Arch Daily |
- Piedrabuena House / MUKAarquitectura
- These “Potemkin Villages” Expose a World of Architectural Fakery
- CaixaForum Sevilla / Vázquez Consuegra
- La Raia Guest House / De Amicis Architetti
- Tipperne Bird Sanctuary / Johansen Skovsted Arkitekter
- Yanjiyou Bookstore / Karv One
- In Progress: Taipei Pop Music Center / Reiser + Umemoto
- The Triplex Apartments / Luigi Rosselli
- The One / gad
- Garden Wall House / Sarah Kahn Architect
- 10 Projects Chosen as Winners of 2017 AIA International Region Design Awards
- 21c Museum Hotel Nashville / Deborah Berke Partners
- Call for Entries: Spend a Night at the LEGO House, Courtesy of Airbnb
- Doctor Manzana's Second Store / Masquespacio
- De la Roche Residence / NatureHumaine
- Herzog & de Meuron Unveil Designs for a Flagship Building in the Royal College of Art's New London Campus
- How To Survive an All-Nighter
- IDF Habitat Headquarters / Piuarch + Stefano Sbarbati Architecte
- Medellin’s Comuna 13 Shows Why All Great Public Spaces Should Be Kid-Friendly
| Piedrabuena House / MUKAarquitectura Posted: 06 Nov 2017 09:00 PM PST  Cortesía de MUKAarquitectura
 Cortesía de MUKAarquitectura Text description provided by the architects. The ceramic in the Piedrabuena house acquires diverse qualities as a relevant element. The continued presence of this material in the town and the limited budget suggested a proposal that reread its more material condition.  Cortesía de MUKAarquitectura In a plot of two and a half meters of façade, the use of a paving of pressed clay off the edges of the floors acts as if it were a ceramic curtain. A curtain that hides any reference to the domestic size of the voids and proposes to unify the adjoining facades. The scale disappears and the proposal highlights the link between existing buildings.  Axonometric The alternating arrangement of the module with rope and rowlock draws a vibrant and porous latticework. Vibrant is the play of shadows, and porous because it filters the direct light that penetrates the interior of the house on the vertical glass cloth behind it. This light is molded by the pieces of clay and go through the interior of the house over the day. When the sun's rays do not directly affect the façade, the set of folding and pivoting parts offers a new relationship between the interior and the exterior.  Cortesía de MUKAarquitectura  Details  Cortesía de MUKAarquitectura The different delayed positions of the glass create intermediate spaces such as the access and terraces. The façade is present in all the interior rooms, since the plan proposes the diagonal as a spatial relationship scheme: extending the distances of a narrow plan and the perception of its limits. The possibility of moistening the ceramic pieces periodically proposes a bioclimatic system of natural ventilation in the interior.  Cortesía de MUKAarquitectura The air that penetrates through the wet lattice elevates its relative humidity and accesses the home to improve the comfort.  Longitudinal Section  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| These “Potemkin Villages” Expose a World of Architectural Fakery Posted: 06 Nov 2017 08:00 PM PST  Sweden, Carson City. Image © Gregor Sailer According to Russian legend, "Potemkin Villages"—entirely fake urban conurbations made to appear real—can be traced to it's namesake, Field Marshall Aleksandrovich Potemkin. In 1787, this soldier faced an unusual request: Catherine the Great demanded the construction of swathes of artificial settlements along her route to the Crimea in order to disguise, or veil, the run-down face of the region. In a new book, photographer Gregor Sailer documents versions of Potemkin Villages from around the world. From faithful replicas of European cities in China to vehicle test cities in Scandinavia, grand political gestures to combat training centers, Sailer's images lend us access to "the world of fakes, copies, and stage sets."  China, Thames Town. Image © Gregor Sailer  China, Thames Town. Image © Gregor Sailer  Russia, Ufa & Suzdal. Image © Gregor Sailer  France, Beauséjour. Image © Gregor Sailer  France, Complexe de Tir en Zone Urbaine. Image © Gregor Sailer  France, Complexe de Tir en Zone Urbaine. Image © Gregor Sailer  Germany, Schnöggersburg. Image © Gregor Sailer  Germany, Schnöggersburg. Image © Gregor Sailer  USA, Junction City. Image © Gregor Sailer  USA, Junction City. Image © Gregor Sailer  USA, Tiefort City. Image © Gregor Sailer
 The Potemkin Village  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| CaixaForum Sevilla / Vázquez Consuegra Posted: 06 Nov 2017 07:00 PM PST  © Jesús Granada
 © Jesús Granada Text description provided by the architects. The Project for the new Cultural Centre Caixaforum Sevilla attemps to coherently resolve two questions that are always important when dealing with interventions on existing buildings (in this case, existing structures), as the occupational strategy and the necessity of visibility given an expected organization.  © Jesús Granada  Sketch -649.jpg?1509965760 "© Duccio Malagamba") © Duccio Malagamba The mentioned ocuppational strategy is based on an analysis of the existing spaces and the previous uses planned for the "Podium Building" of the Tower Pelli Complex. The current structure has unavoidable determined program distribution as well as the spatial configuration of the different uses. That way, the main strategy consists on placing a series of volumes fairly autonomous inside the present structure looking for the coexistence of each one of the interventions.  Diagram In that line we could stand out the disposition of the exhibition rooms and the auditorium in the only spaces that, due to their height and dimensions, allowed their positioning, being demarcated by self-standing enclosure elements that avoid conflict with the current concrete structure. These available spaces take place underground, fact that has conditioned the access sequence and flows along the building. Likewise, the cafeteria and administration areas have been placed in the upper levels searching for better conditions of light and views. -649.jpg?1509965869 "© Duccio Malagamba") © Duccio Malagamba  Section  © Jesús Granada On the other hand, the importance and required visibility of Caixaforum-Sevilla inside this complex has led to certain operations to clarify the entry. The main access to the exhibitions will be held under a new marquee that will cover both the entrance and the skylight, source of natural light necessary for the lower levels, creating a covered plaza situated between the designed tree rows and permeable to the flows of people that will go through the buildings ensemble. -649.jpg?1509965963 "© Duccio Malagamba") © Duccio Malagamba  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| La Raia Guest House / De Amicis Architetti Posted: 06 Nov 2017 06:00 PM PST  © Alberto Strada
 © Alberto Strada Text description provided by the architects. La Raia Guest House (Locanda La Raia) come alive in an old abandoned building which was once an old tavern, typical of the local tradition. The reconstruction started from research of the meaning of the place and its relations with the landscape: from enhancing the dialogue between interior and exterior.  © Alberto Strada The proportions of the building have been redefined through fills and soil movements to recover an identity more pronounced and recognizable; new openings, different for shapes and dimensions, have selected the most interesting views, and the the same typology matrix was reversed by transforming the inner court on an abstract patio around it to which the new organization of internal spaces revolves.  © Alberto Strada Another strong element of territorial relationship concerns use of the color for the facades: moving away from the local tones of the local tradition, the Locanda, looking for a new one dialogue with the landscape from the will to belong to it, no longer through a chromatic contrast, but as its own declination within the same range colors. Architectural details, fixed furniture components and most of the accessories have been designed custom. The furnishings and some decorative components have been recovered having care to mix antique atmospheres and contemporary design.  © Alberto Strada Ten rooms and two apartments: each one is different in size, color and atmosphere. The common areas include two stays, two communicating lunch areas, one shop with farm products, a gym, one spa and a pool. In the entrance the garden is made up of a selection of only aromatic herbs, arranged in such a way to form a large leaf.  © Alberto Strada  Scheme  © Alberto Strada  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Tipperne Bird Sanctuary / Johansen Skovsted Arkitekter Posted: 06 Nov 2017 04:00 PM PST  © Rasmus Norlander
 © Rasmus Norlander Text description provided by the architects. Introduction The bird sanctuary at the tip of the peninsula in the southern part of Ringkøbing Fjord is, with its unique nature, an important stopping point for migratory birds and home to Europe's oldest continuous bird counts. Previously, public access to the area has been very limited, but through establishing new facilities the area has now been opened to visitors. These facilities consist of simple instrument-like additions in the landscape: a bird hide, watch tower, workshop, walking routes and a conversion of the Tipper House research station. The new structures are imagined as free-standing objects in the landscape, each with distinctive characteristics and subtle mutual relationships to one another and their surroundings.  Site Plan  Site Plan Tower The bird watching tower was developed throusgh the synthesis of the open, flat wetland geography and dense moisture in the air, and the techniques of a local factory specialising in the production of masts in solid cylindrical iron bars. The platform provides an elevated framing of the landscape, a space which can be either closed to offer a secluded position for bird counters, or opened-up to the view. The structural system is designed as a jettying frame expanding in width as it rises, allowing a small footprint to incrementally widen to support a larger platform above. Horizontal elements of galvanised iron plates have been bolted and welded together, whilst vertical and diagonal galvanised cylindrical iron bars span between the plates. 50 mm and 65 mm diameter columns and diagonals take compression forces, whilst 22 mm diameter cylindrical iron bars, which form both the balustrade and handrails, transfer tensile forces. All individual elements, including handrails, stairs, landings and balustrades, form a part of the tower's overall structural system.  © Rasmus Norlander  Tower - Axon Bird Hide The bird hide is a triangular steel structure which acts as a stopping point along a walking trail. Visitors can enter a raised hidden platform, from which wildlife can be seen up-close through a narrow slot opening. The structure is assembled using 6 mm plates of corten steel, with edge reinforcements which simultaneously function as assembly profiles and gutters whilst connecting the structure into the terrain.  © Rasmus Norlander  Hide - Plans Workshop The workshop building refers to a small local settlement of improvised hunting huts. It is built as a simple timber frame structure stiffened and sealed by 3 mm aluminum plates on the inside of the structure. The exterior is painted in contrast to the untreated aluminum revealed internally. Light penetrates the structure through translucent fiberglass boards.  © Rasmus Norlander  Workshop - Sections and Elevations Research Station The existing Tipper House has been transformed into a visitor center and a research station. The building now hosts exhibitions, a multipurpose room, dining room and kitchen on the ground floor, a library with work space on the first floor and alcove sleeping areas in the gables. In order to retain the quality and character of the existing building, the renovation was realised through a number of subtle interventions. A new external ramp is the only visible alteration from the exterior, internally new beams and columns replace and reinforce the load-bearing walls, a specially designed table and benches feature in communal areas, red pipes, radiators and wind gauges draw attention to the research function of the building. Built-in furniture made from OSB among other things, forms a new archive for bird counts which has a textural quality reminiscent of the plants in the landscape and thatch of the roof.  © Rasmus Norlander  Research Station - Cross Section  © Rasmus Norlander  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 06 Nov 2017 02:00 PM PST  © Dick.L
 © Dick.L Text description provided by the architects. By capturing natural light and shadow, Karv One draws inspiration from the highly agrarian image of "seeds" for the design of the new Yan Ji You book store in Hangzhou, located in Raffles City Plaza of Qianjiang New City. In continuation of its exploration on the relation between design and cities, Karv One applies the natural elements into the design of space and gives it a dynamic sense of life while strengthening the connection between brand design and Hangzhou culture.  © Dick.L This is a breakthrough that Karv One tries to make by opening up an experience space of uniqueness amid the bustling urban life. The concept of "seed" and "Hangzhou" are creatively blended to show how seeds and culture cast the future of urban life. Brand and space are like seeds sowed in the soil of Hangzhou, which later grow into blossoms all over the city.  © Dick.L The whole space gives the first visual impression with simple lines, coupled with pastoral wood color echoing with the warmth of the mountains, rivers and plants of nature, while the creative design of the ceiling presents a visual illustration of nature and Hangzhou elements in a distinctive way.  © Dick.L Visitors' sense of ritual and experience at the entrance is something that the designer can never ignore. In the entrance design, Karv One finely balances the aesthetics and visitor experience by strengthening the spatial and visual proportions of the facade. One-piece design of the ceiling serves to extend the entire space. The curtain-like screen separates the indoor and outdoor space, offering a glimmering glance of the environment inside the store.  © Dick.L Sparkling lake, wheat waves, terraced fields... such elements of nature become inspiration of design for the ceiling and floor, implying the coexistence of nature and city.  Diagram Sparkling Lake The element of "seed" is interspersed in different areas of space and details. At the display area at the entrance are placed a variety of plant seeds in Hangzhou, symbolizing sowing seeds of culture, which instantly becomes the focal point of visitors' attention.  © Dick.L The decoration and display are also consistent with the design concept so as to define a consistent style of space. Different areas are connected as an integrated whole with effective arrangement of the contouring lines of the space. In the space of 3200 square meters, the functional areas are laid out in an orderly way. Yet different views are able to be created for visitors through small twists of design. .jpg?1509935095 "Detail") Detail You may imagine it as the breeze across the lake, the wheat waves, or field with ravines and gullies. Whatever that may be, it adds dynamic elements and layers of space along with the neat contouring lines.  © Dick.L Island Under Cloud  © Dick.L This is a 360-degree podium with "island" theme, with the white iron net ceiling hanging like sky full of clouds while the innovative idea of the hierarchical geometric seating arrangement evolves from "terraces". Karv One maximizes the sharing nature of the entire space by cleverly coordinating the positions of and distance between the podium in the center and the seats surrounding it, turning the podium to a luxuriant tree in the space seen from afar.  © Dick.L Promenade through Books  © Dick.L The design of polished floor resembles the surface of West Lake, presenting visitors with a feeling of "travelling through willow trees" by West Lake. .jpg?1509935083 "© Dick.L") © Dick.L Shadow of Lake When observed carefully, the light spots on the ceiling come to show wavy patterns. Seen from upside down, they may remind visitor of the sparkling surface of West Lake.  © Dick.L This is another brand flagship store Karv One designed for Yan Ji You after the Chengdu CapitaLand, Beijing LIVAT and Chengdu IFS stores. If the store in Chengdu CapitaLand is a delicate collection of modern creativity, that in Beijing LIVAT a grand but romantic cultural plant and that in Chengdu IFS a dream space to explore the future, how will you define the "seed" beside the Qianjiang River? Once a Karv One is completed, it awaits people to step in, to experience and to let their imagination stimulated by the diversified design expressions.  © Dick.L  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| In Progress: Taipei Pop Music Center / Reiser + Umemoto Posted: 06 Nov 2017 01:00 PM PST  Courtesy of Reiser + Umemoto
.jpg?1510001997 "Courtesy of Reiser + Umemoto") Courtesy of Reiser + Umemoto Construction continues on the Main Hall of Taipei Pop Music Center. The scaffolds have been removed and main structure and substructure are complete. Decking of the envelope has begun, revealing the building's faceted cladding. .jpg?1510002359 "Courtesy of Reiser + Umemoto") Courtesy of Reiser + Umemoto The Main Hall is the centerpiece of the TPMC. It provides a graduated and spectacular series of spaces for the public, from the exterior approach to the building, through the lobby sequence, and into the final destination of the interior auditorium. .jpg?1510001990 "Courtesy of Reiser + Umemoto") Courtesy of Reiser + Umemoto The auditorium is a dynamic crystalline space within the envelope of the Main Hall. The lobbies and salons occupy the variegated spaces in between. .jpg?1510002021 "Courtesy of Reiser + Umemoto") Courtesy of Reiser + Umemoto The Taipei Pop Music Center is an urban complex dedicated to the celebration, production, and performance of Taiwan's pop music.The TPMC is a key element of 'cultural urbanism' in the post-industrial revival of the Nangang district of Taipei. .jpg?1510002003 "Courtesy of Reiser + Umemoto") Courtesy of Reiser + Umemoto The center comprises a variety of performance venues including three live houses, an outdoor performance space for 3000, and the Main Hall - a faceted fan shaped building with a seating capacity of 5000. .jpg?1510002372 "Courtesy of Reiser + Umemoto") Courtesy of Reiser + Umemoto  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The Triplex Apartments / Luigi Rosselli Posted: 06 Nov 2017 12:00 PM PST  © Edward Birch
 © Prue Roscoe Text description provided by the architects. Occasionally, Council planning restrictions can produce design constraints that are welcome; in this case, limits to residential apartment building heights forces all units built on sloping sites such as the block The Triplex Apartments occupies to step and follow the contours of the land. Terraced apartments are not a new building type; the style began with the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and was later taken up by the first Modernists such as Richard Neutra in Los Angeles, Robert Mallet-Stevens in Paris, and in Sydney with the Wyldefel Gardens at Potts Point.  Sketch These recently completed stepped apartments are endowed with large terraces and private gardens ideal for those who wish to downsize from a suburban house. These terraces are constructed with robust concrete edge beams to provide substantial awning structures. The concrete is left exposed and horizontally fluted to provide a robust texture.  © Prue Roscoe Often, residential flats are designed with a rubber stamp; a repetition of plans, details and materials; the fruits of lazy architects or developers and their ovine psychology. However, terraced apartments need individual layouts to suit the topography and the different arrival points of the vertical lift circulation. Further, these three apartments have been personalised with different finishes and interior design by Romaine Alwill.  © Prue Roscoe From the street, the appearance of the apartment block is of a single storey residence to maintain the existing residential pattern of the street and to soften the impact of the recent rezoning of the area for residential flats. This strategy helped to achieve supportive Council approval of the development.  Sketch The slightly concave, embracing effect of the front elevation is a design principle Luigi Rosselli learned from his mentor, Romaldo Giurgola, who insisted that one should provide open armed buildings that welcome you at their entry point. The forecourt of Parliament House in Canberra, with its two outstretched ramps to each side, is perhaps the most high profile example of humanist architecture.  © Edward Birch  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 06 Nov 2017 11:00 AM PST  © Yao Li
 © Yao Li Text description provided by the architects. City is a glamorous lieu that blends culture context with modern character; residence is the most basic space unit. When strong visual impact and artificial details prevail in postmodern city, how can we integrate residence within city's richness and exhibit exquisiteness of life without artificialness?  © Yao Li The so-called richness is essence of city, while delicateness is related to preciseness and accuracy of design. In the collision of classic and modern, part and whole, we always try to infuse richness, delicateness into design, to merge every living entity within city's richness and to appreciate the urban charm within one community.  © Yao Li Location Features: Intertwine bustling commerce and everyday life  © Yao Li With graceful Grand Canal to the east, busy Yan'an Road commerce district to the south, enormous residential community to the north, here, you can predict prosperous future city setup and evoke reminiscent past space memories. Here, it is not only bustling commercial center but also witness of vicissitudes, symbol of the city essence.  Location Design Strategy: quiescent and dynamic, variform and neat  © Yao Li Ringed on three sides by streets and one side by river, this region is divided into four districts by crossroad, as if capillaries of the urban dwelling. The design adopts global strategy to lay reserved landscape in center and to chain up urban space by axis in order to maintain unity both inside and outside of community. The north side is set over seventy meters away from the city street. It possesses a green area of over six thousand squares meters to expand vision, to reserve tranquility and to enrich city landscape.  Symmetrical Layout The Urban Richness: sense urban richness within unity  © Yao Li The facade design conforms to subtle changes of ambiance. And its scale ratio is elaborated with scrutiny to interpret dual traits of classic and modern. Stone color gradation matches with dark glasses, which accords with everyday city life to the southwest and modern bustles along the riverside.  © Yao Li It is designed with order, logic, ease and dimensions; the concept runs through the design and conforms to urban richness. In the southwest of the district lays a lattice-formed yellow stone facade, which emphasizes sedateness and dignity of shape. It stretches along the blue-gray line of riverside to depict contemporary feature and architecture suppleness, which is also a concordant transition of classic and modern. All of these reinforce harmony and diversity of urban structure.  Penetration of Canal View The Delicateness of Building: delicateness throughout whole life cycle  © Yao Li Gentle and varied architecture appearance corresponds to the richness of surroundings in the community; the landscape design is refreshing, and the community embraces exclusive quietness and vitality. The super-elevation empty space of the first floor works as invisible extension of yard landscape. It emphasises affinity relationship of human beings and nature. The first floor in the lobby leads to underground garage, to forms a well-lighted space and bring light into the room. The community adopts hotel management model and equips with considerate supporting services, in order to fulfill specific needs of public construction project.  © Yao Li The Design Proceeds: grow and perceive in practice  © Yao Li  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Garden Wall House / Sarah Kahn Architect Posted: 06 Nov 2017 09:00 AM PST  © Tatjana Plitt
 © Tatjana Plitt Text description provided by the architects. The project involved the insertion of a new 3-bedroom residence as a second dwelling on the lot, adjacent to an existing garage on large block in Carlton North.  © Tatjana Plitt The block itself was a complex site with the existing garage and studio building to one edge surrounded by lane ways, a large double-storey heritage terrace house facing the principal street front to the eastern side and the remaining land an overgrown, rambling garden that was too large to be properly maintained by the owner and lacked connection to the main house. The owner wanted a simple, flexible and sunlit home, in which she could remain living alone happily and safely well into old-age, to be inserted into the unused garden space.  Sections The new home had to sit alongside the existing studio/garage building, allow for direct entry to the second dwelling from the lane way plus maintain access into the garage and to the studio above whilst retaining sunlight in the existing studio room, where the owner worked. A keen gardener, she also wanted to maximize connection to the outdoors and retain some of the established planting, but create a more manageable garden.  © Tatjana Plitt The new house also had to sit sympathetically into the varied, lane way streetscape and respond to the requirements of the heritage overlay. The project also had a very tight budget to achieve the desired areas, so we had to plan the building as efficiently as possible and keep the structure and built form very simple. Integration of materials salvaged from the existing garden area, including bricks and bluestone pavers, was also a critical concern.  © Tatjana Plitt We approached the design by breaking up the site and creating a ' patchwork' of indoor and outdoor spaces, public and private zones, and small garden zones.  Ground Floor Plan The ground floor pavilion of the new house is framed by a recycled red brick wall, which extends beyond the enclosure of house to embrace the garden and separates the home from the lane way, creating a private garden sanctuary. A new public entry porch zone was created to the south of the new house which separates the new dwelling from the existing garage and studio - and the client from her workplace in the studio. The entry porch sits neatly between the old and new elements, accessed via timber batten clad gates to both the lane way and the rear garden with a translucent roof above.  © Tatjana Plitt The recycled brick wall that encloses the main house and garden runs along one edge of the entry porch separating the public and private areas of the site, the owner from her workplace. The new house is conceived as a simple box with maximum openings to the north, flowing onto bluestone (salvaged from the old garden) paved terraces. All the main spaces are located along the north face of the ground floor, allowing the owner to live entirely on one floor. To protect the north facing glazing from the summer sun, a timber pergola shade structure was designed to sit just beyond the facade line and frame the openings - this extends into the garden on the western side further strengthening the connection with the garden and framing the terrace.  First Floor Plan The simple, efficient and flexible planning of the ground floor allows for a large central kitchen, the heart of the home for the owner who enjoys cooking and entertaining, whilst allowing the main living / dining space to be arranged in a variety of ways. The main bedroom on the ground floor also opens to the north and directly accesses the garden. A large pivot door which separates the main bedroom from the living space can be left opening, effectively joining the spaces and allowing for a full facade of continuous glazing to the north. The maximizing of the passive solar performance of the house along with inclusion of hydronic heating, PV panels, solar hot water system and reuse of materials from the site were crucial considerations.  © Tatjana Plitt The upper floor is designed as a distinct, dark timber box sitting atop the ground floor open pavilion element. The form is raked to the south allowing for access to sunlight into the existing studio room over the garage. Timber sun and privacy screening shade the full height north facing windows of the upper bedrooms - framing intimate views of the garden and distant views of the neighbourhood. A roof deck is accessed from the upper floor landing, adding to the outdoor entertaining and potential gardening spaces of the new home, a final square in the ' patchwork' .  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 10 Projects Chosen as Winners of 2017 AIA International Region Design Awards Posted: 06 Nov 2017 08:30 AM PST  Courtesy of American Institute of Architects Ten projects have been selected as winners of 2017 AIA International Region Design Awards, honoring exemplary projects undertaken by architect members of the American Institute of Architects' International Region, encompassing six of the seven chapters located outside of the United States: AIA United Kingdom, AIA Continental Europe, AIA Hong Kong, AIA Japan, AIA Middle East, and AIA Shanghai (not including the recently formed AIA Canada). Projects were selected by an international jury led by Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA, AIA Past President 2014, AIA IR Zone 1 (USA) and were presented AIA International Region Conference in Prague on October 7th. Winners were chosen in five categories:
Interior ArchitectureHonor Award in Interior Architecture Citi Tower OBE; Hong Kong / M Moser Associates  Citi Tower OBE; Hong Kong / M Moser Associates. Image Courtesy of American Institute of Architects The project began with studies of Citi business units' composition, operational, spatial and technological needs, and an extensive discovery of Citi's strategic goals for Hong Kong. Among these were needs for flexible, sustainable workspaces; a wide variety of work settings differing in configuration, look and feel; reliable integrated Wi-Fi and AV infrastructure; increased availability of meeting rooms and collaborative spaces; and enhanced expression of the Citi brand. Offering casual settings that range from café-like to living room-like, the community floor features a vibrant 'Marketplace' zone with food and beverage amenities, plus dedicated spaces for training and recruitment. Designed for flexibility, these spaces can be easily consolidated to accommodate 'town hall' gatherings and other events. Jury Comments: "Citi's new office has enabled the bank to consolidate 38 business units and over 3000 staff members into one complex. The jury members admired the way in which new company goals for flexible workplaces and differing configurations of work settings had been accommodated. These combine different elements of both community, meeting and 'break-out' activities to form nine distinct types of flexible areas, with a range of sustainable and wellness features. The jury was also very impressed by the way in which a new corporate culture and employee empowerment had been at the forefront of the design process and had been implemented with clarity and elegance."  Citi Tower OBE; Hong Kong / M Moser Associates. Image Courtesy of American Institute of Architects Merit Award in Interior Architecture HKU Dining Hall/Auditorium; Hong Kong / Index Architecture  HKU Dining Hall/Auditorium; Hong Kong / Index Architecture. Image Courtesy of American Institute of Architects The auditorium is a fan-shape architectural volume slightly tapering from west to the east. It is situated at the podium level of a 400-people residential dormitory at the University of Hong Kong(HKU). The design team's was tasked with developing a multi-purpose room which functions as cafeteria, lecturing theater, exhibition space, as well as catering for the HKU's traditional "high-table" dinner annually, while not altering the existing utilities, predominantly 6 sizable air ducts and the miscellaneous chilled/hot water pipes, electric data wiring. Inspired by the disassembling of a stranded ship, the design team's goal was to conceal the functional components of the of the utilities. By imagining the space to be clad by three-dimensionally curved panels that form a "half-hull" on both side of the space. Geometrically, each panel is slightly varied so the next panel can fit the infrastructure elements behind. The architectural experience directs views to the outside residential neighborhood. The panel is designed as weaved synthetic rattan sandwiched with acoustical batting. Rattan is the perfect material to accommodate both the warped surface while providing the required acoustical performance. These panels pivot 180° to reveal the "backside" pin up surface designed for display and exhibition purposes. The choices of material for both the ceiling and the floor are of darker tone in order to accentuate the unique geometric formation of the hall. Jury Comments: "The project is situated at the podium level of a residential dormitory block, and the design specification was for a multi-purpose space which could function as a dining room, lecture theatre and exhibition space. The jury was impressed by the solution for overcoming the constraints associated with the retention of pre-existing major utility installations. The use of three-dimensional curved panels to provide an interesting edge to the facility, was considered to be a sound means to achieve flexible adaptation of the space. Also the use of weaved synthetic rattan provided an attractive surface, as a backcloth for all the proposed uses of the space, while meeting the required acoustic levels."  HKU Dining Hall/Auditorium; Hong Kong / Index Architecture. Image Courtesy of American Institute of Architects Merit Award for Interior Architecture Hong Kong Design Office; Hong Kong / M Moser Associates  Hong Kong Design Office; Hong Kong / M Moser Associates. Image Courtesy of American Institute of Architects The design development for this award-winning project was driven by study and evaluation of the company identity, needs, staff working practices, and a desire to make the office as rewarding and productive as possible. Infused with the dynamism and energy of the workforce, the space embraces nature and inspires creativity in a vibrant and unique way. Offering a unique blend of greenery and natural light, the new office space showcases a lush tree table, bringing the outside in and tranquility to the fluid, central desk space. Healthy and active workstations are designed to be comfortable, convenient and to encourage physical activity. To enhance wellness and productivity the office implements a wide range of international best practice standards including: WELL (IWBI), LEED (USGBC), HK BEAM (HKGBC) and RESET (air quality). Base building water fixtures can achieve a total water use reduction of over 40% compared to the U.S. EPA standard. Highly efficient LED lights and optimally arranging lighting layouts have contributed to a total lighting power reduction of over 15% compared with ASHRAE. Breathing zone outdoor air ventilation rates supplied into each space are at least 30% above the minimum rates required by ASHRAE 62.1-2007 standards for 'Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance'. Over 90% of the rated power of all new equipment installed in this project is Energy Star rated. Jury Comments: "The aspiration for this space is to foster a collaborative, productive and vibrant workplace environment that maximizes useable area, light and views. "I'd like to work there" shared one of the jurors, "it's so light and open with varied options for workplace" The jury considered the design and layout to incorporate key features that inspire creativity and a relaxed work atmosphere. The jury applauded the sustainability features for energy, lighting systems and water efficiency. They also appreciated the blend of greenery and natural light, and the healthy workstation installations to enhance wellness and productivity, exemplifying best practice."  Hong Kong Design Office; Hong Kong / M Moser Associates. Image Courtesy of American Institute of Architects Urban DesignMerit Award for Urban Design Shanghai Tech University; Shanghai, China / Moore Ruble Yudell  Shanghai Tech University; Shanghai, China / Moore Ruble Yudell. Image Courtesy of American Institute of Architects Chosen as the winning submission of an invited international competition, the master plan is considered as a new prototype of campus design in China – one that fosters faculty and student engagement across disciplines encouraging scientific innovation and entrepreneurial achievement. Adjacent technology facilities and the surrounding canal system set the stage for an innovative academic environment that is deeply rooted in its context. The Crescent, linking administration, education and library facilities, fronts the campus' southern entry and Great Lawn. Extending northwards radially from the lawn are three axes of differing landscaped characters – each a linear "Green" defining the campus' three primary neighborhoods. Five schools and an education center are closely gathered along the central academic quad encouraging cross-fertilization and interdisciplinary pursuits. Four of the schools, the Incubator and Residential Village, border the Gallery, a curved, covered multi-use promenade that connects the campus community. Jury Comments: The urban design for the 'Next Generation University Campus' is located within the Zhanjiang High Tech Park and is envisioned to become a world-class education and research institution. The jury was impressed by the planning and building layout developed around three linear green axes, each of a different character, which defined the primary academic sectors. This created a livable, pedestrian oriented form with opportunities for chance encounters and passive recreation. The jury was also impressed by the incorporation of permeable atria connections and the wide variety of passive energy strategies and technologies employed including photovoltaics, wind turbines, storm water management, and recycling of waste.  Shanghai Tech University; Shanghai, China / Moore Ruble Yudell. Image Courtesy of American Institute of Architects Open InternationalHonor Award in Open International | Architecture Sandcrawler; Singapore / Andrew Bromberg, Assoc. AIA  Sandcrawler; Singapore / Andrew Bromberg, Assoc. AIA. Image Courtesy of American Institute of Architects The client's specific requests required a certain height and a specific sloping topography. The guidelines also regulate the minimum amount of mass on the enclosure. The design approaches these guidelines deliberately to fulfill the viability requirements but with strong civic quality as a statement for the local headquarters. The result is the building floating up to 13 meters above the ground below. The open space is landscaped in a natural, overgrown manner. The "taught" external metallic glass skin allows privacy on the more exposed faces and presents a more aerodynamic appearance, while clear glass is utilized in the end faces of the wings, into the courtyard elevations and wrapping under the vessel's soffit maximizing "perceived" volume within the deck. A state-of-the-art 100-person theatre needed a double high zone and was placed on the upper levels of the lower, end user zone and immediately below the leased tenant spaces, in the same zone for the gallery, conferencing and pre-function facilities. Slightly visible through the metallic skin to the outside and openly visible to the courtyard, this feature further distinguishes this building from being considered purely just an office building. The external metallic glass skin allows for good solar protection. The skin is cut away on the lower edges and uses a low-iron clear glass which is utilized in the end faces of the wings, into the courtyard elevations as well as wrapping under the vessel's soffit, to reduce the aperture moving up to reduce solar gain into the office floors and to the deck below. On the exposed wing faces added planting and green terraces hang down, protecting these zones from solar gain but also tying the vessel into landscape below. Jury Comments: "This innovative building takes the form of a regional headquarters but with a strong civic intent, and therefore reflects an intentionally diverse design approach. The way in which this was interpreted in architectural terms was greatly admired by the jury. Equally the jury was impressed with the way that the plan form incorporates green terraces with a layered quality of spaces. These are designed to provide shading as part of the overall structure, allowing for good solar protection which helps to integrate the design within the overall landscape setting."  Sandcrawler; Singapore / Andrew Bromberg, Assoc. AIA. Image Courtesy of American Institute of Architects Honor Award in Open International | Architecture Siemens Headquarters; Munich, Germany / Louis Becker, Int'l Assoc. AIA  Siemens Headquarters; Munich, Germany / Louis Becker, Int'l Assoc. AIA. Image Courtesy of American Institute of Architects The new Global Headquarters of Siemens houses 1,200 employees while supporting innovation and knowledge sharing across the organization through one common atrium and open courtyards where people can meet and converse. The offices consist of open rooms in which employees can work across disciplines, or alternatively work in quiet zones for focused concentration. All workspaces feature floor-to-ceiling windows, and employees can adjust heating and ventilation according to their preference. Located in the heart of Munich the historic Wittelsbacherplatz is visible from building and is situated behind the renovated Ludwig Ferdinand Palais, which until 2016 housed Siemens' main administration. Siemens Headquarters combines ambitious architecture with effective building technology, introducing a benchmark for sustainability for the profession. As one of Europe's most sustainable headquarters with DGNB Platinum and LEED Platinum certifications, 30,000 data points from Siemens' advanced technology are used to regulate the building's temperature, ventilation and lighting. The building consumes 90% less energy and 75% less water than the previous building. The inner façades are angled five degrees to optimize lighting for the lower floors, reducing reliance on artificial lighting and operational costs. Additionally, a groundwater cooling system is attached to a geothermic system to optimize microclimate. Jury Comments: "The project represents the global headquarters of Siemens, one of the world's major producers of sustainable technology. The jury were impressed with the respect given to the level of cultural and spatial connection and 'fit' within the historical context. They were also impressed with the organization of spaces within the complex supports innovation and knowledge sharing. The sustainable approach incorporates new benchmarks in advanced technology, requiring only ten percent of previous energy consumption, while the multiple atria facilitates a democratic overall distribution of daylight throughout the entire complex."  Siemens Headquarters; Munich, Germany / Louis Becker, Int'l Assoc. AIA. Image Courtesy of American Institute of Architects Merit Award in Open International | Architecture The Bolshevik Factory; Moscow, Russia / John McAslan + Partners  The Bolshevik Factory; Moscow, Russia / John McAslan + Partners. Image Courtesy of American Institute of Architects The Bolshevik Factory is an important example of Moscow's industrial heritage, spanning both the pre-and post-Soviet period. The site comprises seventeen buildings, including listed buildings dating from the 1870's. When acquired in 2012, the Bolshevik Factory was derelict: roofs caved in and the decorative brickwork facades damaged. The design team was tasked with creating spaces that fuse working, living and entrainment into the complex. Consisting of five distinct elements, the project features naturally lit atria, covered 'streets' linking the office structures, high end-residential units inserted within the historic building fabric, a new Museum of Russian Impressionism and fully accessible public gardens. The new Museum of Russian Impressionism is an adaption of an existing storage silo on the site and a cultural destination in its own right - the first major private art museum to open in the city, hosting annual exhibitions from leading international museums and private collections. Jury Comments: "The context for this comprehensive conservation and restoration project is a group of seventeen listed but derelict buildings dating from the 1870s. The jury particularly appreciated the enormous scope and ambition of the project, whereby five distinct restoration areas have been identified for individual attention. These incorporate both working and cultural uses integrated within the historic fabric, linked by covered 'street' arcades. The jury also applauded the fact that the entire area has been subject to an integrated energy master plan to increase thermal performance levels through heat recovery."  The Bolshevik Factory; Moscow, Russia / John McAslan + Partners. Image Courtesy of American Institute of Architects Unbuilt DesignMerit Award for Unbuilt Design Land of the Rising Tulips - Bamiyan Cultural Center; Bamiyan, Afghanistan / RAW-NYC Architects  Land of the Rising Tulips - Bamiyan Cultural Center; Bamiyan, Afghanistan / RAW-NYC Architects. Image Courtesy of American Institute of Architects The design team centered their work around the philosophy of creating a subtle stroke of intervention without disturbing the powerful visual impact of the Bamiyan Valley. To add to this visual impact, they left the land for a terrain of red tulip flowers that symbolizes the belief in the people of the Bamiyan Valley yet provide them with an opportunity for income from exporting red tulips flowers harvested from the terrain of the site. Inspired by cave dwellings in the Bamiyan Valley, the cultural center was designed to be dug underground, which will ensure that the sensitivity of the terrain remains intact without any new, alien or unwelcomed structure interrupting the ethos of the valley. One of the major environmental advantages of carving out underground spaces is the reduction of the carbon footprint of the space, as the only building materials used are those that already exist on the site. Apart from that, another important point to note in the design is the use of the layered courtyards, which help in regulating temperatures throughout the extreme seasonal changes. These underground layers will remain cooler in summers & warmer in winters ensuring passive cooling & heating respectively and negating the use of electricity required for additional cooling or heating. Jury Comments: "The project is the result of a UNESCO sponsored competition to unleash the cultural potential of the picturesque Bamiyan Valley in Afghanistan. The jury was impressed by the overall notion of intervention to benefit the people of the valley while providing them with an income from the harvesting of red tulip flowers. A unique aspect of the sustainable solution was to retain the overall environmental quality of the wider area while carving out underground spaces for new cultural uses, thereby reducing the overall carbon footprint and ensuring passive heating and cooling for the new spaces."  Land of the Rising Tulips - Bamiyan Cultural Center; Bamiyan, Afghanistan / RAW-NYC Architects. Image Courtesy of American Institute of Architects Merit Award for Unbuilt Design Shekou Contemporary Art and Culture Centre; Shekou, China / Skidmore, Owings & Merrill  Shekou Contemporary Art and Culture Centre; Shekou, China / Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Image Courtesy of American Institute of Architects Located on the industrial waterfront of Shenzhen Prince Bay, The Shekou Contemporary Art and Culture Center will be an international, culturally-based, mixed-use development to represent the future of China's philosophy on art and life. As a counterpoint to the surrounding urban fabric that consists of large footprint, singular buildings, the project recalls the spatial character of China's fine-grained networks of urban alleyways and vegetated courtyards. Above the ground plane is an elevated piano-nobile, which serves as an outdoor extension of the 10,000-square meter contemporary museum devoted to visual, performance, digital and sculptural art, music, and interactive media. Roofs, indoor and outdoor terraces connected by stairs, will break down the walls of traditional exhibition space, allowing art and activities to be visible and accessible to the public. Jury Comments: "The intended site is situated on the industrial waterfront of Shenzhen Prince Bay, with an existing cluster of silos and a flour mill. The jury recognized the potential to repurpose the older industrial buildings, while utilizing the opportunity to incorporate new installations connected by a defined system of spaces and precincts. In particular, the jury appreciated the intentions of the project to break down the barriers often associated with the design of cultural space, allowing uses to be visible and accessible to a wider public. It was considered that the series of courts and terraces, intended to enrich the pedestrian experience, successfully optimized opportunities for cross-cultural participation and informal interaction."  Shekou Contemporary Art and Culture Centre; Shekou, China / Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Image Courtesy of American Institute of Architects Commendation for Unbuilt Design July 22 Memorials; Oslo, Norway / Paul Murdoch, AIA  July 22 Memorials; Oslo, Norway / Paul Murdoch, AIA. Image Courtesy of American Institute of Architects Following the attacks on July 22, 2011, the Government of Norway decided that permanent national memorials would be established in the Government Quarter in Oslo and on the land facing the island of Utøya to commemorate victims, survivors, emergency service personnel and volunteers. The names of those killed at Utøya will be presented at the memorial site at Sørbråten in Hole. The memorial designs use polished stainless-steel walls to create commemorative spaces that allow immersive reflection among the names of the victims, natural surroundings and movement of visitors. By merging these together, it is hoped the memory of those lost will remain alive and honored through the interaction with ongoing natural and human changes. Simple, minimal elements and use of existing landscape and urban features recognize the project's modest budget. The contrast of these precise, machined walls among the living trees that precede and endure beyond expresses both the abruptness of the attacks and continued remembrance of those who were loved. The memorials occupy a minimal footprint and integrate the natural environment in the site-specific expression and experience of each. Simple contrasting elements, made in durable stainless steel to withstand the harsh climate, reflect nature in mysterious, ever changing variety. Jury Comments: "The proposed memorial designs represent a response by the Government of Norway to commemorate victims, survivors and volunteers on two separate sites. The first is situated in the Government Quarter of Oslo, and the second on land facing the island of Utøya. The jury considered that the designs were inspiring, being aligned with their natural surroundings. It was also considered that the utilization of minimal elements achieved a respect for the existing landscape, with a minimal environmental footprint."  July 22 Memorials; Oslo, Norway / Paul Murdoch, AIA. Image Courtesy of American Institute of Architects The winning projects will be displayed at the AIA Conference on Architecture in New York from June 21-23rd, 2018. News and project descriptions via AIA  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 21c Museum Hotel Nashville / Deborah Berke Partners Posted: 06 Nov 2017 07:00 AM PST  © Chris Cooper
 © Chris Cooper Text description provided by the architects. Celebrating the authentic culture and sense of place of Nashville, the newest edition of the 21c Museum Hotels transforms a former hardware store and warehouse into a 21st century boutique hotel and destination restaurant.  © Chris Cooper The design of the hotel highlights the history of the Gray & Dudley Hardware Company building while creating a contemporary experience reflecting the vibrancy of Nashville today. A new entrance on Second Avenue leads to the public areas, which have concrete floors and exposed metal beams and columns, celebrating the building's industrial heritage. These elements are combined with rich upholstery, a sophisticated color palette, and metal accents, creating an eclectic, contemporary juxtaposition of materials and furnishings. The lobby and gift shop also function as a lounge overlooking a double height ballroom on the lower level. Contemporary art is incorporated throughout all the public areas, including a linear gallery that leads to the restaurant.  © Chris Cooper  © Chris Cooper The Southern farm-to-table restaurant features a double-height space centered on a custom wood and blackened steel bar with copper and zinc accents. Large doors open onto an outdoor dining area on Bank Alley, bringing new activity to this downtown passage.  © Chris Cooper Conference and meeting facilities are located on the second floor overlooking the double-height restaurant, creating visual connections between different spaces and making visitors feel like they are a part of the vitality of the hotel. A blackened steel staircase with perforated metal treads—industrial but refined—links the conference area to the lobby and the lower level ballroom.  © Chris Cooper On the six upper floors, which contain 124 guest rooms, historic building fabric like exposed brick and timber beams are occasionally revealed, adding texture and underscoring the building's history and materiality. Three new light wells bring natural illumination deep into the building. Inside, dark paneled entry halls open into bright guest rooms outfitted with richly colored furnishings and contemporary art from 21c's renowned collection.  © Chris Cooper  © Chris Cooper A penthouse rooftop addition is set back from the landmarked Chicago School façade, creating space for a large outdoor terrace. The seven penthouse guest rooms allow visitors to relax indoors or out, taking in the activity of Second Avenue.  East - West section The project's highly tactile material palette and custom details draw on the idea of craftsmanship embodied by the warehouse building, and connects the hotel to Nashville's continuing tradition of making art, objects, culture, and food. 21c is a place where visitors and Nashville residents alike will feel right at home.  © Chris Cooper  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Call for Entries: Spend a Night at the LEGO House, Courtesy of Airbnb Posted: 06 Nov 2017 05:05 AM PST  Courtesy of Airbnb Airbnb has teamed up with LEGO to offer fanatics the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend the night in the newly-opened LEGO House in Billund, Denmark. Contest winners will be able to enjoy the BIG-designed building all for themselves for one night, where they will be treated to a special program of events before retiring to the bedroom located beneath a 6-metre-tall LEGO waterfall and surrounded by a pool of bricks. Check out the details below. Text provided by Airbnb Airbnb and LEGO® House unveil today their most BRICKtastic overnight experience to date. For one night, the newly opened LEGO House in Billund, Denmark will become one family's private playground. Aspiring master builders, young and old, are asked to put their imagination to the test and describe one thing they would build together with their family if they had an infinite supply of LEGO bricks to enter for a chance to win a night in the LEGO House. Winners of the contest will enjoy the LEGO House all to themselves for a whole night. They will sleep in a dream LEGO bedroom under a giant LEGO waterfall and create their winning entry with the skillful support of the host, Jamie Berard, one of the finest Master Builders in the world and a true expert of the brick.  Courtesy of Airbnb "I am so intrigued to see what people will imagine", says Jamie Berard, Design Manager Specialist at the LEGO Group. "We have unlimited bricks here, and in some ways it can be a bit challenging but it also liberates you to imagine something that is truly meaningful and expressive. The uniqueness of the opportunity to stay in the home of the LEGO brick should hopefully inspire everyone. That's how I feel when I come here". The full experience will begin on November 24th, when the winners will arrive at the LEGO House to be greeted by Jamie who will welcome them to their home for the night. First, they will enjoy lunch where they will be tasked with building their order out of LEGO bricks before it's sent to the kitchen to be made into real food and served by two friendly robot waiters.  Courtesy of Airbnb After lunch, the house will close to the general public leaving it empty and ready for the winners to run through the rooms, explore and play under the expert guidance of Jamie. First, they will marvel at the foot of the Tree of Creativity, built by hand from over 6 million bricks. Moving onto the Masterpiece Gallery, showcasing LEGO creations from fans from around the world. From there, they will move on to the Experience Zones where they will be able to direct their own movie, engineer robotic cars, design cities and much more. Nostalgic adults can head down to the basement to trace the timeline of LEGO history and reminisce over the most iconic sets ever produced.  Courtesy of Airbnb As the adventure comes to an end, they will be invited to the final stop on the journey - a bedroom floating underneath a 6-metre-tall LEGO waterfall, surrounded by a pool of bricks. The whole space will be transformed into a home fit for a superfan, with all items made totally out of LEGO bricks: the teddy bear, lamps, the alarm clock, the TV, story books, and even a pet cat! The home consists of two bedrooms, with beds nestled in pools filled with LEGO System and LEGO DUPLO® bricks, as well as a living room, where the winners can cozy up in LEGO armchairs while enjoying some LEGO TV. But before drifting off into their most colorful dreams ever, the winners will need to get to grips with the endless supply of bricks and bring their winning entry to life.  Courtesy of Airbnb "Airbnb is all about helping people find magical and unforgettable travel experiences. What could be more magical than having the brand new LEGO House all to yourselves for the night? This really is a dream come true for any family with a passion for LEGO and I doubt there will be much sleeping as there is so much to enjoy in this incredible space," says James McClure, Airbnb's General Manager for UK and Nordics. House Rules
How to win a stay in LEGO House? To enter for a chance to win, visit the listing page of LEGO House on Airbnb and answer the question: If you and your family had an infinite supply of LEGO bricks, what would you build? Describe your dream creation and complete your entry by Nov 16 at 11:59pm Pacific Time (November 17, 6:59am GMT) and you could win the prize of a night among an infinite supply of LEGO bricks—and create a version of your entry with a LEGO master builder! Winners will be flown in from anywhere in the world. Submissions should be 50-550 characters in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, or Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Danish, or 100-300 characters in Chinese (Simplified or Traditional), Japanese, or Korean. For eligibility requirements and full contest terms and conditions, please visit the competition page, here.
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| Doctor Manzana's Second Store / Masquespacio Posted: 06 Nov 2017 05:00 AM PST  © Luis Beltran
 © Luis Beltran Text description provided by the architects. Masquespacio just finished the design for Doctor Manzana's second store, specialized in smartphone repairs and gadgets, located in the University district from Valencia. The history from Doctor Manzana and Masquespacio started during the summer of 2013 when their founders Fran and Reyes commissioned the creative consultancy to redesign their brand and create their first point of sale.  © Luis Beltran  Floor Plan  © Luis Beltran Being the brand specialized in reparations of mobile phones and smartphone cases, above other accessories for smartphones, the brand reinvention focused mainly on the 54 degrees angle of touch screens. That angle was applied both to the brand as well as to the interior design, besides four different colors: green and blue as a reference to the doctor, salmon for the fashionistas and purple for the geeks. Metal, on the other hand, adds an industrial touch that reminds us of the laboratories.  © Luis Beltran For the second store, Masquespacio sought to maintain the brands' identity already marked during the first project, offering a new custom-made design that could be recognized by Doctor Manzana's actual clients and at the same time propose a completely different design for this new point of sale. Thereby we can still recognize the 54 degrees angles, colors, and materials, but giving more importance to the metal finishes. Above, compared with the first store, additional elements have been added to propose a better service related to storage and the change of the kind of products on sale.  © Luis Beltran To be highlighted is the space that will serve for workshops and talks, that is completely separated from the store and includes the Doctor Workshop high stool chair designed by Masquespacio and that will be the first official product sold directly through Masquespacio below their sub-brand Mas Creations*.  © Luis Beltran  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| De la Roche Residence / NatureHumaine Posted: 06 Nov 2017 03:00 AM PST  © Adrien Williams
 © Adrien Williams Text description provided by the architects. A couple with two young children wish to transform a duplex located in Rosemont-La-Petite-Patrie into their principal family residence. The project consists in reorganizing the original portion of the house and enlarging it with an extension in the yard while preserving the façade on the street as required by the city bylaws.  © Adrien Williams Suspended above the dining room, a grey angular volume sheltering the master bedroom cantilevers out over the garden terrace. For more intimacy, a pair of steel blades unfolds in front of two large panes of glass over the garden façade filtering the views from the neighbours and modulating the natural light coming into the living spaces.  © Adrien Williams Wishing to create an effect of depth on the garden façade, two tones of colours are used; one gray tone for the suspended volume covered in fibrocement boards and an other in copper for the windows, steel blades and the patio door in the recessed portion of the back wall. An angular frame like structure connects both immediate neighbours as a result of their differences in the protrusions of their constructions.  © Adrien Williams  Ground Floor Plan  © Adrien Williams Within the house, a staircase positioned directly under a generous skylight becomes the focal element of the house. Three entities compose this staircase; the first steps cladded in white marble, a wooden landing cladded in Russian plywood that continues through the family room to become a working surface and finally the circular stair painted white with perforated steel guards and steps in white birch.  © Adrien Williams Integrated elements such as concealed doors and furniture combine to tones of whites; greys and blacks contribute in creating a warm and minimalist atmosphere throughout every room in the house.  © Adrien Williams  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 06 Nov 2017 02:30 AM PST .jpg?1509978736 "© AVR London and Herzog & de Meuron") © AVR London and Herzog & de Meuron London's Royal College of Art (RCA) have submitted proposals by Herzog & de Meuron to Wandsworth Council for a new £108 million ($141 million) building in Battersea. The "flagship" project will form part of the RCA's ongoing transformation into a 'STEAM' (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) postgraduate university, facilitating the provision of ten new programmes focusing on computer and materials science, the impact of the digital economy, advanced manufacturing, and intelligent mobility. .jpg?1509981857 "© Herzog & de Meuron") © Herzog & de Meuron A competition was held in 2016 in which Herzog & de Meuron competed with the likes of Christian Kerez, Lacaton & Vassal, and Diller Scofidio + Renfro. The successful design features a new café and art materials shop, with improved thoroughfares across the site – all of which will be publicly accessible. An area for large-scale art and design installations will also be created, coupled with expansive areas of indoor planting.  © Herzog & de Meuron  © AVR London and Herzog & de Meuron  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 06 Nov 2017 12:30 AM PST  © Andrea Vasquez As most architecture students and practicing architects find out, all-nighters are (ironically) the stuff of nightmares. They're a last resort when the project is due and you have run out times you can say "I'll do that tomorrow." All-nighters should be avoided at all costs as they can have many negative effects on your mind such as decreased concentration and reduced long-term memory. Even your body can suffer too; pushing yourself to the limit as you fight tiredness and work as much as physically possible will weaken your immune system and can cause circulatory problems from sitting down for 20 or so hours straight. In a previous article, we have discussed the many ways in which you can avoid pulling an all-nighter so you don't have to be as sleep deprived. But sometimes things just don't go to plan, and you may feel that working through the night is the only option. Read on for tips and tricks that should make your all-nighter slightly more bearable (if that's at all possible). 1. Walk AroundIt is easy to find yourself mindlessly sat at your desk for ages, frantically putting together the last details of the project. Going on regular walks will not only get your body moving again but a change of scenery will clear your head hopefully increase your productivity. 2. Social InteractionKeep yourself engaged by partaking in a conversation, even if it is asking someone nearby about the work or calling up close friends and family to catch up. 3. Write a List © Andrea Vasquez Before the tiredness kicks in, take the opportunity to write down everything you need to do to the most painstaking detail. That way you have something to refer to when your brain is on autopilot at five in the morning. 4. Schedule BreaksBreak up your workload into manageable intervals, using the breaks as something to aim towards. The Pomodoro Technique uses 25-minute blocks with 5 minutes in between for more focused sessions. 5. Work with FriendsWorking all night is a lot easier when you have others around you doing the same. If your friends or colleagues have the same deadline and plan on staying up too, then use each other for motivation. (Although bear in mind that pressuring friends into staying up if they don't need to is a great way to lose friends.) 6. Eat SomethingAs you are awake for longer hours than usual, your body is burning more calories. Snacking on nutrient-rich foods such as fruit, vegetables, and protein that will give you the energy to continue rather than depending mainly on carbohydrates which are slow burning. 7. Avoid Social Media © Andrea Vasquez This is easier said than done, but your brain is constantly taking in information while you scroll through Facebook or Instagram during your breaks. You need to give your mind a proper rest in this time and limiting time on social media will certainly help. 8. Splash Your Face with WaterWake yourself up by splashing yourself with cold water and shocking your body. Not to mention the trip from the desk to the sink will give your mind a few seconds to rest. 9. Listen to Music © Andrea Vasquez Put on your favorite songs to get you going and make the night as pleasant as possible. 10. Sleep in AdvanceIf you are aware that an all-nighter might be coming up then clock in as many hours of sleep you can before the big night. 11. Play a GameWhen working into the night with friends or colleagues then a quick, fast-paced game such as snap can give you the adrenaline rush for you to go back to your work more motivated and focused. 12. No Big MealsIt is likely that if you eat a large, rich meal you will feel tired and sluggish afterward, not doing your productivity levels any favors. It is important, however, that you keep your body fueled with enough food to keep you going. 13. Drink Plenty of WaterStay hydrated while you work, perhaps adding ice and lime if available for that extra zing. 14. Quick Exercise © Andrea Vasquez Get the blood pumping through your body by jogging on the spot or doing some star jumps. A nice contrast to sitting down for hours on end. 15. SleepIt sounds contradictory, but when your mind is really lagging, a few hours of sleep can be a lot more efficient than wasting time slowly doing work to a lower standard than when you are feeling more alert. Images for this article were kindly provided by Andrea Vasquez.
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| IDF Habitat Headquarters / Piuarch + Stefano Sbarbati Architecte Posted: 06 Nov 2017 12:00 AM PST  © Martin Argyroglo
 © Sergio Grazia Text description provided by the architects. In March 2017 IDF Habitat proudly announced its new address, 15 km from the heart of Paris. Designed by Piuarch, Stefano Sbarbati and Incet Ingénierie, the winners of a competition held in 2013, the Champigny-sur-Marne headquarters were inspired by the desire to create an efficient, functional complex, and above all one that stands as an indispensable element in the area's transformation process. The building is in fact part of the so-called "ZAC des Bords de Marne," an ambitious redevelopment program aimed at defining a new social, cultural and productive sector connected with the city, interpreting expectations and generating a system with a strong identity.  © Sergio Grazia Characterized by an L-shaped plan and a silhouette that varies in height, the volumes develop into an articulated form, establishing crisp lines and allowing the square in front to be designed and defined as a collective space. Each side also reacts to the existing surrounds through a relationship of solid and empty spaces: at the entrance, and thus facing the square, the façade is a permeable screen completely covered by glass hidden behind a system of loggias of varying heights, interrupted by a series of breaks in the pattern that make the composition more dynamic.  © Martin Argyroglo This front is proposed here as a section through which one glimpses the working environments, including the lobby, small meeting rooms, private offices and the large stairway, or, conversely, as a way to project the life of the building toward the outside. The side of the building opposite the entrance, facing the railroad and along the road, is more compact with a tight rhythm of vertical openings: these are the south, east and west façades, where it is necessary to filter the solar gain and to create an acoustic barrier against the noise of trains passing by. The shell is made of concrete cast onsite and then smoothed to create a uniform effect. It integrates the construction system, which is connected to prefabricated hollow core slabs with a span of 13 meters, without any need for intermediate supports. The result is a free plan, which can be organized according to needs: a solution made possible not only by the absence of pillars and supporting walls, but also by the systems installations, which run vertically at the crossing point between the two wings before being inserted into the floating floor at each level.  © Sergio Grazia The only "rule" for the flexible layout, which can be changed over time by IDF Habitat, is the continuous juxtaposition of work areas and collective areas. The four floors of offices above the basement – devoted entirely to parking because the structure stands on land at risk of flooding – mix different types of spaces and include large socialization areas both indoors and outdoors, thus ensuring a high quality environment for employees. This quality is enhanced by the roof terrace, which adds to the defining of a pleasant place with tables, seating, deckchairs and sun shading elements.  © Sergio Grazia  Office Plan  © Martin Argyroglo  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Medellin’s Comuna 13 Shows Why All Great Public Spaces Should Be Kid-Friendly Posted: 06 Nov 2017 12:00 AM PST ![Comuna 13, Medellín. Image © Ingrid Truemper [Flickr], used under CC BY-NC 2.0](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/598e/0694/b22e/38d0/4800/00d9/medium_jpg/34342787706_ef4b71b00f_o.jpg?1502480007 "Comuna 13, Medellín. Image © Ingrid Truemper [Flickr], used under CC BY-NC 2.0") Comuna 13, Medellín. Image © Ingrid Truemper [Flickr], used under CC BY-NC 2.0
Jaime Lerner defines urban acupuncture as a series of small-scale, highly focused interventions that have the capacity to regenerate or to begin a regeneration process in dead or damaged spaces and their surroundings. Rather than urban acupuncture, the intervention that took place in the rugged geography of Medellin’s Comuna 13 was like an open-heart surgery, a large-scale action aimed at bringing about physical and social change of what was once one of the most dangerous neighbourhoods in the world’s most dangerous city. The bilingual guides take us through the neighbourhood, showing us the escalators that gave the intervention worldwide fame. At the same time, in one of the many refurbished squares, a CNN team records interviews with locals and foreigners who visit by the hundreds what was, until recently, an unlikely tourist destination. A drone flies over the scene, we do not know if it is operated by the omnipresent police, CNN or tourists. Taking a break along the tour, our guides offer us salty mango ice cream from a local store that thanks to the escalators, the plazas, the murals, the new lighting, and the full time police surveillance, has become a small gold mine. There is no rubbish, not even a piece of a paper or a bottle thrown in the streets. Beautiful poverty is still poverty, but today with a regained dignity. The neighbourhood recovers a hidden beauty. It becomes an attractive and safe place, which offers spaces for the enjoyment of its inhabitants, who despite the boom are still generally in the same position as before. There are still no Airbnb’s or boutique cafes. It is an example of "gentrification without expulsion" as Francisco Sabatini would say, or what Mauricio Redolés describes in his song "beautiful neighbourhood" (bello barrio) as the dangerous fragility of corruption. The intervention in Comuna 13 was like an open heart surgery, but it also included a good dose of acupuncture to activate and keep each part of the project in shape. If the spine of the system is the escalators, the micro-activation of the fabric was done by reaching a common scale in the deterioration state.  Comuna 13 (Medellín), in 2015. Image © Rodrigo Díaz For example, the acupuncturist (they tell me she was an architect)* included a slide in the intervention that converted something routine into something extraordinary. With a twin slide, the scale is much more than a space to go up and down; it has been transformed from a place of passage into a place to be because there is no child who does not want to slide down again once his feet land on the floor. Furthermore, as the children start arriving and discovering the playful dimension of this anonymous public space, their parents also begin to arrive, first to take a look, then to make their own social life with a salty mango ice cream in hand. If children find it good, then it is good for everyone: simple and cheap, but a high-impact intervention. If I could, I would give her the Nobel prize for urban design. Closing remarks: This intervention in Comuna 13 was expensive to build, manage and maintain, which makes it difficult to mass-replicate. That does not take away its extraordinary character in every sense of the word. The message is clear: acting in low-income sectors can not be synonymous with low-standard solutions, cheap materials, mediocre architecture, slow projects and quick forgetting. So far, employing experience and high investment have been worth the effort. *Addendum: One day after the column was published, Yineth Cumplido, the acupuncturist of the story, contacted me and told me about the many tours and workshops which take place with the community that are behind the project of Comuna 13. I would like to congratulate her and give her the credit she deserves.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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