Launching in fall 2012, Parsons The New School of Design is offering a new graduate program in urbanism in New York City, the MA Theories of Urban Practice. The 2-year, 36-credit research-oriented program is designed for those who want to transform cities through actionable research, strategic knowledge, and critical theories. In other words, knowledge can transform cities! The program will redefine urbanism and urban design as a field of transformative practice.
They are currently accepting applications on a rolling basis for the academic year, which begins in August. For more information, please visit here.
En Guayaquil la cultura de la regeneración se ha instaurado desde una comprensión holística del concepto patrimonio. Las primeras piezas urbanas en ser concebidas dentro de la estructura urbana para un proyecto de regeneración fueron la red de áreas verdes y parques urbanos, levantando el valor del patrimonio natural para el desarrollo de la ciudad. Años después, el foco del verdadero potencial de transformación urbana se desplaza hacia el frente de agua. El Malecón 2000 se extiende en una obra de 2.5 kilómetros que conecta museos, jardines, muelles y miradores, como una estrategia para consolidar los límites de una serie de barrios y al mismo tiempo construir un hito visible tanto para los guayaquileños como para el resto del mundo. El proyecto revela nuevamente el modo en que el espacio público induce a grandes transformaciones sociales y como de estas depende el éxito de los proyectos.
En el historial de planificación estratégica en Guayaquil, hay un antes y un después de la construcción del Malecón 2000. La obra articula grandes monumentos de la ciudad, museos, jardines, bares y restaurantes, miradores y muelles desde los que se puede abordar embarcaciones para paseos diurnos y nocturnos. A pesar de que a primera vista se reconoce su atractivo formal y la sugestiva experiencia que ofrece, el Malecón busca construir un capital social que le permita exportar una nueva imagen de la ciudad, más segura y renovada.
En los noventa, el alcalde Leon Febres Cordero fue el primero en impulsar los procesos de regeneración de la ciudad, pero sin antes recuperar para los guayaquileños el autoestima por su ciudad. “Guayaquil vive por ti” fue su famoso slogan que dio pie a una seguidilla de intervenciones sobre las preexistencias, desde la regeneración de barrios hasta una estrategia de recolección de basura para cambiar la imagen que se percibe sobre la ciudad. Ya nada queda del Guayaquil que se conoció gris, feo, menos de un metro cuadrado de área verde por habitante, víctima de un penetrador incendio a fines del siglo XIX, puerto estratégico saqueado por los piratas repetidas veces y foco de miseria.
La Fundación
La Fundación Malecón 2000 planifica, administra, financia y mantiene el desarrollo del malecón y otras áreas de Guayaquil que compongan la estructura principal del desarrollo social, cultural y productivo de la ciudad. Para esto, es fundamental hacer partícipe a la ciudadanía en las transformaciones que están ocurriendo en su entorno. En esta línea, su proyecto Manejo Integral de Desechos (MID), capacita y genera conciencia sobre la importancia de la clasificación, recolección y proceso de los residuos, a estudiantes y otros ciudadanos. La idea es trascender los límites de la intervención y generar cambios sociales estructurales que permitan extender sus beneficios a sectores menos privilegiados de la ciudad.
De manera complementaria, el diseño de un aeropuerto internacional, un plan de ordenamiento de tránsito y la implementación de un metrovía han construido una trama de movilidad más conectada, que facilita al turista a recorrer y permanecer, como otra más de las estrategias para revertir la tendencia a ciudad aeropuerto que caracterizó durante décadas a Guayaquil.
Vacíos y Lecciones
Existe un ambiente escéptico frente al poder transformador de las principales estrategias de regeneración en la ciudad. Estas han propulsado nuevas energías para el turismo, pasando de ser una ciudad de paso a una de destino. Muchos reducen esto a la mera construcción de turismo, que no se traduce necesariamente en construcción de ciudadanía. El proyecto ha atraido la mayor cantidad de inversiones y ha incrementado el orgullo entre los locales, pero es fundamental que detrás de la vitrina ocurra una consolidación de espacios que puedan ser apropiados y transformados al ritmo en que el cuerpo social se regenera. La intervención y participación de los ciudadanos en el espacio construido, ya sea desde una función cotidiana o comercial, es la garantía del éxito de grandes proyectos urbanos. El Malecón ha sido el puntapié de las más grandes transformaciones urbanas, ahora es necesario que la respuesta social en su uso intensivo perpetue el soporte de la obra, para expandir la regeneración a zonas menos privilegiadas de la ciudad.
The properties at 26 & 27 Castlewood Avenue date back to the early nineteenth century and have changed little externally since then. Both properties had originally been built as semi detached residences and were built on wider than normal plots (17m as oppose to 11m) resulting in their double fronted facades and tri-partite plan arrangement. The space to the sides of both properties has been filled in in pastiche style in recent years.
Both properties were in a state of dereliction at the time we were commissioned by our client to oversee their redevelopment. The properties had previously been subdivided into flats (8 in each) and it was our clients intention to restore both properties to single occupancy.
Courtesy of ODOS Architects
The original returns to both properties had been removed by the buildings previous owners and replaced with a haphazzard arrangement of non descript accommodations. At the design analysis stage of the project it was felt there was scope to introduce a “new” architecture to the rears of both properties whilst respecting their historic characteristics.
The concept behind the two replacement returns was to analyse the function of return structures to the rear of period dwellings on both a programmatic and a visual level. An attempt was made to establish 2 new buildings, to be considered in their own right, while making a meaningful connection between the past and the present.
Both properties were fully restored internally and externally back to their original character with accommodation comprising 4 bedrooms (master bedroom ensuite) and family bathroom at first floor level. Living and Dining accommodation at the upper ground floor level (main entry level). Open plan Kitchen/Dining/Living accommodation and nannys quarters at lower ground floor level.
Courtesy of ODOS Architects
The new returns to both properties contain the following accommodation; Study at upper level (above first floor level), Family bathroom at mid level and hallway access at lower level. The study at upper level is a dramatic space with its monopitched roof structure acting as a light catcher facing south. Views from this space are towards the Dublin mountains and offer those working in the space inspiration. This space captures vast volumes of light which in turn feed into the lower circulation areas below.
The structure of these returns is a steel frame vertical structure with timber joist infil. The structures are completely self supporting on independent foundations at the rear of both properties and at high level are not structurally connected to the existing fabric. Each return is independently supported on a bridge structure at the upper garden level. The independent qualities of each structure was seen favourably on a planning conservation level as both structures could be removed without serious implication the the fabric of the original houses.
elevation
The width of both returns is derived from the width of the upper ground floor hallways to both properties offering a more coherent addition to the historic plan configuration. The angle of pitch to these forms is derived from the existing roof pitches to the main roofs.
The rear gardens to 26 & 27 are split over two levels to accommodate the houses split living accommodations at upper and lower ground floor levels. New external paved areas have been designed at lower ground floor levels as extensions of the internal accommodations. Access to these gardens from the upper ground floor level is via a new concrete bridge structure within each garden.
The original design concept was for a pair of buildings with a strong form in an attempt to give the previously understated rear of both properties a new definition.
This is achieved in a number of different ways including the use of a simple palate of materials such as fibre cement panels (charcoal in colour) and large glazed sections.
section
Full height Opal laminate glazed sections have been introduced in the bathrooms at a mid level for privacy reasons. Other influences in the design and orientation of the building were in part a direct result of the particular site, structural and somewhat onerous planning and conservation constraints.
Both properties are served with geothermal heating (underfloor) and solar heat exchange systems. All downpipes dealing with surface and foul water have been internalised within a central service core ensuring purer elevations and minimizing disruption to the buildings form.
These inhabited forms when first seen first create a sense of wonder and curiosity within the viewer not just because of their sculptural form but more for the setting within which they exist.
Courtesy of University of Pennsylvania School of Design
Just last month, University of Pennsylvania’s School of Design announced their lecture series for Spring 2012. All lectures are held at 6PM in Meyerson Hall and free and open to the public unless otherwise noted with continuing education credits available. The series began on January 17th and concludes on April 28th. More information on the upcoming events after the break.
Saturday, February 11
Symposium: Architectures of the Text: An Inquiry into the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili
10AM – 6:30PM, Meyerson Conference Room, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library, 2nd floor
Monday, February 13
ADRIAAN GEUZE
Landscape Architect, West 8, The Netherlands
“Re-Frame” The Annual Ian L. McHarg Lecture
Thursday, February 16
Visual Studies Lecture:
ORKAN TELHAN
Assistant Professor of Fine Arts & Emerging Design Practices
University of Pennsylvania School of Design
5pm, Annenberg Center, Room 111
Sponsor: Penn Visual Studies, School of Arts and Sciences
Thursday, February 23
PAULA SCHER
Designer, Pentagram
Spiegel Resident
5:30 pm, B1 Meyerson
Co-sponsor: Spiegel
Monday, February 27
ENRIQUE PEÑALOSA
Former Mayor of Bogotá
Wednesday, February 29
VIA: DIRT Launch
Thursday, March 1
NOT VITAL
Visiting Artist
6:30 pm, ICA Auditorium
Co-Sponsor: ICA
Monday, March 12
TIMOTHY BEATLEY
Teresa Heinz Professor of Sustainable Communities, School of Architecture, University of Virginia
Thursday, March 15
NEIL PORTER
Principal, Gustafson Porter
Monday, March 19
MARION WEISS/MICHAEL MANFREDI
Graham Chair Professor of Architecture, PennDesign
Principals, Weiss/Mandredi
KENNETH FRAMPTON
Ware Professor of Architecture, Columbia University
BARRY BERGDOLL
Philip Johnson Chief Curator of Architecture and Design, MOMA
6:30pm, Meyerson Hall, B1
Sponsor: Kohn Pedersen Fox Lecture Fund
Wednesday, March 21
CHRISTINA CAMERON
Professor, Canada Research Chair on Built Heritage
Ecole d’Architecture, Universite de Montreal
Monday, March 26
Integrated Product Design Lecture:
BILL MOGGRIDGE
Director, Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum
Sponsor: Lisa Roberts and David Seltzer/ Integrated Product Design Lecture Series
Wed, Mar 28
MATTHEW DAY JACKSON
Visiting Artist
6:30pm, Institute for Contemporary Art Thursday, Mar 29
JOHN OCHSENDORF
Associate Professor, MIT
Tuesday, April 3
WITOLD RYBCZYNSKI & MOSHE SAFDIE
Meyerson Professor of Urbanism/Principle, Safdie Architects
Thursday, April 5
MOYRA DAVEY
Visiting Artist
6:30pm, ICA Auditorium
Monday, April 9
IN THE TERRAIN OF WATER II
2-7pm, Meyerson Hall, Upper and Lower Galleries
Tuesday, April 10
PHILIPPE RAHM
Philippe Rahm Architects
6:30pm, Meyerson Galleries
Co-Sponsor: Ewing Cole Lecture Fund
Wednesday, April 11
DAVID N. FIXLER
Principal, Design + Preservation, EYP/AE Inc.
Thursday, April 12
URBANIZED: Film Screening & Conversation
RICKY BURDETT
Professor of Urban Studies
Director, LSE Cities and Urban Age
Global Distinguished Professor, New York University
JAMES CORNER
Professor and Chair of Landscape Architecture, PennDesign
Principal, James Corner Field Operations
GARY HUSTWIT
Director and Producer, “Urbanized”
Co-Sponsor: Penn Institute for Urban Research, Cinema Studies
Wednesday, April 18
YVONNE FARRELL & SHELLEY MCNAMARA
Directors, Grafton Architects
6:30pm, Meyerson Galleries
Co-sponosor: Turner Lecture Fund
Thursday, April 19
KRZYSZTOF WODICZKO
Visiting Artist
5pm, ICA
Friday-Saturday, April 27-28
CONSERVING THE CITY
Friday evening/all day Saturday
Located in a residencial neighbourhood in Brasília, Brazil, the “Casa 8” is a family residence that points out the simplicity of architecture through the materials choices with a plea for natural textures. The architectural design approach intends to explore the integration among the house´s internal and external ambiences. With a steel concrete structure, the building is a one story house only, with very simple plan, located in a site that is 20 meters wide and 80 meters long (1.600m²), in order to preserve as much vegetation area as possible.
As a volume, at first sight it looks like an enclosed box that presents itself as a 3,5 meters height wall to the street – eliminating the need of fences or gates, and offering the public a garden in front of the house. Even though, by crossing the main access door and walking through the sidewalk by the promenade, the pedestrian realizes that inside and outside spaces get confused and complete each other. This impression is given by the pivoting doors (side façade) and sliding door (back façade) made of certified wood.
The inside spaces are organized in three different categories. The common/collective spaces: kitchen, library, dining room and living room. The support spaces: garage, laundry, storage and service bathroom. And the intimate spaces: bedrooms and bathrooms. These last spaces are involved by the other, configuring the center of the house, and preserving the most restricted activities.
elevation
The lighting and the ventilation of the house is constituted of two complementary systems. The peripheral areas (kitchen, library, access, dining room and living room) are fully ventilated and illuminated by the pivoting doors on the side and by the sliding door in the back. When opened, the doors offer an efficient system of natural air circulation. The intimate spaces, in the core of the house, are ventilated and lightened through conservatories in some of the bedrooms, and glazed roofs in other.
Cutting diagonally from John Street (above) to the intersection of William and Platt Streets is the covered pedestrian space of 100 William Street. Dating back to 1974, it is "the first covered pedestrian space built under the covered pedestrian space bonus provisions of the Zoning Resolution," according to Jerold S. Kayden in his survey of New York City's Privately Owned Public Spaces. Designed by Emery Roth and Sons, the building has a muted facade of black slate panels alternating with horizontal windows, but the POPS was more theatrical with numerous reflections coming from surfaces like the chrome column covers.
[L: The previous condition (image source) | R: "Airstream meets Chia Pet" installation by Kevin Kennon Architects (image source)]
In between the gaudy chrome and its current incarnation of backlit-glass columns in a more simplified and transparent space was a retail installation by Kevin Kennon Architects, which inserted a bit of whimsey (are those over-sized pigeon spikes on top?) but was temporary. The current design is attributed to Rogers Marvel Architects in this CB#1 document (PDF, page 4), though the project is nowhere to be found on the architect's website. Regardless it looks like a Rogers Marvel design to me, given its level of detail and their track record with public spaces.
Above is the view across William Street, looking northeast. A new pylon is emblazoned with the building address, branding the space that features a handful more glowing column covers. Below is the view from John Street, looking southwest. One striking aspect of the design comes across here: the covered pedestrian space is highly transparent. People moving through the space have glimpses into the lobby at left, not to mention up into some of the office spaces on the second floor.
Looking again from the intersection of William and Platt Street (below), the same glimpses up into offices can be seen. Of course, this is not new to the space; it is part of the original design. But the new design accentuates the transparency of what borders the space, rather than competing with it like the chrome.
This transparency is most pronounced at the 100 William Street lobby (bottom left, again looking from John Street), which features tall ultra-clear, butt-glazed glass. The lobby is basically put on display, as an almost seamless part of the pedestrian space. The CB#1 document indicates that the renovation removed an escalator to the cellar (a TKTS booth used to be located in that lower level), so the whole pedestrian space is now at grade. The whole may not result in "a vastly improved amenity for the public," as the same document contends -- retail is minimal and no seating is provided -- but it makes for a nice diagonal walk, especially from John Street towards the rusticated Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Studioninedots + HVDN shared with us their winning proposal for the student housing competition for TU Delft Campus. The project parameters were to design a volume of 67 meters long and 5 storeys high, with its own strong identity and a collective space on the roof including a rain water harvesting element. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Courtesy of Studioninedots + HVDN
Along with a collaborative bid of contractor Jan Snel, the winning entry was defining in its dynamic façade, with the collective space having a central location in the building instead of on the roof. This creates a more interactive relationship between the residents, the building and its surroundings, leaving the roof to be fully planted with moss-sedum. The new building will be finished to all probability at the start of 2013.
Courtesy of Studioninedots + HVDN
The TU Delft is expecting a substantial growth of students in the coming years. That is why 1100 new built student residences are realised in the masterplan of Mecanoo for de TU-Delft Mid-West. The first project will be located in Field 2 along the Balthasar van der Polweg The volume Suite 9, designed by Studioinedots + HVDN for this location, is based on a central corridor with on each side student housing. At strategic points a few of the flats have been removed. As the flats are individually insulated and constructed, it can freely be chosen where the voids are located. The created open area gives the building a transparency that maintain the links of the existing courtyards with the Balthasar van der Polweg.
Courtesy of Studioninedots + HVDN
By removing flats on each side of the corridor, an unexpected and lively section is created with a covered entrance and central covered collective (outdoor) space. More Flats have been removed on the south-side, so sunlight can enter the building as far as possible. A wide stairs connects all the individual levels as one continuing collective space. This centrally located outdoor space forms the heart of the building. Its timber cladding gives the building a warm character and strong identity.
model 01
To avoid an image of easy repetition of the flats and to introduce an additional stratification a perforated panel façade system is placed around the collective outdoor space. Thus the abstract of the volume is maintained and effects of different scales is achieved. At night fall, lights illuminating the backdrop of the perforated panels, making the elevation change slowly. This gives the building a fitting dynamic and with the noticeable collective outdoor space, the building engages with its surroundings.
Architects: Studioninedots + HVDN
Location: TU campus Delft, Netherlands
Design Team: Albert Herder, Metin v. Zijl, Vincent v.d Klei, Arie v.d Neut
Project Team: Wouter Hermanns, Jarno v. Essen, Giovanni Lavanna
Engineering: Jean-Marc Saurer
Sustainability: Uta Ehrhardt
Constructor: Jan Snel Group
Client: Stichting DUWO
Type: Studenthousing, 138 houses
Plot: 388 m2
FSI: 5,0
Budget: €5.600.000
Employees at web consultancy Netlife Research in Oslo can take a moment for contemplation inside one of three wooden rooms dedicated to silence. (more…)
Fotografías de Dinis Sottomayor, Diogo Aguiar, Otto Teresa, Manuel Magalhães y OPOLab
BusStopSymbiosis es el nombre de este proyecto de LIKEarchitects.
El proyecto es una de las cinco intervenciones artísticas seleccionadas por Scott Burnham, presentadas en el centro de Oporto en Portugal, como parte del evento Criativo Bairro lanzado por ADDICT el 24 de mayo de 2010. BusStopSymbiosis fue galardonado con el primer premio.
A los competidores se les pidió pensar en estructuras temporales para el espacio público con el objetivo de mejorar la vida cotidiana de las personas en la ciudad.
Ver más imágenes y la descripción del arquitecto después del salto.
Fotografías de Dinis Sottomayor, Diogo Aguiar, Otto Teresa, Manuel Magalhães y OPOLab
BusStopSymbiosis es una instalación urbana temporal extraña y colorida emplazada en una parada de autobús común y corriente. Su diseño busca una relación beneficiosa para ambas estructuras. Se trata de un nuevo equipamiento urbano que tiene como objetivo no sólo aumentar el espacio para estar de la parada de autobús existente, sino también pretende entretener a aquellos que están a esperando en la parada y a quienes pasan caminando por el lugar.
Fotografías de Dinis Sottomayor, Diogo Aguiar, Otto Teresa, Manuel Magalhães y OPOLab
El diseño fue concebido digitalmente con un computador de control numérico de corte (CNC), los 95 componentes de geometría variable fueron fabricados por completo en pocos días. La BusStopSymbiosis produjo la admiración general, la sorpresa y la curiosidad durante el tiempo que duró la instalación.
¿Es un banco? ¿Es una obra de arte? ¿Es un estante para revistas tan grande?
De norte a sur y de cordillera a mar, las ciudades de nuestro país han sido la inspiración de grandes artistas de la música -desde los Viking’s 5 a Sting-. Y es que la relación entre los ciudadanos y los lugares donde viven no sólo es física o práctica, sino que también existe una comunicación constante y -en ocasiones- las calles, las casas, los parques y tantos tipos de hitos urbanos, generan atmósferas capaces de transmitir ideas, recuerdos, deseos y sentimientos.
A continuación, hacemos un recorrido de norte a sur para compartir con ustedes algunas canciones sobre distintas ciudades de Chile que han marcado a generaciones y a distintos momentos de nuestra historia de país, de barrios y de vecinos.
Valparaíso es una de las canciones de Chile -sino la más- con el mayor número de canciones dedicadas. Otros clásicos que han sido inspirados por esta ciudad porteña son “Valparaíso” (de Osvaldo “Gitano” Rodríguez) y “Valparaíso” (Sting).
Chillán
“Chillán”, de Tito Fernández, el temucano (la canción empieza como en el minuto 3)
Para terminar, les dejamos la canción ”Todo se derrumbó en Tocopilla” (cover de la canción de Emmanuel “Todo se derrumbó dentro de mí”), la cual fue compuesta por Rodolfo Figueroa, un conductor de taxis colectivos quien -aunque no es conocido a nivel nacional- se hizo famoso en Tocopilla, donde vendió más de 25.000 copias en una semana. Esta canción describe cómo afecto el terremoto de 2007 a la ciudad norteña.
Recently I received a couple magazines that are both fairly new, albeit completely new to me. Based out of Italy, Boundaries: International Architectural Magazine is "a quarterly international journal on contemporary architecture, with texts in English and Italian, that offers a critical view over the architectures that today deal, in many different ways, with the challenges of the contemporariness and of sustainability intended as a balance between cultural, environmental, economic and social matters." And then there is the Chicago-based Design Bureau (published by ALARM Press), which "delivers an honest and inspirational global dialogue on design from diverse disciplines and points of view. ...[towards] discovering great design and the people who make it happen." Below are some thoughts on a recent issue of each magazine.
Boundaries:
Unlike many architecture publications put out a few or more times a year, Boundaries gives each issue a theme and strictly makes the content fit the topic. The first issue (July-September 2011), for example, is called "Contemporary Architecture in Africa" and does an excellent in job in presenting buildings, projects, books, and histories on the continent. Each issue is structured into sections: News, Perspective, Architecture, Ideas, That Was the Year..., and Book Reviews. The Architecture section makes up the bulk of each issue and highlights particular types of buildings or related strands within the theme. In this regard, issue 2 -- "Architecture for Emergencies" -- collects buildings but also monuments, theories/research, and reporting around the timely and complex theme. That Was the Year is a great part of the magazine, as it features flashbacks usually decades back (a reprinted article or some such piece) that of course fit the issue's theme: Aldo van Eyck's 1959 essay on the Dogon is one found in the first issue, and Jean Prouve's 1956 "House Built in Less Than Seven Hours" is one of the old projects highlighted in the second issue.
These first two themes make it clear that Boundaries is not concerned with the same issues as other architecture magazines; the editors prefer to focus on the under-served and the places of crisis today. This is evident not only in the themes but in the projects included in each issue (only the ultra-modern houses in "Contemporary Architecture in Africa" stand out...as designs that would probably be in other magazines but don't really belong in this one) and the position that "Boundaries receives no public funding, and has no advertising." The only "ads" to be found are for the Italian Red Cross and other emergency organizations. This makes me hope the magazine gains enough following to continue its exploration of architecture that is timely and relevant but often overshadowed by the usual big names and commissions that value form over social concerns. Boundaries may not be as photogenic as other magazines, owing to its dealing with the "social awareness of the profession," but it makes up for that small defect (for lack of a better word) in its thorough coverage on a topic, varied viewpoints on the same, and a strong sense of history that makes one realize our problems are not new and neither may be the solutions.
Design Bureau:
Before moving to New York City from Chicago I was a contributing editor to TENbyTEN, a now defunct magazine on art, fashion, design, and architecture. I was sad to see it go some years ago, but when I recently heard about Design Bureau (DB) that frown was turned upside down, as now the Windy City has a magazine on design (in its varied facets) to call its own. (MAS Context is another Chicago publication that I'm glad exists, but it is print-on-demand where DB is available on newsstands.) Issue 08 (November/December 2011) features "Renegade Architecture" on the cover, but that is an anchor to the magazine not a theme, a long piece on architectural designers, those that can't legally call themselves architects but nevertheless shape spaces and cities. The rest of the issue is thick on architecture -- be it Austin, Seattle, New York City, DC, Kentucky, Mexico, California -- but other types of design make it into the magazine's tripartite sections: Informer (brief coverage), Design Thinking (Q&A with a designer), and Features (pretty self explanatory).
DB should be commended for a sharp curatorial eye that highlights a wide range of designs and designers. As well their choices of buildings and architects show that they are not concerned with the latest and greatest; it is more about quality and insight rather than the same projects and personalities covered ad nauseum elsewhere. DB should also be praised for the sharp layout of the magazine and the eye towards the illustrations that make up the pages. It seems that even the advertisements, like Wallpaper*, are selected for their attention to graphic detail. Speaking of advertisements, one curious aspect of DB is the way ads for players within an article are found alongside it, such as one for a home builder at the end of a piece on houses in Austin, Texas. Not only is the company mentioned in the article, but they also have ad space on half a page. Did their ad pay for the article? Did their ad drive the content? Or did DB find the right advertiser for the right spot? I'm not sure, but in some cases the relationship between ad and editorial content was a little too close for comfort.
El martes pasado se presentaron las propuestas para la renovación del Navy Pier en Chicago. Se trata de 5 equipos compuestos por reconocidas firmas de arquitectura de todo el mundo, trabajando en conjunto para rediseñar el espacio público más popular y turístico de Illinois. Entre los diseños presentados se encuentran desde piscinas hasta anfiteatros, por lo que la propuesta que sea elegida podría cambiar drásticamente todo el lugar. Los resultados de la selección se esperan para el próximo mes.
Imágen vía Chicago Tribune
Las ideas recibidas son bastante llamativas y originales pero un tema preocupante es el presupuesto considerado para la obra y no todos los diseños están dentro de este límite. “Recibimos grandes ideas. Una de las cosas que tendremos que resolver en los próximos meses es cómo estas ideas funcionan en el Navy Pier”, dijo Steve Haemmerle, vicepresidente del muelle. ” Si se construyen completamente, la mayoría de los proyectos excederían por mucho 85 millones de presupuesto”.
Imágen vía Chicago Tribune
Los cinco equipos intentan re-imaginar los espacios públicos del muelle los cuales se extienden desde el Gatweay Park hacia la Plaza sobre el Lake Michigan. Los espacios incluyen también un parque elevado, una pasarela peatonal y un jardín interior “Crystal Gardens”. A continuación una muestra de las 5 propuestas:
- Propuesta 1: AECOM/BIG
Propuesta de BIG/ AECOM
- Propuesta 2: Davis Brody Bond/Aedas/Martha Schwartz Partners
Por estos días de febrero, muchos Santiaguinos se vuelven turistas de su propia ciudad. Además por las vacaciones Santiago se convierte en un lugar turístico para quienes vienen desde otras ciudades de Chile. Así, algunas atracciones de la ciudad, como los museos, bibliotecas, parques y avenidas se llenan de visitantes.
“Desde el cerro San Cristóbal hacia la ciudad” es el título de la foto que javier_carras, en donde se ve una perspectiva de la Santiago con el Centro de Justicia de Santiago de fondo.
The AIA New York Chapter recently announced seven promising and pioneering new architecture and design firms from the New York area to receive the New Practices New York 2012 awards. The seven selected firms are:
The 2012 Alvar Aalto Medal was awarded to Portuguese architect Paulo David last night at the World Design Capital Gala in Lahti, Finland. In the view of the jury, David’s architecture forms a convincing synthesis of contemporary and traditional architecture.
Los Angeles architect Yaohua Wang - many may still remember his Nanjing Lab proposal - has sent us his latest project, a schematic design proposal for the experimental Xianghong Theater in Taiyuan, China.
This concrete house design features a stand-out contemporary design that balances nature and ultra-modern aesthetics. The client, who also happened to be the builder, was looking for a challenge and New Zealand architect Simon Twose delivered. Made of concrete and glass, this house is an unusual mix of open and closed, its expansive windows peeking out from behind these imposing walls of armor. Behind its exterior, this rigid house boasts a modern aesthetic highlighted by exposed concrete walls, an industrial-style angular staircase, and amazing open-to-above and loft living spaces. A glass facade puts the indoors in ease reach of the outdoors on both levels, facing an interior courtyard. Simon Twose
via Arch Daily
photo credit: Paul McCredie
This open air home designed by Japanese architecture firm KINO Architects isn't just about what's built up, but it's as much about the negative space. The Airhole House boasts roadways to the south and east, a field to the west and a house to the north, and is itself occupied by a family of four - a typical urban house plan by most accounts. What really stands out is the unusual architecture that incorporates a massive void as its main feature - an east-west facing air hole on the main floor, and a north-south facing hole on the upper level, capturing views in every direction. This terrace-style outdoor living room offers all the comforts of a traditional room, but with natural light and fresh air flooding the space, and serves to passively cool the house during the hot months and warm it up in winter. Check out more modern Japanese house designs by visiting KINO Architects.
via Arch Daily
photo credit: Daici Ano
This outdoor living beach house designed by Australian firm Wright Feldhusen Architects boasts just the right blend of modern indoor living rooms and contemporary outdoor entertaining areas overlooking the coast. Ideally suited to the surrounding landscape, this low-lying structure doesn't exceed 4 meters from natural ground level due to local building codes, resulting in a single-level residence that, instead of growing upward, reaches out toward the waterfront. This amazing Australian beach house offers indoor and outdoor living rooms (which are sheltered by a wide-reaching overhang), each capturing this area's best - the hot afternoon sun and the cool south-westerly breeze. A floor-to-ceiling glass wall blurs the boundary between indoors and out, offering protection from the elements without obstructing the pristine views. Wright Feldhusen Architects
via Arch Daily
photo credit: Patrick Bingham-Hall
Des Moines Water Works, working in partnership with Iowa State University Department of Landscape Architecture, recently announced that Sasaki Associates, with RDG Planning & Design and Applied Ecological Services (AES), is the winning team of the Water Works Parkitecture Competition.
Dutch firms LOLA landscape architects, Deltavormgroep, and Piet Oudolfhave won the commission for the extension of the historical park Groot Vijversburg in the north of The Netherlands with their submission “Star Maze”. The team has won the commission through a national tender, for which five teams were selected.
The other design teams were B+B in collaboration with Michael van Gessel, OKRA, Hosper en Strootman.
California architect Amy A. Alper designed this charming creek-side cabin in Santa Rosa, California. This delightful riverfront home sits on a serene property surrounded by towering firs and redwoods. One of the regulations for building here was that new construction was limited only to “previously disturbed” areas, so the architect thought outside the box with a great cantilevered living room and hallway addition that, while adding extra living space, had no impact on the land. Though revamped, the shingle-style cabin design, circa 1920s, maintains its country charms. The architect salvaged the original shingled exterior and used it as the backdrop for the new living spaces, adding a wonderful outdoor feel to interiors. Furthermore, this forest home features expansive glass walls that capture views of the trees and the creek. A fabulous fireplace feature warms up this rustic cabin home, both in looks and in feel. Amy A. Alper
This circular cottage plan is the coolest retreat on a hot day. Austin, Texas-based architecture firm Bercy Chen Studio blend their European and East Asian backgrounds into a totally unique architectural style that we love. They sent us photos of their Shore Vista Boat House in Lake Austin that we just had to share. This contemporary style house is a veritable playground for the water-lover, set right on a lake with a built-in water feature that brings the house to life. The circular-shaped cottage is wrapped in a winding spiral staircase that gives you the external tour of the whole home, leading you past its outdoor entertaining areas and glass walls that offer a glimpse of what’s inside. Made for entertaining and enjoyment of the finer things in life – these being nature, family, friends, peace, quiet, and good times – this waterfront cottage is a sweet retreat indeed! Bercy Chen Studio
MAS Arquitectura designed a galician traditional house on light forms located in A Coruña, Spain.
Project description:
Quality materials and warm spaces have been characterizing the Galician traditional architecture since the XV century. Architect Marcos Samaniego, from Mas Arquitectura, has added a new element to this tradition: the design. As a result, the architect has added enamel wood to galician traditional material, stone, in order to maintain the warmth of the house.
However, the bioclimatic plan of the house leads to a simple lines design, with large windows in the walls in order to allow nature comes into the interior space. The revolutions’ origin. The carpentries, which are introduced into de Stone walls, make stronger the structure.
The interior are emphasized by brightness and warm colors. In addition, the sun light gets over all the spaces from a skylight in the main floor. In the kitchen, you can observe smooth surfaces and design furniture.
Details are very important in this house. The main stair, covered by oak wood, receives the light from the large window and it is decomposed creating a hand-made library.
To sum up, this house means a small transformation on the Galician traditional architecture, an avant-garde wink in a traditional house.
AQSO Arquitectos Office designed this small hair and beauty salon in a crowded retail unit in downtown Beijing, China
Project description:
It comprises of an area open for the public and a private room for guests. In contrast to the turbulent surrounding atmosphere, plenty of colorful signage, the salon becomes a calm and reposeful element and the design evokes the relaxation of the beauty treatments offered inside.
The façade come to be a white and vertical canvas intensely illuminated in which only the shadow of a horizontal metal shape is projected outlining the name of the shop.
Once inside, the interior design follows the same principle of minimalism, enhancing only the fundamental elements around the customer and leaving the rest of the space self-controlled within a sober form.
After passing the reception area, where the locker is situated, a few steps separate the rooms for the customers. The first two are characterized by a bright luminosity; the white walls emphasize the strip where the mirrors are located, -lined in yellowish beech wood-, creating a strong contrast.
Lighting gains prominence because of the fluorescent light coming behind the glass, framing the portrait of the customer sitting in front of the mirror and giving the sensation of a floating reflection.
If the previous spaces have a predominance of horizontal lines, the third one is distinguished by the vertical mirrors. This room, separated by a sliding door, offers a more intimate atmosphere given by the used materials: dark wood and linen. The natural texture of the fabric covers the wall where the sitting area is located, close to the customer.
A small storage room and a toilet complete the program of the shop, with a total capacity for 8 people.
rg.s arquitectura designed the Disco Experience Store that focuses on the “brand spirit” and a new and young multitasking generation of consumers.
Project description:
The store ambiance tries to achieve all sensory levels of these consumers, with a proposal of unifies fashion, art and culture in the same place.
The project was executed in a systematic way. All requisite present in the sensory levels of the consumption (vision, audition, smell…), as well as the technical questions like the products display, were solved extruding the store brand. A square was transformed in a cube, which made possible to use the faces to brand communication, expression, and marketing. Art and technical aspects like illumination and sound system were integrated in the cube. The interior of the transparent cube is an open space to products display. Furthermore the multiplication of this cube all over the space generates a tridimensional grid that forms the Disco Experience space.
This tridimensional grid allows making spatial modifications easily in the composition of the store, amplifying or reducing showcase area, arts area and other parts of the store. The faces of the cube are rendered by adhesives which stamp brands, references and arts produced exclusively to the store. With few low cost modifications is easy to change the visual of the store and create a new experience in the costumers every time which the store is modified in any detail.
This one was the first store of a new brand with plans to expand and open new stores. So, to create a system that allows the brand customization in any kind of place or spot was a necessary condition in the development of the project. According to this principle, the system created to the store is global and easily adaptable in others places.
The conjunction of fashion, art and culture and their interactions favors the communication and interactivity with clients. All overlapping of references, brands and art stimulates the identification with their clients and the background of display areas values colors and textures of sealing products.
Multinational timber company, Losan Group, chose Mas Arquitectura to carry out an important reform in his main office, placed in Spain.
Project description:
The project was able to create new spaces in a limited space. After weeks of hard work, the new office was ready and able to reflect on its installations Losan’s main ideas: “Give solutions to your customer, respect for environment, energetic control, quality and new technologies”.
The company’s guidelines are reflected in each space: a large wooden hall is followed by a distributional corridor which connects with a technical room, fits up with hand-made furniture. Nearly, we can find baths, a small coffee room, individual studies and a large directive room, the place where Losan’s future was decided.
Natural light is another important element in this project. Windows are designed to take advantage of the views in order to create a wonderful atmosphere inside. Wooden finishes contributes to show a image of warmth.
The reform was made carefully, taking care over details through the more than 350 m² office’s surface. Interior coatings were realized using solid wood made by Losan, which make clear the high quality of its goods. These new office have improved the employees’ life level and have encouraged the company’s image. We are proud of our work.
Naço Architectures designed an ultra Parisian restaurant in the sky of Paris.
As a cosy space that hand in the sky of Paris, the brand new restaurant of the Chef Frédéric Vardon just opened this september in the Golden Triangle, a few steps away from the Champs Elysées. Le 39V, named after is prestigious location in 39 avenue George V in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, is located at the sixth and last floor of glamourous Haussmannian building.
Articulated around a courtyard, the circular space smootly welcomes its gourmets who can also enjoy a fantastic view. Naço offers here again its nique signature in a global project including architecture, interior design but also the brand identity and graphic design.
There was the open house of "Platform" building by Gigon/Guyer.
This kind of glass cube style seems new style of them, but actually recently popular style in their competition entries: Prime tower, Europaallee Baufeld C in Zurich, Wuerth headquarter in Rorschach, etc.
+ This guest post is by Bentley Meeker, Celebrity Lighting Expert I may not have designed much in the way of light fixtures (coming soon though) but I do know a thing or two about lighting and our environments. While a lot of emphasis is put on chandeliers, sconces, floor lamps and the like, far [...]
SAVE THE DATE 9-10 JUNE 2011 RIVERSIDE MUSEUM GLASGOW SCOTLAND ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW WITH ZAHA HADID In Greater Govan & Glasgow Harbour, UK, the new Riverside Museum by Zaha Hadid architects will replace the Museum of Transport previousy located at the Kelvin Hall. The project started on site in 2007. By late September 2008 the steel skeleton [...]
Narrative in Practice 2011 – Design Symposium 14 creatives explore how they use narrative in their work In London, The symposium draws together a diverse array of practitioners from various disciplines such as architecture, exhibition design, public engagement and participation and interaction design. The speakers will discuss the role narrative plays in their everyday creative [...]
Recently completed by Australian architectural practice PHOOEY Architects, this new double storey four bedroom house rests in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. All the public and private spaces have a variety of long views oriented towards the scenic parkland. Depending on the rooms location and aperture, the parkland is captured in a different light. Sunlight [...]
Brisbane Airport Corporation working in association with City Lab is pleased to announce BNE: Making Connections: An architecture and urban design competition for Brisbane Airport that is open to all registered Australian architects. If you are interested in entering, please join Andrew and BAC General Property Manager Renaye Peters for the competition briefing, followed by [...]
Opening day of Raiffeisen Bank Kreuzplatz in Zurich, designed by NAU, Drexler Guinand Jauslin Architects, and the interior wall was designed by ROK Architecture & Consulting.
The material of the interior wall is made of HI-MACS, similar to CORIAN, but a bit different. All the triangle holes were done by machine, the position of the holes were based on some pixelated images of famous people...
If you see from distance, you find Albert Einstein.
Open day of Kinderspital Basel.
The material of the facade is quite interesting. If you see from deep angle, it looks green...
But when the angle gets close to 90 degree, the surface looks red.
Close up. The special film behind the glass seems "3M Radiant Light Film" with which you can control the range of color you can see as well. The detailing should be interesting.
Just I found the hand rail is thiner than the ones I know.
Sign planning by Integral Ruedi Baur, Zurich
Landscape design by Berchtold.Lenzin Landschaftsarchitekten.
It was interesting, left side is with cement I guess, and the right is only sand, it makes clear line.
It was long cue when I went there for the open day. It's amazing how many people are interested in such new building. Are they really want to know about the architecture or just the function of the hospital?
