The opening of Scandinavia’s largest hotel symbolizes not only the identity of the modern Ørestad area of Copenhagen, but also marks the Capital’s increasing importance on the international convention and congress scene. The sculptural profile and visibility of the hotel from the various corners of Copenhagen make it an architectural landmark which will draw many visitors to the Ørestad neighbourhood.

With its 814 rooms and 30 conference rooms, the Comwell Bella Sky Hotel offers a wealth of new accommodation and resources for the Bella Convention and Congress Center in Copenhagen. In future this will draw an even larger segment of the international world class conferences and events to Copenhagen. 3XN has designed the Bella Sky Hotel to create a distinct new profile on the Copenhagen skyline, with the two towers reaching up 76,5 meters, and leaning out at a staggering 15 degrees in each direction (11 degrees more than the leaning tower of Pisa). This results in a sculptural building unique in Copenhagen which has started drawing many curious looks from all over the city.

‘We have knowingly worked towards designing a building unlike anything else in Copenhagen – And we did that because Ørestad, which is a new city neighbourhood is also unlike any other place in Copenhagen. Bella Sky is designed specifically to reflect the identity of Ørestad, contributing in a positive manner,’ says Kim Herforth Nielsen, Principal and Founder of 3XN.

3XN has also designed a large portion of the interior, and in that regard has aimed to differentiate itself from other hotels. Read the rest of this entry »

Located next to basilica St Castor, in the vicinity of Deutsches Eck in Koblenz, Germany, the temporary pavilion will facilitate diverse events during summer of 2011. Occupying a plot that was previously used as a parking space, the treelike structure holds a pivotal position between The Gardening Show and the surrounding urban fabric. The aim of the project is to create a versatile space suitable for exhibitions, lectures, workshops and spontaneous gatherings of students. The members of Düsseldorf based office One Fine Day commented that one of the important aspects of the design was to educate both students and craftsmen of recent computational design and computer aided manufacturing technology.

The polygonal geometry and manifold symmetries of nearby St. Castor’s stellar vault have been a major inspiration for the project. Together with a rotationally symmetrical order a system of interdependent geometrical relations was defined that was resilient, yet rigorous enough to adapt to specific structural and functional needs. Furthermore the “branching” and inherent “porosity” of the trees’ leafy canopy above has been abstracted into the similarly “porous” pentagonal and rhombic tessellation of the surfaces. Read the rest of this entry »

The Austrian hydro power firm Verbund is planning the construction of a new mountain restaurant at 2250m above sea level. The same building is also to house the top terminal for the Reißeck incline railway, as well as information and display areas. The Viennese architects, Zechner & Zechner, have been chosen for the project, from among a field of international competitors.

The new top terminal has been interpreted as constructed landscape, which has developed naturally from the topography. The curving lower part of the station follows the contours of the surrounding landscape, and these are accentuated by their stone materiality. The roof encroaches on the building like a protective overhang of snow. Despite avoiding the usual visual language of alpine construction, this solution has produced a sensitive response to this unique location, and one which also captures the the client’s wish to present themselves as an ecological energy producer. Read the rest of this entry »

The project was created for the competition of the quay of Kiev in the contest of the Ukrainian architectural festival CANactions 2011. The main goal was reorganization of public spaces to EURO 2012. For the development was chosen the part of the European area with access to the Dnipro river.

In  “Grasshopper” – the plug-in for “Rhinoceros 4” had been made the scheme that simulates the random movements of human crowds in the limits of selected territory and attractors.

The further research was continued in the program “Processing” in which with the help of certain script the conception of Frei Otto had been simulated. The construction itself bounds over the new dominant of the area – the cableway. The other part of the area cultivation was the separate research of the slope from the observation platform to the Dniproriver. This time had been used RhinoScript. The written script gives the possibility to find the best ways of descend of a human. The last feature of the project is it’s sustainability. Besides the sanitation of the whole territory the using of the volume-spatial construction as a basis for the landscaping is also envisaged. Read the rest of this entry »

Looking at The Station 5 Water Tower designed by Ariel Noyman, one can not but recall Mendelsohn’s design for Einstein Tower. Not comparable by aesthetic sensibility nor by programmatic parameters, both structures emphasize the possibility of turning small non-commercial  facilities into valuable urban landmarks. Allocated along a network spreading across the city, these now outdated and usually vandalized architectural études seek reinvention, thus eliciting valid design excitement.

As the finalist submission to the “Water Tower-new perspectives” Competition in 2010, Station 5 attempts to revitalize an important town square surrounded by municipality buildings and primary urban institutions. Being a checkpoint for an organized cultural tour, it will offer a variety of educational and cultural activities. Furthermore, it will function as a lookout and a leisure attraction assuming the role of a true city icon.

On the entry level, the lower water pool will be converted into an exhibition space displaying the history of the local site and the city. The open gap of concrete columns between the lower and the upper pool will be transformed into a vertical garden, holding observation shafts and explanations points. The upper concrete pool cylinder will host lectures and movies; a wide porch will offer panoramic views, while the rooftop of the tower will function as a cafeteria accessible at all times. Read the rest of this entry »

Designed by Slovenia-based OFIS arhitekti, the aim of the project is to create a recognizable image of the dominant facility, placed in soft greenery. Though middles-sized, the arena gives the impression of a large and powerful landmark. Its tensile, lace-like skin completes the image of a single enclosed object, while incorporating different sets of facilities.

Internally, a rounded arena provides good acoustics and extroversive atmosphere during the game for both, players and fans. During training it prevents interruptions, allowing players to be fully concentrated on the game. Distribution of the program takes into account the natural advantages of location and existing interventions in the terrain and the fact that the stadium has 13.000 seats, has to obtain 4 stars according to UEFA categorization and have additional 3.000 m2 of public program.

Foyer for visitors is on the first floor level and has 4 accesses by stairway with access control. Foyer is a covered plateau, naturally ventilated and unheated area. This is a place for a break during the half with the visitors’ toilets, bars (drinks and snacks), first-aid room and detention. The space extends all around the inner part of the stadium arena. Read the rest of this entry »

In 2008 a prestigious competition to design Dublin’s new National Concert Hall had two finalists narrowed down from a shortlist of prominent architectural firms. 3XN and Henning Larsen Architects, both Danish Studios, presented powerful design ideas. However, due to client’s difficult financial situation caused by the global economic crisis, appointing of a final winner has been cancelled.

3XN’s proposal for the Concert Hall is a sculptural composition of volumes reflecting the interior layout of the building. Three Halls, each different in size, function and acoustic objectives, are connected by a foyer promoting flow and social interaction. The foyer expands and contracts, adapting to the new structure.

From the garden side, a transparent façade cascades down from the three Concert Hall volumes, drawing the gardens forth into the foyer and extending into a new public plaza towards Hatch Street.

The design concept from Henning Larsen Architects follows an entirely different logic. The Symphonic Hall is located at the heart of the site, becoming a pivotal point and affecting the entire organization. The Hall’s unique acoustics and lightness affect the performing act by discreetly creating unity between art and audience. Read the rest of this entry »

A new interpretation on ancient Omani architecture is explored by the Muscat Cultural Center by AS Architecture Studio. The design won the design completion to assemble the nation’s cultural heritage under one roof. A single large building with parametric roof sections perforated for light and air, the complex filters sunlight onto the large public spaces. A central courtyard is surrounded by Oman’s National Theatre, National Archive and National Library.

Placed between the sea and mountains the complex is an oasis of palm trees and protected open spaces. The 40,000 square meter area contains three wings adjacent to the courtyard. The roof bulges on the western wing for the theater program. Naturally cooled by overhangs and water features reminiscent of the countries aqueducts or falajs the courtyard is the protected core of the traditional fortified floor plan. Along with open sight lines a forest of thin columns adds airiness to the lobby and public spaces. Read the rest of this entry »

Hangzhou urban planning bureau has announced MVRDV winner of the international design competition for the China Comic and Animation Museum (CCAM) in Hangzhou, China. MVRDV won with a design referring to the speech balloon: a series of eight balloon shaped volumes create an internally complex museum experience of in total 30.000m2.

Part of the project is also a series of parks on islands, a public plaza and a 13.000m2 expo centre. Construction start is envisioned for 2012, the total budget is 92 million Euro.

Comics and animations have long been considered a form of entertainment for the younger generations but develop more and more into a sophisticated art form. The initiative for a museum especially for this relatively recent art form creates a platform which will unite the worlds of art and entertainment. By using one of the cartoon’s prime characteristics – the speech balloon – the building will instantly be recognised as place for cartoons, comics and animations. The neutral speech balloon becomes 3d.

The 30.000m2 are distributed over eight volumes which are interconnected allowing for a circular tour of the entire program. Services such as the lobby, education, three theatres/cinemas with in total 1111 seats and a comic book library occupy each their own balloon. If two balloons touch in the interior a large opening allows access and views in-between the volumes. The balloon shape allows for versatile exhibitions, the permanent collection is presented in a chronological spiral whereas the temporary exhibition hall offers total flexibility. Amsterdam based exhibition architects Kossman deJong tested the spaces and designed exhibition configurations which appeal to different age groups and allow large crowds to visit the exhibition. Read the rest of this entry »

By the efforts of preservationists, architects and  fans, the neglected Miami Marine Stadium was put under legal protection as a historical landmark, buying more time for it’s internationally supported restoration. Down Town’s Floating Stage Competition is conceived as an incentive for keeping the stadium cause in the global public eye. It drew more than 80 entries from around the world. The main requirement of the competition was to enable the future stage to navigate to other sites around Miami’s Biscayne Bay.

The first place went to Nebraskan Abingo Wu Studio, for their Miami Pearl proposal. A floating orb, partly submerged under the water would contain a circular stage. Functionally versatile, not to mention navigational, the Pearl stage was characterized by jury members as a “gorgeous design“.

A close second place was Inflatable, by Pink Cloud.DK.Design Group from Denmark. A mushroom shaped disc, helium-inflated and punctured by openings  allows the penetration of natural light. The disc serves as a canopy for the stage. The stage itself in made of transportable elements. Read the rest of this entry »