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Brazilian design company Bold announced this week Linha Combine, an all-in-one set for transporting family-style meals. During the presentation at Rio+Design, we…
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Chinese New Year begins today and celebrations in Hong Kong include Cantonese operas performed at a pop-up bamboo theatre in the new West Kowloon Cultural District.
William Lim of local architects CL3 designed the temporary structure in the same style as traditional bamboo theatres built since the 1950s.
Orange nylon sheets are stretched over the tiered roof to imitate the ancient palaces of Beijing’s Forbidden City, while colourful fabric signs mounted on bamboo scaffolding face out onto the street.
Red chairs, curtains and lanterns adorn the interior, while more lanterns and flags are hung up outside in red and gold, as both colours are considered lucky in Hong Kong and China.
For three weeks the West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre will occupy the site earmarked for the new Xiqu Chinese Opera Centre, which is being designed by Vancouver firm Bing Thom Architects and Hong Kong studio Ronald Lu & Partners Company Ltd, and is due to complete in 2017.
Foster + Partners won a competition to masterplan the West Kowloon Cultural District in 2010, beating designs by OMA and Rocco Design Architects. Herzog & de Meuron, SANAA and Renzo Piano are among the teams shortlisted to design a new visual culture museum for the area and Aric Chen has been appointed to curate it.
See all our stories about the West Kowloon Cultural District »
See all our stories about architecture and design in Hong Kong »
The post West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre
by William Lim appeared first on Dezeen.
Vietnamese studio Vo Trong Nghia Architects plans to address the housing crisis in Vietnam by introducing modular homes that use cheap local materials and are easy to assemble.
Housing areas in the country have been expanding at a rapid pace over the last ten years but according to the architects many families still live in houses that have less than ten square metres in floor area.
“The project started as voluntary work, responding to the serious housing issue for low income classes in Vietnam,” Vo Trong Nghia Architects‘ Masaaki Iwamoto told Dezeen. “We inspected Mekong Delta Area, where the housing problems for the poor are very serious.”
The architects came up with a concept for a house with a lightweight steel structure, before building full-size prototypes of a house and office with layered walls of corrugated polycarbonate and bamboo.
“If we make the house with concrete and bricks, which is the most typical structure in south-east Asia, it can be very dangerous even though the house itself is strong, just because of the soft and weak condition of the ground,” said Iwamoto. “So we decided to design a lightweight structure within a squeezed budget.”
On the assumption that bathroom and kitchen facilities will be located outside, the buildings are designed as single rooms where living, sleeping and dining areas are divisible through changes in the floor level or by drawing curtains.
Beds fold down from the side walls and can also be used as seating areas and each residence can be extended to allow extra room for growing families.
To reduce construction costs, residents are invited to contribute to the construction process, plus to reduce living costs each house will be equipped with natural ventilation systems and rainwater harvesting facilities.
Now they’ve built the prototypes, the architects plan to develop the design to make it even more affordable. “Another possibility is to utilise cheap local materials such as coconuts leaves for walls or roof,” said Iwamoto, “and we will try to improve and enhance the indoor environment more, without using a power supply.”
“Some of our friends have already shown their interest to apply this prototype as a voluntary investment,” he added. “We are trying to find out the way to realize it.”
This isn’t the first sustainable architecture project by Vo Trong Nghia Architects. Other projects we’ve featured include a house with a vertical garden and a school with sheltered open-air corridors.
We’ve also interviewed principal architect Vo Trong Nghia about his plans to reduce the energy crisis in both residential and public buildings. See all our stories about Vo Trong Nghia Architects.
Photography is by Hiroyuki Oki.
Here’s a project description from Vo Trong Nghia:
According to the statistics, the quantity of total housing area in Vietnam has been increased tenfold in the last decade. However, many families are still living in very small houses, some of which are less than 10 square meters. It is an important issue for Vietnam to provide houses for low-income classes.
The aim of this project is to propose a prototype house for low-income classes in the Mekong Delta area. By minimizing the functions of the house and using low cost materials throughout, the construction cost of a house can be brought down to as little as about 3200USD. Living expenses will also be reduced by using natural resources and energies.
Above: site plan – click above for larger image
Two prototypes were experimentally constructed in Dong Nai province, on the construction site of a Kindergarten project designed by Vo Trong Nghia Architects. The first house, with a floor area of 22.5 square meters, was designed as a model home, the second, measuring 18 square meters, was designed as a site office for the Kindergarten, showing the flexibility of this prototype.
Above: house floor plan – click above for larger image
On the assumption that the bathroom and kitchen are placed outside and shared with several families, the house has minimum space for living, eating and sleeping. The plan was designed to be adjustable toward the longitudinal direction, allowing for future expansion of family members and functions. Its interior is a simple one-room space, articulated by curtains and differences in level of the floor. The floor rises higher in part, creating minimum furniture such as a desk.
Above: house front elevation – click above for larger image
The other distinctive feature is the installation of folding beds, which allow the dwellers to sit on the floor during the day. These beds can also be transformed into sofas if required.
Above: house rear elevation – click above for larger image
In order to reduce the construction cost, dwellers are encouraged to participate in the construction process. The structure of the prototype house is, therefore, a lightweight steel frame, which is easy to assemble without the use of machines, nor special techniques. Considering the recyclability of materials, wet joints are avoided as possible. The roof is supported by truss-beams composed of steel bars, which minimize steel material and give ideal pitch for waterproofing.
Above: office floor plan – click above for larger image
The envelope of the house is composed of a polycarbonate panel wall and corrugated FRP panel roof, and bamboo louvers are set inside of it. Both materials are available everywhere in Vietnam and are cheap, light and replaceable. Bamboo is rapid-growing and therefore the eco-friendly material.
Above: office front elevation – click above for larger image
Translucent envelope and bamboo louvers filter harsh direct sunshine in the tropical climate. The interior is filled with diffused light and reduces the need for artificial lighting, dramatically reducing electricity consumption. There is also a gap between the roof and the wall, which has the function of evacuating the hot air. As the whole space is naturally ventilated there is no need for an air conditioner to be installed in this house. A pent roof was designed to collect rain water for daily use in the dry season. Utilizing blessings of nature, dwellers can save great amount of energies, resources and therefore money.
Above: office rear elevation – click above for larger image
Project Name: Low Cost House
Location: Dong Nai Province, Vietnam
Competion: 08/2012
Architect Firm: Vo Trong Nghia Architects
Principal architect’s Name: Vo Trong Nghia, Masaaki Iwamoto
Architect’s Name: Kosuke Nishijima
Contractor: Wind and Water House JSC
Client: Wind and Water House JSC
Floor area Floor.1: 22.5m2, Floor.2: 18m2
The post Low Cost House by
Vo Trong Nghia Architects appeared first on Dezeen.
Dezeen archive: we’ve published a few buildings and interiors made of bamboo recently so we thought it was time to round up all our stories that feature the famously fast-growing material. See all the stories »
The post Dezeen archive: bamboo appeared first on Dezeen.
More bamboo: this floating tea house in Yangzhou, by Chinese architects HWCD Associates, features brick rooms linked by louvred bamboo corridors and brises soleil.
Situated in the ShiQiao garden in Yangzhou, a city to the northwest of Shanghai, the tea house is organised in asymmetric cubes on a lake.
Tall rows of bamboo create corridors along the outdoor walkway. The bamboo is arranged vertically and horizontally to produce “interesting depth” and visual effects as you walk around, the architects told Dezeen.
Lights are inset into the door frames, providing a glowing pathway between the grey brick buildings.
We’ve featured tea houses from all over the world on Dezeen, including a lantern-like structure near Washington, D.C. and a timber and rope teahouse in the Czech Republic.
Recent stories about bamboo architecture include a Bangkok hair salon with thousands of bamboo stalactites and a thatched bamboo bar in the middle of a lake in Vietnam.
See all our stories about tea houses »
See all our stories about China »
Here’s some more information from the architects:
Tea, one of China’s most precious culture heritages has remained popular throughout the thousands of years. As tea leaves come from modest tea trees, through the long process of picking the leaves, drying the leaves and finally produces a cup of tea.
Thus, tea requires an unassuming setting in order to understand its lengthy process. Today, the appreciation of Chinese tea has become an art and furthermore, many teahouses are designed for this purpose.
Amongst the lush ShiQiao garden, stands this humble tea house which embraces the traditional Chinese garden fundamentals while blending into the natural environment.
The tea house is known as the bamboo courtyard as it mainly uses bamboo to create an interesting play of vertical and horizontal lines. In some spaces, the vertical and horizontal elements intensify to form a psychedelic perspective, evoking a profound sensory perception.
Traditionally, Yangzhou courtyards are formed with inward facing pavilions, creating an internal landscape space. So, drawing inspiration from this, the bamboo courtyard was designed from a basic square footprint, fragmented into small spaces to create an internal landscape area. Each of the spaces has views into the surrounding lake, allowing a panoramic view of the area.
As one walks through the bamboo courtyard, the asymmetrical corridors present an intentional semi-obstructed vision with the layering of bamboos.
There is a strong experiential sense of space, layered from one to another; from totally open to the internal lake to narrow spaces between the rough brick finish and bamboo curtain.
Section – click above for larger image
From the exterior, the bamboo courtyard has a cube form with a variation of solids and voids. The strong verticality becomes more apparent at night when the teahouse lights up to illuminate the surroundings. The simple form illustrates the harmonious blending of architecture with nature.
North elevation
Moreover, the natural materials such as bamboo and bricks have low embodied energy and low impact on the environment. The pocket of voids improves natural ventilation within the bamboo courtyard while the thick brick wall retains heat in winter, reducing the dependency of mechanical heating and cooling system.
East elevation
One who appreciates tea would understand that every serving of tea differs in colour, scent and taste even if it is from the same pot. There is a layering of experience in enjoying every cup of tea. Thus, the bamboo courtyard is an abstraction of the tea experience, creating layers of experience through spaces.
South elevation
If tea is an art and architecture is a way of life, then the bamboo courtyard is the portrait of the both worlds.
West elevation
Location: ShiQiao, Yangzhou
Client: Building And Construction Authority of YangZhou Economic and Technological Development Zone
Client-side Project Manager: YaoQiang
Design Firm: Harmony World Consulting & Design (HWCD)
Design-partner-in-charge: Sun Wei, Shi Jun
Building Area: 400m2
Completed: May 2012
The post Bamboo Courtyard Teahouse
by HWCD Associates appeared first on Dezeen.
Thousands of bamboo rods hang from the ceiling like stalactites to divide the space inside this Bangkok hair salon by Thai designer Nattapon Klinsuwan of NKDW.
Klinsuwan was inspired by the way natural caves are divided, where he noticed that “often the stalactite and stalagmite will connect and become a column, then a wall, creating rooms.”
In places the poles are long enough to touch the floor, creating permeable walls to screen off the colouring and shampooing areas.
See all our stories about bamboo »
See all our stories about salons »
See all our stories about Bangkok »
Above: position of bamboo poles on the ceiling
The post Salon in Bangkok
by NKDW appeared first on Dezeen.
Vietnamese architects Vo Trong Nghia have constructed a thatched bamboo dome at the centre of a lake in Binh Duong Province (+ slideshow).
Above: photograph is by Phan Quang
Stepping stones lead across the water and inside the Wind and Water Bar, which is used as a venue for music performances, local meetings and other events.
The wooden structure of the building is assembled from lengths of bamboo, which are bound together and bent into arches.
A circular opening at the centre of the roof lets hot air escape.
Other bamboo projects on Dezeen include a temporary shelter in China and a pavilion in Taiwan.
See more stories featuring bamboo »
See more architecture by Vo Trong Nghia »
Above: construction photograph is by Phan Quang
Photography by Hiroyuki Oki, apart from where otherwise stated.
Above: construction photograph is by Phan Quang
Here’s some more text from Vo Trong Nghia:
wNw bar
The wNw bar is located in an artificial lake next to the wNw café. To create a contrasting space to the cafe, the bar is designed as an enclosed space which can be used for different purposes such as music concerts, shows, ceremonies etc.
Above: plan
A structural bamboo arch system was designed for this dome; 10m high and spanning 15m across. The main frame is made by 48 prefabricated units, each of them is made of several bamboo elements bound together. The building uses natural wind energy and the cool water from the lake to create natural air-ventilation. On the top of the roof there is a hole with a diameter of 1.5m for the evacuation of hot air from the inside.
Above: site plan
As a new architectural element, the style of the two buildings of wNw becomes the focus of the landscape and work in harmony with the surrounding residential area. Although the function of the buildings is a bar, it has its own uniqueness and has become a landmark of urban landscape. It represents not only modernism but also traditions. The building gives a luxurious feeling but at the same time remains gentle in its atmosphere. The bar is now also used for town meetings and other social activities.
The two buildings originated from nature. They now merge in harmony with nature. With time they will return to nature.
Above: section
Location: Binh Duong province, Vietnam.
Architectural design: Vo Trong Nghia
Classfication: Bar
Client: Vo Trong Nghia Co., Ltd
Project Address: 6/28T, Zone 3, Phu Tho district, Thu Dau Mot Town, Binh Duong Province, Vietnam.
Completed date: Jan 2008
Main materials: Bamboo
Building area (Roof area): 270 sqm
Floor area: 270 sqm
The post Wind and Water Bar
by Vo Trong Nghia appeared first on Dezeen.
Four sustainable, lightweight and refined tech items
Beloved by progressive designers and earth-conscious consumers, bamboo grows free from pesticides and fertilizers in low water conditions. Add to that construction-grade strength and a naturally gorgeous grain, and bamboo emerges as a top pick for sustainability and good design. Recently, the material has been making waves in the tech world, used to build everything from smartphones to keyboards. Below you’ll find four creative new applications of the fibrous grass.
Determined to bring bamboo to smartphones, U.K. student Kieron-Scott Woodhouse designed a concept for a more sustainable Android device. His rendering was picked up by an entrepreneur, and they’re now hoping the ADzero Bamboo Phone will reach the market by the close of 2012. Besides the gorgeous look and grippy texture, the ADzero contains the first-ever rear-facing ring flash camera, a setup favored by portrait photographers for a diffused glow. Check in with ADzero’s Google+ page for updates on production.
The recently launched iZen Bamboo Keyboard is a wireless device composed of 92% bamboo. While Impecca has been creating bamboo keyboards for some time, iZen’s model has the distinction of being the first bluetooth-enabled wireless bamboo keyboard, which makes it compatible with devices and desktops alike.
The keyboard is built to the same dimensions as an Apple keyboard, with a texture that feels great for typing. iZen also makes bamboo tablet stands, useful when typing out tablet correspondences on the keyboard. Head over to the Kickstarter page to pledge to iZen’s next round of production, where $85 will secure an iZen keyboard.
While computer soft cases remain the standard, nothing beats the look and feel of an old-fashioned hard case. Lined with wool felt, Silva’s Macbook case is hand-sanded and finished with oil and polyurethane for a glass-like finish, with a thick leather handle practical for the lightweight case. Silva also makes two cases for iPad and are working on new models to accommodate the MacBook Air and 17″ MacBook Pro.
Fit for the new iPad, this case from Grove is molded to accommodate the tablet’s subtle curves. A range of covers are equipped with magnets to both wake and put the tablet to sleep, and the fabric lies flat against the back of the case when open. Wrapping slightly around the back, the covers lend an an ergonomic element for carrying as well. Overall, the case stands out for crisp, clean lines, especially when paired with the texture of Grove’s recently debuted wool cover.
Above: photograph is by Wei-Ming Yuan
New York architect Stan Allen constructed this pavilion of bamboo scaffolding at a former airport in Taichung, Taiwan.
Above: photograph is by Wei-Ming Yuan
The temporary Infobox structure displays masterplan proposals by the architect to redevelop the 240-hectare site.
Above: photograph is by Wei-Ming Yuan
Drawings, models and projected animations are displayed on the ground floor of the pavilion, while a first-floor balcony offers a view of the progressing construction.
The gridded scaffolding is composed entirely of bamboo sticks, which are tied together with metal wire.
The bamboo structure will be completely recycled when the pavilion is eventually dismantled.
Another former airport recently hosted an international design fair – you can watch a movie about that event here.
Other bamboo structures featured on Dezeen include a nest-like den and a woven lattice restaurant ceiling, both in China.
Photography is by Iwan Baan, apart where otherwise stated.
Above: photograph is by Wei-Ming Yuan
Here’s some further explanation from Stan Allen Architects:
Taichung Infobox
In 2009, Stan Allen Architect completed the master-plan for Taichung Gateway Park, a 240 hectare mixed use quarter to be built on the site of the former Municipal Airport in Taichung, Taiwan.
The urban design proposal includes a long-term strategy to “grow” the site over time, with civic buildings, infrastructure and residential neighborhoods to be built around a large central park space.
In order to raise awareness of the Taichung Gateway project, and to bring the public onto this spectacular site, SAA proposed the immediate construction of the InfoBox, a temporary exhibition pavilion to display the site and the project. Throughout the life of the structure, drawings, models and computer animations will be displayed within, while an elevated overlook terrace gives the public a ringside seat to observe the process of construction.
Click above for larger image
Responding to the need for fast implementation and making the most of a limited budget, the InfoBox re-purposes the ubiquitous bamboo scaffolding technology seen all over Asia. The bamboo structure is not only quick and inexpensive, it is a locally available green technology: all materials will be recycled at the end of the pavilion’s lifespan.
Click above for larger image
The dense weave of the bamboo creates optical effects which will contribute to the iconic presence of the InfoBox. The systems are flexible and adaptive, both during construction and over the life of the project.
Click above for larger image
Client: City of Taichung
Design architect: Stan Allen
Executive architect: W.B. Huang Architects & Planners
Project coordinator: Feng-Chia Design Center
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