Monthly Archives: December 2009

Fuglsang Cuts / CEBRA

By Gimena | Published: December 31, 2009

© Adam Mørk Architects: CEBRA Location: Fuglsang Allé, Herning, Denmark Client: M2 a/s Project Area: 4,300 sqm Project Year: 2007 Photographs: Mads B. Moller, Thomas Mølvig , CEBRA & Adam Mørk The estate consists of five blocks, the design of which is based upon a wish of creating a flexible concept able to contain different accommodation units within the same idea and idiom. The buildings were made so that they can be adapted to each individual resident and to the demand and will consequently be suitable for a wide segment of residents. The flats in the five blocks are situated around a centrally placed staircase (the core of the house); on the ground floor there is a parking area (also for bicycles) for the residents, depots and rooms for garbage cans. site plan © Adam Mørk Around this core it is possible to set up three, four or five flats, which can be arranged horizontally, vertically or as a combination – and the arrangement can be different in the other blocks. © Thomas Mølvig The basic idea is to build all five blocks with three to five flats depending on requirements as to size and inner arrangement. Afterwards the intention is to imitate “a stroke with an axe” in order to give the building an aesthetic distinctive character as well as functional advantages. The strokes are placed where they will give the optimum conditions for view and daylight in the depth of the building. Apart from giving view and sunlight the strokes also create a private terrace for each flat. The inside arrangement of the flats consists of regular rooms which are contrasted by the oblique angles made by the strokes of an axe. Due to the combination of the different arrangement of the three storeys of the blocks, the number of flats and the placement of the strokes you will see five blocks with a different exterior, yet architecturally closely related…

Posted in architecture | Tagged architecture, california, canada, cebra, croatia, france, italy, read-more-raquo, selected | Leave a comment

House S / Nimmrichter cda

By Rose Etherington | Published: December 31, 2009

© Bruno Helbling Architects: nimmrichter cda, Architekten ETH SIA Location: Dietlikon, Switzerland Project Team: Rolf Carl Nimmrichter, Dennis Clayton Matthiesen Site management: Knecht Baumangement, Schlieren Timber construction: Hector Egger, Langenthal Interior: Teo Jakob Colombo, Zurich Project Year: 2007-2008 Photographs: Bruno Helbling , Zurich In a Zurich municipality, better known for its industrial and shopping facilities, nimmrichter cda compiled a study dealing with the long term development of a plot of land with an existing building on site. A comprehensive survey of various factors revealed the plot’s development potential for the next generation. Competing against a modular house manufacturer, the unconventional design submitted by Rolf Nimmrichter’s architecture office was awarded the commission. plan 01 The parameters of the design were determined by the desire for autonomy of form and materiality, as well as the new building’s interaction with the house and pool already on the land. An existing pavilion, acting as pool and summer house, was demolished and replaced by a new volume. The new building’s form is a response to its position on the site, and the angled façade reflects the client’s desire for living areas offering different degrees of openness or seclusion. The exterior is faced with horizontal, open-jointed cedar batten cladding, which further emphasises the geometry of the building. © Bruno Helbling The three-floor building’s overall volume is 1, 000 m³. Garage and necessary storage and utility rooms are located in the basement. The open-plan ground floor comprises one large living, eating and cooking area, and there are three bedrooms and a recessed balcony on the upper floor. The interior, also designed by nimmrichter cda, is defined by its core faced in chestnut wood, which encompasses the entrance hall, with cloakroom and externally-accessible guest toilet, and the staircase. © Bruno Helbling The box delineates the eating-living area and contrasts with the dark, rough concrete floor and the black kitchen elements. The building is Minergie® certified, a registered quality label for low-energy buildings. The energy concept includes making use of the neighbouring house’s existing heating system and using solar panels to heat water for both houses.

Posted in architecture | Tagged architecture, australia, bruno-helbling, canada, denmark, italy, netherlands, spain | Leave a comment

Courtyard House on a Steep Site / Hutchison & Maul Architecture

By Ryan Boren | Published: December 31, 2009

© Eduardo Calderon Architects: Hutchison & Maul Architecture Location: Mercer Island, Washington, USA Design Team: Robert Hutchison, Tom Maul, Joyce Puri Structural Engineer: Jeff Albert Mechanical Engineer: Rainbow Consulting Interior Design: Hutchison & Maul Architecture w/ Julie Petri Contractor: EH Construction Project Area: 623 sqm Project Year: 2004-2007 Photography: Eduardo Calderon, Alan Abramowitz, Tom Hille, Hutchison & Maul Architecture The site is very steep, long and narrow – 50’ wide by 400’ long with an average slope of 35%. Located on the west side of Mercer Island, there are panoramic views west towards Seattle and the Olympic Mountains beyond. Zoning permitted construction on only 35’ of the 50’ property width, and limited the height of the building to 30’ relative to the slope of the site. site plan © Alan Abramowitz Exterior terraces and courtyards are carved into the sloping hillside to facilitate pedestrian circulation throughout the site; to provide natural light throughout the primary levels of the house; and to provide privacy from the neighboring properties. The house consists of two parts: a concrete plinth which contains utilitarian and less-used spaces; and a hovering wood volume above that contains the private functions of family bedrooms and bathrooms. The resulting space sandwiched between the wood structure and concrete plinth houses the primary living areas, bound by large expanses of glazing that afford views through the open level of the house to the Lake beyond. © Alan Abramowitz To access the house, one navigates through the series of excavated exterior terraces and stairways, across water features and bridges, then down another stairway, finally arriving at a small exterior glass-enclosed courtyard in the center of the residence. This entry sequence informed the shape of the wood volume as well as the placement and configuration of the concrete retaining walls. Horizontal wood siding assembled with members of alternating depth enhance the notions of texture, shadow and perspective; contrast with the smooth concrete site walls; and ultimately heighten the journey from driveway to center of house.

Posted in architecture | Tagged brazil, denmark, eduardo, eduardo-calderon, hutchison, italy, mexico, selected, usa | Leave a comment

Sweden’s H House Protects Against Nordic Winters

By sabine7 | Published: December 31, 2009

This sheltering enclosure echoes the design of this home, which has been laid out in an H shape. Designed to withstand harsh Northern winters near the arctic circle, the H House by Stockholm Architectural firm WRB keeps its occupants cozy and cheerful through Sweden’s long dark winters. The timeless serenity of this house is very calming. Stones. Water. Fire. Dark. Light. During the long winters the inhabitants are able to remain healthy with exercise in this refined and elegant perfectly placed indoor pool. Stockholm’s archipelago overlooks the ocean. The harsh Nordic summers are brief and for only fleeting enjoyment on the unprotected seaward side of the home’s H shape. The H shape creates two intimate and protected courtyards; one on the ocean side, when the weather is balmy, and the other is protected from the ocean breezes – this interior courtyard on the land side. Stockholm’s WRB Architectural firm has created an inspiring home that is sensitive to its unforgiving environment, creating a sheltered feeling. This is a post from Home Design Find Sweden’s H House Protects Against Nordic Winters

Posted in architecture | Tagged architecture, design, friends, Furniture, green, kitchen, Lighting, modern, ocean, tokyo-weekly, wrb | Leave a comment

All Up In A Cell

By Chris Burns | Published: December 31, 2009

Concept cars is what everybody needs in the future. You bet. This right here is a futuristic vision of the Audi cell car set up on independent axles and center turning drive shafts. All of the insides hidden in a fabulously eye-meltingly nice carbon body. Transport you and you loved ones around in style and safety. It’s a must. You think Audi’d market this fabulous auto? Electric motors inside the wheels, L:4220mm, W:1980mm, H:1350mm. Airflow around the wheel body work and axle engineered to create high downforce, aerodynamic shapes for a more fluent drive. Made of a combination of recyclable polymer materials and “progressive strong carbon fiver surfaces according to F1 construction.” Kamera system monitors situation around the vehicle and notifies the passengers accordingly. And a fantastic kinetic energy recovery system. That’s what’s up. Designer: David Polášek

Posted in Gadgets | Tagged auto, concept car, fashion, future car, futuristic car, insane car, interview, technology, travel | Leave a comment

Shoal Bay Bach / Parsonson Architects

By LydiaD | Published: December 30, 2009

© Paul McCredie Architects: Parsonson Architects Location: Shoal Bay, New Zealand Project Team: Gerald Parsonson, Craig Burt Structural Engineer: Spencer Holmes Consulting Engineers Builder: Phil Davidson Construction Project Area: 220 sqm Project Year: 2008 Photographs: Paul McCredie Shoal Bay is a remote settlement on the rugged east coast of southern Hawkes Bay. The building is designed to be part of the rural setting, it is raised off the ground and sits beside the original woolshed, which has served the bay since the early 1900’s. The bach is rugged yet welcoming and offers unpretentious shelter, it is the type of place where you kick off your shoes and don’t need to worry whether you walk sand through the house. floor plan © Paul McCredie The bach is formed of two slightly off-set pavilions, one housing the bedrooms and the other the main living space. Decks are located at each end of the living pavilion allowing the sun to be followed throughout the day. Sliding screens at the north-west end provide adjustable shelter for the different wind conditions, offer privacy from neighbouring campers and act as walls for outside sleeping.

Posted in architecture | Tagged california, canada, croatia, houses, italy, mexico, netherlands, parsonson-architects, read-more-raquo, selected, spain, usa | Leave a comment

Seat Radiator – stylish heated bench Grandeur by Aeon

By LydiaD | Published: December 30, 2009

Who knew a home radiator could be such a statement piece? The Grandeur is a stylish seat radiator by Aeon with a heated bench for the ultimate in “grand” comforts. This classically inspired home radiator features ornately scrolled arms, classic square profile, and a brushed or polished chrome finish suited to any contemporary and traditional style homes alike. In the main entrance foyer or mudroom, this heated bench will be a hotspot to sit and remove your snowy boots. In the bathroom, a seat radiator makes a cozy spot to warm up after a bath or shower for the ultimate in luxury. In the hallway, it’s simply an elegant focal point not to be ignored – group it with a side table and a hanging work of art, and you’ve come a long way from the eye-sore home radiators of the past. Check out this stylish seat radiator at Aeon .

Posted in Home Radiators, architecture | Tagged design-ideas, Home Radiators, house-designs, ideas, light, modern, modern-outdoors, radiator, ultimate, ultra-modern | Leave a comment

T-pipe Fitting Faucet by Bonomi – Tube

By LydiaD | Published: December 30, 2009

The industrial inspiration behind the Tube faucet by Bonomi is simply the T-pipe fitting! Created by Mori for Italian kitchen and bath company Sergio Bonomi, this modern fitting puts an elegant spin on the industrial with simple chrome T-pipe shape complemented by a high-polished finish. This minimalist faucet’s clean lines are unspoiled by clumsy taps and knobs and buttons; this sleek, streamlined faucet features a single spout and an integrated handle, proving in this case that less really is more. The Tube faucet collection comes in a variety of matching pieces for a clean, coordinated look to suit your contemporary bathroom to a… T. Sergio Bonomi .

Posted in architecture | Tagged bonomi, design-ideas, designo-faucet, fitting-faucet, modern-outdoors, sergio-bonomi, sponsored-links, tube-electronic | Leave a comment

Za Greb 2012 / Njiric + Arkitekti

By VanessaV | Published: December 30, 2009

N icknamed the “Blue Volcano”, Njiric+ Arhitekti ’s large stadium is designed to push the boundary of “human experiences of public spaces.” The overwhelming built form creates a presence in the city that distinguishes it as a new landmark for the area. The stadium was conceived not as a building typology but rather as a topography. Using the natural undulation of the landscape, the new civic arena is housed within an artificial hill made of recycled rubber and blue pigment sprayed onto corrugated aluminium sheets. More about the stadium after the break. While the expression on the exterior of the undulating landscape is quite minimal, all the dynamics of roof construction are visible from the interior. The threshold then becomes an important transition space as it defines the line of a dramatic change, “the revealing of space from minimal to maximal.” The stadium houses various commercial programs linked to the nearby retail areas. Plus, a number of side-events, such as skateboarding and free-climbing, utilize the form of the exterior. A zeppelin-like balloon structure covers the central area which phenomenologically, represents a symbiotic partnership with the mound. The “cloud” serves as a signal, as a screen that reflects the spectacle into the broader public space. In addition to sheltering the playing field, the cloud has sewn-in photovoltaics that generate energy. The combination of steel cables, ETFE membranes and polycarbonate dome create a super light construction system. za_breg architects: njiric+ arhitekti, Hrvoje Njiric, Erich Ranegger, Jelena Botteri, David Kabalin, Fuminori Nosaku, Josip Micetic, collaborators architecture: Vedran Skopac, Mladen Freskura, Ervin Poljak structure: Wilhelm Spirk – Spirk+Partner GmbH, Roland Birkmann – Spirk+Partner GmbH fire protection: Branimir Acinger, Zeljko Muzevic renderings: Damir Stefanic, Erick Velasco, Jurica Barisic, Sasa Perusinovic client: Grad Zagreb location: Kajzerica, Zagreb size: 188 905 m2 status: competition 1st prize

Posted in architecture | Tagged architecture, canada, house, news, njiric+ arhitekti, ordos-100, products, sports-architecture, za greb 2012 | Leave a comment

Newly Drawn: Emerging Finnish Architects

By Brad Turner | Published: December 30, 2009

There are certain publications that capture a unique moment on a certain architectural scene, becoming a must have for your bookshelf. And trust me, Newly Drawn is one of those. Aalto and Saarinen marked some points along the modern architecture timeline, and now this book presents us the new breed of finnish architects, starting by individualizing each of them on the cover, stating that they are young and with character. The books is organized by practices, showing recent built and un-built works in detail, with good photos and drawings – something that is always appreciated by architects, but not always accomplished by the publishers. Some of the works included on this book have been already featured in ArchDaily, such as the The University of Helsinki City Campus Library by Anttinen Oiva arkkitehdit and the Lakeside House by NOW for Architecture and Urbanism . More details of the book and where to buy it after the break. This book presents nine emerging Finnish architecture practices, their stories and works so far. Their work is newly drawn, and much of it yet to be realized, but their era is about to begin. It’s time to meet and get to know Hollmén Reuter Sandman, Verstas, NOW, Anttinen Oiva Architects, Lassila Hirvilammi, Avanto, ALA, AFKS and K2S. The book includes an intoduction by architect Mikko Heikkinen and essays by critic Mika Hannula and architect Meri Louekari. The key words are Plurality, Horizontal Networks and the Newly Drawn: “There’s no unity, no illusion of one correct version. Instead of a monolithic stalemate, these nine independent offices manifest loud and proudly the opposite. There’s a plurality of means and ends, a wild variety of views and practices that both converse and compete with each other. It’s a productive and challenging mess that throws off the taken for granted checks and balances for both themselves and anyone that engages in discussion with them” (Mika Hannula) Newly Drawn is produced as part of a joint project organized by the participating practices resulting in publications, exhibitions, workshops and other events in both in Finland and abroad. – Rakennustieto Publishing Publisher: Rakennustieto Publishing Producer of the Newly Drawn project: Martta Louekari Editors: Tuomas Toivonen and Nene Tsuboi Language: English Cover: Paperback Pages: 208 ISBN: 978-951-682-940-4 Index Introduction: Under Forty, Mikko Heikkinen Enjoy the Future – An Open Process, Meri Louekari Drawn Together – Conversations on Architectural Plurality, Horizontal Networks and the Newly Drawn, Mika Hannula Hollmén Reuter Sandman Verstas NOW Anttinen Oiva Architects Lassila Hirvilammi Avanto ALA AFKS K2S Timeline Map of people Helsinki recommendations Photo credits Acknowledgements Buy this book

Posted in architecture | Tagged architects, architecture, australia, canada, denmark, italy, mexico, publications, rakennustieto publishing, read-more-raquo | Leave a comment

Koch Center for Science, Math & Technology at Deerfield Academy / Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

By Rachael Sykes | Published: December 30, 2009

courtesy of SOM Architects: Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill, LLP Location: Deerfield, Massachusetts, USA Client: Deerfield Academy Project Team: Roger Duffy, FAIA / Design Partner, David Childs, FAIA / Design Partner, Anthony Vacchione, AIA / Managing Partner, Christopher McCready, AIA / Project Manager, Ursula Schneider / Senior Designer, Scott Kirkham / Senior Designer, Reiner Bagnato / Technical Coordinator Collaborators: Frank Ruggerio, Alexandra Cuber, Vivian Lee, Thomas Behr, Terry Hudak Construction Manger: Gilbane Building Company Structural Engineer: Le Messurier Consultants MEP Engineer: Ove Arup & Partners Civil Engineer: Tighe & Bond, Inc. Lighting: Ove Arup & Partners Landscape Architect: Brown Sardinia, Inc. Planetarium Consultant: Spitz, Inc. Communications Consultant: Valley Communications Systems, Inc. Structural Consulting Engineers: John Born Associates Surveyor: Sherman & Woods Commissioning: BVH Integrated Services, Inc. Collaborating Artist: James Turrell Astronomer: Richard Walker Geologist: Richard Little Building Size: 7,400 sqm Design Year: 2001–2003 Construction Year: 2004–2007 Photographs: Courtesy of SOM Designed to encourage interdisciplinary communication and informal learning, this 80,000-square-foot building contains 15 classrooms, eight labs, faculty offices and a conference hall, extra-help rooms and special project areas. The program also includes a multi-media classroom, two biology gardens and a growth room, two small seminar rooms, six informal seating areas; seven garden terraces, a café, a lecture hall that also functions as a 50-seat planetarium, and a large lecture hall arranged in a Socratic configuration with interactive, distance learning capabilities. The centerpiece of the building is a multi-purpose central commons with a starfield map and analemma, providing circulation space and a public lobby for the lecture halls. plan 01 courtesy of SOM The program is arranged in an elongated Z-shaped plan, with this central large atrium/common area. By incorporating this plan with the site, existing contour lines on the site were extruded in brick to form the walls of the architecture. By greening the roofs and terraces, the Z-form of the structure dissolves into a fluid form characteristic of the landscape. To complement the predominantly Georgian style of Deerfield Academy, the Koch Center is built out of locally-made bricks from a Massachusetts company established in 1893. courtesy of SOM courtesy of SOM The building aims to make the wonders of science and perception visible in the actual design of the building. The analemma skylight, essentially a pinhole in the roof plane of the building, admits a beam of light on to the north wall of the science commons. The changing position of the sun in the sky (high in summer, low in winter) changes the position of the projection, creating the infinity shape of the analemma and demonstrating the elliptical and axial movement of the earth on its yearly orbit about the sun.

Posted in architecture | Tagged architecture, brazil, brick, denmark, educational, italy, products, selected, som | Leave a comment

Vento House / mzc archittetura

By Joshua | Published: December 30, 2009

© Marco Zanta Architects: mzc architettura Location: Treviso, Italy Project Team: Mario Marchetti, Fabio Zampiero, Giuseppe Cangialosi Collaborators: Andrea Gemin, Vittorio Massimo Project Year: 2005-2007 Photographs: Marco Zanta An ancient house inside the historical city. A four floors house. © Marco Zanta floor plans The principal theme from outside is the section on the facade and the non-colour. The theme inside is the function linked to a colour. © Marco Zanta White is the internal surface: white is the colour that keep inside the life in the house and the parts of the house. White is the colour that wrap in a new contemporaneity the whole case. © Marco Zanta In this particular sequence of spaces the central grey original wall is the only independent item. The grey wall is emphasized by the crossing passages: these are like engraving in the wall. © Marco Zanta At the end the yellow colour is for the dinamic parts of the house: the stairs, the elevator, the pipes: inside these parts all the fluids move up and down, left to right. The bar code is the randomic matrix of every design detail inside the house and gives to the house an outward disorder.

Posted in architecture | Tagged architecture, australia, brick, california, croatia, italy, marco-zanta, read-more-raquo, selected | Leave a comment

Pratt Takes a Seat at IMM Cologne

By Chris Burns | Published: December 30, 2009

Tips of the hat to Pratt! Getting a bunch of chairs into this renowned design fair is a big deal! Pratt is partnering with Folkwang Academy to exhibit chair designs at imm cologne! Cologne Germany will be glad to host this exhibition entitled “Take A Seat,” to take place January 19-24 2010. Here we’ve got a lovely preview of the pieces! Check em all out, then inspect them at the fair! See you in Germany! Designer: Pratt Industrial Design Students Michael Chuapoco, SRR Lounge Chair The energy of balance and movement tied with rest and support. Sitting, reclining, rocking, and balancing. Binh Dang, Folding Chair Hospitality inside the context of a compact urban living space. Made of red oak and brass hardware. Evan Dewhirst, The Buoy Chair Green manufacturing and an iconic form. A buoy! Made of a turned cork seat, a spun aluminum collar, and an inflatable buoy. Sara Ebert, Salvation Stool This lovely thang uses discarded and unwanted wool sweaters as upholstery covers. Felting used to cut material without the yarn unraveling. Core made of plywood and urethane foam. Ingrid Fetell, Amino Kid’s Chair Inspired by the movements of fanciful little kiddies! “Joyfully, experimentally, and freely.” Based on the tensile balance of highly elastic materials and inelastic ones (bungee cords and nylon panels.) Christina Fesmire, Fugle Swing Made of renewed maple veneer. Asks the question “is adulthood joyful?” Seat made after weeks of anatomical study of the human tailbone. Walnut inlay, hemp rope suspensions. Tawny Hixson, Ari Chair Fabricated from steel and raw cowhide. Designed as part of Pratt’s Danish Institute for Study Abroad in Copenhagen. Michael Roopenian, Corner Chair Made of laminated poplar. Takes advantage of structural properties of the corner. Physics, man, physics. Thomas Stern, Line A subtle re-interpreitation of the structural language of chairs. Designed as part of Pratt’s Danish Institute for Study Abroad in Copenhagen. Chairy!

Posted in Furniture, Gadgets, Living | Tagged accessories, exhibitions, fashion, green, kitchen, lifestyle, Living, luxury, office, shoes, technology | Leave a comment

Refillable CMYK Spraycans

By Chris Burns | Published: December 30, 2009

If you’re familiar with graffiti, you might have stood up close to a giant spraypaint masterpiece. Out in nature, right there in the scene of the “crime,” you’d see the real shame: the cans. Often when a painting is executed, the only way a street artist can escape scott-free is to leave their quickly emptied, no-good cans at the scene! Well, no more! Noone in their right mind would abandon a reusable can like this! This design is called “Color Dial Spray.” Designed by some magnificent geniuses with a longer-lasting environment on their minds, this can has re-fillable paint containers and a super-amazing color-choosing set of dials. Yes! Select both hue and brightness, spray away, and don’t forget your large bottles of paint refill for long day of super spray! Yes really! It’s a can on which you can turn dials to select the color you’d like to spray. Probably not for the most giant street canvases in the world, but certainly fantastic for artists the world over. Designer: Kim, Young-suk, Oh, jin-ho, Lee, yong, Kim, woo-sik

Posted in Gadgets, product-design | Tagged accessories, advertising, Gadgets, green, interview, kitchen, Lighting, music, office, podcast, product-design, technology | Leave a comment

RB Murray / Hufft Projects

By Ali Morris | Published: December 29, 2009

© Mike Sinclair Architects: Hufft Projects Location: Springfield, MO, USA General Contractor: Missouri Supermarket Builders Civil Engineering: Olsson Associates Structural Engineering: Meridian Structural Works MEP: Olsson Associates Project Area: 571 sqm Project Year: 2008 Photographs: Mike Sinclair Located at the prominent intersection of Blackman Road and Seminole in Springfield, Missouri, the R.B. Murray Company’s new office building serves to exemplify its client’s values of contemporary and sustainable architecture and development. Additionally, the building marks the entrance to a larger site development sharing these same values. diagram © Mike Sinclair A distinguishing butterfly roof opens to allow a maximum amount of daylight into the building’s open offices, executive core, and conference rooms. The need for artificial lighting during the day is greatly reduced. The building’s “green” design also features natural ventilation, air filtration, and abundant views out to the landscape. Such features have the added benefit of improving the quality of the work environment and employee productivity. © Mike Sinclair Natural, recycled, and reclaimed materials are utilized as well. The building exhibits a warm aesthetic that is pleasing to both occupants and those passing by. The new R.B. Murray Company’s office building signifies the company’s forward thinking commitment to creating an architecturally progressive and environmentally conscious future.