Lever Architecture designs CLT extension for The Nature Conservancy's Portland office

Oregon Conservation Center by Lever Architecture

Weathered steel and juniper siding clad the cross-laminated timber community centre that Lever Architecture has added to the Oregon outpost of The Nature Conservancy.

The local firm added a one-storey volume made of cross-laminated timber (CLT) to a three-story building that was completed in the 1970s on a corner plot in Portland‘s Buckman neighbourhood.

Oregon Conservation Center by Lever Architecture

The project forms the Oregon offices of The Nature Conservancy, a non-profit organisation founded in 1951 to conserve lands and waterways around the world. It has offices in almost every US state and is headquartered in Virginia.

Oregon Conservation Center by Lever Architecture

The cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels, which comprise layers of lumber glued together, are made from Douglas fir from the region. The panels were also manufactured in Oregon. Lever Architecture claims the extension is of the first to be made with CLT produced in the US.

“The addition is one of the first in the US built with domestically-fabricated CLT panels that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC),” the studio said.

Oregon Conservation Center by Lever Architecture

In addition to the panels that use local materials, other aspects also make the most of Oregon’s natural materials. Juniper siding on the exterior was sourced from The Nature Conservancy’s conservation site in Eastern Oregon, Juniper Hill preserve.

Cedar boards sourced from trees in the coastal Willapa Bay reserve are used on the green roof of the extension. Lever Architecture also chose native plants for the rooftop including bushes and wildflowers from the state’s Rowena Plateau.

Oregon Conservation Center by Lever Architecture
Photograph by Lara Swimmer

“To create an expression of The Nature Conservancy’s work in Oregon and to connect staff and visitors to nature, the design integrates materials and plantings specific to their priority projects around the state,” the studio said.

Cedar and hemlock trees are planted at another part of the property. At the entrance are plants from Oregon’s Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, which encompasses 114,000 acres (46,134 hectares) of mountains.

Oregon Conservation Center by Lever Architecture
Photograph by Lara Swimmer

Weathering steel wraps around the original building and the addition is to visually tie the project together.

Inside, all of the rooms were renovated to become light-filled spaces. The community centre offers a variety of spaces for working, holding meetings and hosting events. The ground floor contains a conference room, while the two floors above have smaller work areas. A staff cafe and lounge round out the 15,000-square-foot (1,393-square-metre) project.

Oregon Conservation Center by Lever Architecture
Photograph by Lara Swimmer

Lever Architecture said that sustainability formed a key part of the project, which has achieved a LEED Gold certification – the highest score for a building’s energy efficiency

In addition to choosing to keep the original office building, CLT was used because it has a lower embodied carbon footprint than concrete or steel, as shown in a recent report by the University of Washington.

Oregon Conservation Center by Lever Architecture

Other US projects built with CLT are a Connecticut high school by Gray Organschi, a building at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and an Atlanta house by Jennifer Bonner.

Efforts to improve the energy efficiency of The Nature Conservancy’s Oregon office also include introducing solar panels on the roof and a subsurface filtration system that manages stormwater on-site.

Oregon Conservation Center by Lever Architecture

Photovoltaics produce 25 per cent of the office building’s electrical supply, while systems and fixtures were replaced to reduce water consumption by 44 per cent and electric consumption by 54 per cent.

Oregon Conservation Center by Lever Architecture

Lever Architecture has also designed a factory building in Portland with weathering steel and built a tasting room for a winery in Oregon’s Yamhill County. The firm has also proposed a 12-storey tower for Portland which would be the US’s first high-rise wooden structure.

Photography is by Jeremy Bittermann unless otherwise stated.

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There’s a free-to-use COVID-19 Job Board that lets creatives find work during uncertain times

Created to help employers and creatives find each other amidst uncertain times, ‘The One Club COVID-19 Jobs Board’ is a free-for-all job-posting resource that aims at connecting people seeing to work globally with agencies and design studios.

The service was initiated by The One Club For Creativity, and is open to the entire industry, spanning individuals of all levels of experience and from all around the world. In an effort to keep the design industry from facing the blowback of an economic crisis, The One Club COVID-19 Jobs Board is completely free to use and requires no membership or signing up either. Creative individuals can either scan the job board for vacancies (there are internships available too), and recruiters can submit their job postings either for immediate openings as well for job opportunities expected in the future once the pandemic is over.

We encourage creatives to refer to this board for job/collaborative opportunities as well as recruiters to use this resource to post their openings too. A big part about what makes our creative community great is the amount of empathy we have and our ability to work towards a goal for the betterment of society. This job board is a result of that empathy and collaborative spirit.

Click Here to visit The One Club COVID-19 Jobs Board

Forecasting Artificial Intelligence’s Impact on Architecture

ArchDaily has compiled a list of six “visions” portraying how artificial intelligence may change architecture, relying on MIT Professor Max Tegmark’s quote as the foundation for the discussion: “We are all the guardians of the future of life now as we shape the age of AI.” The six predictions—which were originally displayed at the Shenzen Biennial Eyes of the City exhibition—range from buildings with the ability to vocally interact with its inhabitants to the installation of “hidden eyes and ears,” which could deter crime and corruption, but (like all AI) it is a “a Pandora’s Box of possibilities.” Read more at ArchDaily.

The Lexon Oblio wirelessly charges and sanitizes your phone at the same time

I’m pretty sure you don’t want to read about how a smartphone screen is often a cesspool of germs and how it has more bacteria than a toilet seat. That sort of information is useless if there isn’t a solution to remedy the problem, in my opinion. So let’s just get to the solution, which sits pretty neatly on your bedside table in the form of Lexon’s Oblio wireless charger. Rather than being modeled after a mat you can put your phone on, the Oblio is a vessel you put your phone into. Put your phone right into the Oblio’s slot and it immediately begins sanitizing as well as wirelessly charging your device. A 10W wireless charger at the back juices your phone in just 20 minutes, giving the Oblio enough time to use a front-facing UV-C lamp to sterilize your phone’s screen.

The Oblio’s unique form factor not only makes it look like a chic little planter around your house, but also cleverly hides your phone from view, so you’re less likely to constantly fiddle with it during the charging/sanitation cycle. It’s a clever bit of design, tech, and a behavioral-change solution all wrapped in one!

Designer: Quaglio Simonelli Design for Lexon

NBA Players in Televised Video Game Tournament

In the absence of official NBA games, the league strengthened their pre-existing relationship with popular video game NBA 2K to co-host a bracketed, televised video game tournament. Players—including Brooklyn Nets’ all-star Kevin Durant, Denver Nuggets rookie Michael Porter Jr and others—will participate in the tournament, which will be televised on ESPN and last 10 days. The finer details of the tournament have yet to be released, but given the popularity of NASCAR’s virtual replacement (which drew 903,000 viewers) and ESPN’s higher profile, this could appease basketball fans and draw an entirely new audience. Read more at Bleacher Report.

"We should use this time to think about how to build a better future"

Life after coronavirus: how will the pandemic affect our homes?

In this week’s comments update, readers are debating how homes will change after the coronavirus pandemic ends and are divided over the Galleria department store in South Korea.

Panic room: Ukrainian architect Sergey Makhno has predicted how our homes will change once the coronavirus pandemic is over, but not everyone agrees.

“I find this article so sad and pessimistic,” said Imenda. “We should use this time to think about how to build a better future, not how to build a scary house that reminds us every day that something terrible might happen.”

Gerard McGuickin felt similarly: “Most of these ‘predictions’ read like a list for those with money and means: houses (not apartments), bunkers, self-sufficient power and water, filtration systems, and growing what you eat. Sustaining such notions for a world population that is increasingly moving to urban centres, seems ludicrous.”

“This article seems to be about what some affluent people may want to do to their homes after the coronavirus outbreak,” agreed Dominic Glover. “What about people who cannot afford to live in a private, spacious, detached home with a garden, a cellar, a separable office, and sophisticated environmental controls?”

“‘Life after the Covid-19 outbreak will never be the same as before.’ It will be the same. As many times before,” concluded Salamoon.

This reader highlighted two potential changes though:



Will our homes be the same after the coronavirus outbreak? Join the discussion ›


Galleria department store in Gwanggyo, South Korea by OMA

Window shopping: readers are divided over the recently completed Galleria department store in Gwanggyo, South Korea. Designed by architecture firm OMA, the building has a stone facade with a controversial glass passage cut into it.

“At a distance it looks like a musty old tub of mouldy yogurt that’s been sitting in the back of the fridge for a year,” said Vee. “The shiny bits are the pools of water that separate from the goop and rise to the surface, glinting in the lonely cold light of the refrigerator.”

Geof Bob was less harsh: “Hardly beautiful or elegant, but eye-catching, intriguing, possibly fun for the kids, and above all, inviting.”

“It’s hideous,” added Alfred Hitchcock. “But maybe that’s appropriate and what the client and local population wanted.”

Bubba10 agreed: “This could have been just another forgettable glass and concrete box. I like it and it would definitely make me want to go into the store, which would seem to be the main goal.”

This commenter was reminded of something else:

Are you impressed by the Galleria department store? Join the discussion ›


Box clever: Danish startup Stykka has developed a simple flat-pack desk that can be assembled out of three pieces of folded cardboard, but readers aren’t convinced it is a good solution for those working from home.

“Don’t tell me that you don’t have a normal desk in your dining room,” said Salamoon. “There is no need to spend more money on this and add more unnecessary work to delivery companies.”

Love Your Hair agreed: “If I’m not repurposing cardboard boxes I have at home and I have to order this cardboard desk, why don’t I just order a regular one?”

“A sturdy, beautiful desk that can be resold would be much better for the environment,” suggested Robin. “It would even survive a spilled coffee.”

Alex was also worried about the environment: “This desk is made of custom cut cardboard, that means material made only for this project, machine cut only for this project, shipping worldwide of a commonly available material – so yes contributing to more global pollution.”

This reader had a thrifty idea:



Would you benefit from a cardboard workstation? Join the discussion ›


GreenHouse by OTTOTTO

Green with envy: a home in Porto featuring original stone walls encased in green metal mesh and plenty of salmon pink has won over most, but not all readers. The house was remodelled by architecture studio Ottotto.

“This recent fad for a salmon-pink and emerald-green colour palette is vomit-inducing,” criticised Alfred Hitchcock. “Whoever thought it was a good idea? It might look good for a plate of food, but to live in… “

Felix Etienne-Edouard Pfeifle disagreed: “Yes, the roof slope over the bed on the mezzanine looks problematic and yes, salmon pink and emerald green splashed throughout may not be something I would live with, but the project is beautifully captured here, reminiscent of 1930s Prague.”

“Looks all very well thought out,” praised Pierre Van Sice. “Combines design, comfort, lots of style and light. Even on a rainy day I picture myself enjoying the fireplace with the garden view. Love it!”

Roger was also impressed: “Even in a small house one can feel inside a cathedral sometimes. Great project, congrats!”

As was this commenter:



Are you a fan? Join the discussion ›

The post “We should use this time to think about how to build a better future” appeared first on Dezeen.

Amazing Winter Waves in Hawaii

Les surfeurs le savent : il faut se rendre à Hawaii en hiver pour y trouver les plus beaux tubes. C’est à cette époque de l’année que les vagues sont les plus grosses – elles peuvent atteindre 9 mètres de haut – faisant de l’archipel un spot de surf incontournable. Dans sa série intitulée “Winter Surf”, la photographe Marina Weishaupt, établie dans le sud de l’Allemagne, a capturé les côtes prisées de l’île de Maui. À travers son objectif, elle a immortalisé les tubes, la mousse, les surfeurs et les rayons de soleil hivernaux.

Images : © Marina Weishaupt










GLAAD’s #TransLoveStories Portraits for Transgender Day of Visibility

Today, 31 March, marks the 10th annual Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV), observed worldwide to celebrate trans people everywhere. Representation is vital, always, and especially when it portrays trans individuals finding and sharing love. To honor the occasion, GLAAD is highlighting relationships in the trans community through their #TransLoveStories campaign. NYC-based photographer Landyn Pan captured tender moments through heartwarming couples portraits. GLAAD and Instagram will roll out these IGTV videos and photos in the week following TDOV. Head over to GLAAD to learn more, or to their Instagram page.

Goko convert 1920s house in Mexico City into recording studio

Chapel Studios by Goko

Mexico City studio Goko has topped this music studio with a large “skyspace” to flood it with natural light.

Chapel Studios by Goko

Goko renovated a house built in the 1920s to create Chapel Studio with space for recording, meetings, hosting parties and accommodating overnight guests.

The studio, founded by Mexican architect Christopher Koehn, wanted the music studio to be open and bright, instead of dark and confined.

Chapel Studios by Goko

“Music studios have a tendency to be closed, cold clustered, visually saturated, artificially lit spaces,” Goko said. “No sunlight, no spacial communication, no inspiration.”

A large skylight punctures the centre of the double-height ceiling inside Chapel Studio. The surrounding walls are each angled slightly differently to disperse the light throughout the space.

Chapel Studios by Goko

“On the double-height central room we opened a ‘skyspace’ over the dome to inject natural sunlight into the core of the project,” Goko continued.

At the studio’s entrance, the studio designed a dimly lit hallway leading to double doors that open to a luminous area known as The Chapel. It said the interval draws on the Japanese ideal Ma, which can be translated as gap or space.

Chapel Studios by Goko

“You enter through a very dark, acoustically isolated tunnel with an atmospheric sound triggered by the body’s movement,” the studio added.

Vertical wood slats cover the walls in the main recording area and the smaller control and meeting rooms. The strips of wood conceal bulky wall tiles and acoustic equipment used in recording studios.

“Acoustically, we developed a system to hide all the wooden saturated cubed irregular wall tiles, normally seen at recording studios, to create a visually clean wooden striped space,” Goko said.

“Through this system we hid all the acoustic requirements of the project on the back of the walls and the door design integrates the same pattern to unify the space.”

Chapel Studios by Goko

Folding acoustic glass doors sound proof the control room, recording booth and double-height room, and allow for visual communication between them.

Large rectangular windows provide views to two courtyard gardens on the ground floor of the building. Plants and a wooden bench line the perimeter of the terrace located on the building’s rooftop.

Chapel Studios by Goko

In addition to the recording and editing spaces, Goko has included several recreational rooms with couches and chairs and a full kitchen for entertaining clients.

Chapel Studios by Goko

On the upper level there is a bedroom for accommodating out-of-town guests, as well as a television room and studio.

Goko is an architecture studio located in Mexico City’s Polanco neighbourhood. The firm’s other projects include a house with eight glass-walled gardens and an office with an upside staircase.

Photography is by Fernando Marroquin.


Project credits:

Architectural design: Christopher Koehn, Goko
Acoustic design: Omar Saad, Saad Acústica
Project manager and 3D: Jetro Centeno
Drawings:  Gabriel Azuara
Woodwork:  Daniela SantosCoy, Co-Crear Espacios
Landscape design: Florever, Paloma
Lighting design: Martin Leal, Lampe
Construction: Goko
Construction manager: Carlos Ascención
Window work: Grupo CBCA
Steelwork: Frank Carrera
Furniture: La Metropolitana
Table and desk design: Co-Crear Espacios

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The iconic music player gets its own adorable action-figure collectible!

Remember the glory-days of capitalism when you could line up in the thousands for the chance to buy a tiny box that could hold more songs than you could ever imagine? Pardon my slight pessimism, but I really do look back to the days of the iPod, a product that absolutely changed the music industry as we know it. It revolutionized flash-storage, the birth (and subsequent death) of MP3s, the rise of singles over albums, it championed music portability in a way that absolutely overthrew the Walkman and Discman, brought about the age of anodized aluminum, and most importantly, cemented Apple’s clean, sensible, and game-changing design language.

In fact, so iconic is the music player, someone decided it deserved its own action figure! Say hello to the iBoy, a collectible that captures the combined joy of an action toy with the world’s most famous music playback device. Modeled clearly using Apple’s classic player as inspiration, the iBoy comes with movable hands and legs that attach and detach via magnets, and droid antennae that manifest themselves on each side of the iBoy’s head in the form of earphones!

The iBoy’s design captures the most realistic, believable details of the music player, turning it into a nostalgic retro-inspired keepsake. The iBoy’s torso is all ABS plastic, while the back is a polished chrome metal. The figurine even comes with a display and ports (not real ones, obviously) and is complete with realistic artwork etched onto the metal back, and real tactile controls and rotating jog-dial on the front with realistically believable feedback that feels exactly like the original.

The ports are to-scale too, and the iBoy even has its own headphone cable that you can plug right into it for further customization because the iBoy isn’t just some static figurine. You can make it stand, sit, wave, do a split or even yoga. The metallic back extends to the sides, allowing you to magnetically interchange and reposition the iBoy’s appendages, making it stand beside your laptop in your workspace, or sit on top of your alarm clock… and occasionally press and rotate its absolutely divine tactile controls for an overwhelming wave of nostalgia… or should I say .wav of nostalgia! (If you get it, you get it!)

Designer: Philip Lee

Click Here to Buy Now: $37 $43 (14% off). Hurry, for a limited time only!

iBoy Retro Toy Figure by Classicbot

A heartfelt homage to the beloved iconic mp3 player that changed it all. iBoy is an adorable, transformable, collectible desktop accessory.

iBoy Doesn’t Play Any Music, But It Is Still Lots of Fun

iBoy is 100% free of electronic parts or functions, but each iBoy’s arms and legs with magnetic joints are infinite fun to move around and play with.

There’s even a detachable lifelike headphone that ensures effortless switches between the unit’s robot and MP3 stylings.

You can easily switch between iBoy’s robot and MP3 stylings.

Two version to choose from. iBoy regular version and iBoy To U special Edition.

The Perfect Fiddle Toy

Each unit comes with an easily rotatable control wheel and easy-on-the-ear clickable button, making it the perfect fiddle toy.

Click Here to Buy Now: $37 $43 (14% off). Hurry, for a limited time only!