Arch Daily |
- White Collar Factory / Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
- Own House / Metaforma
- Wiener & Co / Arons en Gelauff Architects
- Karelian House / Drozdov & Partners
- Heavenly Gem Church / Lee Eunseok + KOMA
- Vanke Park Mansion 'True Love' / FLOscape Landscape Design Company
- A Warm Final Residence / Takashi Okuno
- Sussex Street House / Mountford Architects
- City of Utrecht Opens Largest Bicycle Parking Lot In The World
- K’umanchikua House / Moro Taller de Arquitectura
- Massive Redevelopment Plan in Stockholm Will Feature Terraced Building by Foster + Partners
- Bioprocess Innovation Center / Clark Nexsen
- 93-Foot-Tall “Tower of Voices” to Commemorate 9/11 Victims with Wind Chime Soundscape
- Lake Austin Residence / A Parallel Architecture
- How to Choose an Undergraduate Architecture Thesis Topic
- Oslo Architecture Triennale Announces Open Call for 2019 Curator
- House on the Olive Trees / Gallardo Llopis Arquitectos
- AD Classics: Teatro Oficina / Lina Bo Bardi & Edson Elito
- Diébedo Francis Kéré Awarded Prince Claus Laureate Award for 2017
- Apartment Building in Pantin / Benjamin Fleury Architecte-Urbaniste
| White Collar Factory / Allford Hall Monaghan Morris Posted: 11 Sep 2017 10:00 PM PDT  © Tim Soar
 © Tim Soar From the architect. White Collar Factory is a complex of six buildings at Old Street Yard, which includes offices, studios, incubator space, restaurants and apartments, set around a new area of public realm, with a sixteen-storey tower topped by a 150m rooftop running track. Together, these 27,200 sqm buildings provide a bold new marker for Old Street as well as creating a new, more permeable section of the city that references the alleys and passageways of the historic urban grain.  © Matt Chisnall The mixed-use development is the culmination of an eight-year research project led by AHMM director Simon Allford and Simon Silver and Paul Williams, directors of developer Derwent London, working in collaboration with engineering firms AKT II and Arup. This research analysed why 19th century warehouses and factory buildings have enjoyed such longevity, and how these structures could inform and inspire a sustainable development. It identified five key elements: high ceilings, deep plans, simple passive façades, concrete structure, and smart servicing, which were to become the driving principles behind White Collar Factory.  © Andrew Holt AHMM drew inspiration for the new build tower from the work of French designer Jean Prouvé, whose design ethos was led by logic, balance and purity.  © Matt Chisnall Designed to achieve more with less, the pragmatic, hard-working design of the tower is guided by the principles that nothing needs to be added, nothing can be taken away, and every element performs one or more function.  © Tim Soar The architecture of the new tower utilises concrete in several ways. As well as forming the structure, the concrete provides the thermal mass, carries embedded cold water pipes and creates a highly expressive finish both inside and out. Board-shuttered concrete wraps the building at pavement level. Above, glazing is interspersed with metal panels punched with 'portholes', and banded with anodised aluminium panels. The building envelope extends above the roof height to protect the 150m rooftop running track. An inner screen of cedar shields the roof plant and 16th floor bar. In contrast, the lower rise buildings have a range of brick elevation treatments but are unified by a common modular plant enclosure at roof level.  © Tim Soar The building is intended to be 'loose-fit', allowing for maximum flexibility, adaptability and longevity. For the tower interior fit-out, AHMM designed the space on the principle of one person per 8sqm in servicing, and one to 6sqm in fire. Each floor can accommodate either one or two tenant companies as required. Having previously created an reconfigurable, mobile furniture system called Jack, AHMM has adapted it for The Office Group, which occupies the first three floors.  © Tim Soar Conceived to withstand the likely impacts of climate change, White Collar Factory maximises passive systems with the radiant concrete slab providing heating and cooling via a bespoke 'Concrete Core Cooling' system. Glazing varies in response to the orientation of the tower with most to the north, less to the east and west, and least to the south. Openable windows enable 70% natural ventilation of the floor plate, allowing the user to be in full control of their own environment. A two-level cycle hub encourages sustainable travel with space for nearly 300 bikes in the basement. The development is rated EPC A, BREEAM Outstanding and LEED Platinum.  © Tim Soar The project has floors of 53m x 41m with a 3.45m floor-to-ceiling height – and was between 15-20% cheaper to build than the equivalent standard building. Through the intelligent use of passive servicing, the development is also expected to provide a 10-33% reduction in operational energy costs per annum (dependent on tenant fit-out approach) and 25% reduction in operational carbon emissions over a typical office building.  © Tim Soar Prior to construction, in a unique move which involved considerable financial investment, the team created a £1million prototype. A 325sqm slice of White Collar Factory jacked up on stilts was set up on site in 2013 and tested over a period of 12 months. The results of this research informed the final building design, proved the theories beyond any reasonable doubt, and enabled buy-in from the market which has resulted in a full roster of tenants from the outset.  Level 2 Plan In addition to the 22,900 sqm new tower, the development comprises two retained and refurbished properties plus three new infill buildings to the south of the site. These smaller, 4-5 storey buildings knit together the previously fragmented city block and provide a diverse campus of incubator workplace, restaurant, retail and nine residential apartments. Designed in collaboration with landscape architect BBUK, the campus is arranged around a new public square, Old Street Yard, with wider pavements at the perimeter, creating a vibrant new piece of city for London.  © Tim Soar  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 11 Sep 2017 08:00 PM PDT  © PION Fotografia
 © PION Fotografia From the architect. The project of the house is a very specific and at the same time unique challenge for an architect. Each line sketched by the designer is a reflection of the Investors dreams. In the case of this house project, the Metaforma Group was able to cooperate with clients from a very beginning of the investment process to the finishing point that was the interior design. The comprehensive approach to the topic has created a consistent whole.  © PION Fotografia Thanks to the established mutual trust, the architects have been able to both respond to the needs of the Investors and convince them to open up to more modern solutions.  © PION Fotografia The house is located in the landscape park protection zone. The closeness of nature has prompted designers to create a geometric solid outside of wood-like elements. The body of the building consists of two intersecting cubes. The living area is located in the larger one, the garage and the gym in the smaller one. Natural conditions determine the shape of a block. The best lighting of the building, despite unfavorable layout of the plot, was a very important aspect. Thanks to the irregular wall configuration of the building, there is more sunlight in the rooms and the one-storey part of the terrace furtherly isolates the private zone from the street.  © PION Fotografia  Ground Floor Plan  © PION Fotografia The facades have been covered with black plaster with cool pigments, and with protection against biological corrosion. A special solution designed by Metaforma is the use of an openwork composite joist system for black painted vertical lath and black cross beams. The wood-like composite we chose, instead of natural materials, does not require additional impregnation. All this creates an interesting three-dimensional effect. Dark details in the form of metal window casings and balustrades consistently complete the concept.  © PION Fotografia Due to the mentioned above location of the house in the landscape park protection zone and the resulting restrictions, it was necessary to leave small animals migration paths in the fence. Another requirement was a detailed analysis of the land drainage system and an effective placement of the system collecting water from the plot.  © PION Fotografia The spatial layout of the building was based on the Investor`s lifestyle. The house function is not only to be an apartment, it is also the workplace and the place of developing the interests of the Owners and it provides the opportunity for a comfortable rest. Designating zones, day zone - in the depths of the ground floor, guest, work and sports zones - in the area of entry and the night zone - on the first floor, emphasizes the multi-functionality of the object.  © PION Fotografia The interior of the house is a continuation and complement of the solutions applied outside. The Metaforma Studio architects have made sure that materials used are consistent with facades so that the building is a harmonious whole. Herringbone parquet flooring and both doors and furniture fittings are kept in light wood colors just like joists on the outside. Construction joinery, radiators, handles and bar stairs are designed in black, similarly to exterior details. The implementation of gray tiles of varied layout emphasized the division between the rooms. Contrasting colors were added in soft supplements like a sofa or pouf upholstering. In addition, pomegranate shades were suggested for individually designed furniture pieces.  © PION Fotografia One of the many interesting solutions inside the house are carpet stairs with illuminated handrail and black bars serving as balustrade. Another interesting detail is the large size bookcase in the living room, the character of the whole interior.  © PION Fotografia The architects have also planned an unusual wine cellar. The construction to store bottles consists of wooden pins placed between rows of bricks on the wall of the room. In a darkened room you can feel the taste of the selected beverage while at the same time admire all the available collection visually multiplied by the mirror at the end of the room.  © PION Fotografia The kitchenette is not a hidden object in the living space. It intersects and separates two functions - dining and leisure. The use of a kitchen island allows you to work in the kitchen and to keep an eye on the rest of the area at the same time.  © PION Fotografia At home there is also a place to practice physical activity, which is one of the Residents passions. The location on the ground floor allows placing heavy equipment on the floor, and the close proximity to the terrace and living room does not isolate from the rest of the family.  © PION Fotografia The block of the building was designed to separate the private zone and the public one. The office has a separate entrance that eliminates the problem of interrupting everyday life of the Residents.  © PION Fotografia All rooms are designed to meet the needs of the users in the first place. Large spaces opening on the parcel provide the feeling of comfort and functional solutions give the sense of freedom. All of the discussed features are the components of the Own House.  2nd Floor Plan The Own House is a consistently implemented project, based on an agreement between the Investors and the architects. Thanks to mutual cooperation and trust, both the Owners and the designers are satisfied with the result.  © PION Fotografia  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Wiener & Co / Arons en Gelauff Architects Posted: 11 Sep 2017 07:00 PM PDT  © Luuk Kramer
 © Luuk Kramer Site A derelict plot along a canal in the centre of Amsterdam.  © Luuk Kramer Backdrop An economic crisis pushing the Amsterdam housing market into stagnation.  © Luuk Kramer Starring A perceptive municipal urbanist allergic to gated communities. A developer willing to try anything to get production going.  © Luuk Kramer A group of neighbours of the NIMBY persuasion. An architect desperate for work. A dried-up housingmarket with the exception of rich boat-owners.  © Luuk Kramer Summary The developer asks the architects what to build that will sail him out of the doldrums. The architects propose a row of canalhouses to target Amsterdam boat-owners seemingly unaffected by the crisis.  © Luuk Kramer The urbanist urges them to hush the neighbours protests by providing public access into the courtyard and to the canal. The architects provide a space for playing and swimming on one of the former shipways. The other – currently a parking lot - is turned into a public pocketpark. When the urbanist asks them to work with the site's history of shipways and the industrial architecture of successive centuries the developer thinks his clients – if any – will not like the use of "shipping materials" like corrugated iron and untreated timber panelling. The architect proposes a cladding of copper and zinc.  © Luuk Kramer  Model  © Luuk Kramer The eyecatching project soars to a sales success in the middle of the crisis. The children of the neighbourhood swim in the canal together with the residents. The courtyard provides a vibrant meetingplace for the residents of both the caanalhouses and the two cityblocks with apartments. When winter comes the grated fence – designed to be closed only by night - remains locked all-day turning Wiener & Co into a gated community.  © Luuk Kramer  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Karelian House / Drozdov & Partners Posted: 11 Sep 2017 05:00 PM PDT  © Aleksey Bogolepov
 © Aleksey Bogolepov  Master Plan From the architect. This project was commissioned by two twin sisters and their families who are going to use this house both for living and working. Thus, the project combines two houses and a workshop within one single volume. The plot borders on the road in the south, while in the east and in the west it is bordered by neighboring residential properties.  © Aleksey Bogolepov The northern facade overlooks a forest glade. The entire layout is divided into three blocks: two houses and the workshop with a garage. Although the blocks have different grade levels, they are all united by one single roof. Such combination of various functional elements under one roof follows the traditions of Karelian residential architecture.  © Aleksey Bogolepov  Section and Light The common premises occupy half of the ground floor stretching from the blank southern facade to the northern facade, which offers a panoramic view of the forest. The southern sunlight fills the house coming through the extended window in the side wall and the skylight. The terrace comes as a natural continuation of the dining room, floating above the grass field like a pier.  © Aleksey Bogolepov  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Heavenly Gem Church / Lee Eunseok + KOMA Posted: 11 Sep 2017 03:00 PM PDT  © Namgoong Sun
 © Namgoong Sun From the architect. This simple chapel located on a small road that leads from the city of Seosan to the coast of Anmyeondo Island has been renamed the Haneul Boseok Church (Heavenly Gem Church) to give an architectural connotation to this meaning.  Exploded Diagram Through an abstract image, the Heavenly Gem Church recovers the symbolism of buildings and the meaning of place, which were the primary elements abandoned in church architecture following the emergence of modern functionalism. These more symbolic meanings were sought out and created one by one, adding a sense of delight to the process.  © Namgoong Sun The invigorating symbol, in part presented by the name Heavenly Gem Church, became the main concept for a project that was used for the interpretation of an architectural structure. First, an empty triangular volume was created within the building to frame the blue sky in order to capture the symbol of the Trinity, which signifies heaven.  © Namgoong Sun The volume of the raised triangular-shaped exposed concrete wall not only opens towards the heavens but simultaneously opens at the ground level, embodying the fundamental value of a church that exists for neighbors through this abstract maneuver.  © Namgoong Sun  Upper Floor Plan  © Namgoong Sun As one ascends and descends the chapel space, one's gaze is not taken off the placid, horizontal value of nature and neighbor: devices which continuously draw the panoramic view of the vicinity into the church, placed around the building for the purpose of meditation.  © Namgoong Sun In addition, the building's interior road which acts like a central hall that connects the neighboring village health center and community hall yard, allows the Heavenly Gem Church to form an active relationship with its surrounding neighbors; it is a practical and pleasant cultural space which expresses the public will and aims to be used together with the church's community.  © Namgoong Sun  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Vanke Park Mansion 'True Love' / FLOscape Landscape Design Company Posted: 11 Sep 2017 01:00 PM PDT  Courtesy of FLOscape Landscape Design Company
 Courtesy of FLOscape Landscape Design Company From the architect. Vanke Park Mansion 'True Love' located in Xi'an, is a low-density residential community. In order to emphasis the characteristic of Vanke Mansion brand designers try to use stone work to reflect ritual sequence and Zen spirit of Chinese traditional mansion in contemporary way.  Courtesy of FLOscape Landscape Design Company Bustle & Decency  Courtesy of FLOscape Landscape Design Company Exclusive and Sequence  Courtesy of FLOscape Landscape Design Company Three courtyards including:  Courtesy of FLOscape Landscape Design Company In Mountain Hall, 25 pieces of bulk yellow sandstone floating above reflection pool echoing the metaphorical concept of Qiling Mount.  Courtesy of FLOscape Landscape Design Company Elegance and Comfort  Courtesy of FLOscape Landscape Design Company Tranquility and Zeng Sense  Courtesy of FLOscape Landscape Design Company  Courtesy of FLOscape Landscape Design Company The Pavilion as a buffer space to keep the noise out meanwhile provides a quiet courtyard for show rooms. In order to reinforce the Zen atmosphere, designers replaced traditional idea such as planting lush vegetation and flowers by using simple evergreen shurb into a floating planter boxes made by aluminum plates to create an pure atmosphere. Another stone made sculpture is set to create an image of clouds on the top of mountain in the middle of the courtyard by using translucent Cloud Screen and mountain-shape stone sculpture combining the effect of fog and light.  Courtesy of FLOscape Landscape Design Company  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| A Warm Final Residence / Takashi Okuno Posted: 11 Sep 2017 12:00 PM PDT  © Shigeo Ogawa
 © Shigeo Ogawa From the architect. The final residence that offers both comfort and insulation for an elderly couple. The husband dislikes air conditioning, and the wife dislikes the heat and prefers to have AC. A layout that meets the conflicting wishes of a married couple who have been together for many years.  © Shigeo Ogawa External aluminum blinds, high-performance sliding wooden window frames, and heat insulating screens are used to enhance the building' s basic capability to maintain insulation and airtightness and to actively shut out sunlight in the summers and take in sunlight in the winters.  Section 1 Further, the grounds were surveyed to determine the prevailing wind in order to work out the placement of openings to allow winds to effectively pass through the house. Based on that, a plan was made for a wind chimney that promotes ventilation caused by temperature differences.  © Shigeo Ogawa To carefully create an enveloping space that offers a sense of safety and groundedness, particular attention was paid to the size of each of the hanging partitions as a way to fine-tune the overall feel. The potted orchids the favorite of the misplaced by the dining room window seem to foretell the vibrant life that is to come.  © Shigeo Ogawa  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Sussex Street House / Mountford Architects Posted: 11 Sep 2017 10:00 AM PDT  © Stephen Nicholls
 © Stephen Nicholls From the architect. Designed and built for an owner who wanted a small home that made the most of light and space on a small block, this steel and timber-framed project employed efficient design and construction techniques to provide open plan living over two levels.  © Stephen Nicholls  Ground Floor Plan  © Stephen Nicholls The upstairs bedroom, bathroom and study have deliberately been designed to take advantage of the views of the trees on the block while a down stairs bedroom and bathroom have been designed with the owner's eventual aging in mind. The high ceilinged living space opens directly to the north and uses cross ventilation, thermal massing and sun shading devices to achieve desired levels of thermal comfort.  Sketch  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| City of Utrecht Opens Largest Bicycle Parking Lot In The World Posted: 11 Sep 2017 09:00 AM PDT  © CU2030.nl The first phase of what will become the world's largest bicycle parking garage has opened to the public in Utretch, The Netherlands. Currently with a capacity of 6,000 parking spaces, by late 2018 it will have enough space to house 12,500 bicycles – outpacing the current record holder Tokyo's 9,400-capacity Kasai underground station in Tokyo. When completed, the garage and its surrounding area will contain space as many as 22,000 bikes.  © CU2030.nl The bicycle garage is part of a large redevelopment of the Stationsplein central railway station, a project designed by Ector Hoogstad Architecten and undertaken by the City of Utrecht, ProRail and NS (Dutch Rail). The 22,000 total spaces will be divided amongst five bicycle-specific lots near station entrances to allow for multi-modal commuting.  © CU2030.nl  © CU2030.nl Open 24 hours a day, the parking garage utilizes a digital system to help riders find their spots, powered by the chip-embedded card used for the city's public transportation systems. Cyclists will also have access to a bicycle service station that will repair and maintain bikes and sell parts and accessories.  © CU2030.nl  © CU2030.nl Parking is divided into three levels: the top and bottommost will be used for day-time storage, while the middle floor will offer longer-term parking. A special area will offer space for unusual bike models, such as tandems or bikes with wider handlebars. To top it all off, parking is free for up to 24 hours.  © CU2030.nl "It is the ultimate wish to have as many bicycle racks as there are bicycles, so that all cyclists can park their bicycle in a rack," the city proclaimed as their goal in a statement. News via City of Utrecht.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| K’umanchikua House / Moro Taller de Arquitectura Posted: 11 Sep 2017 08:00 AM PDT  © César Béjar
 © César Béjar From the architect. K'umanchikua house is located in an avocado orchard, on a rectangular plot, with a constant slope of 15% and without potable water or drainage services, near the indigenous population of Tarécuato, Michoacán.  © César Béjar  Ground Floor Plan  © César Béjar The request of the clients was a vacation home, with a living area to receive and host family and friends, and the house had to be deployed in an area of 20x20 without affecting the existing trees.  © César Béjar The project's main intention was to generate four volumes that would not touch each other, in the first place to simplify the construction system and secondly to form a central patio that articulates flexible spaces and free circulation, that communicates visually with the outside without losing the privacy and protection for its users.  © César Béjar It was built in the highest part of the land to take advantage of the view and slope, generating a system to capture the rainwater from the roofs and to be able to send it by drainage towards the "pot" of storage.  © César Béjar Due to the complex conditions of services and accessibility to the property, we chose to use eco-technologies and natural materials of the place; braza stone, adobe made on site, wood, reused tile, and mud floors.  Longitudinal Section 1 With these materials, the constructive system is of stone foundations, with adobe load walls, the inclined ceilings of wood beams and roof covered with tile.  © César Béjar  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Massive Redevelopment Plan in Stockholm Will Feature Terraced Building by Foster + Partners Posted: 11 Sep 2017 07:30 AM PDT  © Foster + Partners With construction well underway on the redevelopment of Stockholm's Slussen interchange, one of the city's busiest transportation hubs, the final building of the masterplan has been launched by the City of Stockholm and Foster + Partners. Located at the focal point of the overall masterplan envisioned by Foster + Partners with Berg Arkitektkontor, landscape designer White Arkitekter and lighting designer ÅF, Mälarterrassen (named after Lake Mälaren, the large freshwater lake upon which much of Stockholm is located) will provide three levels of mixed-use space to re-invite locals and tourists alike to an area of the city previously dominated by automobiles.  Image by Foster + Partners.. Image Courtesy of City of Stockholm "Mälarterrassen will be a new destination for Stockholm, with markets, cafés and restaurants, linked by pedestrian routes directly to Gamla stan. In addition, this permeable and lively new city quarter will also be a spectacular new venue for performance and art," said Spencer de Grey, Head of Design, Foster + Partners.  Slusstorget. Image by White Arkitekter. Image Courtesy of City of Stockholm  Katarinaparken. Image by Foster + Partners. Image Courtesy of City of Stockholm The building will serve as a key connecting point between the elevated landscape of Södermalmstorg to the south, the boat locks below and Gamla Stan (the old city) beyond with 24-hour elevators and escalators. Public terraces will open up views toward both sides of the locks, while glazed surfaces behind will allow northern light to penetrate internal spaces. The "intelligent" building facade has been location-specifically designed to adapt to summer and winter climates.  Underbridge lighting. Image by ÅF Lighting. Image Courtesy of City of Stockholm  Slussen - after. Image Courtesy of City of Stockholm "Mälarterrassen signals the city's ambition to make Slussen a new meeting place for the city. Ideas from the public, obtained from the detailed planning process, are reflected in the project proposals. The new building is lower and less dominant than previous proposals and will be publicly accessible to all," added Roger Mogert, Culture Minister of the City of Stockholm. Mälarterrassen is expected to complete in 2025. Learn more about the Slussen redevelopment plan, here. News via Foster + Partners, City of Stockholm  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Bioprocess Innovation Center / Clark Nexsen Posted: 11 Sep 2017 06:00 AM PDT  © Mark Herboth Photography
 © Mark Herboth Photography From the architect. Located in a dense hilly forest on a narrow peninsula of land, the Bioprocess Innovation Center responds to the rich topography as it weaves together building and landscape. The existing landforms are preserved and reinforced through terraced parking with a public path that steps down the hillside. The design organizes along the path and is comprised of a series of sliding tubes that float above the forest floor as they frame views into the landscape and connect the occupants with nature. The design fosters collaboration as the path transitions into a collaborative walkway inside with multiple types of gathering spaces.  Axonometric Integrated A/E firm Clark Nexsen provided all architecture and engineering design services. The design responds to the existing landscape to develop a composition which actively engages and unites the built forms with nature. A narrow peninsula of land formed by two small creeks provided the opportunity to orient the building along the peninsula's east west spine as it rests upon the relatively flat grade and can capitalize on the south facing orientation. The parking lot engages the sloping topography through terraced levels which transition to a stepped pathway.  © Mark Herboth Photography Inspired by the qualities of transparency produced as natural light filters through the layers of a deciduous forest, the building's form reflects the overlapping qualities in its geometry and formal composition. The form is also a clear expression of the building's program organized into three principal bars: a laboratory bar, an administrative bar and a public space bar. These three forms along with the internal planes and volumes overlap and extend past one another evoking the forest's transparent qualities. Each of the bars are clad in a unique skin which is sliced and carved at the ends to create spaces for research and collaboration.  © Jordan Gray  Floor Plans  © Mark Herboth Photography The project re-conceptualizes the role of a research laboratory building as a "home for a team of scientists." The project fosters a strong sense of community, despite the isolated suburban setting. A central public path runs from the terraced parking through the two-story entrance and lobby space where scientists mingle, then back into nature on a west facing outdoor terrace with views of the setting sun. The path is lined by a single alley of trees with benches and connects people to both nature and to one another as they interact along the path. The entrance lobby is an active living space which encourages collaboration through shared multilevel meeting spaces.  © Mark Herboth Photography  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 93-Foot-Tall “Tower of Voices” to Commemorate 9/11 Victims with Wind Chime Soundscape Posted: 11 Sep 2017 05:15 AM PDT  Courtesy of Arup Sixteen years after the tragic events of 9/11, the final major element of the Flight 93 National Memorial has been revealed. Located in rural in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the memorial commemorates the 40 passengers who sacrificed their own lives to wrest control away from the hijackers of United Flight 93, preventing the plane from hitting its intended target of the United States Capitol Building. In 2009, Paul Murdoch Architects, in collaboration with Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects and Arup Engineering, was selected to design the national memorial at the crash site. Employing a reverent masterplan that traced the airplane's final movements, the architects designed a series of reflective elements as a solemn reminder of the day's events. All of these elements have since been completed, with the exception of the plan's most sensory landmark, the 93-foot-tall "Tower of Voices." Marking the entrance and exit of the memorial, the cast-in-place concrete tower will house forty wind chimes – one for each passenger – designed within Arup's SoundLab to create an acoustic experience with each gust of wind. The acoustic element was especially important to the architects as a representation of the final moments shared between the passengers and their loved ones via cell phone calls. "The last memory that many [family members] have of the people on the plane is through voices on those phone calls," said Paul Murdoch. The Tower of Voices is scheduled to debut in 2018. Read more about the memorial, here.
 This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Lake Austin Residence / A Parallel Architecture Posted: 11 Sep 2017 04:00 AM PDT  © Casey Dunn
 © Casey Dunn From the architect. Like a butterfly specimen pinned to its mounting, this sinuous lake-front home's light floating roofs are anchored to its site by heavy rusticated limestone masses, while its horizontal footprint is spread out and sewn through the vertical punctuation of mature sycamore, cypress and pecan trees. The resulting form reflects the organic character of its site, and offers a combination of transparency and solidity, incrementally tuned to capitalize on its relationship to the scenic, but recreationally active lake front.  © Casey Dunn  Site Plan  © Casey Dunn At the glassy center of the home, the structural system is exposed to reveal a rhythmic steel vertebrate that organizes the primary public spaces and provides definition and scale to the spacious rooms.  © Casey Dunn A warm interior palette of oak, mahogany and cedar serve as a soft counterpoint to the glass and stone, exuding a relaxed livability paramount to the homeowner.  © Casey Dunn  Section  © Casey Dunn The landscape is carefully understated while accommodating many amenities, including a large boat dock, fishing pier, sandy beach, and onsite services such as geothermal climate control, waste treatment and water collection.  © Casey Dunn  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| How to Choose an Undergraduate Architecture Thesis Topic Posted: 11 Sep 2017 02:30 AM PDT  © Suneet Zishan Langar As architecture students head to their final year of BArch, half-crazy from years' worth of scraped fingers, ghastly juries, sleepless nights, and a general lack of social life, they encounter the mighty problem of choosing a thesis topic. There are many subjects to choose from, but a personal interest in a particular subject is just one of the many factors that should influence this decision. Students need to ask themselves several other questions: Is the topic significant enough? Is it expansive enough? Is the project realistically doable? The process can be daunting, for the decision has many consequences; sometimes, the choice of topic alone can mean the difference between the success and failure of a thesis. With so many factors to consider and deadlines closing in, students easily end up making decisions that they regret later. Here are eight tips to help you make an informed choice on the matter: 1. Dare to Be Unoriginal © Suneet Zishan Langar Thesis work at the undergraduate level strongly differs from that at the graduate or doctoral level, and it is important to understand the rationale behind its inclusion in the curriculum. Work at the graduate or doctoral level usually asks for the identification of a "gap in existing knowledge" about a subject and an original proposal to bridge that gap, but the expectations of an undergraduate student are less demanding. This means that you don't necessarily have to go out of your way to be innovative at the undergraduate level. Choosing a simple unoriginal topic but executing it in a way that exhibits all the knowledge you've acquired in college will also do the trick. 2. Choose a Topic that Personally Interests You © Suneet Zishan Langar With your peers picking varied topics and schedules, this year will be lonesome; the most you will have for company on an average day is a drawing board, your laptop, some books, and coffee. You will find yourself routinely getting distracted by Buzzfeed's latest video on Youtube or the cool new Drake track. Choosing a topic that you're passionate about will make sure that you stay inspired and motivated to work, which should ultimately result in a great final project. 3. Set Your Scope Small © Suneet Zishan Langar Many students give in to the natural temptation to do too much by picking topics or issues that are too expansive, and therefore almost impossible to execute in a short time-frame. A tip would be to start with the simplest version of a topic and add in extra complexity later if the circumstances allow it. 4. Recognize What You're Good atEvery student possesses a unique set of skills and abilities which they've acquired through their experiences and by following their interests. No one is good at everything. An unbiased understanding of your creative and technical capacities and their limits thereof will allow you to choose a topic that best employs your expertise. 5. Is There Enough Existing Literature on the Topic? © Suneet Zishan Langar A thesis project requires an enormous amount of reading and analysis before the beginning of the design process, and the primary source of reference information for an undergraduate student is usually existing studies or research. Hence, it makes sense to choose an area of study where a substantial amount of previous work exists. The availability of such work will enable you to analyze, compare, draw conclusions, and employ the knowledge gained to suggest an informed proposal. 6. Strike a Balance Between Art and Science © Suneet Zishan Langar Architecture students dig themselves a grave when they begin to romanticize their thesis projects. It is hard to blame them, however, when you consider that the thesis project is viewed as the culmination of a multi-year program which is rooted as deeply in art and theory as it is in building technology. But it's imperative to find a topic that is a balance of the two. A topic that seems too abstract might make it difficult for a jury to ascertain a student's understanding of tangible issues. 7. What Do You Want to Do in the Future?The thesis project is the single most important part of your portfolio as a fresh architecture graduate looking for a job in the industry or applying for a graduate program. The choice of topic will reflect your interest in or experience with a particular specialized subject. Hence, when choosing a thesis topic, you should try to align it with your plans for the near future. 8. Aim to Solve a Real World Problem © Suneet Zishan Langar While there are many wide-ranging opinions about architecture's ideal role in society, there is a general agreement that an architect's work does influence how a society functions and evolves. In a world that is grappling with myriad serious issues like climate change, population growth, and an inequitable distribution of resources, it benefits young architecture students to acquaint themselves with the larger picture, and to choose a topic that at least aims to solve a current socio-environmental problem through a design intervention.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Oslo Architecture Triennale Announces Open Call for 2019 Curator Posted: 11 Sep 2017 02:15 AM PDT  Courtesy of Kartverket / NIBO / Statens Vegvesen Following After Belonging, the sixth edition of the Oslo Architecture Triennale held in 2016, the Norwegian organization have today announced an open call for a Chief Curator, theme, and concept for its seventh edition, to be held in Fall of 2019. In the words of the sixth curatorial team:
For Hanna Dencik Petersson, Director of the Oslo Architecture Triennale, the Triennale's for the 2019 event centers on continuing a search into the future. "In a time in which democracy and current systems of power are being challenged, and change is an increasingly present and accelerating force, OAT 2019 wishes to raise a discussion on the role and relevance of architecture in the future," she commented. The curator will have primary artistic and academic responsibility for the core programme of OAT 2019, including the development of its conceptual and thematic framework and research. The application deadline is on the 18th October, 2017 (23:59 CET). Individuals or collectives of any nationality and country of residence are openly invited to send their proposal in English.
 This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| House on the Olive Trees / Gallardo Llopis Arquitectos Posted: 11 Sep 2017 02:00 AM PDT  © Germán Cabo
 © Germán Cabo The place, the lookout and the olive trees A parcel with irregular edges and a steep slope, enthroned upon a broad range of terraces sustaining a large amount of middle-aged olive trees. Over the horizon, the unspoiled views of a valley… the house as a place to relax and unwind, maybe even isolate yourself from the world… an oasis.  © Germán Cabo The project respects the modulation of the existing terraces and olive trees, standing as a lookout over the tops of these. The landscape scenery is to be perceived as the ideal place, almost in a romantic way. Therefore, the proposal is born from the pursuit of a place from which to admire the vast valley and distant mountains, taking advantage of the natural inclination of the land.  © Germán Cabo Consequently, it becomes a split-level house that integrates the living spaces, functioning as a lookout over the preexisting olive trees that endow the landscape with character while bringing quality to the space.  © Germán Cabo  Ground floor plan  © Germán Cabo  Cross section  © Germán Cabo The orientation of the house ensures a good illumination throughout the whole day. An effective south-facing roof protects from the intense summer sun, but at the same time allows for solar incidence in winter. Vibrant reflections shimmering over the surface of the swimming pool amplify the view of the surroundings being an ideal place to contemplate the view of the sunset. The Access from the northeast road to the house, is formally more opaque. A stone wall marks and highlights the access, providing privacy throughout the path to the interior.  © Germán Cabo Inside, the living-dining room and kitchen function as a diaphanous centerpiece, connecting with the corridor. Thanks to the transparent side panel that opens to a garden under the skylight the corridor gets special quality in space and lighting. The master bedroom is the piece that relishes in a unique orientation, southwest, guaranteeing its indispensable privacy. The interior space can be extended beyond the carpentry thanks to an eave focusing the views towards a more private garden, with the dominant presence of an old olive tree.  © Germán Cabo The project seeks to convey feelings, not only through its form or volumetry, but also through its materials. Each of the materials used brings a texture, a radiance, an impression, creating a unique atmosphere. Dry stone, wood, plaster and glass are chosen as basic elements. The stone materializes the walls that extend beyond the house enhancing the feeling of robustness, linking them with those of the original terraces.  © Germán Cabo The wood, mainly present in the entrance, gives warmth and its disposition, in thin strips of wood, tries to generate a sensation of lightness and elegance. The volumetry, as if it were a block of sculpted plaster, is presented in a continuous white mortar, achieving a unitary and solid effect. It`s color, white, enhances the luminosity of the house. The large glazing allows the light to invade the house and in turn to contemplate the views from inside.  © Germán Cabo The implementation of the house, together with the interior and exterior continuity of the spaces and the emotions evoked by the chosen materials, suggest the concept of a lookout over existing olive trees, from where you can admire the broad views of the valley enhanced by the reflections of the water.  © Germán Cabo  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| AD Classics: Teatro Oficina / Lina Bo Bardi & Edson Elito Posted: 11 Sep 2017 01:00 AM PDT  © Nelson Kon The Teatro Oficina Uzyna Uzona, popularly know as Teatro Oficina, located on Jaceguai Street, in the Bela Vista neighborhood, in São Paulo, was founded in the 1960s, more specifically in 1958 by José Celso Martinez Correa, acting as a manifest theater, marked by great spectacles between theatrical expressions, musical presentations, dance and performances. Over time, the theater sought to revolutionize the performances that they put on. To this end, the architecture was designed to "collaborate" with the events, allowing the drama of the spectacle to engage more profoundly with audiences. T he architect Edson Elito, who would later instigate this reform, said [trans.]:  © Nelson Kon "In 1958, a group of students from the San Francisco Lake arches, among them Renato Borgi and Jose Celso Martinez Correa, decided to rent the New Comedians Theater from a Spiritualist group in order to install their theater company at 520 Jaceguai Street. a time of social progressives, the construction of Brasilia, criticism of the American [US] way of life, and readings of the likes of Russian authors and Brecht. Joaquim Guedes, who created the "sandwich" theater with two front-to-front separated by the central audience stage, remained during this first phase of the company. In 1966 a fire completely destroyed the theater. " [1] Until 1966, the theater had an arena format, with two blocks of audiences seating facing one another. Its stage and scenic space was transformed during the renovation following the fire. In 1981, the theater was given protected status by the historical heritage office CONDEPHAAT, after a precarious period of time. The historical importance of the art of the National Theater-since it was the scene of numerous transformations in the art scene-was reminiscent of a trait in traditionalism, provoking a new moment in Brazilian theater. According to Elito [trans.]: "The following year there was the expropriation of the property and its incorporation into the State Public Patrinomy under the administration of the State Culture Secretary, and it is from this time the first study done by Lina Bo Bardi and Marcelo Suzuki-not taken forward- in which the "STREET" concept had already been proposed.Patrinomy under the administration of the State Culture Secretary, and it is from this time the first study done by Lina Bo Bardi and Marcelo Suzuki-not taken forward- in which the "STREET" concept had already been proposed. [2]  © Teatro Oficina Archive Leading into the 1990s, the theater underwent a new process of reform led by the Italian-Brazilian architect Lina Bo Bardi in partnership with the architect Edson Elito. This period of reform took place until 1989 and, due to some interruptions in the process, was eventually completed in 1994. In this new project, the central idea behind the new architecture was related to its territorial context. Here, the "Street" seems to invade the scenic stage space, promoting a democratic theater by the nature of the hybridity of its programmatic structure.  © Nelson Kon As a result, the theater develops through a "land strip," conforming to the central footbridge - about 1.5 meters wide on wooden planks and extending 50 meters in length between the front and back access. This directly approached the idea of "Street," marking the axis of the show and de-fragmenting the boundaries between the stage and the audience. The architects conceived of a surprising element: a waterfall, composed of a system that flows into the mirror of water.  © Nelson Kon The public audience is positioned in lateral galleries installed on slender collapsible structures, built of tubular steel profiles. This provided the audience with up to 350 seats distributed on four different levels. In this configuration, the public has become part of the stage; there are no barriers between the different areas, as in conventional theaters.  © Teatro Oficina Archive Throughout the project, Lina Bo Bardi appropriated different resources and spatial ideas in a laboratory of experimentation, seeking to reaffirm the idea of an approximation between culture and symbolism in architecture. In the case of the Theater Office, the central idea attempts to connect the building to the city through the idea of a "Street" connecting the spaces by the demarcated axis and its dilutions between stage and audience, thus reinforcing the core ideology of the building . Here, the architecture is seeking to rescue the role of Man to Space, so that the spatial disposition seeks to instil some restlessness in the viewer. As a result, they are required to seek new points of view to the performance. Perhaps, therefore, it is interesting to note that the constructed space by Lina seeks to deconstruct the possible direct reasoning common to the spectacle, while the architecture allows the spectator to conceive their own logic, participating indirectly in a type of theatrical expression.  © Nelson Kon The lateral walls, with concrete elements locking and bracing the slender and unaltered brick walls, with a ceiling height of around 13 meters, were superimposed on the new metal structures, stabilizing them and sheltering new areas such as the technical areas, toilets, dressing rooms, and warehouses. The new metal structures are responsible for supporting the roof loads and that of the lateral and back mezzanine. The mixed construction system also allows the beams and metal pillars to be joined together with collapsible metal tubular parts, becoming one structure.  © Isidoro Singer  © Nelson Kon The natural elements and the Brazilian "tropical" atmosphere, loved by Lina, are incorporated into the project in a harmonious way, helping to conceive the building in a poetic and technical way, so that air, water, and vegetation permeates the space. The remnants of history punctuates the presence of the old materialities on the walls of the building.  © Isidoro Singer The idea that emerged from Lina's particular world view, especially from her observations of territory, manifested in other of her works, sought to reaffirm the fine line between space and man in a harmonious and flexible way. Notes [1] ELITO, Edson. Office Theater - 1980-1984. Lisbon: Blau Publishing House, Lina Bo Institute and PM Bardi, 1999. P.10. [ Access ] August 13, 2017. References [3] ELITO, Edson. Office Theater - 1980-1984. Lisbon: Blau Publishing House, Lina Bo Institute and PM Bardi, 1999. [ Access ] August 13, 2017.
 This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Diébedo Francis Kéré Awarded Prince Claus Laureate Award for 2017 Posted: 10 Sep 2017 11:00 PM PDT  Primary School in Gando. Image © Erik Jan Owerkerk Architect Diébedo Francis Kéré was named Prince Claus Laureate for 2017, highlighting the cultural value and importance of beautiful, sustainable and empowering architecture. Kéré received the award for his "design and construction of buildings of great beauty that meet people's needs; …for honoring people's pride in their cultural traditions and techniques, …for inventively combining relevant factors from two different knowledge systems to achieve practical solutions of global relevance and creating an exchange of ideas between Africa and Europe; …and for his ethical commitment to creating inspiring architecture that improves living conditions and uplifts communities..."  Tim Tiebout. Image Courtesy of PMA Established in 1996, The Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development perceives "culture as a basic need" and seeks to support the endeavors of individuals and organizations in areas that do not have free access to cultural expression. The annual awards recognize outstanding achievement in these areas with a particular focus on people and groups operating in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. High quality, notable contributions to local and wider cultural contexts and clear social impact play a critical role in the decision making of the committee. Jurors from a variety of cultural disciplines including music, visual art, curation, film, architecture and urban planning narrowed down a list of more than 140 nominees to seven Laureates, including two Principal Laureates.  Courtesy of Kéré Architecture For the judging committee, Kéré's work spoke to the architecture profession's potential to be generous and his career has been one of great generosity. As the first child to attend school from his childhood village of Gando in Burkina Faso, Kéré went on to study carpentry in Germany and then attended Berlin's Technische Universität to study Architecture and Engineering. While studying, he established a charity called Bricks for Gando and in 2000 used the funds to return to Burkina Faso to build Gando Primary School with locals from the village using local materials and with a focus on regeneration. Since, he has completed a number of projects in Gando as well as Sudan, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique and Europe. His commitment to community involvement, including consultation, mentorship and training, generates a sense of ownership amongst its members and develops a system of cultural exchange. It is a true process of teaching and learning, operating in both directions.  The Serpentine Pavilion. Image © Laurian Ghinitoiu In 2017 Kéré was selected to design the Serpentine Pavilion, which sits in Hyde Park gently, its blue patchwork skin wrapping around like a cloak, and the great, light bowl of the roof floating above it to keep the sun out. There are clear nods to the relationship of building to climate, perhaps less crucial in London than in Gando but just as pertinent. It is a project about gathering and shelter, heat and rain, with water collection as a waterfall feature in the center of it all, and its subtle translucency allowing it to breathe.  Ouagadougou Parliament Scheme. Image Courtesy of Kéré Architecture Generated with similar principles Kéré has also been developing a scheme for a new Parliament building in post-revolution Ouagadougou. A large tree becomes the symbolic and literal gathering point for public and political discussion while a walkable façade encases it from above. Seeming to do what so many government buildings fail to do, Kéré is facilitating democracy by way of public amenity. Again, it comes back to a sense of ownership and empowerment of locals, which is at the root of his practice. Kéré has found a way to produce architecture that is for the people, of the people and by the people, an achievement that makes him wholly deserving of the Prince Claus Laureateship. News via: Prince Claus Fund
 This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Apartment Building in Pantin / Benjamin Fleury Architecte-Urbaniste Posted: 10 Sep 2017 10:00 PM PDT  © David Boureau
 © David Boureau From the architect. Located in the district of "Quatre-chemins" in Pantin, the north of Denis Papin street consists of dilapidated warehouses while the south is mostly made up residential buildings dating from the beginning of the 20th century. Their facades have the specific and historic architectural writing of the neighbourhood with the use of grey bricks enhanced by ornamentations of ceramics, cornices and skylights. Situated at the junction of these two industrial and residential areas, the project is surrounded by industrial buildings on the street and garden sides and by a working-class house and a recent social residence on the gable.  © David Boureau In order to ensure the good insertion into this singular context, the architectural project voluntary highlight a strong materiality composed of : - wooden cladding, on the building's body, wich is a contemporary and environmental response to the brick cladding on the buildings around.  © David Boureau - ornements, in a more contemporary version, made of dark wooden laths randomly disposed on the façades.  Axonometric - red color, used along the recess on the street side and on the shutters on the garden side. This color emphasizes the building and alludes to the lintels or the ornaments made of bricks and the shutters of the adjacent house.  © David Boureau  © David Boureau Contrary to the surrounded constructions wich have heavy bases, the building floats onto the void of the ground floor where are the hall, the common premises and the parking. This parking under the porch is extended on the courtyard side and covered with a pergola. Covered with wooden cladding such as the façade, it becomes part of the building.  © David Boureau The garden part of this courtyard is made up of a rainwater retention ditch with semi-aquatic plants allowing the environmental compliance of the 2 l / s / hectares imposed.  © David Boureau The large apartments facing south are equipped with bioclimatic loggias. Each living room open onto these semi outdoor spaces and on a bay giving directly on the garden. The bioclimatic loggias are closed by a double low-emmissivity glazing wich can be generously opened in summer. They have the benefit of being used as natural temperature regulator in winter as in summer. Operating as a greenhouse, they allow the control at low cost of the thermal comfort of the flats and greatly reduce heating expenses. The installation of blinds and deciduous trees in the garden also take part in control the temperature of these loggias in summer.  © David Boureau  Floor Plan  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| You are subscribed to email updates from ArchDaily. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States | |
.jpg?1505117693){kind=link}
.jpg?1505111776){kind=link}
.jpg?1504843133){kind=link}
This post is really amazing
OdgovoriIzbrišiVillage Talkies a top-quality professional corporate video production company in Bangalore and also best explainer video company in Bangalore & animation video makers in Bangalore, Chennai, India & Maryland, Baltimore, USA provides Corporate & Brand films, Promotional, Marketing videos & Training videos, Product demo videos, Employee videos, Product video explainers, eLearning videos, 2d Animation, 3d Animation, Motion Graphics, Whiteboard Explainer videos Client Testimonial Videos, Video Presentation and more for all start-ups, industries, and corporate companies. From scripting to corporate video production services, explainer & 3d, 2d animation video production , our solutions are customized to your budget, timeline, and to meet the company goals and objectives.
As a best video production company in Bangalore, we produce quality and creative videos to our clients.