Singular Branching by RES studies the concept and manufacture of architectural parts through continuous material organization at multiple scales. RES is collaboration between Felipe Escudero, Giovanni Parodi, Dimitrije Miletic, and Dimitar Pouchnikov and investigates innovative manufacturing processes using fiber reinforced composites. The group specializes in simulating material behavior at a high level of resolution by means of generative processes and computer algorithms. Methods employed include machine-controlled fiber placement using agent-based drawings of strand organization and cast in suspension techniques that avoid traditional molding.

In their understanding, the building cycle is situated within the design of a process, generative at both the conceptual and manufacturing level. Building conceived like this is responsive to complex site conditions, while simulating its manufacture and assembly – no matter how messy the production is, the final architectural product happens to be delivered as one entity.

At RES, they use a fiber-reinforced composite as a material that can be manufactured so that the fiber patterning is intrinsically related to the building form. Additionally, structural analysis of the building as a whole is proposed, and would determine the vector flows. Fibers are then placed onto the parts by machines following agent-based drawings of strand organization. Finally, parts are cast in suspension and assembled on site. Read the rest of this entry »

Taipei Herbal Baths by Linda Hagberg is a project inspired by an investigation into materials and their properties change according to surrounding environment, particularly in wood and its change of shape due to humidity. It is a proposal for the Herbal Bath and Aquatic Center between Danshui River and Taipei Main Station. The main idea of this research is to explore possibility of creating a responsive space through materialistic approach, an architecture of which ephemeral and sensorial qualities are constructed from environment and material.

The bath is releasing humidity, increasing the level, which is directly affecting the wood and creating a synergy between active variable parameters. The proposed building is highly responsive – it adapts to the existing site context, the surrounding landscape, access and paths, heat extraction process, spatial layout and landscape formations. The open loop water source heat pump uses filtered river water heated up by geothermal conditions using waste heat from transport infrastructure, MRT and High Speed Train Tunnels which is used to heat pools of herbal baths. The water from River Danshui is filtered and used to extract redundant heat from existing underground transport infrastructure, constructing an environmentally sustainable system directly influenced by the varying levels of water and the heat produced by the flow of people through the site. Read the rest of this entry »

AIM, designed by brothers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, is an incredibly unique design from Italian Lighting Company, Flos. Since 1973 Flos has partnered with world-renowned designers, like Philippe Starck and Marcel Wanders, continuously producing one-of-a-kind products that bring much more to a room than just light. Each is created with a specific purpose, which is further strengthened by each designer’s distinctive style. Pictured below is one of their most well known pieces, Arco, designed in 1962 by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, and now holds a permanent place at The Museum of Modern Art.

Arco Lamp by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni

AIM (pictured below) brings a garden-like tranquility wherever it is placed, with a 9-meter long cable allowing the light fitting to be suspended 3 meters from the ceiling. In the words of the designers themselves “We have developed a new type of lamp that is naturally positioned in space – like a plant – with long cables providing maximum freedom to adjust the direction and height of the light source.”

AIM by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec

Flos designs are made famous by their iconic simplicity, and AIM is a perfect example of this. The designers of AIM sought to create a light that had infinite adjustable abilities, which can be mounted in a variety of ways depending on the room and preference of the owner. AIM and other Flos pieces can be explored and purchased at usa.flos.com

Located on the corner of Yonge and Bloor Street in Toronto,Ontario, One Bloor Street will be a truly mixed-use development, re-defining the typical ratio between residential, commercial and retail space within a single tower. Designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects, the new high-rise acts like a tool for restoring the urban experience of the street, by providing new corner landmark location. The new and exciting high-rise houses various uses – street level podium facilitates six-story retail and commercial space, while the 75 stories of the tower are residential. Carving into the existing zoning envelope, the six-story podium terraces away from the street as it stretches northward; dissolving the corner mass and preserving the existing street scale.

The corner site of the building is a gate to Canada’s premier shopping district therefore the goal was to further increase density while contributing to the public realm with new transit connections, active street level and improved pedestrian routes. The Northerly corners of this area were redeveloped in the early 1970’s, but failed to celebrate the importance of this destination by locating the retail below grade; effectively turning their back to the street. Read the rest of this entry »

Sonumbra is a light project by Loop.pH, London based art and design studio, intervening at an urban scale to re-imagine life in the city. For its very beginning, studio’s design practice aimed to reach beyond specialist boundaries, mediating between digital and biological media and facilitating urban crafts and participatory design. As Loop.pH specializes in the design and fabrication of ephemeral textile architecture and living environments, they create successful urban interventions informed by ecologically based parametric design and principles of community engagement.

Sonumbra is an outsize parasol, that could easily be planted in African village. During the day, it would offer shelter from the sun and by night it would shed light for the local community, using the energy collected in solar cells of the canopy. This smart design explores a new  role for textile while showing serious concern for the planet. At Loop.pH state that they were driven by the present situation in Africa,  where almost 80 percent of population lives without electricity. Read the rest of this entry »

Narrow tower, designed by SHoP Architects for New York, wins city approval. This skyscraper to be built on W. 57th St. was called ‘daring’ by Landmarks Commission and is higher than Empire State Building. Located in the heart of town, this residential high-rise represents quintessentially New York. The aim of the design is to bring back the quality, proportions and materiality to historic NYC towers, while also taking advantage of the latest technology in order to push the limits of engineering and fabrication.

The east and west facades of this strikingly slim building are clad in Terra Cotta, which brings a sweeping play on shadow and light from the city scale and the richness of the material, seen from small distance. The façade in general is designed to be read at multiple scales and vantage points. The north wall is wrapped in glass curtain and offers sweeping views of Central Park. Read the rest of this entry »

Talo Acoustics Mark One Esscerion Tower Speaker

Every once in a while a creation comes along that is so in tune with the inner human spirit that interacting with it transcends the physical world into a visceral emotional experience defiant of complete logical understanding. It could be said that the Talo Acoustics Mark One Esscerion tower speaker, is an example of such a creation. The experience begins with its design, which in itself, is an example of form following function done the right way. The fluid shape of the body is the result of years of acoustic resonance studies resulting in a sound that is likely more full than any other tower speaker you have ever heard. The degree to which this blend of visual and acoustic art is holistically achieved within Esscerion is conspicuously absent within the world of speakers. How could something so elementarily self-evident take this long to come to us? Given this shape the primary build material of a wood composite would likely come as a surprise to many. It is achieved through the layering of about 80 robotically cut slices. The design would all be for nothing if it weren’t for the unbelievable sound quality and power. I suppose this aspect is what completes Esscerion’s emotional experience. When your favorite songs and movies come alive with this new level of realism, one cannot but help re-live the pain and joy of those memories as this sound pierces straight to the heart and soul.

A nice touch Talo Acoustics offers is custom metallic paint finishes. Rather than settle on black or some wood grain, they offer to finish your system with any color under the rainbow. An interior designer’s dream come true. Available now at TaloAcoustics.com for $1,800 a piece, but expect to wait. They are reportedly already under a 4 month backorder.

Talo Acoustics Mark One Esscerion Tower Speaker

Talo Acoustics Mark One Esscerion Tower Speaker

Talo Acoustics Mark One Esscerion Tower Speaker

Talo Acoustics Mark One Esscerion Tower Speaker

The Liquid Glacial Table, made in clear polished Plexiglas is Zaha Hadid’s newest product design, exhibited at David Gill Galleries in London, UK. The design unites complexity and refraction of surfaces and powerful and seductive fluid-like dynamics. The basic geometry of the flat table top appears transformed from static plane to fluid by the waves and ripples which are evident below the surface, while the legs of the table seem to pour from horizontal in an intense vortex of water frozen in time.

The depth and complexity are highlighted due to using the transparent acrylic material which provides infinite kaleidoscopic refractions. The result is very playful and wonderful surface dynamics that inherits a myriad of colors from its context and continually adapts with the ever-changing viewpoint of the user.

The form of the table doesn’t compromise functionality or ergonomic requirements and a coherent evolution or Hadid’s architectural narrative. Zaha Hadid stated that she has always been interested in the concept of fluidity, which is at least very obvious, knowing her work both in fields of architecture and design. Due to advances in design, material and construction technologies, greater results are now highly achievable. Read the rest of this entry »

BIG with Kossmann.dejong+Rambøll+Freddy Madsen+KiBiSi have completed the Danish National Maritime Museum in Helsingør. By marrying the crucial historic elements with an innovative concept of galleries and way-finding, BIG’s renovation scheme reflects Denmark’s historical and contemporary role as one of the world’s leading maritime nations.

The new Danish National Maritime Museum is located in Helsingør, just 50 km (30 mi.) north of Copenhagen and 10 km (6.5 mi.) from the world famous Louisiana Museum for Modern Art. The new 6,000 m² (65,000 ft²) museum finds itself in a unique historical context adjacent to one of Denmark’s most important buildings, Kronborg Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site – known from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. It is the last addition to Kulturhavn Kronborg, a joint effort involving the renovation of the Castle and two new buildings – offering a variety of culture experiences to residents and visitors to Helsingør.

Leaving the 60 year old dock walls untouched, the galleries are placed below ground and arranged in a continuous loop around the dry dock walls – making the dock the centerpiece of the exhibition – an open, outdoor area where visitors experience the scale of ship building.

A series of three double-level bridges span the dry dock, serving both as an urban connection, as well as providing visitors with short-cuts to different sections of the museum. The harbor bridge closes off the dock while serving as harbor promenade; the museum’s auditorium serves as a bridge connecting the adjacent Culture Yard with the Kronborg Castle; and the sloping zig-zag bridge navigates visitors to the main entrance. This bridge unites the old and new as the visitors descend into the museum space overlooking the majestic surroundings above and below ground. The long and noble history of the Danish Maritime unfolds in a continuous motion within and around the dock, 7 meters (23 ft.) below the ground. All floors – connecting exhibition spaces with the auditorium, classroom, offices, café and the dock floor within the museum – slope gently creating exciting and sculptural spaces.

Bjarke Ingels: “By wrapping the old dock with the museum program we simultaneously preserve the heritage structure while transforming it to a courtyard bringing daylight and air in to the heart of the submerged museum. Turning the dock inside out resolved a big dilemma: Out of respect for Hamlet’s Castle we needed to remain completely invisible and underground – but to be able to attract visitors we needed a strong public presence. Leaving the dock as an urban abyss provides the museum with an interior façade facing the void and at the same time offers the citizens of Helsingør a new public space sunken 8 m (16 ft.) below the level of the sea.” Read the rest of this entry »