petak, 13. srpnja 2018.

Arch Daily

ArchDaily

Arch Daily


Learn About Open Floor Plans Via These 6 Iconic Residences

Posted: 12 Jul 2018 11:00 PM PDT

Villa Tugendhat / Mies van der Rohe. © Alexandra Timpau Villa Tugendhat / Mies van der Rohe. © Alexandra Timpau

Le Corbusier's "Five Points of Architecture" functioned in the twentieth century as the go-to guide for architectural production; it is also a significant work in understanding the legacy of modern architecture. Horizontal windows, free design of the facade, pilotis, roof gardens, and perhaps the most significant point, free design of the ground plan form the Franco-Swiss architect's manifesto. In terms of design practice, this last point means distinguishing structure and wrapper, which allows the free disposal of dividing walls that no longer fulfill a structural function. 

Residential projects were once characterized by a clear division of environments linked to domestic dynamics, now filtered by modern discourse, the house became flexible and capable of new spatial articulations.

To better understand the modern domestic space, we gathered some of the most emblematic examples of residences and their floor plans.

Villa Savoye

Villa Savoye / Le Corbusier. © Ángel Fernandez Villa Savoye / Le Corbusier. © Ángel Fernandez

Considered the great manifesto for a new architecture, Le Corbusier's Villa Savoye was built between 1928 and 1929 in France. Together with Villa Stein (1926), both structures synthesized in a very rigorous way the implementation of the five points. As for the ground floor, Villa Savoye was structured from a modulation of pillars that are part of an independent structural system and proposes the residential unit as a living machine covered by the new technological advents of the time. The design of the horizontal plan responds to the diversity of demand for project uses and reveals the complexity of the relationships proposed by the architect.

© Julia Brant © Julia Brant

In this case, it is worth highlighting the division of the programs vertically, since each floor tries to reinforce the ideas put forward in the architect's speech: the ground floor, designed from the perspective of the arrival of the car, receives programs linked to services; the intermediate floor contemplates the private and functional programs of the residence; while the upper floor receives the living space and the visual delight of the constructed work itself, all linked by the elements of circulation that promote the idea of the promenade.

© Julia Brant © Julia Brant

Casa Curutchet 

Casa Curutchet / Le Corbusier. © ARQ+HIS Casa Curutchet / Le Corbusier. © ARQ+HIS

After an incessant search by Argentine professionals to carry out a residential project and medical office, its future owner, Pedro Domingo Curutchet, hired Le Corbusier to intervene in an area of La Plata. The site was never visited by the architect, which meant a great contribution on the part of another architect, Amancio Williams.

The result is a project that also directly expresses the premises of the free floor: its structure in reinforced concrete defined from the modulation of the pillars receives the programs in floors that are superimposed and articulated from elements of circulation around an inner courtyard and an access with pillars.

© Julia Brant © Julia Brant

Farnsworth House

Casa Farnsworth / Mies van der Rohe. © Tim Brown Architecture Casa Farnsworth / Mies van der Rohe. © Tim Brown Architecture

Farnsworth House was designed by Mies van der Rohe and built as a weekend home in Plano, Illinois between 1945 and 1951. Thought of as a ground floor pavilion that leaves the natural elements of the environment in direct contact with the interior of the house, delimited only by large glazed panels, the residence is an example of the free floor plan.

© Matheus Pereira © Matheus Pereira

The structure consists of eight "I" profile steel pillars that support the slab and roof, while the glass panels delimit the project and are an irrevocable example of "less is more." In relation to the plan, its interior integrates all uses of domestic life, although some authors [1] consider this to be impersonal and imposed by the architect as a model for the everyday life of his client, Doctor Edith Farnsworth.

Villa Tugendhat

Villa Tugendhat / Mies van der Rohe. © Alexandra Timpau Villa Tugendhat / Mies van der Rohe. © Alexandra Timpau

Another project by Mies van der Rohe, commissioned by a young couple who wanted the architect to propose a spacious house with simple forms, is directly aligned with the idea of the German-American architect's free plan. In this example, steel is also used as a structural element of the three-level volume that the program contemplates and is articulated based on variations in the slope of the terrain. In spite of being located in Brno, Czech Republic, the metal parts of the structure of the house were produced in Berlin, since at that time it was not common to resort to this type of material for residential constructions of the time.

© Matheus Pereira © Matheus Pereira

Despite the effort, it was this metal structure that guaranteed a series of advantages explored by Mies in his projects, such as the possibility of lightening divisions and a free plan that could vary by level according to specific programs.

Eames House

Casa Eames / Charles e Ray Eames. © Flickr de rpa2101 Casa Eames / Charles e Ray Eames. © Flickr de rpa2101

Designed by architects Charles and Ray Eames as part of the Case Study Houses program, promoted by Arts and Architecture magazine, this 1945 house incorporates the new technologies that were available for civil construction developed during the Second World War. The two volumes articulated by the patio were designed from prefabricated elements.

© Matheus Pereira © Matheus Pereira

In the case of this project, resorting to the free floor plan allowed the pavements of the volumes to set up relationships of double ceiling eight in some moments, creating diverse compositions and possibilities of spatial reading. In addition, the independent structure of steel profiles allows the free disposal of opaque and translucent colored panels, that contribute to generating interesting light effects in the interior of the house.

In this project, the free floor allowed for double-height spaces, creating different compositions and spatial possibilities. Also, the independent structure of steel profiles allowed for the free arrangement of opaque and translucent panels that generates interesting light effects in its interiors.

Rietveld Schröder House

Residência Rietveld Schröder / Gerrit Rietveld. © Zasa Lein Residência Rietveld Schröder / Gerrit Rietveld. © Zasa Lein

The residence designed by Gerrit Rietveld in 1924 in the Netherlands is an example of total flexibilization of domestic spaces from a plan whose partitions can be altered. This is possible thanks to the use of retractable walls that can be gathered by articulating various environments of the house and eliminating the notion of hierarchy between the rooms and the daily activities of the family.

© Matheus Pereira © Matheus Pereira

By providing a variety of design possibilities from the same orthogonal envelope, this project reiterates the virtues of thinking about the autonomy of structural elements in relation to the dynamics of internal environments.

© Matheus Pereira © Matheus Pereira

References:

[1]: In her book Women and the Making of the Modern House: A Social and Architectural History, of 2006, Alice Friedman raises the question of how the relationship between architect and client is set up in modern projects.

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The Stoic City / Bernd Steinhuber + FIPE Architecture

Posted: 12 Jul 2018 10:00 PM PDT

© Aldrian Bischoff © Aldrian Bischoff
© Aldrian Bischoff © Aldrian Bischoff

Text description provided by the architects. At Light & Building 2018 in Frankfurt, visitors encountered XAL in a minimalistic abstract city. It is the background, it is essential.

Plan Plan
© Aldrian Bischoff © Aldrian Bischoff

A city is not merely the sum of its structures, its ambiance, its participants and how they shape it. It consists of stories. It consists of history. It consists of frontiers and limits. Where in earlier times there were walls made of stone, today is is capital that sets the boundaries. And it is the exclusivity of what lies within these boundaries that seems superficially desirable.

© Aldrian Bischoff © Aldrian Bischoff

We absorb all of this, reduce it, abstract it. We tell the same stories of the city in different words. The stoic central square, the pathways, the buildings, the peaceful, almost private interior of the pavilions, staged entrances and a shoulder-high wall running all around. The view over this barrier is actually archetypal, and the need to engage with the "other" is a deeply-rooted need we all share. And for a brand, this is an opportunity.

© Aldrian Bischoff © Aldrian Bischoff

It awakens the desire to take part, sparks interest in spaces for their light, and in space as a place for exchanges.
In minimalistic environments, it should always be light and its source that are the stars. This is the interplay that brings the product to life.

© Aldrian Bischoff © Aldrian Bischoff

There is a trade fair outside the fence, and a special place behind that.
the fair within the fair.
The stoic city.

© Aldrian Bischoff © Aldrian Bischoff

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Vila do Conde Apartment / Raulino Silva Arquitecto

Posted: 12 Jul 2018 08:00 PM PDT

© João Morgado © João Morgado
  • Architects: Raulino Silva Arquitecto
  • Location: Vila do Conde, Portugal
  • Team: Raulino Silva, Daniela Amorim, João Mendes, Hélder Silva, Cátia Sampaio
  • Area: 120.0 m2
  • Project Year: 2018
  • Photographs: João Morgado
© João Morgado © João Morgado

Text description provided by the architects. Vila do Conde apartment is on the 3rd floor of an 80’s building not very qualified in the design and finishing materials, which is a duplex by the use of the attic area. The project intentions were to reorganize the spaces, renovate the finishing materials and define a new environment with the furniture design.

Floor Plans and Sections Floor Plans and Sections

Facing South, the living room and the kitchen share an open space with access to the balcony. Facing North, one of the rooms was transformed into an office space and the other remained as the main bedroom. The bathroom was completely renovated, the bathtub was removed and the sanitary equipment was replaced. The new staircases allowed the creation of storage spaces and the "dog house".

© João Morgado © João Morgado

Upstairs, the space was transformed for the two daughters, with a bathroom, a playroom inside the closet next to the stairs and the bedroom with two beds lit with skylights facing the south. On the floor, we used a floating vinyl floor that covers all the spaces, including the kitchen and the bathroom. 

© João Morgado © João Morgado

In the bathroom, the shower, the basin and the countertop were designed and custom made in Krion. The walls and ceilings were covered in plasterboard boards painted in white that defines the plans and reinforces the continuity with the carpentry.

© João Morgado © João Morgado

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Strawinskylaan Bicycle Parking / wUrck

Posted: 12 Jul 2018 07:00 PM PDT

© Jan de Vries © Jan de Vries
  • Architects: wUrck
  • Location: Pr. Irenestraat 45, 1077 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • Lead Architect: Oriol Casas Cancer
  • Design Team: Ernst van Rijn, Roeland Bornebroek, Daam van der Leij, Ferdinando d'Alessio, Edu Lamtara, Dirk Bots
  • Area: 4200.0 m2
  • Project Year: 2018
  • Photographs: Jan de Vries
  • Main Contractor: Van Boekel
  • Collaborators: Lichtontwerpers.nl, Octatube, Verhoeven and Leenders, HIG
  • Client: Municipality of Amsterdam
© Jan de Vries © Jan de Vries

Text description provided by the architects. Opposite Amsterdam Zuid railway station, the Strawinskylaan bicycle parking, designed by wUrck, opened in May. With a capacity of 3,750 spaces, it became the largest underground bike parking in the Dutch capital. Thoughtfully designed and offering a high level of comfort, it is seen as setting a new standard for this kind of facility.

© Jan de Vries © Jan de Vries
Plan Plan
© Jan de Vries © Jan de Vries

The Strawinskylaan bicycle parking is located just north of Amsterdam Zuid railway station and adds 3,750 places to the existing Zuidplein (2,700 places) and Mahlerplein (3,000 places) parking in the area. Providing good parking facilities for bikes is an important part of the municipal strategy to guarantee a sustainable and comfortable access to the public transport node while increasing the quality of the public space. The parking is located under the former Vijfhoek park, which will be redeveloped in the coming months into a neighborhood square with playground facilities.

© Jan de Vries © Jan de Vries

Daylight simulation
'The bicycle parking can be seen as a public interior, but also as an underground outdoor space, an extension of the square above,' says Oriol Casas Cancer, the partner at wUrck and project architect of the garage. The spacious and well-organized structure forms the basis for an efficient and comfortable operation of the facility. Contained in a simple concrete volume with an epoxy floor, it has tree-shaped steel columns holding up a canopy of ceiling islands. A restrained color scheme provides the space with an abstract character.

© Jan de Vries © Jan de Vries

Specific decorative accents are the pentagon shapes near the entrances – a reference to the shape of the former park above. The ceiling height of 3.30 m (40 cm higher than minimally prescribed) feels generous. The entrance zone is climatized so that the parking staff can work in optimum conditions. Most striking for the appearance of the parking, however, is probably the quality of the light: both the ceiling islands and two extensive glass walls have been outfitted with fixtures that simulate daylight. It turns the visit to the underground parking into a positive experience.

© Jan de Vries © Jan de Vries

Anchorage
The parking is carefully anchored in its context. The main entrance on the busy bike path of Strawinskylaan opens up the parking for cyclists by means of tapis roulants. These are located in a transparent, mullionless reinforced glass pavilion that leaves the spatial effect of the new square undisturbed. The internal structure of this pavilion consists of a slender steel pergola. Its roof is a cantilevered space frame that floats above the entrance like a delicate foliage. A wide staircase in a short tunnel forms the pedestrian entrance of the parking, located under Strawinsky viaduct, directly opposite the entrance of the station. Via this route, travellers can reach the parking from the station without having to cross the busy cycle path.

Sections 1 Sections 1

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5 Element House / Studio PKA

Posted: 12 Jul 2018 06:00 PM PDT

© Amit Pasricha © Amit Pasricha
  • Architects: Studio PKA
  • Location: Pune, India
  • Lead Architect: Puran Kumar
  • Design Team: Preethi Krishnan, Sonali Nimbalkar, Revina Soni
  • Area: 10000.0 ft2
  • Project Year: 2017
  • Photographs: Amit Pasricha
  • Structural Engineer: Ranavat Buildcon
  • Civil Contractors: Mehta Associates
  • Carpentry Contractors: Jaswant Enterprises
  • Electrical Contractors: Vora Electricals
  • Hvac Consultants: Advent Engineers
  • Landscape Consultants: Oikos Ecological Solutions
© Amit Pasricha © Amit Pasricha

Text description provided by the architects. Famous for its captivating vistas, Pavana is as much a getaway as it is a pristine landscape – with the lake landlocked by the Sahyadris, crowned and guarded by three forts... The family of four sought to discover a weekend retreat as well as a reprieve from the bustling life of the city and hence ventured out in search of a tract of land that would not only capture the essence of the place but could also inspire, delight and satiate their creative endeavors.   

Lower Level Plan Lower Level Plan

Rising high and at the level of the Sahyadris, the story begins where the Five Elements meet - The Earth and The Sky, with Air, Water, and Fire in-between - molded from the earth and open to the vast surround allowing the outside to step in.
"The abode exists in tandem with the elements around it – a subliminal nod to nature itself."

© Amit Pasricha © Amit Pasricha

The textured and subdued wintergreen walls grow warmer in tone under the sun and mimic the tones of the earth; which not only blends in with the landscape but gives the impression of a mass that has grown and emerged from the land on which it rests. The footprint ensures that the site has been altered to a bare minimum. The house rises and falls, following the lay of the land. Each level responds to the contour which gives rise to a dynamic and playful mix of risers and landings - a homage to the hills.

© Amit Pasricha © Amit Pasricha

Following the profile of the roofs, large fenestrations bring in daylight and warmth creating a connection with the changing hues of the skies above and a casual reminder of the passage of time. The spaces within the house stay in a constant dance of light and shadow – with light that shimmers and glides along walls and dark patches that spread out across the floor. The elements are allowed to enter and can be seen, felt and heard, enticing the users to pause and constantly explore, experience and live the space. 

© Amit Pasricha © Amit Pasricha

A simple and earthy palette of materials and tones – limestone (Shahabad & Kadappa), sandstone, slate, teak wood, terracotta tiles, exposed brick, cement plaster, mild steel - complement and respect the site and its surroundings. Taking advantage of the site and the surround, the design evolved from a cohesive single unit to a structure that spreads out in blocks, akin to a jigsaw, with built and unbuilt spaces interlocking to create a whole.

© Amit Pasricha © Amit Pasricha
Section A Section A
© Amit Pasricha © Amit Pasricha

Segregated into numerous zones – the master block, the kid's block, the living block and the guest block – the house takes into account the family's requirements and their professional inclinations. Each zone spills out into an informal space – the aangan (a small courtyard), the pool, the lily pond – that ensures the continuity and flow of spaces from the interior to the exterior. Conceived as a home for friends as much as it was a home for a family, the 5 Element House is a place for celebrating life itself.  

© Amit Pasricha © Amit Pasricha

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Shuyang Art Gallery / UAD

Posted: 12 Jul 2018 05:00 PM PDT

Main Entrance. Image © Qiang Zhao Main Entrance. Image © Qiang Zhao
  • Structural Engineer: Kaizhong Wei, Shuai Wu
  • Mep Consultant: Yi Yang, Pang Li, Minmin Zhang, Dahong Pan, Xing Zhou
  • Lighting Consultant: Peiyu Zhou
  • Quantity Surveyor: Chaohui Qiu
  • Landscape Consultant: Xiao'ang Cai
Facade Texture and Cambered Surface. Image © Qiang Zhao Facade Texture and Cambered Surface. Image © Qiang Zhao

Text description provided by the architects. This project is located in the hometown of traditional calligraphy, Shuyang, Jiangsu province, and is positioned as the calligraphy art gallery to display and inherit Shuyang calligraphic style.

Entrance Courtyard. Image © Qiang Zhao Entrance Courtyard. Image © Qiang Zhao

Design Concept
The concept of architecture abstracts the most fundamental three colors, black, white and red of Chinese calligraphy from rice-paper, brush-pen, seal and creates a pure space experience with pure colors.

Secondary Entrance. Image © Qiang Zhao Secondary Entrance. Image © Qiang Zhao

The aesthetic interest of the calligraphy in the architectural layout referring to Zheng Banqiao's  calligraphic style is to respond to the ideological and practical work, the light and heavy, and the opening and closing of the calligraphy through controlling the size of the building, the space, the contrast of the materials and so on.

Zoom in Bird View. Image © Qiang Zhao Zoom in Bird View. Image © Qiang Zhao

Design Strategy
The largest exhibition hall along the street has the red-bricked exterior wall, like a condensed seal printed on the elegant scroll of ink and wash. The way of cutting the corner through the arc surface strengthens the iconic character of the building along the street, forming a unique lasting appeal. Red brick is Yixing clay brick, adopting three kinds of lining according to the different locations. The lower brick head outstand the wall, and the upper part intrudes the wall, and cut part is flatly lined, forming different textures.

1F Floor Plan 1F Floor Plan

The ink volume and angle are cut and painted with dark grey fluorocarbon paint, and the wall presents a subtle color change in the blue sky, such as the giant stone, such as the ink block, with a simple and profound texture. At the bottom of the body, the rounded corners are processed to show the sense of gravity in calligraphy.

View From the Lake. Image © Qiang Zhao View From the Lake. Image © Qiang Zhao

The white volume selects prefabricated concrete hanging board, and the surface is treated with vertical chisel, such as rice-paper, which formed delightful contrast to the smooth and fine ink surface. The bottom of the body is overhanging to show a floating state, reflecting the spirit of detachment in calligraphy.

Black and White Volume Contrast. Image © Qiang Zhao Black and White Volume Contrast. Image © Qiang Zhao

The tranquil water in the entrance is set up to keep off the noise of the outside world, and the visitors are introduced into the gallery by a bridge on the surface of the water. The continuous transition of space makes the visitors compose the mind quickly before entering the exhibition hall.

Section Section

The space relationship is controlled by the layout of "sparse enough to run horse, dense enough with no needle". It is close to keep a narrow lane of only 2 meters wide. Both sides are pure black and white volume, making people feel to walk among the books. The space will turn to open courtyard and create an open space effect.

Sky Lighting. Image © Qiang Zhao Sky Lighting. Image © Qiang Zhao

There is a gray space in the way that the volume of the body is dug in introverted manner, and the outdoor space can be extended into the indoor rest area. The tourists can enjoy the interesting space experience during the visit.

Column Free Hall. Image © Qiang Zhao Column Free Hall. Image © Qiang Zhao
3F Floor Plan 3F Floor Plan
Street View. Image © Qiang Zhao Street View. Image © Qiang Zhao

All the exhibition halls are open space without columns, which can be arranged freely according to the exhibition needs. Glass corridor connects the exhibition halls, in order to facilitate continuous exhibition. In the middle of the red bricked exhibition hall, there are light wells through 3 floors, which creates bright and transparent indoor space.

Roof Top Garden and Ink Pattern Pavement. Image © Qiang Zhao Roof Top Garden and Ink Pattern Pavement. Image © Qiang Zhao

The paved road and roofed courtyards are inspired by the abstract pattern of the ink spreading. Through the different grayscale changes of the granites in the paved fields, an ink painting is formed.

Roof Top Garden. Image © Qiang Zhao Roof Top Garden. Image © Qiang Zhao

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White Pagoda Temple Hutong Courtyard Renovation / B.L.U.E. Architecture Studio

Posted: 12 Jul 2018 04:00 PM PDT

© Zhi Xia © Zhi Xia
  • Architects: Shuhei Aoyama, Yoko Fujii, Yang Yujia,Wang Danli
  • Project Location: No. 14, Gongmenkou 2, Xicheng District, Beijing, China
  • Client: sth.here
  • Site Area: 246.0 m2
  • Project Year: 2018
  • Photographer: Zhi Xia

Text description provided by the architects. Nowadays, an increasing amount of young people choose to leave their old houses in Hutong and settle in the new areas of the city surrounded by concrete jungles. The old city has become a rundown area full of seniors. An essential objective of this urban renewal is to bring the young generation back to live in the old city.

Therefore, we expect that in this renovation project, on one hand, respect the existing spatial organization of the courtyard in order to preserve its original spatial quality. On another hand, transform it into a living space that is more suitable for the contemporary lifestyle of the young generation. These are the directions that block renewal and building renovation projects aim to follow.

© Zhi Xia © Zhi Xia

General Information

The site of this project is located in a historical and cultural district in Fucheng Men in which the area contains 33 traditional blocks. The project area covers approximately 37 hectares, with a gross floor area of 242,000 and about 5600 households, including16,000 registered citizens and 13,000 inhabitants. In this area elderlies make up 19% of the  residents  and  immigrants  make  up  almost  50%  of  the  population  in  the  region respectively. The area contains 807 courtyards, remaining over 4000 houses while 70% of them are in poor conditions. Thus in this historical block, both the living quality and building quality need urgent improvements and its cultural values will therefore be reevaluated and upgraded.

© Zhi Xia © Zhi Xia

Therefore, under the current context of Beijing’s promotion of the overall protection and revitalisation of the old city, many architects are involved in renovation projects of single courtyard or buildings linking the real needs of the city’s citizens with new forms of media in order to promote new ways of thinking and exploring the city. In this way, the living qualities of the citizens are improved while preserving and continuing the historical chain of the city’s culture.

No.6 room. Image © Zhi Xia No.6 room. Image © Zhi Xia

This project involves the renovation of a traditional courtyard house located in the Hutong within Beijing’s second ring road, covering a total area of around 250   . The aim is to turn an old and shabby courtyard into a desirable courtyard house for homestay. Regarding the specifications, the aim is to find a new way of living within the traditional Beijing courtyard house with respect to the contemporary style of living.

Floor plan Floor plan

The  existing  courtyard  sits  at  a Y-shaped  intersection  in  which  two  facades  are  fully exposed to the streets and can be viewed by pedestrians. While the boundaries of the courtyard are presented to people on the street, a strong visual impact is easily created. The courtyard originally ammonites 8 families. In order to maximise the usable space to satisfy the needs of a large number of residents, illegal renovations of adding additional building components are commonly built, creating a typical courtyard compound occupied by many households. Consequently, the additional building components in the centre of the courtyard need to be removed in order to reveal the original spatial composition of the courtyard.

© Zhi Xia © Zhi Xia

About Design

Firstly, the entry to the gate is a straight tunnel in which a cafe sits on its right-hand site and the gate is located at the end of the tunnel.

There are a total of 6 guest rooms located within the courtyard, they are each designed with different area, function and spatial composition. The smallest guest room is 20 m2 and the largest guest room is 30 m2. 3 of the guest rooms are lofts and the another 3 are master rooms. Despite the difference in size, the rooms are also organised with different colours schemes. 3 of them have light colour tone and the other 3 have dark colour tone. Apart from the guest rooms, all other spaces are public spaces, which are available for public exhibition and display during the day.

© Zhi Xia © Zhi Xia

After removing the additional illegal building components, the 6 guest rooms form a new square shape courtyard. On the southern centre of the courtyard, a new staircase tower has been built using the recycled old grey tiles from the demolished parts of the building. Following up the staircase, an exhibition space is formed on the rooftop after reinforcing the original structure of the building. Standing on the rooftop under the shadow of large trees, a panoramic view extends from the courtyard all the way to the Miaoying Temple. The magnificence and beauty of the continuous traditional buildings are fully expressed from the view of the rooftop.

Exploded Axonometric Exploded Axonometric

1. Existing Flaws of the Building

Building renovations projects have to first solve the existing problems of the building. In this project the aim is to solve the following issues:

© Zhi Xia © Zhi Xia

  • Problem A.Not enough interior space. Regarding  the  specification,  the  need  is  to  maximise  living  quality  using  limited resources. In order to maximise the usage of space, the building is organised vertically. A lowered ground level is established while the original ceiling boards are removed. A loft effectively is formed under the traditional ceiling space.

  • Problem B. Lack of natural lighting and ventilation. Almost every guest room is designed with a ceiling window in order to maximise natural sunlight inside the room. Regarding the need for thermal insulation in the winter period, all ceiling windows use double glazing glass (horizontal glass roof use 3-layered sealed insulating glass) in order to achieve the effective insulation and minimal heat conduction. In each guest room, new windows are designed near the door to further enhance effective ventilation within the rooms.

No.5 room. Image © Zhi Xia No.5 room. Image © Zhi Xia

  • Problem C. Lack of effective insulation and heating system. Apart from the cautious choice of glass material for effective insulation, the house is also designed with floor heating covering the entire interior space, mainly used for heating in winter.

  • Problem D. Lack of soundproofing and noise control. According to the condition of each room, additional soundproofing materials are inserted within the walls between rooms in order to solve this issue.

Room type Room type

  • Problem E. Lack of standardisation in the building of bathroom. The existing courtyard contains a bathroom. Yet without any standardised treatment, domestic sewage is directly discharged into the municipal pipe network. The renovation improves this condition by replacing the old pipe with new technology that combines the discharge of rainwater and sewage, which effectively prevents the water system creating the bad smell in the summer time when temporary is high.  A standardised septic tank is built within the courtyard, allowing all sanitary wastewater to be discharged in it. A portion of the domestic sewage that has been treated will still follow the existing municipal pipe network.

No.4 room. Image © Zhi Xia No.4 room. Image © Zhi Xia

2. Inheriting the Spatial Memory

The design logic of this project is to use limited space and resources to maximise the reuse of material in ways of creating new space. During the renovation process, the continuous occurrence of accidental discoveries always brings new design ideas. As the construction process progresses, the design continuous changes and develops, which can be seen as “the logic without logic”.

© Zhi Xia © Zhi Xia

For example, after removing the old paint on the wood structure, the natural beauty of the material is fully expressed in its colour and texture. Thus, a decision is made to maintain the original colour and texture of the wood structure. While building the floor foundation and water drainage system in the courtyard, 7 large rectangular stones from the Qing dynasty are discovered 1 meter underground. 4 of them are chosen as the material used for the staircase in between the guest rooms and entrance, hence giving the stones new life and function.

The old window frames are kept and reorganised and reused for different rooms, hence preserving the vintage spatial atmosphere within the courtyard.

Another vintage material that has been kept is a large number of old grey tiles, in which their age vary from a few hundred years old to the last century. These grey tiles are used for  building  the  central  staircase  tower  in  the  middle  of  the  courtyard.  Contemporary materials such as glass brick are embedded in it in order to create the “bridge” between the past and the present, achieving the continuation of spatial memory. Although the removed  parts  of  the  building  are  all  structures  built  illegally,  yet  they  also  perform important parts in the history of the courtyard and is also a part of the city’s memory.

© Zhi Xia © Zhi Xia

3. Privacy and Openness

The relationship between courtyard and city:

The courtyard-type living space is prone to be private. The living characteristics of the courtyard house are relatively open, which enhances the communication between people. We expect that in the project, a semi-private and semi-public space for communication can be established between urban public space and residential private space.

Cafe. Image © Zhi Xia Cafe. Image © Zhi Xia

We design a café as the entrance, at the same time, it can be used as reception space for the homestays in the inner yard. The main entrance of the courtyard is designed to open to the Hutong, making the corridor and the café part of the urban space. There is only one big table in the café. When guests in the homestay are having breakfast, local residents can also come to have coffee, sitting at the same table and chitchat with each other.

The exhibition space is located in the inner courtyard, which can be opened to the public at different times, increasing exchanges between the courtyard and the city.

Gallery. Image © Zhi Xia Gallery. Image © Zhi Xia

The relationship between rooms:

In  traditional  star  hotels,  guest-rooms  are  usually  designed  closed  to  each  other. However, we expect to break the closed atmosphere down. As a result, a large area of floor-to-ceiling glass was designed on the facade of the room, and the relatively public space for reading and chatting in the guest-room was arranged in the window side. In addition  to  increasing  lighting,  guests  in  different  rooms  can  see  each  other  and communicate to some extent. In contrast, the bedroom space, toilet and bathroom were hidden in the room or behind the wall to guarantee the privacy of life.

No.1 room. Image © Zhi Xia No.1 room. Image © Zhi Xia

4. The symbiotic relationship with nature

The  living  environment  of  Hutong  is  an  organic  combination  of  living  and  natural environment. The whole courtyard is divided into 6 guest-rooms separately. We try to create a natural environment or the experience of natural environment in each individual room. A corner of the roof was converted into a crystal-clear glass roof and covered by greenery in No.1 and No.2 room. Therefore, people in the room can feel the changes of natural light at any time and the atmosphere of outdoor courtyard can be created. As for No.5 and No.6 room, each of them has a real outdoor courtyard, which is the exclusive outdoor space for guest-rooms.

No.1 room. Image © Zhi Xia No.1 room. Image © Zhi Xia

In Hutong, there is a close interaction between trees and people. During hot summer days, the sunshine was shaded by the luxuriant branches and leaves of the tree, leaving a shady corner. While, in winter, the leaves withered and the sunshine shimmers in the courtyard through the branches, leaving warmness and brightness in the bleak and windswept beauty. The relationship between people and trees is organic. Therefore, an old locust tree of several decades has been preserved in the courtyard, which not only continues the organic relationship between man and nature, but also maintains the subtle interaction between man and nature.

No.2 room. Image © Zhi Xia No.2 room. Image © Zhi Xia

In the past, too much attention was paid to the renewal of architectural appearance and the improvement of architectural quality in courtyard houses. However. in the old streets where Hutong sits, the renovation of courtyard houses should not be limited to the static aesthetics. Instead, preserving the living experience is more important. The experience of living in a courtyard surrounded by trees and the experience of living in an open and connected community within the city… Including every piece of memories within the city. These qualities are not visible, yet they form the unique cultural experience of living in courtyard houses.

No.2 room. Image © Zhi Xia No.2 room. Image © Zhi Xia

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Zhijian Bookstore / SMY DESIGN

Posted: 12 Jul 2018 03:00 PM PDT

© Lu Liao © Lu Liao
  • Architects: SMY DESIGN
  • Location: Wuling, Changde, Hunan, China
  • Lead Architects: Ningjian Liang
  • Design Team: Xuepeng Jin, Piao Sun, Xinli Li
  • Area: 795.0 m2
  • Project Year: 2017
  • Photographs: Lu Liao
© Lu Liao © Lu Liao

Text description provided by the architects. The old west gate block was originally where the ancient gates from Ming & Qing dynasty located. Before rebuild , the place was deserted. But now ,it has become an independent block that is a national cultural-innovation complex where the aborigines still live here.

© Lu Liao © Lu Liao
© Lu Liao © Lu Liao

The bookstore locates in the middle area of the block and is contiguous to a theater. We think the atmosphere of the bookstore should be quiet and peaceful. We expect it to be like a window for the residents and tourists here to read and think in the independent block. White is the color that implies purifying. So, white became the theme of the bookstore.

© Lu Liao © Lu Liao

20 meters away from the bookstore, there is a fort relic in the second world war. It was made by pure concrete. The building of the bookstore was original concrete as well. We didn't do with its concrete texture but put the texture remained as how it is for echoing to the relic. Anyway ,we removed the standardized aluminum window and door on the first floor and replaced it to the big heavy unframed glass. The transparency attracts light completely and lighten the hard part above for monolithic balance.

© Lu Liao © Lu Liao

The west gate block still keeps the traditional Jinzi house architecture of one thousand years ago. Jinzi house is shaped like a courtyard, mostly there are two districts and layers. Standing inside of the house, high walls are surrounded, the inner structure are pure wood, the ceiling is like a funnel that the four edges goes down to the middle. It becomes a empty well that could absorb sunlight and fresh air from the roof.

© Lu Liao © Lu Liao
© Lu Liao © Lu Liao

For echoing and showing our respect to the tradition wisdom, We described the Jinzi house indoors by using wooden structure . Up the ceiling ,there is quadrilateral funnel just like the roof of Jingzi house. This metaphorical roof connects other areas in the bookstore. We made art installation of tilefall by milk white transparent glass , creating an atmosphere of typical Chinese's Shi Da Fu's way of living : reading in a rainy night and listen to its knocking sounds onto the palm -leave fan. ( This scenery appears often in Chinese Tang poetry)

© Lu Liao © Lu Liao

While white is the bottom color and theme, the historical and local cultural tradition is presented indoors.

© Lu Liao © Lu Liao

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Senri Greenery House Renovation / hitotomori

Posted: 12 Jul 2018 02:00 PM PDT

© Hiroki Kawata © Hiroki Kawata
  • Architects: hitotomori
  • Location: Toyonaka, Japan
  • Constructor: Burg Design Banker
  • Lighting Design: NEW LIGHT POTTERY
  • Sofa Making: Revery Chair
  • Styling: Bonddesign
  • Area: 300.0 m2
  • Project Year: 2018
  • Photographs: Hiroki Kawata
© Hiroki Kawata © Hiroki Kawata
© Hiroki Kawata © Hiroki Kawata

Text description provided by the architects. This is a renovation of a boxed-frame type reinforced concrete house facing an area of greenery that has been well-tended for fifty years in the town of Senri, Japan. 
When it comes to renovation, it is crucial for our design to maximise the inherent potential already found within a building. The building looks out over a large area of greenery and within already contains an abundance of airy spaces. It was our task to utilize these open spaces while at the same time considering each room's proportions and details to create an even more intimate interplay between the natural greenery outside and the rooms themselves. In addition, a slanted roof supported by the building's steel frame provided even more open space with which to work. In order that these voluminous spaces would be perceived not so much as 'rooms' but as an 'environment', our design took in the factors of heat, natural light, ventilation, and greenery to create a space which suggested to this camping and nature loving family a way of life where each and every member, by choosing their own favorite spots from the home environment, would be able create their own personal living space.

© Hiroki Kawata © Hiroki Kawata
© Hiroki Kawata © Hiroki Kawata

The exquisite blue of both the front stained-glass window and exterior walls already combined to give the entranceway one of the house's defining characteristics. To bring this characteristic into the house and use it to maximum effect, we constructed the foyer and front hall floors, walls, and ceilings with mortar, and limited the materials we used to ones that would be dyed a rich blue when bathed in the light from the stained-glass.

© Hiroki Kawata © Hiroki Kawata
© Hiroki Kawata © Hiroki Kawata

The entrance to each room was already composed of a deep-set, low-ceilinged veneer tunnel. Our design utilized the contrast between this tunnel and the wider space found within the room to further emphasize the intimate relationship of each room's open blue airiness and the natural greenery outside, and draw out the inherent potential in both entranceway and room.

Plans: Existance / Renovation Plans: Existance / Renovation

Within the passage of time we can find divers objects of beauty; through our design, we have endeavored to create a space in which these objects realize their full potential, a space in which they are respected and held in the highest regard, a space in which a home is fully and truly revived.

© Hiroki Kawata © Hiroki Kawata

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Molesworth St House / Chan Architecture

Posted: 12 Jul 2018 01:00 PM PDT

© Tatjana Plitt © Tatjana Plitt
  • Builder: Maculumay
  • Structural Engineer: Wright Engineering
  • Building Surveyor: Wilsmore Nelson Group
© Tatjana Plitt © Tatjana Plitt

Text description provided by the architects. The Molesworth Street house is a renovation and extension to a freestanding Edwardian period home in Kew.

© Tatjana Plitt © Tatjana Plitt

The site is long and relatively narrow with an upwards slope towards the rear, with existing trees and neighboring properties on all sides to consider.

Floor Plans Floor Plans

The brief was to create a striking, modern house with light filled open spaces and clean lines.

© Tatjana Plitt © Tatjana Plitt

Our response was to continue the width of the existing entrance hallway with a feature staircase/wine wall and an internal light court, which in turn leads to the open planned living room, kitchen and dining area with north facing bi‐folding doors that open up to the backyard.

© Tatjana Plitt © Tatjana Plitt

One feature of the living room was the counterweighted split fold window, which creates an uninterrupted view from the in‐situ concrete seat.

© Tatjana Plitt © Tatjana Plitt

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KHROMIS Eyewear / A Work of Substance

Posted: 12 Jul 2018 12:00 PM PDT

© Dennis Lo © Dennis Lo
  • Architects: A Work of Substance
  • Location: Goodview Court, 1 Tai Ping Shan St, Tai Ping Shan, Hong Kong
  • Area: 812.0 ft2
  • Project Year: 2018
  • Photographs: Dennis Lo
© Dennis Lo © Dennis Lo

Text description provided by the architects. Like a prism dispersing monochromatic light into a spectrum of colors, KHROMIS is a catalyst for transformation. Each frame empowers the individual to reveal a whole palette of emotions and personalities.

© Dennis Lo © Dennis Lo

Resembling a pair of glasses, the logo is also an expression of refracted light paths. The interior uses mirrors to create reflections and perspective, maneuvering light to display the product in the best possible way.

© Dennis Lo © Dennis Lo

A touch of wood warms up the interior, along with the coffee bar in the corner, creating a comfortable atmosphere for a multi-sensory experience.  

© Dennis Lo © Dennis Lo
Floor Plan Floor Plan
© Dennis Lo © Dennis Lo

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Regional Plant Teaching Facility / Clark Nexsen

Posted: 12 Jul 2018 10:00 AM PDT

© Mark Herboth Photography © Mark Herboth Photography
  • Architects: Clark Nexsen
  • Location: 6600 Louisburg Rd, Raleigh, NC 27616, United States
  • Lead Architect: Don Kranbuehl
  • Design Team: Anthony Garcia, Corey Baughman, Mike Brooks
  • Area: 9400.0 ft2
  • Project Year: 2016
  • Photographs: Mark Herboth Photography
  • Structural Engineer: Stewart
  • Civil: Calyx Engineers & Consultants
  • Mep: RMF Engineering
  • Landscape: Surface 678
  • Construction Manager: Skanska
  • Clients: Wake Technical Community College
© Mark Herboth Photography © Mark Herboth Photography

Text description provided by the architects. Located at the entrance of Wake Technical Community College in a natural setting, the Regional Plant Teaching Facility creates a gateway to the campus and acts as a symbol of the merging of technology, education, and sustainability. While the building's program is comprised of spaces to house heating and cooling equipment, it is also an educational facility for teaching students and the public about energy efficient building systems. A simple rectilinear glass and steel box with a perforated metal screen layer was designed to house, screen, and display the technology and to create a unique educational space for the college.

© Mark Herboth Photography © Mark Herboth Photography
Axonometric Axonometric
© Mark Herboth Photography © Mark Herboth Photography

The teaching facility is the marriage of the utilitarian and educational components of a campus and provides interaction between students, faculty, and the facilities staff who run and operate the campus buildings. The project showcases the artistry of the utilitarian and creates "a museum for mechanical equipment" where the equipment is on display as artifacts both to the students and to the public.

© Mark Herboth Photography © Mark Herboth Photography

The building is a long rectilinear glass box where the main teaching classroom floats above the forest floor at the north end cantilevering twenty feet into a grove of trees facing the main street.  An exterior elevated covered public walkway runs the entire length of the building that defines the promenade and educational public tour to view the HVAC equipment. At the entrance to the building, a larger front porch area for gathering is demarcated by a masonry wall and a grand stair which provides an entrance to visitors arriving from the east.

© Mark Herboth Photography © Mark Herboth Photography

The sustainable features of the building systems and landscape act as a living classroom to teach the public about building technology and sustainable design. The transparent glass and steel structure that houses the systems was composed using a 4'-0" module which was based on the most efficient space to house a boiler and chiller. The module created an underlying geometric order for laying out the structural system, all HVAC equipment, and the metal screen. The transparency of the building systems was achieved using a structural steel frame with long span king post steel trusses. The trusses cantilever to support a secondary galvanized steel channel frame for supporting a perforated stainless steel corrugated screen. This screen is composed of openings that highlight the entrances and equipment inside.

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Tadao Ando’s Liangzhu Village Cultural Art Centre Through the Lens of Zheng Shi

Posted: 12 Jul 2018 09:30 AM PDT

© Zheng Shi © Zheng Shi

The historic Liangzhu Village in Hangzhou, China has a new monumental cultural center by the Japanese architect Tadao Ando. Opened in 2016, the building has become another popular cultural site in the village following the opening of David Chipperfield's Liangzhu Museum a decade ago.

Surrounded by a tranquil sakura landscape, the center hosts a theatre, a library and a gallery in three distinct "boxes" covered by a large roof. Architectural photographer Zheng Shi of AOG Architecture Vision has captured Ando's characteristic use of concrete and striking natural light. In the stairwell, triangular cuts in the roof allow natural light to pour down onto the concrete surface. The interior also features a light-filled space with floor-to-ceiling windows looking onto the soothing natural scenery.

© Zheng Shi © Zheng Shi
© Zheng Shi © Zheng Shi
© Zheng Shi © Zheng Shi
© Zheng Shi © Zheng Shi
© Zheng Shi © Zheng Shi
© Zheng Shi © Zheng Shi
© Zheng Shi © Zheng Shi
© Zheng Shi © Zheng Shi
© Zheng Shi © Zheng Shi
© Zheng Shi © Zheng Shi

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CB House / RAP Arquitetura

Posted: 12 Jul 2018 08:00 AM PDT

© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio © Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio
  • Engineering: J Lyra Construtora
  • Lighting: RAP Arquitetura e Interiores
  • Interior Design: RAP Arquitetura e Interiores
  • Landscape Design: Arqplant paisagismo
© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio © Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio

Text description provided by the architects. On a hillside by the sea with a stunning view, this home has as premise harmony with nature. Therefore, RAP Architecture decided on a project based on "less is more", clean and light. 

© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio © Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio
Lower Floor Plan Lower Floor Plan
© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio © Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio
Ground Floor Plan Ground Floor Plan
© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio © Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio
Upper Floor Plan Upper Floor Plan

The view is highlighted by ample windows. Natural light is essential, made plentiful by skylights designed at the stairs, bathroom and laundry room.

© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio © Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio

Guaranteeing lightness, the architects integrated bathroom and masters suite in a subtle and luxurious manner, providing a freestanding bath as a cultural item in front of a window that occupies the whole wall.

© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio © Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio

The stairs, which were surrounded by walls, where replaced by a corten structure with glass railings.

© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio © Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio

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Will Mecanoo’s “Blue District” in Utrecht Promote a Generation of Urban Centenarians?

Posted: 12 Jul 2018 07:51 AM PDT

© 3d Studio Prins © 3d Studio Prins

That's the goal, at least. Mecanoo has released designs for a large-scale development in Utrecht inspired by "blue zone" regions - areas where residents tend live atypically long and healthy lives. Currently there are only five recognized blue zones worldwide: Sardinia, Nicoya, Loma Linda, Okinawa, and Ikaria. 

Investigation into these zones revealed nine shared characteristics which Mecanoo have essentialized to four urban design concepts that define the Blue District development: community, mobility, healthy diet, and meaningfulness & relaxation. 

The masterplan transforms a former marshalling yard of the Dutch Railways into a new residential neighborhood. The design includes plans for 2,600 homes, a park, school, supermarket and other mixed-use facilities. 

© 3d Studio Prins © 3d Studio Prins

The "blue zone" concepts are concentrated in the transformation of the existing CAB building, located at the northwestern edge of the development and directly south of the Utrecht-Zuilen station. Within the building, a large food hall will form an interior street offering healthy eating options and connecting residents to the Cartesiuspark at the center. 

A nine-storey apartment complex will be added to the top of the building, making it one of the largest buildings in the area and emphasizing it as a landmark. Undulating balconies set the new addition apart from the existing rectilinear structure and creates a distinct architectural language for the neighborhood.

© 3d Studio Prins © 3d Studio Prins

Cycling and pedestrian access are central to the 13 hectare masterplan, with all urban amenities located within close range to residential areas. The neighborhood will encourage sustainability, both in terms of green technology and in shared resources. 

The Cartesiusdriehoek Blue District will offer a variety of housing typologies, with nearly a quarter of all housing intended for rental social housing. Construction is expected to start in 2020. 

  • Architects: Mecanoo
  • Location: Cartesiusweg, Utrecht, The Netherlands
  • Architect In Charge: Mecanoo
  • Area: 133000.0 m2
  • Project Year: 2018

News via Mecanoo.

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Plaza Artz Pedregal Building by Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos Collapses in Mexico City

Posted: 12 Jul 2018 06:40 AM PDT

Videos circulating around social media show at least a partial collapse of Plaza Artz Pedegral, a project built in 2012 by the Mexican architecture office Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos. At the time of reporting the cause of the collapse has not yet been confirmed. 

According to the online version of the Milenio newspaper, The Secretary of Civil Protection (secretario de Protección Civil) in Mexico City stated that, at the moment, there are no reports of people injured or trapped.

Video from 2016 shows part of the site collapsing around the roads adjoining the site. 

The former Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security (SSP), Hiram Almeida, arrived at the site to supervise and coordinate the search for victims under the rubble. The Ministry of Public Security has reported road closures due to the collapse. 

An evacuation of the building was carried out minutes before its partial collapse. The head of the SSP reported that the collapse was foreseen, so the area was evacuated. In an interview for Foro TV, he assured that "there is no risk, it's just a section of construction."

For their part, Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos has released the statement issued by the Artz Pedregal Shopping Center to explain the situation. In the document, the company states that they regret the incident and explains that its technical team "immediately contacted the Secretary of Civil Protection of the Government of Mexico City to address the incident in a coordinated manner" and applied "the civil protection protocols and emergency corps of Mexico City, as well as cordoning the area, in order to avoid risks for the population." Artz Pedregal added that "it will be collaborating with the corresponding authorities to determine the causes of this event."

News in development. Last update: 12 July 2018, 15:30 ET

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EPR Partner / Wiegerinck

Posted: 12 Jul 2018 06:00 AM PDT

© William Moore © William Moore
  • Architects: Wiegerinck
  • Location: Transistorweg 5, 6534 AT Nijmegen, The Netherlands
  • Consultant: constructiebureau Snetselaar BV
  • Area: 2200.0 m2
  • Project Year: 2017
  • Photographs: William Moore
© William Moore © William Moore

Text description provided by the architects. EPR Partner is the first Smart Factory to realise brand-new premises on Novio Tech Campus in Nijmegen. Wiegerinck architectuur stedenbouw is responsible for the design and interior of a prestigious and  transparent building that integrates office and production functions.

© William Moore © William Moore

The design has a high level of flexibility with respect to technical connectors - creating a solid support for an optimal process flow. The challenge to move EPR from a standard industrial building to a high-end office environment has ultimately been realised without major compromise.  

Section Section

A design with a lot of glass and open spaces was opted for to create both transparency and connectivity - fully in line with the EPR identity. Module production no longer takes place in closed production halls -  this is now 'out in the open' so to speak and visible both from the central mezzanine and from outside the building. The new premises also accommodates the supportive office departments and it is fitted with a compact fully-automated warehouse system.

© William Moore © William Moore
Constructive Detail 01 Constructive Detail 01

The atrium, the connecting factor between all components of the innovation cycle, is the basis of our design vision. The stairs that connect the different floors are located here, as well as the pantry and  (in)formal meeting spaces. The abundant access light and high level of transparency has resulted in a pleasant working environment for the staff.

© William Moore © William Moore

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Europe's Tallest Skyscraper Approaches Completion in St Petersburg

Posted: 12 Jul 2018 05:30 AM PDT

© Viktor Sukharukov Courtesy of Lakhta Center Multifunctional Complex © Viktor Sukharukov Courtesy of Lakhta Center Multifunctional Complex

The Lakhta Center, a 400,000-square-meter complex which includes Europe's tallest skyscraper, is approaching completion in St Petersburg. Designed by RMJM (authoring team led by Tony Kettle), the complex provides a new landmark in the northwest of the city—an area on the coastline of the Gulf of Finland which has seen significant development in recent years with the completion of the St Petersburg Stadium, a passenger seaport, and a number of park spaces including the Park of the 300th Anniversary of Saint Petersburg.

The centerpiece of the development, the 462-meter-tall Lakhta Center Tower, is not only the tallest building in Europe, but also the first supertall skyscraper in St Petersburg, the world's second-tallest twisting skyscraper after the Shanghai Tower, and the world's northernmost skyscraper.

Courtesy of Lakhta Center Multifunctional Complex Courtesy of Lakhta Center Multifunctional Complex

Around two-thirds of the office space in the Center will be occupied by the headquarters of Gazprom PJSC, with about 8,000 employees expected to work from the complex. In addition to office space, the Lakhta Center Tower features a 360-meter-high observation deck and a restaurant with panoramic views, while the remainder of the complex includes a scientific and educational center, a planetarium, a concert hall, an amphitheater, and a number of public squares. As such, the Lakhta Center will become a rare example of a multinational company headquarters integrated with a wide range of public functions.

© Kamil Nureev Courtesy of Lakhta Center Multifunctional Complex © Kamil Nureev Courtesy of Lakhta Center Multifunctional Complex

The tower is composed of a cluster of five individual tower forms, each of which twists and tapers as it rises—resulting in the tower as a whole twisting 90 degrees from base to tip. As described by the tower's concept designer Tony Kettle, "the tower was designed as a simple organic spire with asymmetrical movement in its skin, to be seen as a singular landmark at city scale." Structurally, the tower features a central core, with five "outrigger" levels to distribute horizontal loads to 15 perimeter composite columns. This strategy allows the building to resist the wind loads at the site which can be up to 140 kilometers per hour at a height of 400 meters.

Diagram showing the development of the Lakhta Center Tower's form. Image Courtesy of Lakhta Center Multifunctional Complex Diagram showing the development of the Lakhta Center Tower's form. Image Courtesy of Lakhta Center Multifunctional Complex

The second major part of the complex is a 260-meter-long boomerang-shaped multifunctional building which contains many of the public functions. Rising to a maximum height of 80 meters, the building's roof and sloping facades were designed to minimize its visual impact, masking the size of the structure.

© Stanislav Zaburdaev Courtesy of Lakhta Center Multifunctional Complex © Stanislav Zaburdaev Courtesy of Lakhta Center Multifunctional Complex

The Lakhta Center's exterior finishes have now been completed, with the interior works currently ongoing. The entire complex is due to be finished later this year.

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7 Best Photos of Frank Gehry’s Fondation Louis Vuitton Building Win #MyFLV Contest

Posted: 12 Jul 2018 04:40 AM PDT

Yi-Hsien Lee (@nevermind1107). Image Courtesy of Fondation Louis Vuitton Yi-Hsien Lee (@nevermind1107). Image Courtesy of Fondation Louis Vuitton

What does it mean to be a true architecture lover today? It's probably not too far off to conclude that taking pristine, Instagram-optimized photos ranks high in the assessment. With this in mind, the Fondation Louis Vuitton launched a photo contest to highlight the best photos of the building that were taken by inspired visitors and shared on social media. 

The organization invited both professional and amateur photographs to tag the Fondation (@fondationLV) and use the #MyFLV hashtag to enter the contest. Ultimately, a jury including French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand and sponsored by Frank Gehry selected 7 photographs that not only garnered their authors a 2,000 EUR prize, but that will also be used in a poster and print campaign. The photos of the sinuous and transparent contemporary art museum will be featured in ads in Paris' metros and kiosks until the end of the summer. 

The 7 laureates of the #MyFLV contest:

Pierre Châtel-Innocenti (@chatelp)

Pierre Châtel-Innocenti (@chatelp). Image Courtesy of Fondation Louis Vuitton Pierre Châtel-Innocenti (@chatelp). Image Courtesy of Fondation Louis Vuitton

Mathieu Collart (@thiouse)

Mathieu Collart (@thiouse). Image Courtesy of Fondation Louis Vuitton Mathieu Collart (@thiouse). Image Courtesy of Fondation Louis Vuitton

Roseline Diemer (@roxdmr)

Roseline Diemer (@roxdmr). Image Courtesy of Fondation Louis Vuitton Roseline Diemer (@roxdmr). Image Courtesy of Fondation Louis Vuitton

Yi-Hsien Lee (@nevermind1107)

Courtesy of Fondation Louis Vuitton Courtesy of Fondation Louis Vuitton

Boshiang Lin (@boshianglin)

Boshiang Lin (@boshianglin). Image Courtesy of Fondation Louis Vuitton Boshiang Lin (@boshianglin). Image Courtesy of Fondation Louis Vuitton

Jean-Guy Perlès (@selrep)

Jean-Guy Perlès (@selrep). Image Courtesy of Fondation Louis Vuitton Jean-Guy Perlès (@selrep). Image Courtesy of Fondation Louis Vuitton

Jérémy Thomas (@pho__thomas)

Jérémy Thomas (@pho__thomas). Image Courtesy of Fondation Louis Vuitton Jérémy Thomas (@pho__thomas). Image Courtesy of Fondation Louis Vuitton

News via Fondation Louis Vuitton

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Interventions in Orlando Agudo / padilla nicás

Posted: 12 Jul 2018 04:00 AM PDT

© Mariela Apollonio © Mariela Apollonio
  • Architects: Padilla Nicás Arquitectos
  • Location: C/ Orlando Agudo, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
  • Principal Architects: Francisco José Padilla + Juan Manuel Nicás Caballero
  • Design Team: Daniel Guerra / Giusy di Pinto / Raúl Sáez
  • Construction: Navas 3000
  • Area: 357.0 m2
  • Project Year: 2017
  • Photographs: Mariela Apollonio
© Mariela Apollonio © Mariela Apollonio

Text description provided by the architects. The first visit we made to the house had a strong impact on us; a dense vegetation was visible from the street  making the inside quite promising.

© Mariela Apollonio © Mariela Apollonio

Once in the plot, three pavillions, discovered one after the other, formed the house and were built at different time following the family growth.

© Mariela Apollonio © Mariela Apollonio

Since the very beginning, it seemed to us that there was a strong connection between the clients, whom we met a little before, and the house they had just acquired. Therefore, our proposal fundamentally aimed to reinforce this bound and protect the special character that, in our opinion, they shared.

Axonometric Axonometric

The result is an heterogeneous intervention, with various actions focused in different areas, sometimes incorporated during the construction works, participating in some way in the continuous evolution of the house from its first built pavillion.

© Mariela Apollonio © Mariela Apollonio

The core of the house is located in the central pavillion, with access to the front garden and backyard. Surrounding it, there are two smaller pavillions dedicated to the music studio and office room, which are work spaces for both parents.

© Mariela Apollonio © Mariela Apollonio

The bedrooms, located on the top floor of different pavillions, are communicated through a bridge providing fun to the routes through the house; similarly, a hidden staircase connects the children bedroom directly to the music room found two floors below them.

© Mariela Apollonio © Mariela Apollonio

The exterior spaces covered with pieces of clay end up tying the house to the ground in the most conceptual sense.

© Mariela Apollonio © Mariela Apollonio

It is, thus, a very lively house both inside and outside its pavilions; a house that is intensely familiar in its central core and, at the same time, intensely social; a house where it is possible to find someone as well as to isolate oneself in any of its different corners.

© Mariela Apollonio © Mariela Apollonio

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