The next letter in our A-Zdvent calendar is U, for Dutch architecture firm UNStudio. Pictured is Galleria Centercity, a department store in South Korea, and the architects have also recently completed a shopping centre in China with over 42,000 shiny silver balls attached to its facade.
See more architecture by UNStudio »
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News: Amazon has gained planning permission for a new Seattle headquarters that will feature a trio of glass orbs containing a jungle of mature trees and tropical plants (+ slideshow).
Designed by American architecture firm NBBJ, the proposal for a new headquarters for online retailer Amazon was unanimously approved last week by the Seattle planning department.
The 30-metre-high transparent balls will accommodate 1800 Amazon employees, who will be surrounded by a wilderness of plant life that includes green walls, hanging gardens and flowering shrubs.
“The generative idea is that a plant-rich environment has many positive qualities that are not often found in a typical office setting,” reads the proposal document.
It continues: “While the form of the building will be visually reminiscent of a greenhouse or conservatory, plant material will be selected for its ability to co-exist in a microclimate that also suits people.”
Offices will be divided across the four storeys of the greenhouses and shops will be located around the edges of the ground floor.
Three traditional office blocks will also be included around the outside of the new campus, which will be located on 7th Avenue on a site called the Denny Triangle.
The project is the latest in a string of self-contained campuses being built for technology companies, alongside Apple’s ring-shaped building for Cupertino and Facebook’s plans for the largest open-plan office in the world. Sam Jacob explored how these projects are reshaping the landscape in an Opinion column earlier this year.
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News: Rem Koolhaas’ OMA has won the competition to design a new bridge across the river Garonne in Bordeaux with plans for a 44-metre-wide structure that will accommodate traffic and pedestrians, but could also be used for hosting events.
Set to be completed in 2018, the Pont Jean-Jacques Bosc will link the municipalities of Bègles and Floriac. A pedestrian promenade will take up the largest section of the bridge, but there will also be dedicated lanes for cars, public transport and bicycles that can be closed during events.
OMA worked with engineers WSP and landscape architect Michel Desvigne to develop the concept for the bridge, and the designers hope it will become a popular public space for the city.
“The bridge itself is not the ‘event’ in the city, but a platform that can accommodate events of the city,” said OMA project leader Clément Blanchet. “We wanted to provide the simplest expression – the least technical, least lyrical, but the most concise and effective structural solution.”
The project will be completed as part of the Euratlantique, a city-wide development covering an area of 738 hectares.
“It is an extraordinary architectural gesture, said Vincent Feltesse, president of the Urban Community of Bordeaux. “More than a bridge, it is an urban planning intervention in the heart of the Euratlantique project.”
Here’s the full announcement from OMA:
OMA has won the international competition to design the Pont Jean-Jacques Bosc, the sixth bridge across the river Garonne in Bordeaux and the first bridge design to be realised by OMA. The selection committee included the mayor of Bordeaux, Alain Juppé; completion is scheduled for 2018.
Positioned at the heart of the Euratlantique project, Pont Jean-Jacques Bosc provides a link between the municipalities of Bègles and Floriac. But more than simply connecting two points of land separated by water, the bridge itself also offers a generous new public space in the city.
Vincent Feltesse, president of the Urban Community of Bordeaux: “It is an extraordinary architectural gesture. More than a bridge, it is an urban planning intervention in the heart of the Euratlantique project.”
Its considerable 44m by 545m expanse, a continuous surface stretching well beyond the banks of the river, seamlessly connects to the land. The gently sloping surface enables a pedestrian promenade while still allowing the necessary clearance for boats beneath. All traffic modes – including private cars, public transport, bicycles and foot traffic – are accommodated by its width, with the largest allowance devoted to pedestrians.
Clément Blanchet, director of OMA France: “The bridge itself is not the ‘event’ in the city, but a platform that can accommodate events of the city. We wanted to provide the simplest expression – the least technical, least lyrical, but the most concise and effective structural solution.”
The project was developed in collaboration with engineers WSP, the landscape architect Michel Desvigne, the consultant EGIS, and the light design agency Lumières Studio.
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American firm Johnston Marklee has designed a circular house with a paddling pool on the roof as part of a series of inventive holiday homes proposed by architects including Sou Fujimoto and Didier Faustino for a national park in Spain (+ slideshow).
Johnston Marklee‘s Round House is number four in the series of Solo Houses, an initiative funded by French developer Christian Bourdais that gives 12 architects free rein to develop any design within a set budget.
Rising above an almond grove, the house will accommodate living spaces and bedrooms on a elevated circular floor. Bedrooms will be positioned around the curved edges of the building, while sliding glass screens will allow rooms to open out to one another.
A spiral staircase at the centre of the house will lead residents up to the rooftop deck, offering panoramic views across the rural landscape.
Architects Sharon Johnston and Mark Lee compare the building to a string of famous villas with rotundas, including Andrea Palladio’s Villa Rotunda and Buckminster Fuller’s Dymaxion House.
“[It] captures the continuous horizon line of the surrounding landscape while accentuating the different spatial characteristics of the site’s orientations,” they said.
Both the base and roof terrace will feature a small square plan, contrasting with the curved outline of the main building’s floor.
Round House is one of 12 houses set to be built as part of the Solo Houses series. The symmetrical concrete Casa Pezo by Chilean studio Pezo Von Ellrichshausen is the only project completed so far, but will be followed by Didier Faustino’s Big Bang-inspired structure and Sou Fujimoto’s Geometric Forest.
Here’s a project description from Johnston Marklee:
Solo Houses unveils the Round House of Johnston Marklee
Situated on the outskirts of Cretas, Spain the Round House follows the grand tradition of country villas sited within an idyllic landscape. Approached along the edge of a dense forest and the Parc Natural dels Ports beyond, the Round House emerges as a singular object amongst a grove of almond trees.
The house consists of a single floor elevated above the almond grove to capture a panoramic view of the surroundings. The circular floor plan is supposed by a smaller base with a square plan, creating a sense of detachment from the landscape whilst remaining grounded by its inherent weight and mass. Protruding from the base is the main entrance. Upon entry the visitor ascends a flight of stairs and arrives within the centre of the house.
The primary axis of the bilaterally symmetrical plan runs along the length of the entry stairway, and is shaped by two curving walls that connect the living and dining areas of the open plan. These walls create a compressed spatial sensation while directing the visitor outward towards the panoramic view at the perimeter. Hovering above the almond trees, the space of the open plan extends into the landscape.
Behind the curving walls are four bedrooms with bathrooms and storage. The sliding doors of the bedrooms can open to connect to the living space and form a complete open plan when desired. A spiral staircase allows visitors to access the roof deck which has a square plan identical to the base of the house. Centred with a pool, the roof deck obtains an unbroken 360 degree view of the Aragonais backcountry.
Following the lineage of Andrea Palladio’s Villa Rotunda, Buckminster Fuller’s Dymaxion House, and John Lautner’s Chemosphere House; Johnston Marklee’s Round House captures the continuous horizon line of the surrounding landscape while accentuating the different spatial characteristics of the site’s orientations.
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Victor Enrich, a Barcelona based photographer, has pushed even his reputation of reconfigurations and twisted figures to the extreme. For his most recent project, he took an image of the NH Deutscher Kaiser hotel (hence the name Project NHDK) in Munich and translated the building’s architecture 88 different ways. Most are impossible twists and turns, but some pass as surprisingly realistic.
Lifelike or not, it’s fun to think about what the familiar structures in our lives would look like if we had the chance to get our hands on the architecture. Check out this video showing all of Enrich’s variations:
T is for Japanese architect Toyo Ito, whose Tama Art University Library is behind today’s advent calendar window. Completed in 2007, the library comprises slender concrete arches that span lengths of up to 16 metres. Ito was also this year’s Pritzker Prize laureate and his other projects include the Za Koenji Public Theatre in Tokyo.
See more architecture by Toyo Ito »
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Hungarian art and design collective Szövetség’39 has unveiled a concept to reduce the impact of rising sea levels in the world’s delta regions by introducing a modular structure that will cultivate mangrove forests to form natural dams.
Anna Baróthy of Szövetség’39 worked in a design team that included biologist and diver Gergő Balázs, designer Janka Csernák and scientist Viktor Grónás to develop the CALTROPe concept, which seeks to prevent the loss of agricultural land caused when pollution and climate change provoke water levels to rise.
After carefully studying the biological qualities of mangroves, the designers found that the salt-tolerant plants act as a natural breakwater against tides, trapping river sediment in their strong roots and helping to prevent ecosystems from washing away.
“After having examined the processes of sedimentation, the hydrodynamic characteristics, and the ecological conditions, we concluded that the intentional retention of water-borne alluvium carried in big qualities by the delta rivers could be the key to compensate land loss caused by sea level rise,” explain the team in their design report.
The designers propose an structure that can be easily installed beneath the water’s surface, providing a modular infrastructure to house growing mangrove plants, which thrive in coastal habitats.
“The modules serve as containers and incubators for the young mangrove saplings that, getting stronger with time, will become self-supporting and form a natural dam,” said theteam.
The project is named CALTROPe – a mixture of the words caltrop (a kind of water chestnut) and rope. The first is a reference to the the curving shape of the objects, while the second refers to the lacy appearance of the modules when combined.
Made from a combination of concrete and organic materials, the structures are expected to crumble away after 15 to 20 years. By this point the plants will be strong enough to support themselves and the dissolved material will become part of the sediment.
“We believe that, when the sea level will go beyond a critical point, the quantity of sediment trapped will form sufficiently high dams to save the current lands,” said the designers. “The protected areas can also be used agriculturally or can be populated because their soil is rich in nutrients and they are solid enough.”
Another benefit of the structure is that it will create new habitats for oysters and prawns.
The project was recently named one of three overall winners in a design competition launched by the Jacques Rougerie Foundation, a non-profit organisation focussing on the relationship between architecture and the sea.
Here’s a project description from Szövetség’39:
CALTROPe: Grand Prix winner Hungarian architecture project in Paris
The Budapest-based Szövetség’39 creative team has won the Grand Prix in the category ‘Architecture and sea level rise’ awarded by the International Architecture Competition organised by the Jacques Rougerie Foundation. The young Hungarian designers’ project called CALTROPe answered the challenge caused by loss of territory due to the water level rise in an innovative and sustainable manner.
The aim of the project is to synthesise and balance the natural dynamics and forces of the delta regions applying an easy-to-install modular structure. CALTROPe is a lace-like structure that is able to catch and collect river sediment with the help of mangrove plants, so integrating natural and architectural elements. Working like a catalyst, it will provoke positive changes at the most critical shoreline points. With this cooperative, participatory and locally supplied work can also reorganise and socialise the local population in a constructive and self-supporting manner.
CALTROPe comes from the words ‘caltrop’ (water chestnut) and ‘rope’, ‘caltrop’ referring to the shape of the object, and ‘rope’, to the linear, lace-like installation principles.
The concept of CALTROPe has been set up by Szövetség’39 Art Base that focuses usually on especially complex artistic planning. In this case the members of the team were Anna Baróthy, leading designer and project manager of Szövetség’39, Gergő Balázs biologist and diver, Janka Csernák designer, Dr. Viktor Grónás senior lecturer of the Szent István University’s Nature Conservation and Ecology Department, diver, Peter Kovacsics graphic and animation designer, Viktor Pucsek and Peter Vető industrial and 3D designers. The project staff was Melinda Bozsó, designer of Szövetség’39, Daniel Csomor architect, Kata Kerekes graphic designer, Vera Krauth architecture student, Ábel Kurta and Veronika Szabó product design students and Nóra Lajkó student in fine arts and painting.
This spring the Jacques Rougerie Foundation announced an international architectural competition in three categories. The call for a total of 529 entries were submitted from 76 countries of the world, out of which CALTROPe won the grand-prix. The competition is named after Jacques Rougerie who is one of the world’s most innovative visionary architects. Rougerie is an expert in space and underwater structures – he has designed the soon-to-be first underwater museum in Egypt and the SeaOrbiter that is a cross between a skyscraper and a boat for exploring the unchartered territories of the earth’s oceans.
Szövetség ’39 is an association of artists who primarily deals with complex artistic design. The subject matter of design typically related to some form of spatial situations, such as installations, artistic design of buildings, actions and artworks of plazas, public spaces. The current members of the group are: Anna Baróthy, Csenge Kolozsvári and Melinda Bozsó joined by artists and creative groups in the workshop as well. Szövetség ’39 is an open workshop-site and assures an open-mind, recipient ambient for the development of tentative concepts. Just as the Szövetség ’39 conveys new-thinking and innovative ideas through hosting related events, actions regularly in the workshop. The main profiles of the present members are: architecture, media-art, computer graphics, web design, experimental programming, animation and design of glass.
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A concrete kitchen worktop doubles up as a dining room floor inside this renovated house in Porto by Portugeuse studio Ezzo (+ movie).
Named Flower House, the project involved demolishing and rebuilding the building’s upper storeys, as well as refurbishing the existing ground floor to create sunken zones for the kitchen and living room.
“The project was aimed at creating a series of flowing, contemporary spaces, allowing a greater degree of flexibility and linking the internal spaces of the ground floor in just one: living, dining and kitchen,” said Ezzo.
Kitchen cabinets are slotted beneath the concrete floor, while a small breakfast counter is created by an extended section of the same surface.
The concrete was hand-poured on site and has been finished with a waterproof coating to give it a polished look.
The hollowed-out living area sits adjacent to the kitchen, whilst a dining area and small bathroom are positioned just behind.
The house’s new upper storeys are contained within a traditional vernacular form with a gabled roof, but the exterior has been painted entirely white.
“The core ambition of the scheme was to create a dwelling, which, over time, would come to reflect an approach to contemporary renovation work,” explained the architects.
The first floor accommodates a pair of bedrooms that open out onto a shared balcony, overlooking the surrounding city rooftops. Both bedrooms feature built-in storage space.
A bathroom with bright blue walls is located on the left hand side of the landing, while a wooden ladder leads up to a study room and seating area on the top floor.
A courtyard is located at the back of the house and is surrounded by walls clad in polycarbonate plastic panels.
Photography is by João Ferrand.
Here is some information from the architect:
Flower House
Flower House involved the remodelling of a small old house to provide space to accommodate a single client. The scheme included the refurbishment of the existing ground floor, demolished of the 1st floor as well as the construction of a new one.
The building is set within heritage site, which has drawn out a unique response to the history and settings. The building geometry, orientation and size is driven by the site constraints.
At the site, the existing buildings are idiosyncratic of their type, with flank elevations and roof profiles, which run the breadth of the neighbourhood of Foz Velha. These buildings are detailed in a utilitarian manner, with an honesty of material and detailing one would expect.
In responding to this condition, the design of the new building make clear reference to their historical parts. A two storey dwelling with character and personality, respectful of the existing neighbourhood, and taking advantage of the views.
In the interior the project was aimed at creating a series of flowing, contemporary spaces, allowing a greater degree of flexibility, linking the internal spaces of the ground floor in just one: living, dining and kitchen. Two different stairs ensures the connectivity between ground floor living spaces and upper floors of bedrooms and study space.
The core ambition of the scheme was to create a dwelling, which, over time, would come to reflect an approach to contemporary renovation work and create a flexible environment for who will live there.
Accessible via a path with only 2 m wide, flanked by old houses, externally, the building is wrapped in a homogenous white skin, which wraps up from the landscape.
This relationship of building to street retains those historic associations described, and similarly allows for a contemporary sculptural form to sit comfortably within its context.
Project: Flower House
Architects: EZZO – César Machado Moreira
Collaborator: João Pedro Leal
Location: Porto, Portugal
Project Area: 120 sqm
Project year: 2010/2013
Engineering: Penman Ldª
Constructor: Van Urbis
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Le siège de Pinterest est situé dans le quartier de Soma de San Francisco, et ce lieu permet d’accueillir jusqu’à 300 employés. Un entrepôt en briques qui propose de grands espaces et a été imaginé par Janette Kim, Anna Neimark et Andrew Atwood de First Office, sous la direction de l’architecte Neal Schwartz.
A house modelled on the form of an explosion by Portuguese artist and architect Didier Faustino looks set to become the next completed residence in the series of Spanish dream houses for French developer Christian Bourdais.
Casa Faustino is scheduled to be the next project to begin construction in Spain’s Matarraña region as part of the series of Solo Houses, an initiative to construct 12 architect-designed holiday homes that are free from any constraints besides budget.
Didier Faustino and his architecture studio Mésarchitectures have designed a residence made up of rectilinear volumes that project outward in different directions to create a variety of apertures, framing views of the surrounding landscape and sky.
Floors inside the structure will be arranged as staggered platforms, which the design team hopes will encourage residents to “experience space in new ways, from infinitely large to infinitely small”.
“Similarly to the centre of the ‘Big Bang’ the house appears to draw in as well as reflect the light at its core,” said the designers. “The floors cause the body to feel weightless due to a lack of traditional spatial references.”
A swimming pool will be located on the lowest level of the building and will extend out beyond the walls.
So far only one house has been completed in the Solo Houses series – the symmetrical concrete Casa Pezo by Chilean studio Pezo Von Ellrichshausen. A total of 12 are proposed and include designs by Sou Fujimoto, Johnston Marklee and Takei Nabeshima.
Here are a few more details from Mésarchitectures:
Casa Faustino
At the Centre of Infinity nestling in the telluric mountain scenery, this ultimate shelter lies before us like the promise of a new world. Protecting from the natural elements but inspired by the surrounding nature, this carapace capaciously opens out to frame the many perspectives of the landscape resulting in a better understanding of its diverse nature.
Similarly to the centre of the “Big Bang” the house appears to draw in as well as reflect the light at its core. The floors cause the body to feel weightless due to a lack of traditional spatial references (top and bottom, right and left).
As if from elsewhere, the house invites its occupants to experience space in new ways, from infinitely large to infinitely small.
Location: Poligono 12, parcella N°141, Cretas, Matarraña, Espagne
Area: 3,48 Hectares
Architects: Didier Fuiza Faustino & Bureau des Mésarchitectures
Collaborators: Tony Matias, Pascal Mazoyer, Maÿlis Puyfaucher.
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to be next in series of dream houses appeared first on Dezeen.
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