Autodesk Design Competition 2008 - Urbanisation in Design

(Valid for Malaysia only)
Autodesk, together with the Department of Polytechnic & Community College Education (EPCCE), Ministry of Higher Education and Design Technology Alliance (M) Sdn Bhd are pleased to announce its 2nd Autodesk Design Competition offered to the education sector. This competition is sponsored by HP.
The objective of the competition is to provide a platform for students from Public Higher Learning Institutions, Polytechnics and Community College and Private Institutions of Higher Learning to showcase their talents and be recognised for their creativity, innovative thinking, and design expertise. (to find out more..)

All competition designers must register their interest to participate. Once you are registered, you can submit your entry at a later date. However, entries must be received on or before 30 April 2008 or they will be disqualified.

passage from: http://south-apac.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=1157326&id=8825740 & http://south-apac.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=1157326&id=10449513
image from: http://south-apac.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=1157326&id=8825740

posted by afterrabbit

Ring House - TNA

A country retreat outside Tokyo, TNA’s Ring House opens itself to vertical forest views through horizontal stripes
The team created a mini-tower at the maximum height, skinned in alternating bands of wood and glass—an irregularly striped sheath that evenly balances transparency and opacity, acting more like a screening filter than a bona fide barrier. As sunlight floods into the interior by day (or electric illumination glows from within the volume by night), the wrapper allows views straight through the house. With three 20-foot-square floors, including a basement partially embedded in the hillside, the architects provided entrances at the lowest and middle levels. (to find out more..)




passage from: http://archrecord.construction.com/residential/recordHouses/2007/07ring.asp
images from: http://www.tna-arch.com/english/archi/archi_wa01.html

posted by afterrabbit

Australian National World War I and World War II Memorials Design Competition

The National World War I and World War II Memorials will be located on the Rond Terraces, overlooking Lake Burley Griffin at the foot of Anzac Parade. The site is on the primary ceremonial and symbolic axis of Canberra, known as the Land Axis, originally conceived by Walter Burley Griffin, the city’s famous designer. This is a site of national significance and the Memorials are intended to be world class.
The Memorials will reflect the spirit of the Australian nation. They will honour the sacrifice of more than 101,000 Australians who died, leaving an enduring legacy for those who served and those who supported on the home front.
The Competition is open to design professionals with tertiary qualifications in their field(s) and to members of the public with an interest in the memorials’ commemorative purpose, who team with accredited design professionals. (to find out more..)

passage & image from: http://www.worldwarcomp.nationalcapital.gov.au/about.asp

posted by afterrabbit

3D Modelling Symposium Berlin

From 7th - 9th April 2008 the Universität der Künste Berlin (University of Arts Berlin) will be holding the first 3D Modelling Symposium for architects, industrial designers and engineers in co-operation with Visual-Dream. This 3-day event for professionals as well as students of the above-mentioned disciplines will take place in the premises of the UdK Berlin and include three modules: Lectures, Case Studies und Master Classes. Top-class national and international experts will demonstrate solutions for contemporary architecture and construction demands, as well as modern design via 3D-modelling. (to find out more..)

passage & images from: http://www.3d-msb.de/intro/

posted by afterrabbit

ZeroHouse 100% autonomous

ZeroHouse is a 650-square-foot prefabricated house designed to operate autonomously, with no need for utilities or waste connections. It generates its own electrical power from the high-efficiency solar panels and then stores it in a battery backup. Once completely charged, the home can run efficiently for a week without a hint of sunlight. It collects and stores rainwater, and processes all waste.(to find out more..)

image & passage from:
http://nat-envir-sun.blogspot.com/2007/12/zerohouse-100-autonomous.html

posted by midori mizu

Archisuits

Archisuit consists of an edition of four leisure jogging suits made for specific architectural structures in Los Angeles. The suits include the negative space of the structures and allow a wearer to fit into, or onto, structures designed to deny them.(more images..)

image & passage from:
http://www.insecurespaces.net/archisuits.html

posted by midori mizu

Nokia Morph Concept

YOU JUST HAVE TO WATCH THIS!!

posted by midori mizu

Okhta Tower for the Gazprom claims to be amongst the most sustainable

The design of the controversial new headquarters for oil giant Gazprom in St Petersburg - which, at 396m tall, will become the tallest tower in Europe and a major new landmark in the Russian city – is a key focus of an international conference on the subject of ‘Tall Buildings’ in London.
Designed by UK-based architectural company RMJM, the tower has attracted significant media coverage as heritage and conservation groups have prompted fears that the new ‘Okhta Centre’ would impact negatively on St Petersburg’s historic skyline. For the first time, RMJM will publicly instead focus attention on how the building will in fact be one of the most environmentally sustainable high rise buildings in the world.
Energy conservation has been at the forefront of the design process of the 396m twisting glass needle from its inception. In a country where temperatures dip to minus 30 degrees RMJM, in partnership with leading environmental engineers Battle McCarthy, has designed an innovative energy solution where the need for heating is minimal in order to reduce its environmental impact. (to find out more..)

passage from: http://www.entrerayas.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=1023&Itemid=2
images from: http://www.e-architect.co.uk/russia/okhta_tower.htm

posted by afterrabbit

Rural Studio

The mission of the Rural Studio is to enable each participating student to cross the threshold of misconceived opinions to create/design/build and to allow students to put their educational values to work as citizens of a community. The Rural Studio seeks solutions to the needs of the community within the community's own context, not from outside it. Abstract ideas based upon knowledge and study are transformed into workable solutions forged by real human contact, personal realization, and a gained appreciation for the future. (to find out more..)


Hale County Animal Shelter


Rural Studio Community Center


Perry Lakes Park Pavilion and Restrooms

passage & image from: http://cadc.auburn.edu/soa/rural-studio/mission.htm
images from: http://www.mediabistro.com/unbeige/field_trip/a_rural_studio_tour_61238.asp & http://www.whileseated.org/photo/002468.shtml & http://blogs.bootsnall.com/lauraleigh/archives/003478.shtml

posted by afterrabbit

The new Terminal at Beijing Capital International Airport - Opens

Designed and completed in only four years, Terminal 3 at Beijing Capital International Airport has opened. The world’s largest building and most advanced airport, the new terminal offers an unparalleled travelling experience, not only technologically, but also in terms of operational efficiency, passenger comfort, sustainability and access to natural light. Completed as the gateway to Beijing for athletes participating in the twenty-ninth Olympiad, it is designed to be welcoming and uplifting. A symbol of place, its soaring aerodynamic roof and its dragon-like form celebrate the thrill and poetry of flight. Its gold roof resonates with the Forbidden City, while the striking interior palette of red through orange to yellow evokes traditional Chinese colours. (to find out more..)


Directly above is how it looks from the old terminal, image was taken in August 2007 when its construction was already completed. If I get to visit Beijing again in these months, then I'll have a firsthand experience, how interesting..

passage & images from: http://www.fosterandpartners.com/News/328/Default.aspx

posted by afterrabbit

Herzog picks 100 architects for Inner Mongolia housing project

Herzog & de Meuron partner Jacques Herzog has selected 100 up-and-coming architects from around the world to design 100 homes in 100 days for one of the most remote corners of the globe.Ordos city has a population of 1.4 million but the 197ha site is in an emerging residential district which “mainly consists of sand dunes, sparsely populated by wetlands”, according to official maps of the area.The list of young emerging talent, drawn up by RIBA Gold Medal winner Herzog on behalf of a Chinese developer, is dominated by the US with 22 practices and Switzerland with 14 — all bar one from Herzog & de Meuron’s home town of Basle — Mexico with 9 and France with 7. Eyal Weizman, an Israeli designer is also representing Britain.
(to find out more..)
ORDOS100

image & passage from:
http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=426&storycode=3105803&c=2&encCode=0000000001451c05

posted by midori mizu

Momenta, the PC for Life

the neck worn PC also captures the best and most exciting moments of your life. Ever thought, "Man I wish I had that on tape!" When everybody is laughing themselves to tears, Momenta has already captured the previous 5 minutes from its rolling buffer and continues to record until you tell it to stop. Triggered by increased heart rate, it captures those hilarious or exciting moments that are usually lost forever. Whether it's an exciting sports experience, a funny social scene, the scene of an accident, etc. you can capture it and share it.(to find out more..)
This is just so cool for me!

image & passage from:
http://www.nextgendesigncomp.com/entrydetail.aspx?id=953

posted by midori mizu

The Architecture Profession: A Brief Introduction

"I'm writing this guide as universal as possible so that anybody who's interested in pursuing this field can get a definitive idea of what to do, where to go and how. I will update this as frequent as possible. There have been several inquiries on studying architecture, so I wish I could redirect them to this topic. Although I'm attached to UTM, my intention is purely altruistic and to provide information as neutral as possible."
This is a useful piece of material for those who is having interest in architecture courses and also in the field of architect posted in UTM's(Malaysia) lowyat forum.

passage from:
http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/623018

posted by midori mizu

Casa OS - Nolaster

Perched atop a Spanish cliff sits this gorgeous green home, a privately-owned holiday house that’s as lovely as it is sustainable. Located in Cantabria, Spain, and designed by Madrid-based Nolaster Architects, Casa OS integrates green building techniques to create high-end, low-impact accommodation. The irony is that the original design scheme wasn’t intended to be a green building, but the architects employed many green features for visual impact and practical benefits. We’d just love to live an eco life on that cliff.

The front of the home looks out over the sea with the back end supported by stilts over a cavern in a dug-out hill. Combining this wind protection with insulating grass roof means that temperature is much easier and less energy-intensive to control and the building’s visual impact is much less imposing. Other features include an inner yard to provide an open space protected from wind and rainwater collection for reuse fushing toilets and watering the roof and garden in summer. (to find out more..)

I like the idea of the configuration of spaces in this house, it's in layers of repeating enclosed and open spaces, and which provides a range of different routes to move around the house, the experience is interesting. An inner yard/courtyard is always good, it maximizes and harmonizes natural light admittance.

passage from: http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/21/casa-os-house-by-nolaster-architects/#more-8508
images from: http://www.nolaster.com/htm/WORK/003.html

posted by afterrabbit

Comment of the Day

"...money was invested into this, and the Client cared. If the client is only going for max sqft/$ for construction, then what results is the bare minimum. Would you expect luxury and great design from a $5000 car? Would you expect the sound quality of Bose speakers from a pair you got at Best Buy for $25? I just don't get how people don't understand that architecture works in the same was as everything else in the world."
What do you think?

from:
http://curbed.com/archives/2008/02/21/comment_of_the_day.php

posted by midori mizu

Dark Comes Beauty

3 examples of Shadow art, the first is Kinetic Sculptures in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the second is Chinese Shadow Art show and the third is a compilation of shadow sculpture.

posted by midori mizu

Inflatable Tea House by Kengo Kuma

"Kengo Kuma develops the traditional teahouse architecture further, while at the same time venturing onto entirely unexplored territory with regard to his design. In search of flexible buildings - Kuma uses the term “weak architecture” - he has arrived at a truly ephemeral structure with this project. (to find out more..)

passage from: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/02/inflatable_tea.php
image from: http://flickr.com/photos/21358385@N05/2095157270/sizes/l/in/photostream/

posted by afterrabbit

The Gallery of Horyuji Treasures, Tokyo

"Out of a desire to respect both the sublime works to be displayed and the natural setting, I made it my goal in designing the new Gallery of Horyuji Treasures to create on the site an environment of a kind that has become all too rare in present-day Tokyo, that is, an environment characterized by tranquility, order and dignity." Yoshio Taniguchi (to find out more...)

text and images : http://www.arcspace.com/architects/taniguchi/index.htm

posted by s-uper-chii

The Subtle Art of Working for Free

You have your design skills. You spent your time in the educational trenches having your work dissected, rearranged, put back together in new and inventive ways. Perhaps you’re making your bones as a graphic designer at a firm, or maybe you’ve taken the plunge into self-employment. Either way, you never forget the first lesson that every creative discovers from the moment they meet the first or five hundredth client through the door: almost everybody wants something for free.
We’ve all experienced it. A client arrives, bursting with ideas, dreams, sketches on the back of cocktail napkins, or sometimes only the desire to have ’something’ placed on a billboard, written in an advertisement, engineered into a website. They want a unique logo, a campaign, a catchphrase; and they don’t have a dime in their pocket. (to find out more..)

passage from: http://www.businessofdesignonline.com/the-subtle-art-of-working-for-free/

posted by afterrabbit

Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2009

Key features in Autodesk 3ds Max 2009 include the new Reveal rendering toolset, which streamlines iterative workflows; and the ProMaterials material library for simulating real-world surfaces. The release also delivers numerous biped enhancements and new UV editing tools. Improved OBJ and Autodesk FBX file formats import and export vastly enhance interoperability with Autodesk Mudbox, Autodesk Maya, Autodesk MotionBuilder software programs and other third-party applications. In addition, Recognize, a new scene-loading technology, significantly improves the inter-application workflow with Revit Architecture 2009. (to find out more..)

passage & image from: http://www.dexigner.com/design_news/autodesk-3ds-max-design-2009.html

posted by afterrabbit

World's Coolest Houses - Architects/Photographers, submit your designs

The World’s Coolest Houses
Our first book, the World’s Coolest Hotel Rooms, will come out June 1. Published by Harper Collins Publishers (US) and designed by the Sydney based War Design, the inaugural Cool Hunter book will soon be followed by the next volume, the World’s Coolest Houses.
To make that happen, we are on a furious hunt for supremely cool projects from beach homes, country homes and city pads to holiday houses and ski retreats, we want to know where the coolest houses are. (to find out more..)

passage & image from: http://www.thecoolhunter.net/books/Worlds-Coolest-Houses---Architects/Photographers-submit-your-designs/

posted by afterrabbit

When Space Meets Art/When Art Meets Space

-Spatial, Structural and Graphic Design for Event and Exhibition Edited by Victionary-

How long ago have you been to an exhibition or an event? What information and amusement you get from it? Did you enjoy it? We are thrilled to present you our latest title When Space Meets Art/When Art Meets Space which leads you to taste and feel all sorts of events comprehensively.An exhibition, a party or any kinds of event can encompass all design areas. For many of us who usually focus only on the exhibited items or the subject of events, few of us ever pay attention to the whole design environment. This title will guide you to look and feel it through two key components: spatial design and graphic elements. From 3D to 2D, it demonstrates how structural work including venue setups from exterior to interior makes the whole event outstanding and turn into exceptional eye-catching fascination and how graphic elements from venue decorations to promotional items makes consistency to reflect the whole event concept and affect the affiliation from the exhibited subjects to audience. By that, the title ultimately reveals how these objects affect your sense and blow up your impression to particular events.
I have browse through this book before, and i find it incredibly inspiring and informative. This book can be found in Basheer in 3rd Floor Bukit Bintang Plaza, this complex is also associated to Sungei Wang Plaza. priced at RM 143

text and images : http://www.victionary.com/frameset%20whenspacemeetsart.html

posted by s-uper-chii

Gateway Art Tower, Los Angeles

The new structure will function in many different capacities. As and entrance “Gateway,” the project will announce the arrival of visitors to the ongoing Conjunctive Points development, and as such, will be a visually arresting sculptural object.As an “Art tower,” the primary role of the structure will be to communicate culturally significant content to both the visitors to the development as well as to the greater Los Angeles community. The Tower will be composed of a series of conical screen segments made from an advanced rear-projection polymer that will afford vibrant, large-scale images to be projected and fully coordinated from within. Multiple floor levels occupying the space within the screen elements can function equally as informal gallery space, cafes, and viewing platforms. (to find out more)

by Eric Owen Moss

text and images from: http://arcspace.com/architects/Moss/arttower/arttower.html

posted by s-uper-chii

CJ Lim

Born in Malaysia. He graduated from the Architectural Association London in 1987, and he worked for various architectural offices in London before establishing his own practice, Studio 8 Architects [www.cjlim-studio8.com] in 1994. His architecture is consistently exploring in parallel buildings, landscape and urban design possibilities through narratives, culture + ethnicity and technological inventiveness.
In 2004, he was selected to represent the UK in the Venice Architecture Biennale 04 and was chosen as one of the New British Talents in Architecture by the Guardian and the Independent newspapers. He is also listed in Debrett's People of Today and the International Who's Who for his architecture + academic contributions. (to find out more..)

Another pride of Malaysian's besides Ken Yeang & others.

passage from: http://www.bartlett.ucl.ac.uk/people/A_lim_cj.htm
image from: http://www.icif.ru/Engl/prize/prize/cjlim.htm

posted by afterrabbit

Curly Slabs: Oppenheim

The abstract Modernist slab, with its inherent economy of building, is here only slightly morphed for maximum effect. Like the other work of Oppenheim it is slick. And it remains very two dimensional, like the slabs of Le Corbusier. The surface with crisscross lines at the inside emphasized this thinness of the surfaces. Whereas the curveous objects of BIG are always three-dimensional. That is so boring. (to find out more..)

passage & image from: http://www.eikongraphia.com/?p=2199

posted by afterrabbit

Greener Than Thou: Fed Building Too Green For LEED

It's no secret that architect Thom Mayne has beef with LEED, the de-facto green design rating system that is now all but a prerequisite for building anything in San Francisco. Despite its widespread acceptance, LEED shouldn't be taken as sacred wri— no one knows this more than Mayne. Because of the way in which LEED ratings are awarded, The San Francisco Federal building does not currently qualify for even base LEED accreditation. (to find out more..)

passage from: http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2008/02/12/greener_than_thou_fed_building_too_green_for_leed.php
image from: http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/16/maynes-federal-building-too-sophisticated-for-leed/#more-8413

posted by afterrabbit

CO2 Architecture

Yes, it has become a dogma that about 30 - 40% of carbon-dioxide emissions is caused by buildings: it is the sum of erection, maintenance and demolition. (to find out more..)

image & passage from:
http://www.an-architecture.com/2008/02/co2-architecture.html

posted by midori mizu

Dubai to Build the World's Largest and Tallest Spanning Arch Bridge in 2012

FXFOWLE INTERNATIONAL’s proposal for the architectural design of a 1.7km and 205m bridge in Dubai was selected by the country’s Roads & Transport Authority in a major international design competition. The firm’s winning bridge design further advances the infrastructure and transportation initiatives in Dubai.(to find out more..)

Factfile:
- It's one mile long and 670 feet tall.
- It will have 12 lanes for traffic.
- It will cost 817 million dollars.
- The design has Sheikh Mohammed's official stamp of approval.
- The bridge will carry more than 2,000 vehicles per hour in each direction.
- A metro line will run across the middle.
- Construction begins in March, with a slated completion date of 2012.

image from:
http://io9.com/354694/dubai-to-build-the-worlds-largest-arch-bridge-in-2012
passage from:
http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=1929
http://io9.com/354694/dubai-to-build-the-worlds-largest-arch-bridge-in-2012

posted by midori mizu

IRender nXt Beta Test version released

IRender is a new, fully integrated, rendering solution for SketchUp.
Create Photorealistic renderings from SketchUp models.
Lights, reflections, materials, transparency.
Wizards to create lamps and light fixtures.
Wizard to create mirrors.
Created by Render Plus, IRender uses the AccuRender rendering engine to create renderings. All IRender functions are available while running SketchUp, and all IRender settings are saved in your SketchUp model. (to find out more..)

passage(top) & image from: http://wiki.renderplus.com/index.php?title=Main_Page
passage(bottom) from: http://wiki.renderplus.com/index.php?title=IRender

posted by afterrabbit

INFO POINT ::: Competition for architects under 35

This ideas competition, in a single stage, is organised in the framework of the UIA Congress Turin 2008, illustrating the theme: transmitting architecture.

The aim is to create a UIA information point in the city of Turin, a place, dedicated to urban democracy where people can meet, relax.

To be designed as a public house for architecture, info point will be usable both day and night, when open and closed. Of a maximum surface of 100 M2, it will be built of recyclable eco-friendly materials and be equipped with communication technologies.

The competition is open to architects worldwide, who are less than 35 years of age at the time of registration. The entire procedure will be on-line on internet. All the competition documents, programme and regulations may be downloaded on the competition web site.

Registration takes place at the same time as the electronic transmission of the project file, format pdf on the competition web site.

The competition language is English.There is no registration fee. (to find out more..)

passage & image from: http://www.infopoint.uia2008torino.org/

posted by afterrabbit

TOTEM ::: Competition for students

This ideas competition, in a single stage, is organised in the framework of the UIA Congress Turin 2008. Based on the congress theme, Transmitting architecture, competitors are invited to design a TOTEM, an architectural object for communication, information and exchange to be located in one of the following three types of environment: a social context: poverty; a natural context: ecology; an urban context: metropolis.
The competition procedure will be run entirely on internet. Students of architecture worldwide attending a school recognised by the UIA member section in their country are invited to take part by submitting a proposal online. The competition documents, programme and regulations may be downloaded on the competition web site.
Registration takes place at the same time as the electronic transmission of the project, pdf format on the competition web site.
The competition language is English. There is no registration fee. (to find out more..)

Registration deadline on 27 March 2008.

passage & image from: http://www.totem.uia2008torino.org/default.aspx

posted by afterrabbit

XXIII UIA World Congress of Architecture Torino 2008

For the first time an Italian city hosts a World Congress of the International Union of Architects. Torino will be the location of this prestigious event which every three years reunites thousands of professionals and students to cover a theme analysing the future prospects of the profession and its relationship with the social and cultural problems of the moment. The theme chosen for the event in 2008 is Transmitting Architecture. A title with two complementary sides: on the one hand architecture's ability to communicate the meaning of what it does, both as design creation and for the deep social involvement it leads to; on the other architecture's active role in perceiving - like an antenna - positive energies and society's emerging phenomena. Architecture presides over territorial transformation and talks to all the actors involved in this process, with the aim of asserting the right of all citizens to the quality of life and of the environment. Architecture is for everyone. A tool to build a widespread urban democracy, nourished by communication and by the spreading of knowledge. (to find out more..) (to Register online..)

passage & image from: http://www.uia2008torino.org/U8T/Engine/RAServePG.php/P/25081U8T0404

posted by afterrabbit

Amsterdam Subcity

According to World Architecture News, "Newspapers around Europe have been reporting on the scheme, which requires the city's canals to be drained to allow the construction of a vast underground mixed-use complex beneath."
It's an idea by Zwarts & Jansma architects, whose plans includes excavating "a range of underground facilities... at various levels below the city."(to find out more..)

it is reported that the Amsterdam city's council has approved this project, and the construction is to start at 2018 lasting up to 20 years. We shall wait and see then.The Underground Amsterdam City~
image & passage from:
http://bldgblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/amsterdam-subcity.html

posted by midori mizu

Why Foster’s Hearst Tower is no gherkin

Now that it has been there for a year and I’ve had my chance to learn to love it, maybe it’s a good time to say why I dislike the Hearst Tower in Manhattan so much.
The Hearst, which of course was designed by Foster + Partners, looks like a misplaced missile silo. It’s as if the Pentagon, with its usual deftness of touch, had confused its maps and located this chunk of military hardware in Manhattan instead of Florida.

It’s an office building, folks. People work there. But nothing about the Hearst, as seen from outdoors, suggests the possibility of human habitation. It appears to be a cage for a single massive object.
I don’t apologize for the image. One of the problems with Modernism, as a stylistic method, is that it tends to ignore the fact that buildings look like other things. And that’s how most people understand them. People say the abstract boxlike shapes of Modernist office towers look like the cartons the real towers came in. The world we live in is a world of resemblances.

That’s why the Brits call Foster’s London tower the “the Gherkin.” But there’s a difference. “Gherkin,” which of course means “pickle,” is an affectionate name that humanizes the building. I haven’t yet heard an affectionate nickname for the Hearst. (to find out more..)

passage & image from: http://archrecord.construction.com/features/critique/0801critique-1.asp

posted by afterrabbit

Sayama Flat - Sschemata Architecture Office

Sayama Flat is a renovation project of a 29-year-old apartment building, and it was completed January, 2008. Sayama, the suburb 1 hour from the central of Tokyo by train, is an old residential area. There are a lot of small housings around our site. In general, Japanese renovation projects are started from removing every old interior and then redesigned it. However, in this project we started to choose what is necessary and what is not from an existing interior space. Because of remaining some of the elements of the interior, we achieved to design a neutral space that motivates young people to create their own life-style. (to find out more..)


It's so unfinished & it's so crystal clear. The walls & ceilings in the units are left to such a state more extreme than the usual unadorned concrete styles that the ugly marks/stains are left as they are after the renovation. It can express a sense of temporal, neutral occupancy - freedom of different people moving in & out. And on the other hand, it is a very strong cue of a wide range of possibilities in personal customization of space.
I personally adore the "watery" finish on the floor, it somehow lends a little luxury to the otherwise 'cheap' spaces. Anyone tell me what is it??

passage from: http://www.sschemata.com/english/works/archives/01architecture/970030_sayama_flat/index.html
images from: http://www.sschemata.com/english/works/archives/01architecture/970030_sayama_flat/index.html & http://www.dezeen.com/2008/02/12/sayama-flat-by-schemata-architecture-office/

posted by afterrabbit