The Galaxy Soho project by Zaha Hadid Architects in central Beijing for Soho China is a 330,000 m² office, retail and entertainment complex that will become an integral part of the living city, inspired by the grand scale Beijing. Its architecture is a composition of five continuous, flowing volumes that are set apart, fused or linked by stretched bridges. These volumes adapt to each other in all directions, generating a panoramic architecture without corners or abrupt transitions that break the fluidity of its formal composition.

The great interior courts of the project are a reflection of traditional Chinese architecture where courtyards create an internal world of continuous open spaces. Here, the architecture is no longer composed of rigid blocks, but instead comprised of volumes which coalesce to create a world of continuous mutual adaptation and fluid movement between each building. Shifting plateaus within the design impact upon each other to generate a deep sense of immersion and envelopment. As users enter deeper into the building, they discover intimate spaces that follow the same coherent formal logic of continuous curve-linearity. Read the rest of this entry »

The formal language and architectural articulation of the design by Zaha Hadid Architects aims to break the static configuration of the surrounding buildings. The design’s soft and dynamic tectonic turns it into an immediate reference for the masterplan, without the need to exhaust maximum building heights.

By way of horizontal shifts of its mass, a sense of elasticity is introduced into the design allowing the building to be grounded at its elevation to the masterplan campus. This elasticity draws visitors into its interior, and permits the building to ‘float’ above the ground plain. Read the rest of this entry »

The Fog Cinema is a proposal by 24º Studio (Fumio Hirakawa + Marina Topunova) for the “Changing the Face Pushkinsky Cinema Competition” sponsored by Architizer and DuPont.

Many masters of Russian cinema, from the introduction of Lumière Brothers to Russia, then Vertov, Eisenstien, Tarkovsky and Sokurov to name a few, have provided us with unimaginable vision of how our world can be seen from a different perspective. Through their evolving art of cinema, not only do its visuals stimulate us but furthermore, our subconscious creates a deeper imagination to the contents we literally experience. Cinema world allows us to explore the unknown territory that cannot be experienced in the reality. When we enter the realm of the black box and see the events that unfold in front of us caused by the bright projection, and in the most magical moments, we feel like we are participating in those fictional events. The collapse of reality and non-reality creates a metaphysical hyper reality. In this proposal, we question the current state of contemporary cinema house that conceals its facade with various movie advertisements and timetables. Understandably this attempt literally portrays the program contained within. But such what-you-see-is what-you-get approach does not stir our imagination leaving no space for wonderings and surprise. Read the rest of this entry »

The site for this project designed by award-winning firm Emergent, is located at the heart of downtown Shenyang. Adjacent to Zhongshan Park, it is a connector between the natural and urban life of the city, making it a perfect location for a sports complex and for a National Games Arena.

“Our project is based on creating an artificial landscape for sports activities while also creating an icon for the Games. The roof of the Civic Recreation Center and Swimming Arena are interconnected to make this continuous, differentiated sports landscape connecting Park to city with cascading sports fields, pathways, and open space. This landscape features Soccer fields, basketball courts, tennis, badminton, and volleyball courts at various levels.

The National Games Arena is located on the West end of the site – an iconic figure against the relaxed background of the sports landscape. This building is a symbol of both the Games and the new status of Shenyang as a top-ten Chinese provincial capital and international city. The architecture is based on crystal patterning found in nature at all scales. The design features large membrane bubble windows with views out to the Park and the city. The patterning of the windows spreads out onto the metal panel facades of the building, erupting as zones of solar panels on the roof. Read the rest of this entry »

The future Linkong Economic Park is favourably located within the Great Hongqiao Business Zone which lies adjacent to Hongqiao Transportation Hub and in proximity to Hongqiao Airport and Shanghai’s city centre. The Great Hongqiao Business Zone enjoys access to the Transportation Hub’s high speed rail, subway and airport transportation systems and benefits from the nearby airport’s attraction for global and local enterprises wishing to settle down in the region.

Zaha Hadid Architects’ proposal for the new Linkong SOHO building aims to provide a strong visual and programmatic identity which establishes it as a unique destination in its own right. Such identity consists of an exclusive programmatic mix consolidated in three different destinations (thematic “Courtyards”) representing distinct clusters of activities, and an exceptional architecture that moulds such a programme into a landmark. Linkong SOHO is an iconic presence, standing out from the retail context of its neighbouring plots and possesses high visibility within the larger context of the Economic Park. The building’s dynamic, curvilinear form continues through its internal spatial experiences, dramatic courtyards and flowing public spaces. Read the rest of this entry »

This proposal was designed by Brian de Luna and  James Vincent for a new art gallery in Maribor, Slovenia is based on a relationship where the new building creates a dialog between its local environment and the larger urban context of Maribor. The project sets to create a dynamic relationship between the old city of Maribor and the new Art Gallery by creating a constant state of fluidity through the site, becoming a vital cultural hub along the Drava River. The building is composed of four continuous loops that merge into one space. Each loop contains it own separate program-the Children’s Museum, the Architecture Museum, the Creative Industrial Museum, and the Digital Arts Museum. Read the rest of this entry »

Nessie, designed by Moreno Ratti from Cactus Design is a take on the classic cast iron baths. It features two shells made from recycled aluminum that are wielded together. The beauty about this design is that you can create color contrasts for the two tubs. The current blue and white combo is very Greek has a  relaxing feel. Read the rest of this entry »

The premise of the project was to integrate the house to the ground while respecting the existing trees to maximize the natural shade provided us and be more environmentally conscious. So the main challenge was to find the exact spot where to place the rudeness of the house and the general form was developed at the time to dodge trees and integrate within an overall design. So the site gives way to the House, while it coexists harmoniously. In the choice of materials, use the Stone of the region to shape the foundations and walls of the ground floor, thus giving further strength visually, naturally integrates with the soil. Read the rest of this entry »

This project is a multipurpose building designed by DRA&U for fairground and cultural activities that will be incorporated into a plan for upgrading the ex industrial complex “Rossi Sud” in Latina, Italy.

The shape of the building comes from the study of shells, their real geometry, neither ideal, nor platonic. The x-ray analysis of these slender bodies gave us the ability to perceive the deficiencies, deviations, a set of slight imperfections, due to environmental disturbances during development, which makes them so fascinating. Each shell contains history and a body that evolves with sublime patience, where the beauty, usefulness, functionality and aesthetics are linked to each other, because the amazing beauty lies not only in the outer (what you see usually), but also lurks in intimacy, the hidden.

The building is generated by a continuous surface that conforms a simultaneously limited space and a connectively-distribution space. It is divided in such a way that allows to manage areas separately, among which are performance activities, shows, conventions, museums, sports, theatre and gaming zones. The outdoor area consists of paths, green areas, auditorium, playgrounds for children and an arena for outdoor events. Read the rest of this entry »

This project conceived by Design With Company contends with the competing and overlaid desires for the site of the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago by creating a new tourist destination and scenario-planning infrastructure from the existing architecture. On the roof, a 1:25 miniature replica of Chicago is constructed. A clear mound protects the model, provides space for artificial weather equipment and creates unexpected visual connections between both Chicagos. Within the mound, the model acts as a simulator for various future scenarios. Consequences of global warming, new construction, earthquakes, fires, asteroid impacts, tornados, blizzards etc. are tested repeatedly while appropriate action plans are calculated. On the exterior, the mound presents a new urban landmark along Lake Shore Drive, provides space for new lake shore activities, and redirects views through and around the existing building. Read the rest of this entry »