Arch Daily |
- Neue Direktion Köln / kadawittfeldarchitektur
- House with Winery / ATX Architekti
- European Council and Council of the European Union / Samyn and Partners
- AAK Villa / MORIQ
- Undefined Black Box Gym / HAD & Epos
- BRUMA Winery / TAC Taller de Arquitectura Contextual
- Quito Publishing House / Estudio A0
- How the White, Stepped Roofs of Bermuda Allowed Residents to Live Without Fresh Water Sources
- Junction Shadow House / POST Architecture
- How Ole Scheeren's MahaNakhon Skyscraper Transforms Bangkok's Rising Skyline
- KN10 / Costa Lopes
- 60 Free Cad Blocks and Drawings
- Padiglione della Transumanza / CiminiArchitettura
- “Permanently Unfinished”: The Evolution of Architecture in the Galapagos Islands
- Fluor / Paul de Ruiter Architects
- The Design Progress Through the Years
- 14 Short Stories About Architects, Attitudes and Odd Architectural Anecdotes
- Free Online Architecture Courses From World-Class Universitites
| Neue Direktion Köln / kadawittfeldarchitektur Posted: 27 Dec 2016 09:00 PM PST  © Jens Kirchner
 © Jens Kirchner From the architect. With the conversion of the former railway head office, Cologne's cityscape has received a new landmark. The new roof design has led to the recreation of the historic mansard roof as well as the generation of terraces with views of the Rhine River that are set between the metal bands surrounding the roof storeys and the set-back office facades.  © Ralph Richter  Diagram  © Jens Kirchner The former railway head office is on Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer immediately opposite the Rhine River and in immediate vicinity of Cologne's main railway station, the cathedral and the city centre. The design takes into consideration the listed building, including the historic facade layout, and develops a contemporary solution for the mansard roof that was destroyed during the Second World War. Horizontal metal bands surround the four uppermost storeys and, owing to the angle of their fixture, trace the slope of the original roof, which characterised the silhouette of the cathedral city for many years before its destruction. The glass facades behind the horizontal bands do not follow the slope of the original roof but are perpendicular to the floor plates. This feature creates deep roof terraces in the surrounding space offering panoramic views across the city. The listed facade of the lower storeys is upgraded; the impressive historical entrance hall is rebuilt and incorporated into the new build. Three ground-level entrances on Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer provide the opportunity to divide the building into three rental areas. They all fulfil the requirements of modern flexible office space and offer different office layout concepts ranging from single cell units to business lounges.  © Jens Kirchner Corporate architecture – Roof as a logo The design takes the existing listed structure, including the historic facades, into consideration and develops a contemporary, modern solution for the pre-war mansard roof structure, which now forms a distinct contrast to the historic features below. Clearly separated from the listed structure by a shadow joint, the new facade of the roof extension appears as an independent, homogenous structure with a horizontal arrangement, lending the add-on a dynamic, elegant and transparent look.  Diagram Metal bands envelop the four roof storeys and trace the slope of the historic roof contours that characterised the Rhine River silhouette of the cathedral city for many years. The glass facades beyond the bands do not follow the original sloped roofline but are set perpendicular to the floor plates. This feature generates deep, much-appreciated terraces in the surrounding space offering panoramic views across the city. The symbiosis of old and new, together with the streamlined roof, leads to the creation of a new landmark in the cityscape, which has a visible impact on Cologne's Rhine River panorama from afar.  © Jens Kirchner  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| House with Winery / ATX Architekti Posted: 27 Dec 2016 07:00 PM PST  © Ester Havlová
 © Ester Havlová From the architect. Assignment and clients' wish was to create a building that has a "roof", is contemporary and unique and is not just another modern functionalist box ...  © Ester Havlová Instead of transforming the traditional morphology of the house with traditional roof, which can be seen in different variants on adjacent estates, we deliberately chose an opposite approach, which allowed us to get rid of stereotypes in anticipation of what the house should look like. We decided to design it as an organically shaped object, which contains mass with functional interior layout, while the softly undulating roof plane is a loose copy of the line of hill Hořický located on the other side of the valley.  © Ester Havlová The simple interior layout is arranged around the transparent entrance area, situated in the approximate center of mass of the object. One of the most important requirements for design of the house was a large aquarium. During the search of final design, it occurred in different parts of the main living space. The last option, in which the aquarium is a part of the office and is directly connected to the living room, has proven the best and was subsequently implemented.  © Ester Havlová  Floor Plan  © Ester Havlová Indoor living space is extended to the exterior by sheltered terrace protected on three sides. This comfortable outdoor space immediately adjacent to the dining room and inserted into a space with unobstructed view of the landscape significantly extends the possibilities of the house and is often used by its inhabitants. The terrace is also ending the covered walkway that allows walking around the house with "dry feet" even in less favorable weather conditions.  © Ester Havlová While the house is a distinctive solitaire, the winery, which has relation to the professional life of clients, can easily be overlooked in the garden since it is mostly recessing under the ground. Just as in the case of the house, the interior of the wine cellar is extended by an outdoor terrace. This is left uncovered. It is protected from all four sides, thereby achieving maximum privacy while maintaining the necessary contact with the exterior, in this case with the sky.  Sections  © Ester Havlová  Section Since the clients are very busy people, the assignment included minimization of burdening them with issues in the process of realization. Therefore, we did not only design the house, but we also completely realized it.  © Ester Havlová The vertical structure of the house is made from ceramic walls. Thermal insulation of facades is from thermal insulation composite system. Roof structure above the internal space of the house is made from prefabricated panels. Protruding parts of the roof are from wooden beams covered with Knauf AQUAPANEL® system. Garden winery is made from waterproof concrete, which is left exposed without surface treatment. Openings are solved with aluminum Schüco system and triple-glazed insulating windows. The building has very low energy consumption; it is evaluated as level B - very efficient. Product Description: AQUAPANEL® Cement Board technology - delivers a complete revolutionized the design and construction of buildings across Europe. It is a building material with an extremely long life, which creates a massive and dry surface that can withstand extreme moisture and climatic influences. Cement sheets are easy to install and offer decisive advantages while minimizing installation costs. We used AQUAPANEL® Cement Board in this project to create the facade and ceiling in the shaped part of the terrace. In this way, we acquired solid base for application of facade screed. Due to this technology, the final surface of the facade is uniform around the whole perimeter of the house, in spite of combining various structural systems.  © Ester Havlová  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| European Council and Council of the European Union / Samyn and Partners Posted: 27 Dec 2016 06:00 PM PST  © Marie-Françoise Plissart
 Courtesy of Georges Meurant From the architect. The current building used for European Council and Council meetings - the Justus Lipsius - was planned in the late 1980s, when the EU had 12 member states, and is in use since 1994.  © Marie-Françoise Plissart It was not conceived to host meetings of heads of state or government (they were organised away from Brussels at the time), nor for 27 or more member states.  © European Union  Floor Plan  © Marie-Françoise Plissart Since 2008, the number of meetings of Heads of state or government in the Justus Lipsius has doubled on average (from 4 to 8). In addition, since 2009, the JL hosts summits between the EU and third countries (e.g. EU-China, EU-Russia, etc.)  © European Union For each meeting of EU Heads of state or government, all other meetings have to be cancelled during three days (more than 20 meetings of experts, diplomats, etc. of the 27 member states take place each day in the Council premises).  © Quentin Olbrechts  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 27 Dec 2016 02:00 PM PST  © Riyazuddin Quraishi
 © Riyazuddin Quraishi From the architect. This being an ocean facing plot, the client's top most priority was the sea views, with lot of prominence to entertaining family and guests. He is also a good cook and wanted all extra kitchens (tepanyaki) and dining areas to be planned on the top most level as well to enjoy the views of the waters. The Master suite had to be well-equipped, multi-functional, multi-spatial, area with the best view of the ocean. The architecture and interior spaces had to be modern, technologically advanced and seamless. The Interior spaces should be flexible (as in open spaces to become private and vice versa). Privacy from neighbors and roads was a priority. This home is designed on a linear plot with attached homes on south and north sides and is opening to the sea on the west side and the road on the east side. Because of its location, it comes under high value properties of Amwaj, Bahrain. The plot covers 809.2sqmts and the total built up is977sqmts.The two side boundary walls looked like two imposing retaining walls and the home had to be designed within these walls. Because of the attached home layout covers the built up space could touch the two longer sides (south and north boundary walls) without any windows (so no light and ventilation) and views either.  © Riyazuddin Quraishi Taking this as challenge the whole layout was directed towards the views of the ocean (west). Further we envisaged volumes of cubes placed randomly and intersecting with cutouts, water bodies, courtyards and skylights suspended within these two boundary walls. Two Internal courtyards were created with skylights to compensate for the lack of setbacks on south and north. The walls whole layout was planned with unhindered space movement. This way every room is ensured views of the sea, great light and ventilation. There are three floors with couple of bedrooms for family and friends and great lounges, dining and eating spaces as the owner is a passionate cook.  © Riyazuddin Quraishi The home is planned on 3 levels with two entrances, entry one facing east and entry two facing south both leading to same level with Landscape and car parking in the front and Formal lounge, kitchen and dining in the main area on the ground floor. An infinity swimming pool with Jacuzzi and wooden deck are planned on the rear of the building facing the ocean. The First floor consist of two bedrooms with a cut out in the center and the passage connecting the two and lavish Master suite with personal plunge pool, bath tub, lounge area with pantry and large opening towards ocean. Master bedroom is more like a (suite) personal apartment where in all needs of family should be met with collapsible shutters (flexibility). It has a lounge opening to a courtyard, pantry (equipped with coffee vending machine, moveable, hot plate, refrigerator etc) , plunge pool , free standing stalls of W.C and shower (not to hinder the views) etc.  © Riyazuddin Quraishi  © Riyazuddin Quraishi Second floor consists of two bedrooms, lounge area along with bar and dining area with partition.The pantry consists of cabinets along with customized moveable chimney tepanyaki projecting from wall and seating at the terrace on the front.All three levels are connected by means of a staircase and a lift.The focal point of this villa is the view of ocean from all the level which is on the rear.Specks of colors are used in customized furniture and artifacts only keeping the basic canvas neutral (in grays and whites). Natural grey stones are used for the flooring, and one side walls are cladded with Silver grey Travertino, whereas the ceiling are in pristine white and wooden in some accented area. Partly wooden steps with LED strips running on risers and threads are designed for the staircase. The cut out in the center connecting all three flows brings in a lot of natural light. Every room has visual and physical access to the outside. Furniture is from Italian brands. Rugs and lamps are all handpicked. A lot of old Bahrain streets images were used as Art on walls. As mentioned earlier the emphasis was more on scale, proportions and integration rather than on decoration.  © Riyazuddin Quraishi Product Description. One of the principal materials used in the house is the silver grey travertine which runs along the entire south/north wall covering the total height of two levels. The same materials also shows externally extending out from the open skylight and thereby tightly links the inside with the out.  © Riyazuddin Quraishi  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Undefined Black Box Gym / HAD & Epos Posted: 27 Dec 2016 12:00 PM PST  © Arch-exist Photography
 © Arch-exist Photography Viewing from the street,the black box is white! A group of white box with different openness cleverly fit into the corner of an aging urban community. Steel beams & columns, corrugated steel and perforated steel plates indicate its temporary, the fitness figure and basketball slap Sound of the black box clearly describes its function, the blooming light through glass and perforated steel plates in the night proudly announce that it's the center of vitality in this slightly dull neighborhood.  © Arch-exist Photography The interior of black box is indeed dominated by dark colors. under owner's low cost demanding, steel, wood, concrete slab and other basic materials complete indoor color changeing,also describe the building function alternately: sports and fitness, art exhibitions, sharing of life, PARTY etc.  © Arch-exist Photography  2nd Floor Plan  © Arch-exist Photography As the building itself plumply fill the entire site boundary, the heart of the site is considered the center of outdoor activities, while almost all of the traffic stream organizations, space onversion of inside and outside are around the heart to start.the building entities surrounding the center produce an uncertain twist and flow, thus enriching the volumes.  © Arch-exist Photography The uncertaintiy of municipal management and the uncertainty of business decide the uncertainty of the building function, thus reveal the space fluxility of a temporary building with an full utilizing of boundary conditions. The architects focus on openness & closure of the building, so they face problems such as community activation and interaction, functional change and convergence, the construction of the relative temporary building and many other complex challenges, and ultimately result in the philosophical meaning of ambiguous and moderate undefined conclusions.  © Arch-exist Photography  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| BRUMA Winery / TAC Taller de Arquitectura Contextual Posted: 27 Dec 2016 11:00 AM PST  © Humberto Romero
 © Humberto Romero From the architect. BRUMA winery is located in the wine region of Baja California, in the Guadalupe Valley, the winery is part of a complete project which includes a hotel and villas.  © Humberto Romero  Sketch  © Humberto Romero  Sketch It is a project completely integrated to the environment, in spite of its magnitude you can barely notice it from the road.  © Humberto Romero  © Humberto Romero Most of the project is made from recycled wood and steel structure. It is covered with a landscape conformed of plants from the site.  Joint Plan It also has a water mirror that not only gives a great look but it also works as a natural heat insulator.  © Humberto Romero  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Quito Publishing House / Estudio A0 Posted: 27 Dec 2016 09:00 AM PST  © Sebastián Crespo
 © Jean-Claude Constant The Quito Publishing House is located in La Floresta neighborhood: a bohemian, artsy and closely knit community in the heart of Northern Quito. Its idiosyncratic nature posed the greatest design challenge. We were asked to introduce an office building where few exist and in the midst of a community with a strong sense of civil awareness, adamant about preserving the spatial values of its neighborhood. The program we were assigned was exciting: three publishing companies, formerly housed in separate floors of a high-rise, wanted to share one large space. Their employees are creative individuals with a strong aesthetic sensibility. This tripartite ownership of the building gave us more flexibility in terms of how we could program and distribute the space; all companies could relate within a similar hierarchal level. All three revolve around a central void, share the privilege of the same views, and have access to a roof garden. They also share communal spaces and we expect the fluid arrangement of the plan and section to catalyze a community atmosphere analogous to the one that characterizes the neighborhood.  Axonometric From a formal standpoint, the great Modern domestic architecture of the surroundings inspired many of the elements that compose the building. In some of the houses of La Floresta, architecture and nature intertwine. Walking through its streets, one discovers a hidden garden beneath a staircase, or a staircase floating effortlessly above a pond, or a spatial procession that leads to the front door of a house. There are layers upon layers to be unveiled at La Floresta. We chose to emulate the mix of Modernity and nature; to create a spatial sequence that leads the users into the building and its roof garden; to open a central void or “hanging garden” that serves as a chimney and reinterprets the colonial courtyard, which besides capturing the zenithal light of Quito provides a visual cross section. The work spaces are wrapped by a double skin, the outer portion of which is a louvered screen, partially colored. Works of art punctuate the shared spaces, which act as galleries. The slope of the site is dealt with in the traditional Quito-way: through the integration of a zócalo, built in concrete and clad in black stone.  © Sebastián Crespo The Quito Publishing House received the first Leed Gold attributed to a building in continental Ecuador, for its intent of applying environmental design principles to a corporate building in the tropics.  © Sebastián Crespo Energy, Air and Light The building is conceived of as a bioclimatic machinery, whose performance reduces to a minimum the dependence on mechanical systems of ventilation, heating and cooling. Since there are no elements projecting shadow upon the building, the northeastern and southeastern facades are subject to considerable solar exposure, particularly direct in the mornings. The “curtain” which would allow to regulate solar incidence was transferred from the interior of the building to the exterior, as a filter, understood as a biological wall, whose skin is interactive and capable of responding to temperature and humidity variations. The orange louvers respond to a climatic simulation that was more affordable than the introduction of sensors in each louver of the filters; flows of air ultimately depend on human manipulation, the most cost efficient option to reduce energy consumption. The fin shape of the louvers is aerodynamic so as to refract light and stimulate the generation of vortexes that accelerate the transfer of air. Its figure coincides, in section, with the operable windows. The central patio acts as a chimney that sucks the air towards the upper sections of the building and also serves as a funnel of zenithal light brought into the core of the building at the lower levels. This mechanism also injects air into the parking located underground. A vegetation layer shares with maintenance shelves the intersticial spaces located between skins (glass and louvers), providing an additional filter to purify and scent the air, buffer air flows and provide shade. The back façade provides enough thermal mass to absorb and liberate energy. The water surface in the ground floor, besides being a cooling device, responds to the need of rendering air circulation visible: it serves as a meter of the building´s performance through the rippling of the water surface. These mechanisms were introduced in order to take the greatest advantage of natural resources such as light and air, and in order to reduce to a minimum the consumption of energy and water.  Section Water The building has an integrated system of rain water collection that is channeled towards the bathrooms and the garden roofs or vertical gardens, where it is used for irrigation purposes. A double piping system facilitates trickle irrigation along the gardened facades and reduces water consumption.  © Sebastián Crespo Landscaping The vertical gardens act as another layer of thermal insulation within the chamber of the perimeter, just as the roof gardens above. Native Andean species were chosen for the gardening –most consume low portions of water.  Section Flexibility and adaptation The sustainability of a building is proportional to its ability to adapt to different uses throughout time. The plans of QPH are open and lodge accessible electric, mechanical, lighting and communication installations to facilitate technological up-grades and maintenance.  © Sebastián Crespo Construction System and Technological Development QPH was built with a system of pre-fabricated, partially animated components that demanded a close collaboration between design and the local industry.  © Sebastián Crespo Maintenance The maintenance shelves introduced along the perimeter of the building serve as dust buffers, support for the pots, gardening area, and introduce corridors that facilitate cleaning windows and louvers.  © Sebastián Crespo Waste Management The building incorporates the elements that are necessary to sort, collect and compact waste. Transport In order to support the cycling culture of La Floresta neigborhood, QPH provides bicycle racks, showers and lockers. The location of the building was selected taking into account is articulation to the public transportation system.  © Sebastián Crespo City QPH recedes at the ground level in order to provide a secure public space that may contribute to activate surrounding urban tissues.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| How the White, Stepped Roofs of Bermuda Allowed Residents to Live Without Fresh Water Sources Posted: 27 Dec 2016 08:00 AM PST  © <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bermuda_roof.jpg'>Wikimedia user Acroterion</a> licensed under <a href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en'>CC BY-SA 3.0</a> Visitors to Bermuda are likely to notice one key feature about its architecture: across the islands, the pastel-painted houses all share a distinctive white, stepped roof style. A recent article on BBC News Magazine explores the original reason for, and subsequent history of, this unique roof design, showing how vernacular architectural elements often fit into a larger narrative of culture and geography.  The Chaplin Estate (formerly known as Spithead), an 18th-century home that once belonged to merchant and privateer Hezekiah Frith. Image © <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%22Spithead%22_-_18th_Century_Bermudian_home_of_Hezekiah_Frith_and_20th_Century_home_of_Eugene_O%27Neill.jpg'>Wikimedia user Aodhdubh</a> licensed under <a href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en'>CC BY-SA 3.0</a> The original reason for the roofs is relatively simple: with no permanent fresh streams or lakes on the islands, early settlers had to rely entirely on rainfall for their water source. To ensure that none of the region's rainfall was wasted, builders developed the stepped roofs as a way to slow down heavy rain and prevent the building's gutters being overwhelmed. Being constructed of limestone, the roofs were also heavy enough to resist hurricanes, and the white color reflected UV light from the sun, which helped to purify the water. The technique was later written into Bermuda law. Every new house in Bermuda is now designed for a certain level of self-sufficiency, as each one must have 8 gallons (36 liters) of tank space per square foot (0.1 square meters) of roof area to store water. However, as Bermuda's residential and tourist populations grow, the islands are beginning to experience challenges relating to this water strategy. As the temptation to build upwards increases, the ability of these roofs to collect enough water for everybody is decreasing, and the islands now have 6 water desalination plants to cope with demand. Increasingly, the story of Bermuda's distinctive roofs is intertwined with the story of its water challenges. Find out more about these challenges, and the roofs themselves, over at BBC News Magazine.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Junction Shadow House / POST Architecture Posted: 27 Dec 2016 07:00 AM PST  © Revelateur studio
 © Revelateur studio From the architect. The Junction Shadow House is a semi-detached residential dwelling that began as a mirror-image of its attached neighbour. Early in the design process, it became evident that the previous additions (front room over the porch, rear Mud Room) were structurally compromised and threatening to destabilize the original masonry structure. As a result, they were demolished, leaving the shell of the original house to work with, in the shadow of its longer neighbour. Natural light was not available from all sides, so the design focused on maximizing the light penetrating from the south, as well as moving it through the house as much as possible. The interiors are a bright white colour and the spaces are visually interconnected on all levels through a feature staircase, creating views and plays with shadows on all levels.  © Revelateur studio  Section  © Revelateur studio The front of the house was re-designed to include a large window, linking exterior and interior life. Similarly, a new rear Mudroom addition at the ground floor allows for easy access to and from the rear yard, and more importantly, access to the dog washing station in the basement. A third floor addition was built to create an open relaxing area for the homeowners, as the while maximizing the use of floor area and animating them with plays on light and dark. The finishes further reflect the idea of shade, with a palette of whites, blacks and greys...and occasionally a pop of colour.  © Revelateur studio  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| How Ole Scheeren's MahaNakhon Skyscraper Transforms Bangkok's Rising Skyline Posted: 27 Dec 2016 06:00 AM PST In this video from CNN Style Ole Scheeren, the former OMA partner and founder of Büro Ole Scheeren, discusses his MahaNakhon tower, a luxury mixed used skyscraper that has transformed the Bangkok skyline. MahaNakhon was recognized as the tallest building in Thailand by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) after its light show inauguration earlier this year. MahaNakhon's sculptural design includes a "pixelated" spiral of terraces which cut through the sheer glass curtain wall to, in the words of Scheeren, "reaveal the grain of its inhabitation." This unique form was created to combine elements of simplicity and intimacy in a city that is already full of a festival of architectural form-making. In the video, filmed before the building's completion in August, Scheeren takes in the rawness of the building, saying that "In some ways, it seems almost incomplete or unfinished. At this time the building itself is still in its raw state. You can very strongly feel the reality of the building." You can watch a teaser for CNN's video above or see the full video here. Thailand's Tallest Building, Designed by Büro Ole Scheeren, Opens with Light Show MahaNakhon / Ole Scheeren, OMA News via: CNN Style  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 27 Dec 2016 05:00 AM PST  © Manuel Correia
 © Fabrice Fouillet From the architect. The KN10 building – among the first to be completed by COSTA LOPES and home to its head offices – roots itself in its location in Rua Kwame N'Krumah, opposite to Rua Moisés Cardoso, a continuation of the upper city ridge (one of Luanda´s main urban structures) and, on the other hand, in its generic programme which at the time met the need for qualified office spaces. It also takes in account the uncertainty in relation to the transformation of the neighboring urban plots.  © Manuel Correia  © Manuel Correia The horizontal portico, circumscribed in the plot and open to the street, gives place for 10 overlapping functional modules with open-space offices (one or two units with a kitchenette). They are served and anchored by a vertical access core (stairs and lifts, with sanitary facilities on each floor). The building also features 3 underground floors for car parking and technical areas.  Section The fanfold facades are consequence of the overlapping and physicality of the reinforced concrete. Each module is highlighted by the different angulations of its façade distended rings, compressing side to side fenêtres en longueur and guaranteeing some environmental mediation. They give an autonomous expression to the building in relation to the transformation of the neighboring area, while maintaining a strong urban presence.  © Manuel Correia  Ground Floor Plan  © João Freire The KN10 unveils itself from inside-out and vice-versa. It overlooks the city, particularly the higher floors, from Ilha do Cabo to the hinterland. It indulges in the city, flowing through it and revealing its working environments from the public space.  © Manuel Correia  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 60 Free Cad Blocks and Drawings Posted: 27 Dec 2016 04:00 AM PST The key to quick, efficient CAD modeling is to have a solid library of CAD blocks - pre-prepared sets of common objects and details that you can simply drop into your drawing as and when they are required. Fortunately, there are many ways you can build up your own CAD blocks library without having to create all of your own objects from scratch. One of them is to purchase sets of blocks from websites like boss888.net, which has a wide array of CAD objects available for download - and is even offering a selection of their catalog for free. boss888.net's 61 free downloads encompass everything from furniture, plants and people to detailed drawings of the classical ornament, to floor and roof parapet details. You can find their full selection of free items here.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Padiglione della Transumanza / CiminiArchitettura Posted: 27 Dec 2016 03:00 AM PST  © Sergio Camplone
 © Sergio Camplone  Courtesy of CiminiArchitettura A highway to sheep and shepherds. The cattle tracks were routes that annually herds traveling to move from the sea to the mountains and go back.  © Sergio Camplone The pavilion of transhumance is located close to the "tratturo del re" , a green path linking the Apulian plains to the mountains of Abruzzo in central Italy.  Courtesy of CiminiArchitettura  Section  Courtesy of CiminiArchitettura The project has the aim of enhancement of rural traditions and enhance the local tourist routes and products, mainly related to the olive oil and wine production.  © Sergio Camplone The functional program is very simple: a single flexible space equipped with ensuite facilities.  Courtesy of CiminiArchitettura The project aims to symbolically interpret the path of sheep tracks opening and directing the large central room to the sea and to the opposite side towards the mountain. Conceptually a "space of passage" from which sight the landscape.  Courtesy of CiminiArchitettura This dual opposite opening also allows natural ventilation in summer. The land on which stands the building, however, is in direct contact with a road. This is why the volume of the pavilion was deformed upward to avoid the views of the cars and focus instead on the beautiful surrounding countryside.  Courtesy of CiminiArchitettura This changed morphology has also allowed us to create a small cavea and optimize coverage for the installation of photovoltaic panels and technical installations.  Courtesy of CiminiArchitettura The structure of the building (apart from the reinforced concrete base) is made entirely of wood, as well as the outer covering of larch pretreated.  © Sergio Camplone The pavilion of transhumance is a handmade object, local, looking for a new way to interact with the landscape and the territory.  Courtesy of CiminiArchitettura  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| “Permanently Unfinished”: The Evolution of Architecture in the Galapagos Islands Posted: 27 Dec 2016 01:30 AM PST  © Joseph Kennedy Most visitors to the Galapagos Islands point their cameras towards the exotic animals and away from the local people. They direct their full attention to the natural landscape, as if to intentionally deny the existence of the urban space of the city, since the presence of any form of architecture would seem in logical conflict with the islands' identity as a protected wildlife reserve. The architecture of the Galapagos is both a conceptual and physical contradiction. Like a Piranesian joke, the San Cristobal typology of the proto-ruin falls somewhere on a spectrum between construction and dismantlement. With their "permanently unfinished" construction state seemingly in flux, it is unclear whether many of these buildings display a common optimism for vertical expansion or are instead symptoms of a process of urban decay.  "Unfinished" construction in Puerto Baquerzio Moreno. Image © Joseph Kennedy  "Unfinished" construction in Puerto Baquerzio Moreno. Image © Joseph Kennedy The unique shapes of these pseudo-informal constructions are the product of a tax loophole found in many South American and even Southern European countries that allows residents and landlords to defer property taxes on buildings in the process of construction. (Another contributing factor to this practice is their residents' existence in a liminal state of poverty.) The result is a strange, unintentional aesthetic of the purposefully incomplete that has a tendency to dominate many lower income neighborhoods. An especially large concentration of these building types can be found in the capital of the Galapagos, San Cristobal.  "Unfinished" construction in Puerto Baquerzio Moreno. Image © Joseph Kennedy  "Unfinished" construction in Puerto Baquerzio Moreno. Image © Joseph Kennedy In leaving open the possibility of future construction, these semi-shelters invite the casual observer to imagine divergent possibilities for the completed construction that reflect an imagined future direction for the Galapagos Islands as a whole. Will the roofs of these homes become the penthouses of the wealthy Ecuadorians seeking a vacation home on the islands, high rise hotel towers to house the increasing flood of international tourists, or aviaries for accommodating the world-famous Galapagos finches, so as to integrate these birds into the matrix of human development?  "Unfinished" construction in Puerto Baquerzio Moreno. Image © Joseph Kennedy  "Unfinished" construction in Puerto Baquerzio Moreno. Image © Joseph Kennedy Mapping the urban area of Puerto Baquerzio Moreno allows us to quantify the percentage of inhabitants that are actively taking advantage of this tax loophole. 1,800 buildings can be counted in Puerto Baquerzio Moreno from satellite photos. 1,253 buildings were surveyed from the ground in total: of those 960 appear to be mostly completed, 207 appear to be in a state of incomplete habitation, and 86 are apparently currently in construction. From that data, 76.5% are "completed," 16.5% are "incomplete," and 7% are "under construction."  Map showing the status of construction in Puerto Baquerzio Moreno on Isla de San Cristóbal. Image © Joseph Kennedy The somewhat larger and more developed Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz suggests one possible path in which Puerto Baquerzio Moreno may develop. The survey of site statistics shows 2,925 buildings in the main city: of those 2,633 appear to be mostly completed, 233 appear to be in a state of incomplete habitation, and 59 are apparently currently in construction. From that data, 90% are "completed," 8% are "incomplete," and 2% are "under construction."  Map showing the status of construction in Puerto Ayora on Isla Santa Cruz. Image © Joseph Kennedy Joseph Kennedy is a Fulbright grantee conducting research and teaching at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design. He graduated with a B. Arch from Cornell University in 2015.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Fluor / Paul de Ruiter Architects Posted: 27 Dec 2016 01:00 AM PST  © Ronald Tilleman
 © Ronald Tilleman Paul de Ruiter Architects designed a new building for the high-end engineering firm Fluor that completely reflects the company's unique style of working. The aim was to create a space where everything revolves around collaboration, interaction and sharing knowledge. At the same time, there needed to be ample opportunity to work on sensitive projects in separately secured areas.  © Ronald Tilleman A unique combination of security and interaction  Ground Floor Plan Robust and airy  © Ronald Tilleman We wanted every working area to have natural daylight. At the same time, our aim was to prevent the sun from overheating the building. In order to avoid the blinds being closed all day, we aimed to prevent direct bright daylight causing a nuisance for the staff. We therefore designed façades that filter the sunlight whilst directing daylight indoors. The result is various floors where hundreds of people can work together in an environment with natural daylight and a view.  © Ronald Tilleman Energy consumption halved  © Ronald Tilleman The heat we gain in the summer is stored in the ground for the winter. Equally, we store the winter cold for cooling in the summer. Combined with our climate platforms, this reduces energy consumption by half, a valuable investment in view of Fluor's desire to occupy the building for decades. Finally, we installed a total of 2,250 m2 of PV panels to enable the building to provide for its own energy needs. The building has been awarded a BREEAM Excellent certificate.  © Ronald Tilleman Product Description. The black steel floor panels have been applied to give a very robust and solid character to the atrium of the Fluor office building.  © Ronald Tilleman  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The Design Progress Through the Years Posted: 27 Dec 2016 12:00 AM PST  Courtesy of Leewardists At its best, architecture can be a dream come true: the physical manifestation of the creative architect's most exquisite design fantasies. Nowhere is this kind of creative liberty more pervasive than in architecture school—with few practical concerns for cost, policy, or even structural integrity, architecture students are free to execute the purest and most complex proposals their imaginations will allow. And indeed, as their representation and spatial skills progress, students gain the ability to realize more advanced interventions over time. In the real world, though...not so much. Centuries of civilizations built on structures designed by architects and yet, their voice is lost among the countless stories of rulers and armies and sometimes wondrous monsters. The Leewardists are rewriting the contemporary history of our civilization through the voice of this elusive being, The Architect. For more of The Architect Comic Series follow them on Facebook, Instagram or visit their website.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 14 Short Stories About Architects, Attitudes and Odd Architectural Anecdotes Posted: 26 Dec 2016 11:00 PM PST  Álvaro Siza photographed by Fernando Guerra. Image © Fernando Guerra | FG+SG A new collection of five minute-long On Design stories—developed by the team behind Section D, Monocle 24's 24's weekly review of design, architecture and craft—profile a person, survey a place, or unpack an idea that's changing or shaping design and architecture today. We've selected fourteen of our favorites from the ongoing series, examining issues as wide as Postmodernism and the architectural competition, to five-minute profiles of Alvaro Siza, Josef Hoffman, Kengo Kuma and Superstudio.  What is Postmodern architecture?In this debut episode, James Taylor-Foster introduces us to the meaning and importance of Postmodernism in architecture. What is Googie architecture?Ed Stocker takes us on a tour of Southern California to discover an intriguing offshoot of Modernist architecture known as Googie. Who is Josef Hoffman?Alexei Korolyov explains the life, work and continuing relevance of Josef Hoffmann – a Czech-born designer and architect whose influence on Viennese design can still be felt today. What happened to Buffalo, New York?Once a powerhouse of trade and commerce, Buffalo's architectural importance well outweighs its renown. Josh Fehnert takes us on a tour of the rust-belt city that's finally regaining its shine. Who is Kengo Kuma?Fiona Wilson takes us through the life and work of Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, who through his buildings and writings has reinterpreted traditional Japanese architecture for the 21st Century. We explore the career of the man charged with the construction of the hotly contested Olympic Stadium for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. What did the German architect say to the Turkish one?This episode dives into the long-standing (if at times strained) relationship between Germany and Turkey. We see how some Turkish homes still bear the mark of visiting German guest workers and learn what this says about the two countries today. Why have architecture competitions?Many of the world's most important buildings are the result of architecture competitions. But those same events are often politically fraught – and critics say they're a waste architects' time and energy. So is the competition really the best mechanism for commissioning building designs? To build or not to build?Most architects influence their discipline by completing iconic projects but others, such as Superstudio, make their mark despite leaving no building behind. We meet the 1960s avant-garde Italian collective that made architectural history working with utopias and not bricks. Who is Alvaro Siza?We explore the life and career of Portuguese architect Alvaro Siza. During six decades of work Siza's style has come to encompass the optimism of the post-Salazar years and speaks volumes about Portugal's soft-power pull today. Will Madrid's next big museum ever open?If Madrileños needed any further reminder of the political stalemate paralysing their country, a beautifully designed but conspicuously incomplete construction project next to the Royal Palace stands out as a searing symbol of the impasse. What can Singapore learn from the Golden Mile Complex?The shabby brutalism of Singapore's Golden Mile Complex and adjoining Golden Mile Tower doesn't fit with the city's squeaky-clean, glass-and-steel vernacular. We ask how the pair have survived in a place that's famously unsentimental about demolishing the old to make way for the new. Why redesign Belgrade?The Serbian capital's street-level design is a cacophony of clashing elements but one man is waging war against this discord, vowing to bring aesthetic harmony to the city. Will he succeed? How has Vienna benchmarked public seating?Alexei Korolyov tells the story of a piece of street furniture that's become a contemporary design symbol of the Austrian capital. What is mafia baroque architecture?After Bulgaria's first elections were held in 1990, the free market rushed in to fill the economic vacuum left by the fall of communism. On one side there arose a new class of oligarchs and on the other, against a backdrop of economic failure, the notorious organised crime sector of 1990s Bulgaria. These newly moneyed people, many of whom were involved or connected to the construction industry, needed somewhere to live, work and play. The havoc of building that followed threw up a chaotic architectural vernacular that some call "mafia baroque". You can see a curated collection of Monocle 24's architecture-related podcasts on ArchDaily, here. Round-Up: Tall Stories From Monocle 24's 'The Urbanist'  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Free Online Architecture Courses From World-Class Universitites Posted: 26 Dec 2016 10:00 PM PST  Thinking of continuing your studies but don't want to start a master's or a doctorate just yet? Around the world, short-term courses taken remotely are increasingly popular alternatives, and platforms such as edX, created by Harvard and MIT Universities make it even easier to dive deeper into the most diverse topics. Of course, for long-term and undergraduate courses, the face-to-face experience cannot be replaced by online classes. However, being able to follow lessons and participate in discussions with people from around the world online is definitely an important advantage offered by the internet. We have compiled a few courses in areas ranging from video game design to bio-cellular engineering, and from the history of Japanese architecture to courses in architectural imagination. See our list below: The Architectural Imagination Four Facets of Contemporary Japanese Architecture: Technology Four Facets of Contemporary Japanese Architecture: Technology The Science and Practice of Sustainable Development The Science and Practice of Sustainable Development Principles of Designing for Humans Principles of Designing for Humans Evaluating Designs with Users Video Game Design and Balance Data Analysis: Visualization and Dashboard Design Data Analysis: Visualization and Dashboard Design Biological Engineering: Cellular Design Principles Biological Engineering: Cellular Design Principles Gameplay Programming for Video Game Designers Gameplay Programming for Video Game Designers Design in Healthcare: Using Patient Journey Mapping Design in Healthcare: Using Patient Journey Mapping Technological, Social, and Sustainable Systems Technological, Social, and Sustainable Systems  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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