Arch Daily |
- Universal Works x 26 Berwick Street / Studio MUTT
- Capital Bank of Jordan / Paradigm DH
- House over Cave / zerozero
- TDN Residence / i.House Architecture and Construction
- A Home for 2 / O2 Design Atelier
- Arena Arbor / SELVAGEN
- DiabloRosso / SKETCH
- Cubica Cabin / Camacho Estudio de Arquitectura
- Esparza House / YUSO
- CAA Architects Reveals Futuristic Eco-City Design for the Maldives
- DW House / Arquea Arquitetos
- This Week in Architecture: Reduce, Reuse, Rethink
- Persimmon Tree House / André Simão arquitectura
- MAD Architects Design Panoramic Viewpoint for Historic Warehouse in Rotterdam
- The Tallest Timber Tower in Australia Opens in Brisbane
- Apartment Building in the Countryside / meier + associés architectes
- TK-33 / Tegnestuen LOKAL
| Universal Works x 26 Berwick Street / Studio MUTT Posted: 23 Nov 2018 09:00 PM PST  © French + Tye
 Text description provided by the architects. MUTT's creative relationship with Universal Works began in the bar of a London hotel, on a cold December day, with a question: how does an approach to clothing translate into an approach to architecture? As customers of theirs, we already had an understanding and appreciation of the brand - its context, the craft at the heart of it, and the people behind it. Through close discussion with David, Stephanie, and the wider Universal Works family we developed an architectural approach based on these three facets of their ethos to be used in the design of their new stores. 26 Berwick Street is the first fruit of this collaboration and new found friendship. A flagship store at Coal Drops Yard will follow it in October.  © French + Tye  Exploded Isometric  © French + Tye 26 Berwick Street is of the same family as the other stores, but with a slightly different, very unique, flavor and character. This is determined by the form, feel and location of the unit itself, reacting to its environment and constraints to produce an innovative architectural response which is at once extremely familiar and perfectly peculiar. Unexpected and surprising moments have been created through architectural insertions with a bold and honest material palette, and by closely working with the idiosyncrasies of the unit.  © French + Tye
The existing concrete structure, long since concealed and covered by previous tenants, has been brought back to life in a vibrant green, reminiscent of the mills and factories which have been such an influence on Universal Works collections. Large expanses of the mirror have been used, mounted to bespoke timber framework, to create illusions of volume and new sightlines through the space. An original blockwork wall has been resurrected in green machined Valchromat as the changing room walls and doors.  © French + Tye  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Capital Bank of Jordan / Paradigm DH Posted: 23 Nov 2018 06:00 PM PST  © Nabil Qutteneh
 © Nabil Qutteneh Text description provided by the architects. Capital Select is located in a residential area in one of the most exclusive neighborhoods of Jordan's capital Amman in Abdoun. Creating a "boutique bank" experience triggered the design concept of this branch introducing a sense of belonging and a welcoming design influenced by nature.  © Nabil Qutteneh To create a "boutique" experience, the traditional bank experience had to be replaced with an approach that is private, luxurious and catered to the customer's needs. The teller counters and waiting areas with traditional queuing approach, were replaced with individual office "boxes", lobby and reception areas which were designed to accommodate for all the customer's needs. Nature theme was incorporated in the design by first placing separate masses for the offices within the main mass of the building around a double volume void that contained an inner court which was influenced by Japanese Zen gardens. It was emphasized by a crystal chandelier flowing above a sculptural olive tree that acts as a focal point for the entire space, in addition to the artwork layer. The office masses were then individually shifted from each other in order for the void to become more fluid and thusly create unique interior views and spaces as the user walks through the circulation corridor.  © Nabil Qutteneh  Ground floor plan The previously mentioned shifting masses of the offices translated into shifted planes and masses of the exterior main front and side façades. The remaining side & back facades had minimal treatment with minimal openings and were cladded with Taffouh Stone, this was to respect the adjacent neighbors' privacy as well as the branch users' privacy maintaining the alignment with the local vernacular stone architecture. However, the main side elevation's transparent glass curtain wall opens to the inner court, further enhancing the continuation of space from the exterior to the interior and vice versa.  © Nabil Qutteneh As for the main elevation Paradigm DH Team has decided to use LUCEM translucent concrete panels, as self-Supporting panels, one of a kind walls on the external façade, these concrete panels are made with fiber optics where light can pass through. This material was used for the first time using this technique in Capital Select, free of any boundaries and as opaque as it could be. In addition to the use of translucent concrete panels, PDH decided to use Plain concrete panels without fiber-optics to cover non-translucent parts of the façade using the same cement / sand mixture while maintaining similar surface finish matching the color of the stone used on the facades to maintain its harmony with the residential surroundings.  © Nabil Qutteneh  © Nabil Qutteneh  © Nabil Qutteneh The result was achieved by cladding a 14-meter-high stairwell with translucent concrete panels that are mechanically fixed, keeping the supporting structure exposed from the inside with the lights that illuminate the translucent concrete, PDH opted for vertical lights that span the full height of the stairwell while having this 30mm thick LUCEM panels mounted on steel/wood columns and incorporated into the design of the handrail. The reception counters and ATM areas were also made with a backlit translucent concrete Panels.  © Nabil Qutteneh The idea of nature that flows through the staircase in the form of light and shadow plays was the main idea of the design. With the use of translucent concrete, the architects and lighting engineers are setting a striking example of how external walls can solve the contradiction between massiveness and lightness through translucency.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 23 Nov 2018 03:00 PM PST  © Maddalena Migliore
 © Maddalena Migliore Text description provided by the architects. This project is about the reinvention of a historic stone building in Sicily, which has been transformed into a small but inventive family house with potential to expand in the future.  Section 02 The original building dates back to the 18th century. Entirely made out of stone, it appears at once to 'grow' out of the ground and be one with it, incorporating within its volume a pre-existing cave and other natural features. This was man literally sculpting and carving a home for himself and his family and protecting themselves with thick walls and small openings from the intense summer heat.  © Maddalena Migliore The design of the new project stems instead from the idea of 'growing within'. New surfaces and volumes delicately but assuredly colonize the historic building protected by its stone carapace and instil new life within it. The two remain distinct but at the same time rely on each other for their continued existence, in a quasi-symbiotic relationship.  Axo The lower level, which contains a kitchen, bathroom, living area and the children's bedroom, is a mixture of single height and double-height spaces, defined by fare-faced concrete walls and the existing stone walls.  © Maddalena Migliore The insertion of a new volume at the upper level - providing a master bedroom and dressing room – has been pulled away from the original walls to create the naturally lit double height spaces below. The hull-like shape of this volume has been conceived to facilitate natural ventilation via stack-effect and therefore eliminating the need for air-conditioning.  © Maddalena Migliore Throughout the building, niches, concealed storage areas, movable panels, and custom-made furniture contribute to making this 50sqm house a flexible and adaptable home certainly capable of punching above its weight.  Detail  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| TDN Residence / i.House Architecture and Construction Posted: 23 Nov 2018 01:00 PM PST  Courtesy of i.House Architecture and Constructon
 Courtesy of i.House Architecture and Constructon Text description provided by the architects. Situated on Tran Dai Nghia Street, Hanoi, the house lies in a lovely and tranquil alley. 5.4 meters in width and 20.3 meters in length, the house, with two open views at the front and back, overlooks a tree-filled university campus. Such an area, in the urban district, is ideal for creating a living space for a whole family.  Courtesy of i.House Architecture and Constructon With large panels of glass and rough, hollow brick, the panorama in front of the house with perennial trees of nearly 20m is optimized to achieve a great harmony of colors from leaves (green) and concrete (grey). In addition, a contrast can be clearly seen as the brick wall is vertically built to balance with the horizontally recessed loggia and the courtyard. Interlaced among the vertical and horizontal lines is a big tub of plant at the corner of the loggia on the second floor, which brings balance and sets the facade of the house apart. Therefore, the appeal of the house comes from a perfect blend of inner-outer spaces and the solidity and void in its architecture.  2nd & Ground floor plans Adopted a nature-friendly design approach, every room in the house is filled with natural light and air: the skylight is built at the center of the house, next to the one-sided staircase and the corridor bridge connecting the functional rooms, which helps to create various openings reserved for airflow convection throughout the house. Green trees provide an excellent harmony between the man-made constructions and the natural landscape, offsetting the roughness of brick, steel, and concrete. Trees are not only important in regulating and refreshing internal air but also crucial in refilling the house with plenty of oxygen as a "green" lung.  Courtesy of i.House Architecture and Constructon Moreover, traditional materials are given a priority and thoroughly considered in the construction process so that the simplicity, plainness and lyrical contents are most clearly depicted. The entire wall along one side of the house is surfaced with Bat Trang traditional ceramics, with different arrangement and layout, thereby creating a visual attraction throughout the house. What's more, the decorative wood wall at the end of the house presents an ancient flavor with bright red colors, laced with balusters and delicately-carved sculptures, a nostalgic reminder of the typical culture of Northern Vietnam.  Courtesy of i.House Architecture and Constructon  Section 2  Courtesy of i.House Architecture and Constructon With this project, we not only focus on taking advantage of the natural elements such as wind, light, and trees but also the traditional features of the Vietnamese architecture. As a result, the living space seems cozier and closer to nature for each family member residing in this pretty house.  Courtesy of i.House Architecture and Constructon  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| A Home for 2 / O2 Design Atelier Posted: 23 Nov 2018 12:00 PM PST  © Alvin Tan Photography
 © Alvin Tan Photography Text description provided by the architects. A HOME MADE FOR 2 is located within a prominent residential neighbourhood in the northern part of Kuala Lumpur. The client has certain requirements in term of design and space and priority was placed on revamping the Interior spaces while maintaining most of the exterior facade features. We have work closely with the client who was also a designer for the house.  Floor Plans Spatial adaptability became the design parameters for the house layout. The design of the house is tailor-made for two users with one master bedroom and one multipurpose guest room. The guest room is designed to become a flexible communal space that also functions as a multi-purpose TV hall or study room.  © Alvin Tan Photography The ground floor layout embodies the concept of fluid space. From the front, all the way to the back of the house, the internal spaces were arranged to form a continuous flow of space for maximum cross ventilation. When viewed from the car porch entrance gate, the internal space of the house is partially obscured due to the unique vertical wave pattern metal screen design. Upon entering the house, visitors will be greeted by the courtyard garden located next to the living room.  Sections and Elevations Natural light is introduced to the double-volume central space by removing the first floor existing toilet slab. Randomly placed roof tile skylights puncture through the roof ceiling, to animate light and shadow play onto the interior planes, invoking the poetic sense of the space.  © Alvin Tan Photography This space acts as a focal point for the entire house, where all the rooms are pivoted and choreographed; bringing light and ventilation to the parts of the house that might otherwise be dark, gloomy and airless. The spacious and well-lit interior create an unexpected contrast from the house's modest external impression.  Modifications Diagram For the rear façade treatment, we constructed new double-storeys brick masonry wall using vertically-laid stretcher bond to form an open courtyard with landscape that is open to the sky. The exposed brick wall consists of a clay and sand bricks mixture with small vertical slots for ventilation purposes.  © Alvin Tan Photography The open concept bathroom at first floor with a full-height glass window, embrace the openness and intimacy while maintaining privacy. The amount of light penetrating the bathroom helps to reduce humidity, keeping the airiness and lightness of the space. On the first floor, we bridge the gap between the front and back portion of the house using lightweight steel bridge. The perforated floor allows maximum daylight to permeate through, creating dappled light and casting shadows to the lower floor. The interior spaces of the house embody minimalist architectural design with simple yet elegant geometric forms.  © Alvin Tan Photography The obsession of black and white colour palette (combination of dark and light hues) give pleasing contrast to the internal space, elements and textures but yet allows for a sense of intimacy and comfort. The material palette for the living room, courtyard and dining are kept to a minimum: using cement rendered counter top at the kitchen area whist private space such as master bedroom uses darker shades which exuberates monochromatic beauty that is timeless.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 23 Nov 2018 11:00 AM PST  © Guilherme Paiva
 © Guilherme Paiva Text description provided by the architects. The project for the arena at CasaCor Pernambuco 2018, America’s most important collective of interior design, architecture and landscape, was developed by parametric design’s methodologies which consists in programming design and architectural solutions through computational algorithms. The whole space was conceived as a metaphor related to the tree, due to its meaningful symbolism as a natural element representational of life and the ludic aspect it brings in our memories for playful and comforting moments, that will deeply affect the experiences people will have when inside the arena.  © Guilherme Paiva  Location  © Guilherme Paiva Also, by analyzing the morphology of a tree it was possible to understand the functional particularity of each component for the construction of the whole, which was fundamental for Arbor Arena’s location, floor, structure, roof and lighting, as the tree’s environment, root, trunk, crown and flower.  morphology  Ground floor plan In addition to being a space for lectures and debates, it is also a resting area – in contrast with the event which is mostly for visiting – as its located in a central point at the end of the whole course. The internal landscaping has the intention of bringing a native aspect to the vegetation used and, therefore, tropical species such as açaí and ravenalas compose the environment. And in order to preach the importance of sustainability in the project, the existing coconut palm was preserved.
The deck forms the base that provides stability for the entire structure above it and the grandstand, formed by modules that arise from the floor, generates a topography within the space. Just like the roots of a tree, people can have the experience of being able to walk, climb, sit on it. The structure’s woodwork made in maçaranduba, corresponds to the trunk that offers support to all the rest of the Arena’s component parts. Its pieces are fixed by metal vertices and both corten steel entry frames present a perforated pattern referring to the triangular design.  © Guilherme Paiva The closure made in Super MDF as triangular based pyramids presents a variation of heights in each one of it, which become flatter near the grandstand and gradually increase towards the stage. They feature decreasing openings from the base of the structure, which are closed by curtains, giving a greater visual permeability and thermal comfort to the space, besides being able to filter the incident light. In order to offer protection from the rain, the faces were selected according to the angulation that provides the least accumulation of water possible.  © Guilherme Paiva At their top central point, the modules are interrupted to insert a zenith opening allowing natural light to enter, just as light rays pass through the treetops. Where there is also a luminous sculpture descending from that point as a representation of the flower of the Arena with LED strips embedded inside the wooden profiles that refracts and lightens only the edges of the acrylic pieces.  © Guilherme Paiva  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 23 Nov 2018 09:00 AM PST  © Fernando Alda
 © Fernando Alda Text description provided by the architects. Diablo Rosso is a creative think tank and art gallery established in 2006 and based in Panama City. Since its birth, SKETCH and Diablo Rosso have worked together in the design of spaces that foster critical thinking towards arts, politics, and culture. The gallery has recently relocated to the ground floor of a landmark commercial building dating from the 1930s; recognized for formerly being one of the largest department stores in the city and due to its prime location across Santa Ana square, a meeting point for the community and heart of the Santa Ana neighborhood. Today this busy commercial street is a bustling pedestrian avenue crowded with street vendors and loud music; a one of a kind scenario that boosts the gallery's main driver: encourage the public's appreciation for contemporary art through the generation of impact in the surrounding community.  © Fernando Alda  Section A  © Fernando Alda The design team at SKETCH has been involved from the start of the creative process, starting with the selection of the space and being involved with some of the preservation and restoration works on a few architectural components that remain intact, such as an original terrazzo floor that was discovered in a part of the gallery and the restoration of the original façade openings. The project also seek to respectfully integrate the gallery program within the historic building, highlight the sense of place in order to benefit Diablo Rosso’s cultural agenda while creating a space that allows the appreciation of the exhibited art pieces as well as the historic and architectural value of the building.  © Fernando Alda  Section B  © Fernando Alda This project aims to part away from the traditional white cube gallery, creating one that is actively engaged with its surroundings. Through the restoration of the building’s original facade, full height glazing allows daylight to flood the gallery space and, viceversa, lets its contents to be viewed from the square across the street. At night, the gallery lights up the sidewalk - presenting its current program to anybody that walks by; proposing new interactions, encounters, ideas and discussions within the neighborhood. This intervention lends itself to the city as a lamp by night and as a window by day —showing itinerant exhibitions throughout the year— appealing to the curiosity and to the senses of the passerby.  Floor Plan The internal distribution has been thought out to enhance this feeling of looking through. The information desk has been located in the center of the gallery, away from the view of the street to be less intimidating to the visitors. Further back a small storage room, restroom and mechanical room are tucked away from the public’s view, next to a second and smaller exhibition space that also serves as a projection room if necessary.  © Fernando Alda  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Cubica Cabin / Camacho Estudio de Arquitectura Posted: 23 Nov 2018 08:00 AM PST  © Llano Fotografia
 © Llano Fotografia Text description provided by the architects. The project consists of a small group of 2 houses located in the urban area of Paipa, Boyacá Municipality, Colombia. Located in a corner lot of approximately 314.85 m2, and where the built area is 116.45 m2 for each house.  1st floor plan It is conceptualized, a modular refuge that grows vertically, in search of a space that adapts to time and is capable of satisfying both human and environmental needs. Both housing units are designed under the same basic criteria: completely modular monolithic skeleton, context linkage, respectful materials with the environment, lighting, cross ventilation, functionality and sustainable comfort. Both share; garden area parking and barbecue area (food preparation and cooking module).  © Miguel A. Martínez Ortiz Spatially each module is composed of three levels. The first level is configured for two accesses; one for a separate room, and the other access for the rest of the house. The second level, is framed by a large window on the facade, which allows the exterior lighting to invade its spaces, is composed successively by; living room, kitchen and dining room, accompanied by the main room. The third level, unburdens verticality with a vacuum to the main space of the house, and is composed of two secondary rooms.  Axonometries The geometric composition on the facade rests first; in the structure together with a series of frames that configure large windows, representing the transparency and illumination of the internal spaces, and second; the composition of color in rectangles of superboard®, generating mosaics that provide dynamism to the building. The symmetry of the rectangles is broken, adding circular windows and circular inserts in the walls of the façade.  © Llano Fotografia  Longitudinal section  © Llano Fotografia Its structural configuration is based on circular metal columns that rise from the ground by means of concrete dies, the soil does not intervene, thus reducing costs due to excavations.  © Miguel A. Martínez Ortiz Its dry construction minimizes waste considerably on site, generating a faster and cleaner process, due to the fact that many of the parts are made in the workshop because it is a modular structure.  © Llano Fotografia  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 23 Nov 2018 06:00 AM PST  © Roberto D´Ambrosio
 © Roberto D´Ambrosio Text description provided by the architects. The challenge (and opportunity) of this project was to design a low-budget home that would adapt bioclimatically to its environment through passive design strategies, incorporation of local materials and an optimal spatial relationship with its surroundings to amplify the perceived size of the 125 m2 construction to give the impression of a much larger dwelling.  © Roberto D´Ambrosio  Section The project is characterized by the word "HONESTY", a concept that was present in all stages of design and construction:  © Roberto D´Ambrosio  Diagrama HONESTY WITH MATERIALS: From the very beginning of the project, the owners of the dwelling, Luis and Marce, requested the use of materials in their natural dimension and form. In other words, the materials were not manipulated in any way that would alter their aesthetic or structural qualities. For example, the wood used in the building retained its natural finish, metals were only treated with acrylic paints, the PVC was left in its original white finish, and the same goes for all the materials used. On the other hand, the design of the house was adjusted to go hand in hand with the commercial measures of each material, and any excess materials were used in other decorative and architectural elements, such as ceilings. This approach resulted in reduced construction waste in benefit of the environment, as well as reduced construction costs.  © Roberto D´Ambrosio  Ground floor plan  © Roberto D´Ambrosio HONESTY WITH CLIENTS: The owners Luis and Marce had very clear ideas from early on of what they desired from this house, and this vision was discussed in detail during numerous meetings throughout the long design process. During this process, no large-scale presentations or render images were used, which tend to portray a project reference that in most cases does not correspond to the final result. Instead, a digital three-dimensional model was used in all meetings to build a virtual model of the house in cooperation with the clients. As in any project, modifications arose during the construction process and those were included in the same three-dimensional model. All adjustments were carefully reviewed with the clients before implementing them. In the end, the virtual model ended up being a faithful copy of the finished house.  © Roberto D´Ambrosio  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| CAA Architects Reveals Futuristic Eco-City Design for the Maldives Posted: 23 Nov 2018 05:00 AM PST  Ocean's Heaven. Image Courtesy of CAA Architects CAA Architects have won first prize in the Maldives Airport Economic Zone competition. Their winning proposal, "Ocean's Heaven" is a mixed use development made to embrace tropical culture and ocean systems with renewable energy structures in a living belt design. Facing global warming and rising sea levels, the project hopes to create a new model for sustainable development before the Maldives disappear from the world forever.  Ocean's Heaven. Image Courtesy of CAA Architects Designed with ecological energy supplies around the ocean and the city, Ocean's Heaven recognizes the fragile ecosystem of the Maldives. As the world largest archipelago country, the Maldives are famously known as "Paradise on Earth", which is named after its jewel-like form that lay across the Ocean's surface. Behind this beauty is a huge environmental crisis; according to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), 40% of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming are produced by large buildings. If the attitude towards urban construction and one-time energy use does not change, the fate of an island country like the Maldives will be greatly threatened.  Ocean's Heaven. Image Courtesy of CAA Architects  Ocean's Heaven. Image Courtesy of CAA Architects Located at the east coast of Hulhumale, adjacent to Male, the capital of the Maldives on a site of reclaimed land, the project is dissected by the central twin urban axis. BUCG in partnership with the Maldives central government aims to develop 60,000sqm of site area with 100,000 gross sqm, which will consist of functions such as; an airport company service center, international trade center, convention center, island transport hub and shopping, business grade hotel, centralized retail shopping and dining experiences, as well an ocean facing cultural plaza and other supporting amenities. This program of activity will be spread across two construction phases.  Ocean's Heaven. Image Courtesy of CAA Architects  Ocean's Heaven. Image Courtesy of CAA Architects Functionally organized to promote the concept of high-density urban living and a productivity core, the design incorporates a transportation hub for road and water commuting, as well as commercial, retail and cultural facilities in one compact inner-city community. Beyond functioning as the islands "nervous system," this complex doubles as an urban energy incubator. An integrated environmental systems approach was taken, that fully incorporates rainwater and solar energy harvesting, as well as taking advantage of passive cross ventilation and tidal power to generates more than 70% of electricity required to power the development. CAA's projects seeks to weave architecture, art, environment and culture together in the Indian ocean archipelago. In the future, the bio-active design aims to be a landmark for human communities and nature that points towards the future of the Maldives. Ocean's Heaven is set to complete construction in 2021.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 23 Nov 2018 04:00 AM PST  © Celso Pilati
 © Celso Pilati Text description provided by the architects. The DW house was designed for a former client and friend, we had already made the design of his first apartment, and now, with the prospect of increasing family, he gave us the joy of designing his new home.  Planta - Térreo It is a mass architecture, what you see from the street is a closed and mysterious volume, and an oblique wall leads to the entrance. In the background it is the opposite, the house opens to the yard and the light.  © Celso Pilati The house arrangement was compact, with the intention of disposing of a kind backyard. We solved the plan according to the insolation and created the relationship with the garden and the openings according to the needs of each room.  © Celso Pilati The project localization is in a high standard neighborhood, Santa Felicidade, in Curitiba. Since the beginning, two conditioners guided the project: the site’s front was diagonal, and there was a large araucaria (a tropical Brazilian native pine tree) in the backside of the lot. With this in hands, we decided to leave the recreation area in the back with the native tree, using landscape features to accentuating it.  Planta - Superior Also, about the diagonal front, the project took advantage to generate a mysterious access at the same time it does not immediately reveal the door, and even with the oblique access, the house is a pure volume in a balance between its white and clean exterior and its solid settled form.  © Celso Pilati The volume lies on a brick’s base, relating this pure and timeless architecture with the old and ethereal soil. In the main facade, the only opening is a window in translucent glass, which in addition to protecting the privacy of the interior, makes a vertical counterpoint to the facade.  Longitudinal section The implantation of the house also took advantage of the orientation of the land. All rooms were north facing, with the best solar orientation and the pool facing west, enjoying the afternoon sun. In the master suite, there is a large balcony to the east, which acts as a cover for the garage.  © Celso Pilati  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| This Week in Architecture: Reduce, Reuse, Rethink Posted: 23 Nov 2018 03:15 AM PST  © Leonardo Finotti It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the massive production of architecture today. Scroll through ArchDaily for more than a minute and even we'd forgive you for losing track of it all. But what seems like an endless scroll of architectural production doesn't quite fit with the popular movements surrounding resource sharing and community. Hidden among the mass production that has defined architecture in the last century is a germ - one that seems to be marching to the forefront of practice today. More and more designers seem to be taking on locally-focused and/or adaptive reuse works. Award shortlists today highlight not icons by recognizable names, but sensitive international works that are notable for their process as much as their product. The common image of the architect may be of one obsessed with ego and newness, but practice today doesn't bear that out as much as it used to. This week's news touched on issues of reduction, reuse, and a radical rethink what architecture is in the 21st century. RIBA International Prize Aleph Zero and Rosenbaum.jpg?1542986749 "© Leonardo Finotti") © Leonardo Finotti This year's RIBA International Prize went to Aleph Zero and Rosenbaum for Children Village (an ArchDaily 2018 Building of the Year winner), a school situated on the edge of the rainforest in northern Brazil. The project, constructed entirely with local resources and traditional techniques, accommodates nearly 600 students, many of whom have to travel great distances to reach the school. The isolated nature of the site was one of the project's great challenges, requiring the architects to develop inventive design and construction solutions on the fly. It was this openness to experimentation that, according to the project's client, made the relatively unknown office a perfect fit for the commission. "We chose the architects precisely because they are not the kind who think they know everything," said Denise Aguiar, director of the Bradesco Foundation, to Olly Wainwright of The Guardian. "...The designers seemed like they would actually listen to what the students wanted rather than imposing their own ideas." The project beat a shortlist that included works from Nikken Sekkei, Stefano Boeri, and O'Donnell & Tuomey (whose shortlisted work for the Central European University has become political flashpoint following the University's closure by a new rightwing government in Hungary.) The project is only the second to receive the commendation; Grafton Architects took the inaugural honours in 2016 for their UTEC Campus in Peru. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle © Courtesy of wHY Architecture The Met in New York announced a major overhaul of their famed Rockefeller Wing, to be led by wHY Architecture and Kulapat Yantrasast. The new design for the hall, currently home to the museum's collections from Africa, Oceania and Americas, will draw inspiration from the collection's local design traditions. Work is currently expected to start in 2020 and reach completion in 2023.  © Marc Cramer + Thomas Miau An extensive renovation of Moshe Safdie's apartment in his seminal Habitat 67 project reached completion this week after nearly two years of work. The project, initially timed to coincide with the 50 year anniversary of Habitat 67, fully fit-out the apartment to meet contemporary energy efficiency and comfort standards. The new space is clear a light-filled - a perfect retreat from the Montreal winter. The year's best US refurbishment projects were announced by the Richard Driehaus foundation this week. The works may appear restrained, but an unshowy appearance belies the complexity of adaptive reuse projects - particularly when famed historic architects are involved.  Richardson Olmsted Campus, Buffalo, NY / Henry Hobson Richardson & Fredrick Law Olmsted. Image Courtesy of The National Trust for Historic Preservation The Radical Action of Waste Courtesy of Otherothers With excessive consumption on the minds of many, it's perhaps no wonder that we're seeing an uptick in adaptive reuse in refurbishment projects. And - according to the curators of 2019's Oslo Architecture Triennale - this trend is both positive and essential. In an interview with Phineas Harper and Maria Smith (half of a curation team that also includes Matthew Dalziel and Cecilie Sachs-Olsen) the two outline the event's theme, Degrowth. The concept is a broad one, and one that architects may find disconcerting. In a profession so inherently tied to production and development, how can architects take on the idea of degrowth? Harper and Smith see particular potential in the idealism that is architecture's DNA. "In terms of what architecture can do," explains Smith, "we talked about why architects are probably sympathetic candidates… because we live in this weird dichotomy, but we do still shape so much of what the world is like that we are still the custodians of typology. So if we're going to think about what this world actually looks like, architects are really very well equipped. When politicians do start talking about this, they're going to want to cite examples. That's where we come in."  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Persimmon Tree House / André Simão arquitectura Posted: 23 Nov 2018 02:00 AM PST  © Carlos Eduardo Vinagre
 © Carlos Eduardo Vinagre Text description provided by the architects. The object of this project is a small estate in the rural interior of the county of Barcelos, in the north of Portugal, where there was a farmer's house and a sequeiro (a vernacular architectural structure used to dry and store cereals). The facade, almost without windows, describes a long curve following the shape of the street, which closes over the interior of the property, like a rolled-up cat. After being numbered and disassembled, the elements of the existing stone masonry were recombined, creating the geometry of a new elevation, facing the garden. Behind this puzzle of built memory, a secondary glazed facade was conceived, privileging the connection with the natural landscape.  © Carlos Eduardo Vinagre  Ground Floor Plan  © Carlos Eduardo Vinagre The private and service areas are facing east, while the social area, facing south, proposes the free and exploratory use of a succession of mezzanines. At the northern end of the house, a suspended body - the painting studio - swings beyond the old stones of the primitive structure, challenging the surrounding landscape.  © Carlos Eduardo Vinagre  Sections  © Carlos Eduardo Vinagre The house faces the street like a blank canvas, laconic and abstract, returning the shadows of the neighboring buildings.  © Carlos Eduardo Vinagre I asked the owners, with whom a strong dialectical relationship had been established during the process: "what name would you give to your house?". Their answer honors one of the trees that, without leaving the garden, enters the “Persimmon tree house” every day.  © Carlos Eduardo Vinagre  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| MAD Architects Design Panoramic Viewpoint for Historic Warehouse in Rotterdam Posted: 23 Nov 2018 01:30 AM PST  © MAD Architects MAD Architects has unveiled images of their proposed panoramic viewpoint for the Fenix Warehouse in Rotterdam, commissioned by the Droom en Daad Foundation. The scheme represents MAD's first public cultural project in Europe, which sees them tasked with uncovering the forgotten history of what was once one of the biggest warehouses in the world. The viewpoint is to form part of a restoration project of the historic warehouse itself, to be led by Rotterdam-based Bureau Polderman. The scheme is situated on the site of one of the oldest Chinatowns in Europe, on the southern banks of the port of Rotterdam.  © MIR
In addition to the platform, MAD will also design a theatric staircase and public atrium for the warehouse, connecting the ground and first floors with the rooftop observation deck. The first floor will be dedicated to highlighting Rotterdam's long history of migration, reflecting on the area's role as a departure point for millions of European migrants bound for Ellis Island in the United States.  © MAD Architects
News of the scheme comes after MAD began construction on a Floating Kindergarten above a historic Beijing courtyard. News via: MAD Architects  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The Tallest Timber Tower in Australia Opens in Brisbane Posted: 23 Nov 2018 01:00 AM PST  © Tom Roe Australia's largest engineered timber commercial building has opened in Brisbane, designed by Bates Smart. At 10 stories, and 45 meters in height, the "25 King" open plan office complex is the tallest timber structure in Australia, and "establishes new frontiers in the design of commercial buildings. The scheme's aesthetic is centered on the goal of "bringing a clear expression of its exposed timber structure to the building's transparent envelope and promoting a warmer, more natural workplace environment of the future."  © Tom Roe The structure features a hybrid of Glulam (glued laminated timber) and CLT (cross laminated timber) elements, reflecting Bates Smart's research into engineered timber technology to meet modern-day and future demands for function and sustainability. The departure from steel and concrete as primary structural elements results in a significantly lower carbon footprint, with sequestered carbon locked within the timber structure.  © Tom Roe
 © Tom Roe The structure is raised on massive exposed timber v-columns, with a south façade verandah of engineered timber. Nine levels of open-plan office space are serviced via a north-facing core, above a ground floor timber colonnade of public cafes and restaurants. The form of the scheme draws inspiration from the wooden vernacular "Queensander" building type, and historic pavilions in the surrounding Showgrounds district.  © Tom Roe The use of exposed CLT slabs internally has eradicated the need for suspended ceiling systems, opening the floorplates to a larger ceiling height, softer surfaces and acoustics, and a warmer atmosphere. Set along a 6 x 8 meter grid determined by the span of the Glulam ceiling beams, the scheme's columns are arranged to offer an intimate open-plan scale without hampering flexibility.  © Tom Roe The scheme's adherence to sustainable principles has produced dramatic savings, with a 74% reduction in embodied carbon, 46% reduction in energy, 20% weight saving compared to concrete, and a construction period of just 15 months aided by offsite prefabrication. News via: Bates Smart  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Apartment Building in the Countryside / meier + associés architectes Posted: 23 Nov 2018 12:00 AM PST  © Yves André
 © Yves André Text description provided by the architects. The project is located in a hollow at the edge of a forest bordering the Route de la Louviere in Presinge. The land slopes towards the northwest and the entrance to the site is via the lower end of the plot, on an internal road that also serves an EMS (a medico-social center) at the upper end. The compact nature of the volume allows for superb views of the surrounding greenery. Access to the apartments is via the private road along which is installed an access ramp leading to the parking area. The basement contains parking spaces, cellars, a civil protection shelter, and utility rooms.  © Yves André  Floor Plans  © Yves André The project proposes 12 apartments of four or five rooms, each with a corner loggia that allows for double solar orientation - with the exception of two apartments on the ground floor, one of which is extended by a terrace. Vertical circulation is via a naturally lit staircase, which creates a distance between the two apartments to the north and brings light to the center of the volume.  © Yves André Access into each apartment is through a generously sized entrance hall which acts as an articulation between the daytime and nighttime zones, and which gives access to the daytime sanitary facilities. The living room is bright and opens onto a large space, in the corner of which is the loggia. The rooms have access to shared sanitary facilities and the master bedroom enjoys the use of a «private» bathroom.  © Yves André In this place of great poetry, the material aspect of the volume takes on an important role. A simple expression is called for, in symbiosis with the wooded landscape and in harmony with the EMS de la Louvière. The facades are thus constructed in colored concrete with large openings, of which the natural wood joinery reflects the surrounding forest.  © Yves André  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 22 Nov 2018 10:00 PM PST  © Jan Ove Christensen and Peter Jørgensen
 © Jan Ove Christensen and Peter Jørgensen Text description provided by the architects. Brick shingle house reduces emissions.  © Jan Ove Christensen and Peter Jørgensen  Ground floor plan  © Jan Ove Christensen and Peter Jørgensen For our project TK-33, we have focused on identifying and replacing CO2-heavy elements of the typical Danish house and replaced them with more eco-friendly alternatives in a contemporary formal language that resonates with the existing qualities of the town and the surrounding landscape.  © Jan Ove Christensen and Peter Jørgensen In the most common Danish single-family house, the load bearing structure is aerated concrete covered by a brick envelope and roof tiles. The concrete walls have a massive CO2-impact that has thus far been justified by durability and lifespan. The brick envelope also has a high impact due to its volume and challenges in reuse. According to some studies, the outer walls account for nearly 30% of the total emissions associated with construction of a typical house and it is among other elements this number that we aim to reduce with TK-33.  © Jan Ove Christensen and Peter Jørgensen By replacing the load bearing concrete wall with a wooden frame and cladding it in a thin layer of durable brick shingling, the emissions from concrete are eliminated and the emissions from the brick cover is highly reduced as the thickness of the envelope is reduced to 13mm. In addition to reducing the volume of brick, the façade system is also C2C-certified allowing for a gradual or total reuse or replacement if certain shingles are damaged or entire sections need replacing. Because the envelope is so durable, maintaining the wooden structure is redundant and the lifespan is increased which minimizes the overall CO2-impact of the structure.  © Jan Ove Christensen and Peter Jørgensen The house is built to accommodate a mature couple and is situated in the perimeter of a small town north of Copenhagen. The house integrates the natural vistas in the social spaces of the house surrounding the open kitchen, utilizing the room height to absorb the sky and the natural landscape. The house has a private and a social section, making the use of the house flexible and allowing for visitors and varied owners over time increasing the lifespan without the need for remodeling or extending. The house can be naturally ventilated and installations are pragmatically limited to the central core containing two bathrooms and a laundry room, lowering overall costs during construction.  © Jan Ove Christensen and Peter Jørgensen Eliminating emissions during construction, allowing for flexibility in the use of the house and facilitating reuse of the entire envelope makes for a house and a building technique that could decrease the emissions from the single-family house industry in Denmark greatly.  © Jan Ove Christensen and Peter Jørgensen  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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