and play" approach would also help create intergenerational interactions between the different groups of users. You can find the full report with detailed case studies, along with other papers from Perkins Eastman, here This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
Posted: 23 Nov 2016 01:00 AM PST
From the architect. The house is located close to Brasília´s city centre. The previous owner of the house had planned to build a bigger one with 350sqm and two stories high. Instead, due to funding problems, he decided to build all the foundations of the house and only use it partially in a 150sqm, one story construction. He built the extra floor plan and covered it with a ceramic tile roof. Moreover, he sold the house without never going ahead with the expansion plan. The value of the land often surpasses the price of the existing constructions, making it very common for people to buy old houses only to demolish them in order to make space for building new ones. The intention here was to build a bigger house in the same lot with a budget that was 35% lower than what was expected for a brand new construction. The idea to lower the final cost of the construction was to take advantage of the existing structure and re-use part of the existing walls. The area occupied by the previous construction was not enough to fit the new program. Therefore, a new concrete grid created to expand its structure, create extra space and defined the outside casing. Due to the lack of regularity in the existing foundations, columns and beams, the new grid follows an "imaginary" pattern of growth inspired by the irregularity of the existing structure. It sits on both existing and new foundations and uses columns with two different sections: 40x40cm and 40x15cm. The new grid works as a graft, connecting old walls and new ones and supporting the additional program of the extension. Porous brick walls intentionally arranged in the grid respond to different necessities of solar protection and privacy. Two steel structure pavilions added additional services to the house such as a garage, an outdoor kitchen and a sauna. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
15 Details of Metal Structures and Facades for Residential Projects Posted: 23 Nov 2016 12:00 AM PST The use of steel in both the past and present is mainly associated with the success of grand industrial and civic structures. But due to the commercialization and standardization of steel profiles, its use in residential projects (thanks to its mechanical properties and fast installation) has resulted in complex and interesting solutions on a domestic scale. Dive into these 15 construction details from residential projects that have made use of steel structures and cladding. 01. Caterpillar House / Sebastián Irarrázaval02. Shokan House / Jay Bargmann03. House Pegasus / Frédéric Saint-Cricq04. Single House in Haut / Atelier Lame Architecture05. House on Todos Los Santos Lake / Apio Arquitectos06. Casa Gate / Pedro Oliveira07. RR House / Delfino Lozano08. House V / Arkosis09. Tinman House / Junsekino Architect And Design10. LLM House / Obra Arquitetos11. VIMOB / Colectivo Creativo Arquitectos12. House in Salineiras / RVdM Arquitectos13. H House / Björn Lundquist Arkitektur14. House JP / Bevk Perović Arhitekti15. BLM House / ATRIA ArquitetosThis posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
New Map Celebrates Berlin's Modernist Architecture Posted: 22 Nov 2016 10:00 PM PST Blue Crow Media in collaboration with editor Matthew Tempest has produced another alluring map — this time for modernists. The city of choice? Berlin. With its abundance of 20th-century architecture, the Modern Berlin Map highlights the details of fifty prominent buildings.
Each building showcases the various forms of modernism: Expressionist, Bauhaus, Fascist, Soviet Realist, Modernist, Brutalist, Post-Modernist, etc. Structures like Bruno Taut's Horseshoe Estate, Corbusier's Berlin Unit for Living or the Third Reich's Olympic Stadium all grace this new map. Berlin's especially complex history has created a fascinating array of architectural styles, which its urban fabric has dutifully preserved.
The map itself is two-sided with an introduction to 20th century Berlin on one side and the map on the other. As Blue Crowe Media's fifth exploratory guide, the company has perfected their art for arche-touring. News Via: Blue Crowe Media This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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