Arch Daily |
- FIL House / Beczak / Beczak / Architekci
- Het Kulkje Vlieland / Borren Staalenhoef Architecten BV bna
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden / Heikkinen-Komonen Architects
- Pemulung House / IBUKU
- The Clearwater House / Seshimo Architects + Peter Hahn Associates
- Aranya Ideas Camp / Atelier TeamMinus
- Blue Bottle Coffee Sangenjaya Cafe / Schemata Architects
- Armadale Residence / B.E Architecture
- New Renderings Reveal Interiors of MAD Architects' Beverly Hills Residential Village
- Vila Rio Branco Office / Estúdio Folha
- Coldwater Canyon / Ehrlich Architects
- MVRDV Collaborates With School Children to Complete Graphic Public Play Space for Gwangju Folly Festival
- PRO.CRE.AR Buenos Aires Station Sector 10 / MSGSSS
- From Smartphones to Smart Cities: What Happens When We Try to Solve Every Problem With Technology?
- Fonte House / Lousinha Arquitectos
- How (And Why) to Integrate Earth and Bamboo Into Your Architectural Project
- Bee Breeders Announces Winners of Amber Road Trekking Cabins Competition
| FIL House / Beczak / Beczak / Architekci Posted: 30 Nov 2017 09:00 PM PST  © jankarol
 © jankarol Text description provided by the architects. FIL house is a one and a half story single family home. The most characteristic aspect of the house is its roof, divided along its longer axis into two sections of different heights, creating a sense of two intersecting solids. It is an effect of the home owners wish to have a house that is both open to the outside, and still privately enclosed. To fulfill this wish, the house had been divided into a closed, dark southern block, and a higher light grey northern block. Main openings are located in places of intersection between the blocks, and are strongly framed and directed by outside free standing walls which follow the buildings main shell.  © jankarol The 4,6m high north part houses a living room, and three bedrooms. The height difference between roof sections introduces sunlight from above the south part of the house into the north-facing rooms. Height of the small bedrooms allowed to introduce mazzanines, which complement their functional layouts. A continuation of the higher roof covers a west facing terrace.  © jankarol Due to strong western exposition, and a large level of fenestration in the living room, windows there are composed of dimmed glass panels, which harmonize with a dark finish of the low part of the house. A wall of raw concrete serves as a background for the living room with a free standing fireplace, and continues through the windows to the outside terrace. This, along with the same continuation of the ceiling creates a sense of connection with the outside.  Ground Floor Plan The southern part of the house works as a division from the road, which is located very near, and along this side of the house. It houses a kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room, and a guest room. Windows in this façade are long, narrow, and situated right under the ceiling, to provide sunlight, but not allow insight from the road. Although the kitchen has large windows, it is retracted, and the view from the road is blocked by a free standing wall following the main façade line. In the space between the kitchen and wall, there is a small secondary terrace. Both terraces are finished with concrete slabs, and connected via a wooden deck. Entrance to the building is distinguished by use of wood on the elevation.  © jankarol Form of the building is also strongly driven by the shape of the small plot of land it is built upon. The first noticeable aspect of the plot is its ununiformity. Its west end is widest, and so it was left as a garden, complementing the widest part of the house with a living room and a kitchen. The house narrows to the east as does the plot. The east end is filled to possible boundries by a garage. To use as much space as possible, it was decided not to build a gate in the fence, as instead, the line of the fence turns inwards to meet the front wall of the house, so that a garage gate is accessable directly from the road.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Het Kulkje Vlieland / Borren Staalenhoef Architecten BV bna Posted: 30 Nov 2017 07:00 PM PST  © Pieter Kers
 © Pieter Kers Text description provided by the architects. In the rolling dune landscape on the north side of Vlieland there is a rich collection of summer houses built since the beginning of the 20th century. Most of the summer houses were built by private clients for their own use. An arbitrary order in which there was room for choice. In dunes and dunes, the pioneers had the choice. Mostly the outdoor space oriented on sun with shelter for the wind. Meanwhile, regulations have been laid down precisely what may and may not be built.  © Pieter Kers Existing situation On a dune top in the shelter of bushes Vlieland, a summer house was built in the early 1970s. It is a simple cottage that is characterized by a furious, corrugated finish, hood. Due to the color scheme (white) and the position (on a dune top) the house is prominent in the dune landscape  Elevation The white facades are plastic shots that have reached the end of their technical life. The roof consists of cement-bound corrugated sheets. The cottage is no less dated. Flattish partitions of plastic sheet material. The moment has come to replace this cottage for new construction.  © Pieter Kers New situation Basics for the new cottage are a more careful integration into the dune landscape. The building is on a top, adjacent to a dune pan and stands against the backdrop of the forest on the south side. The new house consists mainly of a roof. This roof is basically related to the classic 'The Ward tent'. The cam and trough lines remain well below the maximum dimensions recorded in the destination plan.  © Pieter Kers The cam and trough lines are variable in height and the ground form creates a faceted roof that fits into the 'faceted' dune landscape. The house is fully finished, including roofing, in wood. The wood is darkened to make it 'up' in the dark forest edge. The cottage is on the edge of a dune pan. Due to this altitude difference of about 3 meters, an important part of the 'program of requirements' can be realized in the basement and the volume of the dune is minimal. Thus, it becomes a summer house where you can sleep in the attic.  Section The basement is invisible from the public road and by placing the "front door" there, the volume in the dune is completely unchanged. There is no front or back. It is an open and informal holiday home where the doors from the terrace, welcoming, provide access. In the façades under the trunk line, only clear glass and wood are used for frames and slats. The frame styles are equal to the large amount of shaving lines on a wall. The roof rails in the hood are also provided with wooden slats on the outside, making it fully visible. By incorporating the storage in the main volume and within the architectural appearance, the new building remains limited to a single single-sided addition to the stunning dune landscape.  © Pieter Kers Adaptation of building spot in destination plan A landmark is indicated in the destination plan. Right on the edge of this building spot is the height difference in the dune. Due to a shift over a distance of 5 meters, the north face of the new house is not on the edge of the dune pan.  © Pieter Kers The distance to the characteristic summer houses Zonnevanck, Open Sun and Sun Around becomes bigger, the distance to the summer house In Ens smaller. The plans have been submitted to the owners of In Ens, they have indicated no objections to the shift of the building spot.  Section Due to the occurrence of discussions on 'border cases', the municipality of Vlieland is invited to contribute to a shift of the building spot on the plank map.  © Pieter Kers  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Center for Systems Biology Dresden / Heikkinen-Komonen Architects Posted: 30 Nov 2017 06:00 PM PST  © Jussi Tiainen
 © Jussi Tiainen Text description provided by the architects. The CSDB complements the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, which was also designed by our office and completed 15 years ago. The institute brings together computer scientists, physicists, and mathematicians focused on quantitative biology, with expertise in biophysics, image analysis and high-performance computing; for instance, from cell samples it is possible by means of lasers and computers to image analyse research material at several times the speed of traditional laboratory work.  Diagram The architecture of the building is itself a metaphor for the positing and solution to a problem. One passes via a complex and dim core towards light and clarity. The concrete labyrinth sets the stage for the encounters and interactions between researchers and provides facilities for scientific experiments. Along the outer perimeter are bright and quiet work spaces where the research work can be completed.  © Jussi Tiainen The new building follows the urban planning principles for the campus. It is placed in line with the other buildings on the campus and its main façades are protected from excessive sunlight with a double facade. The sun-protection louvers on the façade are yellow anodized aluminium, the dark exterior walls are plastered solid brick, and the building frame is in-situ cast concrete.  © Jussi Tiainen  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 30 Nov 2017 04:00 PM PST  Courtesy of IBUKU
 Courtesy of IBUKU Text description provided by the architects. On the island of Bali, Indonesia, the activity of collecting recyclable waste is not institutionalized. Because of that, it attracts people looking for a mean of subsistence, who collect materials in homes and companies to sell them later, by weight. However, the activity is not seen with good eyes by the local population. To improve this image, IBUKU was commissioned by a large company to develop a project that would create healthy, well organized housing compounds for garbage collectors while becoming a mean for social transformation.  Diagram / Sketch Located in Denpasar, the project is a set of 14 housing units of 18 m2, which also includes bathrooms, storage, kitchen and common areas, to allow the meeting and work of its inhabitants. The houses are created as modules with main living spaces on the first floor and a mezzanine sleeping area above. Room for safe storage of recycled materials was also integrated into the design.  Courtesy of IBUKU Its floors and walls are made of bamboo, and it is designed so that the wind can penetrate the entire building, decreasing its interior temperature. Recycled materials are also incorporated, such as bottles and tetra pack packaging for the roofing and insulation.  Site Plan the inhabitants are temporary, usually people who travel to Denpasar for a specific time, in order to work and increase their income, and then return to their cities of origin.  Courtesy of IBUKU The techniques used are quite simple, allowing users to be inspired and replicate in their homes and communities, which can become a new activity that allows them to emerge.  Model. Image Courtesy of IBUKU  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The Clearwater House / Seshimo Architects + Peter Hahn Associates Posted: 30 Nov 2017 02:00 PM PST  © Junji Kojima / 45gPhotography
 © Junji Kojima / 45gPhotography Text description provided by the architects. This vacation home on Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido sits on a bluff with a view of Mt. Yotei (also called Ezo Fuji for its resemblance to Mt. Fuji), overlooking a river that meanders slowly along the base of the mountain. The structure cantilevers out over the bluff as if to float amidst the surrounding nature. Its name, The Clearwater, is derived from the pure snowmelt from Mt. Yotei that flows in the river below. .jpg?1511911493 "© Aaron Jamieson") © Aaron Jamieson Three rectangular forms support one another in alternating layers, which are clearly organized in the following manner: The lowest level containing a "wellness area," the middle level (the ground floor) the public domain of the house, and the uppermost level (the second floor) private bedrooms. There are two master bedrooms, each with its own view of either Mt. Yotei or Mt. Annupuri.  © Junji Kojima / 45gPhotography  First Floor Plan  © Aaron Jamieson Upon approach, the façade seems closed. It offers privacy from the street and neighboring properties, but also offers an element of surprise as the building completely opens to the landscape on the other side: taking in panoramic views of Niseko area.  © Junji Kojima / 45gPhotography The grand staircase provides views of the forest at different levels as the guests move between the floors, and is designed to serve as a symbolic, sculptural element. The minimalist exterior contrasts with the abundant use of natural wood and stone interior finishes, which together with the generously dimensioned furniture provide maximum comfort inside.  © Junji Kojima / 45gPhotography Altogether, the building provides an environment that is simultaneously a luxurious celebration of the client's many accomplishments, and a warm, casual, cabin-like space for both physical and mental relaxation with family and friends.  © Junji Kojima / 45gPhotography  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Aranya Ideas Camp / Atelier TeamMinus Posted: 30 Nov 2017 12:00 PM PST  © Lei Bu
 © Lei Bu Text description provided by the architects. The building is built for Qixing Education, a successful Chinese company that offers summer and winter school programs for children and the youth. Their pedagogy is to take the Chinese children, mostly products of the one-child policy, out to a temporary community of their own, and get close to nature while learning various skills in culture, craft, and socialization.  © Lei Bu The building sits amid a strip of sand dunes, which runs along the middle of a seaside weekend housing development inside the Aranya complex. A continuous, spiral ramp that starts from one side of the sand dunes, circles around two courtyards, reaching its highest point before landing down to the ground on the other side of the dunes.  Masterplan Of the two courtyards, the outer one is designed to be kept open and used for collective activities; the inner one is framed by the classrooms on the ground floor and the dorms on the first floor, which is used for private activities.  © Lei Bu Along with its entire length, the ramp helps to form a series of spaces both above and beneath it. In the lower part, the ramp forms a temporary spectators' stand in the outer courtyard，covering an outdoor cafe area with large openings in the walls framing views to the dunes and the playgrounds.  © Lei Bu In the middle part, the top of the ramp provides panoramic views of the sea and the distant plains; below the ramp, there are flat spaces for children's games. In the ending part, the ramp takes a quick descend to the playgrounds below. When there is no summer/winter school activity, the ramp is open to the local residents.  © Lei Bu The different heights expand and slopes of the activity spaces are to encourage the youth to move their bodies more creatively.  © Lei Bu  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Blue Bottle Coffee Sangenjaya Cafe / Schemata Architects Posted: 30 Nov 2017 11:00 AM PST  © Kenta Hasegawa
 © Kenta Hasegawa Text description provided by the architects. This 50-year old low-rise building stands at the end of the dead-end road between the two buildings located at a 3-minute walking distance from Sangenjaya station. Standing in front of the building, one looks up to find a wide-open sky above the city, feeling the luxury of "vacancy" in the urban density. This building had been a residence and a clinic of the original owner, who was the client's grandfather, and it was also used as a place for his artistic activities including painting in his later years. Considering the location of the site, it was feasible to build a new commercial building or an apartment building here. Yet, we decided to keep this building to create a place loved by the community residents and generate new activities for the community, out of respect for the client and his family's love and reverence for the grandfather, rather than simply focusing on business profits. Following the completion of the initial renovation completed in March (including the residence on the second floor and the gallery on the first floor), the client decided to recruit another tenant. BLUE BOTTLE COFFEE sympathized with the client's philosophy, and the seventh cafe of BLUE BOTTLE COFFEE JAPAN was born here.  © Kenta Hasegawa This long dead-end street extends from the busy shopping street to the quiet residential neighborhood in the backside, and terminates in the garden at the end of the road, a luxurious space in this central location. This shop is designed in such a way that customers will experience the continuation of this deep spatial sequence. Upon entry, customers go to the register at the far end of the dead-end road; stop by the drip-bar; walk around the seating area; and go outside to find a peaceful sight of the tranquil garden that makes them forget about the urban bustle they had just passed through. Then, they walk along the building and finally reach the gallery entrance. Precast concrete floors are laid out along this circulation route, connecting inside and outside and establishing a new relationship between the building and the shopping street.  © Kenta Hasegawa  Plan  © Kenta Hasegawa James Freeman, the Founder of BLUE BOTTLE COFFEE, was inspired by the rough texture of concrete of the original building that had been poured using formwork made of Japanese cedar wood, and remembered the feeling of "esprit rude/ esprit doux", which he had experienced as a musician. Our space design was born out of this inspiration.  © Kenta Hasegawa  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Armadale Residence / B.E Architecture Posted: 30 Nov 2017 09:00 AM PST  © Peter Clarke
 © Peter Clarke Text description provided by the architects. The overall feeling of the three-storey residence in Melbourne, Australia is lightness - almost an ethereal floating quality created by the sun refracting over the granite façade. This is a contradiction to the reality of the 260 tons of granite which make up the building's skin.  © Peter Clarke The use of materiality and detailing also provides a similar contradiction in the form. The natural texture and irregularity of the split-faced material blurs the hard lines of the stacked rectilinear building. While the building is strong it sits quietly in its surroundings.  © Peter Clarke The use of three types of granite unifies the external and internal spaces. While all the materials are all substantial, when used together, there is evenness through the house. In order for this to work, the architectural detailing was integrated with fine craftsmanship by the builders and stone masons. Working together, we were able to create subtle variation in the materials and intricate details where slight change finish makes the same material fit for different function or application. In a few places this required thinking of atypical applications for the stone working with suppliers to push custom fabrications to add to the overall unification, especially in the master ensuite where a custom bath and basin where engineered from solid blocks of stone.  © Peter Clarke While there is permanence to the structure, the internal spaces are light and open, particularly in the living area where the fully retractable glazed doors open onto the adjacent courtyard.  © Peter Clarke The program for the house responded to the clients who were downsizing from a large family house to one that was more focused. While still accommodating rooms for visiting adult children, the house is centred around its use primarily by the couple. The rooms are purpose-built to meet their needs including shared study and extra-large master ensuite including a private outdoor shower in a secluded Japanese garden. This is a particularly unexpected detail in an urban property.  Ground Level Plan  © Peter Clarke  Level 1 Plan With a holistic approach, the in-house multi-disciplinary design team considered all elements of landscaping and interiors within the architecture plans. The landscaping responds to the clients' desire to have diverse planted outlooks and terraces without the maintenance of a full lawn. Behind the privacy fence, giving little away to the street, a grove of Mount Fugi under planted with rosemary greet visitors when they enter the site. The kitchen and other living spaces direct sightlines to low maintenance plantings on the terrace.  © Peter Clarke  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| New Renderings Reveal Interiors of MAD Architects' Beverly Hills Residential Village Posted: 30 Nov 2017 08:00 AM PST  Courtesy of Palisades New renderings released by developer Palisades have revealed the interiors of MAD Architects' upcoming Beverly Hills residential village, the Gardenhouse. With construction on the project well underway, the images show how the interior spaces, designed by Rottet Studio, will interact with the architecture created by MAD. Inspired by close-knit hilltop villages, the development at 8600 Wilshire Boulevard will feature 18 individual villas that look in onto a shared courtyard.  Courtesy of Palisades The interior spaces will continue the clean, minimal design aesthetic of the exteriors, which feature white glass and a massive living green wall. Light wood floors, white cabinetry and a white marble kitchen island will all contribute to the feeling of airiness in each unit. The renderings also show a lofted bedroom space that will occupy the full volume of the villa's gabled roof.  Courtesy of Palisades  Courtesy of Palisades "The spaces will pay homage to the incredible building design while evoking the spirt of California living and residential modernism. The indoor and outdoor spaces will be fluid, allowing light to be captured in a way that feels expansive, bright and connected to its surroundings," explain Palisades. "The finishes selected pay tribute to the California heritage of woodworking and high-end design in a way that is intimate in feel and lavish in tone. This all-encompassing approach was conceived to provide a beautiful backdrop for the individual homes, while still maintaining its own distinct character."  Courtesy of Palisades  Courtesy of Palisades  Courtesy of Palisades  Courtesy of Palisades Learn more about the project in our previous post, here.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Vila Rio Branco Office / Estúdio Folha Posted: 30 Nov 2017 07:00 AM PST  © Ana Mello
 © Ana Mello Text description provided by the architects. The project consists on the renovation of a private residence, adjusting its space to the extension of an accounting firm, which demanded connections to the building next door where it was the former headquarters.  © Ana Mello
 © Ana Mello The architectural concept intended to create a pleasant atmosphere, with integrated spaces and solutions that would provide natural lighting and ventilation, but also, we had to create a sober and low profile architecture duo to client’s request, because the company is located in a quiet street and industrial neighborhood. Therefore, the project aimed simple solutions, with neutral colors and generous openings, but located in a way that does not reveals its inside.  © Ana Mello  Section AA  © Ana Mello The external walls were maintained, and the main interventions were the windows and doors sizes ensuring a contemporary facade. On the other hand, all internal walls were removed through structural reinforcement, ensuring amplitude and integration between the different sectors of the office. The toilets on the ground floor were positioned in the external area, also aiming the best use of the internal spaces, as well as visual integration between the blocks.  Plan - Ground Floor The main interventions adopted in the construction were kept in their own materiality, therefore, the structure and the stairs, both metallic, as well as the precast concrete slab of the footbridge were kept apparent, incorporating the industrial profile of the neighborhood. The color black used in metallic elements, frames and light fixtures, contrasting with the white of the walls, is a striking feature in the language of the project and highlights the new in architecture.  © Ana Mello  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Coldwater Canyon / Ehrlich Architects Posted: 30 Nov 2017 05:00 AM PST  © Jeremy Bittermann
 © Jeremy Bittermann Text description provided by the architects. The site is a deep, narrow, one-acre hillside property in Beverly Hills. The owners' desires were to create an oasis that focused more on a sense of privacy and introspection rather than maximizing views or presenting an extroverted face to the neighbourhood. In addition, the hillside site presented a number of significant technical challenges in terms of setbacks and maximum building envelope. The design solution was to organize the house and compound as a long, attenuated experience that afforded a sense of graciousness and space despite the restrictions.  © Jeremy Bittermann  Floor Plans  © Jeremy Bittermann A small light-filled structure that doubles as a project studio and guest house anchor the north end of the site. In between, a pool courtyard and gardens occupy the heart of the site. The main house is developed on two levels pulled along the north-south axis and houses most of the program. The motor court and garage anchor the south end of the house which contains the more private areas including the media room and gym. The entry sequence was choreographed to create a sense of retreating into a private realm, leaving the cars and working world of Los Angeles behind.  © Jeremy Bittermann Guests arrive at the main level through an entry foyer that leads to the primary living spaces. Moving north, the spaces become more public, leading to the open dining and living space were north facing floor to ceiling glass and sliding doors open to the pool, courtyard and lush landscape views. The upper level is reserved for the master suite which projects out over the courtyard and a guest room for grandchildren. The levels are pinned together by a gracious architectural stair at the core of the house as well as a double-height library.  © Jeremy Bittermann  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 30 Nov 2017 04:00 AM PST  © Gwangju Biennale Foundation MVRDV has collaborated with Korean school children to complete a new permanent urban installation tor the third edition of the Gwangju Biennale Foundation's Gwangju Folly Festival. Aimed at exploring how architecture contributes to urban regeneration through both decorative and functional means, the I LOVE STREET was developed through a participatory process that asked students from Seosuk Elementary School to contribute drawings expressing their desires for the street. The end result was a graphic, sensory-stimulating design featuring zones in multitude of materials including grass, fountain, sand, wood, a trampoline and a giant chalk board.  © Gwangju Biennale Foundation Known as a relatively industrial city, Gwangju suffers from a lack of pedestrianized zones, particularly in its historic core. The Gwangju Folly Festival was established in 2011 to reintroduce public spaces into the urban fabric, asking architects from around the globe to work with the community to create interventions that could enliven neglected parts of the city and transform them into more livable, human-scaled neighborhoods. In creating I LOVE STREET, MVRDV analyzed previous years' follies to see how their introduction has impacted the urban realm of Gwangju. Joining forces with the students and additional community members, the team determined that a automobile-free street activated with participatory program would benefit the largest number of people while also becoming an iconic symbol for the neighborhood.  © Gwangju Biennale Foundation  © Gwangju Biennale Foundation Working with Gongjeong Construction co, the 960-square-meter (10,300-square-foot) street surface was covered in different materials and elements allowing for a maximum number of uses, including sitting, painting, jumping, climbing and playing. The surfaces were kept mainly flat, allowing the space to remain adaptable for larger events. As a symbolic representation of the community's closeness and celebration of public space, the different pavements were arranged to spell out the word LOVE. "I LOVE Gwangju Folly can become so many things - I LOVE Korea, I LOVE Gwangju, I LOVE Walking or I LOVE Dancing," commented Winy Maas, MVRDV co-founder. "The folly is a small intervention to make the city more sociable, fun and attractive, but more importantly, as a direct communication to further develop collective enthusiasm for more pedestrian spaces in Gwangju.''  © Gwangju Biennale Foundation  © Gwangju Biennale Foundation Now in its third edition, the Gwangju Folly Festival has sponsored more than 100 installations throughout the city by artists and architects including Peter Eisenmann, David Adjaye and Rem Koolhaas. Learn more about this year's festival, here. News via MVRDV  © Gwangju Biennale Foundation  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| PRO.CRE.AR Buenos Aires Station Sector 10 / MSGSSS Posted: 30 Nov 2017 03:00 AM PST  © Javier Agustín Rojas
 © Javier Agustín Rojas TOWER TOWERS / ALTERNATING THE PAVEMENTS  © Javier Agustín Rojas The idea for these towers is to reinterpret, in the contemporary key, that project of 4 units per floor, 4 corners. Therefore, to do it, we had, in the first instance, to resign a unit of 2 dormitories per floor, which were displaced above Building K.  © Javier Agustín Rojas It is in this way that the central interest of the project of towers resides in the creation and rotation of its pavements, which allows to organize houses around a terrace-patio of dimensions and proportions that converts it into a central space of the unit.  © Javier Agustín Rojas The terrace is the expansion, but at the same time is considered an extra environment. The living room, dining room and kitchen are naturally expanded towards it which, with two free sides and two sheltered, ensures a climatic comfort suitable for this city. So, the unit is central to the project, because a non-boxed dwelling is proposed, as a transition between an apartment and an individual dwelling.  © Javier Agustín Rojas On the floors are distributed two units of 2 dormitories (base unit), one of 3 and one of 1 dormitory. The 3-bedroom unit uses one of the adjoining unit, which is connected to the living room, and can also function as separate office or dormitory for the teenage son. Even if they do not reach great height, the proposed towers will have, due to their formal and architectural characteristics, a strong impact on the urban landscape.  © Javier Agustín Rojas BUILDING K / A GREEN BAR  © Javier Agustín Rojas This idea arises for two reasons: on the one hand, by moving these 24 units of 1 bedroom to Building K, we asked ourselves if these apartments were not being discriminated, that is, who had not the benefits of the balcony typology.  © Javier Agustín Rojas On the other hand, addressing the theme of the green garden terraces required for the BA Station PROCREAR, we think that the Towers do not approach a large green surface, and this is a way to compensate the cement of the towers and naturalize the whole with this building as an improvement of the proposed park.
Therefore, to unite the same design criteria as the Towers, it is proposed to ALTERNATE the floors so that the balconies are not stacked and have the MOVEMENT, floor to floor, that they have.  © Javier Agustín Rojas  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| From Smartphones to Smart Cities: What Happens When We Try to Solve Every Problem With Technology? Posted: 30 Nov 2017 01:30 AM PST .jpg?1511989021 "Songdo in South Korea is perhaps the most complete realization yet of the smart city concept. Image Courtesy of Cisco") Songdo in South Korea is perhaps the most complete realization yet of the smart city concept. Image Courtesy of Cisco In order to be successful in any field, professionals must stay ahead of the curve—though in architecture nowadays, technology progresses so quickly that it's difficult to be on the front lines. Virtual Reality can transport architects and their clients into unbuilt designs and foreign lands. Smart Cities implement a network of information and communication technologies to conserve resources and simplify everyday life. Responsive Design will give buildings the ability to be an extension of the human body by sensing occupants' needs and responding to them. With the technology boom, if architects want to stay in the game they will inevitably have to work alongside not only techies but scientists too. Neuroscientist Colin Ellard works "at the intersection of psychology and architectural and urban design." In his book, Places of the Heart: The Psychogeography of Everyday Life, Ellard examines how our technology-based world impacts our emotions and behavior to try to figure out what kind of world we should strive to create.  Courtesy of Colin Ellard What drives the research I do, in part, is the conviction that real place does matter. The fact that we may not be aware of the influence of our surroundings on our behavior doesn't mean that it's not important. So then, what kind of world are we living in? And how does it inform our feelings and behavior? To sum up just some of Ellard's behavioral findings: we are obsessed with the virtual, unimpressed with the physical, and lonelier than ever. We all know screen-based technologies have taken over the world. That's old news. Like an architectural wall, our smartphones, tablets, laptops, and billboards hide and reveal pieces of the world to us. But what is the result of this? In his book, Ellard tells a story about taking his children to a museum. They were more impressed by the digital rendering of what a dinosaur might have looked like than by the real dinosaur bones right in front of them. Screen-based technologies are appropriating "humanity's most precious cognitive resource—our attention." Being human gives us the ability to completely immerse ourselves into a virtual reality; this is good because we can then form theories and predictions based on human experiences in a virtually simulated world, but it can also be bad because ultimately it's an escape from the real, physical world.  Some architects are turning to design virtual spaces, such as in this design by Mi5VR for a virtual museum. But what effect do such immersive virtual environments have on everyday life?. Image Courtesy of Mi5VR When VR becomes more available to many people, do we lose the preciousness of physical place or not? Our physical world is shrinking, too. With the internet, we can do almost anything from the comfort of our own home. As Ellard puts it, we can "function in isolation," making us lonelier than ever. In his book, Ellard cites studies which conclude single people, and individuals who feel as though they have no friends at all, are on the rise. If you want to know something about somebody, don't ask—look on Facebook. People have that kind of protective shell. There are all kinds of things in design that can help break through that threshold. These days everybody knows about that story of nature exposure and what it does, anything that puts you in a positive frame, positive motion, makes it more likely that you'll talk to people. And, for the most part, that's what we want, we don't want to feel afraid to talk to strangers but we have difficulty jumping over that threshold that prevents us from doing it. Architecturally, what kind of world do we live in? Are we using design to break through that protective threshold? With the Smart City model, we are re-thinking the way cities are designed in order to make them safer, healthier and more efficient. In his book, Ellard discusses the work of architect Philip Beesley, who created physically responsive design on a smaller scale. With a 3D printer, microprocessors, sensors, and special resistance wire, Beesley created an environment which showed signs of sympathy. On a visceral level, this tends to terrify us. It's similar to the age-old question, what happens if the robots come to life? The fear is rooted in control: who is in control, and what they are able to do with that control. The smart city concept is filling people with a bit more fear than it used to because you can design these beautiful algorithms that keep things humming, keep the traffic flowing, keep your house at the perfect temperature, but somebody is setting the algorithm, somebody is deciding the optimal setting... and it's not you. At all scales, responsive design is the ultimate example of where designers, technology specialists, and scientists should be working together. Now, Ellard and Beesley work together to try and answer the question "What does it mean for someone to say they feel as though a building actually cares for them?" On the one hand, buildings that care for us could have tremendous implications for hospitality and healthcare environments. On the other hand, as Ellard says, "I don't want a mother for my home." What does it mean for someone to say they feel as though a building actually cares for them? It's different to something like a nest thermostat that knows your habits and adapts to them. It's something that actually cares what happens to you. Can we scientize design to solve the world's problems? No, not really, but science (and scientists) can certainly help. At times, architecture firms have asked Ellard to design a turnkey system to predict human behavior in their designs. They want to, in theory, plug a 3D model into a system, press a button and get immediate results telling them all about human interaction within and around their design. Meanwhile, other designers have expressed that design cannot be scientized and captured using "clunky scientific tools." Ellard has a message for both schools of thought. For the architects who buy into scientifically informed design: there will never be an algorithm for the perfect design solution. And for the ones who see scientifically informed design as reductionist: reasonable scientists aren't authoritarian about what should or shouldn't be built but rather scholars of human interaction with place, just like architects. They just want to contribute their findings. And, Ellard says, technology can help with that.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Fonte House / Lousinha Arquitectos Posted: 30 Nov 2017 01:00 AM PST  © ITS – Ivo Tavares Studio
 © ITS – Ivo Tavares Studio Text description provided by the architects. To build their two new houses on a family land, the "Fonte" brothers had to demolish the old beach house. That was for them the most difficult task of this project. The other? Make it look like one.Due to the small size of the plot, the implantation results from the alignment proposed by the municipality: facade of "Avenida da Bela Vista" away 3 meters from the fence; alignment for existing buildings in "Rua dos Faróis"; patio north and west with 3 meters. Thus the implantation was conditioned to a square with 12 meters.The volume is part of the idea of affirming a compact mass to which small parallelepipedic portions are subtracted to mark special events: entrances, porches and balconies. This is only contradicted by the opening of punctual windows, aligned by the inner face of the walls, and always squared.  © ITS – Ivo Tavares Studio  Section 7  © ITS – Ivo Tavares Studio The two-water roof saw its ridge round 45º, thus coinciding with the diagonal of the building's plan. This gesture responds to the formal need for characterization of the corner, while at the same time responding to the desire to dialogue with the surrounding. This made it possible to match the lower height of the construction volume with the existing west and north constructions with only one storey. On the other hand, it rises to affirm the definition of the street corner formed by "Rua dos Faróis" and "Avenida da Bela Vista", pointing towards the collective housing building at the east.Because we were interested in the autonomization of both entrances, these are located in opposite corners: at "Rua dos Faróis" next to the extreme west and at "Avenida da Bela Vista" in the extreme north. In both cases the mass subtraction of the initial pure volume is clear, creating a small porch and masking the volume of the garage.  © ITS – Ivo Tavares Studio Although each entrance share car and pedestrian access, they are separated by a box that will receive all of the Infrastructures paraphernalia. The program is simple and is organized for each of the houses on three floors. On the entrance level the kitchen and the toilet are concealed in a volume lined with walnut and leaving the rest of the floor plant all free; on the raised floor, two small rooms, toilets and a suite. Under the roof, an informal space without a definite use. The entire building is lined with the ETIC system, painted in light beige. The design of the accesses will be marked in solid wood as well as the gates. The delimitation of the plot is executed with a small wall. The balcony guards are in transparent glass. The exterior floor is in concrete. Inside, the palette of materials will also be austere: again the concrete floor, walls and ceilings plastered for a tinned finish.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| How (And Why) to Integrate Earth and Bamboo Into Your Architectural Project Posted: 30 Nov 2017 12:00 AM PST  © José Tomás Franco By recognizing and analyzing the multiple architectural possibilities of bamboo—a construction material mostly native to warm and tropical areas—the following questions arise: How can we take advantage of its qualities and enhance its use in colder climates? Such regions necessarily require a certain level of thermal isolation in walls, floors, and roofs—but for these climates, we can combine bamboo with materials that complement it. We talked with Penny Livingston-Stark, a designer and professor of permaculture who has worked for 25 years in the field of regenerative design based on non-toxic natural materials, to understand the opportunities offered by combining bamboo with earth.
Livingston-Stark insists on the compatibility of these two materials. Their similarities and differences help them to integrate remarkably well, increasing their architectural possibilities based on completely regenerative solutions that satisfying human needs while regenerating ecosystems. "Earth and bamboo are not compatible with plastic vapor barriers or paint, for example. I consider them to be living materials that need to breathe," she adds.  © José Tomás Franco
 © José Tomás Franco Bamboo as Structure + Earth as Insulation
According to Livingston-Stark, bamboo gives certain added values to traditional construction with earth, such as tensile strength and the ability to hold weights over long spans such as roofs, wide doors, and windows. In addition, it expands the capabilities of existing earthen structural techniques, such as those using light straw clay, wood chip clay, or the "pajareke" technique. The incorporation of bamboo into these traditional techniques was proven during the past BambooU course, held in November of 2017 in Bali, Indonesia.  BambooU Course. Image © José Tomás Franco For the experiment with "pajareke," the students built a wall mixing clay dirt and water to make mud with a consistency similar to that of chocolate mousse. Then long straw fibers were covered with the mixture, and the wall built up between vertical bamboo poles that were rooted in the foundation of the building and tied in at the top. At the client's request, short, horizontal pieces of bamboo were also added to allow ventilation through the wall, installing bamboo cylinders in a pattern to look like bubbles rising.  © José Tomás Franco  © José Tomás Franco When testing the "Light Straw Clay" technique, a light mud and straw wall was built, mixing straw with a light clay slip (clay and water mixed to a thick paint consistency). The mixture was tamped between boards and bamboo poles, after which the boards were removed and a plaster of earth or lime was added, materials that are also very compatible with the two materials.  © José Tomás Franco  © José Tomás Franco The "Wood Chip Clay" technique is similar to the previous one, but the mixture is made incorporating clay slip and bamboo chips. In this case, the boards containing the mixture are made of lath, and they remain in place to be plastered over.  © José Tomás Franco  © José Tomás Franco
Check out more details of Penny Livingston-Stark's work and the Regenerative Design here.  Penny Livingston-Stark. Image © José Tomás Franco Two of our Editors, Eduardo Souza and José Tomás Franco, were invited by BambooU and the bamboo design firm IBUKU to be part of this amazing experience, hosted by The Kul Kul Farm at the Green School in Bali, Indonesia. Check out more information about the next courses here and follow BambooUBali on Instagram.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Bee Breeders Announces Winners of Amber Road Trekking Cabins Competition Posted: 29 Nov 2017 10:00 PM PST  First Place. Image Courtesy of Bee Breeders Bee Breeders have announced the winners of the Amber Road Trekking Cabins competition for the Latvian Baltic Coast. The competition sought proposals for low impact, transient and inhabitable infrastructure to support a planned hiking network along vast topographies of the Latvian Baltic Coast. The winning projects considered the various landscape elements of the site including pine trees, dunes, and white sand beaches while responding to programmatic requirements - economy, constructability, environmental sensitivity and utilitarian function.
First Prize First Place. Image Courtesy of Bee Breeders Link - A Sustainable Connection Between the Forest and the Ocean: Scott Grbavac, Andreea Cutieru and Santiago Carlos Peña Fiorda A network of narrow passageways leading to cabins within the forest is the basis for the winning scheme - LINK, low impact architectural interventions that preserve the native ecologies of the sites. The cabins draw on Latvian vernacular architecture, mimicking the primitive hut typology but subverted by the interior spaces. Each hut operates as a voided exterior space - a hearth carved out of the middle of four interior rooms, providing the private space for each hiker. This iconic subversion of public and private, indoor and outdoor, was a driving motivation for the selection of LINK for first prize.  First Place. Image Courtesy of Bee Breeders
 First Place. Image Courtesy of Bee Breeders Second Prize + BB Student Award Second Place. Image Courtesy of Bee Breeders Human Atrium: Lukasz Palczynski, Jan Szeliga and Antoni Prokop The second place proposal, Human Atrium, pinwheels sleeping quarters around a central shared space and generates small desks for contemplation of the landscape. The rotating system also generates outdoor benches and storage spaces, maximising the potential of this efficient cabin. Painted red and referencing the Latvian vernacular and pastoral agricultural structures, the cabin would be a subtle and seamless addition to the hiking trail.  Second Place. Image Courtesy of Bee Breeders
 Second Place. Image Courtesy of Bee Breeders Third Prize Third Place. Image Courtesy of Bee Breeders Amber Road Trekking Cabin: Rob Brown, Carly Martin and Jincheng Jiang The third prize proposal, Amber Road Trekking Cabin is a small double-story cabin elevated above the forest floor. A fully openable ground floor begins to blur the threshold between inside and outside, opening the shared space to the surrounds. The upper floor sleeping quarters would be clad in a translucent material, acting as a beacon along the hiking trail.  Third Place. Image Courtesy of Bee Breeders
 Third Place. Image Courtesy of Bee Breeders BB Green AwardAmber Trek: Roman Leonidov, Pavel Sorokovov and Fiantseva Svetlana The full selection of all winners, honorable mentions, and shortlisted entries can be found here. News via: Bee Breeders.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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