Arch Daily |
- NGS Macmillan Unit / The Manser Practice
- Bloomberg’s New European Headquarters Rated World's Most Sustainable Office Building
- Butterfly Houses / GERNER GERNER PLUS
- Cultural Centre for Czech and Slovak Immigrants / Inglis Badrashi Loddo
- PYAGICHO-HONTEN / Schemata Architects
- Qingyuan Young Professors’ Club / The Architectural Design and Research Institute of Zhejiang University
- Public Library & Indoor Recreational Centre / P&T Architects and Engineers
- Skewed House / Studio Lagom
- Bar - Salón Sociedad / Communal + OTRA Arquitectura
- David Marks, Architect of London Eye and i360 Tower, Dies Aged 64
- Holiday House in Platja d'Aro / Pepe Gascón Arquitectura
- Fly Through the SHL and James Turrell-Designed Addition to ARoS Art Museum in Aarhus
- República 358 Office / Hype Studio
- Iconic and Revered, Notre Dame de Paris Faces an Uncertain Future
- Les Jumelles / yh2
- How to Succeed in a Skype-Based Architecture Job Interview
- Lewis Arts complex / Steven Holl Architects
- Frank Lloyd Wright Upholds Egotist Reputation in Interview
- 3 Different Ways to Use a Shipping Container on Your Next Project
- Single Family House in Granada / DTR_studio
| NGS Macmillan Unit / The Manser Practice Posted: 09 Oct 2017 10:00 PM PDT  © Hufton + Crow
 © Hufton + Crow From the architect. On behalf of Chesterfield Royal Hospital, Macmillan Cancer support and sponsor NGS (National Garden Scheme), The Manser Practice has completed a 2,140-sqm purpose-built cancer unit to the rear of the existing hospital campus. The new building is linked to the main hospital via a glazed bridge.  Ground Floor Plan Arranged over two floors, the £10m unit combines under one roof the hospital's various cancer facilities and integrates pastoral care through an onsite Macmillan Information and Support Centre. Outpatient and support services are located at ground level, while the staff facilities, a conference suite and the main treatment area – an open-plan ward with calming views over the Derbyshire countryside – occupy the first floor. The stand-alone building is clad in Corian.  © Hufton + Crow  Section A  © Hufton + Crow The NGS Macmillan Unit is already improving the hospital's usability for both patients and staff. By consulting throughout the design process with all the stakeholders, the architects have created a cancer center that delivers first-class clinical facilities; bright, comfortable patient focussed spaces; and a spacious efficient workplace for medical and administrative staff. Guy Barlow, Director at The Manser Practice, says the building realizes the brief's ambition for a space that is "uplifting and meets the complex care needs of cancer patients in the wider Chesterfield area".  © Hufton + Crow  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Bloomberg’s New European Headquarters Rated World's Most Sustainable Office Building Posted: 09 Oct 2017 09:00 PM PDT  © Bloomberg Bloomberg's new European HQ, which is located in the heart of the City of London, has been rated the world's most sustainable office building. Designed by Foster + Partners, the office complex has been awarded an Outstanding BREEAM rating, attaining a 98.5% score – the highest design-stage score ever achieved by any major office development.  © Bloomberg Achieving this rating has been at the core of the project's design process. Alongside innovative power, lighting, water and ventilation systems—which contribute the most to the the building's environmental score—advanced applications of combined heat and power (CHP) generation "supplies heat and power in a single, efficient system with reduced carbon emissions." According to Lord Foster:
 © Bloomberg According to Bloomberg, important technical aspects of the project include:
 © Bloomberg
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| Butterfly Houses / GERNER GERNER PLUS Posted: 09 Oct 2017 08:00 PM PDT  © Matthias Raiger
 © Matthias Raiger From the architect. On grounds once harboring the residence of several Austrian Federal Presidents near the Hohe Warte meteorological station, five residential buildings recently took shape that seem to have landed like brimstone butterflies in a paradise garden. GERNER GERNER PLUS conjured up this feather-light impression.  © Matthias Raiger  Ground Floor Plan  © Matthias Raiger A Central element of the area of approx. one hectare is not the buildings, however, but the wonderful stock of trees, which acted as the planning nucleus right from the start. In between, the architects arranged five buildings in such a way that each living unit was not confronted with an opposite building but instead had a free outlook onto a green landscape. "Close your eyes and think of a beautiful yellow brimstone butterfly that's just landed in a park, think of its lightness" – this is the architects' description of the buildings' aesthetic. Moreover, close cooperation with the authorities ensured that this impression was kept free of cars – they approach via a narrow tunnel in the subterranean garage system; strict attention was paid during construction not to damage the roots of the trees.  Building 2 - Plans  Building 5 - Plans In all, 23 flats were built, between 110 and 260 m² in size and with spacious balconies and terraces. What marks them all is their perfect use and generous feeling of space. Because of the few specified points of focus, the ground plans are very flexible so that the individual residents can design them just as they like; a criterion that intelligent architecture must fulfill, according to Gerda Maria Gerner. Providing for extra luxury and convenience are a concierge service, a lounge area and an event facility for hire.  © Matthias Raiger High-Quality Sustainability  © Matthias Raiger The façade in a bright clay-grey tone retreats modestly into the background behind the surrounding balconies and terraces, accentuating the horizontal articulation of the façades. Wooden floors lead seamlessly from inside to outside – thanks to the high-quality surface treatment they defy the rigors of the weather. Heat insulation was also subject to exacting standards; this sets a special challenge because of the curvature of the buildings. But for the GERNER GERNER PLUS architects, the theme of sustainability doesn't end by any means at the choice of material or the U-value.  Building 5 - Sections Fifty deep geothermal probes were drilled into the earth, carefully avoiding the stock of trees and distributed across the whole plot of land; this means that the five residential buildings on the Hohe Warte manage without fossil raw materials and are heated and cooled exclusively with geothermal energy. Also, the e-car charging stations at each of the extra-wide parking places in the basement car park is a clear sign of commitment to sustainability.  © Matthias Raiger  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Cultural Centre for Czech and Slovak Immigrants / Inglis Badrashi Loddo Posted: 09 Oct 2017 07:00 PM PDT 
 From the architect. Founded by the Czech refugee Father Jan Lang in 1964 from a house in Notting Hill, Velehrad London is a charitable organisation whose mission is to provide religious, cultural and social support and counselling to emigrees from the former Czechoslovakia.  As a gathering place for Czechs and Slovaks living in and visiting London, Velehrad is designed to host a variety of events, accommodate the practical needs of the organisation and reflect its history and culture.  The resultant work by IBLA creates a welcoming and adaptable cultural centre for Velehrad London that combines modern features and designs with historic renovations and extensions, bringing a Victorian property into the 21st Century.  Sections Previously occupying a residential building in Notting Hill, the organisation bought Woolborough House – formerly the home of Russian 'Maitre de Ballet' Edouard Espinosa then headquarters of the British Ballet Organisation - and commissioned IBLA to refurbish and reconfigure the premises. The brief asked for spaces including a concert/function hall and performance space, classrooms, accommodation for visiting priests, prayer rooms and spaces for meetings and community events.  The coach house's original facade was restored after demolishing a series of poor quality single-storey extensions from the 1930s. Plaster finishes were stripped away and the spaces reconfigured to allow the existing openings (lined in new grey-painted timber) to lead through into new cloakrooms, a kitchen and an apartment for visiting priests above.  The front facade and metal roof trusses of the studio were retained and incorporated into a new function hall for concerts, lectures, cinema screenings and events. An innovative retractable screen wall was installed in the hall to separate sections of the centre for events. Further space to serve community events was added in front of the coach house and green rooms and ancillary spaces for performances tucked into the basement of the main house.  Woolborough House itself was fully refurbished and upgraded to accommodate classrooms, reading rooms and a space for Catholic masses. A new lift to allow disabled access, new stairs, handrails, painted panelling and a rear balcony were also incorporated into the extensive refurbishment by IBLA.  Where the original fabric was found to be in good condition, this was carefully repaired and restored; where it was in poor condition, it has been improved with new construction.  Newly built elements are understood as a continuation of the history of the building; a seamless synthesis of old and new, which respects, preserves and re-frames the existing context in a new light. Viewed from the garden at the back, or from the front of the site, this can be read in the varied tonal range of the brickwork across the facade.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| PYAGICHO-HONTEN / Schemata Architects Posted: 09 Oct 2017 05:00 PM PDT  © Kenya Chiba
 © Kenya Chiba From the architect. Yagicho is a dried food store with an approximately 280-year history dealing with traditional Japanese dried foods including katsuobushi (dried bonito), konbu (kelp), and shiitake (Japanese mushroom), three basic ingredients to make dashi (soup stock) that forms the base of Japanese cuisine. Schemata Architects renovated their main store in Nihonbashi, Tokyo.  © Kenya Chiba  Plan  © Kenya Chiba The red color covers the building inside and out, looking as if the interior and the facades were painted red at once, but it is, in fact, the original color of the existing building. Observing that the red resembles the color of the cut section of dried bonito, we decided to use it as the base color representing Yagicho's identity. We made wood boxes for display in the main store space out of MDF (medium-density fiberboard) in the same color and placed them in stacks to create a space like a marketplace.  © Kenya Chiba The main counter with a copper countertop at the center of the store serves as a kitchen to demonstrate how to make ichiban-dashi (first soup stock) as well as a cash counter. It is designed in an island style to instigate non-hierarchical communication between hosts and guests. On sunny days, the store opens all doors and closely connects itself to the city and let people constantly flow in and out, while generating a vibrant atmosphere spreading to the city.  © Kenya Chiba  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 09 Oct 2017 03:00 PM PDT  © Zhao Qiang
 © Zhao Qiang From the architect. The project is constructed from reconstructing the old site of Qingyuan Primary School in Qingyuan Village, Tonglu County, Hangzhou. Two single-floor old school houses arrange simply in shape "L"; the other two sides are walls. The wooden framework and some purlins of school building have been in disrepair;  © Zhang Chenfan We follow the design principle "repair and maintain the old": dismantle old and relatively shabby tiles, roof battens and plank sheathings, retain, burnish, process and reinforce large wood beams and purlins, install new plank sheathings, roof battens and tiles.  © Zhao Qiang There are two stone walls with exquisite color and interesting texture which are bare because of the loss of lime plaster indoors. They are reserved as the background of audio and visual room. As for side corridor, the shabby purlins and roof boards are replaced by new wooden frameworks and customized hand-knitting curtain. The sense of order of new pillars and specific gray space feeling endow new expression to the old building in inner yard without losing the original style and memory.  Deconstruction View of New Building As for the new building in southeast part of the base, it integrates with the eastern scene in open and relieved style. Facade uses the uniform module whose size is close to that of outside corridor of the old school building. With completely open glass doors, vision can be transparent as far as possible to make it integrate with remote scene.  © Zhao Qiang We use rectangular modern rusty boards to add a row of frameworks of scenery to the stone walls in the east of the building. When you watch from the inside, you can feel strong sense of integration from the natural, modern and historical substances.  © Zhao Qiang In the south of the inner yard, the mottled water tower is reserved. An outdoor corridor built on stilts is built for people to turn and look far into the distance.  © Zhao Qiang It is our attitude to reserve simplicity and trueness, strictly treat the relationship with history and dimly settle a new building.  Look far into the outdoor corridor with poetry Zhao Qiang  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Public Library & Indoor Recreational Centre / P&T Architects and Engineers Posted: 09 Oct 2017 01:00 PM PDT  © P&T Architects and Engineers Ltd
 © P&T Architects and Engineers Ltd From the architect. Located along the main pedestrian promenade connecting cultural and educational facilities with Yuen Long Park and surrounded by residential developments, the new building is conceived to be of complementary nature - yet, a contribution of stimulating contemporary civic architecture with a distinguished new silhouette and a landmark in the neighborhood.  © P&T Architects and Engineers Ltd Yuen Long District Library and Indoor Recreation Center combines 2 floors of children's and adult lending library with 2 floors of indoor recreational facilities like table tennis, gym, multi-functional fitness rooms, and a double basketball and badminton sports hall. With 1500 seats for spectators it can host city wide tournaments. These rather contradictory functions are separated by a book reserve storage facility on the intermediate floor.  © P&T Architects and Engineers Ltd The design has given particular consideration to the impact the new building has on its residential neighborhood most closely abutting the site. The building's curvature and vertical differentiation softens the bulk of its considerable presence and the elliptical shape allows for continued view corridors for the residential buildings and excellent conditions for ventilation. .jpg?1506659412 "© P&T Architects and Engineers Ltd") © P&T Architects and Engineers Ltd The precise placement on site, the cantilevers, the tilt and orientation of the building tiers, the entrances and internal circulation allow to radiate the internal functions outward and engage with the tree lined generous entrance plaza. Foyers and study halls interact visually with the surroundings in reciprocal ways. It is a joy to see how immediately the building has been adopted after its opening and how it has instantly become a vibrant meeting place.  © P&T Architects and Engineers Ltd Giving further expression to the forward skew of each elliptical tier and their disposition towards one another, the exterior is clad in an elegant vertical pinstripe clothing of standing seam insulated metal wall cladding. Two color tones of Zinc and Titanium Silver reflect the bustling public life within the plaza and the sky itself, thus creating a dynamic play of movement and light.  © P&T Architects and Engineers Ltd  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 09 Oct 2017 12:00 PM PDT  © Photographix
 © Photographix From the architect. Simple aesthetics, a minimal material palette and connections to nature are the main drivers of the design of the Skewed House, the architect's debut through his firm Studio Lagom. The standalone 11,000-square-foot villa seeks to create an oasis of serenity in Surat's typical urban milieu through a programme that departs from the typical planning of this typology.  Site Plan The architect reversed the 'structure on the streetside and garden to the rear' scheme, by setting the bungalow back, beyond an elevated garden. Rather than a forbidding, fortress-like compound wall, an interesting elevation involving Valsadi teak battens, softened by cascades of creepers, intrigue the passers-by. Beyond this, is a ramp -- which takes you directly to the garden -- sandwiched between this slatted outer boundary wall and the retaining wall of the home with an intermediary concrete wall.  © Photographix The idea was to create a journey of sorts, a constricted perambulatory approach that finally 'releases' the visitor into the garden. The other access point, which is the 'normal' main door, also uses the same strategy of constriction and liberation, via a small entrance lobby that shields the main living space from direct view. The spatial programme of the villa and the zoning of the plot were also dictated by the sudden floods that the city sometimes experiences. The ground level is devoted to ancillary spaces connected to relaxation and unwinding. Atop this lies the sprawl of the living-dining, kitchen, a bedroom and the garden in the front, followed by more bedrooms, up another level.  Longitudinal Section 1 The other access point, which is the 'normal' main door, also uses the same strategy of constriction and liberation, via a small entrance lobby that shields the main living space from direct view. The spatial programme of the villa and the zoning of the plot were also dictated by the sudden floods that the city sometimes experiences. The ground level is devoted to ancillary spaces connected to relaxation and unwinding. Atop this lies the sprawl of the living-dining, kitchen, a bedroom and the garden in the front, followed by more bedrooms, up another level.  © Photographix The Skewed House does away with excess in form and materiality. Elevationally speaking, the façade projects and recedes strategically, with important areas such as the master bedroom being emphasized through cantilevering and material play. Though concrete was the material of choice, white plaster, stone and wood have been used to temper its formidable, institutional demeanor. The architect's deep interest in photography helped him visualize this project as a series of interconnected vistas, and was also responsible for the 'skewedness' of Skewed House. Manifested subtly as elements shifted slightly off the straight line, this was an exercise in creating vistas and perspectives and adding more life to a three-dimensional object.  Cross Sections The client's request for connections from top to bottom, skylights, a distinct identity for the worship area, nature, and a play of light and shadow inform the spatial layout. The split-level living-dining area is extensive, with a living part being sunken and the dining elevated. Close to the entrance is the double-height pooja-tower, heralded by a water-spout and set within a waterbody. Opposite the living area is a sunken courtyard with more seating. These pockets of seating, with various configurations, allow people more freedom to use the space as per their choice. An enormous Kalamkari-inspired artwork in subtle grey graces the staircase wall and is one of the design highlights of this space.  © Photographix The houses established strong connections to nature with the help of suitable fenestration. For instance, the L-shaped glass inset behind the pooja tower invites the surrounding greenery in and connects the interior waterbody with the external lotus pond visually. Similarly, the nine-foot cantilever of the master bedroom is outlined in the glass, to invite slivers of sunlight and the sky into space. Also, the views from the louvered doors and windows on this level are carpeted with the blossoms and the dense shining foliage of the frangipanis in the garden.  © Photographix Much of the relaxed ambiance of the Skewed House can be attributed to its substantial greenscape, developed Roots Designs. The lawn has a sectional profile (a kund-like sunken central portion) and has been inspired by the ghats of Varanasi and Ujjain. An artistic dimension was added by extending the floor pattern of the gazebo into the kund. For the architect, this house represents the firming up of several convictions: that each building is unique by way of its users, setting, function, and more; that you will deliver quality if you care enough; that there is no substitute for nature; and that architecture can leverage the innate beauty of every material, by creating the right balance between less and more.  © Photographix  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Bar - Salón Sociedad / Communal + OTRA Arquitectura Posted: 09 Oct 2017 10:00 AM PDT  © Agustín Landa Ruiloba
 © José Pablo Villarreal From the architect. Salón Sociedad is an architecture development for a hall/bar located inside Sociedad Cuauhtémoc y Famosa, institution founded by FEMSA and Heineken México formerly known as Cervecería Cuauhtémoc-Moctezuma. Project developed in collaboration with OTRA Arquitectura and Office Services Heineken México.  © José Pablo Villarreal The city of Monterrey is well known for being the home of big corporations and enterprises in which FEMSA and Heineken México, formerly known as Cervecería Cuauhtémoc-Moctezuma, stand out among many. This companies play an active role supporting the city and community but also their employees overseeing their personal development and quality of life, that’s why in 1918 they founded Sociedad Cuauhtémoc y Famosa, also known as SCYF, which brings to their personnel and families a space of leisure, sports and recreation.  Floor Plan Salón Sociedad, through the companies’ iconic motifs and materials, aims to create a vivid and warm space that recalls the legacy of their founding corporations. Also, using long chained tables we aim to create a more familiar bound between the employees.  © José Pablo Villarreal Salón Sociedad creates a warm and joyful experience; a family environment just like Sociedad Cuauhtémoc y Famosa.  © Agustín Landa Ruiloba The Malinche chair, iconic chair made in Monterrey by Muebles Malinche and made popular by Cervecería Cuauhtémoc by producing branded versions and selling them to local bars and pubs to a low cost.  © José Pablo Villarreal  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| David Marks, Architect of London Eye and i360 Tower, Dies Aged 64 Posted: 09 Oct 2017 09:00 AM PDT  The London Eye © <a href='http://https://www.flickr.com/photos/garymacfadyen/6817452334/in/photolist-bore4C-e6VT4P-2VQC5B-8RTJY-dwLT3K-226Bj-qUPy7p-7EFLwM-62t9N-8RTKu-6kstyR-cyTSWf-gq5LC-8U6cM-ahfwvb-8U6cN-j5JjP-fKsNSs-aLwoa4-8RTHL-GLUVo-bnfJaV-fKsQbq-bore75-8RTG3-8oyze-fKbdui-8RTJE-avbb5t-fKbcg6-qfaVwM-dwLT5P-8U5wX-j5JkD-8U5x2-6MWis-f3de5n-gJUEXj-fKsPPo-fKsRMU-9jLQpU-pXw4V-58GUKf-kduVmn-8RTE2-4VRbWN-4KQcXY-fKbeiX-hxtdNH-8RTCa'>Flickr user garymacfadyen</a>. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 David Marks, architect of iconic British structures including the London Eye and the British Airways i360 tower, has passed away at the age of 64 following a long illness. Co-founder of the London-based practice Marks Barfield Architects with his wife Julia Barfield, Marks was known for his visionary designs for the public realm and entrepreneurial spirit. In proposing both the Eye and the i360 tower, the husband-wife team took considerable financial responsibility for the project's success. This forward-thinking lead to the replication of the firm's ideas in cities around the globe.  British Airways i360 Tower in Brighton and Hove. Image © Visual Air "David's belief in the power of architecture to have a transformative effect on civic life and his determination to finish what he started made him fearless in taking responsibility for projects," said the studio in a statement. Marks' recent projects included a treetop walkway at London's Kew Gardens, a Chicago skyline cable car proposal and the recently-completed University of Cambridge primary school.  Kew Tree Top Walkway & Rhizotron. Image © Peter Durant "David was an architect whose work was founded in innovation, excellence in design and close collaboration with other disciplines, in particular with engineers," the practice continued. "He believed that well designed buildings and structures can improve the quality of people's lives." "He leaves a legacy of much-loved landmarks which demonstrate his belief in the human spirit and his wish to elevate minds as well to the spirit. He transformed skylines, and his vision will continue to offer inspiration and delight to future generations." Read the official statement from the firm, here, and a full obituary from The Guardian, here.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Holiday House in Platja d'Aro / Pepe Gascón Arquitectura Posted: 09 Oct 2017 08:00 AM PDT  © Aitor Estévez
 © Aitor Estévez From the architect. This holiday home, with a Mediterranean character, was built half a century ago using traditional Catalan construction methods. It has been refurbished and modernized internally to increase natural light. The kitchen and porch have been extended to create a courtyard to connect the interior living areas with the outdoor. This offers shade and the addition of a pool completes the integration of these areas.  © Aitor Estévez  Ground Floor Plan  © Aitor Estévez The project maintains several original features such as course renders on the exterior and parabolic arches. To respect the home´s heritage, handmade clay tiles have been fitted in the courtyard and on internal staircases. White has been used to preserve its Mediterranean ambiance.  © Aitor Estévez  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Fly Through the SHL and James Turrell-Designed Addition to ARoS Art Museum in Aarhus Posted: 09 Oct 2017 07:00 AM PDT New details have been revealed of the €40 million extension of ARoS Art Museum in Aarhus, Denmark. Designed by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects in collaboration with artist James Turrell, the expansion project includes a new 1,400-square-meter (15,070-square-foot) underground gallery and two site-specific installations by Turrell that represent his largest museum project to date. Named The Next Level, the project begins on the ground level of the museum, extending downward beneath the adjacent Officerspladsen plaza. The addition has been designed to work naturally with the flow of the existing building, which already serves as a bridge between the Aarhus River and the nearby Aarhus Music Hall. A 120-meter-long hallway will stretch down into the Earth connecting visitors the larger of the two Turrell installations, The Dome. An expansion venue for performance art, The Dome will measure 40 meters in diameter by 17 meters in height, with the upper 9 meters popping out of the ground into the plaza. Like other examples in Turrell's Skyspace series, the space will be capped with a large oculus connecting the subterranean to the sky, and will display a light show bathing the curved surfaces in a wash of color. 'We are delighted to unveil plans for The Next Level and to be working on this ambitious project with James Turrell," commented Erlend G. Høyersten, Director of the ARoS Aarhus Art Museum. "At ARoS, we know that art is indispensable to a lot of people and suspect that still more could benefit from it, because of its potential to impact a person's outlook as well as their thinking. "The Next Level will merge art and architecture, and will make the journey through the museum an engaging and enriching experience for the public. I like to think of the museum as a mental fitness centre and this extension will expand upon this idea." News via ARoS Art Museum
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| República 358 Office / Hype Studio Posted: 09 Oct 2017 06:00 AM PDT  © Marcelo Donadussi
 © Marcelo Donadussi From the architect. The idea of renovating the 1917 townhouse and make it Hype Studio's new headquarters came in the end of 2015. It seemed like the perfect place to put into practice the concepts we believe and pursue in our work.  © Marcelo Donadussi It was the opportunity to create a work space integrated with the vibrant urban life of Cidade Baixa, a bohemian neighborhood deeply connected with Hype Studio's history.  Facade Gif We invited Café Republica - a cafe that already existed in another building of the same street and had in its essence an urban identity - to form a partnership, opening their second unit on the ground floor of the townhouse. The invitation was accepted, and soon after the space focused on the appreciation of the coffee culture through techniques of preparation with special grains began to take shape.  © Marcelo Donadussi  © Marcelo Donadussi The union of Hype Studio and Café República Cup officially created República 358, whose proposal consists on integrating different uses and offering the neighborhood a place that celebrates urban life - lots of conversation, good architecture and great quality coffee.  Section A Located on Rua da República, the most beautiful and greenest street of the bohemian neighborhood, the historic Townhouse had been partially restored by the owner when Hype Studio started the project. The facades, roof and windows were already recovered; the concrete floor of the ground floor, a second floor and a steel staircase had already been installed.  © Marcelo Donadussi
 © Marcelo Donadussi The intervention's great gestures were the installation of a third steel floor; all three floors connection with sculptural staircases built entirely in naval plywood; and the use of transparency to effectively integrate the different uses of the house.
The removal of the previous staircase and the proposition of a new one, in a new location, provided a better use of the space, as well as directing the course inside the house to the views of a beautiful central window.  © Marcelo Donadussi The existing masonry was quite deteriorated. In order to enlighten the space without losing the material's original texture, the entire house's envelope was painted in frosted white, except for a small and purposeful frame on the ground floor, revealing the walls actual color, creating a more intimate atmosphere at the cafe.  © Marcelo Donadussi The original partition walls were preserved and their plaster was restored (hall and ground floor meeting room). The toilets were rebuilt in drywall and covered with naval plywood. The ground floor's concrete floor was treated and kept. Naval plywood was used on the floor of the other two levels.  Section B On the high ceiling, the steel trusses were painted white and kept exposed. In between trusses, a plaster ceiling system was installed to provide thermal and acoustic insulation. The ceiling is also the protagonist of the lighting system with indirect lights.  © Marcelo Donadussi  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Iconic and Revered, Notre Dame de Paris Faces an Uncertain Future Posted: 09 Oct 2017 05:00 AM PDT  Courtesy of Livioandronico2013
According to the Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris, the iconic Parisian cathedral is in "desperate need of attention." Perhaps more concerningly, the holy site and French national monument is also in "a worrisome state of preservation." Built of limestone—a material notoriously susceptible to erosion—the building is in an accelerating state of wear-and-tear, demanding renewed funding efforts and expertise to secure its immediate and long-term future. From the lead roof to the stone buttresses, the world-renowned gargoyles to the stained glass windows, every inch of the structure requires differing levels of attention. A new budget set out of by the organization breaks down in cold, hard numbers the scope of the project at hand. At this time, a total of $110 million will be necessary to carry out urgent, intermediate, and longer term repairs. You can find out more about the restoration project, here. News via The New York Times.
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| Posted: 09 Oct 2017 04:00 AM PDT  © Pascal Annand
 © Pascal Annand From the architect. Built-in Caraquet village, Les Jumelles is two small sister constructions link in order to create a single family holiday house oriented towards the grandiose scenic view of the Baie-des-Chaleurs. Les Jumelles is simultaneously a peaceful retreat in nature in front of the sea as an architectural insertion in the context of the historical Acadian Village that is Caraquet. The site of the project is but a couple of hundred meters from the village's church and less than 60 meters from the thin sand beaches.  © Pascal Annand  Ground Floor Plan  © Pascal Annand Sober and stripped down architecture inspired by the Acadian vernacular architecture, the house consists of twin looking volumes. The metal sheet covered small constructions are located in one of the last natural clearings of the village. The first entity, largely fenestrated on its South facade, contains the living spaces, while its sister, open on its North end, regroups the bedrooms and the garage.  Sections The sister houses, common to Acadian architecture, stand parallel to each other and are only connected by a glazed passage that simultaneously acts as a working space offering a panoramic view of the sea. Its displacement between the twin sisters and its length offer just the right amount of privacy between entities while also defining a sunbathed courtyard protected from the often violent winds of the area.  © Pascal Annand  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| How to Succeed in a Skype-Based Architecture Job Interview Posted: 09 Oct 2017 02:30 AM PDT  This article was originally published on The Architect's Guide as "How To Ace Your Web (Skype) Architecture Job Interview." Love it or hate it, online job interviews are becoming more and more common. Especially given how the architecture job search process is no longer limited to your immediate area. I worked abroad for many years and I have experienced applying from both the U.S. and Europe. I learned a few tips and tricks along the way that should be helpful if you are faced with this interview type.
As I discussed in a previous post, 7 Things You Must Bring To An Architecture Job Interview (And 5 You Shouldn't), in-person interviews have their own challenges. However, I consider web-based interviews to be the worst of both worlds. Skype interviews have all the downsides of a visual assessment with the inhuman touch of a phone call, wrapped in guaranteed tech problems. Why do employers use Skype / Webcam Interviews?Sometimes a Skype interview can be used in place of a traditional interview, depending on the location of the office and where you live. A hiring decision and offer can be made without physically meeting you. However, if possible, you should always try to meet in-person and tour the office where you will be working. I would be very hesitant to accept an offer after only a web interview. This can, however, be a method to get the ball rolling on negotiation before investing the time and money to come visit the office. The web interview can also help the firm decide if they want to front the money for you to come interview in person. Perhaps most importantly it eliminates the cost of travel while still providing many of the same benefits of an in-person interview. I found this to be quite valuable when interviewing for jobs abroad. Webcam interviews often provide better insight, for both you and the employer, compared to an email or phone call.
Portfolio presentationArchitecture interviewers also have to deal with the presentation of your portfolio during the interview. There are usually two ways of doing this: 1. Send a PDF before the interviewThis is the most foolproof way to get your information across. The downside is that everyone isn't always on the same page (literally) and it can be frustrating not being able to point at things on the screen. 2. Screen shareMake sure you ask ahead of time exactly what software they are planning to use. Since Skype has become so popular some people just use the name "Skype" to describe any web-based video conference. There are dozens of programs out there such as Zoom, GoToMeeting, ShowMyPC, WebEx, etc., so make sure you have the right one. If you do use screen share, I recommend also sending a PDF ahead of time. In one of my interviews the screen share feature wasn't working but luckily I had sent my portfolio in advance. TIP: Make sure you clean up your desktop background, just plain or something professional. You wouldn't want something embarrassing to show up when you minimize your folders. Also, disable any email popups or other programs for the same reason. Testing?Test all of the software and make sure you have already set up a username. You don't want to be doing this at the last minute. Practice with a friend or family member to make sure everything is working ahead of time. I am sure your mom would appreciate the call. LocationIf you can't do it from home because of roommates or you live on a busy street or have neighbors that think wooden floors are made for breakdancing, there are a few options: 1. Do it from your current officeA risky option for obvious reasons but it can work, depending on your situation and office configuration. Find a quiet meeting room with a clean, plain background. Put up a "Meeting In Progress" sign on the outside of the door as a deterrent. Since this will likely be after regular office hours, it works best if there is a significant time difference between your location and the potential employer. TIP: Be sure to check the cleaning staff schedule, you don't want a janitor vacuuming during the interview! 2. Book a meeting roomDepending on your city, you can rent a meeting room by the hour to do the interview. Using this method you have very little chance of being disturbed. The downside is that it can be expensive. Also, technical problems can come up such as not having a solid internet connection. Some places have their own tech setup so you may not need to bring a laptop other than for backup. Check with the facility on what they do and don't provide. 3. Coffee shopI have been forced to do phone interviews in coffee shops. This is definitely less than ideal since cafes are usually loud and have music blasting. One trick is to look up coffee shops on Yelp and pick one with the lowest rating (hopefully with fast, free WiFi). The reason is to help ensure it will be as empty as possible. You will probably have to wear earbuds in this scenario, not great but okay if your options are limited. TIP: Don't forget to have your laptop plugged in to avoid dying mid-interview. So, regardless of your location, you need to be within reach of a power source.
WebcamTest to make sure the webcam is lined up with your face. The problem with many laptop cameras is that it points up at you and the ceiling, which looks terrible. Elevate it with books or something sturdy so the camera is sitting closer to eye level. Position the lower edge of the frame so that it roughly lines up with the third button of your dress shirt. The top of the frame should be about the width of your hand above your head. You may want to consider investing in a quality webcam. Some of the built-in laptop cameras are of poor quality. Prepare your spaceIf you are doing it at home, finding a quiet place, with a nice background where you are guaranteed not to be disturbed, can be almost impossible. However, you can do a few things to minimize distractions. If you have roommates, children or a crazy uncle in the house, make sure you let them know ahead of time. Ask (or bribe) them to not play music, watch TV or argue while you are interviewing. It is important that the background looks professional. If you do it in your bedroom, face the camera away from the bed and towards a blank wall or window. Be careful with too much backlight, you don't want to appear as just a silhouette. Try to get as much natural light as possible as it will bring out your natural color so you look less like a fluorescent-lit cubicle zombie. If you wear glasses try to position yourself or the screen to minimize reflections. Shut downTurn off anything that could make a noise: alarm clocks, phones (cell and landline), close windows and turn off the TV. Dogs, birds and other loud animals should be moved into another room. You wouldn't want your cat jumping in front of you. Mic checkAs with the camera, it is often a good idea to invest in a quality external microphone. They are very affordable and offer much better sound quality than your built-in laptop mic. Another option is to use a headset. I am reluctant to use one because it looks like you work at a call center. It is worth a try if you have trouble hearing the interviewer. As mentioned above, earbuds are a good, less intrusive option. Make sure you can be heard clearly and get an idea of how loud you need to speak. You don't want to be whispering the whole time and have to repeat. Screaming at the screen can be a problem too. Don't slouchAs with the in-person interview, your posture is very important. Since they can still see you, be aware of your body language and clothing. For further reading, see my previous article, What To Wear To An Architecture Job Interview. Sit up straight and look into the camera, not the screen. This is how you make eye contact with the interviewer. Make sure you smile and keep your hands off of your face. During the interviewSince there is usually a slight delay with the video feed make sure you give the interviewer enough time to comment or respond. Otherwise you will be awkwardly starting and stopping every other sentence. Try not to move around too much, this can create a really distracting and blurry image for the person on the other side. Hopefully this has been helpful for your next web interview. Good luck! To help you with your architecture job search, I've created a mega-pack of free resources that includes architecture resumes, cover letters, and an extensive collection of application documents. Click for a free download.
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| Lewis Arts complex / Steven Holl Architects Posted: 09 Oct 2017 02:00 AM PDT PaulWarchol.jpg?1507316570 "© Paul Warchol") © Paul Warchol
 © Paul Warchol From the architect. Center, take the arts at Princeton University to even greater heights by significantly expanding the performance, rehearsal and teaching spaces for the arts in new, state-of-the-art facilities. The complex creates a new campus gateway, shaping campus space while maximizing porosity and movement.  The arts complex, designed by Steven Holl Architects in partnership with BNIM, brings together the Lewis Center for the Arts' Programs in Dance, Theater, Music Theater, and the Princeton Atelier, and the Department of Music's expansion of its instructional and research facilities in the New Music Building. The complex comprises the Wallace Dance Building and Theater; the Arts Tower, which includes the Hurley Gallery, administrative offices and additional studios; and the New Music Building. The three buildings are integrated below ground in a Forum, an 8,000 square-foot open indoor gathering space that serves the various arts venues in the complex. Above the Forum is an outdoor plaza with a reflecting pool. Skylights in the pool filter natural light into the Forum below.  © Paul Warchol Encouraging curiosity and interaction, the new arts plaza has overlook views into the dance and theater practice spaces and the orchestral rehearsal space. As an open public invitation, this gateway space aims to connect the local community to the University The Wallace Dance Building and Theater is developed according to the idea of a "thing within a thing."  The black-box theatre is composed of steel, while the dance theaters are foamed aluminum, white washed wood and board formed concrete. A "dancing stair" connects all levels.  © Paul Warchol The Arts Tower is developed with an "embedded" concept, its stone tower connecting to the proportions of Princeton's historic Blair Arch. The New Music Building is developed according to an idea of "suspension." Above the large orchestral rehearsal room individual practice rooms are suspended on steel rods.  Acoustically separate, these individual wooden chambers have a resonant quality. The concrete structure of all three buildings is faced in thick 21-million-year-old Lecce Stone quarried in Lecce, Italy.  © Paul Warchol The new arts complex is named for and was made possible in part through a $101 million gift to the University made in 2006 by the late Peter B. Lewis, Princeton Class of 1955 and former University trustee.  © Paul Warchol  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Frank Lloyd Wright Upholds Egotist Reputation in Interview Posted: 09 Oct 2017 01:00 AM PDT
Frank Lloyd Wright is the household name of architects in the United States, with stories of his ego as widespread as his prolific work. Watching Frank Lloyd Wright at 83 years old is not your typical history lesson. The interview aired on NBC Chicago in 1958 and captures Frank Lloyd Wright telling stories to Hugh Downs about his education, early career with Louis Sullivan, an inspiration for Taliesin and Taliesin West and his own innovations in architecture (let's just say this question didn't get a humble response).  Hugh Downs starts off "A Conversation with Frank Lloyd Wright" by stating, "What we would like to do Mr. Wright, is get a clear a picture if possible of the essence of your thinking about American architecture and American life." The dialogue that follows in the video covers a huge range of Wright's portfolio and philosophy.  Wright shares with Downs his approach to organic architecture, which he defines as follows, "Organic means, in a philosophic sense, entity. Where the whole is to the part and the part is to the whole. Where the nature of the materials, the nature of the purpose, the nature of the entire performance becomes a necessity and out of that comes what significance you can give the building as a creative artist." News via: Encyclopaedia Britannica Films, inc  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 3 Different Ways to Use a Shipping Container on Your Next Project Posted: 08 Oct 2017 11:00 PM PDT
Recycling material in architecture is becoming increasingly valued in order to enable the creation of sustainable projects. Certainly, naval containers have been one of the elements that have gained prominence in recent years for the design of private and public buildings that respect the environment. In addition to the ecological appeal, containers are a viable choice due to the speed and ease of assembly, the option of a cleaner construction site, or even the different design solutions that this material provides. With their standardized sizes, it becomes possible to create a modular structure that allows infinite possibilities of intervention, so that it suits different uses. We have gathered here 20 examples of works that adopt the use of containers and some tips that will certainly help you on your next project. Residential UseThe modulated containers housing establishes a complete production system. This system brings some challenges, such as internal temperature control. To solve this, it is important to study the orientation of the ground and the implementation of the project in order to take advantage of the local climate and to line the inner layers with thermo-acoustic insulation to guarantee the user's comfort. However, there are also advantages such as ease of assembly. In some cases, each container requires approximately half an hour to be raised. The box structure, doors, windows, roofing, floors, and walls can be completely prefabricated drastically reducing construction time.  © Mito Covarrubias Un Dernier Voyage / Spray Architecture + Gabrielle Vella-Boucaud  © Jelena Stajic Lettuce House / HE Ding, WANG Wei, KONG Lingchen  © LI Minfei Commercial / Institutional UseCommercial and institutional uses can benefit from the rhythm of the modular structure to create movement. In addition, the ease of transport of containers is highlighted, facilitating transportation and assembly of the same project for reuse in several places. Container Stack Pavilion / People's Architecture  Cortesia de People's Architecture Office APAP OpenSchool / LOT-EK Architecture & Design  © Kim Myoung-Sik SUPERISCÓPIO / Pedro Barata e Arquitetos Associados  © Osvaldo Castro, Fábio Cansado  © COAST_ Rasmus Hjortshøj Sanlitun South / LOT-EK Architecture & Design  © Shu He Public InfrastructureThe container can be complemented by small amounts and other types of structures, through different design strategies it can configure a fundamental element to create ephemeral or fixed buildings for public use. As we can see in the following two examples:  © Yerçekim Photography Kontenerart 2015 / Adam Wierciński Architekt  © Przemyslaw Turlej
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| Single Family House in Granada / DTR_studio Posted: 08 Oct 2017 10:00 PM PDT  © Cristián Beltran
 © Cristián Beltran From the architect. The house has a very relevant situation inside the city of Granada, located in the join between "Paseo del Salón" and "Paseo de la Bomba". The position, between common walls, but at the same time like a separated object, because the adjoining plots have their free space towards our boundary, make our building into a urban referent.  © Cristián Beltran .jpg?1507268085 "Diagram") Diagram Following these premises, we have developed a proposal that join the composition, height and finishing that mandate the Old Town rules and at the same time, a new and contemporary image that this particular and unique position we think it should accommodate.  © Cristián Beltran Therefore, the façade of the house has a plinth that support the ground level windows, taking more height in the entrance door to emphasise it. .jpg?1507268277 "Section") Section The rest of the elevation are ordered following the vertical axes that the Old town rules obligate, but with little movements to improve the views and the natural light inside the rooms and to make a less fixed façade .  © Cristián Beltran The cornice lines are marked with metal sheet , even in the party wall. This is a 4 façade house, and this is the way to emphasy it.  © Cristián Beltran The house is developed in 4 storeys , connected by a lineal stairs sited parallel to a patio that orders the background of the house. The parking and the Laundry is located in the basement, and the two first levels are for the private area of the dwelling : the bed-rooms .  © Cristián Beltran In the highest storey is the living area and the kitchen, to get the best views and to have the access to the garden close to the old wall. Central patio and Backyard are classical elements in the Granada typical villa (Carmen) that connects with the Arab tradition of the Morisco House. We have used these elements but with a contemporany optic.  © Cristián Beltran  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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