subota, 21. srpnja 2018.

Arch Daily

Arch Daily


Ca’LliLlo Home / equipo olivares arquitectos

Posted: 20 Jul 2018 10:00 PM PDT

© José Ramón Oller © José Ramón Oller
  • Architects: equipo olivares arquitectos
  • Location: Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
  • Author Architects: Javier Pérez-Alcalde Schwartz FERNANDO AGUARTA GARCÍA
  • Rigger: JOSÉ FLOREAL MARTÍNEZ
  • Area: 132.83 m2
  • Year Of Project: 2016
  • Photographies: José Ramón Oller
  • Electricity: Tomás Trujillo
  • Construction Company: La Dama
© José Ramón Oller © José Ramón Oller
Plan / Elevation Plan / Elevation

Text description provided by the architects. This architectural intervention on the top of a rationalist building dating back to 1936 is an attempt at updating a two-bedroom home from a series of underlying elements and restrictions befitting a long-established building. 

© José Ramón Oller © José Ramón Oller

We projected a light metallic structure that would not exert excessive weight on the roof covering. We also built dry envelopes, pavements and partition walls, as well as a new covering consisting of light prefabricated panels. Similarly, adaptation to preexisting systems suggested that the damp streak lodging the toilets be placed near the patios, thus reducing the layout and allowing for a rational distribution. The sun path, however, prompted a generous laying out of openings facing the rising sun that brighten the common spaces and the terrace overlooking the city, the sea and the Anaga Mountains at sunrise. 

© José Ramón Oller © José Ramón Oller

The new volume overlooks Calle Robayna like a discreetly expressive visor whose flight enables a balancing of the light structure’s efforts. It faces the street in the guise of a finish aspiring to fit harmoniously with the original building; and it provides a clean piece that is guided by an economy of means and by the choice of a restrained material palette. 

Details Details
© José Ramón Oller © José Ramón Oller

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M25 / AOCR

Posted: 20 Jul 2018 07:00 PM PDT

© Michal Vršanský, Lubo Stacho © Michal Vršanský, Lubo Stacho
  • Architects: AOCR
  • Location: Mýtna, 811 07 Bratislava, Slovakia
  • Lead Architects: Pavol Senecký, Michal Vršanský, Juraj Senecký
  • Area: 540.0 m2
  • Project Year: 2016
  • Photographs: Michal Vršanský, Lubo Stacho
© Michal Vršanský, Lubo Stacho © Michal Vršanský, Lubo Stacho

Text description provided by the architects. During the process of reconstruction and extension of the residential building Mýtna 25, originally built as three storeyed object with unused attic space, it's volume was heightened by additional three floors, including the attic.  Two upper storeys are supressed from the Mýtna street in order to create a terrace space. Despite of the plane of the facade from the street maintain it's previous, unchanged shape from the pedestrian point of the view.

© Michal Vršanský, Lubo Stacho © Michal Vršanský, Lubo Stacho

Vertical sunshading system of the newly constructed floors which creates regular pattern redefine the original roof plane as a new, pure architectural element respecting the original architecture of the building, which was reconstructed with conservative approach.

Section Section

Design solution is based on the contrast of the previous, historical form and the newly built volume, with the strict definition of the dividing line represented by the horizontal of the main cornice from the view of Mýtna street and from the backyard view by the vertical created by the elevator shaft and extended console of the added levels.

© Michal Vršanský, Lubo Stacho © Michal Vršanský, Lubo Stacho

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BHMM House / Estudio JI Arquitectos

Posted: 20 Jul 2018 06:00 PM PDT

© Mariela Apollonio © Mariela Apollonio
  • Architects: Estudio JI Arquitectos
  • Location: Clot de Mingot, 03590 Altea, Alicante, Spain
  • Architects In Charge: Jorge Frías, Irene Zurdo
  • Area: 79.0 m2
  • Project Year: 2016
  • Photography: Mariela Apollonio
  • Promoter: Private
© Mariela Apollonio © Mariela Apollonio

Text description provided by the architects. A house facing the Mediterranean and the River Algar ... 

© Mariela Apollonio © Mariela Apollonio
Diagram Diagram

The idea is to create a diaphanous but convertible space where moments dedicated to private and  public can be regularly available to its owner.

© Mariela Apollonio © Mariela Apollonio

This requires an only centerpiece storage structure that organizes public and private space. The other parts that serve the house (kitchen, toilets, etc ...) are "assembled" with the main piece to complete a "mechanism volumes" through which it circulates and whose relationship to each other configures the living spaces (1 bedroom suite, a multifunctional space, living room ...) 

Diagram Diagram

A system of hidden wood panels deployed and collected to set different levels of privacy: a continuous and fluid space when the panels are open, or space compartmentalized in different rooms when closed.

© Mariela Apollonio © Mariela Apollonio

The transition from "public" to "private" is done through thresholds that compress space. Through them it is where white and bright parts become intimate spaces built in oak. These thresholds, in certain stress points, are broken up into wooden slats that frame the visual sought. It is especially important threshold of space that frames the landscape outside, which extends to the ground as an exhibitor and storage.

© Mariela Apollonio © Mariela Apollonio

A subtle vertical lines carved in wood accompanies the entire house giving her rhythm and texture.

© Mariela Apollonio © Mariela Apollonio

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Harewood Studio / Hugh Strange Architects

Posted: 20 Jul 2018 04:00 PM PDT

© David Grandorge © David Grandorge
  • Architects: Hugh Strange Architects
  • Location: North York Moors National Park, Pickering YO18 8RN, United Kingdom
  • Architect In Charge: Hugh Strange Architects
  • Main Contractors: Fred & Simon Grimmer
  • Area: 29.0 m2
  • Project Year: 2016
  • Photographs: David Grandorge
© David Grandorge © David Grandorge

Text description provided by the architects. A small, dilapidated outbuilding, originally used to house livestock, has been renovated to provide a one-room private studio space within a linear village on the southern edge of the North Yorkshire Moors national park. 

Axonometric Axonometric

The existing walls, window and door openings of the building have been retained, their modesty disguising the transformed character of the interior space. Inside, a concrete column, located off centre within the room, supports one corner of a mezzanine deck, and rises to prop the ridge beam part way along its span. The quarry tiles of the floor rotate around the base of the column. To the rear of the space sits a line of built-in bookshelves, above it, a large new rooflight. 

© David Grandorge © David Grandorge

The project was completed by a father and son team of builders from the neighbouring village. The father, a mason, repaired the existing monolithic stone walls that were then lime-washed. The son, a joiner, completed all the joinery in Douglas fir, including the new roof structure and lining, the windows and door, the mezzanine deck and the line of book shelves. The two of them worked together to construct the large concrete column. 

© David Grandorge © David Grandorge

Through this close linkage between the construction and design of the building there is a natural simplicity to the internal space. Here, the reduced palette of materials, and abundant north light, provide the context for the spatial and symbolic play of structure around the central post. 

Model Model

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Baan Loy Lom / PO-D Architects

Posted: 20 Jul 2018 03:00 PM PDT

© Phahonchai Premjai © Phahonchai Premjai
© Phahonchai Premjai © Phahonchai Premjai

"Bann Loy Lom", personal private house, located at "Bann Rai Tho Si" Village in Pak Chong, Nakorn Rachasima Province. This village has calm atmosphere, large shared common area and also big road under big trees cover. Every house in village has some designed limitations such as gap of building to fence, height of building, color of building and etc that will not disturb the village overall view. Apart from that here is also the place for practicing the dharma. Dharma pavilion is sharing area for dharma activities that would happen often during Buddhist holiday and common holiday.

Plans Plans
© Phahonchai Premjai © Phahonchai Premjai

Here is used as second home for relaxing on holiday time. The owner likes to live simple, like to live close to the nature and good ventilation.  Also the owner likes practicing dharma, therefore the common area like place for practicing dharma, talking dharma, doing walk-meditation are very important area apart from bed room, bathroom and kitchen for this house.

© Phahonchai Premjai © Phahonchai Premjai

Therefore "Bann Loy Lom" was designed accordingly to the owner lifestyle. "Bann" is home. "Loy" is lifting the ground floor of house like Traditional Thai House but it is lifted to the level of parking area from the front of house so external look the house will be looked like normal one floor house but actually underneath can use of walk-meditation.  "Lom" means wind, good ventilation is required in every spot of house so the wind channel, house plan, wall form are designed to make the owner feel comfortable in wherever he walk through. Wherever the outer peace happened the inner peace will be there, "Bann Loy Lom".

Axonometric Axonometric

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Asma Bahçeler Residences / M artı D Mimarlık

Posted: 20 Jul 2018 02:00 PM PDT

© ZM Yasa Photography © ZM Yasa Photography
  • Architects: M artı D Mimarlık
  • Location: Izmir, İzmir, Turkey
  • Lead Architects: Metin Kılıç, Dürrin Süer
  • Project Team: Merih Feza Yıldırım, Serdar Uslubaş, Damla Duru, Ali Can Helvacıoğlu
  • Area: 14800.0 m2
  • Project Year: 2017
  • Photographs: ZM Yasa Photography
  • Statical Project: Ufuk Yıldırımer
  • Mechanical Project: Ekrem Evren
  • Electrical Project: Namık Onmuş
  • Interior Architecture: Handan Sucular
  • Landscape Architecture: AHAN Peyzaj
  • General Contractor: Tanyer Construction
  • Owner: Tanyer Construction
© ZM Yasa Photography © ZM Yasa Photography

Text description provided by the architects. Asma Bahçeler is a mass housing project consisting of 92 residential units in which the major design objective is to provide users with the comfort of a private residence within a collective living environment.

Section and Site Plan Section and Site Plan
© ZM Yasa Photography © ZM Yasa Photography

The buildings are positioned on a steep site with reference to the topography lines of the slope, thus minimizing interventions into the natural topography while creating residences with large gardens that merge with existing greenery.

© ZM Yasa Photography © ZM Yasa Photography

Aiming to establish an intimate neighborhood relationship, the residential units are lined up along a wide pedestrian walkway with a view of the bay, which extends along the curves of the topography.

Site Topography and Location Site Topography and Location

Each living space within the house is connected with the garden and vista. All interiors are integrated with exterior space.       

© ZM Yasa Photography © ZM Yasa Photography

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TaiKoo Hui Sustainable Toilet / Ida&Billy Architects

Posted: 20 Jul 2018 01:00 PM PDT

Courtesy of Ida&Billy Architects Ltd. Courtesy of Ida&Billy Architects Ltd.
  • Architects: Ida&Billy Architects
  • Location: TaiKoo Hui, Guangzhou, China
  • Design Team: Ida Sze, Billy Chan, Michelle Tam
  • Contractor: Guangdong No.1 Construction Engineering Co. Ltd. (Fit-out contractor)
  • Project Year: 2016
Courtesy of Ida&Billy Architects Ltd. Courtesy of Ida&Billy Architects Ltd.

Text description provided by the architects. A bright grotto – a contemporary abstraction of nature – to refresh shoppers amidst delicate garments and dazzling commodities, is our design concept for this underground toilet.

Sustainable Toilet Sustainable Toilet

Situated in the commercial center of Guangzhou China, the TaiKoo Hui is a mixed use complex incorporating a shopping mall, two Grade-A office towers, a hotel, and serviced apartment. The shopping mall receives tens of thousands of visitors daily, and its amenity facilities require an upgrade. The sustainable design toilet aims to raise the environmental awareness in the public realm and to become the role model of sustainability in the commercial & retail sector. The design aims to tie back to nature, formally as well as environmentally. Sustainability, spatial sculpting and human comfort drive the whole design.

Courtesy of Ida&Billy Architects Ltd. Courtesy of Ida&Billy Architects Ltd.

Minimum alterations are made to the original efficient layout, to minimize structural and piping alteration. It consists of three corridors of cubicles, washbasins & urinals. Wall furring was removed, the 'found' round and tilted square columns are painted to form a homogenous white mass to engage the space with unique shape and angle that hint the underlining structures.

Baby Caring & Children's Toilet Baby Caring & Children's Toilet

White and 'cyclorama' setting is applied to give a bright and clean ambient – walls join the ceiling seamlessly and smoothly with curved surfaces, to diffuse light for plants to duo-function as general lighting. Glass Fiber Reinforced Gypsum (GRG) panels are used to form the curved surfaces, for their durability and use of recycled materials. The curved edges also eliminate possible dark, dirty edges.

Courtesy of Ida&Billy Architects Ltd. Courtesy of Ida&Billy Architects Ltd.

Indoor plants are grown to purify air, raise indoor oxygen level, and add life and colors of nature. The plants are grown above human level for better management and tidiness. Pots are hidden inside the GRG furring, to enable the plants to form pure strokes of green. Irrigation utilizes grey water collected from the wash basins, supported by a local filtration system.

Courtesy of Ida&Billy Architects Ltd. Courtesy of Ida&Billy Architects Ltd.

The floor is a newly-casted dark grey terrazzo stone. Here the original sandstone and grey tiles are crushed as aggregates for the new terrazzo, forming unique silver grey chips to reveal the idea of recycle.

The new washbasin counter is an all-in-one station. The white corian counter curves up to join the LED lighting strip, mirror and ceiling as one integral piece, with a tree-shaped icon echoing to its collection of grey water for irrigation.  An integrated water tap cum hand dryer product is installed for sustainability and cleanness: it avoids dripping water on counter-top and floor, saves spaces and paper towels.

Courtesy of Ida&Billy Architects Ltd. Courtesy of Ida&Billy Architects Ltd.

Waterless urinal, water-saving water-closet & vacuum toilet are applied to save water usage by 80%, and reduce waste volume by 60% on a daily basis. Two fans are added to enhance fresh air movement, to replace mechanical cooling in winter and to reduce the cooling load in summer.

The baby care rooms are also upgraded with improved facilities and a playful design. The original layout is given minimum alterations to allow for a seating area and an additional baby care room, the resulted kinked passage and simplified arches continue the 'grotto' idea.

Courtesy of Ida&Billy Architects Ltd. Courtesy of Ida&Billy Architects Ltd.

Within this white grotto are rooms of patterns, each consists of a simple geometry or theme, and led through  arched openings of varying heights – higher ones for the baby care room, and lower ones for the children toilets. 

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8 Beautiful Belgian Houses: The Expert on Ugly Belgian Houses Weighs In

Posted: 20 Jul 2018 12:00 PM PDT

Sometimes an architect's best intentions get lost along the way. Sometimes they get value-engineered out; sometimes they were never really there to begin with. That's where Ugly Belgian Houses comes in. The blog, run by discerning Belgian Hannes Coudenys, documents some of his home country's architectural misadventures - all with a sense of humor, of course!

Today, to celebrate Belgium's National Day, we asked the man behind the blog to select some beautiful Belgian houses. His choices - with a few words from him and the architects - after the break. 

1. House CR / dmvA

House CR / dmvA. Image © Sergio Pirrone House CR / dmvA. Image © Sergio Pirrone

Ugly Belgian Houses says: Textures loading… 

From the architects: "...[We] wanted to create an icon, a landmark, as a response to the often-ridiculous building regulations and the unadapted town planning regulations in Flanders. So [we] opted for white and smooth plasterwork as finishing material for all facades."

2. Stephanie & Kevin / Atelier Vens Vanbelle

Stephanie & Kevin / Atelier Vens Vanbelle. Image Courtesy of Atelier Vens Vanbelle Stephanie & Kevin / Atelier Vens Vanbelle. Image Courtesy of Atelier Vens Vanbelle

Ugly Belgian Houses says: Vens Vanbelle, one of their best up to date.

From the architects: "The space is glazed on three sides, so the sun comes in all day long and gives you the feeling that you are in close contact with the environment."

3. House in the Outskirts of Brussels / SAMYN and PARTNERS

House in the Outskirts of Brussels / SAMYN and PARTNERS. Image © Marie-Françoise Plissart House in the Outskirts of Brussels / SAMYN and PARTNERS. Image © Marie-Françoise Plissart

Ugly Belgian Houses says: I never promised you a rose garden. Epic facade by Samyn and Partners.

From the architects: "The house presents curved and vegetalised facades that are very private and closed to the neighbours to the north, the east and the south. In contrast, the west facade is entirely glass-walled as if it were one huge partitioned window."

4. VILLA MQ / Office O architects 

VILLA MQ / Office O architects. Image © Filip Dujardin VILLA MQ / Office O architects. Image © Filip Dujardin

Ugly Belgian Houses says: Mesmerizing. Is this LA? I want a house by OA. Seriously.

From the architects: "This spacious villa is situated in Tremelo on a large terrain surrounded by pines...While in other designs OOA's approach is very conceptual in the approach of a design, here we just let it flow.

5. Villa Moerkensheide / Dieter De Vos Architecten 

Villa Moerkensheide / Dieter De Vos Architecten. Image © Filip Dujardin Villa Moerkensheide / Dieter De Vos Architecten. Image © Filip Dujardin

Ugly Belgian Houses says: Really appreciate this floorplan.

From the architects: "An explicit orientation to the sun shapes the tripartite composition of the house. Three gardens formally complement the composition, each garden intended for a specific time of day: morning, afternoon, evening."

6. House Bernheimbeuk / architecten de vylder vinck taillieu 

House Bernheimbeuk / architecten de vylder vinck taillieu. Image © Filip Dujardin House Bernheimbeuk / architecten de vylder vinck taillieu. Image © Filip Dujardin

Ugly Belgian Houses says: Future classic. Taking the best of Ugly Belgian Architecture and creating a masterpiece.

From the architects: "A small site. A small house. The small budget. An even smaller house."

7. Ark Shelter / Michiel De Backer + Jakub Senkowski + Martin Mikovčák 

Ark Shelter / Michiel De Backer + Jakub Senkowski + Martin Mikovčák. Image © Thomas Debruyne Ark Shelter / Michiel De Backer + Jakub Senkowski + Martin Mikovčák. Image © Thomas Debruyne

Ugly Belgian Houses says: Much love for ARK. Small & mobile is the future.

From the architects: "We were thinking about a way to escape from our stressful lives and to get back to our roots. We believe people will find the break they need by bringing the nature back."

8. DM Residence / CUBYC architects bvba 

DM Residence / CUBYC architects bvba. Image © Thomas Debruyne DM Residence / CUBYC architects bvba. Image © Thomas Debruyne

Ugly Belgian Houses says: It's a bit boring but I am stunned by its setting and its clean clean lines. So its not boring. :)

From the architects: "All living areas are visually with each other, and with the wooded area connected, but you have to find out these connections in phases. Each room has its own perspective."

You can see more beautiful Belgian houses on the ArchDaily Catalog here. And you can see some Ugly Belgian Houses here. 

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Arkles Bay Residence / Creative Arch

Posted: 20 Jul 2018 12:00 PM PDT

© Andy Chui © Andy Chui
  • Interior Design: Bonham Interior
  • Builder: Ken Wilson Builders Ltd
  • Engineer: Kirk Roberts
© Simon Devitt © Simon Devitt

Text description provided by the architects. This home in Whangaparaoa is nestled amongst the branches of protected Pohutukawa, looking through greenery to the Wade River as it flows into Arkles Bay. The brief for this project involved a new four-bedroom home, with complete privacy from the street and maximum views over the water. The decision to craft the angular forms of this home answers both of these requirements with a distinctive architectural resolution.

Ground Floor Plan Ground Floor Plan
© Andy Chui © Andy Chui

Fulfilling this purpose, vertical metal cladding wraps up and over an enigmatic angular form that sits close to a cliff edge. From the street, glimpses of glazing, living areas, vertical cedar cladding and low-maintenance bagged masonry can be seen from oblique angles. However, the visual impact of the metal cladding cutting through the center of the site draws the eye and provides a sense of the mysterious. The building effortlessly transitions between story heights, anchoring down to the street while opening up to panoramic clifftop views.

© Simon Devitt © Simon Devitt

To the rear of the site, façades are softened with the careful combination of materials and forms, with generous glazing looking out to the bay. A number of outdoor living areas are apportioned along three edges of the home. These are screened and sheltered to provide protection against prevailing and unpredictable winds.

© Simon Devitt © Simon Devitt

The angular roof form ties a single story garage to the first-floor bedroom and living spaces, folding gently over the rectangular south-eastern façade. A central stairwell framed by double-height glazing works in tandem with an aligned skylight and void, creating a light well through the heart of the home over an interior garden.

© Simon Devitt © Simon Devitt

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Meeting House Square Rainscreen / Sean Harrington Architects

Posted: 20 Jul 2018 10:00 AM PDT

Courtesy of Sean Harrington Architects Courtesy of Sean Harrington Architects
  • Manufacturers And Engineers: MDT tex
  • Client : Temple Bar Cultural Trust
Courtesy of Sean Harrington Architects Courtesy of Sean Harrington Architects

Text description provided by the architects. There is a saying in Ireland that you can have 'four seasons in one day' – from warm spring sunshine to intense summer light, and from lively autumn gales to a sudden wintry shower.  Because Irish skies are constantly changing, Seán Harrington Architects was commissioned to design an innovative solution to provide a convertible weather covering over a popular public square in Dublin's Temple Bar area. 

Courtesy of Sean Harrington Architects Courtesy of Sean Harrington Architects

The landmark 'Umbrella Project' was recently installed in Dublin's trendy Temple Bar area by Swiss-German manufacturer MDT-Tex, a market leader and innovator in outdoor coverings.  The four umbrellas were on a four-day journey from Germany, where they were engineered and manufactured. The bespoke design comprises of a 21-metre high steel structure, which supports an asymmetric tilted umbrella, measuring approximately 11-metres by 14-metres. The closed umbrellas are elegant slim objects of sculptural beauty, with the canopy fabric encapsulated by the umbrella arms, inspired by bulrushes, reaching for the sky. Opening within approximately 7 minutes, the four umbrellas overlap like flowers to provide a continuous cover for Meeting House Square, the heart of outdoor cultural activity in Dublin.  Floodlit from above through the translucent Teflon fabric, the square can be atmospherically lit in different colour moods.  Audio speakers as well as water and electricity supplies are incorporated for maximum usability.

Plan Extended Plan Extended
Plan Retracted Plan Retracted

The €2.4 million project was commissioned by Temple Bar Cultural Trust (TBCT), following a public competition, to mark the 20th anniversary of the urban regeneration of Temple Bar, which has won many European awards.  Meeting House Square is Dublin's most important public cultural square, hosting a wide-range of outdoor events from organic food markets to open-air theatre, popular film screenings and concerts. In the past, events were (Irish) weather dependent and often subject to cancellation. 

Courtesy of Sean Harrington Architects Courtesy of Sean Harrington Architects

Commenting on the design of the Umbrella Project, Dermot McLaughlin, Chief Executive Officer of TBCT said:  "Our design objective was to retain the sense of openness and exterior space that characterises Meeting House Square. The structure of the umbrellas was required to harmonize with the existing modern architecture and we are delighted to add Seán Harrington Architects to the list of distinguished architects whose work has defined Meeting House Square." 

Courtesy of Sean Harrington Architects Courtesy of Sean Harrington Architects

Seán Harrington remarked  "Working in close harmony with MDT, and with solid support from our client, together we have produced an innovative, unique, ambitious, and beautifully engineered solution that will help fulfill the great potential of the this city square, and make it "weather-proof" !

Section 1 Extended Section 1 Extended

Dick Gleeson, Chief Planner of Dublin City Council praised the project:  "The wonderful new sculptural columns and dream catcher rainscreen raise the spirit of the City and embody Dublin's commitment to innovation and to be a prototyping and trialing city"

Courtesy of Sean Harrington Architects Courtesy of Sean Harrington Architects

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An Architectural Guide to Nantes: The French City of Weird and Wonderful Art

Posted: 20 Jul 2018 09:30 AM PDT

Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne featuring Paysage Glisse by Tact Architectes and Tangui Robert. Image © LVAN Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne featuring Paysage Glisse by Tact Architectes and Tangui Robert. Image © LVAN

Situated in the Loire region of France, Nantes could be regarded as a "tale of two cities" from many angles. Once a bustling node for European shipping, former vast, industrial warehouses have become a hotbed of cultural and artistic expression. Meanwhile, divided by the Loire river flowing towards the Atlantic, a maze of Haussmann-style terraces, ornate cathedrals, and monumental museums sit in contrast to an island of outlandish mechanical contraptions, and young, modern, free-spirited innovation.

The sheer variety of artistic and architectural wonders alone make Nantes a destination for architects and designers. Merged with culinary excellence, highly-instagrammable hotels, and a determination by public and private officials to maintain and expand on the city's vibrant, playful design scene, and Nantes becomes a must-see, undiscovered architectural gem.

What follows in an architectural guide to Nantes, written off the back of a recent visit to the French city. Documented at a time when the excitement of France's impending World Cup victory added to the buzz of the city's streets, plazas, and bars, the city remains a constant hotbed of art and design. From what to know before you go, where to stay, where to eat, and what to do, the buildings and events mentioned here only scratch the surface of what can be appreciated.

The Basics

Place Graslin. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh Place Graslin. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh
© Niall Patrick Walsh © Niall Patrick Walsh

Situated between Brittany and the Loire Valley, the city of Nantes has a population of 330,000 inhabitants. The Loire river cuts through the center of the city, splitting in two to form an island named "île de Nantes" (Island of Nantes). A former epicenter of shipbuilding and trade, île de Nantes is rapidly becoming a cultural, artistic, playful nirvana, with half of the new inhabitants arriving in Nantes settling there.

Les Machines de L'ile. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh Les Machines de L'ile. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh
Misconceivable by Erwin Wurm. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh Misconceivable by Erwin Wurm. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh

On the north bank of the Loire river, the old quarter of Nantes contains a maze of Art Nouveau, Haussmann-style terraces, overlooked by the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany. Here, you can find narrow streets lined with themed restaurants and cafes, plazas acting as nodes to a bounty of shopping streets, and a sprinkling of public attractions including museums and cathedrals.

Sortie de Fontaine by Michel Blazy at the Place Royale. Image © Martin Argyroglo and LVAN Sortie de Fontaine by Michel Blazy at the Place Royale. Image © Martin Argyroglo and LVAN
île de Nantes. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh île de Nantes. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh

Nantes is most effectively explored on foot, although the city is renowned for its well maintained public transport system, including trams and buses, which contributed to the city being awarded a European Green Capital Award in 2013. The climate in Nantes is typical for Western Europe, with temperatures during the summer averaging at 25°C (77°F), falling to 9°C (48°F) during winter.

île de Nantes. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh île de Nantes. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh
île de Nantes. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh île de Nantes. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh

What Not to Miss

Les Machines de L'ile

Les Machines de L'ile. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh Les Machines de L'ile. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh
Les Machines de L'ile. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh Les Machines de L'ile. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh

Now ten years old, Les Machines de L'ile is perhaps Nantes' most surreal attraction. Situated on the île de Nantes, Les Machines contains a range of large mechanical structures and moving monuments created by Francois Delaroziere and Pierre Orefice. Most iconic is the Grand Elephant, a 12-meter-high mechanical creature operating since 2007, which patrols the island's core, roaring and spraying water with 50 passengers on its back.

The Grand Elephant links to the Carrousel Des Mondes Marins, a 25-meter-high mechanical merry-go-round completed in 2012. The aquatically-themed amusement contains 3 carousels, housing 35 sea creatures, and vessels such as giant squid, flying fish, and storm boats.

Les Machines de L'ile . Image © Niall Patrick Walsh Les Machines de L'ile . Image © Niall Patrick Walsh

While undeniably outlandish, the structures strike a deep connection with their surroundings, with the mechanical skill, craftsmanship, and ingenuity which once defined Nantes' shipbuilding heritage now translated into highly-engineered, triumphant amusements.

Les Machines de L'ile. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh Les Machines de L'ile. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh

Not content with giant elephants and sea creatures, the team behind Les Machines de L'ile are busy at work on their next creation, a 35-meter-high mechanical "Heron Tree" expected to be completed for 2022. Situated in a disused quarry, the structure will contain an abundance of operational insects, crowned by two herons flying from branch to branch.

Le Voyage à Nantes

Ode to Sidestepping by Philippe Ramette. Image © Martin Argyroglo and LVAN Ode to Sidestepping by Philippe Ramette. Image © Martin Argyroglo and LVAN
Metre a Ruban by Lilian Bourgret. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh Metre a Ruban by Lilian Bourgret. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh

Nantes' flagship art trail is Le Voyage à Nantes, an annual event celebrating surreal art, new architecture, and contemporary culture. Most active throughout the summer months, Le Voyage is navigated by a green line running through the city, with the 2018 itinerary featuring contemporary architecture, music, and a wide range of artistic installations.

"fluides" by Celeste Boursier-Mougenot. Image © Laurent Lecat and LVAN "fluides" by Celeste Boursier-Mougenot. Image © Laurent Lecat and LVAN
"fluides" by Celeste Boursier-Mougenot. Image © Laurent Lecat and LVAN "fluides" by Celeste Boursier-Mougenot. Image © Laurent Lecat and LVAN

Highlights include "fluides" by Celeste Boursier Mougenot, where visitors walk through a path abundant with birds producing music by landing and interacting with musical instruments, and a city-wide network of statues by Philippe Ramette such as "Ode to Sidestepping" and "Ode to Laziness" made in response to attitudes of man, rather than glories.

Last Garden by Michel Blazy. Image © Martin Argyroglo and LVAN Last Garden by Michel Blazy. Image © Martin Argyroglo and LVAN
Last Garden by Michel Blazy. Image © Martin Argyroglo and LVAN Last Garden by Michel Blazy. Image © Martin Argyroglo and LVAN

Where to Eat and Drink

Morning Coffee at Canadienne

Canadienne. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh Canadienne. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh

Created by Collectif Fichtre, and overlooked by Jean Nouvel's Palais de Justice, the Canadienne is part of the restaurant Le 1. Perched on the Loire riverside on the île de Nantes, the patio is described by the designers as "a shelter made of beams and canvas where one can wile away the Indian summer on the prairies along the Loire."

Lunch at Pickles

Pickles. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh Pickles. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh
Pickles. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh Pickles. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh

A contemporary-styled restaurant "offering a neo-bistro cuisine," Pickles is a treat to dine in, with a dynamic yet soft blend of color activated by full-length windows and patios. Owner and chef Dominic, always with a story to tell, has amassed contacts, flavors, and dishes spanning British, Italian, Asian, and Maghreb regions, all cooked in the French culinary tradition.

Dinner at La Cigale

La Cigale. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh La Cigale. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh
La Cigale. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh La Cigale. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh

Opened in 1895, and now a listed monument, La Cigale is one of the finest examples of Art Nouveau in France. A never-ending display of monuments, painted wood, and ceramic murals form an immersive backdrop to excellent food throughout the day and evening. While the interior is not to be missed, the restaurant spills out onto the Place Graslin in good weather, offering diners impressive surroundings including the Theatre Graslin, and façade of La Cigale itself.

Evening Drinks at Le Nid

Le Nid. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh Le Nid. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh
Le Nid. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh Le Nid. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh

Perched on the 32nd floor of Nantes' third-tallest building, "The Nest" offers a panoramic view of the city. With a cocktail in hand, visitors can enjoy Jean Julian's immense half-stork, half-heron installation as it winds its way around the space, its large body serving as the bar. Large egg shells become tables and chairs, while poster art by Julian hangs on the walls, depicting emblematic places in the city.

Where to Stay

Oceania Hotel de France

Oceania Hotel de France. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh Oceania Hotel de France. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh
Oceania Hotel de France. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh Oceania Hotel de France. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh

At the heart of Nantes' urban core, the building housing the Oceania dates back to the 1700s, a once-private residence now enjoyed by the public and visitors alike. Characterized by an Art Deco-inspired interior, the hotel's masterpiece is its winding monochromatic staircase adorned with colorful hanging lights, and a lobby which once acted as an outdoor courtyard accessed via an ornate vaulted passageway.

Hotel La Perouse

Hotel La Perouse. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh Hotel La Perouse. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh
Hotel La Perouse. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh Hotel La Perouse. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh

Standing in stark contrast to the Art Deco Oceania is the contemporary, late twentieth-century La Perouse, a timeless, monolithic block standing out against historic surroundings. Minimal modernism on the outside is countered with artistic personality inside, with the lobby decorated with contemporary artwork included a mobile phone sphere and free-spirited manikin.

Where to Relax

The Shipyard Park

The Rings by Patrick Puchain and Daniel Buren. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh The Rings by Patrick Puchain and Daniel Buren. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh
Va Marcher Sur La Lune by Detroit Architectes. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh Va Marcher Sur La Lune by Detroit Architectes. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh

With the île de Nantes moving on from its industrial past, replaced by riverside walks, piers, and themed gardens, the Loire waterfront has been lined with fun attractions. The Parc des Chantiers features quirky installations such as the Basketball Tree by A/LTA, The Rings by Patrick Puchain and Daniel Buren, and On Va Marcher Sur La Lune by Detroit Architectes.

La Cantine du Voyage

Cantine du Voyage. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh Cantine du Voyage. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh
Installation at La Cantine du Voyage by Appelle Moi Papa. Image © Philippe Piron and LVAN Installation at La Cantine du Voyage by Appelle Moi Papa. Image © Philippe Piron and LVAN

Also on île de Nantes, and open only during warmer months, La Cantine du Voyage is more than a canteen. With table soccer, bowls, a children's play area, and a long bar, La Cantine has been colorfully dressed up by Nantes-based collective Appelle-moi papa to offer a surreal dining experience along the Loire waterfront. Next door, a 900-square-meter vegetable garden produces ingredients used by the Cantine, including tomatoes, basil, courgettes, and cucumbers. 

Other Landmarks

Passage Pommeraye

Passage Pommeraye featuring Ode to Laziness by Philippe Ramette. Image © Marc Domage and LVAN Passage Pommeraye featuring Ode to Laziness by Philippe Ramette. Image © Marc Domage and LVAN

One of Nantes' most ornate streets, the Passage Pommeraye is an architectural marvel. Built on a steep incline in 1843, the three floors are flanked by shops, cafes, and even apartments. The passage plays host to Philippe Ramette's "Ode to Laziness," which floats above the heads of often-unaware passersby.

Chateau Des Ducs De Bretagne

Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne featuring Paysage Glisse by Tact Architectes and Tangui Robert. Image © LVAN Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne featuring Paysage Glisse by Tact Architectes and Tangui Robert. Image © LVAN
Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne featuring Ode to Adaption by Philippe Ramette. Image © Marc Domage and LVAN Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne featuring Ode to Adaption by Philippe Ramette. Image © Marc Domage and LVAN

Situated in the heart of the medieval quarter, the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany is located near where the city walls of Nantes once stood, until their demolition under King Louis XVI. Visitors could spend an entire afternoon exploring the 1150 objects on display at the Musee D'Histoire de Nantes, and playing on the Paysage Glisse slide, designed by Tact Architectes and Tangui Robert.

Musee D'Arts De Nantes

Musee D'Arts De Nantes. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh Musee D'Arts De Nantes. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh
Musee D'Arts De Nantes. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh Musee D'Arts De Nantes. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh

Recently renovated by Stanton Williams, and housing over 13,000 works from classical to contemporary art, the Art Museum of Nantes is a never-ending source of artistic intrigue. With works by Picasso, Max Ernst, and Penone, and a host of temporary exhibitions and installations during summer months, the museum is a worthwhile visit both for its content, and architectural merit.

Theatre Graslin

Theatre Graslin featuring Inside by Daniel Firman. Image © Martin Argyroglo and LVAN Theatre Graslin featuring Inside by Daniel Firman. Image © Martin Argyroglo and LVAN

Commanding the Place Graslin, a square also addressed by La Cigale, the late-eighteenth-century Theatre Graslin was designed by local architect Mathurin Crucy. Restored in 2003, the building hosts 823 people, used for opera and other performances. The building also plays host to Daniel Firman's installation "Inside" which explores questions of movement and gesture through a sculpture, musical piece, and film.

Palais de Justice by Ateliers Jean Nouvel

Palais de Justice by Ateliers Jean Nouvel. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh Palais de Justice by Ateliers Jean Nouvel. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh
Palais de Justice by Ateliers Jean Nouvel. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh Palais de Justice by Ateliers Jean Nouvel. Image © Niall Patrick Walsh

Completed in 2000, Nouvel's courthouse was the first major contemporary piece of architecture to be built on île de Nantes under its regeneration plans. With views penetrating deep through the building from either side, the building stands as a symbol of judicial transparency, complete with etched quotes from philosophers and female writers.

Memorial to the Abolition to Slavery

Memorial to the Abolition to Slavery. Image © Philippe Ruault / Julian Bonder Memorial to the Abolition to Slavery. Image © Philippe Ruault / Julian Bonder
Memorial to the Abolition to Slavery. Image © Philippe Ruault / Julian Bonder Memorial to the Abolition to Slavery. Image © Philippe Ruault / Julian Bonder

Designed by Krzysztof Wodiczko and Julian Bonder, and located underneath the Loire walkway, this touching memorial contains 2000 plaques commemorating slave trade voyages which departed from Nantes for Africa and the Americas. The underground space bears the hallmarks of the hold of a slave ship, while the words of Martin Luther King and Abraham Lincoln, among others, echo through its chamber.

Ecole Nationale Superieure D'Architecture

The architecture school at Nantes featuring Bx Pallas by Block Architectes. Image © Philippe Piron and LVAN The architecture school at Nantes featuring Bx Pallas by Block Architectes. Image © Philippe Piron and LVAN
The architecture school at Nantes featuring Formes Indexees by Block Architectes. Image © Philippe Piron and LVAN The architecture school at Nantes featuring Formes Indexees by Block Architectes. Image © Philippe Piron and LVAN

No architectural trip would be complete without a visit to the local architecture school. Designed by Lacaton & Vassal, the voluminous space including workshops, classrooms, amphitheaters, and a multi-story carpark. In reference to the latter, Block Architectes have designed an artistic installation on the rooftop terrace, comprising a zero-gravity trailer hanging precariously over the building edge.

Read More

Le Voyage a Nantes official website

île de Nantes official website

ArchDaily's previous coverage of Nantes

About the Author: Niall Patrick Walsh is the News Editor at ArchDaily, who recently visited Nantes on ArchDaily's behalf to explore the city during the Voyage a Nantes art and architecture festival. He wishes to extend his sincere thanks to the Voyage a Nantes team, especially Bénédicte Péchereau, for their warm hospitality and deep-rooted knowledge of the city. 

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La Solana House / HGR Arquitectos + DIANA ARNAU

Posted: 20 Jul 2018 08:00 AM PDT

© Diana Arnau © Diana Arnau
  • Architects: DIANA ARNAU, HGR Arquitectos
  • Location: Acapulco, Mexico
  • Architects In Charge: Marcos Hagerman / HGR Arquitectos + Diana Arnau
  • Area: 1050.0 m2
  • Project Year: 2016
  • Photographs: Diana Arnau
  • Construction: Andrés Rozada + Juan Rozada
  • Structural Design: BASAM Estructural
© Diana Arnau © Diana Arnau

Text description provided by the architects. La Solana consists of a renovation and extention of a house built in the 60's by Oscar and Eduardo Hagerman. The house is located on an exclusive area overlooking the Acapulco bay. 

© Diana Arnau © Diana Arnau

The house is set on a 1210 sqm rocky, sloping ground. It has 5 bedrooms, each of them with closets, bathroom and terrace, a family room, kitchen, living room, dinning room, pool, outdoor bar and parking for 3 cars, with a total consruction of 1050 sqm, divided into 3 levels that adjust to the topography.

Plan Plan

The project  consists of 3 volumes. The first, upper volume, is the access and parking. Going down the stairs you reach the second volume, with 2 levels. On the upper level and through a private terrace you have the main bedroom, The lower level has 2 mirrored bedrooms, wich you enter through a  deck terrace/corridor. At the end of the terrace you reach the family room, a more closed space with a TV room, dinning table, kitchenette and bathroom.

© Diana Arnau © Diana Arnau

Descending half a level you find the third volume. On the upper floor you have the main living/dinning room completely opened, and the kitchen. Below this space there are 2 more rooms with their respective terrace and private garden.
The pool area, wich has a jacuzzi and a bar, articulates this two volumes.
All the spaces are connected by the stairs that adapt to the terrain.

© Diana Arnau © Diana Arnau

The room's façade is made of glass doors to take advantage of the views to the bay. A wooden courtain was placed in front of the windows to give those rooms privacy. The courtain folds depending on the light and privacy the user wants. The  courtain also evoques the courtains the original house had, commonly used in Acapulco houses on the 60's. The fixed furniture such as beds and closets were designed to integrate with each space. 

© Diana Arnau © Diana Arnau

The main living/dinning room has the least changes, to maintain some of the original escence. Glass railings were instaled to open the views to the ocean. The stairs and structural walls are made of stone collected from the site, and the new structure is composed of circular steel columns.

© Diana Arnau © Diana Arnau

The vegetation of the place remained untouched, it provides shadow to the house and keeps the temperature cool. New vegetation was planted to give greener views and more privacy.

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‘Allende’ Performance Hall and Rehearsal Studios / Dominique Coulon & associés

Posted: 20 Jul 2018 06:00 AM PDT

© Eugeni Pons © Eugeni Pons
  • Architects: Dominique Coulon & associés
  • Location: 5bis Avenue René Coty, 59370 Mons-en-Barœul, France
  • Architect In Charge: Dominique Coulon, Olivier Nicollas
  • Architects Assistants : Fanny Lienart, Lukas Unbekandt, Thibaut Muller, Guillaume Wittmann, Diego Bastos-Romero
  • Area: 2336.0 m2
  • Project Year: 2018
  • Photographs: Eugeni Pons, David Romero-Uzeda
  • Construction Site Supervision : Damien Surroca Architects
  • Structural Engineer : Batiserf Ingénierie
  • Electrical Engineer : BET Gilbert Jost
  • Mechanical Plumbing Engineer : BET Gilbert Jost
  • Environmental Engineer : Impact QE
  • Scenographer : Changement à vue
  • Cost Estimator : E3 Économie
  • Acoustics: Euro sound project
© Eugeni Pons © Eugeni Pons

Text description provided by the architects. Set in the orthonormal organisation of the town of Mons-en-Barœul, the cultural centre pivots, the better to look at the town hall. The building gains in autonomy and becomes an urban landmark. It contains three music studios, one 500‑seat modular auditorium, a bar, an exhibition gallery, and a large rehearsal room.

Diagram Diagram
First Floor Plan First Floor Plan

The pivoting of the volume of the large rehearsal room creates a large empty space on the inside that connects with the other elements of the project. The geometrical conflict generated by this pivoting is revealed by the triangular shape the empty space creates. In association with the diagonal lines of the staircase, the walls bend in an upward movement.

© Eugeni Pons © Eugeni Pons

The black lacquered surfaces render perception of the space more complex. Right at the top, the light brought in by the white ceiling gives it the appearance of a starry sky. The spaces are gathered around this strange heart, which may be read as some kind of interior dislocation. The spatial instability generated by the folds and reflections lends a strange atmosphere to the whole.

© Eugeni Pons © Eugeni Pons

The retractable tiered seating that covers two-thirds of the auditorium allows for a wide range of uses. The grid extends beyond the footprint of the stage, allowing a wide range of stage configurations. Acoustic scenario. General arrangements.

© Eugeni Pons © Eugeni Pons
© Eugeni Pons © Eugeni Pons

With an administrative centre reduced to a strict minimum, the areas devoted to different types of musical practice occupy the entire building. The bar and the gallery blend into the space occupied by the hall, adding a generous aspect to the project.

© Eugeni Pons © Eugeni Pons
© Eugeni Pons © Eugeni Pons

The external envelope has a rather rough appearance. The grey concrete presents two levels of finish: some of the surfaces are in rough concrete, while others are polished. The addition of crushed mirror to the concrete aggregates gives the facade a magical sparkle, depending on the light conditions.

© Eugeni Pons © Eugeni Pons

The project derives its quintessence from its context. Its simple volumes make no attempt to compete with the surrounding high-rise buildings. By emancipating itself from the urban geometry, it highlights its humble singularity. All in all, the building is not a competitor; it seeks to transcend the ages.

© David Romero-Uzeda © David Romero-Uzeda

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Best International Projects of 2018 Awarded by Australian Institute of Architects

Posted: 20 Jul 2018 05:00 AM PDT

Kampung Admiralty, Singapore / WOHA . Image © Patrick Bingham-Hall via Australian Institute of Architects Kampung Admiralty, Singapore / WOHA . Image © Patrick Bingham-Hall via Australian Institute of Architects

The Australian Institute of Architects has announced the winners of their 2018 International Chapter Awards. Recognizing projects from beyond Australia, but designed by members of the Australian Institute of Architects, the jury has honored six projects from a shortlist of 17.

The projects span commercial, interior, public, residential, and small architecture, with winners hailing from across Asia and the Pacific, including three in Singapore.

The four winning projects will now be considered for the Jorn Utzon Award for International Architecture, which will be announced on November 1st. In addition to the four awards, two commendations were awarded in the fields of commercial and small project architecture.

At the awards ceremony, renowned Singaporean architect Dr. Liu Thai Ker was presented with the William J Mitchell International Chapter Prize, which is awarded each year "in recognition of significant contribution by an Australia-linked practitioner to architecture globally."

In the last 25 years, Dr. Liu has served as a planning advisor for many municipal governments in China, and master planned more than 30 cities worldwide. His approach is "scientific" with an emphasis on evidence-based provisioning of basic amenities, transport, and accommodation but an aspiration to thus enable intellectual and cultural life.
-Prize Jury

The full list of winners and honorable mentions, complete with jury comments, is available below.

Commercial Architecture

Commendation: Kampung Admiralty, Singapore / WOHA 

Kampung Admiralty, Singapore / WOHA . Image © Patrick Bingham-Hall via Australian Institute of Architects Kampung Admiralty, Singapore / WOHA . Image © Patrick Bingham-Hall via Australian Institute of Architects

Interior Architecture

Winner: Australian Embassy Bangkok, Thailand / BVN

Australian Embassy Bangkok, Thailand / BVN. Image © John Gollings via Australian Institute of Architects Australian Embassy Bangkok, Thailand / BVN. Image © John Gollings via Australian Institute of Architects

From the red sand of the desert to the cities along the coastal fringe, the Australian landscape forms an intrinsic part of our national identity. This connection between land and culture provides the conceptual framework for the Australian Embassy in Bangkok, creating a distinctively Australian space within an urban Thai setting.

Public Architecture

Winner: New Wings at The Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore / GreenhilLi Architecture + Design

New Wings at The Asian Civilizations Museum, Singapore / GreenhilLi Architecture + Design. Image © GreenhilLi via Australian Institute of Architects New Wings at The Asian Civilizations Museum, Singapore / GreenhilLi Architecture + Design. Image © GreenhilLi via Australian Institute of Architects

The success of the elegant new architecture, with its soft metallic sheen, airy volumes and crisp titanium detailing, lies in its distinctive yet productive cooperation with the materiality, form and use history of its heritage partner. Notably, no part of the heritage building has been erased or obscured, rather it provides a counterpoise to the new.

Residential Architecture

Winner: House 412, Sri Lanka / Pulina Ponnamperuma + Robust Architecture Workshop

House 412, Sri Lanka / Pulina Ponnamperuma + Robust Architecture Workshop. Image © Kolitha Perera via Australian Institute of Architects House 412, Sri Lanka / Pulina Ponnamperuma + Robust Architecture Workshop. Image © Kolitha Perera via Australian Institute of Architects

By being "technologically robust" and pushing for the visible and considered craft of various trades, the building is allowed to act as both a teaching ground and a positive example of technique thereby helping build capacity and understanding of what is possible in the local workforce.

Small Project Architecture

Winner: School-in-a-Box, Papua New Guinea / Stephen Collier Architects

School-in-a-Box, Papua New Guinea / Stephen Collier Architects. Image © Stephen Collier via Australian Institute of Architects School-in-a-Box, Papua New Guinea / Stephen Collier Architects. Image © Stephen Collier via Australian Institute of Architects

The architects have responded to the challenges of the Papua New Guinea environment by creating an easily transportable pod or box, the contents of which create a pop-up school. Responding to the needs of people who have very little, the box includes a tent for shelter that allows for rainwater to be collected, solar panels to power laptops and a printer and plywood joinery for sitting and working.

The school in a box is an exemplar of how simple, thoughtful and useful design can positively influence communities and the environment, and have an influence way beyond an intended purpose.

Commendation: Bayshore Park Underpass, Singapore / GreenhilLi Architecture + Design

Bayshore Park Underpass, Singapore / GreenhilLi Architecture + Design. Image © GreenhilLi via Australian Institute of Architects Bayshore Park Underpass, Singapore / GreenhilLi Architecture + Design. Image © GreenhilLi via Australian Institute of Architects

News via: Australian Institute of Architects

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Rhizomatic Grid | TERMINAL 7 / Estudio Guto Requena

Posted: 20 Jul 2018 04:00 AM PDT

© Pierre L'Excellent © Pierre L'Excellent
  • Architect: Estudio Guto Requena
  • Location: 1 Place de la Porte de Versailles, 75015 Paris, France
  • Author: Guto Requena
  • Team: Ludovica Leone, Bruno Baietto, Daniel Viana, Tatiana Pacheco
  • Grid Produced: Ledbox Company
  • Area: 1500.0 m2
  • Project Year: 2018
  • Photographer: Pierre L'Excellent
© Pierre L'Excellent © Pierre L'Excellent

Text description provided by the architects. The design for the Terminal 7 club in Paris was developed by Estudio Guto Requena as a digital dreamlike environment—an invitation for people to leave their concerns outside and give way to dream and escapism.

© Pierre L'Excellent © Pierre L'Excellent
Plan Plan
© Pierre L'Excellent © Pierre L'Excellent

To do this we created a grand interactive sculpture that occupies the entire dance floor. It was inspired by the idea of planting five seeds that grow into five large trees that join their branches overhead. The structure was designed using parametric modeling (computer generated form) that simulates the growth of trees. The result is a rhizomatic grid that shelters visitors within. This metallic grid is illuminated with the endless combinations of colors and optical effect of LED lights allowing flexibility of use that transforms the space according to different needs.

© Pierre L'Excellent © Pierre L'Excellent
© Pierre L'Excellent © Pierre L'Excellent

Beyond mesmerizing the audience, the Rhizomatic Grid frames panoramic views of Paris and the Eiffel Tower and brings this incredible setting into the club. This project is another offshoot of research at Estudio Guto Requena into the use of new interactive technologies that create immersive environments and bridge the digital and the emotional.

© Pierre L'Excellent © Pierre L'Excellent

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What's the Difference Between a B.Arch and M.Arch Degree?

Posted: 20 Jul 2018 02:30 AM PDT

<a href="https://www.archdaily.com/179854/milstein-hall-at-cornell-university-oma-2">Milstein Hall, at Cornell University's College of Architecture, designed by OMA</a>. Image © Matthew Carbone <a href="https://www.archdaily.com/179854/milstein-hall-at-cornell-university-oma-2">Milstein Hall, at Cornell University's College of Architecture, designed by OMA</a>. Image © Matthew Carbone

The process of becoming an architect can be as confusing as it is extensive. In this article, we'll demystify a crucial component of the path to a career in architecture: what degree you should get. Specifically, we'll lay out the difference between two common, somewhat comparable degrees: the B.Arch and the M.Arch.

The 3 main types of degree track available in the USA. Image Image courtesy of <a href="https://studyarchitecture.com/">StudyArchitecture.com</a> The 3 main types of degree track available in the USA. Image Image courtesy of <a href="https://studyarchitecture.com/">StudyArchitecture.com</a>

Let's start with the B.Arch. In most countries, the Bachelor of Architecture is a five-year, pre-professional undergraduate program that's geared towards students who know they want to be architects—even when they graduate from high school. During the first one to two years, students generally take some non-architecture courses along with some classes that help develop their drafting and rendering skills. The last three years are focused on architecture techniques and building codes.

Most B.Arch programs are accredited by the National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB) in the United States, the RIBA in the UK, and by other local accreditation boards in many other countries; before you embark on a degree course, you should check which is the relevant body in your country and whether they have accredited the course you are considering. In some countries such as the USA, completing an accredited B.Arch degree qualifies students to take the Architect Registration Examination (ARE), or the equivalent registration exam for that country; in other countries, completing an accredited B.Arch degree automatically qualifies you as an architect; and in some countries such as the UK, the B.Arch is only the first step towards getting licensed. The details of a B.Arch program, and how it fits into the process of becoming an architect, vary from country to country, but the gist is the same everywhere: this is a professional degree that will fast-track you to the architecture profession.

<a href="https://www.archdaily.com/123171/yale-art-architecture-building-gwathmey-siegel-associates-architects">Rudolph Hall at the Yale Art + Architecture Building</a>. Image Courtesy of Gwathmey Siegel and Associates Architects <a href="https://www.archdaily.com/123171/yale-art-architecture-building-gwathmey-siegel-associates-architects">Rudolph Hall at the Yale Art + Architecture Building</a>. Image Courtesy of Gwathmey Siegel and Associates Architects

The M.Arch is a post-graduate program (meaning students will require an undergraduate degree to enroll) that likewise prepares students to become registered architects. Usually, the Masters of Architecture degree is offered to people who have completed an undergraduate liberal arts education. Some people entering M.Arch programs will have studied something unrelated to architecture, like English, at their undergraduate institution. Others might have received a B.S. or B.A. in architecture—or even a B.Arch—and choose to attend graduate school to deepen their theoretical understanding of architectural practice.

Because students enter M.Arch programs with significantly varied backgrounds, many universities offer multiple tracks within the M.Arch (often differentiated as "M.Arch I" and "M.Arch II"). For students who have completed an undergraduate degree in a subject unrelated to architecture, the M.Arch usually takes three or three and a half years. For students with an undergraduate degree in architecture, many graduate schools offer a two-year M.Arch program—often called a "4+2"—that complements a student's undergraduate architectural education.

<a href="https://www.archdaily.com/892818/mcewen-school-of-architecture-lga-architectural-partners">McEwen School of Architecture, designed by LGA Architectural Partners</a>. Image Courtesy of LGA Architectural Partners <a href="https://www.archdaily.com/892818/mcewen-school-of-architecture-lga-architectural-partners">McEwen School of Architecture, designed by LGA Architectural Partners</a>. Image Courtesy of LGA Architectural Partners

Check out Quacquarelli Symonds's list of the 200 best architecture schools in the world—and make sure to check if they offer the degree that's right for you!

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Piedra Toro / Forge Craft Architecture

Posted: 20 Jul 2018 02:00 AM PDT

© Patrick Wong © Patrick Wong
  • Architects: Forge Craft Architecture
  • Location: Austin, United States
  • Architect In Charge: Forge Craft Architecture
  • Collaborator: Camelot Custom Homes
  • Project Year: 2016
  • Photographs: Patrick Wong
© Patrick Wong © Patrick Wong

Text description provided by the architects. Piedra Toro is a 8,800 sf, 5-bedroom, 5-bath, spec home commissioned by a longtime collaborating general contractor who wanted a well-designed, contemporary home that could appeal to a wide range of people within a specific market of luxury home buyers.

© Patrick Wong © Patrick Wong

The house is organized to optimize the site's landscape and scenic views while providing maximum privacy. The open and airy floor plan connects inside to outside by creating lines of sight from the living space to both the eastern-facing garden and western negative-edge pool. The more private bedroom suites are located upstairs, away from the public area, and each bedroom boasts its own bathroom and walk-in closet.

© Patrick Wong © Patrick Wong

Materials such as limestone, fiber-cement panels and stucco allow the house to blend with the surrounding landscape while maintaining a distinct modern living ambience on the interior.

© Patrick Wong © Patrick Wong

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This Proposed Music Center Honors the Unique Birthplace of Polish Composer Frédéric Chopin

Posted: 20 Jul 2018 01:00 AM PDT

© ELEMENT © ELEMENT

Located in a small village in Poland, this proposed music center honors the birthplace of famous Polish composer and pianist, Frédéric Chopin. Designed by ELEMENT as a part of an international competition, the Chopin Music Center captures the picturesque landscape of endless forests through "leisure and relaxation."

The Center integrates with the park through window views of Frédéric Chopin's birth house and the surrounding landscape. The proposed international music center utilizes a combination of natural materials and glazing to create a seamless connection with its site. The existing park can be reached by pathways and bridges near the building, prompting visitors to experience the outdoor area.

© ELEMENT © ELEMENT

The Concert Hall was designed in collaboration with Arau Acustica. The space has a volume of 7,500 cubic meters and a capacity of 600 audience members and 100 musicians. According to the architects, "The shape of the Hall was designed to provide the best acoustic conditions. The glazed wall behind the scene is emphasizing the beautiful context and allows visitors to have a direct view of the park, which becomes a constantly changing scenery."

© ELEMENT © ELEMENT
© ELEMENT © ELEMENT

The building is divided into three blocks based on function. The central part of the Concert Hall is connected to all necessary functions, as well as a welcoming area with a double-height atrium, a ticket desk, and a cafeteria with leisure spaces. The second block contains the Chamber Hall, including offices and practice rooms, while the third block houses conference, guest, and learning rooms. The three blocks are joined by a glazed corridor which frames the scenery.

© ELEMENT © ELEMENT

You can view the winning submission by Polish architects Stelmach & Partners here.

News via: ELEMENT

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Studio Komma Will Transform Former Dutch Cargo Ships Into Sustainable Homes

Posted: 19 Jul 2018 11:30 PM PDT

Courtesy of Studio Komma Courtesy of Studio Komma

Adaptive reuse, the process of refashioning a defunct structure for a new purpose, is ubiquitous these days—so much so that hearing a phrase like "converted warehouse" or "repurposed factory" barely causes one to blink an eye. However, a new project from a cohort of Dutch architecture firms highlights the innovative nature of adaptive reuse with a scheme that reimagines disused cargo ships as houses. With their fully intact exterior shells, the ships remind residents and visitors of their industrial, seafaring past. 

Courtesy of Studio Komma Courtesy of Studio Komma

The collaboration between architecture firms Studio Komma, Studio Kees Marcelis, and landscape architect Buro Poelmans Reesink will bring between six and fourteen defunct ships back to life in a public park, the Marine-doc Estate. The project will entail the reuse of Kempenaar, a Dutch cargo ship that has "reached the end of [its] economic lifespan" on water. Lifted onto land, the maritime relics will now house residences that the architects describe as both "sustainable" and "exclusive." While their reference to sustainability is largely a nod to the environmental benefits of adaptive reuse (which saves energy by avoiding demolition and reducing construction impacts), renders of the project also indicate a ring of solar panels circling a roof deck.

Courtesy of Studio Komma Courtesy of Studio Komma

Like many adaptive reuse projects, the Marine-doc Estates' design contrasts an industrial past with a modernized, more luxurious present. As the architects describe, "the design preserves the original style characteristics of the stern, wheelhouse, and foredeck and combines these with sleek geometric shapes to provide aesthetic counterweight." Those sleek geometries include spacious patios that extend from large windows cut out of the side of the boat and a generous roof terrace.

Courtesy of Studio Komma Courtesy of Studio Komma
Courtesy of Studio Komma Courtesy of Studio Komma

The Marine-doc Estate project is scheduled to begin implementation this year. Its location has not yet been announced, but the designers say they are working "both nationally and internationally to secure land positions" for similar reuse projects.

Courtesy of Studio Komma Courtesy of Studio Komma

News via: Studio Komma

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Open Call: The Best Student Design-Build Projects

Posted: 19 Jul 2018 11:00 PM PDT

When learning about architecture, there is no replacement for practical experience: seeing how materials can be joined together, how structural elements respond to the stresses placed upon them, or how construction techniques can alter the finished project. For this reason, it is a good idea to give students a chance for some hands-on experience building real structures—something that, due to budgetary constraints and the academic culture of many architecture schools, has sadly been uncommon in the past.

However, in recent years, this culture has started to shift, with increasing numbers of architecture schools finding ways for students to be involved in construction projects, from small, temporary interventions and pavilions, to larger permanent buildings. In order to show the excellent work that can be done in an educational context, for the fourth time ArchDaily is calling on students and professors to submit the design-build projects they have completed in the past year. As always, we're teaming up with all of ArchDaily en Español, ArchDaily Brasil, and ArchDaily China, in the hope that we can present the best work from students worldwide to a worldwide audience. Read on to find out how you can take part.

Please use the form below to submit a Google Drive Folder containing images and a brief description of your project. Submissions close on Monday, July 23th at 12:00 pm ET.

Rules:

  • Projects must be real-life construction projects (no unbuilt proposals).
  • Projects must have involved the work of students, and have been undertaken for educational purposes.
  • Projects must have been completed in the most recent graduation period for your country.
  • Submissions should be through Google Drive only.
  • Please set the permissions of the Google Drive Folder to "Anyone with the link can edit"
  • Images should be in jpeg or png format, and text in a Google Doc or Microsoft Word.
  • Please do not upload zipped files. We would like to be able to review your work online, without downloading.
  • Submissions that do not conform to these rules will not be considered for publication.

Tips:

  • Individual images of your project are preferable to presentation boards.
  • We expect a high volume of submissions, so please make your written explanation as concise as possible.
  • Unless stated otherwise, we will attribute images as "courtesy of" the submitter. If your images should be attributed otherwise, please include a contact sheet in the folder with the necessary copyright details.

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