Mariusz G. Polski MSc. Arch. of Delft University of Technology defines metastability as a term which describes the extended duration of certain equilibria acquired by a complex system when leaving its most stable state aIer an external action.

Considering the contemporary technological levels and multiple scientific insights into natural systems that reflect metastable tendencies, it is not hard to imagine an open ended architectural design that across its life span reveals metastable qualities. It is a design that incorporates contemporary tools as a communication medium with the cultural environment and assumes uncertainty to be a planed and valuable part of the process, producing architecture that facilitates environmental feedback and drive its evolution towards internal and external homeostasis.

CACA, the Center for Aerial and Circus Arts, is located on the Northern portion of Goose Island. Situated in a busy upcoming business area of the Near North Side of Chicago, the center takes on a new symbolism of architecture, orchestrating a new typology for performers and the public realm as conceived by Daniel Caven of Illinois Institute of Technology.

The exterior form and programmatic layouts coincide with each other with rationale towards fluidity and movement. This new type of language is developed and decomposed through formal and spacial studies of the performers. CACA’s program incorporates several practice studio spaces that offer a superior aspect of visionary dynamics in aerial performance. In short, this allows for the floor to not only be the single surface for performances. Walls become apart of the performance and training. Read the rest of this entry »

French architects Michael Labory and Bertrand Schippan of MLBS Architects participated in an international competition for a pedestrian bridge in Amsterdam a few years ago. Their proposition of the “Tulip Bridge” caught the eye by a private client and MLBS was contacted to push the study further.
The tulip, symbol of the Netherlands, turns out to be evident choice for a city like Amsterdam. Its recognizable shape among thousands becomes the landmark that makes Hermitage a unique destination, an address never to be confused, while offering many activities to the inhabitants. This would easily make the project a city landmark.

In a city that seems in a constant quest for space to host different activities it would be a pity to miss the wonderful opportunity to create a multifunctional bridge. Depending on the time of day, the tulip blossoms unfolds its petals in different positions.  Read the rest of this entry »

Completed in Septermber 2012, the 62,000-square-meter Star complex, designed by Andrew Bromberg of Aedas, houses the largest auditorium of its kind in Singapore. Comprising the Star Performing Arts Centre and STAR Vista, the complex provides a premier entertainment, lifestyle, and retail experience for the Singapore community.

The civic and public components of the Star are paramount and outwardly expressed. The south elevation is completely opened up, presenting the inner workings of the facility as a visible section. The mass of the theatre floating above is faceted, cut with glass and utilizes titanium cladding. All of these help dissolve and break down the mass, playing with a composition of positive and negative readings. Read the rest of this entry »

AMS Properties Kenya has engaged New York-based Albert Angel to design their latest luxury condominium development in the heart of Nairobi. The immensely beautiful green valley site, is not only the inspiration for this 44 unit condominium project— it is the project. The series of 8-story terraced buildings step forward and backward at each level, reshaping the valley’s contours. While offering greater privacy for each unit, these shifts also allow a generous garden terrace overlooking the valley and create a new type of urban dwelling: garden villa condominiums.

Aedas is the designer for the Mapletree Minhang Development Project, Mapletree Investments Pte Ltd’s largest single investment in China to date. A ground breaking ceremony was recently held to kick start construction.

The project involves two sites— Mapletree Business City and VivoCity, with a site area of approximately 119,000 square meters and a gross floor area of about 297,000 square meters in total. Read the rest of this entry »

Paolo Venturella, Angelo Balducci, Luca Ponsi, and Paolo Gaeta envisioned a religious space with particular attention to sustainability. The project specifically focuses on photovoltaic systems and orientation creating an iconic building for the Muslim community.

The monolithic building proposal by these Italians becomes a urban fulcrum for the city of Prishtina, Kosovo. By merging the two main elements of the mosque and creating the “Kiblah wall dome,” the plan begins to indicate a direction for users to pray, creating a communal space for people to unite. Read the rest of this entry »

Architects Łukasz Wawrzeńczyk, Frisly Colop Morales, Jason Easter, and Adrian Yau understand that the cultural importance of the public library lies within the inherent power of the knowledge which it holds. This knowledge can be a significant life-altering force for the patrons of the library and furthermore within the larger community which it serves. The methods by which this information is contained and transmitted are continually evolving, yet the correlation between access to such information and issues such as upward social mobility and increased life opportunity are evident. Read the rest of this entry »

“R+D Reaction & Diffusion” was presented at the 13th International Architecture Exhibition at the Slovenian Pavilion by ro[BO]tech team comprised of Giulia Bottura, Ilaria Fiorini, Pier Luigi Forte, and Lorenzo Natali. The current society researches a user’s interconnection even more globally and immediate. This is considerably influenced by economy: Kevin Kelly in 1998 essay “New Rules for the New Economy” introduced the concept of network economy in which each operator is connected with others. Information as the glue for connections needs to express and spatially define itself and architecture must consider this need. Read the rest of this entry »

MenoMenoPiu Architects & FHF Architectes teamed up and designed this mega-stadium in Tokyo to be versatile in cultural use as well as versatile in visitor experience. Their stadium concept is a competition entry proposal of an elliptical spiral which gradually unrolls and forms the built space with a slope of 2%. This disposition aims to offer the public a perfect visibility from all of the gardens.

The stadium and its neighborhood are an integrated part of the city. The entry and exit of the stadium are made through three different circuits— an eliptical ramp including an indoor and outdoor circuit serving different gardens, 16 elevator platforms (100 people per platform) for areas of 5,000 spectators, and stairs in each area of ​​5,000 people with 16 passage units. Thus, the stadium can be evacuated in 15 minutes.

The stadium is the symbol of vitality. It is a place where you can stay before and after the event. The viewer is not only the host of the tadium, but also within an inhabited neighborhood of shopping, cinema, restaurants, hotels, housing, sports facilities, gardens and public places. All of these transform the stadium from a monument into a more familiar place, which provides its visitors with an increased freedom of social interaction.  Read the rest of this entry »