Arch Daily |
- Lavandaria Ansião / Bruno Dias Arquitectura
- Stratosphere / Stockwool
- Renovation of a Functionalist Villa “Indian Ship" / Idhea
- Amanzoe Luxury Hotel & Villas / Edward Tuttle | Designrealization
- Coding March / XuTai Design And Reseach
- Kew East House / Jost Architects
- i-yard 2.0 / Beijing Jiaotong University
- Another Sky / Designhaaus Solutions
- Tuíra Açaí / Traama Arquitetura
- House in the Air / APS - Pablo Senmartin
- Supplies Storage and Management Facility / Elcio Gomes Silva + Valério Augusto Soares de Medeiros
- Heatherwick Studio Releases New Learning Hub Video
- FM House / Horma
- Re-Imagining New York's Central Park after an Eco-Terrorist Attack
- Bar da Laje / OYAPOCK architectes
- Behind the Scenes at the 2018 International Highrise Award
- Okada Marshall House / D'Arcy Jones Architects
- The Most Anticipated Projects of 2019
- Five Flowers / Nottdesign
| Lavandaria Ansião / Bruno Dias Arquitectura Posted: 31 Dec 2018 07:00 PM PST  © Hugo Santos Silva
 © Hugo Santos Silva Text description provided by the architects. This project takes shape in the center of the village, in a place already known for its laundry services. A hall, which was previously non-existent, was built into the pre-existing space. The main idea is to separate the working and storage area, where employees spend most of their time, from the private area, and the entrance hall, the public space where customers are welcomed.  Floor Plan This separation between areas ensures a better-quality service, as customers immediately feel welcomed, and employees have a more reserved working area. The objective is accomplished with a slatted wood structure, which divides the different areas whilst also letting natural light in, as it is a central element that is not completely closed or opaque.  © Hugo Santos Silva The floor plan for this space is quite simple: a waiting area and a reception desk. Nevertheless, by using wood – the main element – the space becomes lighter and more luminous, thanks to this material which creates an immediate feeling of well-being.  © Hugo Santos Silva  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 31 Dec 2018 06:00 PM PST  © Morley von Sternberg
 © Morley von Sternberg Text description provided by the architects. Stratosphere, designed for Telford Homes, has transformed a brownfield site adjacent to Stratford station into two buildings boasting striking views.  Elevations With 342 new homes, the buildings comprise of an 11 storey brick-clad building, with retail and office accommodation at ground to second floor levels and 62 apartments above, and a 36 storey glazed building, with retail accommodation at ground floor level and 280 private apartments above plus a gym, a residents' lounge at 35th floor level, and a stunning rooftop garden offering uninterrupted panoramic views across the Lea Valley, the Olympic site and further west towards the City of London.  © Morley von Sternberg Entry into the residential cores of each building is via a linked podium structure featuring the main concierge space and shared entrance lobby.  © Morley von Sternberg The creation of good quality amenity space has been central to the development of the design solution. The scheme provides private amenity space for the vast majority of the private residential units whilst also providing additional landscaped areas to the roof terraces of both buildings. 140_C_BuildingOneSections.jpg?1542331048 "Section 1") Section 1 A strong retail frontage connects visually with the proposed retail spaces and public space at ground level. The intention was that the ground floor would be as active as possible and this is achieved through the placement of the retail and entry into the residential and commercial accommodation above.  © Morley von Sternberg The building envelope comprises innovative off-site manufactured modular facade elements, which have considerably improved the speed and safety of construction.  © Morley von Sternberg John Fitzgerald, Group Managing Director at Telford Homes commented:
Derek Jay, Partner at Stockwool commented:
 © Morley von Sternberg  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Renovation of a Functionalist Villa “Indian Ship" / Idhea Posted: 31 Dec 2018 05:00 PM PST  © BoysPlayNice
 © BoysPlayNice Text description provided by the architects. The villa was built in 1936 according to the design of a noted Czech architect Vladimír Grégr, grandson of a well-known journalist and politician. Built in functionalist style, the villa has significant rustic elements including conical exterior walls, rough dragged work and wooden casing. In the framework of maximum respect to the original character of the house, the modifications include removal of the accumulation of insensitive silt of the 80s, highlighting the unique spaces and architectural details, and adaptation to modern living standards.  © BoysPlayNice  Ground floor plan  © BoysPlayNice Vladimír Grégr's work has been strongly influenced by his stay in the United States and the inspiration from the romantic haciendas of the Californian movie stars. Based on this experience he started designing aerodynamic functionalist houses. He also started developing a rather romantic shape morphology inspired not only by the mentioned Neo-Spanish style, but also by Jan Kotěra. The first opportunity to use his new approach was at Barrandov in Prague, where the Barrandov Film Studios and a sightseeing restaurant were built at the impulse of Havel brothers. The builder and developer Mr. Havel wished for the studios to be complemented by luxury residences built along the narrow Barrandov streets. He approached several architects, among them Vladimír Grégr, who gradually built seven villas in the location. Most likely it was Grégr's style, that most corresponded both with the romantic surroundings and the taste of the Czech film stars, who wanted to live like their famous Hollywood counterparts. We had the opportunity to participate in the renovation of one of these villas nicknamed Indian Ship.  © BoysPlayNice The Indian Ship used to belong to diplomat Růžička. It is a carefully composed lengthwise shell placed onto the south-east Barrandov slope, parallel to the Barrandovská Street. The interior layout is strongly oriented towards the garden, all the residential rooms – the super-elevated living room, dining room and library on the ground floor, and the three bedrooms and bathroom on the first floor, are facing it. On the other hand, the utility rooms and hallways are Northwest oriented, facing the street, which also shows in the stern character of the street façade.  © BoysPlayNice During the project we tried to preserve all that was important and remove everything useless. The aim of the project was to preserve the identity and quality of the house, while reacting to the needs of the present era.  © BoysPlayNice Based on its exterior character, the villa was listed as architectural monument and we tried to save its unique figure, window panes, façade character and architectural details. At the same time, it was necessary to deal with the building and technical challenges arising from the used constructions and materials of the time.  © BoysPlayNice The house was designed as a reinforced concrete frame walled in with hollow blocks. We performed extensive technical research, measured window and wall heat passage and did thermal photography before we began our work on the design. Our enquiry revealed significant heat bridges caused by the frame load-bearing construction, insufficiently insulated roof and damp basement walls. On the other hand, the window thermal transmission coefficient turned out to be surprisingly good. We approached the renovation based on our findings and with the improvement of interior environment quality on our mind. The modifications consisted of replacing the original roof structure with a modern one, adding 5 cm of thermal insulation to the façade, and a combination of hydro-insulation and other technological arrangements ensuring the usability of the underground premises, something that was previously impossible. At the same time, we executed energy and economic studies. These determined that a gas boiler would be most efficient for heating and water heating. Heating is provided for by floor heating in combination with tubular radiators contributing to the unique interior character. An air-condition unit was placed into the basement. It should provide permanent ventilation in case of humidity penetrating from the exterior.  Section Cone-shaped exterior walls, rough combed stucco and oak windows were characteristic to the unique exterior design. Unfortunately, the stucco was badly damaged. Despite all our efforts it was unrepairable, and we had to replace it. Fortunately enough, we were able to find a technical and aesthetic solution that was almost identical to the original, including colour and structure. Before the actual application of the finish, we performed numerous test samplings directly on the façade structure.  © BoysPlayNice As was mentioned before, the oak windows of various sizes and shapes are one of the house's characteristic features. Architect Grégr designed the shapes with regard not only to the interior and its' views of the landscape, but also to the meticulous composition of the exterior mass. New windows are an exact copy of the original ones, including their surface finish. The metal fittings were restored and used again. The craftsman working on the windows spent over a year at the site, since he had to transport the windows to his workshop one at the time to ensure that the new ones were a truly exact copy.  © BoysPlayNice The house interior suffered from the unoriginal silt and "creativity" of its owners from the second half of the 20th century. We strove to remove this alluvium to emphasize the original very simple but very impressive concept. Changes to the original lay-out were minimal with regard to present functional needs. A super-elevated living room equipped with a hearth and piano space is in the heart of the house. It mirrors to the façade by its high double wing windows. Connected to the living room are a dining area and a former library that now serves as a bedroom. All the living premises are serviced from the hallway adjacent to the northern façade. Therefore the inhabitants would not be disturbed by personnel. Three bedrooms are located on the first floor. A new gentleman bathroom, that was originally not part of the solution, was supplemented. Very important was the new basement solution. The basement was previously uninhabitable due to severe dampness. Now it was dehumidified, it is possible to use the underground premises as full-fledged part of the house and thus two dressing rooms, utility and technical rooms and personnel background were established here.  © BoysPlayNice The characteristic design of the entire house is underlined by wooden elements, mostly made of dark mordant oak. We managed to preserve the elements referring to the American inspiration, such as the large sliding doors with a rare "ejector" fitting, unique banister, hearth or window frame details.  © BoysPlayNice The quality of the reconstruction does not lie in any serious innovations but in the humbleness with which we approached the original design. We endeavored to save the beauty and historic value of the house and at the same time to fulfil the present aesthetic, functional and technical requirements necessary for the full-fledged life of the house and its inhabitants.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Amanzoe Luxury Hotel & Villas / Edward Tuttle | Designrealization Posted: 31 Dec 2018 04:00 PM PST  © Pygmalion Karatzas
 © Pygmalion Karatzas Text description provided by the architects. Amanzoe lays amongst centuries old olive groves, boasting panoramic views of the glittering tranquil sea, the neighbouring vineyards, and the awe-inspiring mountains. Porto Heli is located on the southern tip of the Peloponnese peninsula, the resort town takes full advantage of its alluring coastline, agreeable weather, and glistening views of the Aegean Sea. The "Acropolis"-like site on Agios Panteleimonas covers an area of 8 hectares, while the pavilions / guest rooms are spread on the east and west wings of the plot, well-integrated into the landscape with green roofs and lush vegetation.  © Pygmalion Karatzas  Masterplan  © Pygmalion Karatzas Designed by quintessential Aman Resorts architect Edward Tuttle, this exclusive haven of unsurpassed beauty has quickly become the Mediterranean playground of those in the know, enabling the "Greek Riviera" to take its rightful place in international high class tourism.  © Pygmalion Karatzas Inspired by classic Greek architecture, Tuttle's design allows for optimal views, with flat roofs supported by graceful colonnades, creating the perfect set-up for unobstructed panoramas, while establishing a sense of flow and openness between the external and internal spaces. Meanwhile inside, high ceilings and cold materials such as marble and natural stones are tempered by warming oak accents.  © Pygmalion Karatzas The development includes facilities & amenities such as:  © Pygmalion Karatzas  Section 02  © Pygmalion Karatzas The Villas are sited to provide all residents with uninterrupted views of the sea and vistas of the undulating hills and olive groves surrounding the properties. Their size varies from 2 bedroom on a 0.5 hectare lot and 320 sq.m., to 4-5 bedroom on 1 hectare lot and 700 sq.m.  © Pygmalion Karatzas The Beach Club offers a range of water sports and sea adventures, or a chance to relax at the beach bar, have a massage by the water and enjoy freshly cooked food at the restaurant. Cabbanas are also available for day use.  © Pygmalion Karatzas Doxiadis+, landscaping architects, describe their approach to this project:  © Pygmalion Karatzas The landscape design recognizes the elements of the existing landscape: the pine forests, the maquis and phrygana aromatic vegetation, the grand old olive and carob trees, the vineyards, the wheat-fields, and the stone agricultural walls. These elements are re-used in the resort to form various qualities, from refined to wild, and provide for a multitude of sensations, and for a feeling that one is "in" the landscape, part of it, rather than looking at it from a distance.  Landscape 01  Landscaping 02 These techniques provide not only for a beautiful landscape which belongs to the area, but also for important environmental gains: local biodiversity and landscape history is retained, water usage and the need for pesticides and chemicals is minimized, and the re-use of the excavated earth to form walls, road surfaces, pebbles for mulching and soil for planting reduces the environmental footprint of the construction, while at the same time integrating the new resort with the materials and sensations of the surrounding landscape." - http://doxiadisplus.com/amanheli-resort-landscaping/  © Pygmalion Karatzas In its six years of operation, Amanzoe has won numerous international awards and distinctions, the most recent being ranked 4th Best Hotel in Europe and 26th among the world's 100 by Conde Nast Traveler readers at the 2017 Travel Awards.  © Pygmalion Karatzas  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Coding March / XuTai Design And Reseach Posted: 31 Dec 2018 03:00 PM PST  © Hao Chen
 © Hao Chen Text description provided by the architects. Coding March is committed to providing Chinese young people with extensive coding courses including basic programming language, competition counseling, robotics, and scientific research.  © Hao Chen Coding March's Shanghai Pudong campus is located on Jinyan Road, with Shanghai Science and Technology Museum just across the river. We were astonished at the sheer number and variety of educational institutions on both sides of the road and felt on the spot the importance of youth education.  Aoxnometric_First floor The two-storeyed building comes in the shape of a 23.3*8.6m rectangular with the north side along the upfront street. The west half of the first floor is taken up by a Japanese barber shop. The entire second is there for us to explore. The façade is made of glass curtain wall. Functional requirements are clear as the client has exceptional teaching experiences. The focus is on the flexible transformation of functions between lecture rooms, student exhibition rooms, reading rooms and staff offices.  © Hao Chen  © Hao Chen Inspirations came instantly from two observations. Looking out from the second floor, I was reminiscent, by the glimmering tree shadows created by the light through the glass wall, of carefree childhood frolics in the field. The impressive image of stars in the vast expanse on the ground in A Sky Full of Stars, an MV by Coldplay also played a facilitating role in the final design.  © Hao Chen  © Hao Chen Born and bred in cities, young people nowadays hardly see for themselves the colourful light of stars, and it is our wish to highlight the memory of physical touches. To this end, we try to visually retain the light and shadow of the surrounding trees, and perforate the north façade with gradient aluminum plates, mixing programming codes with the illuminating stars.  © Hao Chen Functionally, the crisscrossing corridors serve to link different spaces and. Every kind of experience is underscored by contrasting materials and shades of colours.  © Hao Chen Taking the façade as a whole, the area of the barbershop is also included in the design. On the first floor we have reception, parent waiting area, staircase, toilet, and storage room. In the relatively small space, the ceiling and the pavement help to divide functions. On the second floor, we have staff office and classrooms of all kinds suiting students' needs. The staff room is furnished with folding doors to provide alternative arrangements for different activities. The adjoining area is complemented with micro landscape to echo the greenness outside.  © Hao Chen Considering that there will be young children from grades 1-6, in addition to meeting the basic requirement for safety and comfort, it is our sincere hope to offer them a fascinating experience of nature and its changes by emphasizing the use of all their senses, so that they may become aware of an unknown beauty during breaks.  © Hao Chen  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Kew East House / Jost Architects Posted: 31 Dec 2018 01:00 PM PST  © Shani Hodson-Zoso
 © Shani Hodson-Zoso Text description provided by the architects. Looking to the future, the clients required a house capable of a multi-generational family dynamic including their teenage children, Timba the dog and older parents who frequently visit from overseas but will eventually join them permanently.  © Shani Hodson-Zoso Located on a complex site with a very steep fall down towards the street with strict council setbacks, results in the house is being recessed in the slope. The banded fascias fold and rake, vertically and horizontally, braiding the building into the streetscape. The functional spaces are layered within this fabric. Externally, the materials are selected for their robust and tonal hue responding to the huge eucalypts enveloping the site and the other beautiful native flora around the Kew Billabong and Yarra River beyond.  © Shani Hodson-Zoso With the park and Yarra Trail opposite, the requirement for large outdoor areas became less of a priority and prompted defined, and functional interior living spaces that always maintained a visual connection with the scenery beyond. All these living zones have direct access to natural light and cross ventilation with room to room movement, at the first level over the garage and internal granny flat. The private areas on this level, separated by a main corridor, include the master bedroom and an additional formal living area which can be accessed from either end of the dwelling. The upper level houses the two children's bedrooms and a rooftop balcony with views over the park to the city.  © Shani Hodson-Zoso The thermally broken window system, passive solar design with eave overhangs, external sliding and fixed timber batten screens as well as a 4.95kW PV System result in simple and manually adaptable dwelling. Considering its generous size it is able to respond to the changing external conditions operating efficiently and effectively to maintain comfort for its occupants.  © Shani Hodson-Zoso It is a house that will also adapt to the changing demographic of the family and sits comfortably within its environment.  © Shani Hodson-Zoso  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| i-yard 2.0 / Beijing Jiaotong University Posted: 31 Dec 2018 12:00 PM PST  © Xingxing Chen
 © Xingxing Chen Text description provided by the architects. In August this year, in Dezhou, China, a different " town" came up on the ground - a team of students from Beijing Jiaotong University built a garden villa here, which they named " I - Yard 2.0". This is a " self - sufficient" building. The use of solar photovoltaic panels to generate electricity can fully meet the daily needs of the entire family, and it can save energy and protect the environment  © Xingxing Chen Environmental issues and aging problems bring us inspiration in our i-Yard2.0 design. Escaping from cities and diving into the charming countryside, which exactly our concept is, can be a dream of so many senior citizens in China. Based on renewable energy like solar power, we create safe, comfortable and intelligent home for them when immersed in fresh air and fascinating scenery.  First floor plan The technical features of I - yard 2.0 products can be summarized as " 3i" i.e. industrial, individual and intelligent.  © Xingxing Chen i-Yard2.0 of multiple dimension penetrate the villa, all essential living space is on the first floor. Considering the desire to a convenient and comfortable life, we come up with the idea "moving back line". Platform and temporary space are on the second floor, which can satisfy demands such as entertainment and visiting from younger generation. The "Green Core" provide seasonal scenery as well as passive strategies, such as ventilation and sunshine. In the middle of I - Yard 2.0 is a square middle courtyard with elevator on it, which makes it easier for elderly people with poor legs and feet to rise to the second floor.  Section The whole villa reflects designers' thinking about the living environment of the elderly and children everywhere. The two-story space enables the exchange between the upper and lower spaces, which is not only a favorite entertainment place for children, but also a space that can directly interact with the elderly on the first floor. The C - shaped kitchen hearth in the kitchen is convenient for the elderly to cook and adds a space for interaction between the elderly and their children.  © Xingxing Chen In the process of design, designers are very concerned about satisfying the comfort and convenience of the elderly and will play them, investigate and learn from them. Make sure the house is comfortable, healthy and caring. In family furniture, I - Yard 2.0 broke the routine and replaced the conventional handle style with a recessed armrest frame, which is convenient for the wheelchair-bound elderly to grasp and hold at any time.  © Xingxing Chen  © Xingxing Chen On the one hand, the large-area door and window design can ensure a broad vision and create a feeling of returning to the countryside; on the other hand, when the door and window are completely opened, it can also facilitate timely and barrier-free first aid for the elderly.  © Xingxing Chen In the design, not only is it considered to create rural living space far away from the city for the elderly, but also intelligent applications such as self-learning mode of housing and remote monitoring are added to provide convenience for the elderly with the power of science and technology. Designers are constantly considering the user's feelings in their design and are constantly trying out more possibilities for the old-age building.  © Xingxing Chen  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Another Sky / Designhaaus Solutions Posted: 31 Dec 2018 11:00 AM PST  © Lazaro Advertising
 © Lazaro Advertising "Another sky" is developed by Living walls- a new generation real estate company with a vision to create contemporary urban living while keeping in mind the tested principles of construction and architecture.  © Lazaro Advertising  Development  © Lazaro Advertising 3 towers though attached to each other are placed in a staggered fashion to have openings on all 4 directions. Alignment of units along true N-S direction follows vastu principles and lines up perfectly with the natural wind direction in Bangalore which is generally from the South / South West towards North/North East. The windows and balconies are planned to make use of this draft and cross ventilate the apartment. The 45º orientation of the apartments yields an unconventional structure with several extruded surfaces that cast shadows on the building across the day. This self-shadowing dramatically reduces the heat absorption of the structure during sunlit hours. Staggering the balconies between floors increases this effect even further. Heat absorption is reduced further by terrace level gardens on the penthouses and the green cover in the double height sky lounge.  © Lazaro Advertising  Section  © Lazaro Advertising The Foyer, Living Room and Dining area have a beamless uninterrupted slab. The space with generous sized shaded balconies work as one large uninterrupted space ideal for entertaining guests. Vertical gardens on the side of balconies, looks stunning and brings you all the joys of gardening, on a different dimension.  Unit floor plan L  © Lazaro Advertising  Unit floor plan XL Sustainable process and material adopted like fly ash for plastering, dry fix of masonry instead of mortar, M sand instead of River sand, solar powered lighting for common areas and electric car charging points makes "Another sky" a unique and distinguished project in true sense.  Unit floor plan XXL  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Tuíra Açaí / Traama Arquitetura Posted: 31 Dec 2018 09:00 AM PST  © Haruo Mikami
Text description provided by the architects. The Tuíra Açaí needed a cozy space with the brand identity, the main objective was use the green and the purple color in a natural way, mixed with a light wood, ropes and plants.  Planta The wood slats design were picked from the branding manual and guided the décor project into a lighter and younger feeling. The rectangular space was sectorized in three different ones: kitchen, counter, main saloon.  © Haruo Mikami In the kitchen we removed the bathroom and dimensioned the production space in the right size, so we can focus on the saloon, to fit more clients. In the saloon the counter was placed between the kitchen and the saloon. This space had the cashier, complements area and deliver the final products to clients. To make an intuitive flux we designed a central aisle, to lead the client to the order area, in the left a linear bench with tables, in the high a high table with stools.  © Haruo Mikami The rattan ropes accent the perspective and the alignment of each area of the saloon. They help structure the garden pots, the suspense high table and aligning the pendants light above the tables.  © Haruo Mikami  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| House in the Air / APS - Pablo Senmartin Posted: 31 Dec 2018 08:00 AM PST  © Gonzalo Viramonte
 © Gonzalo Viramonte "I'm going to make you a house in the air, so that you live, as that house has no foundations, it has the system that I invented ... and if it does not fly, it does not rise, it will not reach there" . Rafael Escalona  © Gonzalo Viramonte In the northwest area of the extensive periphery of the city of Córdoba, there is the San Martin natural reserve, around which a series of closed neighborhoods have grown in recent years. In one of these neighborhoods, the studio carried out this house for a family of 5 members. Being away from the center of the city, the program requested by the family included areas of study and work for parents and children, as well as areas of common use that support an intense social life.  Plans and Sections The land of 600m2 is located in a corner that contains an old carob tree, which was taken as an opportunity within the structure of the neighborhood, among many fences and walls, to generate a place of reference and encounter, a place-square, from where , you can access both the study area - work of the house, as the kitchen-services sector, as well as the area of multiple use separately depending on the occasion.  © Gonzalo Viramonte There is no single front, there is no single access, there are alternatives.  © Gonzalo Viramonte From the square, the house works through the articulation of programmatic blocks that are superimposed on each other, a journey is proposed, the house begins its transformation, looking for connections between the various elements of the context, a stone block - pirca , next to the carob tree as an image of link with the landscape of the nature reserve, from this introverted image, solid and simple, it moves towards a transparent, luminous, flexible interior that surrounds a large courtyard with a pool.  Program  © Gonzalo Viramonte This fluidity and inner transparency is achieved by implementing as a guideline the challenge to gravity, placing 2 solid volumes containing the bedrooms, resting on another 2 lightweight rooms of common use, these volumes are displaced, producing a phase shift that arms Transitional spaces, when the supports are hidden, by contrast, they seem to fly, they rise looking for images of the nearby natural reserve. The constructive technique of the reinforced concrete at the service of the concept-idea to reach allows to reach a cantilever of 4.50m x 5.50m by means of a ribbed slab with flat beams of 40cm of height supported on piles of 25x25 cm.  © Gonzalo Viramonte A central vacuum divides the functional program and increases the feeling of weightlessness. The reinforced concrete staircase occupies a central position and crosses the double height, as an articulating reference and as a sculpture within this integrated and fluid space.  © Gonzalo Viramonte The transparent and aerial house, has managed to avoid fences.  © Gonzalo Viramonte  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Supplies Storage and Management Facility / Elcio Gomes Silva + Valério Augusto Soares de Medeiros Posted: 31 Dec 2018 06:00 AM PST  © Joana França
 © Joana França Text description provided by the architects. As part of the actions focused on the rearranging of spaces in the main complex of the Brazilian parliament, the building for the Supplies and Management Facility for the Chamber of Deputies was constructed in an area specifically destined for this purpose in the outskirts of Brasília, the Sector of Supplies and Industries.  © Joana França  Ground Floor Plan Aiming to enable the transference of whole departments of the institution, it was intended for the new building to hold areas for storage and control of supplies, as well as offices connected to the management of these resources. The architectural composition seeks to express such functions. The large white volume, which is closed, is destined for the storage warehouse, which has a triple ceiling height, designed for vertical storing.  © Joana França The concrete towers define the second volume, which holds the office spaces, marked by the horizontal brise-soleils on the façade and by the garden terrace for common use. In the transition and connection between these volumes, the marquee stretching up to the main access completes the ensemble, enclosing the maneuvering yard and ramps to the docks next to the warehouse.  © Joana França Since the building is located far from the complex of the Three Powers Plaza, the expression of the institutional character is achieved by the employment of constructive elements and the use of resources common to other buildings related to the legislative power. Based on these intentions, the combination of exposed concrete, steel, and glass prevails, as well as the order and modulation of markings in the main volumes and planes of a composition.  © Joana França The building sought to achieve goals in the planning and execution of public administration buildings. It incorporates resources that prioritize natural lighting and ventilation, the reusing of wastewater and rainwater, besides energetic efficiency, which resulted in the Procel Eletrobras Seal certification.  © Joana França  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Heatherwick Studio Releases New Learning Hub Video Posted: 31 Dec 2018 05:00 AM PST  Learning Hub. Image © Hufton + Crow Heatherwick Studio has released a new film showcasing the Learning Hub at Nanyang Technological University. Directed by Marcus Hawk, the video features cinematography by Joe Almond. As an educational landmark for Singapore, the Learning Hub was designed as a new multi-use building as part of NTU's redevelopment plan for the campus. Text description: Instead of the traditional format of an educational building with miles of corridors linking box-like lecture rooms, the university asked for a unique design better suited to contemporary ways of learning. With the digital revolution allowing learning to take place almost anywhere, the most important function of this new university building was to be a place where students and professors from various disciplines could meet and interact with one other. The Learning Hub is envisioned to be a place where students might meet their future business partner or someone they would have an amazing idea with.  Learning Hub. Image © Hufton + Crow The outcome is a structure that interweaves both social and learning spaces to create a dynamic environment more conducive to casual and incidental interaction between students and professors. Twelve towers, each a stack of rounded tutorial rooms, taper inwards at their base around a generous public central atrium to provide fifty-six tutorial rooms without corners or obvious fronts or backs. The new-generation smart classrooms were conceived by NTU to support its new learning pedagogies that promote more interactive small group teaching and active learning. The flexible format of the rooms allows professors to configure them to better engage their students, and for students to more easily collaborate with each other.  Learning Hub. Image © Hufton + Crow The rooms in turn open onto the shared circulation space around the atrium, interspersed with open spaces and informal garden terraces, allowing students to be visually connected while also leaving space to linger, gather and pause. NTU Professor Kam Chan Hin, Senior Associate Provost (Undergraduate Education) says, "The new Learning Hub provides an exciting mix of learning, community and recreational spaces for NTU students, professors and researchers from various disciplines to gather and interact. By bringing people and their ideas together, NTU can spark future innovations and new knowledge that increasingly happen at the intersection of disciplines." The building's open and permeable atrium is naturally ventilated, maximising air circulation around the towers of tutorial rooms and allowing students to feel as cool as possible. Each room is cooled using silent convection, which does away with the need for energy-heavy air conditioning fans. The Learning Hub building was awarded Green Mark Platinum status by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), Singapore, the highest possible environmental standard for a building of this type.  Learning Hub. Image © Hufton + Crow In a digital age when many students have multiple communication devices and ready access to knowledge, the Learning Hub reasserts the role of an educational building in the 21st century. No longer a place for traditional classroom teaching to passive students, NTU's new icon provides space for collaborative learning in a technology-rich setting. Opened till late, it will be a place for students to gather, where knowledge is shared, collaboration between disciplines takes place and where future leaders are nurtured.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 31 Dec 2018 04:00 AM PST  © Mariela Apollonio
 © Mariela Apollonio Text description provided by the architects. MX581 is a 3-level, 12-unit residential building located on Avenida México # 581, colonia San Jerónimo Aculco, in Mexico City. The “L” shaped site generated a challenge to accommodate the program of the building. It was decided to leave a garden on the side of the project, so that the building's exterior could be rectangular with an east-west orientation. The pedestrian access of the building is through this garden, positioned 3 meters above street level.  © Mariela Apollonio The project proposes two towers, each with 6 single story apartments, ranging from 150 to 212 sqm. These building towers are connected by a central courtyard from which you can access the apartments.  Plan Within the central courtyard, a wooden deck circulation was designed in a circular form, from where 4 units are accessed in each level. The design of the circle creates 4 triangular shaped terraces, which are part of each of the individual apartments. To delimit these terraces, a prefabricated concrete lattice wall was erected, which also separates these spaces from the neighbor buildings and garden, allowing cross ventilation in the courtyard, through the lattice.  © Mariela Apollonio At the center of the circle a 9-meter-high Japanese guava tree was placed, allowing the view of all common areas of the departments to be of this tree, thus creating a relaxing atmosphere. Around the tree a series of planters and benches were designed where the neighbors of the building can share and coexist. Additionally, at the northern end of the courtyard, the vertical circulation core which has an elevator and staircase that connects all levels is found. The parking lot and lobby are located at the basement of the building, which are also connected to the vertical circulation core. This basement is situated at street level, so that vehicular access can be direct and without the need for ramps.  © Mariela Apollonio The apartments were designed in such a way that the common area adjoins the central courtyard, and the private area - which consists of 3 bedrooms - faces the respective façade of one of the 2 streets that adjoin the project. To promote the privacy of these spaces, a facade with inclined walls was designed to help with lighting and privacy. Vegetation was strategically placed in all the bedrooms as well, which generates green views and helps as a sound barrier to the noise generated in the streets. To be able to provide open spaces in all departments, each of the 12 units has both balconies and terraces. Additionally, the 2 apartments on the ground floor have a large patio that separates the building from the back street. Finally, the 4 PH apartments located on the top level, have a private roof garden and double height ceilings in the room and dining room.  © Mariela Apollonio  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Re-Imagining New York's Central Park after an Eco-Terrorist Attack Posted: 31 Dec 2018 03:00 AM PST  Central Cloud of Breath / Chuanfei Yu, Jiaqi Wang + Huiwen Shi (South East University – Nanjing, China). Image © LA+ Iconoclast The results of the LA+ ICONCOCLAST competition have been published, asking designers to reimagine and redesign New York's Central Park following a fictional eco-terrorist attack. In total, over 380 designers from 30 countries submitted over 190 designs, culminating in five equal winners. Hailing from the UK, USA, China, and Australia, the winning entries ranged from "megastructures to new ecologies and radical ideas for democratizing public space." Jury chair Richard Weller praised the winners for "how designers can move beyond the status quo of picturesque large parks and embrace the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century." As a reward, each winner received $4000 and a feature in LA+ Journal's upcoming LA+ ICONOCLAST issue. Below, we have rounded up the five winners, complete with a short description. For more information on the competition, visit the official website here. The Geoscraper of the Captive Biomes / Tiago Torres-Campos (Edinburgh, UK) The Geoscraper of the Captive Biomes / Tiago Torres-Campos (Edinburgh, UK). Image © LA+ Iconoclast  The Geoscraper of the Captive Biomes / Tiago Torres-Campos (Edinburgh, UK). Image © LA+ Iconoclast  The Geoscraper of the Captive Biomes / Tiago Torres-Campos (Edinburgh, UK). Image © LA+ Iconoclast Description: On this day, one hundred years ago, Central Park's vegetation was suddenly wiped out. In a few days, one of the world's most cherished landscapes disappeared without a trace. The Gaians were extremely violent in drawing attention to the planetary destruction we were causing. Periods of mourning following brutal attacks are often pivotal in the collective lives of cities. They are times of grief, sorrow, and absence, just as they are times of rebirth, hope, and reconstruction. Above all, they bring about great, meaningful transformation. Mannahatta Plateau for Fredrick Law Olmsted / John Beckmann, Hannah LaSota + Laeticia Hervy (Axis Mundi Design – New York, USA) Mannahatta Plateau for Fredrick Law Olmsted / John Beckmann, Hannah LaSota + Laeticia Hervy (Axis Mundi Design – New York, USA). Image © LA+ Iconoclast  Mannahatta Plateau for Fredrick Law Olmsted / John Beckmann, Hannah LaSota + Laeticia Hervy (Axis Mundi Design – New York, USA). Image © LA+ Iconoclast Description: The MANNAHATTA PLATEAU presents a dynamic ecological vision of nature integrated with urbanism. The ravaged original surface of Central Park is left as a regenerating wilderness, a temple to the raw power of nature. Built over it is a green mega-structure, a plateau that supports a raised parkland consisting of a patchwork of abundantly diverse interconnecting environmental zones. The bold, linear aesthetic of the plateau offers a new perspective upon the wilderness that lies partially revealed beneath its cut-out surface. The 200-foot-high structure is inscribed by the lines and scale of the city itself – the typical Manhattan building lot (25 x 100 ft) serves as the basic modular. The street grid is celebrated by being projected across the park's surface, yet the rigid geometry of urban forms is broken down into subsections defined by the flowing lines of nature. In addition, supporting structures containing vertical circulation are clad in glass that directs light back onto the dystopic landscape below, whilst optically blurring the distinction between nature and architecture. Central Cloud of Breath / Chuanfei Yu, Jiaqi Wang + Huiwen Shi (South East University – Nanjing, China) Central Cloud of Breath / Chuanfei Yu, Jiaqi Wang + Huiwen Shi (South East University – Nanjing, China). Image © LA+ Iconoclast  Central Cloud of Breath / Chuanfei Yu, Jiaqi Wang + Huiwen Shi (South East University – Nanjing, China). Image © LA+ Iconoclast  Central Cloud of Breath / Chuanfei Yu, Jiaqi Wang + Huiwen Shi (South East University – Nanjing, China). Image © LA+ Iconoclast Description: The disenchantment of weather/cloud is a result of the rationalization project of nature since the 19th century, Central Park being one of its prime achievements. As the terrorist attack broke the old narrative of an everlasting Arcadian park, the best way of reconstruction is to restore a place of uncertainty – cloud space. After the terrorist attack, Central Park lost all of its trees, causing the microclimate to change dramatically. The increase in evaporation due to the loss of the tree cover poses a problem for any reconstruction idea. Our short-term plan proposes creating a layer of cloud over the Park. The layer—meant to decrease the evaporation of water and protect the reconstruction of the ecosystem—will be created and maintained by artificial-cloud infrastructure. Water used in the plan will come from the AC condensate of Manhattan office buildings – essentially the water vapor exhaled by people. In this way, every New Yorker is part of the great "Breathe to Save Central Park" plan. De(Central)ized Park / Joe Rowling, Nick McLeod + Javier Arcila (e8urban – Sydney, Australia) De(Central)ised Park / Joe Rowling, Nick McLeod + Javier Arcila (e8urban – Sydney, Australia). Image © LA+ Iconoclast  De(Central)ised Park / Joe Rowling, Nick McLeod + Javier Arcila (e8urban – Sydney, Australia). Image © LA+ Iconoclast  De(Central)ised Park / Joe Rowling, Nick McLeod + Javier Arcila (e8urban – Sydney, Australia). Image © LA+ Iconoclast Description: Following the 2018 eco-terrorist attack on Central Park, New York City authorities—acknowledging the public's concern about the depletion of global resources—embarked on a radical program to reduce the city's environmental footprint. It was decreed that Central Park would be encouraged to rewild naturally within the existing structure of Olmsted's Central Park masterplan. Furthermore, it was decreed that by 2033 all vehicles within Manhattan would be electric with ride-sharing incentivized. This bold move had the result of freeing up a vast area of formerly car-dominated public space, namely vehicle carriageways, which the city converted into new urban parklands with an area twice the size of the original Central Park – a new de(Central)ized Park. Song Zhang + Minhzi Lin (Song + Minzhi – Chicago, USA) Song Zhang + Minhzi Lin (Song + Minzhi – Chicago, USA). Image © LA+ Iconoclast  Song Zhang + Minhzi Lin (Song + Minzhi – Chicago, USA). Image © LA+ Iconoclast  Song Zhang + Minhzi Lin (Song + Minzhi – Chicago, USA). Image © LA+ Iconoclast Description: New York is the largest city in the United States and its problem of gentrification is particularly serious. When a community environment which is relatively poor needs to be updated, it will have to introduce external funds to do so. Following improvement, house prices and rental incomes generally increase, but not all of the original community are able to afford to live there and they may ultimately be displaced. A typical example of this phenomenon is the High Line park. On the other hand, many urban parks in rich areas receive large social donations for the improvement of green spaces. In summary, there is an uneven distribution of green space construction funds and a mismatch between residents' income and expenditure on public space.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Bar da Laje / OYAPOCK architectes Posted: 31 Dec 2018 02:00 AM PST  © Raphael Franca
 © Raphael Franca Text description provided by the architects. This music venue, bar, and restaurant in Rio, at the Favela do Vidigal, one of the postcards of the city is a founding project for our architecture office and an atypical project for more than one reason. Perched at the summit of the favela, the project was confronted with difficult access as a construction site but benefitted from incredible views over Rio. This extension-renovation of the existing building made us rethink the traditional role played by architects. Actually, the project was built through the coordination between different players: the client and his economic restraints - the revenues of the venue allowed him to gradually continue the renovation, therefore, we were confronted with an unstable budget and a work developed in several short-duration phases - and the local favela companies that brought both their know-how and the limited array of materials we could employ that were easily found within the community.
The result is a steel structure that was assembled from small pieces, transportable by men through the alleys of the favela. Prefabricated concrete and steel slabs were also used while discarded steel mesh from other building sites was used either as a false ceiling or in the façade as support for vases and lighting devices. All the wood and the bricks came from Vidigal suppliers. Ordinary materials, easily found in surrounding buildings, gain a more precious dimension by the way we have employed them in our project (the rhythm of the bricks, the wooden latticework) and give it a very particular identity. The extension was made both above and beneath the existing structure, as an accumulation of slabs leaning towards the ocean. The steel pergola is used as a support for lighting, solar protection, suspended furniture and gives the idea of a unit for the previously fragmented structure. The evolution of the Vidigal neighborhood, like that of many other favelas at the heart of Rio, is intertwined with the recent transformations of the city. These territories have been struggling for decades only to profit from the economic boom in the 2000s and of the world sports events that took place: the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016.  Floor Plans After the creation of the so-called « pacifying units » (UPP), these favelas watched many businesses flourish not only at their base but also in the previously dangerous higher parts. Vidigal, due to its exceptional position next to the beaches of Ipanema and Leblon, became the poster child of this movement. In this context, the restructuration and extension project of the Bar da Laje is part of the transformation of external regards on the favela, neighborhoods that used to be seen as dangerous and that become spaces of opportunity, only to face, once again, a new wave of violence since 2017. Space was initially made of one single terrasse, accessible from an alley through a small wooden door between a garage and a house. The program aimed at giving visibility to the building from the alley and to enlarge it through the purchase of neighboring houses. Therefore, the extension was made in three phases: first, the enlargement of the ground floor and restructuration of the entrance by building over the former garage. Then, an extension towards the -1 and -2 levels was made by creating a second restaurant-bar protected from the weather, toilets and stock spaces. Finally, by purchasing a small house on the first floor, we could create a new terrasse open to the landscape with a brick volume that corresponds to the space occupied by the former house. A new staircase made it possible to connect all these levels which were formerly accessible only through different alleys.  © Raphael Franca The revenues generated by the lower levels made it possible for the client to renovate the two upper levels. This transformation through subsequent phases asked for a constant adaptation of the program and the evolution of the project itself throughout its own expansion. Thus, a new steel structure covers the area of the two new upper floors, creating open plans where there formerly was a maze of columns and beams, allowing the building to easily adapt to new functions and layouts in the future. On the ground floor, a wooden volume hosts the cashier, space for waste and toilets at the front and a lounge and a bar at the rear, freeing up the rest of the floor for circulation, tables and concert space. Metal stairs superposed to the former one located at the -2 level connects the 4 floors that were previously separated. At the first floor, the small house was replaced by the bar that divides the area between a lounge at the rear and a terrasse open to the views of Ipanema and Leblon at the front.  Section Difficulties inherent to the favela’s context have been translated into the metal structure cut in small modules that were assembled at the construction site and into the usage of materials easily found in the community, like the brick, the metal mesh, the wood and pallets that were transformed by local workers. In the facade and on the first floor, whole bricks are intercalated with broken ones, creating a lively texture playing with light and shadows. This module is adapted according to its usage, thus, the absence of broken bricks at the higher parts of the façade wall allows for cross ventilation and natural light, while by rotating whole bricks by 90 degrees at the bar they become supports for the bottles. Metal meshes are employed at the facade and ceilings as supports for different elements. At the façade, recycled wood pallets are inserted in between the double metal mesh, sometimes used as vases for climbing plants when turned upwards, sometimes used as lamps when turned downwards. In order to give a unit to the entire building and to frame the landscape, a steel pergola recovers the first floor, incorporating lighting devices, plant supports, furniture, and solar protection. This pergola contrasts with the impressive topography of Rio, by modulating the structure and reinforcing the horizontal relationship between the building and the surrounding landscape.  © Raphael Franca  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Behind the Scenes at the 2018 International Highrise Award Posted: 31 Dec 2018 01:00 AM PST  Torre Reforma, Mexico City. Image One of the world's most important architectural prizes for tall buildings, the International Highrise Award is presented every two years to the project that best exemplifies the criteria of future-oriented design, functionality, innovative building technology, integration into urban development schemes, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. Awarded by the Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM), the honors this year went to the Torre Reforma in Mexico City by L. Benjamin Romano, celebrated for its intelligent structural design in response to the prevailing problem of earthquakes in the city. From over 1000 highrises that were commissioned worldwide over the last two years, Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM) nominated 36 outstanding buildings from 15 different countries. An international jury of experts consisting of architects, structural engineers, and real estate specialists selected the final five for the shortlist. The jury this year included Sean Anderson, Knut Stockhusen, Horst R. Muth, Peter Cachola Schmal, Jette Cathrin Hopp, Kai-Uwe Bergmann, Dr. Ina Hartwig, Prof. Ulrike Lauber, and Thomas Schmengler. For those curious about how such large-scale awards operations work behind the scenes, DAM has released a video documenting the 2018 edition of the International Highrise Award. Available to watch below, the video takes viewers on a journey behind the scenes through the organization, jury, and presentation process, lifting the hood to show the inner workings that make such events run like clockwork.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Okada Marshall House / D'Arcy Jones Architects Posted: 31 Dec 2018 12:00 AM PST  © Sama Jim Canzian
 © Sama Jim Canzian Text description provided by the architects. This craggy H-shaped house wraps around itself to contain two inner courtyards. All of the house's windows and doors point toward ancient moss-covered rocks or the Pacific Ocean, creating lively contrasts as one moves through the house. Low-slung and modest, the house has a constant parapet height, to emphasize and visually contain the undulating concrete and courtyard screen that is scribed to the existing contours of the rock. Externally the form of the house is quiet and solid, belying an inner complexity and spatial variety in plan. The house is a comprehensive tribute to wood: for its efficient and ambitious engineered wood structure, for its delicate yet robust courtyard screening, and for its hard-wearing traditional board and batten cladding that will last hundreds of years. The absolute minimum number of 2x6 light-wood frame shear walls were sculpted and carved to allow for large window and doors in all spaces. Soaring engineered LVL beams (laminated veneer lumber) were pushed to their limit, spanning more than 30' without posts to hold up an outdoor dining roof, to define natural outdoor courtyard areas, and to make a typically generic parking area into a well-composed and inviting outdoor "room".  © Sama Jim Canzian  © Sama Jim Canzian The house is a test-case for the owner's Shou-sugi ban wood supply company, which needs no maintenance and will never rot. The owners charred the wood themselves, to learn this ancient Japanese craft. This siding is well-suited to the dampest regions of British Columbia which are similar to Japan. The house is on the edge of a new development, invisible from anywhere inside the house or its courtyards. Assuming a potential loss of privacy over time, the central courtyard is screened to block out the surrounding area, while letting in linear sunlight that animates the house and courtyard with its textured patterns.  © Sama Jim Canzian The clients asked for a house without stairs. The internal privacy that the client valued in their previous multi-storey house inspired this house's plan. By pulling the house's day-time spaces apart with stretched hallways, acoustic separation for a quiet home office is created. Elongated hallways emphasize the house's sense of expansiveness, within a compact footprint. As a critique of over-scaled completely open plans, this house explores the value and delight in movement with focal points and compressed proportions.  © Sama Jim Canzian The seemingly random angles of the plan result from fitting all of the house's internal spaces to the topography of the site. The winds off the Pacific Ocean on Vancouver Island's west coast are constant, during every day of every season. Like a wagon caravan encircling a fire for security and warmth, the shape of the house passively creates an inner microclimate. The expansive view is still clearly seen through the back to back glass, mimicking how cupped hands shield one's eyes from glare and focus the eyes on the distance. In the central living area an al fresco dining table is wrapped with a dark antiglare door liner, similar to the ones on BC Ferries' wheelhouses that allow softened marine reflection.  © Sama Jim Canzian A black-tiled Japanese bath has its own composed view. Even in low light on a stormy day, the outdoors will be brighter than the dark tiled surround, creating a mood of optimism.  © Sama Jim Canzian The house's white interior acts as a light-bouncing foil to its brown-black exterior. Sculpted openings, ledges and niches abstract the site's fractured volcanic rock. During the summer, weather inversions create fog until midday, so the strongly defined courtyard and arms of the house were toned and proportioned with mock-ups on site to ensure visibility in the densest fog. The sensations of dislocation and loneliness that happen on the west coast are transformed into feelings of comfort and security.  © Sama Jim Canzian  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The Most Anticipated Projects of 2019 Posted: 30 Dec 2018 11:00 PM PST  National Museum of Qatar / Ateliers Jean Nouvel . Image © Iwan Baan As 2018 winds to a close, we've started to look ahead to the projects we're most looking forward to in 2019. Many of the projects listed here have been in the works for years, having experienced the frustrating false starts and lulls that come in a profession dependent on long-term and significant capital investment, not to mention changing politics. With those shifting tides in mind, there are similarities and harmonies between some of the following works that seem to go beyond mere coincidence. Some are obvious. Qatar is to be the site of a number of major works in the coming years, an architectural boom tied to its status as host of major world events such as Expo2020 and the 2022 World Cup. In New York, the Hudson Yards megaproject will be the site of not one, but two architectural follies for the 21st century. As is always the case in these architecture roundups, a vast number of these projects are cultural, but there is a specific and shared focus on national heritage that shouldn't go unnoticed. It's a particularly intriguing development as heritage has and continues to become imbued with fraught political meaning. Money speaks. Below, the projects we most look forward to seeing in 2019: Taipei Performing Arts Centre / OMA.jpg?1546011286 "Taipei Performing Arts Centre / OMA. Image © OMA") Taipei Performing Arts Centre / OMA. Image © OMA OMA's Taipei Performing Arts Centre has been hotly anticipated since the moment it was announced the winner of an international competition for the project in 2009. It's no secret as to why. The project is a striking mix of simple geometry and complex intention, and feels (despite being nearly a decade old) distinctly futuristic. ArchDaily spoke to David Gianotten, the OMA partner in charge of the project, at the building's topping out ceremony in 2014. "We still sometimes say, 'is this real?'" he explains, "because it went in such harmony and at such a speed that happened to our own surprise." No official date has been set for the opening, but expect eyes to be firmly fixed on Taipei in 2019. Taipei Pop Music Centre / Reiser Umemoto Taipei Pop Music Centre / Reiser Umemoto. Image Courtesy of Reiser Umemoto Taipei's investment in the arts continues in Reiser Umemoto's upcoming Pop Music Centre, another megaproject years in the making. The development's unique focus taps into a major local phenomenon - and one whose global popularity and influence has exploded in the years since the project was first announced. The project, which will include performance spaces to accommodate multiple thousands, boasts an eye-popping 62,600m² of floor area and will make it (upon its completion) the fourth largest freestanding museum in the world. Vessel / Heatherwick Studio Vessel / Heatherwick Studio. Image © Heatherwick Studio. Images by Interior View of the Vessel. Image Courtesy of Forbes Massie The prolific British designer caused a bit of a stir back in 2016 when this project was first announced. It's been alternately praised ("New York's Eiffel Tower") and derided ("New York's biggest wastebasket") - but it's fated to dominate Instagram feeds regardless of the shifting tides of public opinion. Opening is loosely scheduled for spring 2019, but visitors interested in experiencing it for themselves would be wise to plan their trip now. Free tickets are already available for reservation; the lucky selectees will be notified in February with their timed slot. The Shed / Diller Scofidio + Renfro
Just a stone's throw away from Heatherwick's Escher-like folly is Diller Scofidio + Renfro's more practical (though no less futuristic) Hudson Yards offering. The Shed - an expandable quilted greenhouse along the High Line - is another exciting cultural space in a city full of exciting cultural spaces. Of course, most of those buildings don't come with the ability to shapeshift. The titular 'Shed' is the cap on eight stories of cultural program, intended to appeal to tourists and locals alike. If the Vessel is to be Hudson Yards' chandelier, The Shed hopes to be its hearth. We'll find out how true this is when it opens, alongside the Vessel, in spring 2019. Tank Shanghai / Open Architecture Tank Shanghai / OPEN Architecture . Image Courtesy of OPEN Architecture China, after years of stunning the world with mind-boggling new structures, seems to be turning its eye towards reshaping its former industrial landscapes. One such example is Tank Shanghai, a project by Beijing-based OPEN Architecture that will transform a series of former oil tanks into art galleries connected by a sprawling public landscape. It's a landmark project that will undoubtedly be referenced in case studies for years to come. Completion is scheduled for March 2019 and those in the city need only hop on Metro Line 11 (Yunjin Road stop) to see it for themselves. Al Wakrah Stadium / Zaha Hadid Architects Courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects. ImageAl Wakrah Stadium / Zaha Hadid Architects Qatar is soon to be the site of a number of major architectural works, not least among them one of Zaha Hadid's last works. The Al Wakrah stadium is an architectural achievement by just about every measure: it will seat just over 40,000, features highly-engineered structural timber, and will include a retractable roof that can fully retract or extend in just under 30 minutes. It's also been a major headache for ZHA since it was announced. In 2014 the architect was forced to reject reports that the design resembled female genitalia (a hilarious and undignified moment covered everywhere from Jezebel to the Guardian); in 2014 Hadid sued against reports that she claimed not to care about the rights or conditions for the workers building the project. The issue has quieted in the years since, but expect new attention as the project nears opening day. National Museum of Qatar / Ateliers Jean Nouvel National Museum of Qatar / Ateliers Jean Nouvel . Image © Iwan Baan Jean Nouvel has long been known for his dramatic, eye-catching projects (perhaps even more so after his Pritzker win in 2008.) In 2012 his One Central Park set new standards for sustainable design; his Louvre Abu Dhabi dazzled the world over just more a year ago. Expect similar fanfare in 2019 when the French designer officially opens the National Museum of Qatar. Announced in 2010, the project is dominated by an interlocking disc motif inspired by a local crystal formation called 'the desert rose.' The museum will feature an extensive dive into the small nation's history (including its food) and will also house research facilities, laboratories, two restaurants, two shops, and a cafe. No official date has been announced for the opening, but look out for an announcement early in the year. Under / Snohetta Under / Snohetta. Image © Snohetta and MIR Under is the type of project typically relegated to dreams or James Bond movies. The underwater restaurant (touted by the designers to be Europe's first ) resembles an oversized breakwater and will feature pressure-proof concrete walls nearly a meter thick. The structure will also contain dedicated space for marine study, likely making it the most striking laboratory in the world as well. Located near Lindesnes, a small Norwegian village with just over 4,000 residents, the harsh and remote location was chosen by design. "The most exciting experience will be visiting the restaurant during rough weather," explained Rune Grasdal, a senior architect at Snøhetta, to Forbes. "It will be fantastic to see the sea surface broken up by the big waves and the rain." The restaurant has already begun to accept reservations; the first diners are expected in April 2019. 1000 Trees / Heatherwick Studio 1000 Trees / Heatherwick Studio. Image © MIR Heatherwick Studio's 100 Trees is not even completed but has already garnered comparisons to the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Located in Shanghai, the 300,000-square-meter project was conceived as "a piece of topography" that takes the shape of "two tree-covered mountains" populated by "400 terraces" and "1000 structural columns." The megaproject is located on Shanghai's Moganshan Road, proximate to the city's M50 Art District. No official announcement has been made regarding the announcement, but ongoing construction photos suggest a mid-to-end year completion. Leeza SOHO / Zaha Hadid Architects © MIR . ImageLeeza SOHO / Zaha Hadid Architects The Leeza SOHO, slated to open in early to mid-2019, captured public attention nearly two years ago when the firm released images of the tower featuring a glimmering, soaring atrium. It's expected to be the world's tallest when it's completed and is the result of challenging site restraints rather than architectural showmanship. The tower sits atop a below-ground subway line; the tower above, to avoid further pressure on the tunnel, splits into two parts that twist and connect around the atrium. It's also become a part of the sustainable strategy for the tower, which is aiming for a LEED Gold accreditation. Twisting floor plates are intended to allow even light to penetrate the interior spaces regardless of season or time of day. Ruby City for Linda Pace Foundation / Adjaye Associates.jpg?1546016651 "Ruby City Linda Pace Foundation / Adjaye Associates. Image Courtesy of Adjaye Associates") Ruby City Linda Pace Foundation / Adjaye Associates. Image Courtesy of Adjaye Associates The inspiration for David Adjaye's upcoming project reportedly came to namesake Linda Pace in a dream. A little over ten years later, the philanthropist's ruby-hued vision is nearing completion. While the folded geometries of the mass are no doubt appealing, it's the standout color that steals the show. Red is a notoriously difficult tone to uniformly achieve in concrete, and required executive architects Alamo Architects to partner with concrete experts Pretesca south of the border. Construction photos taken throughout 2018 suggest the drastic measures have paid off - the red tone is both striking and smooth, allowing the museum to take on the appearance of an oversized ruby itself. While construction reportedly finished in late 2018, the building will only open to the public in 2019. Pearling Path Visitor Centre / Valerio Olgiati Courtesy of Valerio Olgiati. ImagePearling Path Visitor Centre / Valerio Olgiati Olgiati's visitor center is to be the endpoint of the Pearling Path, a protected heritage site in the Kingdom of Bahrain that examines the region's cultural and economic history in the pearl industry. Comprising more than 15 distinct sites (and 17 architectural components) along a meandering route through the city, the Path will allow visitors a deep dive into the tradition that dominated the region from pre-history to the early 1900s. The site is a comprehensive realisation of shared cultural memory, and one of the first such sites to be built in Bahrain. While Olgiati's structure has technically been completed, it will only officially welcome visitors in 2019. Grand Egyptian Museum / Heneghan Peng Architects Courtesy of Heneghan Peng Architects . ImageGrand Egyptian Museum / Heneghan Peng Architects Nearly 100 years after a mania for Egypt swept the West, the historic site of the pyramids will receive a local space dedicated to the display and preservation of the ancient treasures. The competition for the project was held back in 2003 (practically ancient history itself) and drew nearly 2000 entries from 83 countries. Heneghan Peng's design was at the time notable for its proposal to profoundly integrate digital display in the architecture, in order to show the many crucial artifacts on permanent display in other museums. The museum, which is to be located on a desert plateau adjacent to the great Pyramids of Giza and Cairo, will be the largest single collection of Egyptian artifacts and, at 100,000m2, one of the largest museums in the world. It will include extensive gallery space, conference facilities, libraries, and research facilities in addition to extensive space dedicated to public programming. A partial opening is expected for 2019, with the full opening variously reported to take place between 2020 and 2022. Have we missed any projects? Let us know here.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 30 Dec 2018 10:00 PM PST  © Serhii Hotvianskyi (Nottdesign)
 © Serhii Hotvianskyi (Nottdesign) Text description provided by the architects. Located on the first floor of a multistory building, the store has large windows that face the sidewalk.  © Serhii Hotvianskyi (Nottdesign) Due to the relief the floor of the store is 900 mm below the pavement level.  © Serhii Hotvianskyi (Nottdesign) Structurally, the volume of the store is divided into a warm and a cold zone.  © Serhii Hotvianskyi (Nottdesign) The warm zone is located closer to the entrance. It is a open space which includes an exhibition of indoor plants and a bouquet- making table.  © Serhii Hotvianskyi (Nottdesign) The cold zone is an isolated parallelepiped which hovers above the floor and is sandwiched between four columns that cut it into three separate display volumes. It is a room with a low temperature for the exposition of cut flowers.  Section We have created a minimalistic clean space that contrasts well with the fragility of fresh flowers.  © Serhii Hotvianskyi (Nottdesign) We complement the clearly structured space with contrasting round tables and a spiral staircase.  Floor plan The interior color solution is built on the interaction of Mirage Norr's gray porcelain stoneware, warm and light natural veneer and details in bronze shades.  © Serhii Hotvianskyi (Nottdesign)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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