Dwelling in Pozuelo de Alarcón
A-cero architecture studio is presenting a house that they recently finished in “La Finca” estate in the Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid. This project is smaller than the rest of the buildings of this housing development. With its only 1000m2 it is located in an area full of large housing complexes. Its smaller dimensions turn it into a comfortable and practical house that offers the maximum life quality. Its modern design is based on impossible angles, projecting and spectacular volumes. The façade of the house is made of travertine marble which is in some parts combined with dark grey granite. White has the main role in the interior but also exterior. Furthermore, the house has numerous ample windows which together with the light colour give to the house a lot of light and vitality. The plot has a rectangular shape of 4.500 m2. It has a direct access from a private road located in the north. In the south there is a wide garden. The house is a two storey building and both the levels are perfectly adapted to plot and its slope. Next to the main entrance is a hall which communicates with an ample wide lounge and a dining room. From these rooms the terrace can be entered directly. A bonus is a spectacular and a large swimming pool with Jacuzzi. On this level there is also a kitchen, cleaning room and service area with an independent exterior access. On the opposite side of this level the master bedroom is located. By descending an interior staircase you can get to the basement where three bedrooms with a bathroom, a games room, gym, cinema room, wine cellar and garage are situated. Everything including the house furniture has been designed by A-cero with top quality materials and finishes.
Utriai Residence
This spectacular residence is situated in a small town of Utriai in the north-west of Lithuania. The project was created some time ago, in year 2006 in the architectural studio G.Natkevicius & Partners. It is a house built on a plot 3 000 square metres but the house itself stands on „only“ 424 square metres. The house was built on the Minija valley slope. The client is an entrepreneur in the agricultural production business and his wife is a design student and she is fully interested in furniture design. The whole construction which in a way sticks out from the ground should be an image of the Noah`s ship on which he took his family with their animals. The façade is covered with dark wood which contrasts with wonderfully green grass. A remarkable element which makes the house unique is except its shape also the layout of the large square windows. Through these windows you can enjoy the spectacular views of the nature and the valley. The interior, just as the exterior is furnished in a pure manner, with no element which would be unnecessary.
Faceted House
Paul McAneary Architects have recently designed a house by the name Faceted house or House of Many Faces. An old house in a decrepit state has been reconstructed and modernized. The house is located within a conservation area, in Hammersmith, London. The project’s brief was to remodel and extend the living area. The client asked for a contemporary design and functionality and he also expressed the desire to be able to perceive the garden as a continuation of the domestic space. The new extension is added by a clean and clearly defined line to the rear part of the house that respects the heritage of the older building and gives this house a unique aesthetic. The sculptural façade is visually striking and elegant at the same time. The architects reconfigured and expanded the existing space by designing a huge open-plan. Light floods into the house via the finest possible sections, making up the sliding doors, combined with the large fixed frameless panel of the façade. The result is a “ballet of light”, as the light casts a sharp beam into the depth of the house.
L´OREAL Academy
In Kiev a project providing additional training for hairstylists through seminars and hands on experience has been created. Mm2r architecture have used their fantasy and created this multi-functional work and learning environment for L’OREAL in Kiev. Firstly, this place should be a place of inspiration. The architects decided for contrasting materials such as glass, stainless steel and Corian. Many of the ventilation shafts as well as the racks for the lighting were left exposed. The overall atmosphere gives the impression of a loft apartment or a fashion show stage setup. South-facing windows allow a lot of natural light to pour into the room – which is very important when looking at hair once the color has been applied. Mirrors on the walls create the illusion of a much larger space. Large lighting walls, fashion images and sparkling product displays create a pleasant impression of the space. The foyer and conference rooms are transformed into a world of high fashion and cosmetics. The reception at the entrance forms the centre of the office and creates a grand entrance.
House Awaiting Death
“A house awaiting death” – this is what the owner of the house, client of EASTERN design office said. The house will probably be used not longer than 15 years as one becomes older and their needs change. The house offers a view of the magnificent sea in the east where the sun rises so that the owner can enjoy the beginning of every day. A four-meter wide gravel and dirt road runs to the main door. On the other side of the road there is a golf course where several elderly neighbors enjoy their leisure time. The distance from the site to the sea is only 150 meters and the breadth of the beach extends for 7 kilometers. The windows capture the ever-changing movements of waves that are in close vicinity.
Fishers Island House
Ébano Bistró & Bar
Ébano Bistró & Bar was designed by Mexican architectural group Arquitectura en Proceso. Their aim was to transform a building into a bistro. This project is situated in the north of Mexico, in a small town of Delicias, Chihuahua. Agriculture, livestock, and vast deserts are main characteristics of the region. The exterior transformation of the building was marked by the existing roof which was in very poor condition. It was necessary to build a new one but so as to affect as minimally as possible the existing steel structure of the building. The new roof created a new image of the complex. The building is wrapped into a micro-perforated skin which allows a glimpse of the silhouette of the old building and creates a double skin to regulate the intense heat of the area.A functional route separates the bistro area from the very simple work space.
Zamel House
Kontrast arquitectura designed this unique home was designed for a couple from Los Angeles who love the beach and natural beauty of Huatulco. They live to surf and have a passion for architecture. The house boasts a superior location directly on the beach with a spectacular view of the beach, rocks and nearby river mouth. The challenge was to design a house that allowed views of the ocean from all the main spaces on a site only 12 meters wide. The first decision was to raise the house above the level of the beach to create privacy. This was accomplished by a stair way, the centerpiece of the house. In the interior but also in the exterior you are captured by a desire to relax and enjoy
Shallard House
The need of progress is natural. The world needs to advance and that applies to each sector, including architecture. The designer and at the same time the owner of this house engineer Guy Shallard kept that in mind while designing his house. He designed a living area that is elevated and suspended like a bridge several metres above the ground. The decision to suspend the living area within a bold bridge element was also influenced by Shallard’s engineering background. It is lit, narrow and long like a hall that connects different functions and so becomes the centerpiece of the house. The house is oriented to the lake and so offers views of the nature through huge glass window panes. The place under the bridge is a terrace that is completely open on two sides and offers the opportunity for barbecues.
Honeycomb
One of the most interesting entries of the competition in Sukkah City in New York, in Union Square was this “hollow” pavilion. Sukkah means temporary accommodation in translation, a cabin with a roof made of branches. The competition was tough as there was a high number of various design limitations and the location is one of the most populous cities in the world. The bungalow is in this case not a shelter from sun and sand but from the bustle of the city, its infrastructure, tumult and it becomes a sanctuary from the whole world. The aim was to create something diametrically different from the surroundings, creation of a space which automatically slows down your pace and changes your behavior. The contestants designed a pavilion with a corrugated ceiling which is never higher than a man. The overall dimensions limit the movements of people. The light penetrating the walls of different thickness also has a relaxing effect.
Dom Zlomu House in Banska Bystrica
There are some buildings also in Slovakia which should be written about. One of them is Dom zlomu in Banska Bystrica, central Slovakia. This family house was designed by architectural studio Paulíny Hovorka Architekti. It is a single storey building with no stairs. The house is ideally in the form of L at the top of the site slopes to the level entrance. All other rooms including the exterior areas are located on the first floor level allowing free movement throughout the house. The structure of the house was split into two parts, a living room together with a kitchen, a pantry and an office oriented parallel to the road. Large sliding doors connect the interior with the exterior. The living room and the master bedroom overlook the childrens room and the back garden, which provides not only visual connection of the rooms but also connection to the nature. Each corridor is fully lit by skylights which are situated along their full length. The atmosphere of the house is very pleasant, the light brings in a feeling of warmth and safety. The design sometimes comes across as futuristic and puristic.
Villa Frankenstein
Mimesis Museum
Mimesis museum by a well-known Portuguese architect Alvar Siza is located in South Korea and reminds of a cat in many ways. The initial inspiration was a story about an emperor who loved cats so much that he called upon the most famous painter to draw him a cat, he got to wait seven years to see the drawing, but that is already another story. An interesting fact is that architect Alvaro Siza has never seen a Korean cat because he has never been to Korea. The ground-floor of Mimesis is a cat, curled up and straighten up at the same time that stretches and yawns. It is all there. The author took various cat postures as an inspiration and wanted to find the most elegant solution for the building. Draft design, models, drawings and adjustments, new models, presentations and so on. That was the chain of events that preceeded the construction. The project was unique and drew attention at the first sight. In the basement, there are archives, service area and other possible exhibition space. Ground floor features space for arriving and distribution, space for temporary exhibitions and a coffee place with a restaurant. Everything else can be found in landings topped off by a large exhibition space in the highest one. Light is always light and gentle so that it does not bother. Both the artificial and sun lights are considered crucial.
The Fracture
Joshua Tree Boulder House
BBC Worldwide Offce
100 Eleventh avenue
A new monument of Manhattan`s West Side in New York has become a sky scraper by well-known french architect Jean Nouvel. Construction of the facade captures attention at first glance; the window frames are accentuated looking scattered. In reality, 20 smaller functional windows are situated on one big panel. Walls were really designed from the inside out. A typical floor is composed by seven megapanels and each of them corresponds to a room. The biggest room has fabulous view on the street. Steel was used for the exterior, while the interior was treated with a layer of silver anodized aluminum. Various glass coatings add another layer of depth of light.
Offices in Austin
Specht Haprman created interesting offices in Austin, Texas, USA for a branch of a creative editing company. Offices, called Beat, are located in a single-story building on the edge of the city of Austin. To create a unique interior, designer has used steel for construction of steel-framed window, dividing office space as partitions. Contrary to the walls that have been treated by rough-sawn wood. Whole interior has a unique magic. Natural brown colours are eye-taking. Office interior is reflecting national heritage even it houses a collaborative work space.
Archaeological museum Narona
In the 1990`s, a team from Archaeological museum in Split has discovered ruins of an ancient church Augustus in Vid. New museum has been built above these ruins in order to protect them from weather and to offer a comfortable tour to visitors. The interior is determined by the remains and the scale of the excavated Roman statues and artefacts. Contrary to the exterior with note-less look of a Roman church built using modern materials, which is surrounded by ordinary houses. Combination of reinforced concrete and exposed steel has been used for its construction. The facades are equipped with narrow plastic panels that allow a diffuse light to penetrate the interior. Above all, the building is designated for everyday life, to serve visitors not only for a visit but gatherings as well. Its roof connects two levels of public space, using a system of publicly accessible flat surfaces and ramps.
Syncline house in Colorado
Syncline house has been constructed by Arch11, founded in 1993 by James Trewitt and EJ Maedeom, studio that has gained regional recognition for its unique residences, institutional projects and product designs. This exceptional house is located in the area between Rocky Mountain and Great Plains, so it has a great view at the mentioned mountains, as well as the city and meadows. The house has been conceived to offer an amazing view of the whole panorama right form the highest peak, while respecting the city’s height restrictions and air routes. It has been built with innovative renewable energy systems and materials. The building is a model of sustainable design and receives a LEED Gold Certification.
Paraty house in Rio de Janeiro
Paraty house, project of architectonic studio MK27 is interesting for its design, elegance, elements, concept and inspiring look. The studio has been founded in the 80`s by Mario Kogan and these days hires more than 14 architects and contributors from all around the world. This project is particularly beautiful, thanks to the location - beach Paraty in Rio de Janeiro. It is composed from armoured concrete boxes standing out the landscape that get attention. Modern look is mixed with neighbouring nature. Mixture of materials, as glass, stone walls, wood and concrete have created a very unique look, which is not only modern, but as well communicates with surroundings and is cosy for its owners.
Museum Aan de Stroom
So called MAS - Museum Aan de Stroom by dutch architectonic practice Neutelings Riedijk Architects is situated between old docks in the heart of “Het Eiland”. This area is the major renewal project of the city of Antwerp and is developing as a new pulsating city area. The building has been designed as 60 meters high tower. Every floor is twisted a quarter turn, so it creates a giant spiral staircase. The spiral space is bordered by a wall of corrugated glass and houses a city gallery. This space is designated to tell the story of the city, its port, as well as its inhabitants. Visitors can take escalators right from the square to the top of the tower. Each floor offers to visitors an exhibition of photographs of the city, while at the top a panoramic view on the living city. Facades, floors, walls and ceilings of the tower were entirely coated with large slabs of red sandstone, as a picture of a monumental sculpture. The four colors of the stone slabs used on the facade have been chosen by a computerized pattern.
Modern dolmen
The project of Italian architectonic studio Vudafieri Saverino Partners has been completed recently. A modern structure with an unusual geometric shape, enveloped by glass - modern Dolmen, which is widening the boundaries between architecture and green nature. It has been conceived for the exhibition focused on relation between man, architecture and environment: Culture_Nature, which will be a part of the ongoing 12th edition of Venice Architecture Biennale. Desire of the architect was to create an object fitting in nature. It is a project that moves through cultural simulation, the ambivalence of the human space is considered as an objective architectural space and as well an intimate subjective space. Five reflecting surfaces has been constructed like a house of cards. The exterior structure mirrors surrounding nature, while the interiors are hidden behind climbing plants.
Modern Japanese house in Showa-cho
Well known Japanese architectonic studio FujiwaraMuro Architects has recently finished an interesting project of a modern house located in Showa-cho, Japan. Although it is situated near the city center, the area is very calm. The residence has an extremely narrow frontage, which is a part of a row house, so it has become an integral part of street. The biggest problem was the width between row houses. The challenge was to create an effective flange width inside in order to reconnect neighbouring houses. Architects have decided to use cross section construction. A stairway is not blocking the view of outside. Glass, light material able to connect and divide space at the same time, was used for every partition wall. Taking into account that the house is constructed on a small plot of land, architects have been trying to use almost all of the building coverage ratio.
New affiliate of the Credit Bank
A new affiliate branch of Credit Bank located in Fossane, Switzerland is a unique building thanks to a cascade of chains on the facade. The chains are 11km long and create a very dynamic, mobile and floating space, what is very unusual for a building of a bank, all the more it is situated at the foothill of the Maritime Alps. The building of the branch has an airiness and lightness that is more common in a different type of buildings, an exhibition centre for example. A traditional image of a bank has been quit. The building represents a new unedited image of an institution of this type: surprising and innovatory from the outside, intimate and cosy from the inside. Studio Kuadra architects, creator of this design, is a group of young people, who knows how to utilize the very best of each material they use. Glass, metal, stainless steel are materials characterized by consistency, form, quality and singularity, while accentuating composition, which remains precise and clean.
Terrace house
Residents of so called “white house” have a fabulous view at a lake and beautiful nature of the northern uphills of the Swiss community of Ermatingen, where it is located. Landscape of the area is quite complicated, so the architect, who is constructor as well, decided to create the yard successively. On the upper level, a family house with two floors was constructed, on the lower level a self-standing house housing an office of the architect. Every terrace has big windows, which open the space towards a lake. The ground-floor has been constructed entirely from glass windows. Overall, the house has an open ground-plan in order to fulfill needs of a family. The interior is furnished with a quality furniture, a minimum of colours has been used: white, green and pink. The colour scheme has been influenced by Le Corbusier.
Smart house
This innovative intelligent house is located in the capital of Poland, Warsaw. The shape and entire exterior have been designed to resemble to a castle and to be able to transform in a modern and luxurious house opening to nature. When the owner of the house is not present, the house is closed and looks like a bunker or a secrete building without doors or windows. When the owner enters by the front gate, the house transforms into controllable panels that reveal its real form. Rooms are completely open, airy spaces, separated from the exterior by glass panels which bring nature into the interior space. The other attractive parts of the smart house are a ground-floor and upper levels of terraces. The inside pool is visible through big toned glass windows. The interior has modern but at the same time minimalist furnishing.
The house for collectors
Studio B Architects has designed a modern house for collectors of photographs and video-clips. The house is located on a steep uphill in the city of Aspen, Colorado, USA. Topography of the area had posed a problem of dewatering, but architects have resolved it very well. The exterior is composed of zinc panels and concrete. In the interior space dominate a dark oak flooring, freestanding oak stairs, marble, porcelain and tiles. The lower level of the house, where a gallery and wine cellars are located, is entirely underground. A massage room is attached to this space. The entry level houses an office, a guest bedroom, dining room, kitchen and a bedroom with an entrance on a terrace integrated to a private garden and a roof terrace accessible by a freestanding steel stairs.
Modern House in Sydney
Chenchow Little Architects from Australia have designed a spectacular modern house in Sydney. It overlooks the beach. The house is both open to the beautiful surroundings as well as sheltered and protecting thanks to the wooden vertical shields that can be closed to give the house more privacy and prevent overheating but also allow the daylight to brighten up the interior. In the main living space it is almost impossible to distinguish the interior and the exterior. The sliding walls wipe off the borders between the spaces which means that for example bedroom can merge with the terrace. The interior is very much puristic, clean, bright. The brown colour gives the space a spark.
Cargo offices
This eclectic interior architecture of an office building was recently realised by the studio Group8 – project team Christophe Pidoux, Christian Giussoni, Richard Fulop and Marco Neri. The customer is the logistic company Cargo. The interior has been created just recently and the concept is very simple. The aim was to provide some silent work and conference spaces within the otherwise wide and busy open-plan office. The architects designed very simple space painted in white into which old and disused cargo containers were stacked one upon the other. They are of different colour and so they are in contrast with the white space. This way small offices were created inside the containers painted in white. The concept was developed in collaboration with the Spanish office furniture manufacturer Dynamobel.
The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angels
When the Staples Center opened in downtown Los Angeles in 1999, the visitors of the venue’s sporting and entertainment facilities had to venture far afield for a good meal. Just over a decade later, the area near the arena is full of eateries, cinemas, a massive entertainment complex that was finally opened this May with the opening of the Ritz-Carlton. The Ritz-Carlton occupies floors 22 to 26 of a translucent-blue 54-storey skyscraper. The hotel offers a lot of interesting space, including the famous restaurant Wolfgang Puck. The 24th floor venue serves Chinese delicacies, while appetizers and sushi are available in the adjacent lounge. Set on the 23rd floor, Club Lounge looks out toward the beaches of Santa Monica located 15 miles west. Telescopes which were placed near the windows allow for up-close exploration of the ocean and the Hollywood sign.
Flatpak House
IKEA practically invented flat packing of their products creating modular furniture that, when disassembled, can be packed flat in a box for shipping. Architect Charles Lazor has now asked a question whether it would be possible to create a house which it would be possible to disassemble and that could be packed flat for shipping. He created a modernist house Flatpak. The house is made of glass, concrete, metal, wood, or cement fiberboard panels in different colors and finishes. The advantage of a panel house over a typical prefab is together with esthetic experience flexibility in dimensions. You’re not limited only to the width but also to the height. The author himself calls it “manufactured architecture”.
The Silo House
This unique, ecological and sustainable, modular house was designed by Cornel University‘s team of students for 2009 Solar Decathlon. The design reminds us of old silo buildings and that is why it got this name. The house was designed as a modular house with unique orthogonal elements. This feature is similar to the vernacular architecture of upstate New York. This house consists of a central courtyard and three cylindrical living buildings which surround it. All the parts are independent buildings and all of the buildings are covered with a rectilinear array of photovoltaics. The structure was made by exposed steel beams in the interior and CorTen corrugated steel as the cladding. The house takes advantage of solar gain from the steel envelope through an innovative skin-integrated solar thermal system that pre-heats hot water. Each cylinder has two operable skylights to maximize the natural lighting. The materials chosen for the interior are considered to be eco-friendly - sh and beech hardwoods.
Mangwana House
The Mangwana House (because of the island of Benquia on which it is situated also known as The Bequia House) was designed by Edgley Design. The modern villa is situated on a steep hillside in a dense forest on the island of Bequia in the Caribbean with breathtaking views of the ocean. The design is inspired by traditional Moroccan architecture which locates a courtyard into the centre. There a series of intimate spaces surround water, providing cooling and shelter from the sun throughout the day. All five bedrooms have a private access staircase. To the north of the courtyard a large hall provides eating and dining areas. This stunning place resembling a paradise on the Earth can be rented and it sleeps maximum of 12 people.
Memorial of Jewish Deportation
In Borgo San Dalmazzo, Italy, Italian architecture studio KUADRA designed the Memorial of Jewish Deportation. The base of the memorial is a concrete slab that has been slightly raised off the ground as if it was the platform for the freight wagons. This platform is surrounded by rocks of different sizes. On the platform, the names of the 20 survivors are spelt out in 3D corten steel letters, while on the ground, 350 plaques commemorate the deportees that never returned from the concentration camps. Each prisoner is identified by name, age and nationality. Each family group is separated from the next. All the letter are made of metal, which caused by oxidation will over time become the same color as the freight wagons. The memorial is lit up by spot lights positioned at the base of the name pillar.
Shade Club
Shade Club is an interesting experiment of a group of architects called SquareONE. They have constructed an unusual interior of a night club in the basement of a residential house in the city center of Bucarest, Romania. For 90 past years, there were only night clubs on this very spot. Some of them were successful, the others scandalous, so there was a good chance that the club can become a popular place if it has a good reputation. Two young people have got the idea to rent the place and start to build the good reputation by hiring a team of great architects. The project was a challenge, the plan is very small and segmented. New owners have chosen elegant and stylish interior with a little bit of humourous details. Furniture is displayed on walls in 2D and their shapes are printed in an open space. The existing structure was a space divided into three parts that is why architects have decided to create several patterns and graphic designs and change the dispositions of this space. Whole design is accentuated by a colour lighting.
Residential Bridge
Studio Ja has come with an idea of a residential bridge as the one from the Inception movie. The project called Solar Park South has been part of an international competition “Zero Emission”. Architects from studio Ja have developped an idea how to hold up the growth of widening cities. To build a new city beneath a bridge could be the solution. Pariticipants of the competition were asked to create designs with respect to sustainable development; economic, energetic and cultural aspects. The goal was to design a building which will capitalize 10km of a highway between cities of Scilla and Bagnara in Italy. Ja Studio has create a design of a residential bridge, which would connect the upper side of the valley with a bottom of the valley.
Church from Future
London studio DOS Architects has designed a catholic church as one would expect in a movie from future. The church should be build in the city of Lagos in Nigeria, Africa and be able to host up to 2000 people. The interior is covered by an aerodynamic skin divided into two parts - two waves, first one is smaller than the other one. The main entrance is situated in the bottom and the narrowest part and leads into a spectacular foyer, where a direct access to both two floors is located. Space assigned for prayers has been designed to fulfil needs of the congregation; not to be disturbed, to feel comfortable and relaxed, to have a view at the altar. Spectacular glass facades provide enough of natural lighting and accentuate the height of the building. Construction of the church should start in 2011.
House B8
House B8 is located 270km north of Santiago, in an area of strong winds coming from the Pacific Ocean. Architects from 56.02 studio have reconstructed an existing house and doubled the floorage. The existing house had only 50 square meters and a flexible ground-plan what was an advantage because architects could simply reconfigure its plan and functions. All the areas, where water is condensed have been concentrated on one south wall, this decision was made to create more flexible spaces. The initial goal was to widen the floorage without the significant rise of expenses. That is the reason why architects have chosen the open space in the exterior, protected from winds and a terrace at the same place. As a result a house with the maximal flexibility has been created; the walls are moving panels, which allow to divide the space according to needs of residents.
Rolls Denim Gallery Interior
Rolls Denim Gallery is definitely one of the most stylish shops. Uncommon and eye-catching interior of the shop has been designed by Japanese designer Chikara Ohno of Sinato. Characteristic feature of this space is material. Designer has been using aluminium mostly because of its advantages; it is thin, bendable enough, even not as much as textile or paper for example. Flexibility of aluminium is utilized, aluminium has been wind so that beautiful waving forms has been created. This spacial dance is accentuated by the glimmer of the material and an effective lighting. Not to forget the functionality of those waving aluminium forms which serve as shelves.
Point Perry - the minimalist house
A new, completely minimalist house has been contructed on the Sunshine Coast beach in Queensland, Australia and get the name Point Perry. The house is a remodelation of a project from 1990 “Beach House” by Owen and Vokes Architects. New owner has decided to rebuild and extend the original house and to add two other bedrooms, bathrooms and a garage. The existing building, natural topography and new functions of the house have influenced new interconnections between different types of residential space and a garden. The existing house was build on a steep slope surrounded by a bushy green. A new court and entrance have been built to connect the residential parts of the building on the slope and to offer a great view on the garden and ocean. From the street side, a concrete bunker has been built as a garage. Taking advantage a of steep slope, the garage does not need a new access road. A thin line divides the ground plan of the house on half, it is represented by a swimming pool which accentuates the minimalist atmosphere of the whole space.
Architect`s house on Cyprus
Greek architect George Papadopoulos from Skinotechniki Architects has designed his own residence house in Lemesos, Cyprus. The house is located in the old town, squeezed in narrow streets only 50 meters away from one of the most popular beaches on the island and features a very nice design. In the past an old mill was standing at this very spot. After the fire in 1989, only remains of walls were left. The goal of the project was to build a house for a family with four children, where every member of the family can have comfort, calm and won`t be limited. The building had to go together with the surroundings; area of stone houses with two floors and some industrial buildings. A mixture of natural materials - wood and stone with glass excites a calming effect. Harmony of this combination has been accentuated by a beautiful garden which enclose the building. Important elements of the house are colours, soft and natural colours, as well as the lighting. Architect has used eco-friendly heating, cooling and lighting systems.
Corten House
Architects from the Studio mk27 Marcio Kogan have constructed a minimalist house located in the city of Sao Paolo in Brazil. The house get the name Corten House by the material reminding weathering steal - “corten”, which is also used on the facade of the house. The atmosphere of the space has been created by a mixture of materials like rusty texture, stone, wood, white mortar and glass. The front door of the garage has been constructed from vertical wooden strips and opens onto the street. The ground floor is designed very simply, so the open space is accentuated. The plan is an open and luminous space with a ceiling height 5,2m. The unique element of the house are four folding doors that open onto exterior and unite separated interior and exterior area. The building affirms the quote: Simplicity is the beauty.
Hotel Seven
Paris has a new modern design hotel. The name of the hotel - Hotel Seven - reveals the concept of the building; seven apartments designed in seven completely different styles. Each apartment has its own theme; one is in the style of James Bond 007, the others in the style of Alice in the Wonderland, Black Diamond, On/Off etc.. In the Black Diamond apartment, a mixture of materials has been used to create the right atmosphere: mirrors, black carpets lighted from below, glimmer of diamonds, satin linen or walls with black crystal lights. Not to forget the James Bond apartment designated to all agent fans equipped with large TVs with James Bond movies. To create the Bond style the room is furnished in retro style of 60`s and 70`s. Designers of Hotel Seven have carefully picked out every detail of each of the seven stunning worlds. Hotel with an essential atmosphere can offer something to every client.
Ecological house in rainy-forest in Costa Rica
Casa Torcida - a beautiful modern house by studio SPG Architects is located in wild rain-forest on the Osa peninsula in Costa Rica. Even the house seems to be monumental in size, its impact on the living environment is light and requirements on consumption low. Thanks to a solar-panels system on the roof and a micro-hydropower system, which is in use mostly during rainy periods, the building can run independently, in an off-grid mode. The use of solar passive design principles have allowed to the architects to minimize solar heat gain on the building and support natural ventilation. Thanks to the efficient solar shading and ventilation systems, there is no need for an air conditioning even the house is located in a tropical area. The architects had to meet challenging criteria of the future owner: environmental sensitivity, technologically advanced and modern design. For the construction concrete and steel were used. The structure of the house is a steel-framed concrete slab. The Casa Torcida has five floors, a sea-view swimming pool and a terrace designated to yoga trainings.
Eco-friendly Soccer Stadium
A brand new soccer stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico has been opened up during the summer and hosted its first match in July. The stadium by french architects Jean-Marie Massaud and Daniel Pouzet has been constructed on demand of very popular Mexican team Chivas. The unique element of the building is a white membrane reminding of a cloud atop the volcano. Remarkable are sloped sides overgrown by grass and different types of plants that capture rainwater. The stadium can offer 45 000 seats and 8500 parking spaces located right under the sloped sides. The grassy sloped sides are going to serve as public parks when trees will grow up and the area become more attractive. The stadium is reachable not only by car, buses are available as well. Well-designed infrastructure has to be simple.
Vertical Museum
A castle tower was rebuilt and reconstructed to a museum by swiss architects L3P Architekten. The tower is listed to the historical heritage and is located in the oldest part of the city of Zürich. Height of the tower is 21 meters and thickness of the walls is up to three meters with the interior radius of 3,5 meters. All authentic technical equipment have been displaced and reintegrated in the walls. The decision has created a brand new open space, which is desirable for exhibitions. The name of the tower - Vertical museum is also describing the destination of each floor; from the oldest times on the ground floor, to modern era on the top floor. Very unique and remarkable is the staircase which stands out below the roof of the tower. Medieval atmosphere is underlined by indirect and diffuse lighting. Exterior lighting of the tower has been reconstructed and complemented with a new projection technique, which prevents light pollution and allows a 12-fold reduction of energy use.
House in mountains
Design Office has constructed an unusual residential house with a direct view of the Osaka plain located in an exclusif residential area of Takarazuke city of Hyogo prefecture in Japan. The house is locaiduces a feeling of warmth and security and an idea of flying and liberty as birds have. That is the reason why the house is divided into two parts that have the difference in height of 8 meters, so that the ground floor part is invisible from the street side view. The shape of the house replicates the landscape and create an corrugated profile reminding a dragon - traditional japanese myth animal. An extraordinary 18 meter-long terrace is a key element of this building. The terrace offers a splendid view, mountains and the sea 60 km away can be observed. The framework of the house seems to be similar to the deck of a boat floating on a heavy sea. ted on a hill with an elevation of 330 meters, the site has a difference in height of 8 meters.
Warrnabool campus
A new building by a firm Lyons` has been constructed at the university campus in Warrnabool, Australia. Facade of this builiding is very particular and offers space for offices, conference rooms or domitory for students. All functions of the building can be divided into three levels. The facade is constructed from hexagonal apertures tilted down towards the street. These glazed apertures have a steel structure and serve as solar shading and natural ventilation. The main entrance is right through the glazed wall located at the street side while the back entrance is an enclosed courtyard of the campus. Because of neighbouring buildings listed to the heritage, some permits were required for the construction.
Glass Library
This extraordinary building has been constructed by a new architectonic studio Zaubersho(en) from Münster, Germany. An outbuilding to the constructed library was built in the university campus which has been entitled “The horse on the ceiling” because the ceiling is supported by columns reminding the shape of horse legs galloping. As for the inspiration, photographs of horse legs galloping were used. The whole facade is made from glass, so that passers-by can admire those beautiful and functional moving shapes. To mention one curiosity, the building has been constructed during the study years of the architects, in cooperation with their professor Herbert Buehler from the architectonic studio Buehler und Buehler.
House in Andes
The intention of architect Juan Carlos Doblado was to create a house with the greatest view at the Andes. Horizontal shape of the building contrasts with surrounding mountains so their connexion is emphasized. The house was built in the upper hill-side area. The project based on simple geometry is divided into two parts. The interior of the house is an open space, mostly separated with sliding doors. Every room has at least one glass wall, so that nature can enter right through the interior. Front side of the house is composed by: living room area, kitchen and one room. The others are situated below the ground level taking advantage of the hill-side. Main structural elements are concrete and glass panels.
Concrete House II by A-cero Architects
One of the last designs of the architectonic studio A-cero is a bigger hous placed at the periphery of Madrid on a lot of 5000 square meters. A bungalow house seems to be hidden thanks to concrete walls and green vegetation. The building area of 1600 square meters makes from the house a luxiourous housing above standard. The interior is painted in decent shades of grey. The back facade is widely open towards a garden. As for the space arrangement, the living room, dining room, library, office and bedroom are represented. Surroundings of the house supplement an elegant garden with a lake. As for the ecology, several parts of the building are built to lower the power consumption, for exemple: facade or roof which are grown over with green vegetation. Use of solar collectors makes from the house an energy self-sufficient building.
The Kavel 71
NAT Architekten have designed a new L-shaped house with a mysterious name Kavel 71. The house is placed between a street and a lake in the area of Kleine Rieteilanden in Amsterdam. The low shape of the building from the street point of view contrasts with the view from the lake which shows that building has got three floors. On the ground-floor, we find a place separated with wooden panels which create zones. First part constitutes a play-ground for children, toilet, dressing-room and kitchenette. The other two floors are designated to parents and children so that each of them find their own private space. While looking at the exterior of the building, someone has got cold and indifferent impression which contrasts with warm, clean and bright interior. Every room has an exquisite view on the lake thanks to big windows.
Water-Cooled House
Wallflower Architecture + Design won an award in the Independent house category at 10. Design Award of Architects in Singapore. This project is hidden from the eyes of the passers-by as it is surrounded by trees and bushes. The owner had wanted a contemporary home that prioritized environmental coolness to be able to enjoy the luscious tropical surroundings. The supporting structure was designed to offer maximal possible open space and a panoramic view. Inside, the house is full of ponds which are the natural cooling feature for the whole space. A beautiful spiral staircase leads to the roof. An interesting feature of the house is also a circular window in the roof through which the sun rays go through the water and light the main entrance.
22 Beach House
JSA Architects created the 22 Beach House located at sloping terrain on a beach 50 kms from Lima, the capital of Peru. It is composed of four beach apartments for the members of the same family and each apartment is divided from the other by its own volume. The plot of land offers spectacular views of the coast. The common area for all members of the family includes a swimming pool, living room, patio, kitchen and services. The architects wanted to integrate the apartments while keeping them as independent volumes, keeping their individuality. Each apartment is therefore different, not only the exterior but mostly the interior. The house offers wide open spaces with movable closings that permit fading out the interior-exterior relation. This house won 2010 Silver Medal Award at the Biennial of Mexican Architecture.
Tasmanian Beauty or The Winged House
The Winged House in Taple Cape in Tasmania resembles a silver bird with widespread wings watching the Tasmania’s rugged coastline. The breath-taking roof and the construction designed by Richard Goodwin leaves a deep impression in each visitor. The house features two bedrooms, gourmet kitchen, Japanese bathroom, 180-degree ocean views and easy access to the Tasmania’s World Heritage wilderness. It is a place for spiritual rest and relaxation, a place where you can be by yourself only surrounded by wild nature, a place created for writers and artists who could capture its magical vibrations.
Shell House
A house resembling a shell, wrapping or some kind of a case was built in Hiratsuka in Japan by the studio Far East Design Lab. Originally as if double-sloping roof was deformed in such a way that one side interlocks with the other while stability is assured by steel posts. The side walls are also bent into various angles but the house does not lose its simplicity as it might seem on the first sight. The front and back part is completely open and glazed to the exterior. This interesting shape creates dynamic interior space. Textures and materials of different kinds are added. Although the house is placed in a dense neighborhood it is definitely not to be overlooked.
Fundacio Antoni Tapies
The first goal of the renewal of the Fundació Antoni Tàpies was the necessity to adapt the building to new safety regulations, an overall improvement of the complex, opening up the historic building to the public with new exhibition, archive and educational areas. But the newly reconstructed building seeks, above all, help to consolidate a new generation of museums as centers of cultural production, presenting multi-spatiality, adapted to the diversity of artistic practices. The building built by Lluís Domènech i Montaner between 1881 and 1884 (later intervention between 1987-1990) includes now a roof garden which is a possible exposition space.
Glass House
A building with a characteristic name “Glass House” has grown directly in the centre of the Port Macquarie city in Australia. It is a centre for arts and culture which includes an art gallery, a theatre and a community workshop place. The project was executed by the group Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects or TZG Architects for short. The whole exterior façade is made out of glass and steel construction so that the building can communicate with its surroundings. The interior is very cozy and quiet. The way the acoustics was worked in the theatre and the conference room seems to be fantastic and over-elaborated.
Grand opening of the tallest tensile structure in the world
The grand opening of the Khan Shatyr Entertainment Centre was recently held in Kazakhstan. This world’s tallest tensile structure was designed by UK-based architectural firm Foster + Partners. People can visit the centre anytime during the year whatever the weather. The Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center was officially opened in the presence of President Nazarbayev. The ceremony took place on President’s birthday and Astana Day. Astana is the place where the centre is located. The building encloses an area in excess of 100 000 and offers a wide range of activities, including urban-scaled park, entertainment and leisure facilities, cafes, shops, restaurants, cinemas, water park and flexible spaces that can accommodate a varied programme of events and exhibitions. Enjoy the beautiful panoramic views of the city.
Architect office
The Lebanese architect Paul Kaloustian studied at Harvard and then worked for Herzog and de Meuron. This architect has recently designed his own office and the Chammas chalet in Libanon. The new location of the office is in a former factory, in the capital of Libanon, in Beirut. The design intention is based on creating an airy and at the same time abstract space. The essence of the interior is the white colour where the means for discrimination of lines and shapes is mostly light, whether natural or artificial in the form of various lights. It could seem that such space gives impression of sterility and coldness but that is not the case. Plants added to the interior wonderfully refresh the atmosphere. The Chammas chalet is designed in a similar way. Probably its most interesting feature is the zigzag roof designed to give the space a sense of tension and dynamism.
322 Residence
This residence in Iowa city built in 1941 has been expanded several times over the intervening decades. It used to be a bigger mass housing complex hidden in between tall trees. The main aim of the new renovation of the building was to liberate it from the trees but also organise the interior spaces as their space arrangement was very chaotic. The architectonic studio Substance architecture simplified and expanded the house which now resembles a larger hut in the forest thanks to its simplicity the architects staked on. The roof slope was increased to increase the ceiling of the rooms on the top floor where each of them has a skylight. These together with the windows on the ground floor create a harmonizing structure which is underlined by attractive design of the terrace on the ground floor. The interior is similarly direct as the exterior. In the interior the emphasis was put on usage of simple and natural materials which make the space airy and light.
Superbude hotel in Hamburg
Superbude hotel in Hamburg by the architect Armin Fisher from the studio Dreimeta. He created a concept of a hotel where the visitor becomes the visited. With a licence to party you can stay up all night long without the annoying neighbours. The hotel was built following the idea of sustainability. You can find here old water pipes which have been screwed together to create shelves and tables or sofas covered with used jeans. The hotel offers 74 stylish double and multi-bed rooms. They are refreshing, modern and simple. The six floors of a former printing house were redesigned to offer relaxing moments to each visitor.
Wellness centre of Kripalu
Massachusetts based architects Peter Rose + Partners have created a yoga and wellness center for Kripalu. Their high-rise building was connected to the existing one by a glaze passageway. The new housing tower offers 80 rooms. The architects aimed for balance of materials, space and colours so that they would not disturb the function of the centre. The project works with fairly few materials which are wood, concrete and glass yet this minimalistic approach is not boring. The center, much like yoga, must connect with nature so several sustainable strategies were incorporated into the design. The lighting and free space helped to create very pleasant architecture.
S Residence
Building a house in a non-urban environment free from site limitations and outdated urban regulations, is today an opportunity for a designer to explore diverse design issues emerging out of a global concern for sustainable development. Later on similar design devices can be reintroduced and applied along with technologically advanced innovations. S Residence situated in New Delhi, India has become such a project for architects Matra Architects & Rurban Planners. A series of parallel walls aligned along the east-west axis are the corpus of the house while each part is different and individual but always well lit. The construction time set for only one year was very ambitious but possible mostly thanks to used materials such as light steel frames, slabs of steel and concrete, insulated drywall etc. The architects attempted to redefine luxury and comfort in residential architecture.
Eco-building by MVRDV
MVRDV presents its new building “the Pushed Slab” in Paris. It is an energy efficient office building which will be built in the 13th arrondissement of Paris. The 19.000 m2 building will be one of the first low energy buildings realised in France with low energy consumption. The complex is located between two completely different urban grids, the dense city fabric of blocks in the north and the loose urban fabric in the south with its clear defined and straightforward infrastructure. Because of these two differences the building has become as if “two faced” - a calm side in dialogue with the urban fabric of the north side of Paris and a more dynamic side facing south, rectangular to the boulevard. The project combines proven techniques and the whole building is highly flexible when it comes to space division. The accumulation of these proven reliable techniques results in energy consumption of 49 kWh per m2 per year. The whole volume which mirrors the shape of the land is wrapped in a skin of wood while the windows form a rhythmic ribbon on each floor. The terraces and the balconies will be furnished with many trees planted in large pots.
Four star hotel Fujiya Inn in Japan
In the Yamagata Perfecture in Japan, in the vicinity of the hot springs Ginzan the hotel Fujiya Inn has been created . Author of the project which brings beauty and modern Japanese architecture and design to the area is Kengo Kuma and Associates. The place is dedicated to relaxing for all those who are tired of everyday city life and need to gain new energy . The hotel offers 8 rooms classified into three different categories – A, B and C. A standard part of the hotel is a restaurant and an unconventional part are small spas making use of the hot springs in the area. The design is very smooth with emphasis on high quality material which is mostly wood and partly glass. The space is airy and spacious, the colour scale is in natural shades from white, beige to different shades of brown.
Brisbane parking house facade
Urban Art Projects (UAP) in cooperation with the American artist Nedom Kahn, architect Hassell Sydney and the Brisbane Airport Corporation have created an 8-storey, 5 000 square meters large kinetic façade of the parking house at the Brisbane airport. The whole façade is a mesmerising experience for the viewer who can watch the movements of the wind affecting the 250 000 aluminium panels , its strength it uses to ripple the material. The façade also provides practical environmental benefits – natural ventilation of the interior and lighting through minute openings which create wonderful patterns of light and shadow. This work is expected to become a unique icon which will characterise the city of Brisbane.
Urezkoenea, a house on a slope
In northern Spain, in the town of Getaria, Peña Ganchegui y Asociados have created a house called by the name of Urezkoenea. A plot of land with a steep slope heading towards north offers a wonderful view of the sea. The building itself is situated in the vicinity of the local access road but at the same time not too close to it to ensure maximal sunlight and avoid the shadow of the adjacent trees. The exterior as well as the surroundings give the house a shape just as when a man moves around it, a man who comes from a dry land, walks along the house and suddenly is faced by the sea view. The shape reminds us of an observation tower or a ship sticking up from the sea. The interior is the exact opposite – while from the outside the house has a simple clear outline, the inner rooms are all different and each is original.
Vila Nova de Cerveira
On the north-western coast of Portugal a new building from the architects dEMM Arquitectura, Vila Nova de Cerveira has been constructed. The weekend villa wonderfully communicates with its surroundings, its morphology but also materials and colours. The inner space of the villa can be perceived both as interior as well as exterior thanks to large glass windows which bring the nature inside the dwelling space. The upper floor from which the terrace next to the swimming pool is accessible is divided into two parts which intersect in the axis of horizontal and vertical circulation. From here leads a staircase to the ground floor which can be accessed directly from the road.
Ecological restaurant, Basement restaurant
Garduno Architects have transformed the basement of a 40-storey building into an incredible garden restaurant thanks to a new approach and an ingenious idea of sustainable space. Their main aim was to create a live independent organism in a concrete saturated area neighbouring a parking lot and so contribute to the environment. The result is 930 square meters full of greenery where there is not only a restaurant with terraces, fountains and sitting areas but also a flower shop, a jewelry shop and a bakery. Both large terraces are immersed in a microclimate of various plants and were built around the central chimney, a fountain. A water purifying plant can be seen on one of the terraces. The restaurant only sells its own water while all proceeds from the sale are destined for charitable causes. Every and each product sold here is biodegradable . A unique heating system was developed for this place where the heat generated by the kitchen is used to heat the terrace floors. An interesting condition of the architects and investors was for everything to be created in Mexico and so from light fixtures to tablecloths everything was made locally. The end result is a harmonious and sophisticated place.
Pool garden for summer days
This beautiful pool garden designed by Ana Maria Vieira Santos. It’s combination of a large pool and very exclusive garden design, located in Santo Garden, Brazil. She used very simple and pure furniture and layout too. With wooden furniture make a very natural design that supported by the use of crops.Centered in limestone terraces, the pool appears to spill into the sea.
The V House by PlanB and Mazzanti Architects
Plan B Architects created with Mazzanti Architects near Bogota, Colombia this amazing house, called V house.The arms are separated in two ways: the inner courtyard distances them through a native garden, and different heights allow that the zero level (ground level) of the former falls into place at roof level of the other. These two actions allow the ramifications to equally enjoy the distant view of the lake.
Mountains & Opening House - EASTERN design office
Mountains & Opening House is designed by Japanese studio EASTERN design office. This building is a design room for a Japanese sneaker brand as well as a residential house. The site is in Takarazuka-city of Hyogo Prefecture, in an exclusive residential district that commands an entire view of the Osaka Plain. The architecture is built on the slope of a hill with an elevation of 330 meters. The level difference of the site is 8 meters.
Modular Sustainable Housing by Felipe Campolina
Felipe Campolina has projected the EcoBitat. It is a modular portable sustainable housing.EcoBitat is developed from standard 1.22 m x 2.44 m OSB plate. Its size is 2.44 x 3.1 x 12.20 m. Beside its steel framing, EcoBitat is designed to have ability to be applied on any types of topographies, as it has drop-down telescopic legs that can be adjusted adapted to the surface condition. EcoBitat is also designed mobile, it can be loaded to a truck.
Modern House 6 in Sao Paolo by Marcio Kogan
The House 6 is designed by Marcio Kogan, a famous Brazilian architect. This modern concrete house is organized in two transversal volumes and an annex in the back that holds a home office. The lower volume houses the utilities, the kitchen and the living room with door-frames that can be recessed into the walls, and thereby entirely opening the internal space to either side. The upper volume has the private area of the house with the bedrooms and, on the third floor there is a small multiple-use living room alongside an upper deck. The lower volume houses the utilities, the kitchen and the living room with door-frames that can be recessed into the walls, and thereby entirely opening the internal space to either side.
The ARIA Resort & Casino by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects
The ARIA Resort & Casino is the centerpiece of CityCenter, designed by Pelli clarke architects,on a 67-acre site fronting the Las Vegas Strip. The hotel with 4000 rooms and casino is the tallest structure in CityCenter, redefining the Las Vegas skyline and creating a strong sense of space. The curved shape of the towers creates gently arched corridors, which give the appearance of a shorter distance from the elevators to the guest rooms. Angled building corners allow for panoramic views. Filled with natural light, the corridors offer views of the Strip below and the mountains beyond.
580 Carroll - Ten arquitectos
Enrique Norten from Ten arquitectos was designed building in the heart of Park Slope, Brooklyn called 580 Carroll. It is a 17 unit residential building – a five story structure made of concrete with an angular glass facade and a striking entrance made of boardwalk cedar plank that runs alongside the buildings private 3,500 square foot landscaped garden.
Sustainable Building Design by Studio27 Architecture
Sustainable FabLab House by IaaC
IaaC was designed new suistanable house. This house was participated in Solar Decathlon Europe competition, 2010. Including all of the features provided in the house, everything is eco-friendly almost from wood. This construction has very specific form for better energy conservation.Made from wood materials, this house is design light, easy to handle, with very precision parts that are provided from high technology of fabrication, by using CAD/CAM and laser cutting technology.
Roslyn Street Bar and Restaurant by
Roslyn Street Potts Point in Sydney, Australia, is a triangular shaped site, less than 200m2 in size. The rounded end looks directly onto a small public space.The shape of the site exaggerates perspective, the tiny footprint amplifies the perception of height.They wanted the building to sit easily in its place, to recognise the architectural traits of its neighbours.They also wanted to take a new view of the thick masonry walls, small detailed windows and overhanging cornices typical of the area.The cornice is exaggerated to overhang the street, to suggest a room. The fine steel lined windows are slightly offset and casually misaligned.
Senra´s House - Manuel Ribeiro
Inserted in the distinctive nature of Minho, Senra´s House is a living example of the rustic countryside heritage in Portugal.The actual unifamiliar residence – exclusively made by three materials: wood, stone and ceramic -, is a project signed by the Portuguese architect Manuel Ribeiro, developed in the same field of agricultural production, where before, houses, courts, mill and wine cellar existed together.The construction of the main functional body (housing), emerges in a valley, deliberately aligned with the Sun, ensuring that the building benefits from sunlight, since the source to the west, protecting as well the area of the square from the weather.
Tempe Urban Living in Arizona
The Tempe Urban Living is amazing in all its composition.It is composed of 15 three floors houses. The houses are quite large, with plenty of ventilation and natural lighting, which is actually one of the main objectives of this building: to take advantage of the potential ways to use sunlight. The concrete slabs were carefully designed to create light and shadow throughout the day. An architecture that besides its beauty, is functional.
Cliff house
Architects Sandeep Khosla and Amaresh Anand of Khosla Associates designed the home keeping the180 degree panorama of the sea constantly in mind.The response to the site was a bold and emotional one as the designers imagined the dramatic wall and roof bringing the sea, air and the sky in without barriers. True to the first contextual response, only half of the 1,400 sqm of built area is actually defined by four walls. The rest is kept open and intelligently permeable to the elements.
Home GB - MMEB architects
MMEB, architects from Brasil, heve designed the house GB, which is located in Alphaville, Cuiabб/MT, Brasil. The design reflects current needs, but still makes use of the qualities of the old houses “cuibanas”. These are present and expressed in the patio, balcony, foot high duty of large openings, natural light and natural ventilation. These characteristicts make it a great place to live, with high possibilities of integration between people, work and the environment.
Burnham pavilion - Unstudio
The design of the unstudio pavilion initially uses the orthogonal setup of the city and park grid. The edges of the pavilion follow the strict grid system of the surrounding city and park geometry. Burnham’s plan one hundred years ago introduced this generic grid as the main generator of the city texture. However alongside this he also introduced a device to read both specificity and variation in the form of the diagonal boulevards, thereby creating specific vistas throughout the city. The unstudio pavilion operates in a similar way, but in contrast uses the entire spectrum of 360 degrees. Instead of burnham’s tectonic layering of the city, the pavilion introduces a gradient between its ingredients of floor, wall and ceiling in a floating and continuous form. The hierarchy of the horizontal or vertical plane is converted into an understanding of a space as continuous transformation and fluidity. The initially horizontal panorama on top of the pavilion’s podium smoothly shifts diagonally into the three roof openings, framing vertical views of the city skyline.
Saegeling Medizintechnik office by Gerd Priebe Architects and Consultants
The Saegeling Medizintechnik GmbH develops high quality machines for the area of sleeping diagnostic, monitoring and medical technological machinery for newborn babies. In order to cope with the growing interest from their customers, the company decided in 2006 to add a further office building to the existing complex.The office of Gerd Priebe was contracted to undertake the planning. The organically formed building design, constructed according to the plans of GPAC, sets a striking architectural highlight directly adjacent to the existing company headquarters.
Blair Road by Ong & Ong
This house produces a spatial experience that excites the senses by promoting light open plan living which is unusual to this type of terrace house. This residence brings a balance between nature and contemporary living in a renovation of an Art Deco style terrace.
Bar House in Colorado By Peter L. Gluck & Partners
This house is all about the views. This home was created with as much southern exposure as possible perpendicular to the valley, as the sun comes only from the south.I’m pretty sure I’d spend as much time as possible on the roof just checking out the spectacular 360-degree view.
41 Cooper Square - Morphosis Architects
The Cooper Union’s new building at 41 Cooper Square—a technologically advanced academic facility – is located on the east side of Third Avenue between 6th and 7th Streets. In September 2009, 41 Cooper Square will house the college’s Albert Nerken School of Engineering and Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences along with additional facilities for the School of Art and the Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture. Designed by 2005 Pritzker Prize-winning architect Thom Mayne of Morphosis, the nine-story, 175,000 square foot, full-block building will replace more than 40 percent of the academic space at the college with reconfigurable, state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories, studios and public spaces. Built with stringent sustainability goals, it is likely to achieve LEED platinum. 41 Cooper Square will be the first LEED certified academic laboratory building in New York City.
Me Hotel, Barcelona
Like most of our favorite hotels, Barcelona’s Me Hotel rivals the city itself with the various amenities if offers. The one-year-old Dominique Perrault-designed hotel surrounds guests with glittering steel walls and sliding panels of vibrantly colored Lucite, complimented by dramatic views of the city from almost every angle and lending an omnipotent feel.In the spirit of Barcelona’s legendary nightlife and the beach vibe lent by the sparkling blue Mediterranean Sea, the hotel keeps the momentum alive with a popular bar scene and in-room amenities—such as Wii and iPod docking stations.
Municipal Market Of Pinhal Novo - Silva Dias Arquitectos
The role of Municipal Markets is, still, essential for their protagonism in the urban balance of the places they integrate, in the sense that, besides supplying the local populations, they also promote economies of scale, determine prices locally, generate positive results on nearby commerce, commercialize and provide fresh produce preparation services, often from local producers, and maintain a social image that directs attention to the place they belong to.Thus, the design of the building stems from the unique character it must assume in order to recover the dignity and representativity of a ‘public building’, in contrast with the aesthetic ideal presiding over the conception of shopping centres, although the dimension of such projects cannot be compared to each other.
Ladderstile House - ThreefoldArchitects
Designed by ThreefoldArchitects, the Ladderstile House, an eco-friendly large residence in Richmond Park, London, is arranged around an internally landscape courtyard. The home’s volumes open to external areas creating a unified residence with the exterior and interior complimenting each other.“The volumes are arranged on the site to exploit natural light throughout day. The plan sets up a central landscaped courtyard with a series of satellite courtyards spread around the site, to create a diverse range of connections to different external rooms, and views through and in between the building, into spaces beyond, through the glazing, the perforated steel and timber screens,” explained the architects.
A77 Architects Fashion Home From Demolition Materials
Argentinean architects Gustavo Dieguez and Lucas Gilardi of Estudio a77 transformed an existing 1950s house on a small lot in an upscale neighborhood of Buenos Aires into an innovative eco-friendly dwelling. Constructed from recycled and reclaimed materials, this ‘demolition house’ turns trash into a treasured abode. Using approximately 50 meters of recycled highway guard rails from the General Paz (a highway surrounding Buenos Aires) and 300 meters of discarded metal profiles, wood, iron doors and windows found in scrap yards, Dieguez and Gilardi rework demolition materials into fully functioning structural elements.
House in Wakaura by Archivi Architects & Associates
The site is in the residential quarter that extends to the foot in the [Mt. Akibasan] park located in the east part of the Wakaura bay, Wakayama City. (Wakaura bay: It is one of the eminent scenic sites also in Japan.) In this park, it is assumed that it enjoyed that people in neighboring districts gather for a long time.The shape of site is transformed into the gibbosity. A settled residence space locates it in this projecting part. It becomes possible for a big garden to appear at the center of a narrow site in doing so, and to supply to both residence spaces as a garden that can be opposite to green, light, and the style of nature.
WISA Wooden Design Hotel by Pieta-Linda Auttila, Helsinki, Finland
The WISA Wooden Design hotel is an architectural gem of wood situated in the maritime heart of Helsinki. The work was designed by interior architect Pieta-Linda Auttila. She hopes to spark interest in wood and highlight its role in building and design. The purpose of the intensive design session was to inspire competitors to boldly look for experimental shapes. The objective of the competition was to produce an iconic creation that expresses strong vision and the flight of a free spirit. This sculptural landmark would be Helsinki’s equivalent of the Little Mermaid – a sight that attracts architects, designers and the general public alike. Only Finnish wood in its various forms could be used in the competition proposal.
BA_LIK by Vallo Sadovsky Architects
Slovakian architects Vallo Sadovsky have created a flexible pavilion for a public square in Bratislava. BA_LIK pavilion designed by Vallo Sadovsky Architects is set in one of the Bratislava’s historical squares. It is one of the projects of City Interventions, their long running initiative which invites young architects to propose feasible architectural solutions to various problems and neglected spaces in Bratislava, with the hope that, within an urban context, small changes can create big effects.
Carred d’Etoiles - A Prefab Under the Stars
If you’re tired of boring ho-hum hotels and looking for a new sort of vacation experience, look into these cute little prefabs accommodations by Carre d’Etoiles, based in France. The cube-shaped mini prefab is designed to be a new way to ‘get away from it all,’ and each comes complete with a transparent dome and a telescope to take advantage of a starry night sky. Inside, the compact accommodation includes sleeping for 4 and all the amenities you might need for your vacation. The environmentally-sensitive cabin is easily transported and can be dropped anywhere to maximize views and night-time star viewing sessions.
Spur Lane House - SPG Architects
This 6,000 square foot vacation home is located in the high desert of central Idaho. A 5-Bedroom house with a loft-like living space, it provides a sophisticated and relaxing year-round retreat for its New York City owners. Aluminum fenestration throughout the fir-sided, steel-framed and poured-in-place concrete structure carefully frames the picturesque and dramatic landscape of Sun Valley. The interior furnishings and architectural form of the structure are expressed in a unified luminous palette of materials that provide a harmonious environment for living. The man-made form maintains a strong presence in the rugged landscape, while the warmth of the interior materials link the house back to the natural environment.
Biochemistry Center - Hawkins Brown
Oxford University’s science center was way behind the times. Although the center was equipped with state of the art technology and some of the brightest minds, its fragmented and independent research areas made any attempt at interaction between scientists impossible. Working off academic J Rogers Hollingsworth’s theory that when scientists can frequently converse and exchange ideas, major breakthroughs are bound to happen, Hawkins Brown’s new biochemistry building is a step in the right direction for Oxford.More about the new Biochemistry facility after the break.The new design rids the department of the unnecessary and unproductive separate buildings as it gathers all post-graduates of the research department in one structure. Although, due to the project’s size, the design will be realized in two parts, when the complex is complete it will serve around 800 lecturers, researchers and students in 12,000sq m.Although it is important to have one building unite the department, the building’s massive size was taking away any public outdoor space around the center. To combat this, Hawkins Brown cut a corner out of the plan to “clearly express the larger public function of this interim front entrance”.The building is centered around the atrium which is designated for the much needed social interaction among scientists. Semi-public write-up spaces and meeting rooms are formed around the atrium and the laboratories are arranged around the perimeter of the building.
The Royal Norwegian Embassy - Kristin Jarmund Architects
The Norwegian Embassy is built as a freestanding building in the garden of an older villa which previously housed the existing embassy. The old building will soon be demolished to make way for the new Ambassadors residence.The site, in the area of Lalitpur, is roughly 4 acres and sits high overlooking Kathmandu. The site for the embassy steps steeply down towards the north. The fall of the site, taken from the highest point down to the entrance area and courtyard, is equivalent to one floor level. The courtyard sits a further floor level above the main gates.The site is surrounded by high walls with neighbouring buildings built right up to the property line. On clear days the Himalayan mountain range can be seen to the north.
Beth Sholom - Stanley Saitowitz | Natoma Architects
The site is at the intersection of Park Presidio and Clement Street. An early plan established a pair of religious structures as gateposts along this boulevard. One is the strong presence of the neo-classical Christian Science Church. The other is congregation Beth Sholom.A plinth is established. This contains the daily chapel, meditation space, library, offices and meeting rooms. On this plinth two buildings are placed forming a courtyard. One is the masonry sanctuary, a vessel floating in air, the other a radiant cube housing the social hall.
Klein Dytham Architecture at Gallery MA
Presented by Gallery MA, Japan’s most important architecture gallery, this exhibition was conceived around the theme of the number twenty. Twenty is a special number for KDa. Not only is it their twentieth year in Japan, the 20 slides and 20 seconds format of Pecha Kucha Night has taken it around the world, and it is also the number of years between the rebuilding of the shrine at Ise. Most importantly, it represents ’seijinshiki’ or ‘coming of age’ in Japan.
House Zafiro by Francisco J. del Corral del Campo
This semi-detached house by spanish architect Francisco J. del Corral del Campo in Huetor- Vega, Granada, Spain has been recently completed.Living spaces open to an enclose garden which contains the sound of the water on a pond. Thus, communal spaces are placed in continuity under the different volumes which seems “floating”.
Daycare Centre Felsoord by Möhn + Bouman Architects
The project concerns the extension and renovation of an existing daycare centre for mentally disabled, situated in a natural wetland area near Delft, the Netherlands.The limitations of the patients make the sensoric / tactile quality of the building a key issue. Their emotional condition as well as their abillity for orientation are greatly determined by the building. The extension is laid out towards the garden as a natural shape and is cladded with thatch. The facades of the existing part could not be cladded with thatch but are treated in two different ways. Facades facing the public space are clad with silk-screened glass, based on a manipulated image of a thatch roof. The adjacent facades can only be perceived in perspective and are covered with a grid of thermally treated pinewood. This grid reacts on the forms of the thatch facade and is continued over the glass parts the extension, uniting old and new. Finally, a new central entrance area is introduced. Here, the thatch-facade as well as the pine-wood facades are extended into the interior, ending in the form of a huge sky-light hovering over the reception desk.
Summer House Vestfold 2 - JVA
The Summer house is located on the coast of Vestfold in the southern part of Norway.The house replaces an older building at the site. To get the planning permit, the project had to be well adjusted to the terrain, both in terms of shape, scale, material and color.The house and terraces are partly built upon existing stone walls, the parts of the walls which are new are made of stones from the blasting at the site.The low elongated volume is cut into to allow for wind shielded outdoor areas, embraced by the house itself. These cuts also bring down the scale of the building, and together with the local variations of the section, make the building relate to the surrounding cliff formations.
Ferrari Factory Store - Massimo Iosa Ghini
Ferrari Factory Store of Serravalle Scrivia, entirely designed by Iosa Ghini Associates, is located outside McArthur Glen Outlet in Serravalle Scrivia. For the first time in the history of Ferrari Stores an entire building has been designed to accommodate the store. The building enjoys a privileged position as one of the first structures of the Outlet visible from the main parking area and access roads, for this reason it was designed with an exterior that immediately identifies it at ‘Ferrari space’.
Community Center in Zimmern - Ecker Architekten
Built to house cultural events in a town with active club membership, this hall also hosts sporting events and seasonal festivals. A composite use required flexibility, durability, and safety. Seating 500, the project houses a youth club, offices for local officials, and the town doctor. The sectional resolution of the entrance at street level and the main hall four metres below, generates the space. A broad corridor provides access to public facilities, and provides an overview of activities taking place in the hall.Stairs terminate both ends of this tribune, connecting the upper and lower levels. Food service, storage, green rooms and mechanical areas are housed beneath the entrance block. Code requires that these rooms receive daylight and fresh air. Concrete sewer culverts mounted at 45 degrees to the foundation walls fulfill environmental requirements and lend a dramatic character to the streetscape. These light cannons are lit for events, signaling activities to the community.
AE16 - Imitation Wood Grain Panels
The use of wood in architecture is typically of two broad categories: solid and veneer. The former is prevalent where trees are, such as Scandinavia and countries in tropical climates. The latter requires industrial processes and is used for flooring and other applications in the United States and elsewhere. One big difference between these two is that veneer is focused solely on the surface and its appearance, since the ultra-thin wood ply is adhered to a plywood, MDF or other base. Veneer exudes the warmth of wood without the depth, cost and durability of solid woods.
Camouflage House - A Greenhouse Residence
Architect Hiroshi Iguchi doesn’t believe that greenhouses are only for plants. That’s why he created the Camouflage House, and although the structure provides shelter for people, the architect incorporated an interior garden planted with trees that poke through the ceiling. The home resonates a minimalism expected of a Japanese home with an interior that offers a sleek combination of woods and paper screens that soften the aesthetic of the metal used to construct the greenhouse walls. Giving the home a slanted glass roof, Iguchi had to be creative and resourceful with the interior in order to avoid creating leftover, unused space. The home was split into two levels. The first level is occupied by the living spaces, including the kitchen and dining area — and even a recessed seating area surrounded by a rock garden of sorts. Stairs partially hidden by a screen of vertical slates lead up to the flat and open second level providing a perfect flexible space for lounging and looking up towards the sky.
Parrish Art Museum by Herzog & de Meuron
Architects Herzog & de Meuron have designed a new museum building for the Parrish Art Museum in Southampton, New York, USA.The Parrish Art Museum today unveiled a re-conceptualized design for its new museum, to be constructed on the 14-acre site the Parrish acquired in Water Mill. Herzog & de Meuron’s design embodies responsiveness to the indigenous landscape, an emphasis on the natural northern light and a dialogue with the local architecture of the East End, especially the many artists’ studios in the area. The proposed design, which has received the unanimous support of the Parrish’s Board of Trustees, is now under review by the Planning Board of the Town of Southampton.
Z-house by Hohyun Park and Hyunjoo Kim
Korean architects Hohyun Park and Hyunjoo Kim have completed Z-House, a residence in Gwangju Si near Seoul.Situated at the top of a steep hill, the building is surrounded by woods to the west and has views across the surrounding mountains to the south.The Z-shaped roof is made of black zinc and wraps around the upper level of the house.The upper level is clad in red cedar wood in contrast to the lower level which is finished in basalt stone.In composition of space, relationship among programs and circulation are played important role.Ground level, which is divided by kitchen/Dining and living area and upper level, which is divided by children rooms and master zone are crossing at division area.
Restaurant Bond Berlin - Axel Schäfer of BERLINRODEO
The restaurant is designed to echo the glamorous style of the Bond films from the 60’s and 70’s, but with a modern sensibility that brings it up to date. Specially designed interior components (abstract ornamentation that evoke the movies themselves) divide the restaurant into different zones.
The centerpiece is a golden-lit bar with an opposing stylish wine shelf, both of which were created especially for the restaurant. The smoking lounge, located in the rear, is conceived as a communicative element and is equipped with an bio-ethanol fireplace.Various lighting moods and intensities are made possible by a computer-controlled LED system, which is hidden behind espionage mirrors. An additional highlight is the floor-to-ceiling graffiti on the theme of BOND by Berlin artists M: M. The predominant color spectrum ranges from black to gold to rosewood, whilst unique elements, such as smoked glass, enrich the design.
Floating House by Hyunjoon Yoo
The given land has beautiful scenery facing the Bukhan River in the north. In the meanwhile, lots of restaurants and motels are seen in the south and decadent neon signs are seen from here to here creating visual pollution.The clients are a couple in their fifties and sixties who run an elegant Korean restaurant which was built in a traditional Korean style. They wanted to build a house for them in the given land about five minutes away from the restaurant.They wanted to overlook the river from a high level, at the height of the third floor. His close Feng Shui specialist had advised them not to make a door facing east and not to let people live in the southwest.
Kimber Modern Bed and Breakfast
While in Austin recently, I spent a couple of nights at a beautifully designed new hotel called the Kimber Modern, located in the happening SOCO area, just a short hop, skip and sideways roll to the bustling hive of restaurants and cafes along South Congress. The hotel features more than a few twists, including stunningly elegant and contemporary architecture with subtle splashes of color to break up the overall white-walled minimalism. Clever design touches, such as communal hammocks made from car belts and a giant tank churning liters of water for a calming, almost Zen-like effect, add to the atmosphere too.
Architecture Office - bad architects group
A former storage in contiguity to Innsbruck’s nightclub district at the ground level of a house built in the 1970s has been transformed into an architecture office. in this socio-cultural neighborhood of alternative culture clubs, music bars, and nightclubs as well as homeless and refugees care-centers, the ground-level shop-office allows bad architects group to participate passively at the city live while working long hours, quasi as passive flaneur. through innovative office design the office becomes a stage, and the lightened sliding door the stage design and eye-catcher.
FFAT House - Arquitectos Anónimos
The project came about after consideration given to the concept of a small house, and we have tried since the beginning to involve ‘reality’ as one of the decisive factors in this work. It indeed helped to reveal the project. In that sense, two criteria led to the final solution: on the one hand, by using the urban plan statutory regulations restricting the perimeter and the possible location of the building; and on the other hand by manipulation of the interior space in relation with the neighboring buildings.
Goldstone Residence in Georgia by Dencity Design
Larry Goldstode had a simple program. He wanted a view from every room, and he wanted it to be open , with lots of glass. And he wanted it to have a quiet backyard. But he didn´t a scultural , stark thing; it needed to be warmer and softer. Larry was very specific about what he wanted. He had pages and pages of things he had researched. And he said, “Whatever you do, there can´t be any white!”
ShowCase - Private Library and Writing Studio
This building was commissioned as a library and writing studio for a critic and historian. It is located on Long Island, about two hours drive east of New York City. The site is adjacent to the client’s home, and is approached on foot through a stand of trees. There is no drive or path. The library sits at the threshold of an open field and a wood. A tidal stream is visible through the woods, at the rear of the site.The building was conceived as a simple structure with a mutable presence in the landscape. It maps a path from the open field, through a doorway at the edge of the woods, to a light filled space set in the tree canopy.
LALALA Arthotel in Sopot
An original reshuffle of styles and forms, of wine, wine and wine; genuinely smiling and imaginative service, informal vibe and a unique, not only as for Tricity, arthotel with rooms created by artists. In short – a hybrid, a place for mavericks who look for a charming, airy space, infiltrating calmly into their bloodstreams, pulsing delicately. Before your eyes there appears a tenement with a wooden patio, a little idyllic garden and a hammock, slightly out of the way, where time flows in another rythm.
Musée Hergé by Atelier Christian de Portzamparc
A museum dedicated to Belgian artist and Tintin author Hergé, designed by Atelier Christian de Portzamparc, opened earlier this month in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.An elongated prism floats in the forest while a footbridge connects it to the city. Vast bay windows seem to suggest comic strips spaces, while the prism offers a colorful oneiric and fancied hall.This large reception area accommodates the four exhibition volumes also linked with each other via footbridges.The museum features permanent and temporary exhibition spaces, a video projection venue, cafeteria, shops and studios.
ZMS Schwandorf Administration Building by Archimedialab
The task to design a new administration building, reorganize the power station compound and create a new noise protection barrier gave us the chance to dissolve the dichotomy of landscape and building to realize the deconstruction of those categories into one designed environment, to be experienced in a dynamic and curious fashion:450m long and up to 13m high, the central part of a noise protection wall with a 45 degree incline simultaneously constitutes our new administration building for over 140 m. The superimposition of building and earth wall allows us to explore and experience the landscape of this entire ensemble on various levels.
The Romanticism Shop in Hangzhou, China by SAKO Architects
Romanticism is a women’s clothing brand with about 500 stores in China. Japanese architects Keiichiro Sako and Takeshi Ishizaka of SAKO Architects, have now designed a few locations for the brand in the city of Hangzhou.In an interview with movingcities.org, Keiichiro Sako has described the design:”The client asked me for a design that no one could copy. There were no other requests. My design style is that if a client has a requirement, I try to get a grip on his thinking and bring it further. As there were no requirements, I questioned the concept of the boutique, the clothes and the relationship between body and space. In the end I designed an organic net winding through the space.Clothes are our second skin, space a third skin, and my design is positioned in between the clothes and space. It’s like a piece of furniture that you can hang clothes on and it changes its shape into partition, counter, chair, furniture as well as railing.”I love that it’s all white and being inside must feel like your within a nest of some sort. I don’t know if it would make me want to buy more cloths, but I sure would feel like I’m in another world.
Sydney Opera House Lights Up Against Global Warming
The latest art installation found in Sydney, Australia is taking a decidedly more different approach in making a statement against global warming. Instead of asking people to turn off their lights, or rallying a large number of people to protest on the steps of the parliament house, Brian Eno, a music producer, is curating the inaugural Luminous Festival whose main attraction will doing the opposite of what you’d expect: Lighting up the Opera House.
Sansaburu Kindegarten by VAUMM
Settled down on north and west side, the building opens towards the south and south-east, the most open and furthest direction from the walls, batters and staircases that give shape to the park.The diagram of arrangement works out in both floors, the entrance from north face of site and from there, the different elements are organized in two arms, hugging the court.The classrooms are thought to catch the sunrise, within the timetable of the nursery school. The inside of the building is thought to children´s scale. Corridors´ and classrooms´natural light is through the windows at ground level, letting to admire the outside.The internal cladding colours are warm and alive, and they give the nursery school a ludic character, that goes beyond the interior through a random arrangement of spaces in façade and the use of colour in the balcony towards Sansaburu Street and entrances of building.
Mercabarna Flor Market - WMA
Mercabarna has opened the new building for the flower market Mercabarna-Flor, an innovative market for flower, plant and accessory wholesalers. The market aims to become one of the principal markets in Catalonia and the rest of Spain.
The project of the market maintains in its exterior façade the archetypical image of traditional markets, in which the roof turns into the real protagonist, like an icon of public architecture. The roof of the new market consists of a combination of folds between the floor, the wall and the roof, dissolving those elements to create entrances, loading zones or protected areas around the entire perimeter of the building. Its analogy with a shell gives the building an organic character that is associated with the activity and movement that is happening on the inside.
La Estancia Chapel - Bunker Arquitectura
La Estancia Wedding Gardens are located in the town of Cuernavaca, an hour drive south of Mexico City. The gardens were conceived in a traditional mexican baroque colonial style but a chapel was never included in the program, so all previous weddings took place under a light canvas canopy roof. It was when one of Bunker´s associates decided to marry in these gardens that it was made known to us the client had been toying for some time with the idea of building the chapel. When he found out a young architect was getting married in his garden the commission to design and build the chapel was granted for what we thought was an almost ridiculous caprice: the client thought very romantic the idea of an architect designing the chapel he would get married in. That was the last thing he found romantic in the endless subsequent discussions that followed.
Hwaseong Sports Complex by DRDS
Los Angeles architects DRDS have designed a sports complex for the Hyundai-Samsung Consortium in Hwaseong, Korea.DRDS in collaboration with Junglim, DMP, Haenglim and A&U have designed the Hwaseong Sports Complex for Hyundai/Samsung Consortium located in Hwaseong, Korea. It is scheduled to open in 2010, including a 35,000 seat soccer, 5000 seat arena and 2000 seat practice field. Stadiums have significant impact on cities because of their size. We have created a harmonious and fluid design that speaks to the civic aspect of sports architecture, one in which the local community can take great pride in. The building geometry is minimal, creating a sense of abstract artistry that is individual. The design merges multiple complex programs into a singular vision that is bold. The final composition, with its undulating geometry (emulating the forces of nature), is reminiscent of mountains, rivers and cloud forms. The building aligns Hwaseong beside other great cities by providing an exciting civic landmark.
Deloitte Consulting - Mackay & Partners
It’s not simply a coincidence that visiting the new London headquarters of global management consultant Deloitte Consulting is like checking into five-star boutique accommodation. The spectacular workplace, designed by Mackay + Partners, is intended to be used just like a hotel.
Only the administration and support staff of Deloitte Consulting are based permanently in the building, Athene Place on London’s Shoe Lane. All consultants, managers and partners have roving briefs, and are often based at clients’ offices, or at Braxton’s other sites in the UK or overseas. Yet everyone needs to make use of the London base, for individual work, meetings or group projects.The results, arranged over five floors of a 14,000 sq m building designed by architect EPR, are astounding. ‘The design language is light and bright. Colour, combined with natural elements such as timber and stone, plus the use of strong graphics, together lend the interior a calm and contemporary feel,’ explains Mackay + Partners’, senior designer Gavin Harris.
Uniqlo Megastore - Curiosity
Curiosity has completed the design of the Uniqlo Megastore that has opened near Shinjuku station in Tokyo. The new design is strongly influenced by the Tokyo urban landscape and the large entrance, marked with three display towers, recreates a mini-Shinjuku city. As the lighting floor wraps the towers in a glow of light that illuminates the surrounding streets, the shop becomes an active element of the street: attractive, reliable, and secure. The new Uniqlo Megastore adds a civic dimension to its commercial purpose.
New Acropolis Museum by Bernard Tschumi Architects
New Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece, designed by Bernard Tschumi Architects will open in June.The museum will provide a permanent house to archaeological treasures from the Acropolis. Top image: main entrance lobby. Photo by Nikos Daniilidis. Above: exterior. Photo by Christian Richters.Glass walls will allow exhibits to be viewed in natural light, as they would have been seen in ancient times. Above: view from the archaeological excavations, looking up to the ground level. Photo by Christian Richters.
HSH architects - residential containers
For the project they added containers to the rooftops of existing buildings. The containers - space boxes consist of rooms, restrooms and technical facilities. There are bedrooms and cloakrooms placed in the rest of the original attic space. It is possible to close the inserted boxes using the folding walls in the interior and create compact volumes this way. Large openings have been cut into the walls that let one look outside, but can also remain shut. All structures have been built using common building technologies and materials (timber, glass, metal, plasterboard). To emphasize the diference, the original roof structure has been kept rough and no surface treatment has been done. The newly inserted components are clad in titanzinc sheets or painted in color.
GIBO Showroom - A-cero
Spain based architect A-cero has designed a contemporary GIBO showroom in Madrid, Spain. The use of contemporary geometrical form to shape the building facade with the big display windows is the feature of this project.Purity, force, expressiveness; starting from an old construction that has already been reformed previously, we face a 5-storey colossus endowed with life and functionality. An initial approximation to the building suggests to us a volumetric break-up that shapes the façade, a hollowing out that extracts an idea for a composition repeated in the interior.
Sou Fujimoto’s Wooden House
There are no categorization of floors, walls, and ceilings here. A locality that was thought as a floor transforms into chairs, ceilings, and walls from different perspectives. Floor levels are relative and people reinterpret the spatiality according to where they are. People are three-dimensionally distributed in space and will experience new sensations of depths. Spaces are not divided but is rather produced as a chance occurrence within fusing elements. Inhabitants discover various functions within those undulations. It is a place akin to nebulous landscape.
Ig Centre - Atelje Desman & Gregorc+Vrhovec
The new Civic Centre Ig creates a lively and bustling centre of the community and makes it possible to do most daily errands in one place while meeting fellow village people. The design is based on the morphology of the village. It’s important to protect and complement the characteristically built village core, and to maintain a favourable ratio between the building density and the public space. Two buildings of different height connected by a bridge follow the street line and form a small entrance square with a lime tree. A passageway between the two buildings leads to the back premises where a green square is planed with a footpath leading further towards the municipal building and the church.
Formosa 1140 by Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects
Formosa 1140 by Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects (LOHA) is a new eleven-unit housing project in West Hollywood, California. The facade is clad in red, metal panels that provide shade for the windows and separate the circulation of residents from the public domain.The building is located on one side of the site in order to accommodate a park, open to the public, on the remainder.Each apartment has a view over the park and makes use of cross-ventilation.“This project presents a challenging but influential opportunity in regards to the creation and inclusion of an urban park in a private development,” say the architects.
New Ingo Maurer showroom
Lighting designer Ingo Maurer has opened a new showroom in Munich, Germany.The space was Maurer’s factory from 1973 to 2006, when production moved to Schwabing on the outskirts of Munich. The new showroom will provide a permanent showcase for Maurer’s entire lighting collection.Prior to the renovation of this new space his lamps had been manufactured since 1973 at the Kaiserstrasse location, and now Ingo Maurer has the chance to use the 700m2 (7500 sq ft) space to exhibit his work in the way he would like people to experience it.
Mestizo Restaurant - Smiljan Radic
This Project won a public competition convoked by the Municipality of Vitacura in Santiago in 2005 for a restaurant in Las Américas Park. The restaurant is sited at the northeast end of the park - a work by architect TeodoroFernández that is still under construction - and occupies a corner opposite some extraordinary water gardens stuck between a lookout hill and the pavement skirting the Bicentenario Avenue.The aim was to create a strange sort of pavilion, a folly like those seemingly improvised ones in old parks: the Chinese pavilion, or the Japanese or the Greek, the birdhouse, and so on.
Mixcoac House - FRENTE + PRODUCTORA
The project consisted of the demolition of an old building (preserving only its streetfront facade) and the design of a new house. In order to create an impression of spaciousness on the small lot, the ground floor was devided lengthwise and the construction concentrated on one side, taking the fullest possible advantage of the depth of the lot for the garden.
The upper floor consists of a volume turned at an angle to break up the orthogonal character of the design. Scale and perspective were manipulated by inclining planes, treating textures, and varying the window modules to achieve effects that underline the initial idea. The house has a living- and dining room, bedroom, study, kitchen, and bathroom on the ground floor, and a master bedroom, closet, bathroom, and terrace are on the upper level.
Peabody Essex Museum
Pabellón Ave Maria entrance hall by RaichdelRio
Barcelona architects RaichdelRio have designed security desks and a waiting area in a historic former hospital in Barcelona, Spain.“The entrance was very narrow and there was a circulation conflict: messengers had to access the building, crossing the security line, to handle the documents,” explains Miquel Del Rio of RaichdelRio.“The first decision was to create a bigger public space and bring the register to the outside, creating an entrance space in the scale of the building and solving the circulation conflicts.”
Ningbo Historic Museum - Wang Shu, Amateur Architecture Studio
The Ningbo Historic Museum designed by Wang Shu, Amateur Architecture Studio- The project is located at the former “Bund” in Ningbo. The whole area undergoes a functional reconstruction, because the former harbor-facilities have been moved to a new place. As part of an overall protection-plan of the historic buildings in the area, the waiting room of this former port building was reconstructed into a large museum for contemporary art by the participation of architects and the promotion of the Amateur Studio. It was considered to protect the old building, which was the legacy of the 1980s; however, as the reconstruction went on, it was discovered that after several reconstructions, the building had been seriously destroyed and could not suit for the latest architectural regulations in China. Thus the architects decided to demolish the whole building, except a beacon tower. The special pattern of the interior, which has been a part of the city’s shared memory, was kept. The building was a place to set out for Shanghai or for the holy land of Buddhism, the pilgrim island of Putuoshan, by ship.
House C
House C has been designed by hiroshi nakamura and NAP architects. located in minamiboso, japan, the house is situated between mountains and the sea, the roof is insulated on the outside by using soil as a protective layer and cladding, where seeds of grass have been sown to prevent runoff. to prevent salt damage of the outer walls the reinforced concrete structure of the house has been coated.
Casa Viguet By Ndc Arquitectura
Situated in Pilar – Buenos Aires, surrounded by a natural area that composes the landscape of the house. It is situated on a central position of a 1500m2 site generating multiple gardens towards where the house looks at. Casa Viguet is an intentional and minimum single room house where uses hybridize and link with the exterior. Considering functions, execution, aesthetics and timing premolded concrete elements where chosen to solve the construction of the house. The skin serves as security wall and as light and air vain creating light and shade, transparency and opacity following the time of day and seasons.
Neues Museum by David Chipperfield Architects and Julian Harrap Architects
David Chipperfield Architects and Julian Harrap Architects have completed the renovation of the Neues Museum in Berlin, Germany. The 20,500 square metre building was open to the public in October last year and will house Egyptian artifacts. Located on Museum Island, the museum was originally completed in 1849 but was bombed during the Second World War and has lain derelict since. “Given this evocative yet inaccessible space, the restoration of the Neues Museum follows a principle of conservation rather than reconstruction,” explain David Chipperfield Architects, who were commissioned to masterplan the area twelve years ago.
Margaret Howell store by Pentagram
A new store designed by architect William Russell of Pentagram for clothing designer Margaret Howell is situate in Paris. A continuous rail displays the clothing alongside objects and furniture chosen by Howell to be sold in the store, including furniture pieces from British furniture manufacturers Ercol and lighting from Anglepoise. Materials include oak, stained wooden floorboards, concrete and mild steel.The design will be applied to an existing store in Tokyo, then extended across all Howell’s shops in Japan.
LEGO Group’s Development Department - Bosch & Fjord
Bosch & Fjord have designed a space for LEGO Group’s Development Department in Billund that is both visually and socially stimulating for its employees and visitors. As a multinational workplace, cooperation and knowledge sharing is essential for the employees and thus the interior design of their department. A reception area, café and group of meeting rooms were designed to meet these needs. Unlike most corporate offices, the reception area and the café are linked together in one place – and also one table! Whilst employees are drinking coffee or informally meeting, visitors are being welcomed by a receptionist in the same location, creating a dynamic and active social space.
Mameg + Maison Martin Margiela - Johnston Marklee & Associates
The two fashion boutiques Mameg and Maison Martin Margiela sit side-by-side, in a single building. Their characters are different. Whereas Mameg creates an atmosphere of domesticity and comfort, Maison Martin Margiela creates a jarring world of collage and reflection. That the two boutiques, linked by a reflected-gold corridor, are so close physically and so distinct atmospherically prompted a simple division. With Maison Martin Margiela opening onto the street and Mameg oriented towards a private garden on the alley side, an existing wooden bow truss roof system acts as the datum. A program bar containing ‘back-of-house’ program frees up the rest of the space. Diverse design vocabularies define the two boutiques.
Ecoms House
Riken Yamamoto’s Ecoms House exemplifies a new kind of home economics. Constructed out of aluminum panels, this diminutive 24-foot by 24-foot box demonstrates how economy in size and fabrication can lead to surplus in style and coolness. A prototype residence for SUS Corporation, a manufacturer of aluminum precision machine parts and furniture, this home was initially an experiment to create something out of aluminum that could not be expressed with steel. The exterior is inspired by the traditional use of tatami mats in Japanese homes — each of the four sides featuring transparent, opaque, and glass-covered aluminum lattice panels.
The Yorkshire Diamond Pavilion by Various Architects
Norwegian practice Various Architects have sent us these images of their design for a mobile pavilion, one of three finalists in a competition organised by Yorkshire Forward.The project is constructed from a network of inflatable tubes that are arranged in a pattern derived from the atomic structure of diamonds. The winning pavilion will be located at various sites in Yorkshire and Humberside, UK, and used for small gatherings or large events such as film screenings or concerts.
Pinnacles Interpretive Centre - Woodhead Architects
Woodhead Architects designed this building over a beautiful landscape in Western Australia, integrated with it through the use of wood. The exterior spaces offer a shaded place to contemplate this landscape.The ritual burning of the Pinnacles Interpretive Centre in Western Australia, as part of its design and building process underscores the unique role of fire both culturally and environmentally in Australia.This incredibly evocative gesture by Woodhead and project architect for the Centre, John Nichols, introduces this specific practice into contemporary Australian architecture.
Chandeliers by John Harrington Design
John Harrington Design has some great chandeliers, including this Cut Glass Chandelier that looks like a plethora of glasses falling down from the ceiling. Cut Glasses Chandelier has its roots in the past but its heart in the present. Available as a single drop of 150 glasses (150+1) or double drop of 300 glasses (the +1 refers to John himself being the final craftsman who has brought together generations of others to create a truly unique work).
LEGO Chandelier
The desire for a focal piece in the hotel bedroom that would sit comfortably in the Victorian building but would give the youth and vigor of a contemporary clientele gave rise to the Lego Chandelier.
Haus Elise by Synn Architekten
The structures with differently sloped roofs each have space for an area of life: living room with adjoining kitchen and nursery in the EC and the top said bedroom. The cubes are connected via a backbone lifted from the adjacent levels, thus forming a distinct boundary with the garden - it is to become an urban building, surrounded by the garden as a deeper level, will be aware to enter.
Unique angle sensitive mirror!
The very first glimpse at the mirror pictured above kept me wondered as to why would one design the product that’s already on the market shelves but its introduction coerced me to share it with y’all. Tetsuo Kondo Architects Mirror is not something from run of the mill. Unique for the reason that unlike usual mirrors available today if you look at it from anywhere besides straight from the front, you’ll see a cloudy image and not the clear reflection! The mirror’s appearance alters, depending on your viewing angle and distance. This is all because a special film is laid over the glass while the frame is covered in embossed paper. So, if you wanna see the clear reflection of yourself, you have to stand directly in front of it.
Hanover House - Kraus Schoenberg Architects
Hanover House by Kraus Schoenberg Architects is the refurbishment and extension project on the rooftop of a Victorian warehouse building located in Bradford, United Kingdom. Hanover House is located in Bradford’s Little Germany, a conservation area of great historical interest and beauty. The unique character of the area is created by the uniformity of buildings, which date from the 19th century. The sculptural aspect of the roof silhouette is no mere architectural fancy, but reflects the roofscape of the surrounding buildings and has been used to form the living spaces.
Northbeach Residence on San Juan Islands - USA by Heliotrope Architects (US)
The Seattle based Heliotrope Architects realised residence in their home state Washington. This residence is located on a northwesterly oriented beach fronting the Strait of Georgia. The site includes many second-growth douglas firs, a beech grove and a grassy meadow with good solar exposure. For over a thousand years this site was a summer camp location for the Lummi Indians, and due to its archeological significance no footing excavation could take place on the site. Further, its location in a federally designated flood plain required that the structure be raised off the ground several feet. The design brief called for a very low-impact, easy to maintain summer home that provides necessary programmatic functions with minimum distractions from the land and the view.
Can Framis Museum - Jordi Badia of BAAS architects
Spanish architect Jordi Badia, founder of BAAS architects has designed the Can Framis Museum located in the 22@ District, Barcelona. The project consists in restoring the two current factory buildings which are connected by a new linear block. A new courtyard therefore is formed to define an entry plaza to the project.
Hilltop Residence, California by Bruce Bolander
Architect comes from Malibu, California is Bruce Bolander. He has tried to design a Residence is located in the hilltop. The building consists of two floors, with wood and stone materials. The second floor was made open, so that residents can see the hill. The building consists of a bedroom, bathroom, lounge, kitchen, spa room. He hoped, residents can enjoy the air around the house.
eHouse - Axelrod Design
Axelrod Design has designed the eHouse which is located in Tel Aviv. The beauty of the eHouse is the marriage of livability and minimalist/Mediterranean design sense. In plan, the house is defined by two axes; one running lengthwise through the main living space and one perpendicular from the main entrance to the staircase. The longitudinal axis is reflected in the roof plane with a long skylight that runs the entire length of the house. The transverse axis is punctuated with a dramatic front entrance of horizontal wooden slats and cantilevered canopy.
Houses of the Holy
For men of the cloth, architecture has always been one earthly delight they’ve been encouraged to indulge. In Arizona, DeBartolo Architects continues the tradition in a rather unorthodox manner. Jesuit priests have a long history of building in the American Southwest, but nothing they’ve done over the past five centuries looks, or feels, quite like the Mariposa residence in Phoenix, Arizona. The concrete-and-glass compound, built to house priests teaching at a Catholic school in Phoenix, is a far cry from the stuccoed Spanish missions that marked the Jesuits’ earlier forays into desert architecture.
Temple U. Art School Prepares to Move to New Building
Mr. Jimenez, an architecture professor at Rice University, Philadelphia, made a special effort to create spaces for socializing, activities, and art in the 236,000-square-foot building. Among its features are a bright, two-story central corridor that will serve as a busy interior street and a grassy courtyard overlooked by a cafe. The long two-story building has a basement for the photographers’ darkrooms and an “attic” with painting studios.
Villa Paya-Paya by Aboday architects
Architects Aboday have completed a holiday home called Villa Paya-Paya in Bali, Indonesia. The two-storey building is arranged around courtyards and surrounded by water of varying depth, which creates a shallow pond at the entrance, jacuzzi and large swimming pool.The building itself consists of a concrete, box-shaped facade with a separate master bedroom, made using traditional wooden construction and a coconut leaf roof. The site was formerly a papaya plantation and pig farm, situated in a residential area of the island.
Ruta Peregrino by HHF Architects
Located near Guadalajara Mexico, Ruta Peregrino is a pilgrimage trail traversed by over 2 million visitors during Holy Week alone. HHF Architects designed this concrete structure as a rest and service area for pilgrims - one of the many architect designed structures on this path. The simple spiral design has a definite spiritual sense to it - walking upwards towards the heavens. Its nice to see a simple design provide more than just shelter, but also provide inspiration for visitors.
Korkeasaari Zoo by Beckmann - N’Thépé and TN+
French architects Beckmann-N’Thépé and landscape designers TN+ have won a competition to remodel Korkeasaari Zoo in Helsinki, Finland. The proposal involves creating a large glass-domed entrance and animal viewing building on the island zoo, and bringing back polar bears after a 30-year absence. The architectural interventions of the zoological island of Korkeasaari will be concentrated to make it wild and mysterious once more – a park / garden as a place of popular privilege, the nobility of the future city.
A Shining Solar Skyscraper for Shenzen
The Dairy House - Skene Catling de la Peña Architects
The project sits in an 850 acre estate in Somerset. Pragmatically the space was to be re-planned; lean-to sheds removed and an extension added to create a total of four to five bedrooms, three bathrooms, more generous circulation space with rooms of better proportions. The idea was to be discreet with the intervention to appear as a natural extension of the existing structure and to use as many local materials as possible. The result is naturally actuating timber-glass facade.
Live in a Well Rounded Dwelling and Build a Yurt Outside
Yurt is a portable, felt-covered, wood lattice-framed dwelling structure used by the nomads in the steppes of Central Asia for centuries, and it is also a modern dwelling in the west. You can see yurts perched on ocean side clifftops, in horse pastures for riders, and used as outdoor guest houses for those with big yards. To build a yurt the main job is building the foundation, and the rest is simple, as most yurts come in a DIY assembly kit. There are different size yurts, treehouse style yurts, ones with extra windows, and plenty of room to customize.
Casa Wakasa - wHY ARCHITECTURE
Casa Wakasa (wHY ARCHITECTURE), home to a young family of four is located in the suburbs of Osaka, Japan. The house attempts to be both a reflection into contemporary Japan’s family life (sense of family vs. privacy) as well as a solution to balance individual freedom and space with collective activities and time. The basic unit of the house is an amalgam of a room and an outdoor courtyard; each room for each member of the family has an integrated garden as its counterpart. The house design gives emphasis and space to the glass-sided living room, surrounded by open gardens.
Maison NW - Beautiful and Modern Relaxing Space Interior
Maison NW is a modern relaxing space located in near Paris, in the city of Saint-Ouen. This studio house was designed by Nathalie Wolberg-Architecture. The project is using various color of light to create a wonderful wall color tones. Every stuff for this house is really stunning, the furniture, floating staircase, curves staircase with yellow light, and the large hanging net that allows the individual to extract himself from the surrounding environment, and makes the body become gravity-conscious.
Mecanoo’s Sustainable Social Housing in Málaga, Spain
Delft-based firm Mecanoo Architecten recently began construction on a new green public housing project in Málaga, Spain. Sustainability plays an integral part in the construction of the project, which is located in a new development on the outskirts of Málaga called Universidad. The development comprises 170 residences and it was designed with solar paneling to minimize energy use, and alternating heights of five or six stories to allow natural ventilation and natural light to penetrate the interior spaces.
Art Museum Strongoli by Coop Himmelb(l)au
Austrian architects Coop Himmelb(l)au have been commissioned to design the new Art Museum Strongoli in Calabria, Italy. The museum is to be built on top of the Motta Grande overlooking the city. The new Art Museum Strongoli in Calabria is the third COOP HIMMELB(L)AU project in Italy. The museum is not only a cultural center but also understood as a generator for a future development of Calabria, a place for cultural entertainment and recreation. The new museum houses not only flexible exhibition spaces, but also a small “multi-hall” and a panorama restaurant.
SUBU by Johannes Torpe Studios
Danish designer Johannes Torpe has completed work on SUBU, a restaurant in Beijing, China for South Beauty Group. The studio designed all aspects of the restaurant including the furniture, tableware and the dining pods. The concept is brand new and will bring SBG into a new era of restaurant design. The first restaurant is located in one of the finest malls in the new financial district of Beijing, and will share location with the finest brands from around the world. They wanted to create an experience where details are everything, from the food to the tableware, from the lighting to the ambiance, from the music to the uniforms, from the chairs to the toilets.
Eco Olive Oil Factory by Guillermo Hevia Architects
When considering the design of factories, you might expect aesthetic appeal to be the least of the builder’s concerns. Olisur Olive Oil proves that this is certainly not always the case. The company’s office and production facility, designed by Guillermo Hevia Architects and located just south of Santiago, Chile is a stunning and sustainable structure that showcases modern geometric forms and takes advantage of environmentally-friendly heating and cooling techniques. The building’s sustainable features include use of geothermal heating and cooling in the production and oil barrels area, while natural lighting and ventilation are used throughout the offices.
Shanghai Dragon - Futuristic Office by Morphosis
On the western outskirts of Shanghai, China, a dragon is coming to life. Constructed of concrete, steel and glass, the new corporate headquarters of Giant Pharmaceutical Corp looks for all the world like something between a sci-fi battleship landing on a highway, and a steampunk dragon frozen in time. L.A.-based architectural firm Morphosis is focusing on the building’s sustainability as much as its aesthetics, with a green roof, generous use of skylights, and advanced insulation materials like cement-fiberboard paneling and a double-layer, fritted-glass curtain wall.
Olympic House & Park
The Olympic house and park in Nicosia, Cyprus which is functioned for the offices of the Cyprus Olympic Committee and of all the National Athletic Federations, is designed by Armon choros architektonikis. The design for the Olympic House and Park sought to achieve an architectural composition that would give the fullest possible expression to the Olympic ideal. The following three fundamental considerations were addressed and in due course served to frame the proposal: The global dimension inherent in the encouragement and inculcation of the Olympic spirit imbued as it is with ideals such as brotherhood, noble emulation and world peace.The historical dimension of preserving and reviving a venerable institution of great antiquity. The athletic dimension that pursues training of “body and spirit” in equal measure as an essential human activity.
Qui est “in”, Qui est “out” by Yes We Can Architecture
London architects Yes We Can Architecture built a project out of hula hoops last summer. The installation was in the courtyard of the 18th century Hotel d’Aurès music school as part of the Festival des Architectures Vives :In(Side)Out in Montpellier, France. 300 hula hoops were used in the installation, which is called Qui est “in”, Qui est “out” after a song by Serge Gainsbourg. This temporary structure was made of 300 bright green hula hoops connected with plastic clips, imposing its contrasting organic shape inside an 18th century courtyard. It was assembled by a team of 4 people in 2 days.
KARTON ART DESIGN - Cardboard Furniture
Hungarian husband & wife team Edith Szilvasy (formerly an artist) and Andras (Andrew) Balogh (a carpenter) have taken cardboard building to the next level by inventing a system of constructing furniture that uses only cardboard and ordinary paper clips. The development of the system has taken 3 years, but for Karton Art Design, that time has been time well spent. Andras developed a method of folding and clipping the cardboard so that their finished products are as strong as wood and as light as paper — and can be integrated with existing wood products. Karton’s products featured at the fair include: shelving units, chairs, and even a restored hutch.
The Stone Towers by Zaha Hadid Architects
Zaha Hadid Architects have unveiled plans for an office and retail development called The Stone Towers in Cairo, Egypt. Ancient Egyptian stonework incorporates a vast array of patterns and textures that, when illuminated by the intense sunlight of the region, creates animated displays of light and shadow. The effect is powerful, direct and inspiring. The facades on the North and South elevations of each building within Stone Towers adopts a rich vocabulary of alternating protrusions, recesses and voids to enhance the deep reveal shadow lines that accentuate the curvatures of each building within the development and animate the project throughout the day.
National Tecnical Library in Prague - Projektil Architekti
There are more sources of the architectural concept of the building. Firstly there is a spatial context influence which involves the historical urbanistic plans for the whole area as well as its present significance. Secondly the concept is our answer to the idea of the institution and especially to the role of the library in today’s society. The chosen shape and material should resolve one of crucial question of how to be modern and monumental at the same time. And, what is important, the building from the very beginning was formed to be energy saving one and the shape show it clearly.
Wooden Forest Apartment by Ikeda Yukie Architects
Japanese architects Ikeda Yukie have completed Wooden Forest Apartment, a renovation of an old two-storey wooden house in Nakano, Tokyo. The architects have retained and exposed the building’s original wooden columns but wrapped everything else in white, leaving a forest of columns piercing each floor. Originally, the second floor was an old style Japanese dormitory with several walls dividing the floor into tiny rooms. Since then, numerous renovations and extensions were carried out. Immediately prior to our joining the project, the second floor was used as a part of family house - a bit chaotic and still with a scattering of columns, remnants of the old walls.
Art Museum Strongoli by Coop Himmelb(l)au
Austrian architects Coop Himmelb(l)au have been commissioned to design the new Art Museum Strongoli in Calabria, Italy. The museum is to be built on top of the Motta Grande overlooking the city. The new Art Museum Strongoli in Calabria is the third COOP HIMMELB(L)AU project in Italy. The museum is not only a cultural center but also understood as a generator for a future development of Calabria, a place for cultural entertainment and recreation. The new museum houses not only flexible exhibition spaces, but also a small “multi-hall” and a panorama restaurant.
SUBU by Johannes Torpe Studios
Danish designer Johannes Torpe has completed work on SUBU, a restaurant in Beijing, China for South Beauty Group. The studio designed all aspects of the restaurant including the furniture, tableware and the dining pods. The concept is brand new and will bring SBG into a new era of restaurant design. The first restaurant is located in one of the finest malls in the new financial district of Beijing, and will share location with the finest brands from around the world. They wanted to create an experience where details are everything, from the food to the tableware, from the lighting to the ambiance, from the music to the uniforms, from the chairs to the toilets.
Eco Olive Oil Factory by Guillermo Hevia Architects
When considering the design of factories, you might expect aesthetic appeal to be the least of the builder’s concerns. Olisur Olive Oil proves that this is certainly not always the case. The company’s office and production facility, designed by Guillermo Hevia Architects and located just south of Santiago, Chile is a stunning and sustainable structure that showcases modern geometric forms and takes advantage of environmentally-friendly heating and cooling techniques. The building’s sustainable features include use of geothermal heating and cooling in the production and oil barrels area, while natural lighting and ventilation are used throughout the offices.
Shanghai Dragon - Futuristic Office by Morphosis
On the western outskirts of Shanghai, China, a dragon is coming to life. Constructed of concrete, steel and glass, the new corporate headquarters of Giant Pharmaceutical Corp looks for all the world like something between a sci-fi battleship landing on a highway, and a steampunk dragon frozen in time. L.A.-based architectural firm Morphosis is focusing on the building’s sustainability as much as its aesthetics, with a green roof, generous use of skylights, and advanced insulation materials like cement-fiberboard paneling and a double-layer, fritted-glass curtain wall.
Olympic House & Park
The Olympic house and park in Nicosia, Cyprus which is functioned for the offices of the Cyprus Olympic Committee and of all the National Athletic Federations, is designed by Armon choros architektonikis. The design for the Olympic House and Park sought to achieve an architectural composition that would give the fullest possible expression to the Olympic ideal. The following three fundamental considerations were addressed and in due course served to frame the proposal: The global dimension inherent in the encouragement and inculcation of the Olympic spirit imbued as it is with ideals such as brotherhood, noble emulation and world peace.The historical dimension of preserving and reviving a venerable institution of great antiquity. The athletic dimension that pursues training of “body and spirit” in equal measure as an essential human activity.
Qui est “in”, Qui est “out” by Yes We Can Architecture
London architects Yes We Can Architecture built a project out of hula hoops last summer. The installation was in the courtyard of the 18th century Hotel d’Aurès music school as part of the Festival des Architectures Vives :In(Side)Out in Montpellier, France. 300 hula hoops were used in the installation, which is called Qui est “in”, Qui est “out” after a song by Serge Gainsbourg. This temporary structure was made of 300 bright green hula hoops connected with plastic clips, imposing its contrasting organic shape inside an 18th century courtyard. It was assembled by a team of 4 people in 2 days.
KARTON ART DESIGN - Cardboard Furniture
Hungarian husband & wife team Edith Szilvasy (formerly an artist) and Andras (Andrew) Balogh (a carpenter) have taken cardboard building to the next level by inventing a system of constructing furniture that uses only cardboard and ordinary paper clips. The development of the system has taken 3 years, but for Karton Art Design, that time has been time well spent. Andras developed a method of folding and clipping the cardboard so that their finished products are as strong as wood and as light as paper — and can be integrated with existing wood products. Karton’s products featured at the fair include: shelving units, chairs, and even a restored hutch.
The Stone Towers by Zaha Hadid Architects
Zaha Hadid Architects have unveiled plans for an office and retail development called The Stone Towers in Cairo, Egypt. Ancient Egyptian stonework incorporates a vast array of patterns and textures that, when illuminated by the intense sunlight of the region, creates animated displays of light and shadow. The effect is powerful, direct and inspiring. The facades on the North and South elevations of each building within Stone Towers adopts a rich vocabulary of alternating protrusions, recesses and voids to enhance the deep reveal shadow lines that accentuate the curvatures of each building within the development and animate the project throughout the day.
National Tecnical Library in Prague - Projektil Architekti
There are more sources of the architectural concept of the building. Firstly there is a spatial context influence which involves the historical urbanistic plans for the whole area as well as its present significance. Secondly the concept is our answer to the idea of the institution and especially to the role of the library in today’s society. The chosen shape and material should resolve one of crucial question of how to be modern and monumental at the same time. And, what is important, the building from the very beginning was formed to be energy saving one and the shape show it clearly.
Wooden Forest Apartment by Ikeda Yukie Architects
Japanese architects Ikeda Yukie have completed Wooden Forest Apartment, a renovation of an old two-storey wooden house in Nakano, Tokyo. The architects have retained and exposed the building’s original wooden columns but wrapped everything else in white, leaving a forest of columns piercing each floor. Originally, the second floor was an old style Japanese dormitory with several walls dividing the floor into tiny rooms. Since then, numerous renovations and extensions were carried out. Immediately prior to our joining the project, the second floor was used as a part of family house - a bit chaotic and still with a scattering of columns, remnants of the old walls.
House of Vision by FORM - Kouichi Kimura Architects
House of Vision is a private home in Shiga, Japan by FORM/Kouichi Kimura Architects that is designed to shield the client from neighbours. Completed last year, the house features largely blank exterior elevations but has large windows looking onto an enclosed central courtyard. The lot is located at the foot of a hill where the fields and houses are mixed together. The client’s desire was “to live while feeling nature without being bothered by looks from the neighbors”. To make the best use of the lot, the planning was designed to enclose the lot with the trench extended beyond the building, and to provide an interior courtyard as the center.
Chapel in Valleacerón - S-M.A.O. Sancho-Madridejos Architecture Office
Chapel in Valleacerón, designed by Spain-based architect S-M.A.O. Sancho-Madridejos Architecture Office, is featuring the geometrical folds in relation to its surrounding and the spaces. The idea of situating and relating a series of objects in the landscape – Dwelling, Chapel, Hunting pavilion and Guard´s residence – gave the project a dual significance: in addition to the close relationship between landscape, objects and itinerary – between space and objects, each item had to provide a different response with different emphasis, from the most symbolic to the most silent or private.
SHL Architects - Largest public library in Scandinavia
Awarding-winning practice schmidt hammer lassen architects (SHL Architects) has won an international competition to design “Urban Mediaspace”, the largest public library in Scandinavia. The € 228 million scheme, located in Aarhus, Denmark, will become a new visual and cultural focal point for the city whilst pioneering the next generation of library design. Instead of a building focused around books, “Urban Mediaspace” is a hub of social interaction, incorporating interior and exterior recreational spaces for studying, socialising, and relaxing. The building will also have the capacity to host multi-media and cultural events. The building’s distinctive heptagonal-shape design will be a landmark in Aarhus. The library’s offices will have impressive panoramic views over the harbour with steps leading out on to the waterfront.
Hemeroscopium House
The Hemeroscopium House, by Ensamble Studio in Madrid, is a refined combination of heavy infrastructural pieces. The pieces are stacked; the resulting spaces are a house. Most awesome is the pool deck, entirely under what is typically used for highway or parking superstructures: a giant precast beam. The surreal scale of the elements–nothing except the furniture appears people-scale–reminds us of OMA’s work. Yet this is almost post-OMA, in that there is a clear pleasure to living underneath a highway overpass. The deck you walk on is polished and smooth, the pool and furniture are gorgeous, the landscaping mellow. There’s no brutality to this brutalism, only refinement and play. In short a place to live.
Alila Villas Uluwatu Bali by WOHA
With 56 one-bedroom hotel villas and 26 three- or four-bedroom residential villas, the Alila complex is built on a gradual slope that allows each unit an unobstructed view of the cliffs and ocean. Nestled against the edge of a steep limestone drop-off, the largest four-bedroom villas support full-time occupation, while the hotel units lay in a sloped cluster higher up the hill. The three-bedroom villa units are scattered on the highest part of the hillside property. The site plan shows a strong rectilinear design, adjusted for natural site contours to create interesting spaces between villas. WOHA’s lead designer Richard Hassell states that they set out to “play with repetition and difference,” so although the villas are all the same, their differing relations to each other create architectural interest.
A Home Built Around 3 Trees
Trees are often the victim of building construction, so we were excited when Jeremy Levine shared his design for a Eagle Rock renovation and addition — built around three existing trees — in Los Angeles with us. The project included renovating the current home while adding 400 square feet to the existing house. Jeremy’s design for addition not only preserved the existing trees on the site, it integrated them into the design of the home by creating a courtyard to help the owners appreciate the trees’ beauty. Additionally, the home features everything from passive daylighting and evaporative cooling to keep the interior comfortable and solar panels and a green roof to minimize the house’s environmental impact.
Taiwan’s Beautiful Bioshell Center for Disease Control
Inspired by the elegant form of the Nautilus Shell, the Taiwan Center for Disease Control’s BioLab conceals a dangerous riddle within its outer skin. Usually only visible to the naked eye, the structure of the outer skin is laced with geometric patterns that represent the four symbols of the DNA sequence of the dangerous bacteria being studied within. If you’re not in awe of the structure itself, you may catch on to the message that Taiwan is trying to deliver: “Epidemic prevention is a war that we intend to win”. The twin nautilus shell structures are surrounded by a rolling green-roofed complex that provides insulation while blending the project in with its surrounding environment.
Playful Office Building Planned for Amsterdam
A new project in the city of Amsterdam recently received approval: a 22-unit office building designed by Allard Architecture that will use prefabricated concrete “matchboxes.” The office building is fittingly dubbed the Matchbox building, given the segmented quality of the stacked and angled boxes that lend themselves to a facade characterized by large picture windows and units that cantilever out over the sidewalk. The finished look appears playful, modern and creative — perfect for the artistic neighborhood in Amsterdam North. In the center of the building, an atrium garden is open to the floors with bridges spanning the garden to connect the units. This atrium also acts to bring in daylight to the individual units.
Monolab’s Soaring Solar Rotterdam Tower
Monolab is aiming to take solar power to extreme heights by designing their sky-high Rotterdam Tower with a skin of photovoltaic panels. At 450 meters, the Rotterdam Tower design is intended to connect Europe’s largest port to the city by reaching into the vertical landscape. The tower, which has been designated as a mixed-use building, will incorporate public, commercial, and residential spaces. An intricate series of gondolas, which move up, down, and diagonally across the tower will leave passengers with a bit of vertigo while affording them an amazing view of the city.
New Facade for CDL Headquarters - Daniel Statham Architects
The CDL (City Development Land) Headquarters in Singapore created a competition to redesign their existing façade in an effort to attain high international sustainability standards. The winning proposal by London and Madrid based Daniel Statham Architects incorporates a banded façade that creates innovative spaces and responds to environmental factors. Statham Architects’ intents were considered in terms of the construction sequence that would need to occur during a two year period. The logical method was to remove and replace the existing façade, and then restore from the roof downwards.
