Arch Daily |
- New Renderings Reveal Vancouver's 'Gateway Tower' Counterpart to BIG's Vancouver House
- Building Better Schools: 6 Ways to Help Our Children Learn
- Diósgyőr Stadium / KÖZTI Architects
- House Behind The Roof / Superhelix Pracownia Projektowa
- Kalkbreite / Müller Sigrist Architekten
- The House with Two Lives / nabil gholam architects
- MARS Case / OPEN Architecture
- Jenkins Street / C.Kairouz Architects
- Concrete Vessel / Atelier FCJZ
- Coffeetown Salvador / TRPC Arquitetos
- Huntingtower / Workroom
- Lighthouse / Knowhow Shop
- Homes for All - Dortheavej Residence / Bjarke Ingels Group
- BIG Selected to Design First Phase of Airport City in Luxembourg
- AS House / Architectare
- WXCA's Polish Pavilion for Dubai Expo 2020 Features Kinetic Flocks of Birds
- House in Guimarães / Correia/Ragazzi Arquitectos
- SLICE Creates Apartments from Plugin Modules for Future City Living
- De Beauvoir Block / Henley Halebrown
- Architecture: the Unsung Hero of Your Favorite Film
| New Renderings Reveal Vancouver's 'Gateway Tower' Counterpart to BIG's Vancouver House Posted: 08 Oct 2018 10:00 PM PDT  601 Beach Crescent. Image Courtesy of Jyom Architecture / GBL Architects Shanghai-based JYOM Architecture and GBL Architects have released new renderings of 601 Beach Crescent, the 'Gateway Tower' counterpart to Bjarke Ingels Group's Vancouver House project. As the Daily Hive reports, developer Pinnacle International recently submitted its formal rezoning application to develop the vacant site on the north end of the Granville Street Bridge in downtown Vancouver. Conceptually, the tower was designed to replicate the motions of the dancing female form.  601 Beach Crescent. Image Courtesy of Jyom Architecture / GBL Architects On the other side of the bridge deck from Vancouver House, the 601 Beach Crescent tower will rise 535 feet across 54 floors. There will be 455 homes; 303 will be market residential units, while 152 social housing units will be created within the tower's base. Formed with a mix of studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three bedroom units, the project will include outdoor amenity terraces on the third, seventh, and eighth levels. The base with feature a 20,000 sq ft podium of commercial space. The site has been slated by the city for a landmark tower to create a gateway into the city from Granville Street Bridge. Th municipal government sold the property to Pinnacle for $20 million in 2016.  601 Beach Crescent Concept. Image Courtesy of Jyom Architecture / GBL Architects  601 Beach Crescent. Image Courtesy of Jyom Architecture / GBL Architects Aiming to create a new retail district alongside Vancouver House, the podium massing take its shape as a response to the site context and a desire to create a more vibrant public realm along Rolston. Formally, the project was inspired by movement and dance. As the designers state, "The 'Dress', an essential part of creating movement and dynamic gestures in dance, is expressed in the facade design through both graceful and strong details. The design simultaneously complements, contrasts and poses with its counterpart, the Vancouver House, to create a landmark gateway. The forms are sculpted and poised, and by creating smooth, undulating curves, one finds a duality of form – elegant, graceful, yet powerful and strong." While the construction schedule for 601 Beach Crescent has yet to be released, BIG's Vancouver House is already under construction and slated for completion early next year.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Building Better Schools: 6 Ways to Help Our Children Learn Posted: 08 Oct 2018 09:00 PM PDT  © Velux Group Did you know that 64 million European children spend more time at school than anywhere else other than their home? European children spend approximately 200 days each year at their primary schools. With this information, how do we go about designing healthier classrooms that create productive learning environments? This question is perhaps more important than ever, as this will be the first time since the 1970s that Europe and the UK will see a boom in the construction and renovation of schools. What a tremendous opportunity this is for both architects and educators to rethink what an educational facility should be and how the physical environment can be designed to have a positive impact on learning.
 © Velux Group New ResearchRecent research conducted by Professor Peter Barrett and his team of school design experts at the University of Salford, UK, showed clear evidence that well-designed primary schools can substantially boost children's academic performance in reading, writing, and math. Their ground-breaking study, the HEAD Project (Holistic Evidence and Design), concluded that differences in the physical characteristics of classrooms explained 16% of the variation in learning progress over a year for the 3,766 students included in the study. To put it simply, the better designed the classroom, the better children do academically.  © Velux Group The Vital Design ElementsThe findings outlined in the HEAD study reveal that certain design elements are intrinsic to improving learning in the classroom. They are:
This is the first time that clear evidence of the effect on users of the overall design of the physical learning space has been isolated in real life situations. In the past, specific aspects such as air quality have been studied, but how it all comes together for real people in real spaces has, until now, been based on gut-feeling and wishful thinking. For three years, researchers of the HEAD project carried out detailed surveys of 153 classrooms from 27 diverse schools and collected performance statistics for pupils studying in those spaces.  © Velux Group The Importance of Sensory FactorsThe study considered a wide range of sensory factors and used multilevel statistical modeling to isolate the effects of classroom design from other factors, such as the pupils themselves and their teachers.
 © Velux Group
As noted by researchers in the report, "Surprisingly, whole-school factors (e.g. size, navigation routes, specialist facilities, play facilities) do not seem to be anywhere near as important as the design of the individual classrooms. The message is that, first and foremost, each classroom has to be well designed." Below you will find practical guidelines on how to implement the HEAD findings in your next educational facility project. Whilst reading these guidelines, why not consider how these design principles (for optimal learning outcomes) could also be applied to other types of buildings - creating better healthcare facilities, better workspaces, better living places, etc. 1. Daylight © Velux Group We all know that the best antidote to the 'winter blues' is a break to a warmer, sunnier climate, preferably with white sandy beaches and clear blue waters. The reinvigorating effect of natural light and warmth can also be felt on a smaller scale, and in a wide range of environments, from homes and offices to public buildings, schools, and universities. It is perhaps no surprise then, that when a recent study [1] looked at how the physical design of educational buildings affects student's performance, one of the significant individual parameters was lighting. More Daylight Improves Learning [2] © Velux Group  Roof windows and skylights are generally less affected by outside obstructions than windows in the façade. Image © Velux Group
Ways to Improve the Daylight Conditions in Classrooms
 How to design with daylight?. Image © Velux Group How to Design with Daylight?2. Indoor Air Quality © Velux Group Poor indoor air quality can not only seriously inhibit students' concentration and overall performance, but can also lead to increased absenteeism due to illness. Adequate ventilation is therefore imperative for healthy classroom design to help students flourish. Ways to Improve the Indoor Air Quality in Classrooms Ventilation in schools can be provided mechanically using fans and/or by natural airflows through open windows and doors. Image © Velux Group
3. Acoustic Environment Typical sound levels. Image © Velux Group One important function of the building envelope is to protect the interior from unwanted outdoor noise. Sound insulation is an important parameter of building components, as outdoor noise can have negative effects on health, mood, and learning capabilities. Our perception plays an important role in identifying whether it is sound (positive) or noise that we hear. Unwanted noise is irritating or annoying, and in severe circumstance harmful. Comfortable auditory perception and freedom from intrusive background noise are vital for enabling communication in classrooms and allowing students to concentrate. 4. TemperatureJust like the bowls of porridge in the well-known fairy tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, the temperature in classrooms should neither be too hot, nor too cold, but just right. Ways to Improve the Indoor Temperature Conditions in Classrooms © Velux Group
5. Classroom Design © Velux Group Well-designed classrooms can improve students' learning progress by around 16% in a single year. Ownership and flexibility account for a quarter of this learning impact, so let's take a look at these important factors in terms of classroom design.  © Velux Group This is an illustration of a classroom with several good features of flexibility, inspired by the Clever Classrooms report: It has defined learning zones, an attached breakout space, an optimum shape with a teaching area relatively close to the furthest students as well as big wall areas for varied display options. 6. Stimulation © Velux Group While stimulation, color, and visual complexity are important for creating a vibrant learning environment in classrooms, what is the healthy balance between under-stimulation and over-stimulation? * This article was originally published as a detailed e-book that you can download here, in its full version. [1] Impact of Lighting on School Performance in European Classrooms (2016) C. Maesano and I. Annesi-Maesano, CLIMA 2016, 12th REHVA World Congress 2016, Aalborg.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Diósgyőr Stadium / KÖZTI Architects Posted: 08 Oct 2018 08:00 PM PDT  © Tamás Bujnovszky
 © Norbert Perness Text description provided by the architects. The new football stadium of Miskolc, the largest town in Northern Hungary, has been a state-funded project. At the beginning of the design period, six different concept designs were presented to the Client, the Sports Club, the Municipality and the Fan Club. Based on these designs, the Client decided to have the existing stadium, built in 1939, totally demolished.  © Norbert Perness The further designs of the new stadium were based on the approved version of the concept design. The chalice-shaped mass of the stadium opens up towards its surroundings and attracts the approaching spectators with glimpses of the green grass visible through slits.  © Tamás Bujnovszky  Third Floor Plan  © Tamás Bujnovszky The double mass of the grandstand, supported by slender reinforced concrete pylons, and the pronouncedly overhanging butterfly roof give a graceful, floating impression despite their size, owing to the strips of shadow between them. The expanded aluminum plate facing, used everywhere, create simple, geometrical forms of the reinforced concrete and steel structural elements.  © Balázs Danyi  Sections  © Balázs Danyi There is a large square in front of the new stadium for14.680 spectators, divided by stairs and ramps. Entry points are located at the four corners of the building. There are rows of toilets and cafeterias under the grandstand. The service building of 7.360 m2 area built around the stadium is divided into three parts according to function. On the northern side, facing the town is a brasserie open every day and a gift shop.  © Tamás Bujnovszky The western side accommodates the changing rooms, event halls, offices and VIP rooms. There are building management rooms and areas for the guest fans on the southern side. In Miskolc-Diósgyőr, being a football fan is part of the local identity, so the new stadium has been built in a good place.  © Tamás Bujnovszky  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| House Behind The Roof / Superhelix Pracownia Projektowa Posted: 08 Oct 2018 07:00 PM PDT  © Bartlomiej Drabik
 © Bartlomiej Drabik Text description provided by the architects. House is located in the suburban zone of Krakow in Poland. The building is part of a housing estate consisting of 10 single-family houses. The estate is characterized by dense development resulting from high land prices. In order to ensure the privacy of the residents, the house is hidden from access road and northern neighbors behind the roof surface. This explains the name - House behind the Roof.  © Bartlomiej Drabik Due to the dynamic development of the city, more and more natural areas are used for development, therefore ecological designing approach was particularly important. The northern roof of the building is covered with succulents and photovoltaic cells were placed on a well-sunlit southern part.  Sections The green roof has a 45-degree slope. It would be easier to design a traditional flat green roof, but local building law did not allow that - the roof had to be sloped. This solution was much more expensive, although the green roof surface significantly exceeded the area occupied by the building. Therefore, it can be said that what has been taken from nature has been given back with interest.  © Bartlomiej Drabik The characteristic element of the building is construction made of laminated timber with diagonally guided elements and undercuts at the edges of the roof. It has been exposed not only outside, it also penetrates to the interior of the building. At the connection of the two roof slopes there are windows letting in significant portion of light. Windows are mounted high above ground floor, when opened a natural ventilation works very efficiently.  Ground floor plan In the Superhelix studio special attention is always paid to how building changes over time, what happens with used materials. The elevation of the building was covered with a Western Red Cedar planks. This wood has not been protected from weather conditions and insects - it simply does not require it, in time it will take on a noble patina and change its color to silver-gray. The green roof also does not need special care. It does not require watering, long-lasting dry periods are not an issue. It is guaranteed by the shady northern exposure and the plants water retention.  © Bartlomiej Drabik The house has been designed on a rectangular plan, has two floors and 189 square meters. Due to the suburban location of building, where public transport is poorly developed, the ihabitants mainly use car to commute. That is why the garage is placed inside the house, on the ground floor, near to living room and kitchen. Guest room, toilet and utility rooms were also located at this level. On the first floor there is masterbedroom with dressing room and bathroom, two bedrooms for children, children's bathroom and kid's play room - can be adaptet as needed, eg. in the case of family enlarging.  Detail  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Kalkbreite / Müller Sigrist Architekten Posted: 08 Oct 2018 06:00 PM PDT  © Martin Stollenwerk
 © Michael Egloff  © Martin Stollenwerk Text description provided by the architects. The residential and commercial complex with integrated tram depot stands at a prominent point marking the boundary between two city districts. It combines residential, service and commercial uses in an identity-lending, large but compact form.  Section 02  © Martin Stollenwerk  Section 01 A cascade of access points links indoors and outdoors, walkable roofs and a courtyard above the tram depot. The building complex contains 88 flats, »joker spaces« that can be added on, various communal areas as well as cultural, catering, retail and service premises for 256 residents and providing 200 jobs. Kalkbreite hence offers new and flexible forms of living and working, serving as a model for cooperative living in the city.  © Martin Stollenwerk  Ground floor plan  © Martin Stollenwerk The complex was built according to the energy and ecology targets of the 2000-watt society and meets the Minergie-P-Eco standard. The seven-storey building is a hybrid construction with a façade of prefabricated wood elements. The plaster walls of the polygonal perimeter block development dazzle in colours ranging from orange to turquoise.  © Martin Stollenwerk  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The House with Two Lives / nabil gholam architects Posted: 08 Oct 2018 05:00 PM PDT  © Joe Kesrouani
 © Geraldine Bruneel Text description provided by the architects. The house is set in a beautiful site surrounded by a pine forest near the Lebanese mountain village of Bois de Boulogne and comes with a wide range of complications. Firstly, it already had the remains of a house on it. Though of limited architectural interest, the house had been one of the first modern homes built in the resort in the 1930's and originally belonged to the current owner's grandfather. Fought over at the outset of Lebanon's wars – the town straddled an important frontline – it had developed a bloody reputation. Damaged by gunfire and shelling, it had been occupied by the assorted military and militia forces and was used for 28 years as a torture and detention center. We were facing a house with its splendor past buried in memory.  © Richard Saad It all started with deciding how to go about this 'difficult exorcism': whether to work with what remained, as the owner wished to preserve some connection to his grandfather's house despite its painful associations or to start from scratch and wipe away both the connection and the unfortunate history. In the end, the decision was taken to do both. The ruins were gutted then reinforced and reused as a historic shell into which a brand-new home could be inserted, the architectural emulation of the hermit crab, which makes its home in the abandoned shells of other mollusks.  © Geraldine Bruneel  Section  © Joe Kesrouani Cleaning up the house and its surrounding garden took 4 months of intense work. This ruin's new 'resident' is a series of spartan perforated Corten steel-clad boxes. Stacked on one another, they nestle in the embrace of the two remaining sections of the house but also project beyond it, both at the roofline where their aesthetically rusting outline is just visible above the parapets and at the south-eastern end of the house, where they project dramatically above a low-slung, 35-meter Corten steel-clad concrete and glass oblong with a planted roof. The Corten steel skin changes color with time and is punctured with tiny dots echoing patterns of trees, a sort of "tree trunk ghost" projected on the façade.  © Joe Kesrouani The renovation added more than 2,000 square meters to the original 1,500 square meters stone house, along with an annex and guard house. Sustainable design was at the core of the renovation. In fact, the house uses solar energy for winter heating while harvesting rainwater and walls are backed with a double insulation layer. Among passive cooling strategies, the villa's shading is designed to take advantage of natural light. Partially sunk into the ground the volume houses a pool and an art gallery. Stretching through a grove of replanted pine trees, it is inserted in the sloping ground towards the snow-clad mountains in the distance.  © Joe Kesrouani Sunk into the landscape through terracing, the house is designed to blend into its surroundings. Climbing plants and vines colonize the ruins to camouflage the past, cleansing the house of its troubled history. More than a 1000 pine trees were planted in the garden: umbrella pines, oak trees, cork trees, Lebanese cedars, and other indigenous trees upholster the landscape which also includes a rose garden. The revival of walls, plants, and life inside finally took place in the house after long decades of gloomy events.  © Joe Kesrouani The case of this house is as dreadful as it is beautiful. The story behind it and the testimonials backing it makes it stand as a powerful message. The House with two lives restores faith in man's will to fight and is with no doubt an example of an architectural work of high precision.  © Joe Kesrouani  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 08 Oct 2018 04:00 PM PDT  © Qingshan Wu
 © Qingshan Wu Text description provided by the architects. On September 26, 2018, MARS Case—a minimal housing prototype designed by OPEN Architecture in collaboration with Chinese electronics giant Xiaomi—was officially unveiled to the public outside the Bird's Nest National Stadium in Beijing. The proposal is part of an annual cross-industry innovation and research platform known as House Vision, which uses the medium of the "house" to explore and question the direction of our living habits and urban environments in the future.  © Nácasa&Partners Inc. Two hundred years ago, Henry David Thoreau withdrew from society and moved to Walden alone to reflect upon the nature of simple living. Today, in an era of environmental crises and seemingly endless material consumption, we must ask ourselves—what are our essential needs?  © Qingshan Wu With MARS Case, OPEN challenges conventions of living space and proposes new possibilities for the future. The prototype imagines that humanity is forced to settle on Mars—a distant, lonely planet. There, we cannot rely on natural resources, as we have become so accustomed to on Earth. There, we have no choice but to reduce the excessive consumption of our former lifestyles and carry only minimal essentials. Recycling will be the only way we survive. As we find new appreciation in every drop of water, every bite of food, and every breath of air, will we at last discover the freedom of truly simple living? Is this what we should define as the ideal house of the future?  © Qingshan Wu  © Qingshan Wu MARS Case envisions this ideal house, which seamlessly combines technology, product design, and architecture. Domestic appliances in Xiaomi's current product lines can all be connected wirelessly and controlled over smart phones. MARS Case goes a step further to integrate these separate electronic appliances into one synthesized product, The Home. In harnessing and recycling the heat, exhaust, condensation, and other byproducts generated by each electronic device within it, the house feeds energy, air, and water and air back into an integrated ecosystem, minimizing consumption of resources.  © Nácasa&Partners Inc. This is MARS Case. A place of self-circulating energy and zero waste. A lightweight, compact 2.4 meter x 2.4 meter x 2 meter module, within which—like a suitcase—all the house's service components and inflatable living spaces can be folded and stored for easy transportation. An industrial product suited for the living needs anfd environments of all users, everywhere on earth. And above all, an ideal house with which to explore the boundless possibilities of the future.  via Xiaomi  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Jenkins Street / C.Kairouz Architects Posted: 08 Oct 2018 02:00 PM PDT  © Peter Clarke
 © Peter Clarke Text description provided by the architects. Jenkins Street is a juxtaposition in many ways. It flawlessly mixes private & intimate spaces with open plan living and the architecture provides contrast with new modern-contemporary meeting with old period-art deco. The dynamic of new and old, and diversity on a functional level as well as a visual level alludes to a home with a perceived split personality; made tranquil with the right balance of yin and yang.  © Peter Clarke The main challenge set by the owner was to transform the dilapidated-yet-characterful art deco house and create a modern family home with a 'wow factor', large enough to have three bedrooms and two living rooms with additional storage. Capturing light in a south-facing block in Melbourne also elicited its own challenges.  © Peter Clarke The existing 165m2 art deco home is a Northcote original from the 1930's, situated at the front of a 557m2 block. The 110m2 extension utilised the generous space in the backyard and was brought right to the end of the site, transforming the traditional backyard into a modern one with multiple breakaway courtyards situated in different parts around the extension.  © Peter Clarke Blending the old with the new meant reviving the front of the house and incorporating a modern back. The quiet, private areas of the home are located at the front, where C.Kairouz Architects restored the beautiful existing Tasmanian oak timber flooring and revived the original ceiling rosettes with a modern, clean white. The floorplan naturally encourages people to move through the space into the louder heart of the home; the open living and entertaining area at the back. Materials selections change from warm & luxurious to bold & sleek with a slight industrial undertone, with inspirations drawn from the immediate context of Northcote.  © Peter Clarke  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Concrete Vessel / Atelier FCJZ Posted: 08 Oct 2018 01:00 PM PDT  Light Trans-missive Concrete Facade. Image © Fangfang Tian
 Entrance Concrete Door. Image © Fangfang Tian Text description provided by the architects. Concrete Vessel is an experimental house FCJZ designed for the China House Vision exhibition curated by the renowned Japanese designer Kenya Hara, which is currently on view in Beijing. Our corporate partner is Haier, a popular Chinese home appliance brand.  South Elevation. Image © Fangfang Tian As the theme of House Vision is about future living, we begin to imagine a house that would truly embrace a nature that is defined by fresh air, natural light, living plants, and blue sky, which are all scarce commodities in present day, yet maintains the privacy required by domestic life.  Concrete Furniture. Image © Fangfang Tian Built upon the notion of a traditional courtyard house of Beijing, we also bring a piece of nature to the center of an introvert dwelling in form of an atrium; however, in our version of a courtyard house, the boundaries between the interior and exterior spaces can be completely opened up thus the courtyard is literally inside the house and becomes an integral part of the architecture.  Exposure Axon  Interior Space. Image © Fangfang Tian A continuous living space wraps around the courtyard and can be divided into two to four rooms by sliding partitions if such needs rise. Meanwhile, all necessary electronics are totally integrated into the building system in form of two counters and equipment underground. -%E4%B8%AD%E5%BA%AD%E5%8F%8A%E7%BB%BF%E6%A4%8D.jpg?1538737025 "Atrium and Green Plant. Image © Fangfang Tian") Atrium and Green Plant. Image © Fangfang Tian  Section  Interactive Relationship between Inside and Outside. Image © Fangfang Tian The structural system consists of steel columns along the periphery of the building with a cantilevered roof and eaves around the central courtyard. The material used on all surfaces inside and outside of the building, including the casings for the appliances as well as furniture, is a 3mm thin Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (or GRC), made from recycled construction debris. Its thinness makes this material very lightweight and its porosity creates a living environment that breathes and filters the air while allowing light coming through.  Plan We name the building Concrete Vessel to lead the exhibition visitors to discover how concrete has evolved into a new substance that will no longer cut off the connection between life and nature, rather on the contrary, it helps to create a friendly interface.  Concrete Bed. Image © Fangfang Tian The research and development of the GRC technology is conducted by Baogui Shiyi in collaboration of FCJZ.  Concrete Facade Light Effect. Image © Fangfang Tian  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Coffeetown Salvador / TRPC Arquitetos Posted: 08 Oct 2018 12:00 PM PDT  © Manuel Sá
 © Manuel Sá Text description provided by the architects. The project is the renovation of an old building, located at Avenida Sete de Setembro in Salvador, 2km away from the Historic Center, to become a coffee shop, establishing a dialogue between existing elements and those added to the space.  © Manuel Sá The clients expressed a desire to have a tree as the focal point of the coffee shop hall. In order to do so, part of the floor slab of the first floor was demolished, creating a space with a double height ceiling capable of sheltering the canopy of a medium-sized tree (Chloroleucon tortum), also new skylights were installed in the roof to complement the natural lighting. This space was integrated into the coffee shop hall, with a collective table below the tree canopy, a large leather sofa leaning against the wall and smaller tables for two and four people. To give access to the mezzanine, a metal staircase was installed with wooden steps that lead to another area with tables, a lounge with sofas and armchairs, and a WC. The illumination of this area is made up of rail fixtures, neon sign and 95 pendants that dominate the space, forming a constellation above the hall.  © Manuel Sá  Section  © Manuel Sá To house the ground floor WC, a new volume simultaneously serves as a visual barrier for the hall and as a blackboard for the menu behind the barista's counter. This WC is a space for all genders and suitable for people with disabilities. We see the designing of spaces for people with disabilities not as a limitation, but as an opportunity to explore new perceptions. Thus, the WC was conceived in a creative way providing a new experience for everyone, regardless of their condition. To do so, we explore the aesthetics of Optical Art by creating a black and white grid by coating all surfaces with ceramic tiles and installing a mirror on the ceiling, which provides a similar experience to all users and generates equality in difference. In this context, the accessibility bars integrate with the other black metals creating graphic silhouettes in the middle of the grid of the plans.  © Manuel Sá  Ground Floor Plan  © Manuel Sá The bathroom of the mezzanine continues the aesthetics of Optical Art, exploring another kind of perception of space. Here the grid of ceramic tiles serves as the background for a set of reflections that places the observer in a frame surrounded by a vertical garden. This effect is provided by the visual integration with the area in front of the WC through a dry opening above the sink. The mirror, located on the opposite wall, reflects the opening of the WC and maximizes the entrance of natural light into the environment, integrating the internal and external in a tropical Op Art. The reflection of the grid in the mirror creates an illusion of depth that expands the space and stimulates the observer's participation.  © Manuel Sá  Bathroom Mezzanine  © Manuel Sá  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 08 Oct 2018 10:00 AM PDT  © Derek Swalwell
 © Derek Swalwell Text description provided by the architects. Together AGUSHI Construction and architects and interior designers Workroom, are a tour de force in the design and construction of contemporary buildings. One of their latest modern masterpieces is Huntingtower, an exceptional multimillion dollar bespoke home. .jpg?1538837139 "© Derek Swalwell") © Derek Swalwell Located in Melbourne's charming suburb of Armadale, the new 4-bedroom residence is home to AGUSHI's Founding Director, Bear Agushi and his family.  © Derek Swalwell  Sketch 02 The house unfolds dramatically from the street; an imposing 3-storey box cantilevered over glass rooms and embedded in sunken gardens. It's an exotic experience to enter the home to find a sculptural folded plate steel staircase redolent of a sculpture.  © Derek Swalwell Builder and developer, Bear Agushi, has a passion for contemporary architecture and interior design and he takes enormous pride in creating highly detailed, bespoke homes. Workroom, founded by architect John Bornas, is a studio specialising in contemporary design and interiors in the residential, retail, commercial and hospitality sectors. As cocreators they build exceptionally designed high end homes with exciting finishes and living experiences.  © Derek Swalwell "Our approach to the house was very considered and transcends fashion. The connection between the building and the inhabitant is grounded through a rigorous exploration of scale, form, space and material. The delicate palette of materials and intricate detailing bestows elegance and luxury," says Workroom Director and architect, John Bornas.  © Derek Swalwell  Sketch 04 Attention to detail like this is often offered but rarely achieved in such a way that makes it a world-class residence. At Huntingtower the entire experience is lavish. There's a chef's kitchen, fully appointed butler's pantry, a resort-style alfresco zone with pool and outdoor kitchen, and carefully curated gardens by renown landscape architect, Jack Merlo. .jpg?1538837452 "© Derek Swalwell") © Derek Swalwell "Everyone must be on the same page to achieve such stunning results, and that means total dedication to achieving something outstanding. We believe that we're completely attuned to client needs and, as it turned out, we think that Workroom read the minds of my wife and I when it came to creating our dream home," says Bear Agushi, Director of Agushi.  © Derek Swalwell The combination of materials creates such a sense of wonder as you move through the house. Finished with natures' own stone, the timelessness of European Oak parquetry flooring, and the richness of beautiful brass fixtures tells a story of sophistication and glamour.  © Derek Swalwell "A narrative unfolds of stunning detail and tactile material, raw steel, dark panelled walls, concrete, bronze, timber and stone, elements that invite you to touch and feel," says Bear.  © Derek Swalwell This architectural gem delivers first class living and entertaining precincts, state-of-the-art appointments and a sense of indulgence throughout, which includes four bedrooms with individual bathrooms and a secure four-car basement garage. .jpg?1538837694 "© Derek Swalwell") © Derek Swalwell "We've worked with AGUSHI on several projects now so we know each other well when it comes to our design sensibilities. We've developed a great working relationship where we understand and respect what each brings to a project. Bear understands the architectural intent and interprets it skilfully and successfully. This not only enhances the finished building, it ensures a seamless process along the way.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 08 Oct 2018 09:00 AM PDT  © Stephen Schauer
 © Stephen Schauer Text description provided by the architects. Lighthouse is a micro-building designed and built like a piece of furniture. We discarded typical details and assemblies in favor of new methods of construction from the ground up. The result is a project designed to test our craft in materials and our perceptions of space. From a door with no right angles, to a custom made skylight that marries traditional boatbuilding materials with details borrowed from a car sunroof, to shop fabricated and mitered SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels) joined with film industry hardware. This is not a project that we would have been able to hand off to a contractor to execute, so we bypassed the normal methods of architectural production, and relied on the most experimental potential of our design/build model. Lighthouse is an office for our business, a showcase of our craft, and an example of the huge potential within rethinking the way we design and build.  © Nephew LA  Site plan  © Stephen Schauer Lighthouse is named to reflect both its construction system: lightweight prefabricated panels that are assembled on site with minimal impact to the environment, and its iconic openings: a oversized and entirely custom door, window, and operable skylight that provide plenty of natural light during the day and project a warm inviting glow at night . Without the necessity of a traditional foundation Lighthouse rests on industrial casters originally designed to support roll-off dumpsters and can be moved around the shop yard to facilitate material deliveries and flexible outdoor space. We hope that future Lighthouses will become beacons for those searching for smaller sustainable buildings that embrace contemporary architectural design.  © Stephen Schauer  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Homes for All - Dortheavej Residence / Bjarke Ingels Group Posted: 08 Oct 2018 06:45 AM PDT  © Rasmus Hjortshøj
.jpg?1539019555 "© Rasmus Hjortshøj") © Rasmus Hjortshøj Text description provided by the architects. Named after its Dortheavej address in the northwestern part of Copenhagen, the 5-story building winds through the area characterized by car repair shops, storage and industrial buildings from the 1930s–50s. BIG was commissioned to design Dortheavej in 2013 by Danish non-profit affordable housing association Lejerbo, whose mission is drafted by Danish urban space designer Jan Gehl. BIG was asked to create much needed affordable housing and public space in the area, while keeping the pedestrian passageways open and the adjacent green yard untouched. Earlier this spring, BIG and Lejerbo were honored by the Danish Association of Architects with the Lille Arne Award for prioritizing the spatial qualities of the residences and the building strategy on a strict affordable housing budget. .jpg?1539019576 "© Rasmus Hjortshøj") © Rasmus Hjortshøj "Our ambition was to create affordable apartments by the world's leading architects. Together with BIG, we have succeeded in creating sustainable, safe and functional homes that see eye to eye with the people who live in them." Jan Hyttel, President, Lejerbo Copenhagen.  © Rasmus Hjortshøj "Affordable housing is an architectural challenge due to the necessary budget restrictions. We have attempted to mobilize modular construction with modest materials to create generous living spaces at the urban as well as the residential scale. The prefabricated elements are stacked in a way that allows every second module an extra meter of room height, making the kitchen-living areas unusually spacious. By gently adjusting the modules, the living areas open more towards the courtyard while curving the linear block away from the street to expand the sidewalk into a public square. Economical constraints often lead to scarcity—at Dortheavej, we have managed to create added value for the individual as well as the community." Bjarke Ingels, Founding Partner, BIG. .jpg?1539019597 "© Rasmus Hjortshøj") © Rasmus Hjortshøj The characteristic checkered pattern of Dortheavej is based on a singular prefab structure. Conceived as a porous wall, the building gently curves in the center, creating space for a public plaza towards the street on the south side and an intimate green courtyard towards the north. On the street level, the building opens up to allow the residents and general public to pass seamlessly into the courtyard. .jpg?1539019608 "© Rasmus Hjortshøj") © Rasmus Hjortshøj The housing modules repeat along the curve and are stacked to the height of the surrounding buildings. The stacking creates additional space for each apartment to have a small terrace, providing a setting for healthy, sustainable living. On the sunny south side, balconies retract and add depth to the façade while on the northern side, the facade is even. Long wooden planks cover the façade on all sides, highlighting the modules and alternating to accentuate the checkered pattern.  © Rasmus Hjortshøj Large floor-to-ceiling windows in the apartments allow lots of daylight into the units and outside views to the green courtyard or the surrounding neighborhood. The size of the apartments ranges from 60-115m2 and the materials are all kept very simple with wood and concrete in light colors dominating inside and out. .jpg?1539019544 "© Rasmus Hjortshøj") © Rasmus Hjortshøj Evening views of Dortheavej situated in one of the most multi-ethnical, low-income neighborhoods in Copenhagen, show the building as light and transparent. Residents can look out from their balconies and the surrounding community can see the activity inside.  © Rasmus Hjortshøj The small square created by the building's slight curve will be landscaped with cherry trees and spaces for bicycle parking—the preferred way of getting around the city.  © Rasmus Hjortshøj The north facing façade looks towards an enclosed green courtyard which residents of Dortheavej and the neighboring buildings can use for recreational activities.  © Rasmus Hjortshøj  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| BIG Selected to Design First Phase of Airport City in Luxembourg Posted: 08 Oct 2018 06:00 AM PDT  Skypark Business Center South. Image Courtesy of BIG / Metaform Bjarke Ingels Group has been selected to design the Skypark Business Center South as part of Luxembourg's new Airport City plan. Located just outside of Luxembourg City, the project is the first development within the masterplan, and is expected to start construction during 2019. The new airport district aims to become an economic hub comprised of four floors of shops, restaurants, fitness activities, and offices. The news of Skypark Business Center South comes two years after the presentation of the airport district's master plan.  Skypark Business Center South. Image Courtesy of BIG / Metaform The company lux-Airport plans to invest between 25 and 35 million euros into the project alongside financing for rents on the space and airport taxes. René Steinhaus, CEO lux-Airport, said that, "I'm looking forward to seeing the first milestone of our Airport City becoming a reality. The Skypark Business Center South will be a reference for environmentally friendly and sustainable buildings. It helps us to align our economic and ecologic goals." Built next to terminal A, the business center will extend over several floors.  Skypark Business Center South. Image Courtesy of BIG / Metaform BIG worked with Luxembourg's Metaform to create the design. The first phase of the project covers an area of offices and businesses from 10,000 to 15,000 square meters. Ultimately, up to 40,000 square meters and 2,000 parking spaces will be built. The full Airport City development plan is not yet finalized, which is set to include a large data center, a hotel, shops, offices, and the business center. The project aims for completion by 2022, two years after the Findel underground station is scheduled to open. The airport reached 2.7 million passengers in 2015, and plans to reach 4 million over the next five years.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 08 Oct 2018 05:00 AM PDT  © Leonardo Finotti
 © Leonardo Finotti Text description provided by the architects. Because this project had a very large program, the main concern was that the house should have a pleasant human scale from the outside as much as from the inside. For that, we took advantage of the two levels in the lot to design a house that would give the impression it was a single story construction, where one can easily reach the ground from any level; for the house does not look too wide, the main volume was divided in two by a single story volume where the social area is.  © Leonardo Finotti  First Floor Plan  © Leonardo Finotti Also, to emphasize this single story idea, the windows and brise soleils in all rooms can be totally open, creating this veranda feeling allowing one to enter and exit the house at any time. As we have subverted the traditional use of the veranda as a transition from outside to inside, we used brise soleils e pergolas to guarantee a smooth transition when needed.  © Leonardo Finotti  Section  © Leonardo Finotti The warm materials also help the pleasant scale. The main wall on the first floor is cladded in stone, giving it a retaining wall look and reinforcing the single story idea; the same stone is used inside other rooms to dialogue with the outside. The ceiling wood gives the impression of a lower height; The granite floor defines the area that can be freely used as outdoor, in opposite as the hardwood floor inside.  © Leonardo Finotti Large glass doors allow nature to be seen from the inside; The wood deck and bench by the outdoor pool accentuates the Hijau stone color underwater. The brown brise soleil and ceramic roof tiles on the second floor blend the thick volume with the landscape at the same time a zig zag structure allows a good circulation on the first floor and light volume that can be seen through.  © Leonardo Finotti  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| WXCA's Polish Pavilion for Dubai Expo 2020 Features Kinetic Flocks of Birds Posted: 08 Oct 2018 04:00 AM PDT  © Vivid Vision WXCA and Bellprat will design the Polish Pavilion for the 2020 World Expo in Dubai, having overcome more than 30 other proposals. The winning scheme seeks to create an "open, tree-like modular structure" inspired by Poland's rich wildlife. The pavilion will feature an integrated exhibition with "kinetic flocks of birds floating over visitors' heads," referring to the many migratory birds which settle in Poland each year "inspiring legends, connecting minds, and creating the future."  © Vivid Vision The pavilion will adopt a sculptural form allowing the exhibition to unfold into surrounding public space, inviting the public to "participate in the birds' flight over Poland." The connection between inside and outside signifies Poland's connection to the modern world, through "cultural and commercial exchange, social migration and constant flow of goods and ideas."  © Vivid Vision
 © Vivid Vision The WXCA design team for the winning pavilion consisted of Szczepan Wroński, Marta Sękulska-Wrońska, Anna Dobek, Anna Majewska, and Michał Czerwiński.  © WXCA See our full coverage of the Dubai 2020 Expo here. News via: WXCA  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| House in Guimarães / Correia/Ragazzi Arquitectos Posted: 08 Oct 2018 03:00 AM PDT  © Nicola Belluzi
 © Nicola Belluzi Text description provided by the architects. The program consisted of the rehabilitation of an existent construction which, given its state of degradation, functioned only as support for the agricultural activity, however, it was necessary to consider an area for housing. The existent construction consisted of an area of traditional stone masonry walls and a late addition of poor characteristics and state of conservation in plastered brick walls. We’ve opted to demolish the latter in order to highlight the original features of the stone volume. In the farm existed also other traditional constructions of great interest such as a granary, a mill, a tank, and a stone threshing floor.  © Nicola Belluzi  Floor Plans  © Nicola Belluzi All of the existent constructions, in granite masonry, characteristic of the region, were recuperated and, having into consideration the maintenance of the trees and the vines - very important for being the source of income of the farm - we’ve chosen to introduce the second volume, for the house, framing all of the existent constructions and emphasizing the granary and the threshing floor which now results on a leisure patio and also an area for the agricultural activities - such as shearing of animals.  © Nicola Belluzi Therefore, the recovery of the stone monolithic volume is distinguished from the also monolithic new volume, composed of two-layered volumes, all in glass and metal, animated by the wooden shutters that also operate as shading, when open.  © Nicola Belluzi  Section A, B, C, D, E and F  © Nicola Belluzi  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| SLICE Creates Apartments from Plugin Modules for Future City Living Posted: 08 Oct 2018 02:00 AM PDT  © Nasim Sehat Iranian architect and concept designer Nasim Sehat has developed an alternative living module driven by adaptability for the gig economy. SLICE is described as a "sustainable, people centric, connected, self-contained, and flexible plug'n-play urban solution" targeted at future city dwellers. SLICE consists of a layered module of functional plugins, combined to create basic spatial configurations. In tandem with the design of SLICE's spatial profile, Shanghai-based Sehat has proposed a shared, on-demand digital service for module rental, maintenance, and payment.  © Nasim Sehat The colorful modules address key living requirements, with components for showers, toilets, kitchens, workstations, and sleeping. Fenestrations in modules, as well as empty "gap" components, allow for customization based on user needs, or spatial constraints.  © Nasim Sehat SLICE units are booked and accessed using the digital interface, with a deposit required for first-time users, and payment calculated based on "usage time, configuration of modules, and usage of utilities." The service also enables users to report defected modules for replacement.  © Nasim Sehat
 © Nasim Sehat News via: Nasim Sehat  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| De Beauvoir Block / Henley Halebrown Posted: 08 Oct 2018 01:00 AM PDT  © Nicholas Kane
 © Nicholas Kane Text description provided by the architects. This Spring saw the completion of De Beauvoir Block - a group of 33 workspaces over three floors ranging from 250 square feet to 3,000 feet designed and equipped to support individuals and businesses, particularly those involved in the creative industries. Known as 'The Block', the building is located in the nineteenth century neighbourhood of De Beauvoir Town, Hackney (East London), which was largely open country until the 1820s when a new, predominantly residential area was built.  © Nicholas Kane The architecture of the area is mainly Italianate in style - the design of the houses derived from commercially available pattern books - with the exception of De Beauvoir Square with its distinct Dutch-gabled Tudor-Jacobean townhouses. These were most probably the work of W C Lockner, architect of St Peter's, De Beauvoir Town (1841), an early Gothic Revival building designed "to enhance the character and add lustre to the new estate".  © Nicholas Kane The semi-industrial terrace on De Beauvoir Road - the Block that Henley Halebrown have adapted for small business and studio space, was first developed at the turn of the 20th Century in the back gardens of De Beauvoir Square houses. Previously, it had been the premises of a builder's merchant, a picture-frame maker and a wheelwright. The Block is among the 350 commercial and residential properties leased by the Benyon Estate.  © Nicholas Kane  Isometric  © Nicholas Kane Edward Benyon of the Benyon Estate, whose family inherited the De Beauvoir Estate in 1821, commissioned the De Beauvoir Block from Henley Halebrown to provide much needed small-scale workspaces in this residential area. The Estate was keen to create a strong community feel within the building based on collaboration and conversation between individuals and businesses.  © Nicholas Kane The shared courtyard has an adjacent cafe at ground level that serves as a meeting room and so creating a convivial setting for the occupants of the building to meet and receive visitors. Above, a picturesque roofscape of timber structures wrapped in matt black EPDM rubber introduces a new silhouette to the scheme. These structures contain largely day-lit, naturally ventilated studios, with exposed rafters and plywood linings that open up to the new yard as well as to decks and terraces and views of the City.  © Nicholas Kane Overall, the architects have adopted a robust and sustainable approach combining careful restoration with new construction. This is in keeping with the desire for a light industrial feel and units that feel "found" rather than being overly "manicured" studios. This is a quality that has long proved to be popular with artists looking for inexpensive studio spaces and, more recently, amongst those working in creative industries.  © Nicholas Kane  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Architecture: the Unsung Hero of Your Favorite Film Posted: 08 Oct 2018 12:00 AM PDT  Columbus, IN. How does the built environment--whether fictitious or entirely founded in reality--impact how we experience and process film? From lesser-known indies to blockbuster movies, the ways in which architecture and the built environment inform everything from scene and setting, to dialogue and character development has far-reaching effects on the audience's cinematic experience. Below, a roundup of everything from recent releases to classic cinephile favorites uncovers the myriad ways in which film utilizes architecture as a means of achieving a more authentic and all-encompassing form of storytelling.  An unrecognizable Los Angeles skyline in "Blade Runner 2049." 1. Blade Runner 2049 (2017), directed by Denis VilleneuveVilleneuve's sequel to the original 1982 neo-noir sci-fi classic transforms Ridley Scott's eerie vision of future Los Angeles into an even more dire, environmentally-ravaged megalopolis. As the movie journeys across desolate landscapes and unfamiliar, crowded cityscapes, closer inspection renders Villeneuve's vision perhaps not entirely implausible. From nods to brutalist and modernist-style architecture, to the marriage of Eastern and Western-style iconography, Villeneuve's richly layered landscape imbues the fictitious narrative with an underlying sense of familiarity. In an increasingly globalizing world, who's to say future cities won't evolve to be as aesthetically varied and physically sprawling?  Gotham frames the Joker in this pivotal scene from "The Dark Knight." 2. Dark Knight (2008), directed by Christopher NolanNolan's twisted and psychologically thrilling Dark Knight trilogy was a turning point for the standard superhero movie, which tends to rely on action-packed tropes and special effects in place of rich dialogue or nuanced character development. Nolan's decision to set the fictitious Gotham City against the backdrop of Chicago rather than some speculative, futurist dimension only lent the series further emotional depth and believability. It is through the visually varied backdrop of Chicago's modernist skyscrapers, Art Deco structures and brutalist buildings that the drama and action unfolds. Chase scenes and covert operations even pan out across the city's subterranean depths, from sewers to multi-layered highways and underground tunnels. As Nolan investigates the iconic dynamic between Batman and the Joker, Chicago unfolds dizzyingly across vertical and horizontal planes, heightening the stakes and complexity of the conflict.  Wakanda as seen from above. 3. Black Panther (2018), directed by Ryan CooglerCoogler's blockbuster superhero hit Black Panther primarily takes place in the fictional East African nation of Wakanda. Unlike most superhero movies, which stage action sequences against the backdrop of glittering towers and compact, urban environments, Wakanda reflects a culturally rich and environmentally-aware built environment. Urban density ranges from high-rises to mid-rises and more human-scale architecture, with Wakandans primarily navigating the city by foot or public transportation--an urbanist planner's ultimate dream. Ample greenery is incorporated throughout as well, and a fusion of traditional African building styles, such as thatched roofs, alongside more contemporary building typologies lend the city a tactile, aesthetic richness. Production designer Hannah Beachler has cited Zaha Hadid (and Buckingham Palace) as inspirations behind the sinuous and voluptuous forms that breath life into this afrofuturist cityscape.  Tokyo is both intensely fascinating and alienating for the film's two protagonists. 4. Lost in Translation (2003), directed by Sofia CoppolaCoppola's critically acclaimed Lost in Translation interprets Tokyo's overwhelming urban schema through the gaze of two visiting, American foreigners. As a result, Coppola's version of the megalopolis and its inhabitants, perhaps unsurprisingly, is both alienating and alluring; visually overwhelming and hypermodern yet nostalgic. As a cacophony of visual and cultural contradictions unfold across this urban landscape, the interpersonal complexities of Coppola's two protagonists reveal themselves as well. It is against this exoticized urban backdrop that the director explores intimacy in its most unnerving and ungarnished forms, leading viewers to question what becomes of the people--and places--we leave behind.  The architecture of Columbus, IN functions as a character in its own right. 5. Columbus (2017), directed by KogonadaKogonada's directorial debut posits the sleepy town of Columbus, Indiana as a central character that infuses each scene with emotionally-informed visual cues. The film navigates the strained relationships that exist between a son and his ailing father, an architectural historian, and a burgeoning architecture aficionado and her mother, who is a recovering addict. As the tensions and frustrations unfold between these fraught parent-child relationships, the two protagonists find solace in one another and in the stoic silence of their modernist surroundings. Columbus may be an unexpected location for a mid-century modernist mecca, but the humble and honest structures designed by the Saarinens, I.M. Pei, Robert Venturi, Cesar Pelli, Richard Meier and more that pervade throughout the midwestern city lend Columbus as quiet might--a fitting backdrop for a story about the intimate processes of personal loss, rebirth and human connection.
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