Hasta La Ideas

What’s become par for the course over the past year or so has happened once again, though this time it’s not as painful as in times past. After a steady two month climb into positive numbers, increasing industry optimism all the way, the American Institute of Architects‘ Architecture Billings Index has taken a dip once more. While the plunge was fairly high by month-to-month standards, dropping four points, it stopped at an even 50.0. As anything above 50 means growth in demand for architectural services and anything below means a decline, leveling out exactly in the middle certainly isn’t the ideal, but it also doesn’t seem like the end of the world, like when it was in free fall back in early 2009. Here’s a bit about the new report from the AIA’s cautiously sage seer of numbers:

“This slowdown is indicative of what is likely to be a very gradual improvement in business conditions at architecture firms for the better part of this year,” said AIA chief economist Kermit Baker. “We’ve been taking a cautiously optimistic approach for the last several months and there is no reason at this point to change that outlook.”

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Here are some images of an office building designed by American studio Richard Meier & Partners, currently under construction in Prague, Czech Republic.

Called City Green Court, the building will feature glass façades interrupted by protruding vertical fins and balconies.

The eight-storey building will be organised around a central open-air atrium with a large tree in the middle and a wall covered in plants at ground level.

Walkways spanning across the courtyard will provide access routes from opposites sides of the building.

This is the third building to be designed by Meier as part of a masterplan for the Pankrác Plains in Prague.

Construction on the tower began in September last year and is due to be completed in 2012.

Renderings are courtesy of Vize.

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The following information is from the architects:

Richard Meier & Partners third building breaks ground in Prague, Czech Republic and receives LEED Platinum pre-certification

Richard Meier & Partners Architects is pleased to announce the construction of City Green Court which has recently started last September 2010. This is RM&P’s third building within the Master Plan of Prague 4- Pankrác that began almost a decade ago with a local Czech developer and named the CITY Project. Based on RM&P’s Master Plan of the superblock on the Pankrác Plains, this once neglected area of Prague has now been transformed into a multi-functional, vibrant and revitalized business, commercial, and residential district filled with green public spaces and amenities.

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City Green Court has been modified and re-designed to the new owner Skanska’s sustainability goals and high standards to achieve the highest level of LEED certification. The project has recently received a LEED Platinum Pre-certification. With City Green Court, Richard Meier & Partners completes the northwestern corner of the superblock along M. Pujmanové and Hvĕzdova Streets with a cluster of three buildings. Conceived as a geometric volume in dialogue with the near context, City Green Court also offers respected contrast to the surrounding buildings. Like its earlier siblings City Tower and City Point, it is inspired by the language of Czech Cubism with an expressive façade that responds to issues of conservation and sustainability articulated with forms reminiscent of this avant-garde movement.

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When completed in early 2012, it will be a welcomed and key addition to the Pankrác superblock. “We are working together to make City Green Court a benchmark for green building design in the Czech Republic, said Richard Meier. “This assignment has been particularly challenging as it also meant addressing the historic beauty of Prague and at the same time creating a modern image of the City for its future.” Distinctive vertical solid panels with fins angled according to the sun’s orientation are integrated into the design of the curtain wall, emerging from both the south and west facades to minimize solar heat gain and to provide balanced shading and comfort within the interiors while maximizing daylight and views.

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In contrast, the north and east facades do not need solar protection: shading is unnecessary to the north, and City Tower, the adjacent high rise standing on the neighboring site shields the building to the east. White spandrel glass replaces the fin panels producing facades which are calm, sleek and uniform. The four facades when juxtaposed create a harmonious and dynamic envelope that can be perceived differently from close and distant vantage points. The eight-story building is organized around a central sky-lit atrium surrounded by highly efficient office floor spaces. To the south, a grand canopy marks the formal entrance to the building that leads into a single height lobby which then opens into the multi-story atrium.

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Atop the seven office floor plates, the partial mechanical penthouse level is covered with an extensive green roof and a skylight. Nestled in the atrium is a singular black olive tree and green ivy wall, with bridges spanning above from one side of the space to the other while a free standing stair connects the first four floors promoting movement and interaction, and encouraging less use of elevators. The exterior and interior of City Green Court are intertwined visually and physically with landscape elements spilling into and reappearing in the atrium.

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“Skanska Property Czech Republic, our Associate Architect CUBOID and our local consultants in Prague are fast becoming experts in green building design,” said Partner in Charge Dukho Yeon. “With its tautly composed form and elements, City Green Court embodies a certain discipline and restraint; designed within the framework of Skanska’s green initiative. We hope that we continue to educate each other and influence future development with a critical outlook on architecture and social responsibility.” City Green Court is expected to achieve LEED platinum certification in the Czech Republic by drastically reducing energy consumption.

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In addition to the very efficient building envelop, some of the most important measures towards LEED certification include natural ventilation of the atrium during the summer, state-of-the-art mechanical systems, reduction of water runoffs and storm water collection, green roof, indoor air quality control and the use of local and recycled materials.

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“We are proud to cooperate with Richard Meier & Partners Architects on the redesign of City Green Court to meet the growing interest in green, modern and flexible office space that offers a stimulating work environment,” said Britta Cesar, Managing Director of Skanska Property Czech Republic, and continued: ”Together with the enthusiasm and commitment from Richard Meier & Partners Architects we managed to achieve LEED platinum Pre-certification.”

“Above all we hoped this Master Plan for the Pankrác Plains would be a catalyst for growth, said Richard Meier. “After 10 years of hard work and dedication we are now seeing the result – which is an incredibly robust neighborhood, a new urban fabric rich with activity, and an optimistic view of urbanism for Prague.”

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Office building by de Carvalho and Palmero Cabezas	Central Business District Wenzhou by Henn Architekten	Crystal Clear by C. F. Møller & Kristin Jarmund Arkitekter

You might recall hearing that since 2002, there’s been a concerted effort to make architecture a career that Barbie finally would accept. Despite winning that year’s annual “I Can Be” contest, toy manufacturer Mattel supposedly decided that the business of building didn’t fit within the iconic doll’s range and axed it. Last year, the fight raged again and it seemed like an Architect Barbie might finally be a possibility. But sadly, it was not to be, and instead she went into computer engineering and news anchoring. However, as glum as last year was for those pushing for her career path, it looks as though the efforts have paid off. Rita Catinella at Architectural Record broke the story that 2011 is the year the world will finally see Barbie as an architect. Now, along with previous years’ winners of Dolphin Trainer, Chef, and Pet Vet, the disproportionate, iconic blond will be designing buildings right along side all those other disproportionate blond icons, like Frank Gehry or Zaha Hadid. The doll will be available sometime this fall and has already appeared on Target’s website for pre-order. What’s most surprising/optimistic about all of this finally happening, is that Mattel even reached out to the AIA. Here’s a bit from Catinella’s report:

According to the AIA, they did not partner with Mattel on the doll, but two AIA members from upstate New York were part of the conversation with the company. The organization is supportive of the concept however. According to Matt Tinder, Media Relations, AIA, “We’re pleased that a new generation of young people have an opportunity to imagine becoming an architect. We believe the Barbie I Can Be… Architect will help inspire a new generation of young people to consider the profession of architecture.”

That doesn’t really indicate how much the AIA contributed, but we’re hoping it’s more than just “so what’s the perfect kind of black-rimmed glasses for an architect to wear?” because of course Architect Barbie has them.

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French designer Matali Crasset has completed a hotel in Nefta where bedrooms are located in eight individual towers overlooking the Tunisian desert.

The Dar Hi resort is laid out like a village and features ochre-coloured structures on pilars, enclosed by an exterior wall.

Upon entering the resort, guests take off their shoes, swapping them for Tunisian slippers.

Beds are arranged next to the large windows with cane shades, affording panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

Faceted walls create little areas to relax in the communal spaces.

Glass panels in the cooking area separate guests from the chefs.

A spa, pool, library, living room, auditorium and kitchen are included within the resort.

Locally sourced materials including clay bricks and palm wood are used throughout.

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Photographs are by Jérôme Spriet.

Here’s some more information about the resort:

Dar Hi The first architectural project signed matali crasset

matali crasset created an ecological house in the Tunisian desert. After the experience of the HI hotel in Nice, now Dar HI in Nefta which is the fruit of the collaboration between matali crasset, Patrick Elouarghi and Philippe Chapelet with a new concept of eco-retreat. Matali literally rose a citadel, from the sand, dedicated to well being. Protected by surroundings walls you find a composition of elevated houses that constitute the Dar HI as a small village. The overall architectural goal was to give a strong proposition while in harmony with the natural site and the local life.

Dar HI’s main colours are ochre and sand with a comprehensive choice of body and spirit care within areas that are private or communal, a pool, a restaurant and a Spa. The dialogue and collaboration between Philippe Chapelet, Patrick Elouarghi and matali crasset started in 2005. They all decided to push the contemporary experience a bit further with Dar HI a new concept of hospitality and serenity. They all have a common interest always to question their ideas and the desire to conceive innovative projects; those are the main reasons why their collaboration is so dynamic. matali crasset develops a design that is meant to be practical and believes in initiatives that have a sense locally but also collectively. Patrick and Philippe are creative entrepreneurs that are always ahead of their time.

They are driven by the renewal of propositions, the reinvention of codes and sites and the research on contemporary hotel industry and well being. These strong set views unite them for an intransient length of time. After Nice and the HI hotel, Paris and the HIMATIC, it is now Tunisia with Dar HI. Dar HI is not only another project. “The HI Hotel wasn’t meant to be duplicated: it has been conceived as a laboratory that is not duplicable”, says matali.

The Dar HI project is articulated around notions of well being and eco-retreat in an unexpected and magical site. “Dar HI is not a hotel nor a classical SPA but more a place where you can experience withdrawal and benefit from a spiritual thalassotherapy a few hours away from Paris and in the middle of the desert”, explains Patrick Elouarghi.

The DARHI team has created privileged relationships with the inhabitants of the village who will be taking care of the house. The gardeners will till the garden that will be the main source of vegetables and fruits. The cooks will propose a variety of local and simple dishes. No high gastronomy nor imported products, even less so called authentic cuisine for tourists, but a self sufficient and local development approach. Here artificial folklore is not necessary.

To access the Dar HI you walk towards it and this is the beginning of your stay. The car has been left further from the house. A discreet door leads you to imagine that you walk in a private house. The entrance, a corridor, a ramp is the last stop where you leave your “codes” at the exterior. You take off your shoes and wear babouches (Tunisian slippers). You are at home. As you can find in the traditional foundouks, Dar HI is a house in which the stays are pro- longed, at the opposite of short stay tourism. The organisation of the areas favours the different possibilities to either share moment with other people or to be in a calm retired place to rest. The guests can do as they please according to their wish.

In the same spirit as a bed and breakfast, Dar HI’s team offers a simple yet friendly service. The objective is to feel at ease without being annoyed constantly and fully enjoy the house. At Dar HI there is no shame for being lazy, observe, read, loiter, take care of your body and your mind, to discover at your own rhythm local life, and slowly let yourself go to the site’s atmosphere. Guests feel free to organise their lives indoor or outdoor and free to discover Nefta and its wonderful surroundings. If you are a curious traveller, for a unique experience, it is also possible to spend a few days during your stay within the date grove in a palm tree tilt or try out a typical house the Dar Malika that is close to the Dar HI.

3 site typologies
“I have conceived an architecture that is towards the indoor when outside and towards the outdoor when you’re inside, exploding the codes” explains matali. With the surrounding wall, typical of local architecture, Dar HI follows the movement of the terrain, following the shapes of the site and emerges from the sand as a mirage citadel. Inside, the elevated houses seem to be planted into the sand and they structure the project. They are located according to their sun exposure and panorama. “This architecture of pill houses allowed to propose different scenarios that can be lived at Dar HI” says matali. The pill houses are elevated above the surrounding wall and offer different panoramas: the date grove, the village of Nefta or the Chott-El-Jerid. matali crasset designed 3 different areas: the pill houses, the troglodytes and the dunes. Each possibility has interaction with the site and hotel life (interior terrace, pool, ham- mam …) and its guests.

The pill houses

These houses have exceptional views that are all different. Some have a panorama over- looking the horizon of the salted lake, others have a view of the palm grove and its very diverse landscape. Both are very different, one is more intimate being high above the ground with a panoramic view and the other on the lower ground so more amongst the communal area.

High above the ground the room is structured around a bow window, as if the view was integrated in the room. A small table to nibble or work, a large bed that hides part of the shower and toilets compose the room. Down below it is like a small village square. Everyone has a space that is protected from the sun. The square, the bar, the water point and small fountains are all places to be easily together.

The troglodytes: for a mineral experience Three areas called troglodytes with small bricks from Nefta are completely independent with their own private terraces but also linked together by a circular area from one to the other. Collective life is articulated around a small square with a small water cascade and a bread oven. These rooms can be rented entirely for a stay with friends or family. The freshness reminds of the typical troglodytes houses of Matmata.

Above: during construction

The dunes: to have the feeling of having an indoor landscape The three areas called dunes are at sand level. They are like open spaces that the wind would have sculpted. The inspiration was the bivouac that allows you to modulate your comfort as you wish. The experience of living within the dunes creating your own nest to feel closer to the desert. They are all different, one has a loggia with a natural light and an indoor garden, the other very spacious has an external terrace and a large window with a view of Nefta, the third one also very spacious and fresh. It offers a view on the date grove with an independent room and an alcove wooden terrace.

The communal spaces

Dar HI has different communal areas that are places to meet and share. “Leaving the communal areas as open as possible, I wished to leave an easy circulation with a large potential to use the area as much as possible” says matali.

The kitchen: open on the exterior It is a laboratory where you can see the cooks at work, all from Nefta village. The area is also open for the guests every hour of the day or night. There is no area dedicated for the restaurant but a large table and small tables that can be arranged.

The auditorium: an area that changes according to the activities Cinema, music, rest … It has foam material seating that have the superior part that can be used as a back rest. As there are no televisions in the rooms this area allows people to gather and listen to music or watch a movie. The library: around the staircase Like a hedgehog, the staircase has wooden sticks where books are placed and easily accessible. You can come choose a book, read it, put it back or sit comfortably to read it.

The modular living area

With poufs, it is a very agreeable area that you can build yourself. With alcoves, suspensions in terracotta and its chimney, it is a nice area for intimate and warm evenings.

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Hotel by Camprubí i Santacana Arquitectes	Tree Hotel by Tham & Videgård Arkitekter	More projects by Matali Crasset

Last week when a surprise decision was made by a Parisian judge to block the construction of Frank Gehry‘s Louis Vuitton Foundation for Creation, we suspected that the move was more posturing than permanent. Now it looks like it was as such and Gehry’s building might soon be on track. ArtInfo points our way to this reporting in La Monde, indicating that the government is pushing to have the judge’s decision overruled, with construction of the Foundation “a public good.” Legislators were able to make the move much like they are within our own government, by slipping an amendment into a completely unrelated bill. If you’re up to date on your French lessons, the whole story is here. If you’re feeling a bit rusty, here’s the news filtered through Google Translate, resulting in a semi-readable, occasionally-incoherent report. The ultimate take away is that, as most knew when the ruling came down, most expected it only to be temporary, considering the bulk of Parisian legislators who backed the building.

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