design42day » architecture http://www.design42day.com Design for today Magazine Sun, 30 Jun 2013 11:44:48 +0000 en hourly 1 Wuzhen Theater by Artech Architects http://www.design42day.com/2013/06/wuzhen-theater-by-artech-architects/ http://www.design42day.com/2013/06/wuzhen-theater-by-artech-architects/#comments Sat, 29 Jun 2013 16:19:58 +0000 Camilla Rettura http://www.design42day.com/?p=32222

Amidst the sublime, almost surreal wilderness, in the heart of the Province Zhejiang, China, the building of the Wuzhen Theater floats serenely, inviting and alluring. This rare architectural gem was designed by Artech Architects dream team, and brought the city of Wuzhen under international spotlight; the concept behind it and the end result caused quite a stir in the design world and great hype around architecture amateurs.

An ambitious project for the urban development of the province called for the construction of a grandiose edifice aspiring to become, in time, a cultural landmark. Central to the initiative was building a magnificent structure - impressive in design, and cutting-edge in terms of layout and engineering, fit to host a wide gamut of cultural events and ceremonies. Above all, the aim was to create a space able to attract and host hundreds of visitors and artists, for an exquisite international theatre festival.

The shape of the theater is inspired by that of a twin-lotus flower and features two theatres built back to back and sharing a common stage area; the two interlocking oval shapes have capacities of 1200 and 600 people, and exhibit different styles both in terms of interior design and of seating alignment - catering to the needs of different types of events or plays. One of the ovals is transparent, while the other is opaque, enabling them to complement each other sublimely. This in turn provides for toying around with light and creating a particular type of atmosphere.

The theater can be accessed by the audience either by wooden boats or by foot, passing across a bridge. Being surrounded by water, the construction also allows for viewing the plays from a covered outdoors foyer or from boats!  The unique structure of the Wuzhen Theater exhibits great flexibility in terms of ways of access and exit, audience perspective and so forth.

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Prishtina Central Mosque by Tarh O Amayesh http://www.design42day.com/2013/06/prishtina-central-mosque-by-tarh-o-amayesh/ http://www.design42day.com/2013/06/prishtina-central-mosque-by-tarh-o-amayesh/#comments Mon, 10 Jun 2013 09:26:06 +0000 riccardo http://www.design42day.com/?p=32042

A beautiful and symbolic structure dominates one of the main urban centers of Prishtina, Kosovo. With its impressive 103 meter high minarets and rotating dome, the Iranian office of consultant architects and town planners TARH O AMAYESH has projected a masterpiece Mosque. The design and conceptualization behind the edifice is particularly appropriate for a house of religion and faith: massive in size and composed of circular, ascending blocks of stone, there is a strongly figurative image of the mosque stretching out towards the skies exactly as the body reaches the soul in prayer. As a matter of fact, the project is intended as an emblem for movement and dynamics towards improvement, closely connected to the Muslim vision of the mosque as a space for becoming and spiritual rebirth.

The architects skillfully created an extensive stone surface on which the 99 names of Allah based on the Quran were beautifully carved in more than forty languages, while the minarets rising on its right side hold religious epigraphs in a continuum of the Muslim message towards the Kiblah. The mosque stands prevailing in a vast open space, untouched by the near buildings and enabling massive flows of people to access it and enjoy the prayer halls, restaurant, class rooms, library and multiple areas for social gathering. The design solution for the Prishtina mosque is clearly an effort to create a bridge between the East and West. Although a religious site for the Muslim faith, and therefore officially belonging to an Eastern culture, the city itself is strongly influenced by Western ways of life. The structure therefore also justly represents the social and historical compromise this geographic region has reached, in a progressive consolidation process of Kosovo's position in the Islamic world.

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House in Muko by Fujiwarramuro Architects http://www.design42day.com/2013/05/house-in-muko-by-fujiwarramuro-architects/ http://www.design42day.com/2013/05/house-in-muko-by-fujiwarramuro-architects/#comments Tue, 14 May 2013 10:27:07 +0000 Camilla Rettura http://www.design42day.com/?p=31502

The family house in Muko, Kyoto by FujiwarraMuro Architects, founded in 2002 by Shintaro Fujiwara and Yoshio Muro, is a reconciling oasis of Japanese zen with Scandinavian decor influences.  A poetic treatment of light is the sweet spot of this house, glowing with all the exquisite simplicity of an haiku.

The exterior appears as a fan shaped building, following the semi-circled inflection of the road it rests on.

Huge, vertical louvres donate it a pleated appearance and allow for a natural filtering of the light, so that the movements of the sun can deeply penetrate its interiors  all year round, while a variety of shadows are cast over the single-roomed space at  different times of the day.

The louvered boardsalso conduct the flow of the artificial light to the outside of the building.

The golden lights of the interiors emanate a warm glow which contributes a cozy feel to the otherwise plain and simple surroundings.

On a fine day, a blue sky at dusk can make for a perfect mélange of blue and gold, water and earth, sea and sun.

When it comes to the interiors, the view can soothe a disquieted mind with a general overwhelming impression of peace and harmony. Luminous because of the tall sleek windows, but also because of the choice of materials and shades, soft colors, light wood and polished surfaces give an impression of cleanliness and purity. A smooth surface to slide on bare-footed.

An open space combining living room and dining room occupies the ground floor, and a bedroom filled up by a double bed is enclosed in its rear end. A staircase leads to the upper floor, where lies a children bedroom, on a floor which is set back from the wall so that it leans on the level below in a balcony-like manner.

Another staircase leads up to a third floor with bathroom and washroom and further proceeds upwards to a rooftop terrace, thus completing this layered, perfectly balanced architectural space.

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Photos by Toshiyuki Yano

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Fletcher Hotel by Benthem Crouwel Architects http://www.design42day.com/2013/05/fletcher-hotel-by-benthem-crouwel-architects/ http://www.design42day.com/2013/05/fletcher-hotel-by-benthem-crouwel-architects/#comments Mon, 06 May 2013 16:11:11 +0000 Camilla Rettura http://www.design42day.com/?p=31503

The Fletcher Hotel by Benthem Crouwel Architects, finished in 2013 in the development area of Amstel III, creates a welcoming contrast to the city of Amsterdam. Still keeping the traditional Dutch approach of building rather high than broad but with optimal usage of space, the hotel stands out due to its modernity and its unique façade.

Built conveniently close to the highway entering Amsterdam, the Fletcher Hotel surly marks the entrance to the city. The most obvious but also most outstanding feature of the building is its roundness in every way. The hotel itself, the windows, the decoration on the façade as well as the interior, everything is held in smooth circular ways.

With a height of 60 meters and a floor plan with a diameter of only 24 meters the hotel features a quite slim silhouette, further enhanced by its fully glazed façade with bend screens. Light blue colouring with circles in different shades of blue printed on glass front provide for a transparent outer shell which due to illumination perfectly comes into gloom also during night. Apart from the appealing visual effect, the glass front also provides for noise reduction.

The height of the building of course is not solely used to save space but also offers the guests of the hotel the so called “Pi Skyrestaurant” and the “Pi Skylounge” located in the 17th and 18th floor. Thanks to the structure of the hotel, guests can enjoy a 360° panoramic view over the roofs of Amsterdam. Even some true showpieces are shown in bar and restaurant; one of the world largest chandeliers, “the dream”, hangs down two whole floors form the restaurant through the bar and a four meter long piano also called “the whale” due to its shape provides for musical support.

The 120 rooms encircle the staircase with lifts in the heart of the tower and lobby as well as coffee shop at ground level. As mentioned, the interior is completely in line with the general structure of the building; round shapes made out of delicate materials created a both minimalistic and luxurious atmosphere. Cylindrical glass showers and large round windows varying in size from four to eight meters transmit a sense of freedom and give the guest the impression of being in a loft.

Apart from focus on innovative design, great attention is paid to environmental friendly measures including the use of water-saving showers and energy-efficient lighting, separation of waste, an energy-saving room key system, time switches for corridor lighting and much more.  For all this and the application of subterranean thermal storage system as well as top level façade insulation, the hotel will soon receive the Green Key Gold, the highest hallmark of social and corporate responsibility.


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Photos by Jannes Linders

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Miss Ko by Philippe Starck http://www.design42day.com/2013/04/miss-ko-by-philippe-starck/ http://www.design42day.com/2013/04/miss-ko-by-philippe-starck/#comments Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:45:12 +0000 Camilla Rettura http://www.design42day.com/?p=31235

Located in the epicenter of Paris, Miss Ko is a restaurant that brings its diners into a busy Asian street, electric with futuristic moving screens, pops of color and traditional Asian artwork. The design of the interior of Miss Ko is carefully concocted to create a moment of interaction between the user, or the diner, and the space that he or she occupies. Every element of the restaurant contributes to this chemical reaction, whether it be exposed brick on the wall or the borderline creepy murals of doll-eyed nudes, the food the guests enjoy, the Asian news stories playing on the screens that line that bar, or the enormous teapot-shaped lamp that hovers above a long, narrow, family-style table adorned with white candelabras and different colored glasses – every individual part becomes intertwined to evoke the feeling of truly being in a very different place than Paris’ golden triangle.

It’s impossible for the eye to rest on one object; the space is packed with pieces that beg for attention. However, the overarching goal of Miss Ko is not to let small tokens reflect a glimmer of a culture, but for the air to change, and for the entire atmosphere to breath with that culture. The layers that Philippe Starck has put in place for this latest project of his really create an overwhelming sense of kinetic curiosity, which is directly mirrored by the menu. Chef Fabrice Monot says that, ''Miss Kō is a fantastic project that gives me license to prepare dishes with diverse tastes that are simultaneously mild, more intense, and more aromatic. It’s truly a flavor clash. It is absolutely essential for me to make the Miss Ko restaurant the gold standard in culinary renewal,” and his words can easily apply to the eclectic space in which his cuisine is served.


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Bratislava Culenova by Zaha Hadid Architects http://www.design42day.com/2013/03/bratislava-culenova-by-zaha-hadid-architects/ http://www.design42day.com/2013/03/bratislava-culenova-by-zaha-hadid-architects/#comments Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:12:40 +0000 Camilla Rettura http://www.design42day.com/?p=30150

An extremely inventive way to redesign a city around a decommissioned power plant is the example of Bratislava's new project for its city center, expanding on a gross surface of 150,000 square meters. The architecture studio Zaha Hadid, in charge of the operation, idealizes the complete renovation of this unused patch of land, with the intention of transforming it in a dynamic field of circular and elliptical patterns. The finished work will provide a modern and clean public space for the Slovakian citizens giving availability of livable green areas and residential as well as office buildings.

At first sight, the structure seems like nothing the city has ever hosted, its unique yet radical contemporary design imposing and distracting from its surroundings. But after a careful look around, it is clear how the construction plan perfectly adapts to the environment in which it is placed, with the tallest towers intentionally built towards the perimeter of the plot and the mid-rise structures in its inner section, better accommodating to the human scale. Users are especially engaged in the use of the parks thanks to several sculptural circulation elements built in the green spaces, which harmoniously tie all of the buildings together.

The result, in its completeness, is of a fluid vision of white skyscrapers and green patches, a flash of modernity and energy emerging from a desolate, grey district. Enhancing its great practicality, an underground car parking is included in the project, as long as spaces for retailing, conference and event halls, a cultural center and a museum shop. In various strategic points, the site's perimeter has either been raised to allow easier access to its facilities, or merged with the surrounding city level, achieving an ideal balance between outright originality and link to the existing urban fabric.

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“The Bricks“ by Doojin Hwang Architects http://www.design42day.com/2013/02/the-bricks-by-doojin-hwang-architects/ http://www.design42day.com/2013/02/the-bricks-by-doojin-hwang-architects/#comments Mon, 25 Feb 2013 11:26:16 +0000 Camilla Rettura http://www.design42day.com/?p=29467

"The Bricks“ by Doojin Hwang Architects combines traditional building material with innovative features, namely an exposed stairway that ascends from the ground to the fifth floor creating a spiral line all around the building.
The simple bricks contrast with the dynamic, modern line of the glass stairway, making this unique concept the signature feature of the architecture. The completely visible stairway also creates the impression of reveling a little bit of the inside of the building and at the same time provides a great view from every side when walking up.
Furthermore the architects applied several different types in layering the brick and placing the fenestration, creating the effect of a partly transparent, semi-transparent and sometimes opaque façade.
“The Bricks” is located Daehangno, a vibrant neighborhood Seoul, Korea which is mainly famous for its small theaters and its outdoor performances of young talents. The building was designed to match the lively culture and the spirit of the area and therefore provides a theater with an eight meters high stage in the basement floor. The rest of the building is planned for lease and the top will be used a romantic garden where one can enjoy the vividly scenery of the district.

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Greenland Group Suzhou Center http://www.design42day.com/2013/02/greenland-group-suzhou-center/ http://www.design42day.com/2013/02/greenland-group-suzhou-center/#comments Fri, 15 Feb 2013 14:03:27 +0000 Camilla Rettura http://www.design42day.com/?p=29469

Besides looking almost exactly like the drawings of “The Future” from the years when computers were still the size of rooms, the Greenland Group Suzhou Center in Wujiang, China is packed with functional intricacies and green innovations. Coming from the minds of the people working in the Chicago office of SOM – Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP, this design is one of the sleekest to date. The curved glass looks like liquid metal curving in, over and around the edges of the frame, which hollows out at the top and sides. The structure will employ a number of high efficiency measures that will achieve a 60% savings in both energy consumption and potable water use. These sustainable elements paired with the undeniable beauty of the building are meant to represent the bright future of the city, and as it is positioned right on the lake, the high-rise will leave this optimistic mark on the skyline.

The main feature of this design is the semi-controlled atrium, which allows for the optimal amount of natural ventilation and sunlight in the public spaces. In other words, it acts kind of a lung, allowing the building to breathe – to take in new air and expel the stale air. This high-rise lung takes advantage of its surroundings and recourses provided by nature; it is positioned in just the right way to optimize the stack effect of the winds coming off of the adjacent lake. Some other functional features include a high performance façade, natural light harvesting through innovative openings in the frame, energy recovery systems and an on-site energy center.

This 75-story work of art will house a hotel, residential space and office space – but it will all be brought together by bright, expansive lobby space full of sunlight and sleek, geometric lines. The clean design will surely become a highlight of the Wujiang skyline once the blueprints come to life.

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Spiralab by KINO Architects http://www.design42day.com/2013/02/spiralab-by-kino-architects/ http://www.design42day.com/2013/02/spiralab-by-kino-architects/#comments Fri, 08 Feb 2013 15:05:34 +0000 Camilla Rettura http://www.design42day.com/?p=29346
The Tokyo based KINO Architects studio has been recruited, in the past years, for numerous projects all around Japan, including the construction of a chemical research laboratory to enrich the boosting industrial area of Chiba. The building has been completed several years ago and occupies today an important position with respect to the concept of Space Efficiency. Spiralab was requested to be built in a way in which it could provide a higher level of flexibility of its experimental rooms, facilities that are usually very specific in technology and almost impossible to employ for more than one use. In this laboratory researchers are therefore able to adapt with versatility the many quarters of the building to the nature of their projects, all this in a context of High Security and High Comfort. These two further requests were also very well met by the team of architects, through the addition of the most modern security systems and an extremely pleasant design of offices and break areas.

The atypical name and structure of the edifice are attributable to the characteristics of a spiral: a continuously winding object gradually curving around a central point, the perfect metaphor of the laboratory complex being developed around these three fundamental requests. The spiral shape also becomes the key to the interpretation of the final request of the building's sponsors, a Symbolism of the architecture to help promote the company's capabilities around the world.

The structure is completely earthquake proof, with its parts arranged in a U-shaped block: the linear plan of the rooms and laboratories surround a middle horizontal slice, dedicated to a simple garden. The various types of work-spaces are arranged according to their function, with meeting rooms and offices located on the middle floor because of their need of privacy, while labs are found on the lower floors, as they do not require any particular separation between one another.

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Macalister Mansion by Ministry of Design http://www.design42day.com/2013/02/macalister-mansion-by-ministry-of-design/ http://www.design42day.com/2013/02/macalister-mansion-by-ministry-of-design/#comments Thu, 07 Feb 2013 16:47:45 +0000 Camilla Rettura http://www.design42day.com/?p=29347

Macalister Mansion, located in the heart of Georgetown, Penang, is designed around the idea of an old English mansion and was transformed from a colonial Villa into an exclusive boutique hotel with historic flair. Not only the name was chosen to honor Sir Norman Macalister, one first British Governors of Penang, but also several pieces of art on the property remind the guests of the colonial times and his governor.

Ministry of Design”, an interior and architectural design bureau only taking on chosen projects, recognized the great potential of the property and re-designed the villa (originally built in the early 1900), into a hotel with extraordinary features perfectly combining contemporary design with heritage.

The whole concept is based upon providing the hospitality of an actual home and offering more than the ordinary hotel experience. This is achieved through the creation of several individual spaces, all following a distinct theme supporting its purpose and creating a unique atmosphere. The property is divided into Dining Room, The Den, Living Room, Bar, The Lawn (with an outdoor pool area) and 8 individually designed Rooms fulfilling diverse preferences. Each Room encompasses specially commissioned art pieces, influenced by the life story of Sir Norman Macalister, to accent the contemporary theme.

An exceptionally special experience offers the Dining Room, which was designed around the idea of letting the guest dine in an exclusive manner contrasted by the fairy-tale like interior. Pastel colored deer peek around a tree whilst small birds and squirrels rest on the branches looking down on the dinner guests who can enjoy their, equally exclusive, meal in a light-colored  “magic forest”.

The lawn and pool area are characterized by a mastic flair letting the gust enjoy a cocktail in the pool or simply the impressive design of the whole property in a sun lounger. The Den, The Bar and The Living Room, each designed in an individual manner support the mood created by its interior by offering a mainly one specific type of beverage; namely whisky, cocktails or exotic tees.

For those who value luxurious lifestyle destinations to relax and appreciate the presence of great art and interior design Macalister Mansion is definitely worth a visit.

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The Perot Museum of Nature and Science http://www.design42day.com/2013/01/the-perot-museum-of-nature-and-science/ http://www.design42day.com/2013/01/the-perot-museum-of-nature-and-science/#comments Tue, 15 Jan 2013 16:01:42 +0000 Camilla Rettura http://www.design42day.com/?p=28958
Everything about this museum is unique, from the pre-cast concrete on the outside, to the exterior escalators, to the innovative exhibitions which in December have started presenting the revolutionary structure through stimulating hands-on experiences. Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Thom Mayne and his partners of Morphosis Architects conceived the Perot encounter as a journey, a story in which to walk and discover hundreds of living science lessons.
The construction is today one of the boldest pieces of modern architecture to hit Dallas, Texas, being considered as a fusion between a natural site and an exhibit of displaced geology.

In the inside pipes and cables can be visible from the ceilings and walls, painted in different colors according to the function, in order to teach yet another lesson on how the system comes alive within the building. This transparency in content is also accompanied by the striking 54-foot continuous flow exterior escalator, contained in a glass tube-like structure trough which the staggering view of a river, pond and rich green fields can be appreciated.
The special relationship between the building and landscape environment can in fact provide a 21st century sense of how we understand nature in ecological terms, which as Mayne states is today an absolutely crucial issue. The project has been developed locally and sustainably, with the landscape design celebrating an abstract-cross section of Texas and with a building plinth roof which homes drought-tolerant plants native of the region.

Although it will feed curiosity at any age, the targeted users of the museum are children, functioning as a vital instrument for expanding their imaginations and opening their minds to the fields of architecture and engineering. Hosting eleven permanent exhibit halls, the museum will teach on Discovering Life, Being Human, The Expanding Universe and much, much more.

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Hit Gallery Hong Kong by Fabio Novembre http://www.design42day.com/2013/01/hit-gallery-hong-kong-by-fabio-novembre/ http://www.design42day.com/2013/01/hit-gallery-hong-kong-by-fabio-novembre/#comments Mon, 14 Jan 2013 14:52:58 +0000 Camilla Rettura http://www.design42day.com/?p=28950

The HIT Gallery, whose interiors have been conceived by Milan-based Italian architect and designer Fabio Novembre, opened in September 2012 in Hong Kong. The first impression of it is not at all at odds with its name: a carefully curated space, where clothing and accessories are elegantly showcased in a way which distinctly reminds of contemporary art pieces in veritable galleries.

What one is actually looking at is the first iteration of an innovative multi-brand retail concept, a project by Ittierre S.p.A. Based in Petronello, Molise, Ittierre controls the industrial production and global distribution of licensed apparel and brand collections, in partnership with some renowned maisons of the like of Pierre Balmain, Galliano and Karl Lagerfeld Paris. Jean Paul Gaultier has also recently signed with Ittierre on account of the development of its Fall 2013-2014 menswear collection.

The HIT Gallery chain is meant to  feature several of the lines represented by Ittierre and proposes itself as a global unique customer-service centred shopping experience, whereby brand logos and signposts are discarded to give the space an elegant, uncluttered feel, placing emphasis on the aesthetic immersion in a high-fashion reality.

The Hong Kong HIT Gallery is to be found in the Times Square shopping center and it is 100-square metre of cool and minimalist visual impact.  The highlights of the spaces are strongly neon-lit ceilings, a perimetre of illuminated arches enclosing a sparse assortment of apparel, walls painted by an indefinable tone of light-blue, ideally neutral so as to provide an optimal backdrop for the stock, and black-and-white striped floors presenting a somewhat optical effect. Novembre confirms the strong Italian imprint of these stylistic choice and nods to the surrealistic atmosphere of  the paintings of Giorgio De Chirico in imagining the space.  Open squares one accesses through arched passages dominate the way the visitor is guided through the shopping itinerary. The light, the sky-blue surroundings and the presence of two symmetrical bust-shaped fixtures at the centre of the customer journey through the store add to the enticing visual stimulation, whereby accessories and clothing alike are placed in niches and cut-off areas allowed by the design in a way that never allows for a dull gaze. Occasionally, the eye catches an unusual element confirming the dreamy atmosphere of the place, such as the Her Chair, shaped as a naked kneeling woman, also a signature piece of Novembre.

Starship or futuristic enclave, the feel is distinctly contemporary and forward-looking, a brilliant tackling of merchandising challenges and a step toward the future of luxury retail.

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Bicentennial Civic Center Argentina by GGMPU Architects http://www.design42day.com/2013/01/bicentennial-civic-center-argentina-by-ggmpu-architects/ http://www.design42day.com/2013/01/bicentennial-civic-center-argentina-by-ggmpu-architects/#comments Sat, 12 Jan 2013 11:59:33 +0000 Camilla Rettura http://www.design42day.com/?p=28902

The Bicentennial Civic Center is the new administrative complex in Cordoba jointly designed by Argentine practices GGMPU and Luca Morini. It is going to be located on the edge of the historic city center of Cordoba, on the side of Suquia river with the aim of becoming the new city center. The city is primarily known for the University of Cordoba, the oldest one in Argentina, and for the Jesuit Block, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the new architectural complex has the intent to bring brand-new energies and a focus on the civic activities inside the community.

The Civic Center is composed by two buildings and the connection with the historic city centre is provided by two bridges, crossing the adjacent river. The first building with a faceted-prism shape  is a medium-rise structure made of concrete which houses ministries. The prism building is able to make a 20 degrees rotation, generating a complex morphology of triangles, an interplay of lights and shadows, that are able to make it even more unique.

The second building, housing the administrative functions, continues to use the same architectural language of the first structure with smaller scaled rhomboids located along
its horizontal volume. On the top surface is placed a garden roof with grass in order to mitigate the temperature of the building in the different seasons. The governor's house is 
located on top of this plane and it consists of a single freestanding object with mirror-clad faces.

The project is in development and the next phase concerns the completion of the
 administrative area and the construction of the convention center.

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Photographs: Claudio Manzoni, Leonardo Finotti, Courtesy of Lucio Morini

 

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Lazika Municipality by Architects of Invention http://www.design42day.com/2013/01/lazika-municipality-by-architects-of-invention/ http://www.design42day.com/2013/01/lazika-municipality-by-architects-of-invention/#comments Fri, 04 Jan 2013 14:10:01 +0000 riccardo http://www.design42day.com/?p=28710

An edifice projected to serve as a public service's headquarters in a city not yet existing. This is the case of the Municipality building in Lazika, Georgia, entirely developed by the London and Tbilisi firm Architects of Invention. The project was born only after the 2011 decision of the Georgian president to embrace the Chinese principles of instantaneous urban planning and erect Lazika city in what is now a desolate, swampy land. The advancement of the building was almost instantaneous itself, being completed after only 168 days the past September.

The office complex is an elaborate steel structure consisting of separate volumes, each functionally separated from the others. The metal and glass blocks are spaced from one another through narrow columns, which traditionally rise from the ground level the houses located in the same damp-soil area. The result, from a visual point of view, is something similar to "floating objects", also a clever attempt at raising the client's awareness of the risks associated to see level rises caused by an anticipated global warming. Somewhere in between an edifice and a sculpture, the whole project was considered as a void that had to be filled up with alternate masses, creating what is now an original mixture of empty and full spaces.

The complexity of the building's design mandated for the exclusive use of steel applying the Structural Steel Framing Solution technique to complete it, although the original idea was to keep costs down by employing local contraction methods and materials. The structure can hold about 40 employees, divided into a ground-floor staff for the Public Services Hall and two plinth offices for the Municipality. The elevated-surfaces construction was purposefully thought to interact with the predominantly flat geography of the area, allowing to overlook all around the city of Lazika, which will soon sprout to life.

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Beko Masterplan by Zaha Hadid Architects http://www.design42day.com/2012/12/beko-masterplan-by-zaha-hadid-architects/ http://www.design42day.com/2012/12/beko-masterplan-by-zaha-hadid-architects/#comments Fri, 28 Dec 2012 17:08:16 +0000 Camilla Rettura http://www.design42day.com/?p=28635

This preliminary solution of the residential and office complex on one of the most attractive locations in Belgrade, Serbia, is signed by the Zaha Hadid architectural studio from London. The core of this proposal is the urban regeneration of the site  where the former textile factory “Beko“ is currently placed - at the Danube riverside and near the historical Kalemegdan fortress. A complete revitalization is in curse, and only the name will be retained respectfully.

Following the Belgrade's signature Modernist movement (the construction period that started in the 1930's and suddenly stopped in the 1980's), the project is somewhere between that distinctive concept and Zaha Hadid's recognizable style. The Beko complex will cover the area of 94,000 square meters and it will include an innovative residential part, offices, retail spaces, galleries, underground garages, a department store, a five-star hotel and a congress center. The construction will be conducted under eco and environmentally friendly conditions, bearing in mind that the important protected cultural monuments are located in the vicinity.

This multi-purpose complex is attractive for its “curves“ and avant-garde touch, recalling a crazy ride in an amusement park. On the edges of the buildings it is obvious how many different levels there are, but as the lines go down to the center as water slides, the perspective is getting more unconventional. Private and public spaces merge successfully into modern green area between buildings, resembling a distorted infinity sign.

This exquisite architectural form will refresh the potentials of this part of the city. In addition to the cutting edge aesthetic and usable space, this project will contribute to the revival of the city by the waterside and adding exclusivity to it, together with the neighboring project on the river Sava dock named “Cloud“ by the Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto.


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Lemperle Residence by Jonathan Segal http://www.design42day.com/2012/12/lemperle-residence-by-jonathan-segal/ http://www.design42day.com/2012/12/lemperle-residence-by-jonathan-segal/#comments Fri, 21 Dec 2012 13:11:55 +0000 Camilla Rettura http://www.design42day.com/?p=28599

La Jolla. Whoever has been so lucky to visit this incredibly stunning, hilly seaside resort-community located on the northern part of San Diego, California, would have probably thought that nothing could make it more enchanting, since Mother Nature did such a good job. Well, this may not actually hold true. The local architect Jonathan Segal, already awarded several times for the amazing residences he created, especially in San Diego, has managed to further exalt the natural beauty of this earthly heaven through a hyper-luxurious residence that sits right on the coast, straight in front of the Pacific Ocean.

The Lemperle Residence is the pure embodiment of the contemporary California lifestyle. Describing it is hard and easy at the same time: perfect is the first adjective that comes to mind after taking a look at the picture of the development. Nevertheless, despite the purity of shapes, outcome of a deep and careful study of geometric disposition of spaces, it is complexity that rules the game. As a matter of fact, the design of this place is marked by extreme intricacy, since the three different floors lie one above the other as if they were constructed separately and then just put together as puzzle pieces. The closed part of the house, relegated to the middle floor, which is reserved to the bedrooms, is contrasting with the open ground floor, where the aseptic white furniture is counterbalanced by a spectacular soft lighting installation and a massive usage of red wooden surfaces, even for covering ceilings. The most stunning open space, however, is without a doubt the rooftop, hosting a jacuzzi from which one can contemplate the Utopian landscape and its ever-changing colors.
The interiors of the house are extremely variegated: squared and minimal armchairs and metallic tables go hand in hand with eccentric furnishings and fittings, and in general not a single style seems to prevail.
A touch of genius is the fireplace set on the ground floor, straight in front of the Ocean and immediately before the peak of the rocky coast: a delightful contrast of natural elements, fire against water, a genuine pleasure for the eyes.
Amazing how nature fits and integrates with this noninvasive human creation: maybe this house is worth a visit to La Jolla, don’t you think so?

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B&N House by A-cero http://www.design42day.com/2012/12/bn-house-by-a-cero/ http://www.design42day.com/2012/12/bn-house-by-a-cero/#comments Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:51:26 +0000 Camilla Rettura http://www.design42day.com/?p=28500

The Madrid B&N House, a project by studio A-cero, consists in the redesign of an existing property in need of an image upturn. The two main issues at hand were the quest for a renewed external image, along with an interior which would have a more contemporary feel to it, with particular attention to the role played by light.
Joaquin Torres and Rafael Llamazares' A-cero can count renowned clients of the like of Citroen, Instituto Cervantes, L'Oréal and Inditex. As per its intrinsic design philosophy, when tackling this project the studio focused not only on the aesthetic aspects but also detected a need for a functional reform in the house structure and aimed at creating a new concept which would harmoniously combine these two facets of architecture design. Careful to hold on to the same concept throughout the entire process, the why is deemed as important as the how and this is something that can be remarked when it comes to the modern, futuristic, impression proposed by the B&N House.

Once spotted for the first time it is easy to instantly detect the A-cero mark on a certain project. A-cero embraces radical contemporary forms, unorthodox structures of domestic spaces, extreme curves and angles and monumentality. But also, well-tamed green lawns, swimming pools, flat roofs and surfaces which elongate horizontally as opposed to growing in height. Dominant colors being rather cool ensembles of white, grey and black.

These patterns can indeed be spotted when observing the current B&N House outlook. The first impression is of looking at a spaceship which has set itself in a verdant lot. When considering the exterior of the house, the main changes were made to its south side. A more modern and organic look was achieved through forms obtained with aluminum foil, undulating lines which are a signature of the design studio. Structural modifications to the main plan were also made, the living area expanded and the porch extended leveraging the volumes of the new roof projections.

When it comes to the interior, the main issue for the house was lack of light. The space of the large ground floor living area was broken out into different sections: dining area, reading area, TV area, plus kitchen and service area. The upstairs floor consisting of bedrooms, with stairs endowed with a sculptural railing connecting the two. The light would then infiltrate and irradiate the floor from above openings in unusual cuts and shapes, but also come in from large windows facing the surrounding garden. Some original furniture was kept, but new pieces have been designed by A-cero, following the lead of white as a dominant color for the interiors, complemented by light brown tones and warmer colors for the bedrooms.
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Galaxy Soho by Zaha Hadid Architects http://www.design42day.com/2012/11/galaxy-soho-by-zaha-hadid-architects/ http://www.design42day.com/2012/11/galaxy-soho-by-zaha-hadid-architects/#comments Mon, 26 Nov 2012 13:47:17 +0000 riccardo http://www.design42day.com/?p=28324
When visualizing the new Galaxy Soho building by London firm, Zaha Hadid Architects, one is transported into the future. All that is missing is the buzz of hover cars zooming in and around the four dome-like structures that make up this visionary complex. Located in Beijing, Galaxy Soho is a 330,000-square-metre retail, office, and entertainment complex that exemplifies Zaha Hadid’s impeccable eye for using nature’s lines and rhythms as inspiration for contemporary design. Most recently known for the design and creation of the 2012 London Olympic Aquatics Center, Zaha Hadid has continued to broaden the capacity of architectural design. Her work is not static, boxy, or current. Instead, her vision goes beyond what we know to be current, contemporary design and plunges it into the imaginative possibilities of the future. Every project is an organic moment in time captured in a still frame. The viewer can picture where it came from and where it may go, making these functional spaces expressive pieces of livable sculpture. Motion is a key thematic concept seen throughout the body of work this visionary artist has steadily developed and the new Galaxy Soho in Beijing is no exception. Eighteen floors of multi-functional, intimate spaces directly parallel the constantly interactive and dynamic nature of Beijing.

The design of the space is grounded in four pod/dome-like structures that flow and connect through a series of bridges, curved floor planes, and material harmony. The structural interaction between these four separate domes creates various courtyards and a larger central space reminiscent of the inner canyons of an underground cave. Three below ground floors lend themselves precisely to this idea and function as retail space surrounding the courtyards with high-end boutiques and stores. These courtyards also recall traditional Chinese architecture in which the interaction among a continuum of courtyards and open spaces creates a volumetric flow rather than a structural blocking of functional space. Visitors are invited to wander and discover what lies deep within the curvilinear walls of the lower plateaus.

The undulating curves continue through contour lines, which are created literally through the windows that visually separate each floor. The structure as a whole has the resulting feeling of a topographical landscape drawing. Floors four through fifteen are comprised of office spaces while restaurants and café’s reside in the upper levels: functionally a perfect response to the multiple levels of contemporary Beijing. Materials are ever so important in creating this seamless contemporary landscape through the exterior use of aluminum and stone and the interior use of stainless steel, glass, terrazzo, and glass reinforced gypsum.

Zaha Hadid and her firm celebrated the completion of Galaxy Soho with 15,000 guests from around the world. Although Galaxy Soho may stretch beyond our imagination and into the perplexity of the future, it is sure to become a landmark instillation of functional art in central Beijing today.

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Veilige Veste by KAW Architecten http://www.design42day.com/2012/11/veilige-veste-by-kaw-architecten/ http://www.design42day.com/2012/11/veilige-veste-by-kaw-architecten/#comments Wed, 14 Nov 2012 20:09:42 +0000 riccardo http://www.design42day.com/?p=28146

Literally called “Safe Fortress”, the Dutch edifice located in Leeuwarden, Friesland, is exactly what its name suggests: one of the most contemporary-looking refuges especially dedicated to human trafficking and child prostitution victims. With its three stories of diagonally folded white panels, the building was used to host a police station right after its construction back in the 1970s and has now enough space to provide homes for 48 girls who have suffered abuses of some kind.

It is the first example in North Netherlands of the implementation of Passivhous principles, according to which only a minimum use of energy is made and thus a much-reduced ecological footprint can be achieved. The shelter is able to optimize cooling and heating expenses through an optimized insulation system and draft proofing installations.

In coherence with its protective function, the layout and appearance of the edifice resembles that of a fortress, with a tall façade partly covered with angled, square elements and partly with an alternate sequence of wooden panels and windows. Its elevated position on a platform provides intimacy for its discrete residents, as long as a great degree of interaction with its surroundings. While the bedrooms are concentrated in the top floors, the ground level was conceived as a colorful meeting area, also fitting several treatment facilities. Lastly, the building also has a protected roof terrace for moments of outdoors familiarity, accommodating to the fullest the needs of its unfortunate occupants.

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Green Village http://www.design42day.com/2012/11/green-village/ http://www.design42day.com/2012/11/green-village/#comments Mon, 12 Nov 2012 12:05:59 +0000 riccardo http://www.design42day.com/?p=28096

Spectacularly structured bamboo homes are available since this past August for short and long term rentals along the rural setting of the Ayung river in Bali, Indonesia. The design and construction project was completed by team Ibuku, especially known in its field for the honorable mission of providing living spaces in which people can live a true relationship with nature. The functionality of their houses is always accompanied by the exclusive use of natural materials for both the building and furnishing phases of their work, guaranteeing integrity with the surroundings.

One of the designers’ most ambitious and successful developments is, in fact, the construction of the 15 houses belonging to the Green Village concept, fundamentally based on sustainability and craftsmanship. As specialists in the characteristics and growth cycles of bamboo, Ibuku almost entirely realized the village from this especially strong, flexible and scenic material, maximizing the use of efficient and ecologic resources. Apart from being sustainable, the project is also a conscientious contribution to the Balinese community: a percentage of the villa’s selling price is donated to the local Green School Student Scholarship Fund and it has provided, up to now, free tuition to 15% of the student body.

The interiors feature a traditional division of rooms, substituting most walls with the breath-taking panorama of the island’s lavish jungle. With the use of such a unique material, the designers have succeeded in building light-looking and elegant open spaces, completely reinterpreting the definition of luxury through ethical lenses.

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44 Belvedere by Guido Costantino http://www.design42day.com/2012/10/44-belvedere-by-guido-costantino/ http://www.design42day.com/2012/10/44-belvedere-by-guido-costantino/#comments Mon, 29 Oct 2012 11:13:47 +0000 riccardo http://www.design42day.com/?p=27375

Guido Costantino Design Office designed 44 Belvedere, a modern 2-storey residence in Oakville, Ontario, which overlooks the outside nature with a mix of opaque and transparent glass, brick, stucco, concrete and black anodized paneling.

As it can be read from the official press release, this unique house was created to answer to the needs of a “successful individual or family”, without renouncing to the predilection for an open plan. This is why, when looking from the street, the view into the residence is limited by the use of a concrete wall and opaque glass, while on the back it freely opens into the wood lot thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows.

A sense of harmonious unlimited flow is also given by the choice of concrete as the material that defines the progression inside the residence and back out. Wide concrete pads that serve as a threshold into the contemporary home transform into a polished concrete floor on the inside, separating the kitchen/dining room from the living room. The same type of floor then leads outside to circle a narrow pool and eventually back inside.  Internally, there are no walls that break the free-flowing plan. The only elements that signal the transition from one room to another are the change in the choice of materials (from the kitchen’s wood floor to concrete and back to the wood floor of the living room) and the use of small steps, which harmoniously blend the different areas together.

This way, light from the outside is allowed to flood into the space without any restraint but the single unpolished concrete wall that serves as a support for the central skeleton-looking metal staircase.

Neutral colors in the shades of white, grey and black are the protagonists of the palette: from the black of the anodized exterior siding, the interior furniture and the windows frames to the white of the walls and kitchen’s furniture to the shades of grey of the concrete elements, exterior brick walls and sofas. Despite the linear and squared shapes that characterize the whole house evoking a sort of minimalist way of life, Guido Costantino Design Office designed 44 Belvedere Residence to fully respond to the family’s needs of enjoyment and relax. For this reason, this exclusive home was provided with a multi-functional gym, an integrated spa with sauna and steam shower and a real three-level cinema featuring dual LCD digital movie posters placed at its entrance.

The challenge has certainly been the combination of functionality and aesthetics, delineated in terms of everyday needs and breathtaking modern design.

The answer was to create unobstructed views onto nature and among different areas of the house, simultaneously allowing private spaces to exist. It goes without saying that the result was outstanding.

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Pierres Vives http://www.design42day.com/2012/10/pierres-vives/ http://www.design42day.com/2012/10/pierres-vives/#comments Sun, 14 Oct 2012 15:20:38 +0000 riccardo http://www.design42day.com/?p=26429

Montpellier, France. A building extends for 35,000 sqm. Apparently looking as a single identity structure, the Pierre Vives becomes more and more complex and segmented as it gets approached. Three institutions are united together; an archive, a library and a sports department, are all firmly sealed in a single envelope.
The structure of the massive building may be compared to a trunk of a tree positioned horizontally. The archive is located at the rooted base of the trunk, followed by the library, the sports department and its offices on the far end where the trunk bisects becoming much lighter. ‘The branches’ spur vertically off the main trunk to connect the points of access to the various departments.

Judging from the hereby presented photographs, it is palpable how this structures’ most complex issues in the design and building processes were determining its section divisions and interior organization.
The development of the building was based on functional and economic logistics.  The building’s front part contains a linear lobby with an exhibition space at its centre. Above this connective ground level the building remains strictly segmented into three core parts each with its own internal vertical circulation.
As visitors enter the Pierre Vives, they are directed from the lobby to educational spaces on the ground level; or via lifts and escalator to the principal area on level one. Central in this zone, and therefore located at the heart of the building, are the main public facilities. These significant public spaces form the primary central volume of the grand tarpaulin reigning solemnly above the entrance.
Could this masterpiece be considered as a case of contemporary design that is preoccupied with form and program rather than the human relationship to it?

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Borgo Egnazia http://www.design42day.com/2012/10/borgo-egnazia/ http://www.design42day.com/2012/10/borgo-egnazia/#comments Sun, 07 Oct 2012 15:17:49 +0000 riccardo http://www.design42day.com/?p=26293

Less than two years have passed by since Gruppo San Domenico, a well known player in the luxury hotels’ business sector, first opened the magnificent Borgo Egnazia: a huge structure, comprising the perfect balance between local tradition and contemporary architecture, with a constant eye on environmental safeguard. Notwithstanding its recent opening, this amazing complex has already received several awards, such as the prestigious “Best European Hotel” at the Junior Design Awards 2012.

Borgo Egnazia is located in Savelletri di Fasano, in Puglia, southern Italy, crumbling on a strategic position in between Mare Adriatico and the majestic secular olive trees. Defining the local culture and habits permeating in the style of the whole complex is truly reductive: looking at every single detail, it is quite easy to notice how massive and frequent is the recourse to peculiar architectonic elements, such as rigorously original materials, as well as furniture realized by local artisans. The natural touch of local plants, a careful choice of jasmines, prickly pear and citrus trees, delimits the whole complex and guarantees a sense of intimacy to every guest.

The total area consists of 85 hectares, subdivided in three main parts, the Court, hyper luxurious hotel with 63 rooms, the Village, with 92 rooms and the 28 Villas with private pools. The lot encircled by restaurants, bars, SPAs, dedicated spaces for children, the beach club and the golf club: therefore, careful attention is reserved to every guest’s needs and desires.

The design style of the whole complex is deeply permeated with the local heritage and tradition: looking at the rooms, a perfect balance between Spartan appearance, essential luxury and attention to details is always reached. White is with no doubt the absolute protagonist in every part of the complex, which produce a relaxed and quiet atmosphere. Sobriety and proportions, these are the authentic mantras of this place, which do not obstruct the explosion of extreme luxury: there’s no item that is positioned in a place without a pre-studied logic. Nature permeates the interiors through the smart placement of local flowers or even vegetables in the living room, and the outdoor greenery is variegated and flourishing.

This amazing complex rises in a place where anyone would love to live, and the landscape is even more exacerbated by the stunning architecture: for sure a sojourn in this hotel is an experience to do once in one's life.

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Kilden performing arts centre by ALA Architects http://www.design42day.com/2012/10/kilden-performing-arts-centre-by-ala-architects/ http://www.design42day.com/2012/10/kilden-performing-arts-centre-by-ala-architects/#comments Mon, 01 Oct 2012 16:13:14 +0000 riccardo http://www.design42day.com/?p=26183

“KILDEN”, the new Performing Arts Center for Sørlandet, was built to serve as a "cultural landmark" - one that defined the space around it rather than being defined by its surroundings. Cantilevered over the dark water, golden oak undulations are reminiscent of a sun - they illuminate both people walking along the boardwalk as well as the rippling water beneath.

From the start KILDEN has a strong conceptual basis - the oak undulations "act as a surface separating reality from fantasy". Just as the building houses several theatres, it is a drama unto itself. Dark angular walls house the back of the building, complete with functional street entrances for each theatre and reminiscent of the walls inside the theatres, while the front glows and draws in visitors. As you enter each theatre from the foyer you are pulled beneath the wave of radiant light you enter a realm of unreality and creativity.

Designed by ALA Architects, KILDEN was started in 2008 and completed earlier this year.  "The building has a desire to please the public, to be popular and understandable to everybody" and there is little to misunderstand about it. Be it the winter, the night, or the middle of a sunny day in Norway, the KILDEN building is brilliant icon along the water.

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My Green World http://www.design42day.com/2012/07/my-green-world/ http://www.design42day.com/2012/07/my-green-world/#comments Wed, 25 Jul 2012 14:13:39 +0000 riccardo http://www.design42day.com/?p=25237

A 15 meter tall and 35 meter long wooden egg-like pavilion was completed in six months after contracting date in occasion of the Floriade 2012 Expo in Venlo, the Netherlands. In full respect of the sustainability aims of its commissioner, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation, the construction is built out of 100% recyclable and renewable timber: massive precut panels of orangey wood are assembled in a net-like fashion, resulting in a knitted exterior similar to a seed. 2D3D developed the project with minimal use of energy and resources, contributing to a strong public image between the government and the trade fair industry.

With its huge bright form against the simple landscape of the countryside, the edifice is surely an excellent example of innovative design. The large square windows interrupt the dominance of the orange, at the same time suffusing the interior with warm and natural daylight to allow an ideal display of the array of environmental exhibits which will be soon featured for the exposition. The attention-grabbing color choice represents an evident statement to link the structure with Netherland’s history.

Orange was originally the color of the royal family and subsequently became an emblem of the country’s popular society belonging to the 30’s wealthy circles and clubs, while presently still identifying the national football team. The 1200 square meter structure will efficiently be transformed into office space once the exposition is over, giving it new meaning and creating an important link between its ecological focus and workplace buildings.

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