subota, 13. svibnja 2017.

Arch Daily

Arch Daily


Office Building Podkriznik – “Propulsion” / Superform

Posted: 12 May 2017 07:00 PM PDT

© Miran Kabič © Miran Kabič
  • Architects: Superform
  • Location: Municipality of Nazarje, Slovenia
  • Architects In Charge: Marjan Poboljšaj, Anton Žižek
  • Collaborator: Špela Gliha
  • Area: 1400.0 m2
  • Project Year: 2015
  • Photographs: Miran Kabič
© Miran Kabič © Miran Kabič

BASIS The client intended to move the existing production facilities to a new building. The building that housed the production facilities needs to be renovated in terms of energy efficiency. Existing building was constructed in time of late modernism. It has potential for interesting renovation design possibilities.

© Miran Kabič © Miran Kabič

DESIGN CONCEPT The design of the new façade results from the form of "mechanical sprocket" which is one of the products manufactured by the company. By combining these two basic principles of design, an effect is created on the façade blurring the line between 3D and 2D elements. 

Concept Concept
Plans Plans

MATERIAL Façade skin materials (metal and glass) expresses identity of the client. Subtile design of the Façade skin provide good relation to the delicate environment of the Nazarje settlement.

Courtesy of Superform Courtesy of Superform

SUSTAINABILITY New ventilated façade skin with metal brisolei provide necessary shading. Dimed glass balance the inside temperature of the building. With new facade skin energy sufficient of the building is very much improved.

© Miran Kabič © Miran Kabič

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T4 House / Landmak Architecture

Posted: 12 May 2017 03:00 PM PDT

© Trieu Chien © Trieu Chien
  • Architects: Landmak Architecture
  • Location: Khu đô thị Ciputra, Phú Thượng, Tây Hồ, Hà Nội, Vietnam
  • Architect In Charge: Ta Tien Vinh, Truong Tuan Chung
  • Design Team: Le Minh Hoang, Thi Thao, Lai Hung Quyet, Nguyen Thi Hoa, Ngo Thi Ngan Ha, Truong Thi Ngoc
  • Project Year: 2016
  • Photographs: Trieu Chien
© Trieu Chien © Trieu Chien

From the architect. T4 HOUSE is a house located in the same massively constructed villas with the typical design. But to the landlord it's a "timeline" with many ups and downs after more than a decade living there. When they moved to a new house, instead of selling this house, they decided to renovate it for rent. This was a way to help this house both have people living and be operated to keep it from degrading, but to them (the landlord) it's kept as a memory.

© Trieu Chien © Trieu Chien

The old house had the status quo that was very stuffy, dank, lacked of light and degraded severely in layout. We decided to renovate the space in the most radical way. We changed the access hall of the house to the right place before which was a small bedroom, and the old hall was closed to a daybed, this old bedroom roof is cut and perforated for extra light. Trees and lawns were added so that nature could come into the house. In this way, the first floor was completely transformed to create a depth of space.

© Trieu Chien © Trieu Chien
First Floor Plan First Floor Plan
© Trieu Chien © Trieu Chien

After finishing, the entire space looked like to be changed spectacularly, the spaces of the inside - outside, the top and bottom were mixed together. Of course, many small details have been adjusted such as lighting, ventilation for stairs, additional more spaces to access nature, more daybeds to read books. But finally the house is more comfortable but still has to retain its inherent soul.

© Trieu Chien © Trieu Chien

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Namwon Pavilion - SanSan / Boundaries Architects

Posted: 12 May 2017 01:00 PM PDT

© Hwang Hyo Chel              © Hwang Hyo Chel
  • Collaborators: Shim Hyungsun
© Hwang Hyo Chel              © Hwang Hyo Chel

From the architect. The city of Namwon was designated a Cultural City by the Korean government in 2014 – the first in the country – and as a consequence, the city planned to build twelve pavilions across the city by 2017 as a way to provide small, cultural "pit-stops" for the locals and visitors.

Plan Plan

In 2015, five teams of young architects were selected to proceed with the project on five idle sites within the city. We were asked to build a pavilion in front of Namwon Station, where, historically, Namwon's fortress walls and one of its main gates used to be.

© Hwang Hyo Chel              © Hwang Hyo Chel

Our pavilion, "SanSan" (山山), is an amalgamation that means "mountains and mountains." The design is a formal interpretation of the well-known Jiri mountains, whose trail begins and ends at Namwon. In the past, Namwon was recognized as an important gateway to the mountains, but this relationship has almost dissolved due to the various methods available today. We wanted our pavilion to be a symbolic gesture as a reminder of what Jiri mountains still means to the city and the locals.

Diagram Diagram

To form the mountains, we proposed a twin-top, stacked timber structure. Composed of approximately 2000 pieces of timber using simplified joint details and structure assembly, the pavilion was a participatory project built with the help of the locals, embodying their hopes and goodwill. The timber sections inside the pavilion had originally been planned to be painted in a gradation of green to create a different atmosphere, but this had been postponed until later. 

© Hwang Hyo Chel              © Hwang Hyo Chel
Diagram Diagram
© Hwang Hyo Chel              © Hwang Hyo Chel

We imagined the SanSan Pavilion to be a temporary shelter for people waiting their trains, or perhaps for small-scale busking. Perhaps as a strange framing device to view the city differently or simply as a playful object, the pavilion hopefully represents the spirit of its citizens as a fun little addition to Namwon. 

Diagram Diagram
Diagram Diagram

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Louttit House / Seeley Architects

Posted: 12 May 2017 12:00 PM PDT

© Peter Hyatt © Peter Hyatt
  • Architects: Seeley Architects
  • Location: Lorne VIC 3232, Australia
  • Architect In Charge: David Seeley
  • Area: 580.0 m2
  • Project Year: 2015
  • Photographs: Peter Hyatt
  • Builder: Poulsen Builders
  • Landscape: TNLA
  • Engineer: Don Moore & Associates
© Peter Hyatt © Peter Hyatt

 Built high on the amphitheatre surrounding Louttit Bay, the Louttit house challenges the typical expectations of a renovated home with bold, yet sensitive addition the Lorne streetscape. A prosaic suburban brick house has been transformed to accommodate an extended family, while presenting as a modest sized house.

© Peter Hyatt © Peter Hyatt

Inspired by early "fibro beach shacks" and the beautiful Otway Ranges, fibre cement sheeting and Spotted Gum timbers are evident throughout the interior. Externally, the weathering steel roof shedding water into a generous pebble lined trench when it rains.

Upper Level Plan Upper Level Plan

Upon entry one is greeted by a long timber clad 'box' appearing to be inserted into the dwelling through both levels. Revealed mostly as wet areas within, it also hides an "Alice in wonderland" door to a mattress floored Nook for kids to nap or play "fortress". The lower level is a dedicated "kids space" (for big kids too), featuring a generous rumpus room, a spa deck and two bedrooms 

© Peter Hyatt © Peter Hyatt

The upper or entry level is thermally zoned, with a suspended fireplace partitioning the living and dining areas. From these rooms, spectacular views of the meandering Great Ocean coastline are realized. It's no wonder that everyone wants to stay at the Louttit house.

© Peter Hyatt © Peter Hyatt

Our clients, a recently retired couple were recommended to us and approached with an open brief to renovate a very urban brick dwelling into a holiday retreat to better capture the coastal views and to provide a higher standard of accommodation for their family . Through a fluid, open and trusting design process, we delivered a design that transformed the house, with a result that greatly exceeded their expectations.

© Peter Hyatt © Peter Hyatt

The design of the Louttit house is zoned by over two levels to accommodate three generations. At the upper level, an air locked zone accommodates an open planned kitchen and living area with two bedroom suites each with generous Ensuites. The lower level includes two bedrooms; wet areas, a garage, games room and Nook that is covered in mattresses for the grand kids.

© Peter Hyatt © Peter Hyatt

Working within the existing shell and by opening up the north facade with large sliding doors capped by a generous skillion roof, the improved spatial qualities and detailing has lead to considerably improved home, better solar orientation and cross ventilation.

© Peter Hyatt © Peter Hyatt

An air lock strategically placed at the Entry to the house protects the interior from the effects of winter winds, reducing heating costs.

© Peter Hyatt © Peter Hyatt

Sustainably sourced Citriodora maculata was been used extensively as the internal floors and linings. Like the bricks from the original house, these timbers can be readily recycled at the end of the dwellings life.

© Peter Hyatt © Peter Hyatt

Externally, the prosaic face bricks were roughly rendered and a straw broom run through the wet mortar, creating a pattern akin to that left on the sand by children dragging a tree branch along.

The Corten clad roof completes the renovation, reflective of but not succumbing to the effects of the nearby corrosive effects of the southern ocean.

© Peter Hyatt © Peter Hyatt

A considered landscape design encompassing stone filled gabion walls and native trees, contributes to the textural palate thoughtfully reflective of the Otway's landscape.

The Louttit house provides a fresh perspective in repurposing an existing , but inappropriate house, transforming it into a contextual, sustainable home that we expect will be enjoyed by many future generations.

© Peter Hyatt © Peter Hyatt

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Bolivar Multifamily Housing / Hitzig Militello arquitectos

Posted: 12 May 2017 10:00 AM PDT

© Federico Kulekdjian © Federico Kulekdjian
© Federico Kulekdjian © Federico Kulekdjian

From the architect. The building is located in the neighborhood of San Telmo, a traditional neighborhood of Buenos Aires, whose heights are regulated by the building code of the ctiy. For this reason it was necessary to work on a compact building project and this necessarily impact the decision that the access is below the level of the sidewalk.

© Federico Kulekdjian © Federico Kulekdjian

The building has 16 functional units, parking lots for 6 cars and a commercial space at the front. On the ground floor is located a retail space and at successive levels are 3 story housing of studios apartments, one bedroom apartments, and two bedroom apartments.

Section A-A' Section A-A'

The project contemplates a structure of long beams that confers to the floor plants some flexibility and this allows that diverse sizes of dwellings. On the rooftop there are 4 private terraces which in the future can be accessed by spiral stairs.

© Federico Kulekdjian © Federico Kulekdjian
third floor plan third floor plan
© Federico Kulekdjian © Federico Kulekdjian

What characterizes the project is the use of two facade lines: one of them more dense and monolithic; and behind that line a lighter and translucent one. Because of this we decided to use a palette of materials such as concrete and galvanize iron that defines the aesthetic configuration of the project. Our work in general is characterized by trying to use bitonal materials that do not compete with formal expression or functionality.

© Federico Kulekdjian © Federico Kulekdjian

The plasticity of the concrete has allowed us to mold the partitions with dents placed in a repetitive rhythmic, and this gives the concrete structure a rupture in the typical homogeneity of this material. The use of galvanized meshes panels offers a certain balance between their transparency and the density of the concrete.

© Federico Kulekdjian © Federico Kulekdjian

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The Kookiest Chinese Copies, from PompiDON'T to WRONGchamp

Posted: 12 May 2017 09:19 AM PDT

<a href='http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/yz6j9gBdt-lHjGSB-ICM6A'>via 不正经历史研究所</a> <a href='http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/yz6j9gBdt-lHjGSB-ICM6A'>via 不正经历史研究所</a>

By now, most of the architectural world is aware of Chinese architects' penchant for ripping off their favorite works from foreign countries, from the latest Zaha Hadid landmark to entire historical villages. The issue is, admittedly, more complex than many often give it credit for—but even after debating the phenomenon from the perspective of Chinese cultural norms, copyright law, and even whether copycats might actually be good for architecture, China will always have more copycats to puzzle over. Some are baffling, some are in a way impressive, some are even (dare we say it?) even kind of cute. In short, all of them are in some way entertaining. Here are 6 of the strangest.

The Pompidon't Centre

<a href='http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/yz6j9gBdt-lHjGSB-ICM6A'>via 不正经历史研究所</a> <a href='http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/yz6j9gBdt-lHjGSB-ICM6A'>via 不正经历史研究所</a>

via GIPHY

The No-man Foster-Designed Gherkin

<a href='http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/yz6j9gBdt-lHjGSB-ICM6A'>via 不正经历史研究所</a> <a href='http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/yz6j9gBdt-lHjGSB-ICM6A'>via 不正经历史研究所</a>

via GIPHY

The Chapel at Wrongchamp

<a href='http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/yz6j9gBdt-lHjGSB-ICM6A'>via 不正经历史研究所</a> <a href='http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/yz6j9gBdt-lHjGSB-ICM6A'>via 不正经历史研究所</a>

via GIPHY

One by Zaha Hadidn't

<a href='http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/yz6j9gBdt-lHjGSB-ICM6A'>via 不正经历史研究所</a> <a href='http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/yz6j9gBdt-lHjGSB-ICM6A'>via 不正经历史研究所</a>

via GIPHY

The Sydney Nopera House

<a href='http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/yz6j9gBdt-lHjGSB-ICM6A'>via 不正经历史研究所</a> <a href='http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/yz6j9gBdt-lHjGSB-ICM6A'>via 不正经历史研究所</a>

via GIPHY

This Building is Not-a Botta

<a href='http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/yz6j9gBdt-lHjGSB-ICM6A'>via 不正经历史研究所</a> <a href='http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/yz6j9gBdt-lHjGSB-ICM6A'>via 不正经历史研究所</a>

via GIPHY

H/T 不正经历史研究所

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Culture Station President Itamar Franco / Jô Vasconcellos + Rafael Yanni + Acústica & Sônica

Posted: 12 May 2017 08:00 AM PDT

© Jomar Bragança © Jomar Bragança
  • Commissioned: CODEMIG
  • Project Manager: Governo de Minas Gerais
  • Technical Consultancy, Programming And Concert Hall Design: Acústica & Sônica - José Augusto Nepomuceno.
  • Acoustics: Acústica & Sônica: José Augusto Nepomuceno; Akustiks: Christopher Blair.
  • Acoustical Models: Michael Barron
  • Theatre Equipment And Lighting Design: Acústica & Sônica: Júlio Gaspar
  • Complementary Drawings: SPM
  • Working Drawings Architect: Fernando Brentano
  • Structural Engineer: Charles Simon
  • Architectural Lighting Design: Sonia Mendes
  • Communication Design: Greco Design
  • Landscape Design: Jô Vasconcellos, Rafael Yanni, SPM
  • Assistant Architect: : Joana Magalhães
  • Graffiti Artist: Drin Cortes
© Jomar Bragança © Jomar Bragança

From the architect. The completion of an architectural complex designed to house the Minas Gerais Philharmonic Orchestra as well as the headquarters for a TV and Radio station has placed the town of Belo Horizonte, Brazil amongst the international network of creative and ever-changing cities.

© Jomar Bragança © Jomar Bragança

The main goal for the project was to transform the site into a new cultural and tourism hub for the town. The set of buildings will likely transform the surrounding urban space, a setting that has lacked an open plan public area since the closing of the Barroca Market nearby. Each building was placed on a different level of the plot, as a way to ensure the best direct access from each street, as well as minimal ground leveling work. The buildings are organized on the plot in a way that creates a series of voids between them, forming a large inviting plaza that has been offered to the local community as a new public space, something this area of town is in dire need of. In a way, these decisions attest to the social commitment that is expected from such a large cultural project.

© Andre Fossati © Andre Fossati

The headquarters for the Orchestra, TV and Radio Station had a pre-established spacial organization that followed the main strategy presented in the project brief. As this was a new construction, the choice for a concrete and steel structure that could work in modules seemed like the most cost-efficient solution. Acoustics played a huge part in shaping the main hall as well as the surrounding areas. To ensure complete soundproofing, the concert room is placed on ground level and is isolated from other structures. The public arrives from the main plaza in to middle level of the room and musicians can reach the stage directly on the lower level. The large TV studios are also placed on the ground level to ensure complete soundproofing and easy access to loading bays.

Sections Sections

Strategically placed horizontal and vertical circulations connect the car parking levels to the space called "pre-foyer", a transitional area between the outside and inside, something to be considered in tropical weather cities.

© Jomar Bragança © Jomar Bragança

The public arrives by foot on the highest point of the plaza in a steady and easy flow. The car park can accommodate the need of the Orchestra, TV and Radio Stations and are flexible in their divisions. Access is through the sides streets, so that the main public does not overlap with the stream of cars.

© Bruna Brandao © Bruna Brandao
© Bruna Brandao © Bruna Brandao

All levels have generous amounts of toilets as well as a cafe to suit the needs of patrons during concert intermissions and the balcony cafe is the perfect spot for musicians to rest on practice days. The historic building has been restored to be the food court for all three institutions, this includes a cafe, snack bar and restaurant.

12 Floor Plan 12 Floor Plan

Now that the building has been completed, it is quite clear that the local community has welcomed these spaces and that a meeting point has been created for the neighborhood.

© Jomar Bragança © Jomar Bragança

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11 Projects Win NYC Public Design Commission's Excellence in Design Awards

Posted: 12 May 2017 07:00 AM PDT

Woodside Office, Garage, and Inspection Facility / TEN Arquitectos + W Architecture and Landscape Architecture. Image Courtesy of NYC Office of the Mayor Woodside Office, Garage, and Inspection Facility / TEN Arquitectos + W Architecture and Landscape Architecture. Image Courtesy of NYC Office of the Mayor

The New York City Public Design Commission and Mayor Bill de Blasio have announced the 11 projects selected as winners of their 2017 Awards for Excellence in Design. Established in 1983, the award has been bestowed annually to projects from the city's five boroughs that "exemplify how innovative and thoughtful design can provide New Yorkers with the best possible public spaces and services and engender a sense of civic pride."

Both built and unbuilt projects are considered for the award. Previous winners have included BIG + Starr Whitehouse's 40th Police Precinct (2016), Studio Gang's Fire Rescue 2 (2015), the Louis Kahn-designed Four Freedoms Park (2014), and Steven Holl's Hunters Point Library (2011).

"The best public projects are purposeful and use design to build a sense of community and civic pride," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "We commend the teams behind these critical and creative projects that will help build a stronger, more equitable city and improve services and recreational activities for every New Yorker."

"The outstanding public works being awarded today support the de Blasio Administration's commitment to providing quality, equitable, and resilient public spaces to all New Yorkers. By integrating key principles of good design with sustainable practices and materials, these projects will regenerate the city's natural environment, improve services to the public, and offer inspirational artworks and educational programming," added Public Design Commission President Signe Nielsen.

Excellence in Design Winners

Bomb Squad Building / Rice + Lipka Architects, Liz Farrell Landscape Architecture

Bomb Squad Building / Rice + Lipka Architects, Liz Farrell Landscape Architecture. Image Courtesy of NYC Office of the Mayor Bomb Squad Building / Rice + Lipka Architects, Liz Farrell Landscape Architecture. Image Courtesy of NYC Office of the Mayor

Located in a flood-vulnerable site adjacent to Pelham Bay Park, NYPD's Bomb Squad training facilities were badly damaged by Hurricane Sandy. This new 10,700 square-foot resilient structure elevates critical program elements above the floodplain. At the ground floor, cast-in-place concrete walls create a resilient structure and vents allow flood waters to flow through without damaging the building. Energy-efficient mechanical units and photovoltaic panels are concealed by a subtly sloping facade and roof. Where the original structure once was, native plants will be reintroduced to restore the shoreline ecology.

Treetop Adventure Zipline and Nature Trek / Tree-Mendous

Treetop Adventure Zipline and Nature Trek / Tree-Mendous. Image Courtesy of NYC Office of the Mayor Treetop Adventure Zipline and Nature Trek / Tree-Mendous. Image Courtesy of NYC Office of the Mayor

The Treetop Adventure Zipline will provide visitors with a new perspective of the Bronx Zoo - from 45 feet above the Bronx River and its surrounding forest. Wooden platforms, one on either side of the river, connect 375 feet of zipline cable. Participants will launch from the west bank of the river, zip across, and then return on a second set of racing zip lines. This active adventure will reach new audiences, build a stronger conservation ethic among visitors by bringing them closer to local nature, and support the Wildlife Conservation Society's mission to inspire young adults to protect the natural world.

Greenpoint Library and Environmental Education Center / Marble Fairbanks + SCAPE Landscape Architecture

Greenpoint Library and Environmental Education Center / Marble Fairbanks + SCAPE Landscape Architecture. Image Courtesy of NYC Office of the Mayor Greenpoint Library and Environmental Education Center / Marble Fairbanks + SCAPE Landscape Architecture. Image Courtesy of NYC Office of the Mayor

The Greenpoint Library and Environmental Center replaces an existing, outdated one-story library, providing significantly enlarged indoor and outdoor space to house everyday library use and programming for the exploration of the environment. The facility includes reading rooms for all ages, small public meeting rooms, lab space for interactive projects, and a large community event space. Exceeding LEED Silver goals, the center will become a demonstration project for innovative approaches to sustainable design.

Double Sun / Mary Temple

Double Sun / Mary Temple. Image Courtesy of NYC Office of the Mayor Double Sun / Mary Temple. Image Courtesy of NYC Office of the Mayor

Gracing the northeast and southwest corners of McCarren Park Pool's dramatic archway entrance, Mary Temple's installation creates a subtle and elegant visual disturbance. At first glance, the two paintings appear to be bright shards of light, raking the stucco and spreading shadows of nearby trees. However, the shadow-shapes are actually painted translations of Juneberry, Hawthorn, and other local trees that thrive throughout the surrounding park. The title, Double Sun, is a reference to the dual passages of light that can be seen in the archway - an impossibility in the natural world.

FIT New Academic Building / SHoP Architects + Mathews Nielsen

FIT New Academic Building / SHoP Architects + Mathews Nielsen. Image Courtesy of NYC Office of the Mayor FIT New Academic Building / SHoP Architects + Mathews Nielsen. Image Courtesy of NYC Office of the Mayor

Sited at the northern edge of the campus, FIT's new academic building will reflect a commitment to community engagement and welcome the public into the life of the college. The ten-story, 110,000-square-foot structure will provide much-needed smart classrooms, textile labs, administrative offices, and the first dedicated student life hall on the campus in nearly two decades. The design embodies a transparency that reflects the college's vision of openness, exploration, and the robust exchange of ideas across many platforms.

Downtown Far Rockaway Streetscape / W Architecture and Landscape Architecture

Downtown Far Rockaway Streetscape / W Architecture and Landscape Architecture. Image Courtesy of NYC Office of the Mayor Downtown Far Rockaway Streetscape / W Architecture and Landscape Architecture. Image Courtesy of NYC Office of the Mayor

After Hurricane Sandy in 2012, it became imperative to redevelop the Downtown Far Rockaway central business district and transportation hub. The street reconstruction plan on the Rockaway peninsula signifies a focus on environmental sustainability and resiliency in the wake of extreme weather events. The overarching goals of the design are to reinforce Mott Avenue as a 'village main street' with a connection to existing neighborhood assets and recent public improvement projects, such as the reconstruction of the Far Rockaway Queens Branch Library.

Woodside Office, Garage, and Inspection Facility / TEN Arquitectos + W Architecture and Landscape Architecture

Woodside Office, Garage, and Inspection Facility / TEN Arquitectos + W Architecture and Landscape Architecture. Image Courtesy of NYC Office of the Mayor Woodside Office, Garage, and Inspection Facility / TEN Arquitectos + W Architecture and Landscape Architecture. Image Courtesy of NYC Office of the Mayor

Serving as the central inspection location for over 13,500 taxis, the renovated and expanded Woodside facility will provide a welcoming and dignified experience for drivers and other members of New York City's transportation industry. The project will reduce queuing times and increase inspection capacity by more than 200 cars per day and expands office space for staff.

The project replaces the existing office block with an elevated, louver-screened structure spanning over the existing eight-lane garage. The reconfiguration of the ground level creates additional traffic lanes, reduces congestion, and expedites operations on site while improving traffic flow on the adjacent roadway. Lifting the office block off the ground minimizes the footprint of the structure and optimizes daylight and views for the offices above.

The Cubes Administration and Education Building / LOT-EK

The Cubes Administration and Education Building / LOT-EK. Image Courtesy of NYC Office of the Mayor The Cubes Administration and Education Building / LOT-EK. Image Courtesy of NYC Office of the Mayor

The Cubes Building is a 2,640 square-foot, two-story structure comprising 18 shipping containers that will become a permanent home for Socrates Sculpture Park administration and programming. The innovative design and material choices underscore the park's history of reclamation and revitalization and its mission of presenting contemporary public art, fostering environmental stewardship, and community building.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD

Upstate Watershed / Department of Environmental Protection Green Infrastructure

Upstate Watershed / Department of Environmental Protection Green Infrastructure. Image Courtesy of NYC Office of the Mayor Upstate Watershed / Department of Environmental Protection Green Infrastructure. Image Courtesy of NYC Office of the Mayor

New York City's Department of Environmental Protection is tasked with delivering more than one billion gallons of pristine drinking water to nine million New Yorkers every day. New York City is one of only five municipalities in the country allowed by the Environmental Protection Agency to maintain an unfiltered water supply - a testament to the strength and effectiveness of DEP's efforts around watershed protection. DEP's use of green infrastructure to manage stormwater runoff in its upstate properties is a critical component of maintaining the high quality of New York City's drinking water supply.

Recent innovative solutions in upstate sites surrounding the Cross River, Croton Falls, and Kensico Reservoirs, include the restoration of creek alignments and wetlands, construction of drainage swales, stormwater detention systems, and catch basins with filter treatment systems and bypass channels, and the installation of riprap along stream banks. Each project is thoughtfully designed for the specific site context and will ultimately function as part of a larger resilient plan to reduce sediment and pollutants from entering our water supply.

Tottenville Shoreline Protection / Stantec + RACE Coastal Engineering

Tottenville Shoreline Protection / Stantec + RACE Coastal Engineering. Image Courtesy of NYC Office of the Mayor Tottenville Shoreline Protection / Stantec + RACE Coastal Engineering. Image Courtesy of NYC Office of the Mayor
Tottenville Shoreline Protection / Stantec + RACE Coastal Engineering. Image Courtesy of NYC Office of the Mayor Tottenville Shoreline Protection / Stantec + RACE Coastal Engineering. Image Courtesy of NYC Office of the Mayor

Working in tandem with the ReBuild by Design Living Breakwaters Project, the Tottenville project is one component of a layered shoreline protection system in southern Staten Island. A key programmatic goal of the project is to create an interconnected and seamless waterfront trail along the shoreline of Conference House Park to provide pedestrian access the full length of the beach, even at normal high tide. This continuous pathway will also provide access for maintenance staff to areas that have been difficult to reach in the past.

Conservation and Relocation of three WPA-era murals / EverGreene Architectural Arts, Fine Art Conservation Group, Morphosis, Weiss/Manfredi

Conservation and Relocation of three WPA-era murals / EverGreene Architectural Arts, Fine Art Conservation Group, Morphosis, Weiss/Manfredi. Image Courtesy of NYC Office of the Mayor Conservation and Relocation of three WPA-era murals / EverGreene Architectural Arts, Fine Art Conservation Group, Morphosis, Weiss/Manfredi. Image Courtesy of NYC Office of the Mayor

In the early 1940s, the Work Projects Administration (WPA) commissioned abstract murals by Ilya Bolotowsky, Dane Chanase, Joseph Rugolo, and Albert Swinden for a hospital campus on Welfare Island (now Roosevelt Island). The murals were installed in circular, light-filled rooms on the south side of the buildings. The artists were inspired by the East River views and hoped that their artworks would enliven the spaces and uplift the patients.

Since the 1950s, the murals had been painted over multiple times and were completely hidden. In 2001, the Bolotowsky mural was uncovered and conserved by Luca Bonetti as part of the Municipal Art Society's Adopt-A-Mural program. In 2013, in preparation for the demolition of the hospital to make way for the Cornell Tech campus, conservators completed a challenging and extensive search for the remaining murals. While they were unable to find the Chanase mural, the Bolotowsky, Rugolo, and Swinden murals were removed and conserved. The Bolotowsky mural will be installed in the Bloomberg Center and the Swinden mural will be installed in The Bridge building. The Rugolo mural will be placed in a future building as part of a vibrant public art program on the campus.

To learn more about the award and see previous years' winners, visit the Public Design Commission's website, here.

News and project descriptions via NYC Public Design Commission.

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MeMo House / Bam Arquitectura

Posted: 12 May 2017 06:00 AM PDT

© Jeremias Thomas © Jeremias Thomas
  • Location: San Isidro, Provincia Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Architect In Charge: Gonzalo Bardach, Matias Mosquera
  • Area: 215.0 m2
  • Project Year: 2016
  • Photographs: Jeremias Thomas
  • Other Participants: Gonzalo Bardach – Matías Mosquera – Marcos Gonzalez Mazza – Angélica Weissheim, Lic. Lucia Ardissone, Lic. Ana Garcia Ricci, Lic. Ignacio Fleurquin, Alejandra Yamasato, Plablo Rubio, Dr. Gabriel Burgueño.
© Jeremias Thomas © Jeremias Thomas

From the architect. The MeMo house, which was built on a plot in San Isidro, in the northern part of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, was conceived on the premise of a client who is passionate about landscaping and has a strong conviction regarding sustainability and the environment. The premise was to develop a project in a plot between infill buildings while reducing to the maximum extent possible the loss of green spaces due to the construction of the house.

© Jeremias Thomas © Jeremias Thomas

With such a concept in mind, we at BAM! decided to work on architecture and landscape simultaneously. The square meters of the building footprint turn into a three-dimensional garden which connects all the architectural floors.

Plans Plans

The morphological design is born as a result of the commitment not to waste square meters of vegetal soil, on the one hand, and of the idea of having a light entrance through a patio, on the other hand, since it is a plot between infill buildings. Such a layout generates a topographic play with a system of green ramps that connect the zero level with the first floor and the cover, thus creating a continuous garden terrace.

© Jeremias Thomas © Jeremias Thomas

MeMo is a project in which the architectural path plays a decisive role, since we have to bear in mind that the habitual and occasional users are offered a sight show. Such a show is not only a fixed image, but rather a series of images that overlap, and each frame of the scene has been carefully thought.

Sections Sections
Sections Sections

We conceive the sustainability of the project as a path, not as a goal. Hence, we base our path on the LEED standards and we incorporate the concepts of durability and economy which are fundamental in our architectural works, thus satisfying the needs of the present generation without endangering the possibilities of future generations since the impact on the environment and its inhabitants is significantly reduced.

© Jeremias Thomas © Jeremias Thomas

First of all, we approach the path of sustainability by choosing a sustainable lot where the owner can perform most of her activities on foot or on a bicycle, and she can also use native vegetation in her gardens and covers, thus restoring the natural landscape and reducing rainwater effluent.

© Jeremias Thomas © Jeremias Thomas

Then we began the design with a bio-environmental impression, taking special attention to every detail of the project, from the location of the plot, its orientation, the morphology of the volume built with respect to the sun's path and its impact on the different spaces to make the most of the solar energy, the strategic location of native vegetation and the choice of insulating materials of the architectural envelope.

© Jeremias Thomas © Jeremias Thomas

Once we determine the volumetry of the building, we begin with more specific interventions. Starting by the efficient use of water through efficient wastewater technology, and by reducing water consumption using rainwater for the irrigation of native vegetation, which has a minimum hydration requirement.

© Jeremias Thomas © Jeremias Thomas

As regards energy efficiency, we have solar panels not only for the supply of electric energy but also for the power for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. We also add the adequate windows with DVH-type glasses which increase thermal insulation. Both of these measures allow us to reduce energy consumption.

© Jeremias Thomas © Jeremias Thomas

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RCR Arquitectes to Design Catalan Pavilion at 2018 Venice Biennale

Posted: 12 May 2017 04:01 AM PDT

Rafael Aranda (left), Carme Pigem and Ramón Vilalta, founders of RCR Arquitectes and 2017 Pritzker Prize winners. Image © Javier Lorenzo Domínguez Rafael Aranda (left), Carme Pigem and Ramón Vilalta, founders of RCR Arquitectes and 2017 Pritzker Prize winners. Image © Javier Lorenzo Domínguez

The winners of the 2017 Pritzker Prize, RCR Arquitectes, has been selected to lead the proposal and design of the Catalan pavilion at the 2018 Venice Biennale. The news was announced yesterday by Santi Vila, Minister of Culture of the Generalitat of Catalonia, during the opening of this year’s Venice Biennale of Art.

The architects from Olot are the first confirmed participants of the next edition of the Architecture Biennale, which is being curated by Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara of the Ireland-based Grafton Architects. For the first time, the Institut Ramon Llull (IRL) made the selection without a call for public opinion. Speaking to El País, Vila explained that it is "an exceptional decision, agreed upon by the field and a worthy institutional recognition before RCR Arquitectes receives in Tokyo the most prestigious award in the field of architecture."

Via El País, El Periódico.

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Rice Club - Brassa de Mar / Francesc Rifé studio

Posted: 12 May 2017 04:00 AM PDT

© David Zarzoso © David Zarzoso
© David Zarzoso © David Zarzoso

From the architect. Located on the first floor of the restaurant Brassa de Mar, the essential meaning of the project comes from a desire to emphatize the gastronomic values of the founders: &quot;there is no modernity without a good tradition. Our aim was to lead the restaurant towards a transition into a more rational and simple project, as naked as the material itself or the main ingredient of its recipe book that is rice.

© David Zarzoso © David Zarzoso

The project is an act of balance between two features: the color brown, and a lattice system, both fixed and mobile, that will transform the restaurant, through an intelligent and dynamic way, in a completely cubic and sober space.

© David Zarzoso © David Zarzoso

Several factors determine the project layout. On one side, it is both a day and night place. On the other, the nature that surrounds it and the large glass that frames the room will let light and warmth come through. And finally, the intention to subdivide the space in order to host small events or meetings.

Rice club plan Rice club plan

So important is the understanding of color as well as the set of lattices executed in stained poplar wood. A material chosen for its lightness, which makes easy the mobility of the mobile lattices. Based on the façade lines, through them the exterior penetrates in a figurative way throughout the restaurant being subdivided, until arriving at the current format. Its translucence softens the different moments of the sun, and offers a poetic sea sight.

© David Zarzoso © David Zarzoso

These mobile elements are repeated throughout the room transforming into fixed walls. They are in charge of subdividing the spaces in rooms of different sizes, allowing to have from private of unique tables to areas for more diners.

© David Zarzoso © David Zarzoso

As a guest material, gray concrete unifies previously existing pavements, giving the space a neutral continuity. A calm sea that gives a sense of uniformity to the Rice Club, highlighting the brown color and wood.

© David Zarzoso © David Zarzoso

From a practical standpoint, this space is accessed by the communicated ground floor, with the exterior, designed with the same dialogue of materials as the upper floor. We have connected the reception counter, which is responsible for distributing diners either to the Rice Club or to the terrace, with a waiting seat, which in turn is part of the staircase itself. Face there is a large circular lamp, designed for the project, imagined as an element of rotation and an intriguing transition to the different spaces of the project (Rice Club, terrace, and access to one of the kitchens).

© David Zarzoso © David Zarzoso

The vertical volume of the staircase together with the kitchen on the first floor function central element of the property. The special feature of this kitchen, delimited with walls with the same tone that the rest of the restaurant, is its double access. In one of them has been build a hole that could be interpreted as a boat porthole of a and subtly allows the view towards its interior. Around this space different environments are distributed. The south side is a space of important dimensions destined to host events of greater number. It is the part that also contains some reserved area. The north side is composed of two parts: once the kitchen is overtake, there is another dining room connected through the lattice with a Gastro-Bar area.

© David Zarzoso © David Zarzoso

A large counter bar, produced in the same concrete as the floor, takes over the space visually, while the incorporation of low seats invite the visitors to experience the space from a relaxed perspective. Laterally a couch running faces the entire beach of the Patacona. Both bathrooms and emergency exit are located next to this area of ​​benches fitted into cubicles that also allow to interweave more tables and chairs. A rigorous, flexible and intentioned timeless set.

© David Zarzoso © David Zarzoso

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Students Construct Timber Structures in the Argentinian Countryside at Hello Wood Argentina

Posted: 12 May 2017 02:30 AM PDT

Sombra Pampa / Marantz Arquitectura. Image © Fernando Schapochnik Sombra Pampa / Marantz Arquitectura. Image © Fernando Schapochnik

For the past seven years, Hungary-based Hello Wood has been gathering participants from across the globe for its summer camps to engage in a week-long curriculum about creating spaces, networks, and knowledge. However, this year the event has expanded its borders even further; Hello Wood Argentina was the first local Hello Wood summer camp, drawing a group of 150 students, architects, and designers. Hello Wood focuses on socially-engaged concepts and turning architectural theory into practice with collaborative week-long design-build projects. As a complement to traditional university education, students get the chance to work and learn alongside famous international architects to bring their concepts to life.

The theme of Hello Wood Argentina's first summer camp was "Con-Tacto" (Contact), located in Ceibas, Entre Ríos. Curator Jaime Grinberg selected applicants with strong concepts to generate spaces that encouraged connection, whether traditional, functional, utopian, or idealized. Concepts also needed to be simple, natural, and feasible for a team of students to produce in a week. Hello Wood's educational platform focuses on achieving social benefits and improving the quality of life through architecture and design. See below for photos of the projects built at Hello Wood Argentina.

Edificio para Ceremonias Desoconocidas / Formosa

Edificio para Ceremonias Desoconocidas / Formosa. Image © Bernardo Ramirez Edificio para Ceremonias Desoconocidas / Formosa. Image © Bernardo Ramirez

Refugio / Ventura Virzi

Refugio / Ventura Virzi. Image © Fernando Schapochnik Refugio / Ventura Virzi. Image © Fernando Schapochnik

Estructura Expandida / Monoblock

Estructura Expandida / Monoblock. Image © Fernando Schapochnik Estructura Expandida / Monoblock. Image © Fernando Schapochnik

Fragata Natura / Carlos Campos l Silvana Ovsejevich

Fragata Natura / Carlos Campos l Silvana Ovsejevich. Image © Fernando Schapochnik Fragata Natura / Carlos Campos l Silvana Ovsejevich. Image © Fernando Schapochnik

NOPASSANA / IR Arquitectura

NOPASSANA / IR Arquitectura. Image © Fernando Schapochnik NOPASSANA / IR Arquitectura. Image © Fernando Schapochnik

Una Ola / Santiago Perez de Muro

Una Ola / Santiago Perez de Muro. Image © Fernando Schapochnik Una Ola / Santiago Perez de Muro. Image © Fernando Schapochnik

Vacuna / Camila Marin l Ramiro Torres Lacroze

Vacuna / Camila Marin  l Ramiro Torres Lacroze. Image © Fernando Schapochnik Vacuna / Camila Marin l Ramiro Torres Lacroze. Image © Fernando Schapochnik

Sombra Pampa / Marantz Arquitectura

Sombra Pampa / Marantz Arquitectura. Image © Fernando Schapochnik Sombra Pampa / Marantz Arquitectura. Image © Fernando Schapochnik

Pa'dentrero / Maleza

Pa'dentrero / Maleza. Image © Fernando Schapochnik Pa'dentrero / Maleza. Image © Fernando Schapochnik

Coloquio / Cesar de Lucca

Coloquio / Cesar de Lucca. Image © Fernando Schapochnik Coloquio / Cesar de Lucca. Image © Fernando Schapochnik

Students can apply through May 15 to participate in the next summer school and festival in Hungary July 1-9 here.

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Chilmark House / Gray Organschi Architecture + Aaron Schiller

Posted: 12 May 2017 02:00 AM PDT

© David Sundberg / Esto             © David Sundberg / Esto
© David Sundberg / Esto             © David Sundberg / Esto

From the architect. Chilmark's long agrarian history on the windswept southern edge of Martha's Vineyard underpins the design approach to this house and studio for a multi-generational family. The site, a former sheep grazing field, overlooks Chilmark pond, with long views to the Atlantic, and is edged by a series of Chilmark's massive, meandering stone fences. In deference to the field's history, and to the simple New England forms that shape the area's architectural heritage, we developed the house and studio as a pair of barns with low pitched roofs that sit quietly in the landscape. Two buildings form a series of courtyards and outdoor spaces, with varying degrees of privacy and views. In a nod to New England's bank barns, the long barn is set into the hillside, diminishing its scale from the north and creating direct connections to the outside from both upper and lower levels.

© David Sundberg / Esto             © David Sundberg / Esto

At the heart of this design process lies a mentorship and evolving collaboration. Five years ago, Alan Organschi was approached by his student, Aaron Schiller, whom he had taught during Yale's first year building project. Aaron asked Gray Organschi to share the firm's long experience with house design and to work collaboratively on the project. Aaron, whose family had spent decades in Chilmark and had outgrown their beloved A-frame, led the family quest for a new piece of land that would accommodate a family compound and, after years of searching, he found this rare piece of land.

© David Sundberg / Esto             © David Sundberg / Esto
Lower Level Plan Lower Level Plan
© David Sundberg / Esto             © David Sundberg / Esto
Upper Level Plan Upper Level Plan
© David Sundberg / Esto             © David Sundberg / Esto

The simple, dark buildings are approached via a farm road that winds through Chilmark's dense thicket of scrub oak. A broad stair links a large south-facing porch back to the farm road and provides pedestrian access through the field to the beaches beyond. Based in a shared love of the dense aggregation of New England's farm complexes, we sited the studio and the house barns tightly together, creating a charged outdoor space between them, which provides the approach to the house's entrance. The sweeping Atlantic views are only experienced after a visitor enters the house; the northwest entry courtyard is edged by a mute, charred cedar wall with screened apertures, creating a private courtyard with views west over the rolling fields and stone fences. Inside the dark buildings, bleached ash lines all surfaces. The ceilings in the public rooms lift to the high ridges, with dropped areas to create a children's sleeping loft high in the roof. The lower level creates a series of bedrooms with shared spaces between that look into light wells, landscaped with local rocks and moss.

© David Sundberg / Esto             © David Sundberg / Esto

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A Triangulated Ramp Made For People With Reduced Mobility In Mind

Posted: 12 May 2017 01:00 AM PDT

© Micael Löfgren © Micael Löfgren

The geometric design from Lab for Planning and Architecture for the Municipality of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in Spain is a morphological response that conditions Julio Navarro's and Roque Díaz's swimming pools allowing adequate movement of people with reduced mobility.

The project is a path of stairs and ramps with a triangular design that integrates with the surrounding landscape; the materiality and the constructive details are adapted to the different needs and natural conditions of the land. 

Cortesía de Lab for Planning and Architecture Cortesía de Lab for Planning and Architecture
© Micael Löfgren © Micael Löfgren

Description from the Architects. The Julio Navarro Swimming Club is at the heart of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands (Spain). The club has gained a national reputation for its commitment to accommodating people with special needs. The facilities, however, are dated and pathways inadequate to the new needs. 

Cortesía de Lab for Planning and Architecture Cortesía de Lab for Planning and Architecture

The main aim of the project is to solve the problems of universal accessibility and mobility of the clients. The parameters of this project are aligned with the current Spanish legislation with respect to universal pedestrian accessibility in outdoor areas, which includes, among other items, specifications with respect to steepness, slipperiness, width and elements of support, such as handrails, in the design. 

Cortesía de Lab for Planning and Architecture Cortesía de Lab for Planning and Architecture

The overall strategy is to provide not only a functional solution for people with special needs but to offer social inclusion, in a non-segregated space.

Cortesía de Lab for Planning and Architecture Cortesía de Lab for Planning and Architecture

The project is made up of three components. The first is a straight staircase that connects the different levels. The second is a smooth ramp that gives direct and universal access to the facilities and the solariums. 

Cortesía de Lab for Planning and Architecture Cortesía de Lab for Planning and Architecture

The third element is a triangular layout that integrates the walks into the surrounding landscape. The layout is based on Delaunay triangulation produced with civil engineering 3D software allowing thereby to maximize the lesser angles together with the size of each triangle.

Cortesía de Lab for Planning and Architecture Cortesía de Lab for Planning and Architecture

Four different elements are used in the resulting triangular topography: pavement, drains, vegetation, and contention. The three first are used in the flat areas and the slight slopes. They serve, respectively as pathways, drainage and tree spots. The fourth, the contention wall, is used in the area of steeper slopes. The wooden handrails and nets complete the project. The whole layout offers a 60% permeable surface that guarantees natural oxygenation and watering of the soil. 

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NL Architects and XVW Architectuur's deFlat Wins 2017 EU Prize for Contemporary Architecture - Mies van der Rohe Award

Posted: 11 May 2017 11:01 PM PDT

DeFlatKleiburg /  NL architects + XVW architectuur. Image © Marcel van der Burg DeFlatKleiburg / NL architects + XVW architectuur. Image © Marcel van der Burg

NL Architects + XVW architectuur's "innovative renovation" of the DeFlat Kleiburg apartment complex in Amsterdam's Bijlmermeer neighbourhood has been selected as the winner of the 2017 EU Prize for Contemporary Architecture-Mies van der Rohe Award.

One of the largest residential buildings in the Netherlands, the complex was saved from the wrecking ball through its transformation into a rejuvenated framework called a "Klusflat," within which inhabitants could renovate their apartments by themselves. This is the first time the award has been given to a renovation of an existing building.

DeFlat Kleiburg was selected from a list of 355 works from 36 European countries, including the four other finalist projects: Rudy Ricciotti + Passelac & Roques' Rivesaltes Memorial; BBGK Architekci's Katyn Museum; Lundgaard & Tranberg Architects' Kannikegården; and Alison Brooks Architects' Ely Court. NL Architects were also awarded the EU Mies Awards' Emerging Architect Prize in 2005 for their work BasketBar in Utrecht.

Also awarded was the 2017 Emerging Architect Prize, to Brussels studio MSA/V+ for NAVEZ - 5 social units, a housing project near the northern boundary of Brussels that accomplish the dual role of "represent[ing] the urban revalidation scheme with a landmark at the entrance of the city and provid[ing] exemplary apartments for large families.".

Read on to see the jury citations for the two winning projects.

DeFlat Kleiburg /  NL architects + XVW architectuur
Amsterdam, The Netherlands

DeFlatKleiburg /  NL architects + XVW architectuur. Image © Marcel van der Burg DeFlatKleiburg / NL architects + XVW architectuur. Image © Marcel van der Burg

The Jury valued that the project is a collective effort by many people. The architectural concept was to transform the megablock into a contemporary residential building with flexibility in internal planning, and creating a new edge to the street and the landscape – and yet do as little as possible. They considered it to be 'both heroic and ordinary at the same time'. As the Jury Chairman said:

"It challenges current solutions to the housing crisis in European cities, where too often the only ambition is to build more homes year-on-year, while the more profound question of what type of housing should be built goes unanswered. Kleiburg helps us imagine a new kind of architectural project, which responds to changing household patterns and lifestyles in the twenty-first century. A revitalisation of typologies of the past is as relevant as experimenting with new, untested models in this quest, just as radically transforming existing buildings is."

DeFlatKleiburg /  NL architects + XVW architectuur. Image © Marcel van der Burg DeFlatKleiburg / NL architects + XVW architectuur. Image © Marcel van der Burg

The project inspires reflection on the new and complex reality of contemporary living. It proposes new forms of "affordable housing", adding to what is universally a complex and multi-layered offer (ranging from fully subsidized rent to shared ownership and rent-purchase schemes) by providing options for the large majority who have a little money but cannot afford to get on the conventional property ladder. This is low-cost habitable space (€1,200 per m2) – a fantastic new option that does not currently exist.

DeFlatKleiburg /  NL architects + XVW architectuur. Image © Marcel van der Burg DeFlatKleiburg / NL architects + XVW architectuur. Image © Marcel van der Burg
DeFlatKleiburg /  NL architects + XVW architectuur. Image © Marcel van der Burg DeFlatKleiburg / NL architects + XVW architectuur. Image © Marcel van der Burg

5 Social Housing Units in Navez / MSA / V+Brussels, Belgium

5 unidades de vivienda social en Navez / MSA / V+. Image © Serge Brison 5 unidades de vivienda social en Navez / MSA / V+. Image © Serge Brison

The Jury conveyed that housing is a vital topic throughout Europe and felt that MSA/V+ understood well and solved brilliantly the constructive and economic constraints of the programme and its site: 5 flats in a very small corner at the northern entrance of the city of Brussels. The Jury appreciated the high quality of the flats, which are unique and all provided with natural light from all orientations, outdoor spaces, impressive views and dynamic spatial experiences both in common and private spaces. They also recognised that the architects had carefully and meticulously worked with the integration of the building in the neighbourhood and the request to create a landmark.

5 unidades de vivienda social en Navez / MSA / V+. Image © Serge Brison 5 unidades de vivienda social en Navez / MSA / V+. Image © Serge Brison
5 unidades de vivienda social en Navez / MSA / V+. Image © Serge Brison 5 unidades de vivienda social en Navez / MSA / V+. Image © Serge Brison

Established in 1987 by the European Union, the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Fundació Mies van der Rohe – Barcelona, the 60.000€ Mies Van der Rohe award is one of the most prestigious and important awards for European architecture. The prize is awarded biennially to works that have been completed in the past two years and "sets out to foster architecture in two significant ways: by stimulating greater circulation of professional architects throughout the entire European Union in response to transnational commissions and by supporting young architects as they set off on their careers." The Fundació also publishes a catalogue for each edition of the award, featuring the selected entries and essays from jury members.

Previous winners have included Barozzi / Veiga's Philharmonic Hall Szczecin; the Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre in Reykjavik, designed by Henning Larsen in collaboration with the Icelandic practice Batteríið and the artist Olafur Elíasson; and the Neues Museum in Berlin, designed by David Chipperfield Architects and Julian Harrap.

The awards will be presented at a ceremony on May 26  at the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion in Barcelona. Learn more about this year's winners and the events surrounding the prize, here.

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OMA's Feyenoord City Masterplan and Stadium Given Green Light by the City of Rotterdam

Posted: 11 May 2017 10:30 PM PDT

© OMA © OMA

A large-scale masterplan for Feyenoord (or Feijenoord), a suburb-city of the Dutch city of Rotterdam, has been approved by Rotterdam City Council. The successful concept design from OMA, led by Partner David Gianotten, incorporates a historically-important football stadium—for the nationally significant Feyenoord football club—which "no longer fulfills modern demands." Aligned with the football club's "expanding ambitions" both in the Dutch and European football leagues, this proposal is the latest in a string of plans to expand, but the only one to have been accepted.

© OMA © OMA
© OMA © OMA

A new 63,000-seat stadium will function as a catalyst for the urban development of Rotterdam Zuid (South) – "one of the neighborhoods of the city in need of rejuvenation and economic injection," according to the architects. In addition to the stadium, the proposal means to renovate the existing stadium of De Kuip and develop an Urban Bridge, the "Strip" (a three-dimensional pedestrian walkway connecting the old stadium with the new stadium), and the Kuip Park. The former will "be renovated and redeveloped into apartments, commercial space, an athletics sports center and a public square."

© OMA © OMA

All in all the scheme proposes 180,000sqm of housing, 64,000sqm of commercial space, and 83,000sqm of public program including a "sports experience centre" and sports fields.

© OMA © OMA

According to OMA, the project will proceed with the detailed design of the masterplan and the design development of the first phase, which includes the new stadium, four residential towers, a hotel and the development of the Northern part of the "Strip." The new stadium is slated to open for the football season of 2022 to 2023.

© OMA © OMA
© OMA © OMA
© OMA © OMA

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FG75 Studios / A2OFFICE

Posted: 11 May 2017 10:00 PM PDT

© Al.Ma Fotografia | Alexandra Marques © Al.Ma Fotografia | Alexandra Marques
  • Author: Alberto Dias Ribeiro
  • Collaboration: Ana Fareleira
  • Measurement And Gesture: AZU
© Al.Ma Fotografia | Alexandra Marques © Al.Ma Fotografia | Alexandra Marques

From the architect. This project is about the rehabilitation of a building with original construction dated from the end of the 19th century, with 4 floors and inserted in a plot with 176.80sqm.

Floor Plans Floor Plans

In a two-family genesis building it was intended to install a multifamily program consisting of 6 studios and respective storage in the basement.

© Al.Ma Fotografia | Alexandra Marques © Al.Ma Fotografia | Alexandra Marques

The building, kept in its structural and functional skeleton, has in the original staircase a prominent element. From the entry floor to the ground floor was created a new ladder to replace an inoperable one.

© Al.Ma Fotografia | Alexandra Marques © Al.Ma Fotografia | Alexandra Marques
Section Section
© Al.Ma Fotografia | Alexandra Marques © Al.Ma Fotografia | Alexandra Marques

Due to the asymmetrical positioning of the original staircase, which was intended to be maintained, the remaining spaces of the interior demolitions, all of them different, led to solutions of apartments all of them equally distinct but with common standards. Thus, in the apartments with higher ceilings one was introduced a mezzanine leaning on an open space; in others an "island" solution was tried which divides social and private area of the apartment without enclosing the spaces allowing the desired spatial and luminous fluidity. The apartments on the ground floor and the upper floor have characteristics that make them equally different, as far as the organization of space is concerned.

© Al.Ma Fotografia | Alexandra Marques © Al.Ma Fotografia | Alexandra Marques

The amount of materials, colors and textures was purposely reduced, in the case of relatively small spaces, the objective was to maximize the luminosity and simplicity of spaces, so that they will be ready to receive the objects and "things" of future users.

© Al.Ma Fotografia | Alexandra Marques © Al.Ma Fotografia | Alexandra Marques

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