Hangzhou New South North Mixed-use Project, designed by Aedas, is set to be a brand new riverfront landmark with iconic twin towers and dynamic retail podiums. The two 33-storey office buildings are hexagonal in shape and are placed diagonally to create a vivid building massing, show individuality from different angles and maximize opportunities for river view. Frontage retail continues the urban interface and the open courtyard acts as a city living room with a sunken plaza as well as multi-level roof gardens. Read the rest of this entry »

This design by Margot Krasojevic is for a private airfield in Doha, Qatar. A short stay pop-up hotel hangar that can be wheeled to different docking locations, primarily used for waiting for connecting flights, refuelling and airplane maintenance.

The hotel lounge is an extension of the private jet which enables the clients to rest/ stay for a period of 24 hours before departure. The scheme is composed of three telescopic fibreglass polymer clad shells, the exterior contains perspex encased tritium sections that glow, this contained radioactive elements are harmless and have a ten year life span without the need for external power supply. The scheme can be dismantled for easier transportation.

The expandable interior sections are lined with a combination of laminated glass , photovoltaic cells and low-resolution LED Lighting which can be programmed to create any fully immersive environment which either connects you with the existing horizon line and context or completely dislocates you from it.

The second stage implements a hot air updraft tower to contribute to sustainable energy and environmental design considerations. Read the rest of this entry »

Trillium Resort & Spa is a project proposal by Coorlas Architecture. The tower’s flowing geometry was developed utilizing 2 Dimensional projective carving. This method of form modeling results in optimized geometry for non-orthogonal forms, reducing inefficient model elements and maintaining sculptural shape. The craft in this calculated geometry economizes the built-form by reducing the amount, and complexity, of assembled parts. The geometric-efficiency or Geo-Efficiency translates into cost-savings for owners, developers, contractors, and architects through simplified assembly and construction, time-saving, and more easily manageable datums for the architect to maintain & manipulate per design & form finding exercises. With the evolution & integration of digital machinery in the design and construction process, the gap between concept and built-form continues to shrink. Design Approach, Construction-Type, and Modeling Strategy must be considered a synthesized procedure. These have never been independent modes of operation; and now more than ever, these aspects of the design/build process are becoming unified and more interdependent.

The tower’s waterfront site is located in Guaruja, Brasil. The formal expression is inspired by the Trillium plant; a three petalled flower which exhibits its efficiency in maximizing solar exposure with minimal flowering obstruction, and minimal structure. This concept translates into an efficient tower design by maximizing resident occupancy with minimal system infrastructure. Read the rest of this entry »

In central Warsaw, the PKO Rotunda bravery symbolised many layers of memory on the North-East corner above Dmowskiego roundabout. The new PKO Rotunda embraces the most tragedy of its history. By captivating the area, the sun light angle on Feb 15, 12:37 p.m. An exactly time of the tragedy occurred in 1979. A stratum of light cave down the corner. It leans down responsively to the sun angle. Every year, the sunken plaza is waiting for a moment of the sun ray to bright up the whole place and create a warmest light courtyard to withstand a harsh cold winter memory.

The new PKO Rotunda does not only preserves 45 columns in addition with 4 new columns but also gives back a historical meeting point to public realm by relocate the branch underneath the prominent plaza. All those columns are together to represent a group of 49 victims. Each column commemorates each bravery victim with engraved name onto the columns. The column does not only transform the plaza by illuminate the area with ambience bright warm white to guide pedestrians a way but also calmly generates clean energy with micro wind farm to feed the plaza and the building.

The plaza’s street furniture are carefully located to maximise a flow of traffic. They also function as a barrier and organize plaza to be an urban corridor and urban retreat. Multimedia Information Centre is distributed to North area and South area that serves for both tourist and citizen. Its showroom at North displays objects. Its printable multimedia boards at South display digital information.

An underground walkway is rerouted to a new cave alike tunnel which connect directly to the sunken courtyard. By relocating its access staircases, it amplifies a ground level surface usage and reinforce the new sunken courtyard to function as a new urban courtyard.

The stratum of light winds down and encloses outside courtyard into inside a main hall of the bank. Along the way, the stratum alternates its function and material but it retains a continuity of light and shadow choreography on its surface throughout.

Visitors walk through the courtyard which is enclosed by the bank’s double glaze facade. The stratum wall gestures them to different areas such as Self-service area, Video banking area, Counter-service area, Consultation area, etc. The choreography of light and shadow on the wall response to their access point. They are complimented with high volume of terrain which A main chamber is an informal lounge area which is connected support chamber through private consultation corridor. They all share the same courtyard which is brighten by the sun and is vitalized by the people.

Project Team: Pruthiphon Buakaew, Titiwat Uboltham, Kasama Yingyodyeam Read the rest of this entry »

The DHL Relay is an annual event in Denmark involving over 200,000 runners competing in teams of 5 over 5km in the 3 main cities; Copenhagen, Århus and Odense. The event requires each team to provide their own shelter leading to a proliferation of white marquees and gazebos. However, for this year’s event in Århus the team at Søren Jensen consulting engineers decided to create their own design.

With only 2 weeks to complete the design and build we adopted a ‘guerrilla engineering’ approach to the project using simple details and substituting lengthy computational analysis for physical modeling.

The final design was a cable net structure suspended within a rectilinear glulam timber frame with 1mm thick polyethylene cladding. The cable net was formed using 4mm diameter stainless steel wires with wire clamps at the nodes and fork-end connectors and steel eye bolts at the interface with the timber frame. A model of the geometry was created using Grasshopper, the form finding was done in Kangaroo and the sub-division mesh in Weaverbird. Grasshopper and Rhino Nest were used to create the cutting patterns and nest the polyethylene cladding panels. Read the rest of this entry »

Airy is a lamp that uses laminated Japanese rice paper as a main material. Lamination on the surface makes the paper prone against tearing, tarnishing and fire-retardant. A simple slot-in assembly is required to complete the kit consisting of five- and six-sided panels with finely cut perforation pattern. This allows Airy to be shipped flat-packed to save on packing materials. The finely cut perforation pattern in each panel allows the end users to extrude each panel into a desired form.

Available in four sizes (small, medium, large, and medium sphere) and two styles (pendant and floor lamp), Airy kit also includes a laminated Japanese rice paper ceiling cap, shade holder, and socket.

While maintaining the characteristics of the rice paper that provides soft diffused light effect, geometrical pattern brings unique experience to the space when Airy is lit.

Airy Lamp Series exhibited at Milan Design Week at Ventura Lambrate (April 8 – 13, 2014 Milan) and 2014 Tokyo Designers Week (October 25 – November 3, 2014 Tokyo). Airy was also one of the winners of SHADE – International Lighting Design Competition (Canada) and received a Special Jury Award.

The products will be available at the online webstore at store.24d-studio.com. Read the rest of this entry »

The method and means of tectonic principles that govern the dispersion of mass and surface in the project proposal by MA2 Architecture are subject to folding and overlapping of curved tectonic bodies. These tectonic and massing arrangements are intended to create paths of intersection and to architecturally express a forward movement projected toward the sea. The architectural formation is governed by articulation of space for the purpose of international expositions and cultural showcases. Retail and entertainment are also integrated as part of the seascape dynamic Expo Center. As the multi-massed complex is a dispersion of activates ranging from shopping, dining, expositions, and yacht clubs, it transforms the edge of Abu Dhabi into an iconic sea formation. Iconic architectural expressions within the proposal are articulated in the sail composition of being in flight at the precipice of the sea. The flowing sail architectural node within the complex becomes the epicenter of the showcase functions while enhancing the viewing, dining, and entertainment experience. Read the rest of this entry »

The site for this project designed by MuuM is located in the centre of the vast and dry Anatolian plains in central Turkey and was once used as a fish farm where water was collected in a serious of artificial ponds. Over the years, the presence of these surfaces of water altered the surrounding landscape that is now occupied by lush vegetation and trees which can be considered a true oasis in a land deprived of water.

This area has been recently acquired by the Health and Education Foundation for Children with Leukaemia with the intention of creating a unique educational and recreational complex dedicated to the promotion of a sustainable lifestyle focused on the cycles of nature, organic agriculture, permaculture, balanced growth and management of livestock and an adequate waste and compost management. As the country is experiencing a very rapid, often chaotic and devastating urbanization process with an increasing desensitization towards the destruction of natural environments, the vision behind this project is ground-breaking by offering the visitors a unique opportunity to directly engage in a variety of activities that can provide them with the practical knowledge and tools to achieve a more balanced and healthier lifestyle.

The master-plan includes various types of accommodation facilities, small conference rooms, open-air event and concert areas, workshop areas, a small market, green houses, organic farms, permaculture facilities, animal barns, compost management and waste disposal facilities, small scale energy production systems and various water related leisure facilities. Read the rest of this entry »

According to the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, God is three consubstantial persons: It is the Father who generates, the Son who is begotten, and the Holy Spirit who proceeds. During the design processes, WVA Architects emphasise on the regroupment of the structure based on the Trinitarianism. The project comprises three independent irregular building volumes. The main church symbolizes “the Father”, which locates at the front of the whole ensemble. The tower in the front stands straight pointing upright to the sky, and the cross at the top not only highlights the theme of the Christian church, but also symbolizes the connection of heaven and earth. The second church and the auxiliary buildings adjoin the main church, forms a triangle in plan. The object of the design is to embody the relation among “three persons” by using geometrical language.

While the river to the west of the church combines perfectly with the path, offering a picturesque landscape; the eastern side approach the main road, taking advantage of the convenient traffic to attract visitors to the church plaza. People gather in this peaceful place to makes a serene break from the hustle and bustle of the modern life.

Towards the outside, a suitable white coating meets the triangle-shaped church, standing as a modern sculpture beside the river. From inside, two stories are designed to increase both seating capacity and sense of space.

Comparing with the traditional stained glass, which is generally with gorgeous color and relative to the contents of the Bible, the optimized stained glass window integrates both vintage conception and modern elements, thus adds luster to the contemporary sacred space.

Taking in consideration the significance of energy-efficient concepts to the modern architecture, the window sizes of the building are optimized in order to save energy and satisfy the interior brightness at the meantime. The strip-shaped clerestory windows on the roof are selected to bring in natural light and view from outside, creating a sacred and tranquil vibe pairing white coating and newly-designed stained glass window.

Project Team:：WVA ARCHITECTS
Location： Zhangjiagang, China
Area：4270.0 sqm
Architect in Charge, Project Manager: Jean Hubert Chow
Project Team:：　Valerio Visagli, Bao Lei , Xiao Yanjun
Rendering Company：ELITE
Photographs: Courtesy of WVA ARCHITECTS Read the rest of this entry »