Arch Daily |
- Wellness Plesnik / Enota
- House in Tschengla / Innauer-Matt Architekten
- pa1925 / Zanderroth Architekten
- ReGEN House / EKAR
- Raffles Kindergarten / Interval Architects
- Knock Knock Heon / guga Urban Architecture
- Rong Num Kaeng / TA-CHA Design
- HULIC & New Shibuya / ETHNOS
- Mount-Royal Kiosks / Atelier Urban Face
- Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects Reveal New Campus for Norway’s Largest Geotechnical Specialist Community
- Ithualli House / Miró Rivera Architects
- The Slender House / MU Architecture
- Amazon Names 20 Cities as Finalists for New Headquarters
- 5 Innovative Business Models for Young Architectural Practices
- Rode House / Pezo von Ellrichshausen
- Want A Nice House Without Breaking The Bank? Call An Architect
- Run, Jump, Hide and Slide on ELEMENTAL's Newly Designed Urban Children's Game
| Posted: 18 Jan 2018 09:00 PM PST  © Miran Kambič
 © Miran Kambič Hotel Plesnik is a boutique family hotel found in the heart of a nature park, boasting a tradition spanning over eighty years. Its exceptional location at the end of a glacial valley offers an unforgettable view of the majestic peaks of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. As Logarska Valley is claimed by many to be one of the most beautiful valleys in Europe, the amazing view of this natural wonder was the obvious choice for one of the leading motifs in the renovation of the hotel's wellness centre.  © Miran Kambič  New Floor Plan  © Miran Kambič Much of the space of the pre-existing wellness centre in the partially cut-in basement of the building was originally taken up by a small, organically shaped pool which opened onto a tanning deck directly in front of the building. To recover the space needed for new programmes, the pool was in part replaced by a large whirlpool, while a section of the former pool shell closer to the view of the valley was repurposed as a sunken circular resting area featuring a fireplace. The sun deck has been extended with a natural swimming pool, which makes up for and expands on the deleted interior water surface, while the reflection in the water further accents the beautiful view.  © Miran Kambič Despite natural filtration by means of aquatic plants, the new pool is unequivocally rectilinear in shape and as such designed to be a continuation of the building rather than the surrounding landscape. Referencing the interior resting area with the fireplace, a relaxation area with a fire ring has been placed in the middle of the water surface outside. Using the space, the visitors of the new wellness centre witness a never-ending dialogue between water and fire, two basic natural elements accentuating the incredible backdrop of the surrounding hill range.  © Miran Kambič  New Elevation  © Miran Kambič The entire ambient of Wellness Plesnik is designed using local materials exclusively. The undulating interior walls were necessitated by the markedly awkward and heterogenous construction design of the existing space. A relaxed placement of interior divides envelops and conceals all the irregularities and forms a fluid space terminating in the valley itself. The pebble-laid walls of the space physically transition also into the exterior and optically divide the sun deck into three parts: the sauna section, the section with the central wellness space, and the entrance portal. The facade between the divisions is fully encased in glass and replaces the former arch-head windows. The enlargement of the facade openings further connects the interior space of the wellness centre with the picturesque exterior and reduces its presence in the space despite the actual expansion of the basic volume. With the extension having been purified of all distinct architectural elements, it now belongs with the surrounding terrain rather than with the master building.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| House in Tschengla / Innauer-Matt Architekten Posted: 18 Jan 2018 07:00 PM PST  © Adolf Bereuter
 © Adolf Bereuter Text description provided by the architects. Most owners use their holiday homes for only a couple of weeks a year, leaving them as empty objects in their respective surrounding for the rest of the time. This is, however, not the case with House in Tschengla, which has become a fully-fledged second home for its owners. Located a mere 30 minute drive from their flat in the Western Austrian town of Feldkirch, it allows them to live in two worlds, between the lively density of a town and the vast solitude of the mountains.  © Adolf Bereuter The varied, mostly untouched nature with its alpine flora and breath-taking views of the surrounding mountains make Tschengla, a plateau high above the village of Bürserberg, a very special place. With respect to this unique setting, we decided to place the newly built House on Tschengla into this precious scenery like a solitaire. Its outlines are an unmistakable reference to the way farmhouses have been built in Alpine regions ever since the first settlements: a simple, well-structured wooden building on a solid plinth, its gable looking down the valley. Works around the house were kept to a minimum to leave the new building surrounded by untouched alpine pastures.  © Adolf Bereuter  Floor Plans  © Adolf Bereuter A little square cut into the hillside at the rear face opens the house to the street. The covered entrance leads inside, where a corridor that also houses the kitchen runs through the ground floor. This is the casual meeting place, the heart of the house. A small step up is the dining area with corner seating and a big table facing south, its lower ceiling making it even more inviting and intimate. A panoramic window stretches all along this side of the house, revealing the impressive mountain views. The wooden corner bench stretches further along the walls all the way to the fireplace, serving also as a bookshelf and fireside bench. From here, a solid stairwell leads up to the attic rooms, opening up the rather small living area and giving it a surprisingly open and generous air. The Schopf, a kind of porch or closed veranda typical for the region, connects the kitchen/corridor to the west side of the house with outdoor seating, fountain and a small herb garden.  © Adolf Bereuter From the kitchen, the small staircase, slightly spiralled between two narrow walls, leads up to the attic floor. In contrast to the lower floor, this part of the house is more a place for retreat. The roof reaches low and houses two bedrooms, a bathroom, a small hallway with a workplace and an extra room including a little library. The windows sit low on the level of the cullis with the daylight falling far into the rooms, creating a cosy, intimate atmosphere.  © Adolf Bereuter  Sections  © Adolf Bereuter The diversity of ambiences in these rooms – some with high, some with low ceilings, some wide, some small – is further enhanced by the use of simple, yet atmospheric materials. Untreated spruce and ash, grey plasterwork und rough stone give this house a special and natural air. A second home in the mountains; far from, yet close to the hustle and bustle of life in town. A sacred space for this little family.  © Adolf Bereuter  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| pa1925 / Zanderroth Architekten Posted: 18 Jan 2018 06:00 PM PST  © Simon Menges
 © Simon Menges Text description provided by the architects. This new residential complex is located on Pasteurstrasse, a street in the quiet Bötzowkiez area of Berlin's Prenzlauer Berg. Realized as a joint venture between its future residents, this project comprises of fifty-one units spread across four separate buildings. The complex stands on a site previously occupied by a freestanding supermarket, which has been seamlessly integrated into the ground floor of the building facing the street.  © Simon Menges  Section  © Simon Menges The project thereby closes a gap in the block, engaging in a retroactive densification of the inner city—but also, above all, repairing a damaged urban fabric. A contextual approach was taken to better integrate the complex with its surroundings: the existing neighborhood, in effect, was simply built further, with the complex adopting the building lines, materials, and colors of its context. The street-facing part of the complex spans across four parcels, thus forming a continuation of the street fronts of the adjacent historical buildings. Behind it are three "garden houses," which are grouped around a communal courtyard that has been placed on the roof of the ground-floor supermarket. On both sides of the three garden houses, four smaller courtyards are created along the borders with the surrounding properties. Resulting in a wholly new spatial arrangement, a sequence of five courtyards that vary in size, form, and use. The building blends into its neighborhood, despite its use of modern materials.  © Simon Menges The multilayered façade of the streetfacing building, thanks to its translucent appearance, creates varied, constantly changing surface effects that can be appreciated from both inside and out. The folding shutter elements, made of anodized expanded metal, play with the residents' perception of their surroundings and work with seemingly irreconcilable contradictions. Depending on the time of day, the lighting situation, and sunlight exposure, the building appears somewhere between open and closed, light and heavy, bright and dark. In this way, it creates a connection between interior and exterior while also providing the privacy necessary for those spaces facing the street. Within the interior of the block, the boundaries between inside and outside are similarly blurred. The continuous balconies with their exposed-concrete parapets seem to thrust outwards from the buildings, creating a fluid transition between domestic and outdoor space. The courtyards provide green living spaces in the middle of the big city.  © Simon Menges  Plan  © Simon Menges The different residential buildings feature a variety of living types and apartment sizes. Their main feature is the flexibility within which their floor plans can be subdivided, thereby accommodating the individual needs of the inhabitants. The simple structure of the buildings leaves plenty of leeway for residents to design the spaces themselves before moving in, and also provides the opportunity to adjust the apartments to changing uses and needs later on. The units range from two- to five-bedroom apartments. Starting at 60 square meters and going up to 200 square meters, the units offer generous proportions and occasionally span two, even three, floors. Floor-to-ceiling windows mean well-lit rooms and a connection to the outside. Each apartment also includes access to a private outdoor area (be it a balcony, a terrace, a garden, or a rooftop garden).  © Simon Menges  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 18 Jan 2018 04:00 PM PST  © Chalermwat Wongchompoo
Text description provided by the architects. ReGEN House - a house where every generation can live together. Beginning:  © Chalermwat Wongchompoo  Diagram Traditional & Modern Context :  © Chalermwat Wongchompoo Nonetheless, the modern context is full of complexity creating complication in Thai people's life. Land prices soar in capital forcing people to live apart from their family. Modern people tend to move into micro-apartments nearby their workplaces or too small detached-houses outside the city where the land prices are still affordable. The question is whether or not it is possible that we could create a house which brings back the comfort of traditional Thai houses to the modern context.  © Chalermwat Wongchompoo  Section Concept Perception of The Family Land & The Architectural Execution:  © Chalermwat Wongchompoo Regarding client's wish, the architects divided the floor planning of four-storey house. The second floor is meant for the client's family, while the third floor is for his daughter's future family. Hence, in order to gather everyone in the family (and his daughter's future family) together, the first floor is a focal point. On this floor, there are an entertainment room and a grand patio which become the common area for the client's family (and also the future family). Furthermore, this floor is inspired by a traditional ground level in which natural elements are closely surrounded. Ranging from the swimming pool on the same floor which reflects a riverside sensation to the elevated yard across the swimming pool. The gap between the swimming pool and the elevated yard allows a tree from the ground floor to grow through. Also, allowing sunlight to stream in a glass pavilion (gardening pavilion) underneath. On the grand patio, users' eyesight will be led to the swimming pool, the elevated yard, the top of the tree (grew on the ground floor), the existing garden of parents' house, and to the parents' house, respectively.  © Chalermwat Wongchompoo  © Chalermwat Wongchompoo The intention is to make our client feel close to their parents. As well as to lay down watching Meena running around on this grand patio, like on a real ground. East side of the land is opposite the eight-storey economic apartment. Therefore, the architects conceal the house on this side, in order to block the unpleasant view as well as to protect the residents from prying eyes, by providing windows or voids at the minimum number. Back to the ground floor, there is a main entrance on the east side which is made of solid wood. While on the first floor, on the same side, there are floor-to-ceiling wooden-grill window pivots which can be opened to allows ventilation and can be closed when privacy is in need. In terms of material selection, each floor of the ReGEN House features different materials, such as wood, stone-texture coated wall and stone-like tiles. This material combination creates a uniqueness to the facade which still fits into the surrounding context.  © Chalermwat Wongchompoo
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| Raffles Kindergarten / Interval Architects Posted: 18 Jan 2018 02:00 PM PST .jpg?1515601919 "© Yunduan Gu") © Yunduan Gu
.jpg?1515601779 "© Yunduan Gu") © Yunduan Gu Project background Instead of a single kindergarten, the project is actually a kindergarten complex consists of a kindergarten, a education center for children and residence for teachers. .jpg?1515601965 "© Yunduan Gu") © Yunduan Gu Complex programming and spatial organization .jpg?1515601816 "© Yunduan Gu") © Yunduan Gu The education center, which are open to the general public, were put on the north of the site to allow maximum public access to the main street with heavy traffic. Main entrances of the kindergarten were put on the east side of the site, facing a minor street with less traffic. Residences were put on the west side of the site in order to receive the best sunlight.  Plan The building masses in brown houses programs with less publicness such as classrooms, residences, offices and utility spaces while the building masses in white house public spaces that connects other programs. With the interwoven volumes of the brown and the white building masses, courtyards at various scales were inserted into the building at various locations such as entrance courtyard, delivery back court, side courts and etc. .jpg?1515600942 "© Yunduan Gu") © Yunduan Gu These courts performs as layers of buffer zones that mediates between the exterior and the interior spaces and established spatial sequence entering the building. Pragmatically speaking they also provided outdoor playground for kids in the summer and also allowed sufficient natural lighting into the rooms. .jpg?1515601519 "© Yunduan Gu") © Yunduan Gu Blurring of circulation and communication spaces .jpg?1515601554 "© Yunduan Gu") © Yunduan Gu Instead of providing an outdoor playground, we proposed a 6-meter-wide-and-80-meter-long linear space that performs as an indoor multi-purpose playground for children and teachers.The conventional idea of small corridors were eliminated and substituted for a communal space that encourages communication and visual and audio connections. .jpg?1515601044 "© Yunduan Gu") © Yunduan Gu .jpg?1515601099 "© Yunduan Gu") © Yunduan Gu This linear multi-purpose playground connects all the classrooms in the kindergarten and up across all three levels through atriums. Kids can perform all kinds of activities ranging from badminton, dancing to riding bicycles. Along the two sides of this big linear playground, niches were created to provide space for kids to crawl, sit or read. .jpg?1515601469 "© Yunduan Gu") © Yunduan Gu .jpg?1515601752 "© Yunduan Gu") © Yunduan Gu  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Knock Knock Heon / guga Urban Architecture Posted: 18 Jan 2018 12:00 PM PST  © Young-chae Park
 © Young-chae Park Text description provided by the architects. Knock Knock Heon is located on the border of Seoul, surrounded by an exceptional landscape made up by a forest in the foreground and the famous Bukhansan in the background. Both the architect and the client agreed that the relationship to the mountain would be the guiding line of the project. The building shape is the result of the combination of two conditions. The first one is the relation to the mountain and the second one is the shape of the plot. In order to reduce the density of the house, the spaces are articulated between two Madang (void between the constructions).  © Young-chae Park  Lower Floor Plan  © Young-chae Park The first one is the residual spaces generated by the relationship between the serrated typology and the Damjang (Korean boundary walls) taking the form of a fragmented courtyard and reinforcing the visual connection from the house to the mountain. The second Madang is located on the backside of the house. More introverted, the sunken Madang is like a patio bringing light and air to the basement spaces. The house is divided into two parts. The level difference between the house floor levels and the road were carefully calculated in order to find the balance. Namely: A constant visual connection to the mountain, the penetration of the light into the inferior storey and an acceptable gap between the level of the road and the entrance.  © Young-chae Park  Cross Section  © Young-chae Park The inferior storey was designed like a bedrock supporting the Hanok. Fulfilling all the functional need of the house, the basement could be used as an autonomous part. As the Hanok is slightly detached from the ground, the light and the air can penetrate into the interior spaces through a clearstory window. Organized around the sunken Madang (patio), the cryptic spaces are bright and comfortable, and does not give the feeling to be in a basement. In order to create a fluid and comfortable space, an anti-chamber was needed. Carefully positioned, the vestibule and staircases are essential parts of the house, not only they act like as generous thresholds between the two floors but also it allows the superior spaces to focus on its relationship with the mountain.  Courtesy of guga Urban Architecture The evolution of the structure material highlights the soft transition between the inferior to the superior part. Indeed, starting from the concrete of the basement, we are passing through the brick walls of the interconnected staircase to the wooden structure of the Hanok. The traditional Numaru (a space with a wooden floor that has a panoramic view) inspired the dining room. In this house, the Numaru lays as an object on a concrete plate. This project shows the capacity of the evolution of the traditional Korean Hanok. Thanks to this new shape and the new technologies, this house was able to free some architectural and mechanical constraints from the traditional Hanok and produce more comfort, light and space. Knock Knock Heon fits the need of the modern society but in the same allow a coexistence between the traditional and modern lifestyles.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Rong Num Kaeng / TA-CHA Design Posted: 18 Jan 2018 11:00 AM PST  © BeerSingnoi
Text description provided by the architects. The 3-story mixed use building occupies a 1,500 square-meter footprint gathering function for Ice Factory on ground floor, Office on second floor, and Residence on the top floor.  © BeerSingnoi Chapter one – the Façade and Ice Factory  © BeerSingnoi Chapter two – the Office  © BeerSingnoi Building façade perforation is the key to allow air flow throughout office area along with designated floor plan to reinforce natural air ventilation. Green area in the middle of common space is to properly differentiate between visitors and staff so workplace remain private zone since initial client brief says that most of staff is accountant and privacy and security is required so this department should be quiet area and feel peaceful. To support passive design strategy, each furniture and floor is made of reused timber provided by owner.  © BeerSingnoi Chapter three – Residence  © BeerSingnoi Besides, green area for residence from original client idea gives our design process a guideline to gain maximum benefit from green space limitation but still maintain natural ventilation and the amount and quality of daylight. During the rainy season, landscape remains accessible and usable.  © BeerSingnoi  Section  © BeerSingnoi Similar to the rest of the floors, third level floor plate maintain the idea behind concept of air flow which to encourage resident away from air conditioning as necessary. Again, to support passive design approach, reused water from ice manufacturing process on ground floor is pumped for automatic landscape irrigation system. In addition, 60% of wooden element on residential area is reused timber to maximize resource utilization and construction.
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| Posted: 18 Jan 2018 09:00 AM PST  © Nacasa & Partners
 © Imada Photo Service Text description provided by the architects. This project is on display at the Center-Gai, located at the intersection of Inokashira-street and the Yumeji-street. The surroundings bristle with commercial buildings holding signboards.  © Nacasa & Partners Our proposal is to visualize every floor as a volume in which through its full glazing façade, pedestrians can perceive the inner-life from the street. In this way, they recognize the building not from the signage but from the volume of the building. We produce diversity by maximizing the rental spaces through commanding the sky factor.  Elevations External shaft equipment allows 100% rentable floor area ratio to preserve economic efficiency, and we developed a sashless, insulated glazing, fire preventing, steel curtain wall on the surface to mimic the appearance of glass in each floor as layers.  © Hata Taku  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Mount-Royal Kiosks / Atelier Urban Face Posted: 18 Jan 2018 07:00 AM PST  © Fany Ducharme
 © Normand Rajotte Text description provided by the architects. Built on one of Montreal's most beloved landmarks and urban family escapes, Mount Royal Park, the kiosks are both a poetic and practical response the surroundings. And through their specific uses and architecture, the kiosks appear to tell us a story – one that has been told for countless generations. Following the spirit of F.L. Olmstead creation, the uniqueness of each individual kiosk is the result of their integration into the park in the most discreet and harmonious manner possible. Not only respecting the environmental integrity of the mountain itself, but blending in with the poetry of the landscape, and all this with an eye on longevity. The three new kiosks, each an original building, take on the shape of the hamlet.  © Fany Ducharme This was an important factor in the design, as a hamlet incorporates the idea of a village, one that encourages a sense of interaction and community. The positioning of the kiosks is random, representing a dialogue between the kiosks and the main pavilion, the waterfall at Beaver Lake. Their random positioning, in effect, encouraging multiple approaches. The spirit of this installation is inspired by two main components. The play of light and the constant shifting of the wind. This was purely intentional and necessary to create a constant sense of movement. A movement that follows the path of the wind and shifts in the light, appearing random and structured all at the same time. In essence, the three kiosks read like a painting, being pushed by the wind at three different speeds – expressing sensitivity to the environs and the elements.  © Fany Ducharme Thanks to steel structures, each kiosk leans at a different angle, as if being pushed by the wind. The first kiosk is inclined at 10 degrees, designed for both summer and winter class field trips. With enough room for up to 30 people, the possibilities for activities are multi-fold. The second kiosk, inclined at 20 degrees, houses tools and equipment for park services, as well as a first aid station. While the third, with its 30-degree incline, is home to the ticket office, plus storage of recreational equipment. Overall, the shape and transparency of the buildings create an impression of lightness. Three cabins dropped into the park. Visible, and depending on your vantage, invisible in the woods. Their transparency encourages the interplay of light and shadows. Up close, the interior is the essence of simplicity, hollowed out and open on both ends.  © Sylvain Legault  Section  © Fany Ducharme The wood interior is composed of tongue and groove planks stained a neutral colour in each of the kiosks. Hence, the light flows through each building and creates a dialogue between the kiosks and the main pavilion. The choice of materials is integral to all of the buildings. Each choice the result of a great deal of reflection that contributes significantly to the architectural and poetic aspects of the buildings. Every roof is covered in zinc tiles, and all tiles are cut and placed to highlight the different angles of the kiosks. In the light, the tiles change colour. In fact, every hour of the day, the exterior changes and shifts according to the natural light of the landscape, enhancing the transparent effect. And a night, a warm glowing lantern effect. The Mount-Royal Kiosks. A moving theatre of light and shadow, perfectly in step with the environment.  © Fany Ducharme  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 18 Jan 2018 06:00 AM PST  Exterior View. Image Courtesy of Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects has revealed the design of a new campus complex for the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Norway's largest geotechnical specialist community, to be built in Northern Oslo. The 30,000-square-meter (323,000-square-foot) complex will be comprised of two new buildings linked by a common entrance podium and a series of elevated walk- and bikeways. Aimed at housing up to 300 new employees, the NGI is envisioned as a new "knowledge axis" that will spawn increased pedestrian and bicycle traffic in the coming years.  Atrium View. Image Courtesy of Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects The buildings will house "sustainable and flexible frameworks" for staff and visiting clients to attract new start-up companies both inside and outside the geoscience industry. The architecture inside will cater to these formal and informal meeting with a open yet dynamic layout. Approximately 20 percent of the campus will be open to the public, including cafes, shops, meeting spaces and an expansive new green space that will integrate into the existing neighborhood. "The campus is designed with a modern expression and a strong identity with respect to its context," commented Kim Holst Jensen, senior partner at Schmidt Hammer Lassen. "The campus buildings will stand prominently in the local skyline and will reciprocate the voluminous Ullevål Stadion, Norway's national football stadium located directly across the street."  Sketch. Image Courtesy of Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects  Section. Image Courtesy of Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects The larger of the two buildings will be organized around a central, "panoptic" space to create visual connections between each of the floors, allowing researchers to glance into the advanced laboratory work taking place throughout the building. Other program elements include a dining hall, offices, meeting rooms, courtyards and below-ground parking. Large, framed opening direct views out of the building, as well as allow an abundance of natural light to penetrate into the interior, while green roofs, terraces and solar panel systems will clad the horizontal surfaces of the exterior. The entire complex is striving for high environmental sustainability standards in accordance with the Breeam NOR environmental certification.  Site Plan. Image Courtesy of Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects  Section. Image Courtesy of Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects SHL is working with local practice SJ Architects on the project. Work on the project will occur while the existing campus remains in operation. News via Schmidt Hammer Lassen.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Ithualli House / Miró Rivera Architects Posted: 18 Jan 2018 05:00 AM PST  © Adrián Llaguno
 © Adrián Llaguno Text description provided by the architects. Ithualli House is a modern residence in Monterrey, Mexico that was raffled off in a nationwide lottery to raise money for college scholarships. The annual contest is sponsored by Sorteos Tec, an organization that has provided scholarships to over half of all college students at the Tecnológico de Monterrey over the last 70 years. Designed by Texas-based Miró Rivera Architects in collaboration with local Mexican firm Ibarra Aragón Arquitectura, the design continues the evolution of the Sorteos Tec lottery into a showcase for contemporary architecture.  © Adrián Llaguno The architecture of the 465 m2 (5,000 sq ft) Ithualli House reflects Miró Rivera's interest in facilitating direct access to outdoor spaces, emphasizing natural light, and using ordinary materials in novel forms. The name Casa Ithualli (which translates to “Patio House” in the ancient Nahuatl language) refers to the home’s organization around a walled outdoor space that provides the interiors with shelter, privacy, and light.  © Adrián Llaguno The architects were invited by Sorteos Tec to design their latest “grand prize” home. Ithualli House is the 204th residence to be raffled off by Sorteos Tec, but only the third design to be commissioned from an internationally-recognized architecture firm (its two predecessors were designed by Alberto Campo Baeza and Tatiana Bilbao).  Sketch “Mexico is a country of squares and courtyards. From pre-Columbian times all the way to the 20th century, courtyards have been established as one of the hallmarks of Mexican architecture—from ancient Teotihuacan to colonial haciendas and convents to modern masterpieces by architects such as Luis Barragán. Ithualli House continues that rich tradition in the 21st century,” says principal Juan Miró, whose Studio Mexico at the University of Texas School of Architecture is a longstanding example of academic cooperation across the southern border.  © Adrián Llaguno A double-height glass curtainwall in the main living space maximizes views to an enclosed “patio”. The lower walls of the courtyard are solid concrete, contrasted above by delicate white pipe screens. Inside, the design incorporates innovative details such as a staircase formed out of bent steel plate and suspended by thin cables, which leads from the living room to the private bedrooms on the second level. Visitors to the house are greeted by a nine-foot-tall pivot door clad in copper tubes, which hint at the warm palette of stone and wood surfaces within.  © Adrián Llaguno The house was constructed in just six months—a feat made possible by the adoption of local construction materials and methods, combined with forward-thinking design elements such as the pre-fabricated tube screens. The architects’ goal was to embrace local building techniques in ways that were exciting and innovative, while creating inviting spaces that would resonate with fans of more traditional Mexican architecture.  © Adrián Llaguno Since August, the home has been toured by over 31,000 people, giving them the opportunity to experience its contemporary architecture firsthand. Nearly 270,000 tickets were sold for the lottery, which took place on December 22, 2017.  © Adrián Llaguno  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The Slender House / MU Architecture Posted: 18 Jan 2018 03:00 AM PST  © Stéphane Groleau
 © Stéphane Groleau Text description provided by the architects. Located in the beautiful region of the Eastern Townships near the US border in Quebec, the Slender House Residence unfolds in a long linear volume. Nestled on the steep shores of Lake Memphremagog it opens-up onto a peaceful secluded bay.  © Stéphane Groleau A Blade on the Rock  © Stéphane Groleau Precisely detailed to fit seamlessly within the black wooden exterior walls, a large garage door sits between the massive stone volumes. The discreet and fascinating approach gives us the impression of sinking into the ground between a hanging garden and the house. As one makes his way along these dark and massive facades towards the main access courtyard, a huge glass bay window marks the entrance from which a view of the lake is immediately revealed. The austere and rough appearance of the exterior stands in contrast with the very large, bright and airy interiors of the house.  © Stéphane Groleau  Floor Plan  © Stéphane Groleau Vast and bright  © Stéphane Groleau The kitchen and the built-in furniture of the fireplace that conceals the television were designed down to the smallest detail to mask all the technical aspects.  © Stéphane Groleau A feeling of lightness  © Stéphane Groleau Setting the residence on such a steep ground necessitated the construction of numerous retaining walls offering a great opportunity to develop hanging gardens. Illuminated in the evening, this cascade of vegetation is fully appreciated from the inside and enchants the place. The Slender house comes as a contemporary reinterpretation of the Bungalow of the 1960s slicing tradition with elegance.  © Stéphane Groleau  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Amazon Names 20 Cities as Finalists for New Headquarters Posted: 18 Jan 2018 01:35 AM PST  © Flickr user joebehr licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0 Amazon has announced the list of 20 finalists in the running to become the new home city for their highly hyped second headquarters, known as HQ2. The tech company, based in Seattle, selected the finalists from more than 238 applications from cities located in Mexico, Canada and the United States, each hoping to raise their global profile and jump start their individual economies with the 50,000 new jobs the company says it would create. The finalist cities include:
See the full announcement here, and learn more about the process here.
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| 5 Innovative Business Models for Young Architectural Practices Posted: 18 Jan 2018 01:30 AM PST  The <a href='https://www.archdaily.com/782154/look-inside-a-selection-of-danish-finnish-norwegian-and-swedish-architecture-offices-photographed-by-marc-goodwin'>office of 3XN in Copenhagen, Denmark</a>. Image © Marc Goodwin The architecture profession is in a perpetual debate concerning the myriad issues that impact how we practice and how that work can and should impact the world around us. As the chair of the AIA's Young Architects Forum, I am keenly aware of the problems facing the next generation of practice leaders: inefficient practice models that lead to overworked, underpaid, and highly unsatisfied staff. We hear repeatedly that a seismic shift in the way firms operate is necessary to successfully move the profession forward and retain talent. In October, the AIA held their first ever Practice Innovation Lab, looking to develop new practice models to raise the value of architects and the services that they provide to their clients with the goal of sparking a new debate that could challenge the status quo in firm management.Ten teams of six were formed with the intent of creating 10 new innovative practice models which would be pitched, "Shark Tank" style, after a daylong hackathon. Attendees then voted on the best practice model for the People's Choice Award. Among the 10 pitches, there were five major themes to come out of the Practice Innovation Lab, which are discussed in more detail below:  Jennifer Matthews, Assoc. AIA, writes out ideas for evolving architectural practice in the future with teammates Michael ThrailKill, AIA, and Abram Sustaita, AIA. Image Courtesy of the AIA 1. The Networked PracticeThe networked practice focuses on the fact that, as architects and designers, we can do more collectively than we can on our own. The people's choice award winner, JAMB, is an example of this. They looked to create a membership-based organization where small and medium-sized practices can join their resources enabling them to become larger players and be more competitive.  Christian Jordan AIA, Abigail Brown AIA, Michael Anglin AIA, Desmond Johnson AIA, Jared McKnight Assoc. AIA, and Katie Miller AIA of team JAMB Collective prepare their practice model to pitch to attendees. Image Courtesy of the AIA Another team, New [net]WORK focuses their "cooperative network of professionals" to increase the accessibility of research as well as build collaboration and alliances between architects, researchers, and other advocates for the built environment.  Katie Miller, AIA, from Rossetti's Detroit office, presents JAMB Collective's pitch for a networked approach for a future practice model. Image Courtesy of the AIA In every model, the networked practice set up shared resources that remove physical barriers and create knowledge libraries that let architects practice where their specialized skills are needed most. It also enables network members to find partners when particular skill sets are needed that may not immediately be filled within their own firm. 2. Data to Drive Revenue Teresa Coates AIA, Stephen Parker AIA, Jeffrey Pastva AIA present Datalus' idea for data's role in evolving architectural practice in the future. Image Courtesy of the AIA Several teams sought to use the growing Internet of Things as an opportunity to turn building data into a revenue source for their firm. Team Datalus' value proposition is to become the "Google of the physical world" by aggregating building data to influence code and policy, inform good design, as well as be the keepers and sellers of their designs and data throughout the entire lifecycle of a building. Similarly, MOM+DAD utilizes Monitoring Operations and Maintenance (MOM) to provide a continuous feedback loop with Design, Analytics, and Data (DAD). They hope to build long-term relationships through continuous data harvesting and analytics for their client partners. 3. Solution Seekers Anthony Vanky AIA, Stephen Parker AIA, Jeffrey Pastva AIA present their team's idea for evolving architectural practice in the future. Image Courtesy of the AIA Teams sought to flip the reactive nature of architecture, by becoming problem seekers rather than waiting for clients to come to them. Team 4PIE gathers problems from strategic partnerships and helps them find solutions, putting them in direct competition with design consultancies such as IDEO and research at Universities. They look to monetize their IP solutions through licenses or spin outs/spin-offs (equity plays). 4. Freemium Service Models Ashley Clark, Assoc. AIA, from LandDesign, Inc. in North Carolina shares Design on Demand's pitch of integrating some gig economy into architectural practice. Image Courtesy of the AIA A few teams looked to disrupt how clients interact with designers while taking a page from the "gig economy" work style. Design on Demand looks to connect clients to designers at their point of need through an interactive web portal. They seek to elevate the standing of the profession through accessibility and give clients an omni-channel experience while providing 24/7 access to design services. It would also allow designers to work on their own terms and during alternative hours that may better suit their work-life needs, whether that is around childcare, pursuing second degrees, or needing to bulk up hours for an upcoming big expense or life event. 5. The Socially Responsible PracticeNearly all teams also had a socially responsible focus with a commitment to the local community by finding ways to engage with them more actively, not only through projects, but through shared space and educational seminars. Team Covalence's vision is to empower architects and the broader design community to impact their local (and typically underserved) communities. They do this by building a network of community spaces, as opposed to offices, that are also co-working spaces for designers. Similarly, team Re\Thread is a combo for-profit\not-for-profit firm that holds an equity stake in each community through the spaces they own.  The attendees of the Practice Innovation Lab, hosted by the Young Architects Forum in celebration of their 25th anniversary. Image Courtesy of the AIA I have been and will continue to be a strong advocate for the necessity for architecture practice to evolve for our profession to remain relevant in an ever-changing economy. If the fate of our firms is continually reliant on the cyclical construction industry, there may be a time when we are unable to rebound as profitably. The timing of the Practice Innovation Lab is critical to expanding this dialogue at a time when we have the ability to proactively think about our next steps, before being tossed into another economic downturn putting architects in crisis mode. While we do not expect any of the participants to go back to their firms and create instant change, we are hopeful that the energy and dialogue created by the Practice Innovation Lab will plant the seeds for those looking to practice on new terms, and spark conversations for more traditional practices on ways to expand viability. To hear more thoughts from the Practice Innovation Lab, you can view the mini event documentary below. In the next few months, additional outputs will be shared, including a broader document containing the outcomes from each of the 10 teams work. Stay tuned, and if you are interested in being a part of the dialogue we are looking for other opportunities to host additional labs or find additional ways to keep the profession moving forward. Evelyn Lee, AIA, is chair of the AIA Young Architects Forum and the regional workplace manager at Newmark Knight Frank's San Francisco office. Prior to working at a commercial brokerage, Evelyn contributed to the growth of the Strategy practice at MKThink, a multidisciplinary firm that is focused on how buildings can energize culture, enhance human performance, and optimize resources.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Rode House / Pezo von Ellrichshausen Posted: 18 Jan 2018 01:00 AM PST  © Pezo von Ellrichshausen
 © Pezo von Ellrichshausen Text description provided by the architects. Sitting atop a pleasant and continuous evergreen meadow, overlooking the inner sea of Chiloe Island, this is both a half and a double house. Half, because it is the interrupted encounter between a cone and a cylinder.  Model  Axonometric Double, because the subtraction of a rectangular form at the base of the previous figures generates a pair of equivalent rooms at the extremes of a linear sequence, one facing the direct yellow sun and the other the indirect and blue one.  © Pezo von Ellrichshausen  Plan  © Pezo von Ellrichshausen There is a large space contained by these parallel rooms; a partially paved court that is protected from the rain in two covered corners and from the strong winds on three sides. These sides are conceived as functional widths, as emptied thick walls containing all the domestic facilities.  Exterior Perspective 3  © Pezo von Ellrichshausen  Exterior Perspective 2 The presence of the whole curved case is rather asymmetrical: from one side it stands as a massive and hermetic fortified refuge, from the other it appears as a large pitched roof almost without supporting walls.  © Pezo von Ellrichshausen  Sections AA / BB  Interior Perspective 1 The entire construction is made out of local timber. The structure is defined by the polar array of forty-five rigid frames. While walls and ceilings are clad with boards, a traditional thin wooden shingle covers the conic roof. Knowing that the island is not only well known for the exuberant myths and legends but for a refined artisanal carpentry knowledge expressed both in churches and boats, accepting that something of that local knowledge would inform our project, we preferred to had in mind that delicate artlessness of a totally forgotten wooden padlock.  © Pezo von Ellrichshausen  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Want A Nice House Without Breaking The Bank? Call An Architect Posted: 18 Jan 2018 12:00 AM PST  Casa Gaspar. Image © Hisao Suzuki
In his original article in the Arquia Foundation Architecture Blog, the author Alberto Campo Baeza talked about how important an architect is in the diagnosis and execution of a construction problem. Comparing the scenario to the importance of a doctor treating a disease, an architect is essential to executing a building project.  Casa Gaspar. Image Courtesy of Alberto Campo Baeza Baeza tells us the skills that can be acquired in the discipline through a personal example about Gaspar House, demystifying the role of the architect and alluding to the fact that in the end the cheap option always becomes expensive! Are you thinking of building a house? Would you want it to be well-designed, nice and cheap? Well then call an architect, a good one. There are some people, albeit foolish, who, if they could, would build their house without an architect. They consider the architect as a lesser evil. They are the same ones that self-medicate in order to not go to the doctor. They are few, but they are deeply ignorant. They spend a fortune at the pharmacy for nothing. And, either they die, or they finally go to the doctor.  Casa Rufo. Image © Javier Callejas An architect is a service provider to society. An architect is someone who looks for beauty through architecture, and who at the same time solves problems for society and tries to make the people he or she works for happy. I could provide you with an argument of why it is good to hire an architect, a good architect, to ensure that everything turns out well. But instead, I thought that the easiest thing to do would be to let you hear first hand, through my own professional experience. If I tell you that the most beautiful house I have ever made, the best one, was also best designed, nicest and cheapest house I have built, you will say that I am exaggerating. Well, I'm not exaggerating.  Casa Rufo. Image © Javier Callejas The Commission One day, a good friend of mine calls me and asks me if I can make a house for her and her partner, but that they only have three million pesetas (20,000 euros) and a small plot of land. She asked me for a house with absolute privacy in a small pine forest, surrounded by family homes, in the province of Cádiz. The only thing I ask for was absolute freedom. Because for me an architect is a bit like a doctor. You must listen carefully to the patient and do all the necessary tests, but the diagnosis is made by the doctor, and the patient must obey. At least that is what I do as a patient: I blindly obey the doctor, and I have always recovered very well.  Casa Gaspar. Image Courtesy of Alberto Campo Baeza The Work Done The solution was very simple: a simple 6×18m rectangle, raised with load-bearing walls. A 6×18m patio in front and another 6×18 patio out back. Inside the house, two lower transversal walls 4 meters from the edges, create a bedroom and a bathroom on one side, and on the other side a kitchen and a second bedroom. To illuminate the 6×10m central space, two 2×2m fixed glass panels were installed in the four corners of the building, giving a sense of continuity between the central space and the two patios. In order to ventilate the central space, two opaque doors were placed on the main axis in the center. The two bedrooms and the kitchen light up and are connected to their patios with transparent doors. The bathroom has a skylight. All this in just over 100 square meters. The design of the house responds to the best of Andalusian tradition: the front entrance patio and backyard. In each of these courtyards, two lime-colored lemon trees have been symmetrically planted. In the backyard, there is a small pool of water which gives moments of glory when you see and hear it. The sound of water also contributes to the beauty of these spaces. The outside of the house appears completely closed with only the main entrance door.  Casa Gaspar. Image © Hisao Suzuki What Materials Were Used? Everything was built with brick load-bearing walls, which is the cheapest and simplest option for these dimensions. The floor is a simple base, well insulated and waterproof, and covered with a simple ceramic slab. The entire pavement, inside and outside, is made of Capri de Córdoba limestone, which has been polished and buffed. It is such a beautiful pavement that I have continued to put it in all my houses. Everything was made in white. The whitewashed walls and boundary wall give these spaces a wonderful luminosity. Even the lamps are simple: a few white bulbs on the walls protected above by a simple glass. Who Did It? Bunny or "Conejito", was the person in charge of the major works, quickly making progress. Diego Corrales was the rigger and he did a very good job. In my opinion, a rigger is also necessary, just as the doctor needs nurses. I also received help from a good friend and fellow architect from Chicalana, Miguel Vela.  Casa del Infinito. Image © Javier Callejas The Site Architects always talk about the genius loci, the sense of the place. Well, this house seemed like it had been there forever. The house is very, very beautiful. What was it about this house that the others did not have? In its understanding of the place, as in the materials and colors and in the treatment of light, as in the typology, as in the type of house, it is a traditional Andalusian house. It is both yesterday and tomorrow. The secret is that it is made by an architect who understands how to control space, light, scale, and proportions. An architect who knows that in order to reach the "venustas" of beauty, it is essential to comply with the "utilitas" and "firmitas" beforehand. As Vitrubio proclaimed well.  Casa del Infinito. Image © Javier Callejas How Much? The house cost what was expected: 3 million pesetas in 1992, or 20,000 euros today. It's a small house, 100 square meters, that looks great. We are all delighted: property, constructor, and architect. So delighted that soon we built another house on the same line, the Casa Guerrero, for one of the owner's brothers.  Casa Rufo. Image © Javier Callejas Dissemination  Casa Rufo. Image Courtesy of Alberto Campo Baeza The Gaspar House has been featured everywhere. In all the architecture books and magazine in the world. Many times making the front cover. Of course, a great part of the fame lies with Hisao Suzuki, an exceptional photographer who took some incredible photos. He had taken photos for me before, at Casa Turégano, with great results, so I did not hesitate to call him to translate the spirit of Gaspar House into images. I will never forget the dawn when, still dark, we were both waiting in the backyard of the house. He had deployed tripods and cameras and we were just waiting for the light, with high expectations to be amazed. Little by little, very slowly, a light came about and our good photographer started pressing buttons. The result is that set of beautiful images with a mysterious light that is almost impossible to explain, which is where the spirit of this house is well translated. Conclusion I think that through these simple lines, expressive drawings and wonderful photographs, it is easy to understand how it is possible, with a good architect, to make a good, a well-designed, beautiful and cheap house: it just might be the most beautiful house in the world. Architect: Alberto Campo Baeza
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| Run, Jump, Hide and Slide on ELEMENTAL's Newly Designed Urban Children's Game Posted: 17 Jan 2018 10:00 PM PST  La Serpentina en el Parque Cultural de Valparaíso, Chile. Image Cortesía de ELEMENTAL A new children’s urban playground has captured the attention and energy of children of all ages in the center of Valparaíso’s Cultural Park (Chile). The metallic structure is 40 meters long and has a colorful undulating path where children can run, jump, hide and slide. La Serpentina is one of the public space projects designed by ELEMENTAL (Alejandro Aravena). It was built for Somos Choapa in Chile and is currently in Valparaíso as part of the XX Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism of Chile. La Serpentina follows a similar design to the equipment at the Bicentenary Children’s Park (2012) in Santiago. La Serpentina is one of two interventions entered by Somos Choapa in the Biennial. The second project is a prototype with a series of touch screens installed in the main area of the Cultural Park of Valparaíso, accounting for over 100 concrete initiatives of the project.
From the architect: Somos Choapa is an alliance between the municipalities of Illapel, Salamanca, Los Vilos and Canela, together with the Minera Los Pelambres, whose objective is the sustainable development of the Province of Choapa. This alliance builds a common agenda among communities, authorities and the private sector, having designed and implemented more than 100 concrete initiatives. The projects contribute to the development of these provinces through coordinated public and private investment, seeking to capitalize on the potential of a well designed built environment, which acts as an engine rather than a consequence of development. This is due to the need to replace the exclusive and vertical relationship between extractive industries and communities with a new inclusive and horizontal development paradigm. This is due to the need to replace the exclusive and vertical relationship between extractive industries and communities with a new inclusive and horizontal development paradigm.  La Serpentina en el Parque Cultural de Valparaíso, Chile. Image Cortesía de ELEMENTAL ELEMENTAL and TIRONI are responsible for the design and development of a portfolio of projects and programs capable of improving the quality of life of the communities in areas of public space and housing, irrigation and infrastructure, urban services, health, employment, productive diversification, road safety, education, and identity. In 2014, the project began in Illapel and then in Canela, which was aimed at identifying both the needs and desires of the people. Viva Salamanca began in 2015 and Somos Los Vilos was started in 2016, which saw the program implemented throughout the Province. Here we present an overview of the initiatives underway at Somos Choapa. The training of community leaders; the rescue of the food heritage; the remediation of historical tailings; the construction of an artificial beach to recover tourism; and the development of socially integrated neighborhoods are just some of those initiatives.  La Serpentina en el Parque Cultural de Valparaíso, Chile. Image Cortesía de ELEMENTAL La Serpentina, the children’s urban playground, which is making a temporary stopover in the gardens of the Valparaíso Cultural Park, will be part of one of the public space projects that will be built in the Province of Choapa. After the Biennial, the Serpentina will stay in Valparaíso until mid-December and then will be relocated to the Province of Choapa. The exhibition will continue on its way through the different municipalities of the Province, transforming into an itinerant exhibition of Somos Choapa.  La Serpentina en el Parque Cultural de Valparaíso, Chile. Image Cortesía de ELEMENTAL Technical Information Client: Somos Choapa  La Serpentina en el Parque Cultural de Valparaíso, Chile. Image Cortesía de ELEMENTAL  La Serpentina en el Parque Cultural de Valparaíso, Chile. Image Cortesía de ELEMENTAL  La Serpentina in Valparaíso's Cultural Park, Chile, Chile. Image © Nicolás Valencia  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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