In recognition of the spiritual nature of humanity and the importance of prayer, meditation and reflection – Bahá’í temples, also known as Houses of Worship, have been established in different parts of the world and are open to all.

Light is the fundamental connecting force of the projects. The Bahá’í Temple for South America, designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects, employs both translucent stone and the newest glass technology as means of generating and manifesting both the physiological and spiritual delights of natural light embodied in architecture. Set against the stirring background of the Andean mountain range, the new Temple is to be a crystallizing of light-as-expression, an evanescent structure of white alabaster and glass: a place of pure luminescence. During the day, it is the soft undulating alabaster and glass skin of the Temple which forms its outer expression. At night, the image reverses itself, the entire volume then becoming a warm totalized glow, with the inner form of the building visible through the glass. Read the rest of this entry »

Designed by Aïe Architectes for the Bohemian Hostel for Backpackers Competition in Barcelona, the Trekking Tower reveals itself through a fascinating walk and allows the public to discover their environment – the city. The 100 meter high structure accommodates various facilities, ranging from the intimate hostel’s housing capacities to public open spaces-camping gardens. It is an urban hiking trail which starts in a city center environment with a bar, boutique and outdoor activities at its base. The trail swindles up along planted platforms (urban camping) and materialized accommodation (hostel program) to discover public spaces with view over the city. Read the rest of this entry »

“The spiral garden system”, designed by Benet and Saida Dalmau, Anna Julibert and Carmen Vilar from Spain, is one of the second prize winners of Iida Awards 2010, organized by Designboom in collaboration with Incheon Metropolitan City. The design is conceived as a spiraling garden space, enveloped by a lace-like mesh structure, shielding it from the surroundings and creating an impression of lightness. It is a sustainable public space, self-sufficient and easy to maintain. The spiral contains an ascending garden where native vegetation can coexist with urban orchards, shared and planted by the neighbors and serving also as a green outdoor walk. Fourteen meters in diameter, the structure provides 59 garden lots, with 6 square meters per person. The necessary water supply for planting is acquired by harvesting rainwater. Read the rest of this entry »

The Water Building Resort not only addresses issues of sustainability through futuristic technological experiments, but also explores financial profitability of those concepts. Its associative form (inspired by the shape of a water drop) suggests its programmatic purpose. The design of the building allows integrating renewable energy through its reception and optimization. Part of the façade is covered by photovoltaic cells of the latest generation- able to gather sun energy while achieving high level of transparency. The opposite side of the building uses its lattice structure to drive the humid air inwards, transforming it through a complex technological process into drinkable water. The air is further used to generate electricity for other equipment. The production is based on the condensation of the humid air and its concentration in the sea water, taking advantage of daily evaporation and night condensation values. The technology needed for the process relies on Teex Micron, a High-Tech mechanism of water generators incorporated into the building. Read the rest of this entry »

Commissioned by the Times Newspaper in association with Kew Gardens for the 2011 Chelsea Flower Show, the project is undertaken by NEX Architecture in collaboration with Landscape Designer Marcus Barnett. It is a temporary exhibition space with the primary task of demonstrating humanities symbiotic relationship with natural ecosystems and offering an intimate space for visitors.

As if seen through a magnifier glass, the cellular structure of plants is experienced at a larger scale. The timber and plastic pavilion mimics the growing patterns of leafs to form a modular structural grid. Using computational genetic algorithms the plan of the pavilion is grown by capillary branching and subsequent cellular division. The load-bearing branches are made from wooden spruce panels. Plastic strips are coiled into round forms and inserted into the cassettes, transmitting diffuse natural light to the interior. The roof is covered in glass and collects rainwater directing it to downwards and into the soil of the garden. Read the rest of this entry »

The aim of the project, named Habit Makes Us Blind, is to draw attention to the problem of unused spaces in urban environments. The conceptual Lego structures designed by Espai MGR are imaginative spatial exercises reminiscent of the childlike ease and playfulness of the act of creation. The surrealistic installations fill vacant plots in Valencia and act as an incentive for keeping the issue of underdeveloped neighborhoods in the public eye.

“Day by day we pass by vacant lots downtown. Just like an invisible metastasis generated in the heart of the city and extending to all its arteries. Neighborhoods that, although having a huge potential, have more and more unused spaces, a fact that does not at all promote a correct sustainable development. Years have made us immune to this problem. It’s a landscape we already recognize as typical of the central neighborhoods in Valencia.

Sometimes, the tourists are the ones who open our eyes by mentioning or questioning whether this situation is normal. On other occasions, we pay attention to it for a moment only because the secondary problems that those spaces imply affect us directly. But in most of the cases, they are only a part of our way. Like a gruyere cheese where the rats block any possibilities of reconstruction, while staring at us, far away from its holes. Read the rest of this entry »

Slovenian-based firm OFIS Arhitekti designed the proposal for Mercedes Benz Hotel Competition in Yerevan, Armenia. The concept is based on two terraced cylindrical towers connected in the ground level. The towering structures are enveloped with a green tent-shaped layer acting as a full-structural element, directing the building’s overall appearance. The position of the volumes creates remarkable views of the surroundings. The entire structure assumes the role of a landmark, with optimal views from the Teryan Street.

The higher of the towers would accommodate a restaurant, pool, spa, fitness center and bar. It would also house a hotel and apartments along with a business center, shops and a garage. The lower structure which extends outwards from the main tower would serve as housing and exhibition space as well as garage.

The structural system of the building is devised according to high seismic activity in the region. While two cores on the inner perimeter of the taller tower are required to ensure structural stability, one is sufficient in case of the lower one. At the base the outer walls of the cores are 160cm thick. Three concentric sets of composite columns are foreseen. Structural facade skin is predicted to support the gravity load of the slabs. Read the rest of this entry »

Internationally-recognized architectural firm JDS Architects has won first place at the Hangzhou Gateway Competition for the high-rise design in Gongshu District of China. The district is a part of an industrial area needing to be reintegrated into the urban fabric. The aim of the project is to create a new urban landmark as well as to offer  housing capacities. The fifteen story high tower is designed to be an icon for the urban transformation of the city. Read the rest of this entry »

With a view to create a quality environment in which to serve passengers and clients, the Kaohsiung Harbor Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications of Taiwan R.O.C. has formulated a plan for the “Port of Kaohsiung Passenger Transportation District” and the construction of the “Port and Cruise Service Center”. The aim of the competition is to improve the passenger service facilities and the surrounding environment, providing the visitors with more convenient and comfortable facilities.  Furthermore, the plan will help promote international exchange and boost international as well as domestic tourism.

Designed by Maxthreads Architectural Design, the project’s task is to create a international gateway not only for the port and cruise service center as the entry and exit point, but also for local public leisure activities. The intimate interconnected relationship created between port and cruise service center and general public by revisiting port operational event is the key element of urban integration. Read the rest of this entry »

Tham & Videgård Arkitekter is an award winning architectural firm based in Stockholm, Sweden, and directed by co-founders and chief architects Bolle Tham and Martin Videgård. Their Tree hotel is located in the far north of Sweden, near the small village of Harads, close to the Arctic Circle.

A lightweight aluminium structure is hung around a tree trunk and sheltered by the treetops. The  4×4×4 meters glass-cladded box reflects the surroundings and the sky, creating a camouflaged refuge. The interior is all made of plywood and the windows give a 360 degree view of the surroundings. The construction also alludes to how man relates to nature, how we use high tech materials and products when exploring remote places in harsh climates (Gore-tex, Kevlar, composite materials, light weight tents etc.). Read the rest of this entry »