Paul Raff Studio: Cascade House

via Designboom - Weblog on 6/29/09

photo courtesy of paul raff studio
credit ben rahn

paul raff studio create a sustainable contemporary home in toronto’s conservative forest hill neighbourhood.
the family home is composed of a series of volumes stacked on top of one another. the home is clad in
muted black slate and covered in large expansive windows to let the natural light inside. the home is two
and half soterys and is designed in an l-formation around an outdoor swimming pool. the orientation of the
home and its windows was particularly set to maximize sun exposure. the heavy use of glass is best
exemplified by the 13-foot front window made from 475 vertically stacked sheets of heavy, jagged-cut
glass. the center of the home is accented with a black slate wall that is perforated with windows, running
through each floor. the whole home covers 325m square.

http://www.paulraffstudio.com


photo courtesy of paul raff studio
credit ben rahn


photos courtesy of paul raff studio
credit steve tsai


photo courtesy of paul raff studio
credit ben rahn


photo courtesy of paul raff studio


photo courtesy of paul raff studio

BIG Architects: New Town Hall of Tallin, Estonia

via Designboom - Weblog on 6/24/09

tallin town hall by BIG architects
image courtesy BIG architects

BIG architects have won the international competition to design the new town hall
of tallin, estonia

the various public departments form a porous canopy above the public service market place
allowing both daylight and view to permeate the structure.

the city council, the heart of the democratic process, is located in the town hall tower visible
from the park, the plaza and the podium of the linnen hall. the roof of the tower is tilted forming
a slender spire. inside the city council greeting hall is accessed via the grand stair or elevators
directly from the market place, or from the city offices around it. above the greeting hall, the city
council is located in a generous space illuminated though a large window facing the city.
a balcony for press and visitors flanks the space on the level above. the sloping ceiling of the tower
is finished in a large reflective material. the mirror ceiling transforms the tower into a huge
democratic periscope allowing literal transparency between politicians and public. in ancient times
the town hall would have a vaulted ceiling decorated with a sky or frescos of the land and territories
under the ruler’s government. in the new town hall of tallinn the ceiling will be a real (reflected) overview
of the city both old and new. the circular formation of council members will be reflected in the tilted ceiling.
from a distance the silhouette of the town hall tower enters the family of tallinn’s
historical spires including those of the niguliste museum-concert hall, toomkirik, kaarli kirik,
pühavaimu kirik, st. olav church and the current town hall.


tallin town hall
image courtesy BIG architects


tallin town hall
image courtesy BIG architects

Moho Architects: Mixed Use Tower in San Jose de Costa Rica

via Designboom - Weblog on 6/22/09

mixed used tower, san jose costa rica
image courtesy moho architects

rising above the skyline of san jose in costa rica, this mixed use tower by spanish firm
moho architects will be a new landmark, providing crucial amenities for the city, sheltered
from the local climate. the concept is driven by a progressive environmental strategy that
is expected to establish new benchmarks for the region.

the building offers an ideal model of sustainable urban living by reducing reliance on
transport and balancing energy consumption between its mixed-use program of day
and night time activities. program include mixed commercial and retail spaces together
with a business centre, offices, conference rooms, hotel floors and casino. the tower rises
25 floors consisting of a viewing platform and restaurant providing panoramic views
over the city.

the tower splits and creases independently as it rises into the sky. this 'head split' configuration,
permits natural lighting, while sky courts filled with vegetation punctuate at intervals the tower
and mitigate the hot climate.

the development will take advantage of a number of sustainable energy strategies and key
to the energy performance of the building are its wooden brise-soleil facades, designed to
filter solar gain and to encourage daylight to permeate the complex. the tower is intended to
be a paradigm for passive environmental control, providing an alternative to the more conventional models
of sealed and air-conditioned glass stumps. the layered facade cuts air-conditioning load
and the plan encourages daylight, reducing the need for artificial lighting.

the project is currently in the schematic design phase and is expected to be completed in 2012.


mixed used tower
image courtesy moho architects


mixed used tower
image courtesy moho architects


mixed used tower
image courtesy moho architects


mixed used tower - model
image courtesy moho architects


mixed used tower - sections
image courtesy moho architects


mixed used tower - sections
image courtesy moho architects

3XN: Danish Pavillion proposal for Shanghai 2010

via Designboom - Weblog on 6/17/09

danish pavillion by 3XN architects
image courtesy 3XN architects

3XN architects proposal for the danish pavilion at the shanghai expo 2010 is
easily recognisable from a distance. with its two colours white and red and simple
rectangles, the building says denmark more clearly than any other image or symbol.

the pavilion is in the shape of the danish flag on all sides – also top and bottom.
the four red rectangular fields, thus, form eight blocks and the white in the flag can
be opened in both directions to form an inner square or urban space at the heart of
the building. the total volume is tilted slightly to one side, and emphasised in strategic
places, thus creating an entrance and an exit that provides shelter from the rain
and shade on sunny days.


danish pavillion
image courtesy 3XN architects


danish pavillion
image courtesy 3XN architects


danish pavillion
image courtesy 3XN architects


danish pavillion interior
image courtesy 3XN architects


danish pavillion interior
image courtesy 3XN architects


danish pavillion interior
image courtesy 3XN architects

Spain's Selgascano architects built themselves an awesome Office In The Woods

via DVICE by Kevin Hall on 6/12/09


One of the perks of being an architecture firm such as Spain's Selgascano is that you get to design yourself an awesome place to work. Check out Selgascano's "office in the woods," designed by the company's Jose Selgas and Lucia Cano. It's one long, tunnel-like office covered by a curved transparent acrylic window that's 20 millimeters thick and lets in plenty of natural light. The 110-millimeter-thick opaque wall is made from layers of insulated fiberglass and polyester, and shades the office.
To keep things inside cool, one of the ends of the office is attached to a pulley system and the slab can be raised or lowered, letting in some fresh air. Explore more of the office in the woods below, thanks to the gorgeous photography of Iwan Baan.

Water droplet resort creates H2O out of thin air

via DVICE by CharlieWhite on 6/10/09



This is one watery resort. Besides its water droplet shape, it extracts water from the air using solar power, and a large part of it is built underwater, functioning as a huge aquarium. In addition to its luxury hotel rooms, the plan is to build restaurants, convention space, gyms, conference rooms and spas on its upper floors.

We think Spanish architect Orlando De Urrutia is onto something here. People love to be near water when they're on vacation, so this might be the ideal recreation destination. Wouldn't be bad to work there, either — could this be a suitable design for a future DVICE headquarters?

Zaha Hadid Architects: Cairo Expo City

via Designboom - Weblog on 6/10/09

cairo expo city by zaha hadid architects
image courtesy zaha architects

zaha hadid architects has been awarded first prize in the cairo expo city competition 
together with global engineering consultancy buro happold.
 
the winning design for cairo expo city is a 450,000 square metre, state of the art city 
for exhibitions and conferences, located between the centre of cairo and the city’s airport. 
the project comprises a major international exhibition and conference centre with business 
hotel. a further office tower and a shopping centre are also proposed. 

carving and sculpting processes have been used to divide the very large exhibition 
and conference areas required for cairo expo city into clusters of individual buildings 
that have their own formal composition, yet each building relates to the overall design.
a main north-south artery is carved through the design, with secondary streams converging 
at the centre to ease crowd traffic during event. the movement of people within these 
streams informs the building entrances on the site.

works will begin in october this year to clear the site.


cairo expo city - aerial view
image courtesy zaha architects


cairo expo city 
image courtesy zaha architects


cairo expo city 
image courtesy zaha architects


cairo expo city 
image courtesy zaha architects


cairo expo city 
image courtesy zaha architects

Sid Wichienkuer: Building for Bowkunde

via Designboom - Weblog on 6/9/09


california based architect sid wichienkuer aims to reasserts architecture with his redesign for the tu delft
school of architecture. after the school's tragic fire, they held an open competition for their building for
bowkunde. wichienkuer proposal used sections and topographies as a driving  force. the building is
oriented around a central quad at its base, surrounded by the school's library and a series of design
laboratories. as the building roses, each floor is centered around a gathering or communal space at its core,
with other rooms radiating outwards. an expandable auditorium is centered on this level. the building's
facade is kept porous with a series of horizontal pieces spaced apart. these levels can be used as outdoor
seating and stairs, allowing students to climb the building. 

http://www.sidwich.com

Benoy: ION Orchard

via Designboom - Weblog on 6/5/09


london-based architecture firm benoy are set to complete the ION orchard retail and residential project in
singapore. the new structure is located in singapore’s premium shopping strip, orchard road. it will feature 
a distinctive amorphous façade that doubles as a giant display to showcase multimedia art, live telecasts of
events and promotions of the mall’s retail brands. the form is a reference to the orchard of trees that once
occupied the site. the screen is connected to the sheltered public square that covers 33,000 square feet. 
the mall itself will provide large shops encouraging new an innovative display concepts. the development
will also feature ION art, an arts and culture space on the building’s 4th floor and the ION sky observation
deck on the 55th and 56th floors of the connected residential tower. the 218m tower will hold 175 luxury
homes. the whole development is set to open this july.

http://www.ionorchard.com
http://www.benoy.com

Jurgen Mayer H: 'Metropol Parasol' Project in Seville

via Designboom - Weblog on 6/5/09


the redevelopment of plaza de la encarnacion in seville, spain redefines the potential 
of a previously unused plaza to become the contemporary urban centre of seville.

in 2004 jürgen mayer h, one of germany's leading, young architects was awarded 
first prize in the competition to redevelop the plaza de la encarnacion in seville, spain.
'metropol parasol' explores the potential of the plaza de la encarnacion to become the
new contemporary urban centre.the scheme with its large mushroom like structures offers 
an archeological site, a farmers market, an elevated plaza, multiple bars and restaurants 
underneath and inside the parasols, as well as a panorama terrace on the very top of
the parasols. the construction is planned to be completed at end of year 2009.

roof structure
conceived as a roof structure that provides precious shade during the day, 
creating a comfortable microclimate and a place for relaxation


market
the organisation of the floor plan allows for most areas of the market to be closed at 
night while keeping the bars on the north and south edge of the complex open


the parasols
the columns become prominent points of access to the museum below as well as to the 
plaza above, connecting the elements and defining a unique relationship between the
historical and the contemporary. accessibility to one of the umbrellas provides visitors
with a spectacular view of the city and it’s monuments.


elevated plaza
the architectural proposal doubles the original area and creates an additional 
4.500 sqm of space. water bassins located in selected areas of the surface further 
enhance the microclimate and offer attractive locations for sitting and lingering.

archeological museum
several years ago, during the excavation works for an underground car park, 
archaeological remains were discovered on the site. the city of seville decided then 
to convert the area into museum and a square to attract locals and tourists. 
the archeological museum is located underneath the market and visually marked
by an entrance inside the thickest column of the parasol.

these parasols are made from timber plates covering an area of 150 m x 70 m.
it will be one of the largest architectural timber structures ever built.
developed in collaboration with engineers at arup. 

the general contractor for the project is sacyr, who are based in spain and ayuntamiento 
de sevilla. 50 % of the project is funded by the city of seville, and the other 50% by 
the leading contractor of advanced wooden structures and timber & glass facades 
in europe, finnforest-merk (FFM) from aichach in germany. 

FFM's kerto-Q light timber beams with a polyurethane coating

the polyurethane coating protects the wood and allows it to breathe and the wood itself 
doesn't give off hazardous fumes in case it burns. it is sustainably planted, with a 
certificate PEFC (program for the endorsement of forest certification schemes), 
granted by the finnish forest council of certification.

the coat of the structure is self cleaning, and only needs repainting every 20 to 25 years.


six timber parasols will shade the plaza

see google maps street view images here