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HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008
from: afterrabbit, midori mizu, s-uper-chii

image from: http://www.volunteer.blogs.com/winewaves/images/happy_new_year_from_winewaves_dot_com.jpg

posted by midori mizu

Mecanoo architecten: National Performing Arts Center, Kaohsiung

Friday March 23rd the Governor of Kaohsiung announced that Mecanoo architecten has won the design competition for the new National Performing Arts Center in Kaohsiung. At 100,000 m2 the National Performing Arts Centre is to become the largest theatre complex in Taiwan.
(to find out more..)

images & passage from: http://apiusurface.blogspot.com/2007/12/mecanoo-architecten-national-performing.html

posted by midori mizu

IFLA International Student Design Competition

IFLA 45th WORLD CONGRESS
2008 APELDOORN, THE NETHERLANDS

IFLA INTERNATIONAL STUDENT DESIGN COMPETITION
This competition is sponsored by the IFLA and directed by the Stichting IFLA 2008 (Stichting IFLA 2008 is the acting foundation of the Dutch Society of Landscape Architects - NVTL; www.nvtl.nl)

THEME: TRANSFORMING WITH WATER, THE WAY TO PARADISE??
Throughout the world climate change is affecting the conditions of nature and local weather. Most people experience these changes as an imbalance between nature and the human environment. This IFLA student competition seeks to stimulate the discussion about the specific contribution of landscape and urban planning and design to realize a new balance between nature and the human environment.

UTOPIA
Climate change and its impact on nature and weather conditions is a world-wide phenomenon, but in each region the impact is different. Especially where it concerns changes in water quantities and qualities. What could be the new inspirational ways of planning, new ways of designing flow systems (of water, transport, energy, materials, information, etc.) and designing new spatial environments, that would create new environmental conditions? Are concepts such as ?utopia?, ?autarchy? or ?cradle to cradle? still valuable?

THE COMPETITION IS OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Both individual and group submissions will be accepted, and each student or group is permitted only one entry. Broad interdisciplinary submissions are welcomed, however, a landscape architecture student must lead the team.
(to find out more..)

passage from: http://www.nzila.co.nz/nzila_pdf/2008IFLA%20International%20Student%20Design%20Competition%20Student%20Info%20Sheet.pdf

posted by midori mizu

Ask an Architect: Concrete Facades

Tokyo may be the ultimate embodiment of “concrete jungle” — not just because of the incomprehensible sprawl, but also the large number of trendy homes, offices, and stores conspicuously using unadorned concrete exteriors. After seeing thousands of these buildings around town (especially in wealthy residential areas), we had a lot of questions: Does this conspicuous use of building material as a design motif serve a functional need? Is it merely a faux-functional design idea? Is it a trend from the 1990s? Is unadorned concrete the only alternative to those atrocious tiles? (to find out more..)

passage & image from: http://neojaponisme.com/2007/12/13/ask-an-architect-concrete-facades/

posted by afterrabbit

WOHA

(above: Tan Quee Lan Suites)

WOHA's strategy is to study the various desire lines on the site. Through negotiating the conflicting requirements of site, climate, technologies, developer, authorities, end-users and consultants, a diagram is produced that incorporates all these forces. This diagram is then used to develop the design at all levels and scales, creating an architectural language unique for the project. Architectural styles are avoided, as they limit the options available, and stifle exploration and creativity. However, precedents from all times and cultures are studied to gain experience and knowledge from the past. (to find out more..)

passage from: http://www.wohadesigns.com/main.html
image from: http://www.architecturalreviewawards.com/ARAwards2006/winning%20entries/WOHAhonmen.htm

posted by afterrabbit

WOHA Reflects

WOHA Reflects is an exhibition exploring and sharing how stimuli external to architecture are reflected in WOHA’s diverse design directions. By making explicit the cross-fertilization of external personal interests with professional creative directions, the exhibit continues the exploration of WOHA’s past works while offering an indication of WOHA’s future creative directions. The exhibition will display design research in progress, mockups and samples, and the stories behind the designs. (to find out more..)
(more photos of the exhibition..)

The venue was at WOHAGA, the WOHA office itself. Located in Hong Kong Street, a very unlikely street because it's more like a distribution hub for Chinese herbs & dried food ingredients. The office is contained in a whole unit of shoplot, with it's interior spaces renovated into a totally different, enlightening & gallery-like office, with lightwell(s) penetrating down several levels. It has a nice rooftop too but I only got to visit the exhibition on the 2nd level.
The exhibition was viewer-interactive as the research papers & illustrations of every projects were hung from the ceiling and requires viewers to grip each papers to read properly. Apart from that, the exhibition was presented using scaled models, full-scale samples(facades), video simulations(facade appearance), etc.
I see WOHA is very into the researches and explorations of building facades & their patterns, and how they can lift the overall designs to higher levels. A distinctively-designed external skin is one very significant aspect that we can find in WOHA's buildings.

passage (top) from: http://www.singaporedesignfestival.com/events_woha1.html

posted by afterrabbit

Curbed Awards '07: Architecture Part I

Whew, 2007 was a wild one, wasn't it? To honor the insanity that crept into all matters neighborhoodish and real estatey, we present the Fourth Annual Curbed Awards. This year, the awards will be presented in small batches through Monday. Today, we tackle the year in architecture.

Welcome to the Party Award
3) The husband-and-wife team of avant-gardists at Asymptote are no strangers when it comes to New York, but their first residential building at 166 Perry Street was greeted with all the pomp and circumstance of a visit by the pope.
2) 40 Bond was revealed in '06, but the Noho newbie from Swiss masters Herzog and de Meuron made its splashy entrance in '07. And, oh, those grills! Not a bad first effort.
1) International architecture star Shigeru Ban is famous for building things out of paper, but his first NYC project is a small tower of bodegas. Very expensive bodegas. Metal Shutter Mania captured us all.

The Get Some Sleep! Award
The trophy for the most overworked architect is a bottle of Tylenol PM, and it is currently en route to the offices of Karl Fischer Architect. It's hard to believe that Krazy Karl is based out of Montreal, when every week sees a new New York building unveiled bearing his mark. The dude has his own block in Williamsburg and over 60 Curbed mentions this year. And when he speaks, we listen. He even has his own fan club in Omaha!

Best Starchitect Collection
3) Hudson Yards: collect 'em all!
2) World Trade Center: Fewer starchitects-per-acre than Hudson Yards, but more prestigious.
1) West 19th Street: Nouvel. Selldorf. Ban. And a Gehry to lead them. Hottest new tourist destination come 2009.

Starchitect of the Year
Yeah, 40 Mercer ain't bad, but Jean Nouvel went even more big time in 2007. The vision mashine that is 100 Eleventh Avenue may have been enough to earn the big prize, but then came a little thing we like to call 53 West 53rd Street (right), seemingly out of nowhere. Bask in the glory of 75 stories of gallery space, hotel rooms, apartments and hot sexy swimmers. MoMA mia!
(to read more..)

image and text from: http://curbed.com/archives/2007/12/26/curbed_awards_07_architecture_part_i.php

posted by midori mizu

Curbed Awards '07 Architecture Part II: Top 10 Craziest Architectural Renderings of the Year

Herewith, the top 10 architectural renderings that most blew our minds, for better or for worse (though, let's face it, mostly for the latter) in 2007. We'll have our favorite renderings from larger urban planning-type projects in a couple days.

1


2


3


4


5


6


7


8


9


10

(to read more..)

images and text from: http://curbed.com/archives/2007/12/26/curbed_awards_07_architecture_part_ii_top_10_craziest_architectural_renderings_of_the_year.php

posted by midori mizu

Curbed Awards '07: Architecture Part III

Fingers of the Year
Awarded to those buildings that seem to, uh, stand out from their surroundings.
3) Architect Robert Scarano's Luminous is not the only finger in its immediate Williamsburg surroundings, so why does it crack the list? Um hello it's called Luminous and the damn thing is dark as sin. And the Lexus thing was also a nice touch. Heh, touch. Get it?!
2) The Palazzo Chupi in the West Village is not usually regarded as a finger building, but it's even better: a big pink finger. Shocker jokes aside, Julian Schnabel's eff you to neighborhood preservationists would have been ranked higher if that whole Bono thing was sorted out.
1) Now that the long, long legal fight over the Original Finger Building is over (even though opponents say it's not), Robert Scarano's Williamsburg OG must get its due. Years of controversy, and what's the end result? A big, extended finger.


The Robert Scarano Award
Awarded annually to Robert Scarano for achievements in the realm of architectural abomination...


Really Cool Thing You'll Probably Never See Award
Dapper Washingtonian Steven Holl made headlines with his Towering S and Hudson Yards designs for Extell, but he also actually got something built this year! Holl's talents are fully on display at NYU's Department of Philosophy on Washington Place, a landmarked 1890 building that Holl and his team gut-renovated and tricked out. Cool! And you'll probably never see it! Unless you're cruising for Kant-reading co-eds, which we are legally required to say we don't do but winkwinknudgenudge.

The Give Up the Goods Already! Award
3) It's no secret that 40 Bond architects Herzog and de Meuron are planning a huge apartment building on Leonard Street in Tribeca, but for some reason, the renderings are still in lock down. We've heard verbal descriptions of the design, but words do it no justice! The latest is that pictures will be revealed this spring, and the thing is insane.
2) Word that Daniel Libeskind was designing a 74-story apartment building to sit on top of 1 Madison Avenue hit like a ton of bricks. Then we kept hearing this "earliest concept phase" BS from Elad Properties and others. Guys, c'mon, there's a napkin sketch of this thing somewhere.
1) Perhaps the biggest starchitect in the world has designed one of the biggest apartment buildings in the city, and yet, it's kept more hidden than a deformed stepchild. Work may have begun on Frank Gehry's 75-story Beekman Tower in Lower Manhattan, and we know pretty much every detail about it, but all we have is this slideshow of denials from Forest City Ratner:

(to read more..)

images and text from: http://curbed.com/archives/2007/12/26/curbed_awards_07_architecture_part_iii.php

posted by modori mizu

Curbed Awards '07: Architecture Part IV

Thinking Big Award
Awarded to Renzo Piano, the Italian starchitect went big again for the City Tech Tower in Downtown Brooklyn, brought to you by Bruce Ratner & Co.


Everything New is Old Again Award
Robert A.M. Stern took both praise and heat (but mostly praise) for designing 15 Central Park West, once described as the "best nostalgia money can buy." So how did this traditionalist follow up a faux pre-war apartment building?


Stairway to Heaven Award
In what some may see as a shocking upset, the New Museum's four-foot-wide highstepper takes the crown over Frank Gehry's service sensation for overhyped staircase of the year.


New Building of the Year
Awarded to the New Museum! Some loved it SANAA's creation and others hated it.
(to read more)

images and text from: http://curbed.com/archives/2007/12/26/curbed_awards_07_architecture_part_iv.php

posted by midori mizu

Curbed Awards '07 Architecture Part V: Block of the Year

When all was said and done, architecture in New York City in 2007 was defined by one cobblestoned block in Noho—Bond Street. The block boasts three imposing newcomers—Herzog & de Meuron's 40 Bond (with executive producer Ian Schrager); Deborah Berke's 48 Bond; and, across the street from both, George Schieferdecker/BKSK Architects' 25 Bond. This year, each went from shell to sensation, and Curbed was there to chronicle the changes every step of the way. (to find out more..)

image and passage from: http://curbed.com/archives/2007/12/26/curbed_awards_07_architecture_part_v_block_of_the_year.php

posted by midori mizu

Arp Museum @ Germany

The translucent tower walls illuminate the shaft and elevators, with added illumination and hints of views provided by transparent glass slots in the tower walls.(to find out more..)
by Richard Meier & Partners

image and text from: http://www.arcspace.com/architects/meier/arp2/arp2.html

posted by midori mizu

Fukuoka Prefectural International Hall

Fukuoka, Japan, was in need of a new government office building and the only available site was a large two-block park that also happened to be the last remaining green space in the city center.

Emilio Ambasz cleverly manipulated the space raised the bar on the term "green architecture" (to find out more...)

image and text from: http://www.emilioambaszandassociates.com/portfolio/portfolio.cfm?Pid=7

posted by s-uper-chii

The Architect's Architect

“Something of an exception in the architecture world, Zumthor is neither Frank Gehry famous, nor Norman Foster prolific, nor Zaha Hadid flamboyant. In fact, he's an all-round recluse, who hasn't built much outside his native Switzerland. But ask any aspiring architect who they'd most like to be and the chances are Zumthor's name will come up. He's been called ‘a shaman,’ ‘a legend’ and ‘the architect's architect.’”(to read more..)

image from: http://www.virginia.edu/insideuva/2006/05/images/TJ_Award_Zumthor_Peter.jpg
text from: http://archrecord.construction.com/community/blogs/ARBlog.asp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3aac946cd0-ba4a-4e0e-8da4-47c9e7c5d923Post%3ad8a056b1-a0c7-4e88-a1ca-ac3f7f90a36c

posted by midori mizu

Hadid Tapped for Hong Kong Polytech

The shape of Hadid’s new tower for the Hong Kong Polytechnic University is reminiscent of a ship; the building is located near a cross-harbor tunnel. Inside, to heighten transparency, the column-free floors will feature glass walls.(to find out more..)

image & passage from: http://archrecord.construction.com/news/daily/archives/071218hadid.asp

posted by midori mizu

World’s Biggest Building Coming to Moscow: Crystal Island

Moscow’s rapidly growing skyline will soon feature an eye-popping new addition: Crystal Island, which will be the world’s biggest building when completed. Sir Norman Foster’s mountainous 27 million square feet spiraling “city within a building” will cost $4 billion and it is scheduled to be built within next 5 years.

The Crystal Island will be Lord Foster’s second large scale project in the Russian capital, and his third new building design that resembles a volcano. Although many people are calling this design the ‘Christmas Tree’ of Moscow - we can’t help but be reminded of the utopian and also rather volcanic X-Seed 4000 design for Tokyo. Unlike that pipe-dream project, however, Foster has a track record of getting buildings built, so the likelihood is high that we will see this striking structure towering over the Kremlin within 5 years time. (to find out more..)

image and passage from: http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/12/26/tallest-skyscraper-in-the-world-coming-to-moscow/

posted by midori mizu

Green Tower @ Siberia

Once again raising the bar on avant-garde green architectural icons in the furthest corners of the world, Sir Norman Foster has just revealed his designs for a new ecological tower in Khanty Mansyisk, Siberia. The stunning tower will combine a cloud-piercing aesthetic with mixed-use functions and some of the most cutting-edge green building technologies. (to find out more..)

image & text from: http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/18/norman-fosters-green-tower-in-siberia/

posted by midori mizu

Reflections @ Keppel Bay

The mega show-gallery of REFLECTIONS at Keppel Bay, the Daniel Libeskind-designed waterfront residences by Keppel Land Ltd, has opened at Keppel Bay Drive. The 29,000 ft² gallery houses three exquisitely furnished and finely appointed showsuites: the 4-bedroom Minotti Suite (3,500ft²) and a two-bedroom suite (1,000ft²). Luxury designer furniture brands, Minotti and Giorgetti, have been specially selected for their signature pieces to showcase the world-class lifestyle that would befit Reflections at Keppel Bay. (to find out more..)

image & passage from: http://www.reflectionsatkeppelbay.com.sg/MA_Mar07_A.asp

posted by midori mizu

Butterfly House

Butterfly house is a refurbished family home inspired by the life cycle of the butterfly. An experiment in zoomorphic design, the house traces each change from larval stage, represented by the walkway, to the chrysalis, captured by the staircase and conservatory, and finally the winged canopies - the emerged butterfly.
by Laurie Chetwood
(to find out more...)

image and text taken from: http://www.butterfly-house.co.uk/main.htm

posted by s-uper-chii

KCH whopper

This building houses a pediatric clinic on the first floor and family living space on the second n third floor. The family's common space positioned in the heart of the building is enclosed by the terrace as a buffer along the horizontal axis, in order to protect the space from the bustle of the surroundings. This piece of exterior captured inside, the second-floor space designed as some kind of garden, has made possible for the house to open outward.
by Atelier Hitoshi Abe.
(to find out more...)

image and text from : http://www.designboom.com/eng/interview/abe.html

posted by s-uper-chii

Model Making Marvel

Taylor's College architecture student proudly presents
2007 Petaling Jaya Hilton Christmas Train
The trains will be on display at:
PJ Hilton Hotel lobby from 1st Dec 2007 till 7th Jan 2008. Its free, so feel free to visit!

posted by midori mizu

The Building Blocks of Life

This 20 episode drama series portraits the story of an architect named Issac Chung. He is a high profile architect who won a series of awards and best design at a young age. He becomes so famous that many clients want to get him to design for their projects respectively. On one of the many projects, he insisted on his design and he had fallen out with the client and he refuses to apologize. This controversial incident and also the sudden death of his father puts an end to his architecture life as he quit the architect firm and take up his father’s business which is a interior design & renovation company. 13 years later, the previous boss uses a tricky way to get Issac back to the field because he still sees the passion and prospect of Issac on architecture and building design. When he faces problem in catching up with the computer programmes like CAD and new symbols and templates in the plan, he wanted to quit again because he is lack of confident. But the very case when he thrive back a multi-millions project with his fantastic concept design has mark his return… (to find out more..)

posted by midori mizu

Singapore 1:1 Island

Singapore has been likened to a 1:1 scale, life-sized gallery of architecture and urban design. URA's latest exhibition, “Singapore 1:1 Island” highlights our architectural and urban design uniqueness through a selection of architectural projects completed island-wide, outside of the city centre, over the past four decades.
“Singapore 1:1 Island” is a follow-up exhibition to “Singapore 1:1 City” launched by President S R Nathan in 2005. It is curated along 3 themes: the Provision / Production (1965 – 1975); Communication / Connection (1976 – 1985) and Innovation / Distinction (1986 – 2007). The architectural productions weave a story on the distinct character in the history of Singapore architecture. The variety of works exhibited, ranging from residential and commercial buildings to public institutions, demonstrates the diversity and creative energy of architectural talents in Singapore. (to find out more..)
(more photos of the exhibition..)

passage from: http://www.ura.gov.sg/spore1_1/island/introduction.htm
image from: http://www.ura.gov.sg/spore1_1/

posted by afterrabbit

Neues Bauen (New Building) International 1927 | 2002

Specially presented by the National Museum of Singapore and the Goethe-Institut Singapore, Neues bauen (New Building) International 1927 | 2002 will showcase a total of 105 projects by 66 architects and groups of architects through 23 archite4ctural models and 236 photographs. Based on an exhibition in Stuttgart in 1927, this exhibition, conceptualised in 2002, will highlight buildings that were ahead of their time, and demonstrate how forward-looking architects such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius and Frank Lloyd Wright, sought to improve people's standard of living through new building and spatial concepts. (to find out more..)

I merely had time to skim through the exhibition that night due to a very late visit. How pity.. **The exhibition is on until 6th Jan 2008**

passage from: http://www.goethe.de/ins/sg/sin/en2770188.htm

posted by afterrabbit

Hydropolis, Dubai

Ever imagine a luxury hotel under the sea? Architect Joachim Hauser is the lead designer of this creative marvel. The hotel consists of 220 guest suites and guest would receive a different view of the ocean. This architectural wonder is set to be completed soon (to find out more...)

image from: http://www.skidubai.com/dubai/projects/

posted by s-uper-chii

Cloister House

House of a cloister without any column.
The courtyard is defined as the indipendent room yet to be still the extension of internal space.
by Takaharu + Yui Tezuka Architects.
(to find out more..)

text from: http://www.tezuka-arch.com/english/works/index_e.html
image from: http://www.tezuka-arch.com/japanese/works/cloister/09.html

posted by afterrabbit

Sitscape

The "Sitscape“ is a seating zone with a length of six meters. The form transforms the usual use of a couch. The design is based on specific seating positions and smooth transformations between them. Based on the preferred relaxing positions of the client we generated six basic positions and formed a perfect fit for them in the “Sitscape”. Consequently, the “Sitscape” provides familiar possibilities for relaxing. The transitional areas between these positions are undetermined in their use. They provide new and unexpected possibilities, which have to be discovered by the clients. The “Sitscape” is a "customized mass product” that can fulfil different demands and forms with the same structural principle. The main structural elements are the sections, which are digitally cut out of laminated wood. The connecting structure is a steel and aluminium construction, which is minimally visible. The prototype will be finalized with white leather upholstery, laminated wood with white finish for the sections and polished aluminium connections. (to find out more..)

passage & image from: http://www.hackenbroich.com/Main_EN/Projects_EN/Sitescape_01_EN/sitescape_01_en.html

posted by afterrabbit

New Museum by SANAA opens in New York

New Museum of Contemporary Art in Bowery, NY, by Kazuyo Sejima+Ryue Nishizawa/SANAA, opened to the public on 1st Dec 2007. (more photos at dezeen..)
For more information of the project go to http://www.dezeen.com/2007/11/22/new-museum-of-contemporary-art-in-new-york-by-kazuyo-sejima-ryue-nishizawasanaa/

image from: http://www.dezeen.com/2007/12/04/new-museum-by-sanaa-opens-in-new-york/#more-7526

posted by afterrabbit

The Year in Architecture

(above: The New Museum of Contemporary Art by SANAA)

Green roofs sprouted in the South Bronx, the Glass House opened wide, bus shelters got chic, Frank Gehry finally built something in New York, Robert Moses and Jane Jacobs kissed and made up (after a fashion), and a gauzy aluminum museum rose shimmering over the Bowery. (to find out more..)

passage & from: http://nymag.com/arts/cultureawards/2007/41799/
image from: http://www.arcspace.com/architects/sejima_nishizawa/new_museum/3newMuseum.jpg

posted by afterrabbit

Mint Museum of Toys

Mint Museum of Toys is the first purpose-built museum that houses a collection of 50,000 toys from all over the world, some of which dates back to decades ago.
The contemporary 5-storey shoplot building is designed & refurbished by SCDA Architects (SG), and completed in 2006.
Located at Seah Street in Singapore(city), the museum is most notable with the elegantly waving glass structure that forms its signature facade.
(more images at..)

This project is also presented by Chan Soo Kian, principal of SCDA Architects, at the Singapore ArchiFest 07 forum.

Mint Museum of Toys: http://www.emint.com/
SCDA Architects : http://www.scdaarchitects.com/

posted by afterrabbit

MON - Museu Oscar Niemeyer

In the beginning of 2001, the Guggenhein Foundation cogitate the possibility of setting a museum in Brazil. Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Curitiba were the possible locations. The space offered to Guggenhein in Curitiba was a 1973 Oscar Niemeyer building that was intended to be restored and extended. At the end Rio was chosen and after a big polemic the project of Jean Nouvel wasn’t built but the idea of the museum in Curitiba remained.
Governor of State Jaime Lerner (UIA president until mid/2005) called Niemeyer and asked for an annex to the existing building to turn it into an exhibition space. (to find out more..) (more images at..)

I really like Niemeyer's use of simplistic but refined geometrical forms while shaping such strong expressions.

passage from: http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1401
image from: http://www.flickr.com/groups/mon/pool/

posted by afterrabbit

Niemeyer 100

Brazillian architect Oscar Niemeyer reached his 100th birthday last Saturday, 15th December 2007. He still works, doesn't he? Strong man~ His life as an architect is way longer than his life when he wasn't one.

image from: http://rolu.terapad.com/index.cfm?fa=contentNews.news&directoryId=4347

posted by afterrabbit