Arch Daily |
- Levanto Water Purification Plant / MMAA
- RIBA to Present Seminal Show on Mies van der Rohe's Unrealized "Mansion House Tower"
- Barn Conversion / Savioz Fabrizzi Architectes
- World Trade Organization / Wittfoht Architekten
- The Drawers House / MIA Design Studio
- Jungle Flower / 1+1>2
- Shelter · The Mirrored Sight / Li Hao
- United Petroleum / Peddle Thorp Architects
- Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects Wins 2017 AIA Architecture Firm Award
- Clos de Tres Cantos / TAC Taller de Arquitectura Contextual
- BIG Unveils Mixed-Use Concrete Superstructure for Los Angeles' Arts District
- Puma Energy Paraguay Headquarters / Ruiz Pardo – Nebreda
- Leo Villareal + Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands Wins London's Illuminated River Competition
- Refettorio Gastromotiva / METRO Arquitetos Associados
- How to Buy Gifts for Architects: The Ultimate Guide
- Summer House Gravråk / Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk
- "The Arrogance of Space": Mapping The Unfair Distribution of Public Space at Urban Intersections
- Ricky Gui Documents Over 600 Hidden Doors Around Singapore
| Levanto Water Purification Plant / MMAA Posted: 12 Dec 2016 09:00 PM PST  © Roberto Buratta, Paolo Manfroni
 © Roberto Buratta, Paolo Manfroni From the architect. The plant is situated on the Ligurian sea (in the eastern section of Liguria) in a highly important touristic and environmental area: the "Cinque Terre".  © Roberto Buratta, Paolo Manfroni This project embraces both architecture and landscape to create a water treatment plant for Levanto and Bonassola that operates on multiple levels and meets numerous needs.  Conceptual Diagram On the one hand, there is the technical plant with a clear, standardized and regulated function (i.e. water treatment), but on the other, there is the careful consideration of the impact on the landscape of a unit large enough to incorporate all the required high performance, cutting-edge treatment equipment.  © Roberto Buratta, Paolo Manfroni The shift from being merely a functional plant to a high quality, meaningful architectural element is far from automatic. Indeed, it is the design that has to take "control" of the landscape by merging the different needs and requirements to produce such quality architecture.  Sections The location of this water treatment plant is relatively unique, with the side of a hill sloping down to the beach, the sea below and the former railway tracks (the line was moved) that have been converted into a seafront walk, lined with amenities and shops, to form a genuine gateway to the fabled tourist lands of Cinque Terre. It is a striking backdrop against which to build a water treatment plant that spans four floors (two underground, two aboveground) and houses all of the water treatment equipment and control units. At the very heart of the project lies the simple idea of reproducing, in a contemporary light, the system of terraced plots that is such a defining feature of the Ligurian landscape.  © Roberto Buratta, Paolo Manfroni The building nestles on the hill (and is part of a broader scheme to consolidate the slope and reduce the landslide risk) and then moves away from it in a fluid, dynamic volume that unfolds horizontally for the two above-ground floors, reproducing that terraced structure. Opposite the first level, accessible by a ramp leading to the road, lies a large yard that provides the space needed for the vehicles and mechanical equipment required for maintenance. The upper terrace is covered by Mediterranean shrubs that blend wonderfully with the top section clad with stone with a cleft finish that recalls the classic walling used for terraces in these lands. This adds harmony and helps link the facility to the hill behind.  © Roberto Buratta, Paolo Manfroni The middle terrace has greenery that reminds one of a hanging garden, creating a geometrical pattern that contrasts with the sinuous line of the façade. The interaction between the old railway line - now a walkway and powerful element in the landscape - with the terraced architecture of the new water treatment plant creates a clear dynamic perception.  Site Plan The doors in the front of the building, in different sizes and with horizontal slats, are functional in origin, but help the overall sense of balance and measure. The cladding for the external walls of the two above-ground levels - done using elegant, curved horizontal bands - is a defining trait of this design, helping to produce the complex composition of the façade.  © Roberto Buratta, Paolo Manfroni In a certain way, the cladding represents the project, with its concept of contemporaneity and control. The local stone (Rosso Levanto and Verde Levanto) has a natural finish and is laid in a rigorous, detailed pattern of large bands separated by colour, producing a different perception depending on whether pedestrians walk here from east or west.  © Roberto Buratta, Paolo Manfroni This building is all about dynamism and elegance, fluidity and measured composition. It is quality architecture and is definitely far more than a simple functional container; it actively contributes to shaping a concept of landscape wedged between transformation and tradition.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| RIBA to Present Seminal Show on Mies van der Rohe's Unrealized "Mansion House Tower" Posted: 12 Dec 2016 08:00 PM PST  Proposed Mies van der Rohe-designed tower block for the Mansion House Square scheme. Image © John Donat / RIBA Collections Next year the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) will open a seminal new exhibition: Mies van der Rohe & James Stirling: Circling the Square. The show will examine two iconic schemes proposed for the same site in the City of London: Mies van der Rohe's unrealised Mansion House Square project (developed by Lord Peter Palumbo) and its built successor, James Stirling Michael Wilford & Associates' No.1 Poultry.  No.1 Poultry / James Stirling & Associates. Image © Janet Hall / RIBA Collections In the words of the curators, Marie Bak Mortensen and Vicky Wilson, "the design history of the two schemes spans three decades of the mid-20th Century, a highly transitional period in the history of architecture where the movements and influences of pop art, high modernism and postmodernism co-existed and collided." Presented together for the first time, the exhibition will provide a unique opportunity to compare the design methods of two of the most highly recognized architects of the last century, and to "trace the continuity in purpose and approach that unites two seemingly dissimilar architectural creations." The exhibition will be designed by London-based practice Carmody Groarke Architects.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Barn Conversion / Savioz Fabrizzi Architectes Posted: 12 Dec 2016 07:00 PM PST  © Thomas Jantscher
 © Thomas Jantscher Built in the second half of the 19th century, the barn was originally situated at the entrance to the village of praz-de-fort in the val d'entremont, and had been abandoned. as part of the conversion process, it was first dismantled and then rebuilt a few kilometres further into the valley, at saleinaz.  © Thomas Jantscher A new independent structure and an internal skin were constructed inside the envelope formed by the old barn. this separation from the external structure enabled a rich spatial mix to be created via open half-storeys communicating with one another. the dwelling was therefore treated as a single open and continuous space, organised via the differences in level. the bedroom and office, which are the most private spaces, were created in the upper part of the barn, above the living areas and the kitchen.  Floor Plan As the only existent openings were doors that gave access to the different balconies, these were retained and glazed. the number of additional new openings was minimised, to avoid detracting from the character of the barn while making it more comfortable. the new openings were positioned in such a way as to create a relationship either with the natural surroundings outside or with the original envelope, depending on the position.  © Thomas Jantscher The external bands formed by the existent ruchines (wheat-drying galleries) have been made slightly more dense with a view to making the outer walls more homogeneous and keeping the barn closer to its original appearance, as well as offering an intimacy for the users of the internal spaces.  © Thomas Jantscher The base, which has been reconstructed in exposed concrete, recalls the stone used for the original base. this new base is connected to the barn by a band of glazing which is set back from the external wall so as to make it inconspicuous. this band of glazing enables natural light to reach the areas situated in the base.  Section The new internal skin of the barn consists of oak panels, with the spaces in the base providing a contrast through the use of materials that recall the external stone.  © Thomas Jantscher  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| World Trade Organization / Wittfoht Architekten Posted: 12 Dec 2016 06:00 PM PST  © Brigida González
 © Brigida González From the architect. After winning the international architectural design competition, Stuttgart based wittfoht architekten were commissioned to build the extension of the World Trade Organization headquarters in Geneva. The new administrative building, integrated into the site, creates a feeling of openness and transparency.  © Brigida González Urban planning concept The site is situated in an unusual location mixing both city and lake surroundings. The lakeside wooden park incorporating the existing group of WTO buildings is a key determining factor in the project. The new building complements and completes the overall urban setting with its existing building ensemble. It responds to the cramped conditions in the southern part of the site while integrating the existing necessary and functional constraints. It maintains a respectful distance from the old buildings and creates a high-quality outdoor area between the two structures. A balanced, well-proportioned overall picture presents itself, which is enriched by a dialogue between old and new.  © Brigida González  Site Plan  © Brigida González Architectural concept The dimensions of the extension are limited to the former car park, meaning the existing trees on the site could remain in place and no additional areas had to be sealed off for construction. Visitors are led from the main gate through the old building, over a spacious footbridge and directly into the main lobby in the extension. From here, all areas of the new building can be accessed. The new building is essentially divided into two sections – the base structure at ground level and the glass structure suspended above. Thanks to this division, the actual dimensions appear smaller and are playfully incorporated into the park area. The building appearance is defined by openness and transparency.  © Brigida González  Office Floor  © Brigida González The earth-bound base zone is home to mass catering facilities. The roof of the base structure is designed as an accessible wooden deck, welcoming visitors to use it as a viewing platform. A terrace at the front expands the restaurant towards the lake. The floating, crystalline volume above houses the administration and office areas. The allocation of areas within the building creates spaces for informal meetings and conversations. The office floors offer high flexibly organization. Many office organizations are possible – from classical single offices to combined areas and open-plan workspaces. The façade has a modular design and supports the required flexibility of the building. Dividing walls can be positioned freely within the building plan. All workstations have an ample supply of daylight and pleasant links to the outdoors. The building core and infrastructural facilities are located in the center of the building, thus making it easy for visitors to find their way around. Additional flights of spiral stairs help to promote internal communication between floors.  © Brigida González Product Description.Thanks to the glass structure - designed as a double façade, which also allows for natural ventilation - the actual dimensions of the building appear smaller and are playfully incorporated into the park area. The idea was to reach the highest levels of transparency and openness through a clear and flexible building design, which creates a bright and timelessly modern appearance.  Detail  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The Drawers House / MIA Design Studio Posted: 12 Dec 2016 02:00 PM PST  © Hirouyki Oki
 © Hirouyki Oki From the architect. There are reoccurring impressions on the spatial quality – the green of nature struck the eyes every early morning, the rustling of leaves each night. These sensations are brought to the coastal city of Vung Tau through a refreshing concept, a welcoming home for a family of 4 who love the freshness of nature. With constant interactions with nature, man and trees become more intimate; space is opened up but maintains privacy of individuals. This is the daunting problem of living in metropolitan area with cramped space and pollution.  © Hirouyki Oki "The Drawer House" is a single – story located on a 470 square meters piece of land with a dedicated 60% of land usage for landscape. That 60% is creatively arranged through partitions so that nature is never out sight. With the remaining 180 square meters, the architects divided it into "drawers" containing functional spaces, at the same time insert in between them "drawers of landscape". These "drawers" are aligned on the same direction, however by creating alternating partitions; dwellers have an impression of unevenly put rooms. Just as drawers being pulled in and out randomly, the architects hope the tenants and nature intermingle without any obvious intention. Clients when live inside the space will have different sensations at different rooms because of continuous altering of solidity – emptiness, brightness – darkness.  © Hirouyki Oki  Floor Plan  © Hirouyki Oki "Drawers" is connected by elongated hallway going throughout the entire length of the project, decorated by refreshing line of Bridal Veil Creepers. This method of allocating green zone as a natural blind reducing the intense tropical sunlight as well as generate intriguing patterns which change as the sun moves during the day.  © Hirouyki Oki As the partition finishes, the in between gardens creating privacy while act as transition to the next space. The sunlight passing through, cascading shadow onto the floor forming captivating views. The boundary between the interior and exterior is being diminished, letting man sense the fluctuations of nature. By opening up and closing down "drawers", accommodate better ventilation, hence cooing down the entire living space. The entire house acts as a living body, with a mission to connect man with man and man with nature.  Section The ideology behind the design of MIA DESIGN STUDIO is to maximizing the connection between functional spaces with natural light, wind and gardens while still preserve the privacy for each individual rooms. With the philosophy in mind, the concept for "The Drawers House" of constructing blocks, harmonious space, using minimal but effective materials, produce a project carrying the breath of nature with suitable methods in order to bring out the best quality of life for users.  © Hirouyki Oki  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 12 Dec 2016 12:00 PM PST  © Son Vu
 © Son Vu From the architect. Deprivation and misery in the northern mountain of Vietnam is no longer unknown. Many children there do not have enough food to eat and clothes to wear. They study in old and dank classrooms and other facilities are also in bad condition. This circumstance is also not an exception for Lung Luong, a village with the most difficult access of Thuong Nung Commune in Thai Nguyen Province. Lung Luong also faces many other obstacles: The path to the village is extremely rough and the width is only two meters. There is a lot of sloping area in the mountain- being even a little careless, people may slip and fall down very deep. Most of the Mong ethnic people live there and 90% of the households are poor. In that context, improving health care and education for children becomes a difficult task to solve.  © Son Vu Lung Luong elementary school is located on a rugged peak of a mountain. Before, a school project was sponsored by the "Poor Students Fund" but the building was only in temporary condition with torn canvas preventing cold draught in the winter. The foundation of the classes was made from soil, the wall out of pallets, the roof covered by fibro cement and gables were surrounded by bamboo wattle. Especially when there was heavy rain and draught, it became piercingly cold.  © Son Vu Now, after two years of construction under the guidance of Hoang Thuc Hao Architect, Lung Luong elementary school newly appears like a fresh jungle flower in lively colors and with modern design language. The building has a strong visual effect: every angle brings different feelings and inspire children in lesson time.  © Son Vu The goal of this project is to create a school with conveniences striving against the harsh nature. The design ensures standards of lighting, ventilation as well as sound insulation. The school has enough classrooms, multi- purpose rooms, medical room, library, kitchen, toilet and dormitory.  Diagram With the conception a school being a mountain and a mountain being a school, we can see its chimney from every corner of the school. The classrooms are compatible with the mountain, spaces between them are slots which makes everything appears like an architectural picture pasted on the terrain. The corridor connects all functional areas. The foundation of the buildings respects the natural terrain which means that they wind up and down as the mountain path.  © Son Vu In order to not waste money as well as to increase the heat insulation, bricks were made of recycled soil from the site which was removed while making an even foundation. The material also allows a balanced climate indoors; the rooms stay cool in summer and warm in winter.  Elevation Like a colorful flower between the forest, Lung Luong elementary school is the most meaningful gift for the ethnic children. It is known that the "Poor Ethnic Student Fund" will continue to build other schools to continue improving the learning environment and activities for the children of ethnic minorities.  © Son Vu  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Shelter · The Mirrored Sight / Li Hao Posted: 12 Dec 2016 11:00 AM PST  © Kang Wei
 © Kang Wei From the architect. The Shelter · Mirrored Sight is part of the Shelter Series architectural installation practice. It is set by the north bank of Longxi River outside the old town of Longli in Jinping county, Kaili Area, Southeast Guizhou.  © Kang Wei 600 years ago, a group of the Ming citizen immigrated to this area from all over the country as a military tillage, which was in fact a form of suppression to the northeast Qian people's rebellion. Over hundreds of years, people there built their town according to Nanjing's urban layout and built their houses following the Hui style building. And therefore Longli has gained this unique south Yangtze River region architectural nostalgia different from the surrounding Miao and Dong ethnical form. Yu Qiuyu, the famous writer, once remarked Longli as a lonely islet of the Han culture amidst the minority groups. For the tourists, the islet might be merely a cultural symbol, whereas to the local residents, this islet symbolises their situation in all forms of survival predicaments. Once a strategic frontier town, Longli has gradually become a common town over the years and the Han people have also blended into the locals – they once only marry the Han people within their society and now they intermarry the local Miao and Dong people. The Longli people have been again and again separating from and blending into the neighbourhood and consequently they broke out from the past and created the local diversity.  © Kang Wei In designing the Shelter, architects articulated the isolation and tension of the Longli people and the vernacular community. They then created this Mirrored Sight of Longli. The shelter itself is now a place for people to rest and have fun, and meanwhile a new regional landmark.  © Kang Wei Right opposite to the old town by the river, The Mirrored Sight shelter reflects the town's image. Longli sits within the town whereas the shelter lies outside. There are thousands of residents in Longli and the shelter is just for one person to reside. The town is for daily life and the shelter creates unusual experience for people – in the town of Longli, they belong to a big group, however here in the shelter individual is better appreciated.  © Kang Wei The shelter is connected to the old town by a stone bridge and the locals would go across it everyday to farm, to fish, to do laundry and to wish dishes. The site itself is a space transition from the man-made old town to the natural landscape.  © Kang Wei There are two floors in the shelter --- the upper floor for people to overlook the scene and the lower floor for one to stay and rest.  Diagram The axes formed by the old town and the river defines the relationship between the shelter and the site. The architects used completely different materials to construct and differentiate the northern and southern facades. The northern façade, densely covered by local bamboo wood, parallels with the axis of Longli town, and the southern façade, cladded with Pilkington Mirropane (single-transparent glass), paralles the Longxi River. Therefore, the installation comes into a simple shape narrowing eastward. The entrance of installation faces to the old stone bridge, making a relationship between the 'Opposite Shelter' and old town.  © Kang Wei The glass reflects scene of Longli's daily life south to the river, and creates a shadow of the reality. The mirror image of the pyramid becomes a shadow of the pyramid itself. The refraction and reflection of the glass would give people who gets inside the installation an experience of an integration of a complex mirrored sights, which one can hardly which is real and which is unreal. The Shelter itself is not completely lying out of the Longli town, rather it is an installation built upon the inter-related images of the town of Longli.  © Kang Wei The shelter's west window frames a view of the Longxi Bridge, a bridge that was built in Ming dynasty and forms a shape of bow and arrow together with two roads by the river. The east window captures the view of the Scholar Bridge, which is a memorial to the ancient local scholar Wang Changling. The three apertures of the Scholar Bridge forms the shape of a fish creel and the scenes captured in the two windows are both import local Feng Shui (traditional Chines geomancy) imageries.  © Kang Wei The pyramid shaped inner space would give the wrong impression that the space is rather narrow. However, when going upstairs, visitors would find it in fact much bigger than they thought.  © Kang Wei In the fake window on the north façade, there cracks a crevice that might give people a fright when going down, which is in fact a delusion given by the closed façade of the fake window.  © Kang Wei After getting dark, the shelter shows an utterly different presence from the daytime. The overall shape of the structure merges into the darkness and the pyramid emerges together with its mirror images, seemingly floating in the air with its reflection in the water. Hence, an imagery of the Lonely Islet is brought in the air of Longli's most natural and original scene.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| United Petroleum / Peddle Thorp Architects Posted: 12 Dec 2016 09:00 AM PST  © Jaime Diaz-Berrio
 © Jaime Diaz-Berrio United Petroleum's new petrol (gas) station at Corio is the first in a series of innovative fuel and convenience retailing outlets that creates a bold new image for the company. The design by Peddle Thorp Architects is a dramatic exploration of sculptural form to create eye-catching imagery amidst highway, industrial architecture.  © Jaime Diaz-Berrio The design geometry is defined by two unfolding wings that form the canopy to the petrol bowsers with one canopy soaring up to create the sky-sign for the corporate logo. By contrast to other service station designs, the dominant visual form is the building itself, not the signage and graphics.  © Jaime Diaz-Berrio The retail outlets and functional areas sit behind the sculptural form of the composition with folding and curved forms and a second corporate mast.  © Jaime Diaz-Berrio We believe that the design 'raises the bar' for highway architecture and reignites the debate started in the 1970's by the iconic book 'Learning from Las Vegas' by Robert Venturi, Denise Scott Brown, and Steven Izenour. Industrial architecture has as much importance and design potential as every other part of our built environment. United petroleum has had the vision to explore new architectural possibilities and is now seeing the reward in further commercial success.  Site Plan The canopy design is intended to become an icon and signature for the site and precinct, reproducing the notion of speed and sculpted automotive engineering. This 'feel' of movement and height creates a dynamic and highly visual sculptural form. The upper wing becomes a clear marker and signature as you enter the site. The canopy also reads as a lightweight sculptured geometric form, through its slim faceted edges and a visually tilted and 'dissolved' grid of columns. The selected materials and design elements will provide the user with an unprecedented service station experience.  © Jaime Diaz-Berrio In contrast to the harsh urban and industrial surrounds, the design introduces the extensive use of 'natural' materials. The warm colour and soft environmental textures of the materials, in conjunction with landscape design creates an ambient and natural atmosphere, softening the dominance of the surrounding area. The middle vertical face also splits the truck and car service areas, providing a visual and acoustic buffer between users.  © Jaime Diaz-Berrio Centred on the wellbeing of motorists, the building design crystallises the idea of comfort and information offering an internal space for service and convenience. Extensive use of selected materials will provide a warm and soft internal space contrasting with the industrial context of the area. The facility houses the United Petroleum store, connecting through to convenience food outlets and seating.  © Jaime Diaz-Berrio Other key elements of the building are the protected spaces, designed to enhance motorists refuelling, purchasing and 'resting' experience. The building façade interconnects its design typology with the flow of the canopy and freeway traffic by the introduction of dynamic tilted cladding lines. Those lines also further define the United Petroleum branding – which has been integrated into the Architecture.  © Jaime Diaz-Berrio Product Description. The grey aluminium and timber finished composite panels were used externally on the canopy, to read as a floating lightweight sculptured geometric form, through its slim faceted edges and a visually titled and "dissolved" grid of columns.  © Jaime Diaz-Berrio  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects Wins 2017 AIA Architecture Firm Award Posted: 12 Dec 2016 08:20 AM PST  Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation / LMS Architects. Image © Tim Griffith San Franisco-based Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects (LMSA) has been chosen as the recipient of the 2017 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Architecture Firm Award. "Their passion for addressing some of the profession's thorniest issues including regenerative design, universal access, social equity and housing for the most disadvantaged has been consistent and impressive," wrote Bob Berkebile, FAIA Emeritus, in a recommendation letter.  Sweetwater Spectrum Community / LMS Architects. Image © Tim Griffith Founded in 1983 by principals William Leddy, FAIA, Marsha Maytum, FAIA, and Richard Stacy, FAIA, LMSA has since carried out its mission of addressing issues of resource depletion, climate change, historic preservation, and social equity in a variety of building types.  Ed Roberts Campus / LMS Architects. Image © Tim Griffith Notable projects by LMSA include the Plaza Apartments, San Francisco's first permanent housing for the formerly homeless; the Ed Roberts Campus, designed to serve and celebrate the Independent Living / Disabled Rights Movement; the Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation; the North Beach Branch Library; the Sweetwater Spectrum Community Campus; the Nueva School; and Merritt Crossing, named one of the AIA's top 10 housing projects of 2014.  North Beach Branch Library / LMS Architects. Image © Bruce Damonte Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects is the 54th AIA Architecture Firm Award recipient. Previous recipients of the AIA Firm Award include LMN Architects (2016), Ehrlich Architects (2015), Eskew + Dumez + Ripple (2014), Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects (2013), VJAA (2012), Lake| Flato (2004), Gensler (2000), Perkins & Will (1999), Bohlin Cywinski Jackson (1994), and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (1962). News via AIA.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Clos de Tres Cantos / TAC Taller de Arquitectura Contextual Posted: 12 Dec 2016 07:00 AM PST  © Humberto Castro
 © Humberto Castro From the architect. Clos de Tres Cantos, as part of the contemporary design trend, the main idea was to integrate the context natural and cultura undertaking the site and its topography, as well as the material usage and its semiotics. The project is formed by a winery, hotel, office and library.  © Humberto Castro  © Humberto Castro In this project the respect for the environment is the fundamental part. The origin of the material, its relocation and fabrication method are not incidental.  Sketches  Floor Plan  Sketches  Sections The building was conceived as a project based on the Land Art, surrounded by its natural landscape.  © Humberto Castro  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| BIG Unveils Mixed-Use Concrete Superstructure for Los Angeles' Arts District Posted: 12 Dec 2016 06:10 AM PST  Courtesy of BIG BIG has revealed plans for a 2.6 million square foot (242,000 square meter) mixed-use complex in LA's burgeoning Arts District. Called 670 Mesquit, the project will take the form of a series of stepped boxes containing 800,000 square feet of office space, 250 residential units and two hotels. The development will mark BIG's first project in Los Angeles.  Courtesy of BIG Located along the Los Angeles River, the proposed complex consists of two connected 30-story buildings inside of an L-shaped building footprint, organized around a grid of concrete cubes measuring 45 feet on each side. The large size of these modules will allow interiors to be subdivided based on program types and the needs of the incoming tenants with varying ceiling heights and mezzanine levels.  Courtesy of BIG  Courtesy of BIG  Courtesy of BIG As the two building masses rise, the concrete cubes pull back to create accessible terraces on each level. In the riverside building, the volume steps back three full cube lengths for each rise, while in the western buildings, the cubes shift slightly as they are stacked.  Courtesy of BIG  Courtesy of BIG To open up view corridors and circulation, three bays of the concrete armature have been left unfilled, essentially creating several unique buildings within one larger superstructure. The passageways will connect the public to both retail areas within the complex and the proposed outdoor areas above the existing railyard and along the river.  Courtesy of BIG "The Arts District is experiencing a rapid renaissance, drawing creatives from all fields from fine arts to engineering. We have asked ourselves if we can renew the arts district by embracing rather than replacing the qualities that have spawned this unique urban culture," said Bjarke Ingels, Founding Partner of BIG.  Courtesy of BIG  Courtesy of BIG  Courtesy of BIG  Courtesy of BIG "We have imagined a hybrid of two unique local typologies—the downtown warehouse and the case-study house. Like a flexible framework the project operates on two scales: the big bare bones of the buildings and the human-scale completion for its individual inhabitants. The freedom of the warehouse loft meets the individual customization of the stick-built case study house." "As a gateway to the Arts District and the LA river, it will constitute a major step toward reclaiming and transforming the river bank into a vital new urban landscape that can be enjoyed and appreciated by residents and visitors to this vibrant part of Los Angeles."  Courtesy of BIG  Courtesy of BIG Developed by Vella Group, the project is currently being presented to the city and neighborhood groups. Its construction would require significants variances from LA's planning department and likely affect the masterplan for the LA River, conceived by Frank Gehry last year. You can learn more about the project here. News via BIG, LA Times.  Courtesy of BIG  Courtesy of BIG  Courtesy of BIG  Courtesy of BIG  Courtesy of BIG  Courtesy of BIG  Courtesy of BIG  Courtesy of BIG
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| Puma Energy Paraguay Headquarters / Ruiz Pardo – Nebreda Posted: 12 Dec 2016 05:00 AM PST  © Jesús Granada
 © Jesús Granada From the architect. Detached from the ground Puma Energy's headquarter in Paraguay is located on Av. Spain, one of the main streets of the city with high traffic intensity and undergoing transformation. The surroundings are defined by buildings of two and three heights which are intertwined with the greenery as well as with utility poles, billboards and cables.  Axonometric The corporate headquarter is located on a corner plot and thus, highly visible and in contact with urban traffic. Taking advantage of this situation, the building rises from the ground on four pillars releasing the ground floor, which allows a direct connection between the city and the building. Thereby, working spaces are concentrated in an elevated block, surrounded by greenery and isolated from the bustle of street.  © Jesús Granada Public ground floor The project has a clear urban vocation. Ground floor is conceived as a flexible space without a specific program, in direct relation with the street and covered by the large concrete slab. The enclosure of the lobby is conceived as a series of concatenated doors that may be completely opened for public events. Therefore, ground floor acts as an extension of the city into the building where interior and exterior merge, as well as their public and private nature.  © Jesús Granada Compact and flexible The office block is supported by four pillars only, which not only determines an open ground floor, but also an office space completely diaphanous and without structural constraints. Thus the perception of spaciousness and flexibility for possible changes in the future distribution is favored.  © Jesús Granada The horizontal structure is materialized in two-way post-tensioned slabs, avoiding thick solutions and favoring the necessary compactness due to height limitations set by the local regulations to 12m. high. The slabs are optimized thanks to the inner location of the pillars which compensates for large spans of approximately 15 meters by creating a continuous overhang all around the perimeter which acts as a large threshold for public access.  © Jesús Granada Vibrant perception The façade solution is conceived for a double purpose. On one hand, it has been designed to maximize natural light while minimizing solar heat loads. On the other hand, is has been conceived to be perceived as light veil; a cloud of slender profiles, which perception is dynamic while the user moves around it by car or on foot. The building creates a visual dialogue with the spectator as he or she moves around it.  © Jesús Granada Its configuration, based on the addition of vertical profiles arranged on slightly curved facades, allows a dynamic and vibrant perception of it from the passing vehicles. The slightly curved contour of the building stresses the relationship with its immediate surroundings, towards and away from the neighbouring buildings and nearby trees.  © Jesús Granada  Floor Plans  © Jesús Granada The resulting perception either from the inside or from the outside is of a light and slender veil, an abstract and dynamic urban block which is detached from the ground, and suspended in the air.  © Jesús Granada  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Leo Villareal + Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands Wins London's Illuminated River Competition Posted: 12 Dec 2016 04:15 AM PST  Current / Leo Villareal with Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands and Future\Pace. Image © Malcolm Reading Consultants and Leo Villareal and Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands The team led by light artist Leo Villareal and architects and urban planners Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands has been announced as the winner of the Illuminated River International Design Competition. Selected from a six-strong shortlist of internationally acclaimed architects and designers, the winning design was lauded by Illuminated River Foundation Chair Hannah Rothschild as "beautiful, ambitious and realisable but always considerate to the environment, lighting levels and energy conservation." Led by London architect firm Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, placemaking agency Future\Pace and American light artist Leo Villareal (known for his work on The Bay Lights on San Francisco's Bay Bridge) the design emcompasses both site-specific colored displays at each bridge, as well as forward-looking strategic plans and partnerships which aim to control commercial lighting along the river and increase public engagement through a variety of installations.  Current / Leo Villareal with Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands and Future\Pace. Image © Malcolm Reading Consultants and Leo Villareal and Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands "In order to nuance the concept design and create presence and legibility, we intend to take time to study the river in all its manifestations. We want to listen to Londoners in developing the scheme to deliver at all levels of art and light, urban design and architecture, the environment and sustainability," said Leo Villareal.  Current / Leo Villareal with Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands and Future\Pace. Image © Malcolm Reading Consultants and Leo Villareal and Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands "Our aim is for a lighting masterplan which reduces pollution and wasted energy, is sensitive to history and ecology and subtly rebalances the ambient lighting on the river to provide a beautiful night time experience for residents and visitors." The full winning team is as follows:
 Current / Leo Villareal with Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands and Future\Pace. Image © Malcolm Reading Consultants and Leo Villareal and Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands Organized by Malcolm Reading Consultants, the competition saw submissions from 105 teams in 20 countries. Funding for the project will come entirely from private and philanthropic sources. The team will now continue to develop their design concept, in collaboration with stakeholders and the public. Construction on the project is scheduled to take place in 2017.  Current / Leo Villareal with Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands and Future\Pace. Image © Malcolm Reading Consultants and Leo Villareal and Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands You can learn more about the project on the Illuminated River website, here. News via Malcolm Reading Consultants, Illuminated River Foundation. 6 Shortlisted Designs Unveiled in London's Illuminated River Competition  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Refettorio Gastromotiva / METRO Arquitetos Associados Posted: 12 Dec 2016 03:00 AM PST  © Ilana Bessler
 © Ilana Bessler “a small miracle!” said Massimo Bottura at the press conference of the Refettorio Gastromotiva Cafeteria on the day of its inauguration in Lapa, Rio De Janeiro. He was not referring to the food, but to the construction timeframe of the project, whose 450m2 were constructed in just 55 days. This combination of restaurant and school is the result of a partnership between Massimo Bottura elected best chef in 2016, the food critic Alexandra Forbes and the NGO Gastromotiva, run by celebrated chef David Hertz. Together they assembled a creative team including Vik Muniz, Maneco Quinderé, the Campana brothers and METRO who were responsible for the architecture, art and design for this new environment.  © Ilana Bessler The Cafeteria was inspired by Masimo Bottura’s ‘Food For Soul’ initiative, which aims to combat global food waste by transforming products that might have been discarded into sophisticated and nutritious meals. The site chosen for the project - between the Lapa Arches and the Aterro Do Flamingo – was donated by the city and has a large homeless population who will be eligible for free dinner as part of the project while paying guests bring revenue during lunch time.  © Ilana Bessler  Section  © Ilana Bessler Situated on the edge of a small square and adjacent to one of the city’s main thoroughfares, the restaurant was designed to reinforce connections with these public spaces and the surrounding community. The kitchen occupies the centre of a long and narrow site, 50m in length and 6m wide. A single volume alternates between single and double height spaces and has generous openings onto the road and the neighboring square. The building is clad in translucent polycarbonate panels that ensure that the restaurant feels welcoming and accessible to all.  © Ilana Bessler The material palette is of authentic, industrial materials that are commonly found in the area, resulting in an honest, no-frills aesthetic that celebrates the essential construction elements and services. In this environment chefs were invited from all over the world to create delicious meals with the surplus of the 2016 Olympic Games, offering nourishment with dignity and beauty to people in vulnerable social situations.  © Ilana Bessler  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| How to Buy Gifts for Architects: The Ultimate Guide Posted: 12 Dec 2016 01:30 AM PST  Courtesy of Sharon Lam Have absolutely no idea what to get your architecturally-predisposed friend or family member? Or perhaps you think you've managed to decipher their Moleskine-toting, coffee-drinking veneer and know just the perfect gift? Perhaps, even, you are the architecturally-predisposed family member, looking for a convenient way to show others what to get you. Either way, architects have rapidly evolving and often incredibly niche tastes that can be hard to shop for. But worry no longer, the secret guide to what and what not to give architects this holiday season is here: DO NOT Give: Books about architects you've heard of. DO Give: Books about architects you've NEVER heard of.  © Sharon Lam, using image via screenshot from <a href='https://vimeo.com/16638887'>Institute of the 21st Century</a> DO NOT Give: Electronics—they probably have all the latest gadgets already. DO Give: Pens and notebooks—they can never have too many of these.  © Sharon Lam DO NOT Give: Netflix subscriptions—they're distracted easily enough as it is. DO Give: Spotify/Apple Music subscription—less of a distraction, more of a sidekick.  © Sharon Lam, using image via screenshot from flickr user <a href='https://www.flickr.com/photos/eager/12630612533'>eager</a> licensed under <a href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en'>CC BY-SA 2.0</a> DO NOT Give: Modelling software—they probably already get free versions as a student or employee, and don't want to be reminded of CAD in the holidays. DO Give: The Sims 4—so they can not only design houses, but do whatever they want with the clients!  © Sharon Lam, using image via screenshot from flickr user <a href='https://www.flickr.com/photos/eager/12629047343'>eager</a> licensed under <a href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en'>CC BY-SA 2.0</a> DO NOT Give: Tote bags—chances are they have 50 different ones already. DO Give: Tea bags, for caffeine without the coffee-induced jitters.  © Sharon Lam, using image via screenshot from Wikimedia user <a href='https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Graz_Kunsthaus_vom_Schlossberg_20061126.jpg'> Mediocrity </a> licensed under <a href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/deed.en'>CC BY-SA 2.5</a> DO NOT Give: Tissues. Even though they might look like they constantly want to cry, that's just their normal expression. DO Give: Rolls of butter paper/baking paper—just slightly thicker than tissues, and a classic old-school studio tool that's also incredibly useful.  © Sharon Lam, using image via screenshot from Wikimedia user <a href='https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:30_St_Mary_Axe,_'Gherkin'.JPG'>Paste</a> licensed under Public Domain DO NOT Give: Clothes—they could have very picky sartorial tastes, even if it doesn't look like it. DO Give: Underwear—the more clean underwear, the less frequently one has to do laundry, which your time-strapped architect friend will be thankful for.  © Sharon Lam, using image via screenshot from flickr user <a href='https://www.flickr.com/photos/27608953@N06/3200164455'>Susleriel</a> licensed under <a href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en'>CC BY-SA 2.0</a> DO NOT Give: Succulents—these are so last year. DO Give: Sea monkeys—a much better desk companion, and will offer some sentient companionship during long work days.  © Sharon Lam, using image via screenshot from Wikimedia user <a href='https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Calatrava_Jerusalem.jpg'>Ynhockey</a> licensed under <a href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en'>CC BY-SA 3.0</a> DO NOT Give: A shipping container—again, very mainstream, every architect under the sun is making things out of shipping containers. DO Give: A dumpster—these are forecast to be the next shipping containers of the architectural world, so make sure your special architect has one before everyone else. Maybe they'll even make a tiny house out of it for you! Or if they don't, at least they'll have a convenient place to put all their old models and drawings they no longer have a use for.  © Sharon Lam, using image via screenshot from Flickr user<a href='https://www.flickr.com/photos/skra99y/8629969457'>Gavin Manning</a> licensed under <a href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en'>CC BY-SA 2.0</a> DO NOT Give: A Mies van der Rohe Barcelona chair—way too mainstream. DO Give: Eileen Gray's "dragons" armchair—a true bespoke piece of furniture once owned by Yves Saint Laurent, and a steal at £19.4 million.  © Sharon Lam DO NOT Give: Anything you're still not 100% sure about. DO Give: Cold hard cash. There's a good chance they're short of it.  © Sharon Lam, using image via screenshot from Wikimedia user<a href='https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tadao_Ando_2004.jpg'>Elekhh</a> licensed under <a href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en'>CC BY-SA 2.0</a>  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Summer House Gravråk / Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk Posted: 12 Dec 2016 01:00 AM PST  © Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk
 © Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk This project for a summer retreat is an addition to, and rehabilitation of an old "Nordlandshus" (traditional northern Norwegian house) on a remote site in the coastal island area of Lofoten. The original idea was to encapsulate the old and worn-down timber core within a new climatic shell, leaving the old house standing freely and structurally unstressed inside, with the traditional timber constructions exposed. The added construction followed its own grid module, which – apart from a number of technical advantages – gave an interesting "syncopation" of window openings between the old and new structures.  © Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk  © Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk  © Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk However, in the project that was built, a more conventional renovation approach was chosen for the existing house. This reduced our architectural contribution to apply to the addition towards the west, and a small annex. The addition is a pure extension of the existing building, and re-uses the geometrical principle with asymmetrical dormer windows to let in light and give a view from the loft. The primary construction for the extension is prefabricated pine glulam. The interior is clad in birch plywood, while the exterior is clad in untreated spruce, which has grayed after two years of exposure to sunlight and rain. The roof is clad in standing seam zinc roofing, and the windows have two-fold frames with aluminum in the exterior and wood in the interior.  © Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk  Floor Plans  © Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk The climate in the area really is quite extreme, especially with wind conditions in mind. While the old house is guy-wired to the ground, the extension is wind-anchored to the encapsulating concrete slab that acts as a stabilizing counterweight. The artwork (this must be the place) is by the Swedish artist Jan Håfstrøm.  © Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| "The Arrogance of Space": Mapping The Unfair Distribution of Public Space at Urban Intersections Posted: 12 Dec 2016 12:00 AM PST  © Mikael Colville-Andersen, via Flickr Unequal distribution of public space when it comes to pedestrians, cyclists and people driving cars is an issue that urban mobility specialist Mikael Colville-Andersen calls "The Arrogance of Space." The urban planner and founder of Copenhagenize believe that this term can be applied to streets that are dominated by traffic engineers from last century where streets were made primarily for cars. To illustrate his position, Mikael analyzed the amount of space allocated to each of these groups, in addition to "dead space” and space for buildings, in the streets of Calgary, Paris, and Tokyo by comparing each sector using different colors. Take a look at the findings below. Paris  © Mikael Colville-Andersen, via Flickr Looking down at the intersection of Quai Branly and Pont d'Iéna in Paris from above, we see the spaces for pedestrians, cyclists, and cars. It is color-coded, using red for automobiles, blue for pedestrians, yellow for buildings and purple for cyclists. It is obvious that motorists are the ones getting the square meters that should have been allocated to public space. In addition, the gray areas referred to as "dead space”, could easily be given to cyclists and pedestrians.  © Mikael Colville-Andersen, via Flickr  © Mikael Colville-Andersen, via Flickr Using the image of the same Paris intersection as an example, Colville-Andersen made a quick tally of the number of citizens in each sector of the public space categorized according to its use. While this survey may not be 100% accurate, since the photograph wasn’t taken at a time that best represents the movement within the intersection, Mikael assures us that this tool shows us that the use of space doesn’t correlate to the demand. This is because pedestrians who are waiting at a crosswalk, (represented in dark blue) not counting the ones on the sidewalk, outnumber motorists (represented in red). Calgary  © Mikael Colville-Andersen, via Flickr In the case of the Canadian city, the founder of Copenhagenize states that although the picture was taken specifically of a parking lot, the ideal would be to see citizens in movement, a principle that is fulfilled in cities that are, to a certain extent, walkable.  © Mikael Colville-Andersen, via Flickr  © Mikael Colville-Andersen, via Flickr  © Mikael Colville-Andersen, via Flickr Tokyo  © Mikael Colville-Andersen, via Flickr At the busiest intersection in the world, Shibuya crossing in Tokyo, there are both pedestrians and cyclists. This is because there are several bike racks around the nearby the bus stops and by Shibuya Station. Unlike the previous images, in Tokyo, we notice a slightly more equitable distribution of space, and since the crosswalks are diagonal, they give pedestrians more visibility in relation to the cars arriving from different directions.  © Mikael Colville-Andersen, via Flickr  © Mikael Colville-Andersen, via Flickr  © Mikael Colville-Andersen, via Flickr Via Plataforma Urbana.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Ricky Gui Documents Over 600 Hidden Doors Around Singapore Posted: 11 Dec 2016 10:00 PM PST  Courtesy of Ricky Gui Ricky Gui showcases a stunning series of "Hidden Doors" located behind shophouses in Singapore. Working for over a year, Gui highlighted over 600 "Hidden Doors"in his documentation. These doors are usually looked over as they hide behind shophouses and alleyways where people are unlikely to venture into.  Courtesy of Ricky Gui "What attracts me about the "Hidden Door" is the design, shape, colors, and the various intriguing details of the overall architecture surrounding. It took me more than a year to explore various back lanes of the shophouses in my country" said Ricky Gui.  Courtesy of Ricky Gui  Courtesy of Ricky Gui While most of Gui's documentation occurred on the weekends of his business trip, the timing allowed him to take photos without any interference. Gui added that the small details (i.e. cats or hanging clothes) in front of the door brought personality to each image.  Courtesy of Ricky Gui  Courtesy of Ricky Gui "Behind every 'Hidden Door" lurks possibility of past tales of childhood, romance, and history." See all 600 unique doors here. News via Hidden Door.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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