Arch Daily |
- House B&R / ECOING
- Orange Business Services Office / T+T Architects
- East Village / J.M.Bonfils and Associates
- Take Harvard's Online Course in Digital Photography for Free
- 16 Materials Every Architect Needs to Know (And Where to Learn About Them)
- 10 Ways to Improve Your Architecture CV and Get Through the Interview Process
- Gold Hall Residence / Stephen Phillips Architects
- Fly Through Herzog & de Meuron's Hamburg Elbphilharmonie at 2 Different Speeds
- How Combining Social Housing with Tourism Could Help Solve Havana’s Housing Crisis
- Riviera Grand Hotel / Tomas Ghisellini Architects
- The Spaniard Who Spent 50 Years Building a Cathedral With His Own Hands
| Posted: 14 Jan 2017 09:00 PM PST  © Marko Ercegović
 © Marko Ercegović From the architect. The residential villa B&R, located by the sea and designed for a Belgian family, has been developed in conjunction with the well laid-out surroundings, and follows the terrain of various heights, balanced by constructed retaining walls of 0.8 to 3 m high.  © Vojo Bašić Some retaining walls are underground parts of the villa, some are parts of the garage beneath the garden area, or parts of walls of the open kitchen in the garden, thus creating an impression of architecture and environment integration.  © Marko Ercegović The design and U-shape of the villa with a total surface area of 500 m2 has resulted from the fusion of the plot, its beautiful vistas and positioning on the one hand, which is why the end sections are of different lengths and angles, and slightly bend around the central terrace, designed to provide shade, and from its micro-location on the other hand, which resulted in such variations in the dimensions of the end sections, thus making the villa, thanks to its own size, fit nicely into the urban matrix.  Ground Floor Plan The villa has two storeys: ground floor and first floor, and split-level design. A sundeck extends towards the sea, accommodating the swimming pool with the dimensions 4.6x11 m and an open kitchen, while the glass walls of the villa provide for the integration of outdoor and indoor stay.  © Marko Ercegović Other facades are of a more closed character to ensure the indoor intimacy of the villa. They protect it from the street and the driveway, opposite which residents go to the beach. With only one angle opening, and the light getting in through skylights, they also render the villa protected from any views on the rear side.  © Marko Ercegović From the main entrance there is direct access to the kitchen with a pantry and to the toilet. The central, two-storey space opens right from the entrance, with galleries, stairs and the dining area that is adjoining the kitchen and the terrace with a pergola, thus opening the space for an all-day stay, as well as to the living room, which is recessed relative to the entrance and dining area. Upstairs, in the most prominent part of the villa, overlooking the sea and the swimming pool, there is a master bedroom with a glass ensuite bathroom and a corner glass walk-in closet. There is also a guest bedroom, which overlooks the backyard, as well as two children's bedrooms with bathrooms and a common terrace facing the sea and a workspace with access to the backyard.  Section The design concept is based on the premise that each room offers a unique experience, while at the same time the spaces create an integrated whole merging with the environment, ensuring a vacation stay in a natural seaside and Mediterranean ambience. The surrounding autochtonous vegetation further contribute to such an atmosphere.  © Marko Ercegović The villa's architecture is presented as a playful white block opened by large glass walls with magnificent vistas and contact with the environment.  First Floor Plan Product Description. - In this project clients' desire was to have contemporary Croatian furniture design so among other pieces in the house central place takes dining table, the TT table from ELEMENT, designed by Numen/For Use. Table is made of solid oak. Slavonian oak, "Quercus robur slovanica", a subspecies of pedunculate (common) oak named after Slovania, a geographical and historical region in eastern Croatia. All the finishing is executed in high-quality natural oils, preserving and enhancing the characteristics of the wood. http://www.element.com.hr/tables/tt/  © Marko Ercegović This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Orange Business Services Office / T+T Architects Posted: 14 Jan 2017 06:00 PM PST  © Dmitriy Yagovkin
 © Dmitriy Yagovkin From the architect. The new Moscow office of telecommunications company Orange Business Services is located on two floors of "Mercury" tower of business center "Moscow city". The total area of the interior is 5,300 sq. m. The interior project was implemented by Pridex Group Company, which combined the functions of General designer and General contractor performing the architectural and engineering design, as well as the complex of engineering works. The interior design was developed by T+T Architects bureau.  Axonometric Two reference points: customer's logo, the orange square, and accent elements in the form of circles became the basis for the architectural concept. The principle of an open workspace is popular all over the world. However, here the customer has built a distinct functional process in which the tasks go through a kind of "assembly line" of departments and specialists. The final placement of the departments follows this scheme.  © Dmitriy Yagovkin The office space is divided into working areas and points of informal communication evenly spread over the entire space of the floors. At these points architects set the accents based on the form of circle in a particular embodiment. Workspaces are made contrastly – in the orthogonal forms and monochrome materials. Part of the informal communication points were integrated in the center of some departments showing the inextricable workflow and the process of discussion. Materials with high acoustic comfort were used for the productive work of 500 employees. Solutions with mobile partitions in meeting rooms made the space for negotiations flexible and scalable. "The new office for Orange Company has become for us a serious challenge. Complicated architecture of the building and a number of customer conditions demanded high professionalism of the team. Due to the selected solutions and coordinated work, we managed to implement such an ambitious project in the shortest possible time", - says Sergey Kudryavtsev, managing partner of Pridex Group Company.  © Dmitriy Yagovkin "Great attention was paid to the corporate standards. "Orange" provided us with the detailed brand book with a lot of restrictions and recommendations. During the implementation we managed to create a unique solution without breaking the basic corporate strategy", - says Polina Voevodina, the main architect of the project, the T+T Architects Bureau. "We thank the Pridex Company for the fast and high quality implementation of this complex project. Everything is done in accordance with the requirements of the Orange brand style. New office came out comfortable and functional, and most importantly - helped to raise the productivity of our employees interaction. It will definitely impact on improving the quality of service to our clients", - commented Olga Nekrasova, Director of commercial real estate and facilities management at Orange Business Services.  © Dmitriy Yagovkin Product Description: As far as the main point of the concept was minimalistic and neat interior, one of the principal materials was the white color itself. However, we paid high attention to the public spaces: circular reinforced concrete staircase, lounge area near it, coffee points and kitchen, informal meeting areas, reception. Oppositely to the white and really simple open space areas, there are accent walls with micro-cement decorative coating (Baldini) or bright orange-color ceiling detail (Tikkurilla paintings). There are also some cozy suspended lamps ("Hood", Atelje Lyktan) with red felt shades, which determine unique areas. Using different colors from Desso Airmaster carpet collection allowed us to distinguish different functional zones by determing the floor color.  © Dmitriy Yagovkin This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| East Village / J.M.Bonfils and Associates Posted: 14 Jan 2017 12:00 PM PST  © Kinan Mansour
 © Wael Khoury Photography From the architect. The concept consisted in lifting key contextual elements – traditional building material and Lebanese gardens –and revives them with contemporary interpretations. So conventional wood and dark stone found an unexpected contrast in vivid red metal, and space-efficient vertical gardens replaced their horizontal predecessors. These elements complement the diversity of the surrounding context. While it looks like a simple geometric shape from afar, the structure consists of three parallel elongated blocks each with a unique identity that's revealed on approach, while a cantilevered section that extends out towards the street emphasizes the building's partly public function, a contemporary art gallery that occupies the ground floor to introduce a cultural and commercial element to the project. .jpg?1482912843 "Section") Section East Village includes 13 loft units, each of the double height characteristic of the region: 10 duplexes, two penthouses with pools on each of their terraces, and one simplex, its balcony framed by red metal. On the simplex's terrace is a private bar that overlooks the pubs and lounges scattered across Gemayzeh and through Downtown, exposing a panoramic view of the city.  © Kinan Mansour "East Village is a kind of suprematist composition playing with the paradoxical conditions of today and linking us to a kind of paradigm" - Jean Marc Bonfils  © Kinan Mansour Product Description: Vertical Garden influenced by a public garden located in the adjacent 1960s Electricite du Liban headquarters, that is no longer accessible to the public. The aim is to reintroduce a more space-efficient vertical green space that the community could enjoy.  © Kinan Mansour This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Take Harvard's Online Course in Digital Photography for Free Posted: 14 Jan 2017 10:30 AM PST  If you've always wanted to take better photos and you have 10-15 hours to dedicate to the endeavor, you'll be pleased to know this: Harvard, one of the world's most renowned universities and home to the mighty GSD (Graduate School of Design)—whose faculty has included Rem Koolhaas, Zaha Hadid, Walter Gropius and many others—is offering a free course in digital photography. Available via ALISON, an online learning community, the course offers 13 modules that promise to teach the basics behind good photography.
Computer scientist and photographer Dan Armendariz guides you through the course, with lessons covering
Ready to step up your architecture photography game? Join the over 400,000 interested students at ALISON or learn more by visiting the course's website. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 16 Materials Every Architect Needs to Know (And Where to Learn About Them) Posted: 14 Jan 2017 08:00 AM PST .jpg?1482148260) A building's materiality is what our bodies make direct contact with; the cold metal handle, the warm wooden wall, and the hard glass window would all create an entirely different atmosphere if they were, say, a hard glass handle, a cold metal wall and a warm wooden window (which with KTH's new translucent wood, is not as absurd as it might sound). Materiality is of just as much importance as form, function and location—or rather, inseparable from all three. Here we've compiled a selection of 16 materials that should be part of the design vocabulary of all architects, ranging from the very familiar (such as concrete and steel) to materials which may be unknown for some of our readers, as well as links to comprehensive resources to learn more about many of them.  <a href='http://www.archdaily.com/799062/studio-ossidiana-translates-elements-of-persian-gardens-into-lively-materials-exhibition'>"Petrified Carpets,"</a> an exhibit by Studio Ossidiana at the 2016 Dutch Design Festival. Image © Kyoungtae Kim 1. ConcreteConcrete is the most widely used building material in the world, making it a good starting material to get to know. However it also has significant environmental impacts, including a carbon footprint of up to 5% of worldwide emissions. To get to know all about designing with concrete, the Concrete Center has a collection of useful reports, many of which are free with registration.  <a href='https://www.kth.se/en/forskning/artiklar/kth-forskare-har-uppfunnit-genomskinligt-tra-1.638511'>Translucent wood</a> developed by KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. Image © Peter Larsson/KTH 2. WoodOne of the oldest, most traditional building materials around the world is of course timber. The material is beginning to take on new forms thanks to engineered wood products, and with high-rise buildings and even translucent properties, this diverse material is being taken to new heights. reThink Wood has a great collection of resources to learn about, and help architects design with, wood.  A 3D-printed steel structural connecter created using a method <a href='http://www.archdaily.com/514003/arup-develops-3d-printing-technique-for-structural-steel'>developed by Arup</a>. Image © David de Jong 3. SteelThe city skylines as we know them exploded out of our discovery of steel, commonly used for reinforcement but serving as a beautiful skin in several examples. The wiki SteelConstruction.info offers everything you could possibly need to know about designing with steel.  A bench developed by Terreform ONE and Genspace <a href='http://www.archdaily.com/779655/terreform-ones-biological-benches-question-traditional-manufacturing-methods'>created using bioplastics</a>. Image © Terreform ONE 4. PlasticAlthough this may seem like a cheap, unsustainable material to some, one should not be so quick to judge the possibilities that plastic holds. We produce so much of it; why not recycle it in the form of architecture or bioplastics? What about the whole new world that comes with 3D printing? The American Chemistry Council has a great overview of plastics as a material, as well as a rundown of their major uses in architecture, with links to further resources for each.  <a href=''>Stone staircase developed by Webb Yates Engineers and The Stonemasonry Company</a> for a residential design by RAL Architects. Image © Agnese Sanvito 5. StoneAnother material used over generations in certain geographical locations around the world, stone has a wide diversity of textures, colours and strengths. Despite its heavy, solid materiality, one can still work with it to achieve diverse forms. The Building Stone Institute has a variety of resources including fact sheets and specification sheets for many of the most common types of stone used in construction.  <a href='http://www.archdaily.com/777057/architects-team-up-with-khmer-women-to-build-a-community-centre-with-fabric-and-concrete'>Community Center in Cambodia by Orkidstudio and StructureMode</a>. Image Courtesy of Orkidstudio 6. TextilesTextiles have been explored most commonly using tensile structures, however there's a whole range of opportunities using this material: load-bearing chairs, inflatable spaces, fabric casting and wooden fabrics amongst others. Fabric Architecture Magazine has a collection of technical articles for architects, while their resource guide provides a comprehensive overview of the products on the market in this category.  <a href='http://www.archdaily.com/798817/herzog-and-de-meurons-elbphilharmonie-in-hamburg-photographed-by-iwan-baan'>Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg by Herzog & de Meuron</a>. Image © Maxin Schulz 7. GlassOur most used material to achieve transparency and light is without a doubt glass, one of the most commonly used façade elements in contemporary architecture. Some are taking it a step further, attempting to extend its properties to create "intelligent" responsive glass. The PPG Glass Education Center is a great place to learn more.  <a href='http://www.archdaily.com/794947/young-architects-design-and-build-irans-first-free-form-brick-structure'>"FaBRICKate" structure in Iran</a> by ADAPt. Image Courtesy of ADAPt 8. BrickDespite its rigid, rectangular shape made to fit in your hand, brick architecture has been shown to create beautiful structures with the right craftsmanship. Innovative thinkers are also finding new ways to incorporate active sustainability into the small building elements. The Brick Development Association has a collection of resources for learning more about brick.  <a href='http://www.dupont.com/'>DuPont's Kevlar</a>. Image via DuPont.com 9. KevlarA material stronger than metal body armor, with awesome tensile strength, Kevlar is certainly an asset when building large structures. With a less rigid composition than steel however, it could reform the way we think of large load-bearing structures. As a still-relatively-new material, there are few comprehensive information sources on Kevlar's architectural applications, but this article and this snippet of the book Material Architecture by John Fernandez are good places to start.  <a href='http://www.archdaily.com/81585/the-green-school-pt-bambu'>The Green School by PT Bambu</a>. Image Courtesy of PT Bambu 10. BambooBamboo usage is generally dictated by the geographical location of the architectural project. In locations where bamboo makes sense, it is an incredibly flexible, strong, sustainable material that can be useful in many ways.  <a href='http://www.archdaily.com/415816/p-a-t-t-e-r-n-s-latest-expressive-experimental-pavilion-textile-room'>Textile Room</a> by P-A-T-T-E-R-N-S. Image © Monica Nouwens 11. Carbon FiberReflecting everything about our new material endeavors is carbon fiber: "five times stronger than steel, twice as stiff, weighing significantly less." The composition of carbon fibre makes it flexible to work with, allowing it to take shapes from surfaces to rods, depending on your requirements.  <a href='http://www.archdaily.com/773657/researchers-increase-the-power-of-solar-energy-through-the-ancient-japanese-art-of-kirigami'>"Kirigami"-inspired solar panels developed at the University of Michigan</a>. Image via Inhabitat 12. Photovoltaic cellsWith all the high-rises soaring high above the earth, it's a wonder photovoltaic facades haven't become a norm. Due to the evolution of photovoltaic technology, cells may no longer have to be locked in place on the roof. The International Energy Agency's design handbook for photovoltaics in buildings is available for free online.  Image from the <a href='http://www.archdaily.com/224090/mud-structure-architecture-for-humanity-tehran-rai-studio'>Mud Structure project by Architecture for Humanity Tehran - Rai Studio</a>. Image © Mahsa Masoudi 13. EarthEarth is among the oldest building materials we can think of due to its almost universal accessibility and relative ease of use at small scales. It's capable of being compressed into modules, as well as creating freeform surfaces, all of which can eventually return to the earth with ease.  via Al Jazeera English 14. WasteWe produce a huge amount of waste covering a huge range of materials, but getting to know your waste is an excellent idea for future architects. Whether it's converting cigarette butts into building material or plastic bottles to earthquake resistant walls, recycling is something to be admired.  <a href='http://www.archdaily.com/150293/no99-straw-theatre-salto-ab'>NO99 Straw Theatre / Salto AB</a>. Image Courtesy of Karli Luik 15. StrawCreating a passive thermal environment, shielding from rain and blending into similar natural surroundings are just a few things that straw is good at. It's no wonder thatched roofs were so popular in the past.  Image from<a href='http://www.archdaily.com/796769/neri-oxman-plus-mediated-matter-create-synthetic-apiaries-to-combat-honeybee-colony-loss'>Neri Oxman and the Mediated Matter group's Synthetic Apiary project</a>. Image Courtesy of The Mediated Matter Group 16. Organic materialsWith the massive loss of habitats happening around the world, getting to know organic structures created by animals is something that's best to do sooner rather than later. Not only can we learn from their use of materials, it also opens up opportunities for us to coexist through incorporating their organic materials into our architecture. As with all materials, accessibility and cost plays a huge role. There are sure to be materials not on the list that would be the obvious option in certain parts of the world, so be sure to get to know the materials around you in addition to these and you'll be sure to have a complete resource. Finally, if you're looking for a resource to specify products for a project, why not try ArchDaily's Product Catalog? This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 10 Ways to Improve Your Architecture CV and Get Through the Interview Process Posted: 14 Jan 2017 06:00 AM PST  Harvard Graduate School of Design. © Matt, via Flickr. CC. Used under <a href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/'>Creative Commons</a> One of the main difficulties encountered by students when looking for a job is dealing with a lack of professional experience. This fact is a paradox since people who apply for a trainee position have often never worked in the chosen area. Therefore, it is vital to invest in education and also to know the cultural diversity that’s available. Below we have 10 tips that serve as guidelines for students who want to build up their CV and get through the interview processes: 1. NETWORK  Via startup101.com.br Networking means the ability to establish a network of contacts or connections with something or someone. It serves as a personal marketing tool whose effectiveness will depend on authentic communication, a proactive stance, and the ability to cultivate strong interpersonal relationships. In addition, it functions as a system of mutual collaboration for sharing services and information between individuals who have common interests. For example, hearing about a job opening through a colleague. Therefore, it’s important to participate in social networks related to your areas of interest and also to maintain regular contact with people who can contribute to your professional and personal development. Without a doubt, helping and being helped are rewarding experiences, resulting in beneficial partnerships for all involved. 2. VOLUNTEER  Via Gazeta do Povo There are numerous NGOs (non-governmental organizations) that offer on-site collaborations with volunteers and the community, in order to achieve a specific objective (their mission). The projects they do emphasize teamwork and the importance of being civic-minded. In addition, it’s an opportunity to develop your technical skills and at the same time get to know other ways of living and contribute to the transformation of a place and the people who live there. 3. PARTICIPATE IN DISCUSSION GROUPS If discussion groups meet in your area, try to attend. Usually, texts on current and / or relevant themes are discussed. In addition, sessions of documentaries or films that portray the problems and realities of the architectural universe may be shown. If no such group exists, organize one with your peers and ask for help from your professors so that they can suggest readings and films / documentaries related to the subjects they teach. The exchange of information and opinions with colleagues directly contributes to gaining professional knowledge. 4. TAKE MORE CLASSES Just participating in the courses for your degree isn’t enough if you want to excel professionally. You should further develop your skill set through specialized classes that correspond to what interests you. There are several options offered by public and private educational institutions, among them: distance learning courses, technical vocational courses, seminars, certification classes and technical training courses. 5. ATTEND LOCAL EVENTS  Via Expo Revestir Be aware of the calendar of events in your field (architecture, urban planning, design, landscaping and construction), including international fairs, forums, symposiums, conventions, round tables, architecture and urbanism week, regional / national / international meetings for architecture and urban planning students, etc. Choose which ones you’d like to participate in from the available options. 6. PARTICIPATE IN STUDENT COMPETITIONS Participating in a competition means fully meeting all the requirements set out in the call for proposals, whose work will be evaluated by skilled and technically qualified judges. It’s essential that the project is presented in the requested formatting since any non-compliance is cause for disqualification. All these types of experiences are valuable, even if your project doesn’t win since participating demonstrates attention to detail, discipline, teamwork, and organization in order to fulfill all the requirements. In addition, the projects you make can be included in your portfolio (see tip 10) and also mentioned on your CV. 7. VISIT IMPORTANT WORKS OF ARCHITECTURE  Copan Building. © Rhcastilhos - via <a href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/'>Wikimedia</a> commons Researching architectural and urban projects that were or are relevant to society allows an architecture student to expand his repertoire of projects. However, seeing the places you studied in person and getting to know them is an irreplaceable experience in the training of an urbanist architect. Being physically in a place stimulates the senses of the human body because it is possible to experience different smells, noises, tastes, textures and sights all at the same time. In addition, observing people interacting with a space provides critical analysis for the architect in decision making. If you can’t travel right now, try to get to know the history and the architectural structures in your own city or even your neighborhood. There are always at least a few interesting places to visit and in many of them are free. Oh! Always bring a notebook to write down your impressions and ideas. 8. PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH Participating in research is the starting point for those interested in delving into a specific subject or pursuing an academic career. In general, the interested student integrates with some research group at an institution and develops a project together with the instructor, which in turn encourages him to participate in conventions and seminars, as well as to publish articles in newspapers and magazines. In addition, you can obtain research grants by sending in grant applications and project summaries whose relevance will be evaluated by the technical committee of the requested institution. 9. PARTICIPATE IN AN EXCHANGE PROGRAM  Florence. © Irene Grassi, via Flickr. CC. Used under <a href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/'>Creative Commons</a> A professional who has already participated in an exchange program stands out in the job market because the experience acquired is associated with a series of challenges that the person has already overcome, among them: dealing with distance from family and friends, learning different customs, adapting to the reality of a new country and, above all, to communicate in another language. An exchange student learns the importance of teamwork and has experience with the cultural diversity of another country. Additionally, you make new friends and expand your network (see tip 1), you acquire new knowledge, responsibility, and independence and, again, can become fluent in a foreign language. There are different exchange programs, some of which offer scholarships and housing and food aid. It is important to thoroughly research the available information and look it over well to determine what destination and length of stay fit your budget. 10. MAKE A PORTFOLIO Your portfolio is a kind of "display case", whose main objective is to demonstrate the quality of the projects you’ve done. Students who are planning their careers should gather their work done both at university and from student competitions (see tip 6) so that the portfolio ends up being creative, organized, and well structured. Make sure you always keep it up to date. Article written by Tarsila Miyazato, Master of Architecture and Urbanism - FAUUSP. She is currently a professor of architecture and urban planning and civil engineering courses at Cruzeiro do Sul University (UNICSUL) and works as an architect at Companhia Paulista de Trens Metropolitanos (CPTM). This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Gold Hall Residence / Stephen Phillips Architects Posted: 14 Jan 2017 05:00 AM PST  © Kevin Dole
 © Kevin Dole Giving a facelift to an otherwise aged 1960s Malibu Canyon track home, Stephen Phillips Architects (SPARCHS) creates a sparkling contemporary gem. Located all too near the notorious Piuma Canyon Brush fires, executive television producer Ted Gold and his wife Cara Hall, a graphic designer, took on the challenge to purchase an all wood-sided shed-roof modern home and transform it into something original and beautiful.  © Kevin Dole Working with a minimal budget one step at a time, they hired local California architect Phillips to make a series of strategic surgical design procedures to update, rejuvenate, and fortify their painfully drab house with elegance and style. As the original home had no front entry (it was originally accessed alongside the garage off the side-yard driveway) Phillips most notably created a two-story wrap-around balcony and deck that directed arriving guests to the front of the house. A dramatic new entry hall to the upper living level was added featuring a floating steel staircase with glass and stainless-steel guardrails alongside solid-white oak-wood treads.  Axonometric On the interior, the kitchen was completely renovated opening up towards the family room, dining room, breakfast nook, and entry hall. The baths, bedrooms, and living spaces were all reconstructed with new carpeting, tile, fixtures, and paint. Hall lent her design sensibility to provocatively update all the interior rooms.  © Kevin Dole  © Kevin Dole Phillips's angular-roof entry becomes the central organizational figure within the overall design. It brings visitors up from the garden to the living area, and uses glass extensively, shaded under a series of shifted and folded roof and wall planes that extend out to the canyon while framing distant mountain views. The new entry creates a dynamic yet relaxing contemporary space that reconfigures an otherwise rambling wooden shack with unclear floor plan into a strong well-organized contemporary dwelling. The family room, kitchen, and main hall all overlook the entry stair that provides views clear out to the mountains and easy access to the yard below.  © Kevin Dole Fortifying the exterior the architect proposed a combination of cement board and metal panels alongside exterior cement plaster (stucco) wall surfaces to ensure a flame-resistant contemporary new look. The cement board panels serve as a light backdrop to a stunning use of dark metal seam roofing material that folds down, wraps up and around the roof, walls, and balcony. Carefully composed to highlight or diminish existing apertures and disparate housing forms, Phillips created a continuous well-composed design that compliments the pitched roof areas at the front and back of the existing canyon home.  Elevation What was formally a lackluster wood developer track house becomes a sparkling jewel through only a few carefully designed elements that add bold dynamism alongside much needed value and protection to this unique and contemporary Malibu Canyon home.  © Kevin Dole Product Description: This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Fly Through Herzog & de Meuron's Hamburg Elbphilharmonie at 2 Different Speeds Posted: 14 Jan 2017 04:00 AM PST  Screenshot via video In preparation for their grand opening on January 11/12, the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg has released an interactive drone video that lets you experience the Herzog & de Meuron-designed building at two different speeds: adagio and presto (slow or fast). Using the spacebar to switch between speeds, the footage takes you on a tour up the curving escalator, on to the elevated terrace, around the building and finally into the main concert hall, where the drones meet back up in a dramatic finish.  Screenshot via video Pop some headphones in and check it out for yourself, here. (Warning: don't turn the volume up too loud before you hit the spacebar for the first time!) News via Elbphilharmonie Hamburg. Herzog & de Meuron's Elbphilharmonie Finally Gets Opening Date Herzog & de Meuron's Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg Photographed by Iwan Baan This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| How Combining Social Housing with Tourism Could Help Solve Havana’s Housing Crisis Posted: 14 Jan 2017 01:30 AM PST  Courtesy of Iwo Borkowicz The largest of the Caribbean islands, Cuba is a cultural melting pot of over 11 million people, combining native Taíno and Ciboney people with descendants of Spanish colonists and African slaves. Since the 1959 revolution led by Fidel Castro, the country has been the only stable communist regime in the Western hemisphere, with close ties to the Soviet Union during the Cold War and frosty relationship with its nearby neighbor, the United States, that has only recently begun to thaw. While the architecture in the capital city of Havana reflects the dynamic and rich history of the area, after the revolution Havana lost its priority status and government focus shifted to rural areas, and the buildings of Havana have been left to ruin ever since. Iwo Borkowicz, one of three winners of the 2016 Young Talent Architecture Award, has developed a plan that could bring some vibrancy, and most importantly some sustainability, back to Havana, the historic core of the city.  Courtesy of Iwo Borkowicz After half a century of poor maintenance within Havana Vieja, buildings are reported to be partially, or even entirely, collapsing at a rate of 2 every 3 days due to flooding, salt water corrosion, and overloading; as many as 20 families can be living in a villa originally designed for one. Despite a Cuban law preventing people from migrating into the capital, Havana is still struggling with a major housing crisis. According to a 2010 study, the island lacked around 500,000 housing units to adequately fulfil the nation's needs, but due to the collapsing buildings, this number is currently estimated to be somewhere between 600,000 and 1 million. Havana alone has over 100,000 people without an apartment to live in. In other words, suitable housing is high up on the list of the Cuban people's needs.  Courtesy of Iwo Borkowicz Existing alongside the country's housing crisis is its rapidly expanding tourism industry. Due to the country's communist rule, privately owned businesses such as hotels are essentially non-existent, in spite of the nearly 3.5 million tourists expected to visit the country in 2017 - with 90% of them, according to Borkowicz, expected to visit Havana. However, the government has allowed Cuban people to rent out rooms in their own homes since 1997, commonly known in Cuba as "casas particulares," responding to the touristic demand without having to build large hotels alien to the Havana landscape. This concept, as well as the desperate need for housing and possible local economic gain from tourism, is what inspired Borkowicz to develop a proposal to combine social housing with tourism in Havana Vieja.  Diagram showing infill plans. Image Courtesy of Iwo Borkowicz The idea is to merge the two by renovating existing, partially collapsed buildings around Havana Vieja, and adding vertical extensions to fulfil Borkowicz's plan to build with an average of 4 floors. Occasionally structures are designed from scratch when the existing building has collapsed beyond repair. As Borkowicz envisions the use of space in a 3:1 ratio of permanent versus temporary inhabitants, these buildings need to not only accommodate for the existing housing shortages in Havana Vieja, but must supersede them. Currently the housing shortages require 9,200 new housing units, with an assumed floor space of 70 square meters per unit. Borkowicz looked at 12 housing blocks already existing in Havana Vieja, using their volumes as a benchmark for calculations on his proposal of an average of 4 storeys per building and concluded that the total generated floor space from his project could amount to 105,812 square meters - 3 times as much space as is currently needed.  Section of Prototype 1. Image Courtesy of Iwo Borkowicz  Spatial diagram of Prototype 1. Image Courtesy of Iwo Borkowicz Not only will this proposal provide more housing for the Cuban population, it will also serve as a source of income for the inhabitants, as they will be able to rent out more rooms to tourists. One of the main reasons for Cuba's housing crisis is the lack of financial support, however Borkowicz proposes that residents could repay loans over an estimated 10 year period, while still keeping around 10% of the revenue for personal use (estimated to total around 4 times as much as the average salary in Cuba). For locals, this sum of money can often buy them far more value for money, as some business run two pricing systems - one for locals and one for the foreigners. For example, Borkowicz has noted ice cream selling for 24 times the price when bought by a tourist.  Diagram showing relative locations of the 6 prototypes. Image Courtesy of Iwo Borkowicz As part of his research project, Borkowicz has established 6 prototypes, each responding to the individual situations on their site: Prototype 1 and 3 take place on existing plots housing single storey buildings in very bad condition that will be completely replaced; Prototype 2 addresses a similar pre-existing condition, but with a building still in good shape that can be built upon; Prototype 4 is an empty corner plot with only partial remains of its previous occupant, making it necessary to design the house from scratch; Prototype 5 connects two parallel streets by joining two existing buildings back-to-back, one on each street. Finally Prototype 6 is not a social housing project, but is suggested to take an empty corner plot and addresses the need for a co-working space that promotes small businesses.  Section of Prototype 4. Image Courtesy of Iwo Borkowicz  Spatial diagram of Prototype 4. Image Courtesy of Iwo Borkowicz These houses are designed in such a way that the structural support, as well as the sewage or gas infrastructure, can remain entirely unchanged. Instead the transformation of space takes place by rearranging non-load-bearing walls, allowing for flexible floor plans whenever possible so that residents can arrange different combinations of hotel rooms, or alternatively expand their own apartment.  Possible plans of Prototype 5. Image Courtesy of Iwo Borkowicz "Casa particulars is not a hotel nor a guest room in somebody's house but a formula in-between. This significantly changes the way guests and hosts look at each other," explains Borkowicz in a booklet documenting his research. "Tourists can experience a more in-depth Cuban culture and Cubans won't feel like simple servants, but partners in an exchange of services and money - but also an exchange of stories, daily routine, and experiences. Both parties will hopefully get a chance to... learn from each other, while at the same time having access to a fully private zone in their rooms or flats."  Diagram showing uses of the common space in a prototype building. Image Courtesy of Iwo Borkowicz This kind of architecture requires a lot of common spaces that both permanent and temporary inhabitants can take advantage of; much more than in an ordinary Cuban apartment or AirBnb. Each of Borkowicz's prototype buildings is individually designed with respect to the existing situation on the plot, however all five residential plans include an open space with planted areas, often in the form of large inner courtyards. Also included are an open kitchen and living room; a "collective zone" on the roof, including a laundry station and an urban farming space; a zone for tenants to keep chickens, vegetables and herbs; and an "extension" of the space into the surrounding community around the entrance zone.  Section of Prototype 5. Image Courtesy of Iwo Borkowicz  Spatial diagram of Prototype 5. Image Courtesy of Iwo Borkowicz In his designs, Borkowicz prioritizes natural ventilation, using both the main wide courtyard and smaller secondary courtyards to create cross-ventilation through rooms not directly connected to the street. Open space within the building is above the government's requirement of 15% of the total area, and the windows and courtyards are protected by permeable solar protection to allow for the passage of wind. In addition to this the design specifies staircases and railings that generate maximum airflow, using traditional Cuban wrought iron elements. The passive cooling system, taking place through underground pipes that suck air through the patios, are stabilized by the constant temperature below ground level of around 15 degrees Celsius.  Materiality of the housing projects. Image Courtesy of Iwo Borkowicz In addition to the traditional wrought iron railings, Borkowicz's plan would support the production of Cuban ornamental ceramic tiles, which would be used to cover the roof, reflecting sunlight to prevent overheating. One of the more important choices in Borkowicz's design is to maintain the existing characteristics of Havana Vieja, with facades that reflect the classical, brightly colored and decorated buildings of the Cuban culture, preserving the tourist appeal of the area. No choice of color is specified, leaving the housing cooperative to personalize each house, hopefully helping them to identify more strongly with the project through the use of shapes, materials and colors that are so abundant within the Cuban culture. Social, cultural and economic support that can be brought through architectural design is no easy task to accomplish, making the symbiotic relationship that arises from such a project a fantastically beautiful thing to witness. If the predicted deluge of US tourists is to find much more than rubble and homelessness in Havana Vieja, Borkowicz's proposal is not only beautiful, but desperately needed. Correction update: This article originally stated that the "casas particulares" system was introduced in 1959. It was actually introduced in 1997. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Riviera Grand Hotel / Tomas Ghisellini Architects Posted: 14 Jan 2017 01:00 AM PST  © Lucrezia Alemanno
 Site Plan From the architect. After many years of complete abandonment, the Riviera Grand Hotel, a historical complex in southern Italy Salento area, comes to a new life after a challenging renovation and a radical interior redesign.  © Lucrezia Alemanno The property, located along one of the most extraordinary coast stretch of Ionian Salento, just close to the sea, is a sort of village made by thin coastal "towers" connected at the base by a plate of services and common areas. The towers, looking at the nearby gulf of Gallipoli, accommodate rooms offering stunning panoramic views over Mediterranean Sea. Outside, spectacular environmental terraces on different levels feature pools, tennis courts, belvedere, cafes and open-air restaurant, banquet facilities, solarium, meadows of lush Mediterranean vegetation and scented pine forests inhabited, here and there, by rocky outcrops.  © Lucrezia Alemanno The project, silent and delicate, regenerates the splendor of the complex without upheavals, retaining the overall essence of the original rationalist composition, indeed pushing the architectural vocabulary to an elementary and almost "archaic" simplicity. The built bodies are sheathed in seamless white plaster; porous borders in golden local stone intervene decisively in defining profiles and silhouettes; painted terracotta decorations dot the theories of loggias and balconies, giving the façade the appearance of an elegant three-dimensional embroidery.  © Lucrezia Alemanno The results of a few but strong design choices are amazing: from the coastline cliffs, as well as the waters of the sea, the complex appears in the guise of a tiny but dense "white city" perched on rocky slopes and masses of trees. The hotel exudes the dreamy charm of the candid Apulian historic settlements, so deeply rooted in the collective spirit and exercises over places the magnetic power of the great Mediterranean architecture.  © Lucrezia Alemanno Once reached, the Riviera reveals an articulate spatial composition made by architectural scenes and changing altitude levels offering visitors continuous discoveries of views, forests, panoramas, horizons and unforgettable landscapes.  Section Interiors, similarly rigorous and essential, reinterpret in a contemporary way the traditions of the coastal Salento architectures: chromatic freshness, glazed ceramics, canopies, almost impalpable fabrics, local stones and surfaces where white descends as liquid build a soft and iridescent perceptive scenario.  © Lucrezia Alemanno The settings, freed from any excessive densification as well as the predominance of dark colors as legacy of the past, explode with light and colors. Soft ceilings, evanescent curtains and rains of flying "lanterns" draw cozy and tranquil spaces; build up the impression of magical places and yet so familiar, embracing, domestic in a way.  © Lucrezia Alemanno Architectural choices, constructive and specific technological solutions and expedients, give the complex an attitude of high responsibility as regards the protection of the environment and the reduction of energy consumption. Product Description: Mapei Silancolor Base Coat and Silancolor pure white have been used to pre-treat and then paint all the outer façades of the hotel complex. These products are specifically utilized wherever "complicated" environmental conditions (in this case salty marine aerosols) can lead buildings to a rapid deterioration of colors and plaster vertical surfaces. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The Spaniard Who Spent 50 Years Building a Cathedral With His Own Hands Posted: 14 Jan 2017 12:00 AM PST  © Flickr user: santiago lopez-pastor, licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0 A huge cathedral with tall towers and a magnificent dome rises slowly in the municipality of Mejorada del Campo, 20 kilometers from Madrid. It seems like a common occurrence, but it is not. The building has been under construction for 50 years - brick by brick - by one man: Justo Gallego Martínez, farmer, ex-monk and a self-taught architect of 91 years of age. Learn about his life's work (literally) after the break. Without any previous knowledge of architecture or any experience in the construction industry, Martínez has spent five decades collecting garbage and leftover building materials to build the 50 x 25-meter surface structure with a 60-meter high tower.  © Wikipedia user: Dirección General de Turismo, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 After working as a farmer and bullfighter, Martínez spent eight years in a Trappist monastery - the Cistercian convent in Santa María de Huerta - which he was forced to abandon when he was struck by tuberculosis in 1961. In honor of the Virgin Mary, he began the construction of a chapel that he describes as his great act of faith. The former monk says that if it wasn't for his faith he would never have had the strength to try to build a cathedral.  © Flickr user: santiago lopez-pastor, licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0 Despite the skepticism of the inhabitants of the city, Don Justo - as the neighbors call him - has managed to progress the construction considerably without using even a crane, his only help was from some friendly workers. The process began without any kind of permission - because he was sure he would not get it - the plot of land is 4740 square meters inherited from his parents that today is worth more than one million euros.  © Flickr user: santiago lopez-pastor, licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0 The Cathedral The large columns of the structure are made from empty oil drums, while the lining of one of the domes is made of discarded food tubes. The arches are tires from trucks and buses, the rest of the building consists of woods and bricks collected from other demolished works. He has received gifts such as iron doors and glass cutouts to close the openings. Its design inspiration comes from St. Peter's Basilica, with its huge central dome in sight, in addition to inspiration from European castles and churches.  © Flickr user: gmalon, licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0 Some years ago Martínez told the BBC: "When I see what I have created, I am overwhelmed and I thank the Lord. If I could live my life again, I would like to build this same cathedral but twice as big, because, to me, this is an act of faith."  Los planos. Image © Richard Morley The church has never received permission to be build and although it may never be worshipable in it, the authorities have allowed it to go ahead as it has become a tourist attraction for the city. Recently, Martínez has received donations from German organizations and advertising sponsorship from the energy drink Aquarius, who paid him 40 thousand euros to tell his inspiring story, as well as organizing a campaign to raise funds through text messages. The building has been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and Justo Gallego Martínez has been interviewed by the world's largest television networks. News Via: Daily Mail UK, BBC This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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