MAD Office: Rising House, Beijing

This is an IT professional‘s weekend house near the Great Wall of Beijing. The driving concept of this scheme is Folding Landscape. The down-slope site facing the hills and river makes it possible to exploit the contours. A continuous volume is being pulled up from the ground level and faces the natural landscape. A glass-enclosed living space is inserted in-between the volume and ground. The rising volume and the levels inside resemble a continuous and undulating landscape, and a courtyard inserted at strategic position connects with the outside on the ground floor.

The ground floor plan follows the example of Mies Van Der Rohe’s (see Wiki) Farnsworth House, and on the upper level the plan becomes reverse – a pool enveloped by glass roof and floor, so the sunlight could shine through the water and the glass floor of the pool and cast upon the ground floor.

Broadway Malyan Open New Offices in Shanghai

International architects Broadway Malyan, who were founded in the UK 50 years ago this April, have opened new offices in Shanghai and Singapore. The practice has also announced the move of its UAE based teams to new permanent premises in Abu Dhabi from where existing and new work in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the wider Gulf States will be spearheaded. The three new offices are part of a long-term strategic plan to offer clients international standards of design and service combined with local delivery and experience.

Multi Family Housing by Taller 13 Arquitectos

Taller 13 Arquitectos (Elias Cattan + Patricio Guerrero) projected a multi family housing building located in central Cuauhtemoc neighborhood, Mexico City.

The six storey building springs up from a rectangular lot with 8 living units: 3 duplex and 5 simplex with 5 different typologies. Natural lighting and ventilation were taken into account to maximize the interior comfort.

Eco technologies were used, as rain water caption, reuse and recycle. Green roof garden with low maintenance plants, native to the place. Steel lines, planters and plants compose the facades. Modules play throughout it like a buffer towards the dense urban streets. It’s composed of a modular matrix. An adjacent house’s volume is retaken, respecting the immediate context.

Credits

Project:
Río Papaloapan 15. Cuauhtemoc. México DF
Multifamily housing
8 units
6 floors
4 tipologies (different configurations y sizes)
Roof Garden / Green Roofing
Rain water collection y water recyclement

Architects:
Taller 13 Arquitectos: Elías Cattan / Patricio Guerrero
Project team: Alexis Caprile, Alejandro Rosas, Guillermo Lumbreras, Rafael Ayala, Rubén Coxca, Gloria Robledo, Allan Ezban, Jose Luis Lemus, Elias Cherem.

Construction: EZ desarrollos.
Structure: Arco Radial: Ing. Carlos Rosas.
Landscape and Green Roofing: Techos Vivos / Gumesindo Jiménez
Windows and Glass: Vitrocanceles.
Photography: Rafael Gamo
Location: Cuauhtemoc. Mexico

Planar House by Steven Holl Architects

This private residence, designed by Steven Holl Architects, is thought to be a part of the great 20th century contemporary art collection of the owners.

Constructed of tilt-up concrete walls, the flat and rotated nature of the walls merges with the simple orthogonal requirements of the interiors for art. The house is a vessel for the art collection hidden behind a perforated sheet of Cot-Ten steel.

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House and Office by DV Architekten

DV Architekten builded their studio-home in a plot with a big tree and decided to capture the shadows of the tree in the building facade, like a tattoo.

The envelope of the building is made of translucent plastic panel reinforced with fiberglass “PRFV” of 5 mm thick. The graphics of the shadows have been designed from photos of the existing tree. The printed pattern is mounted on the panel, fixed and protected applying several layers of resin, so the final finish is uniforms and resistant.

Amalia House, Austria by Grid architekten

” The Amalia House started life as a request for a humble holiday cottage. Briefed by their clients to create a holiday house on a family estate, Grid Architects ground the parameters down to create a simple low-budget structure that didn’t compromise on visual innovation. Containing just two bedrooms, one for adults, one for children, plus an additional sleeping space in the living room, the Amalia House is compact but dynamic.

The house is set on a gentle slope, meaning that the ground floor is arranged on two separate levels, with the kitchen and dining area raised up above the living room. ‘This way the different functions are separated, and the rooms themselves seem wider,’ says Grid Architects’ Isabella Straus, adding that ‘from the dining table you have a view of the valley through the window on the north façade but there is still a cosy niche in the living room.’

Straus co-founded the office with Ric Thill and Gerhard Klocker in 2005. Now with offices in Nospelt, Luxemburg and in Vienna, Austria, the studio is working on a variety of offices, houses and urban planning jobs. Amalia was a small project for the studio, but one that required intense investigation in order to satisfy all the client’s criteria within the available budget.

From outside, the Amalia House looms menacingly, its hunched, dark shape blurring into a solid monolith from some angles, but a strikingly angular structure from others. Up close, the origins of the strange reflection-absorbing coating suddenly becomes clear; artificial glass. Chosen by the architects for its tactile qualities, as well as the way it helps the structure ‘nullify the optical differences between roof and wall,’ as well as make a connection between the building and the surrounding landscape. It also allows the first floor roof slope to be used as a comfortable terrace.

The first floor cantilevers out to create a covered space for a lawn mower and garden furniture, doubling up as a car port if need be. The living room façade contains two large window openings, dynamically angled to exaggerate the contours of the surrounding meadow and designed to bring the landscape into the heart of the living space. Heat is provided by a wood burning stove in the living area.

From the kitchen/dining area a simple spiral staircase leads up to the first floor accommodation, past a compact WC and shower room. To the rear is the children’s room - with its sloping floor making a fun play space for cars and trains, while to the front of the structure - housed in a cantilever that mimics the cab-over bed of a camper van.

Everywhere one looks the detailing is simple and unpretentious, reflecting the fact that this is a functional structure that will be used in heavy rotation by three couples and their children. A place that will hopefully house many happy memories in the generations to come, the Amalia House shows that in the right hands, a simple shelter need not be banal or generic.” Wallpaper

Amalia House: dining room

Wooden House - Central Bohemia by Sporadical

” The house is situated at the highest point of the northwards slope of a former arboretum, with a total area of 1.57 ha. Both the location and size of the building were essentially formed by the structure of the original weekend house (part of the foundation of which was used for the new house) and the close proximity of a mature oak and fir tree.

The wish of the investor was to create an economical residence with light and spacious rooms, closely linked to the natural surroundings.

The building is designed on three levels – an open residential ground floor, an enclosed bedroom floor, and a rooftop terrace. In its conception, the ground floor forms a single space with a central core, into which the kitchen facilities, technical area, storage spaces, staircase and fireplace are all integrated. By using movable walls, the residential area and kitchen can be separated from the southern corridor section used as a winter garden. Thanks to the positioning of the core, in turn, the outer walls can open onto a panoramic view of the surrounding outdoors. The upper floor, by contrast, is the quiet and enclosed level of the house. In it, we find a study, the bedrooms of the parents and children, and a large bath. The bedrooms have narrow windows giving onto the garden; the large window above the bathtub frames a view into the tops of the trees. From the bedroom, a “secret” staircase leads along the façade to the rooftop terrace, which provides a pleasant situation for sitting and relaxing under the open sky.

The essential construction is formed by a wooden frame, allowing the exterior walls to be thinner and shortening the construction time. In the upper floor, the exterior walls are reinforced OSB slabs, which are part of the composition of the wall and simultaneously fulfil the function of vapour barriers. On the ground floor, the façade is formed from full-length sheets of insulating glass, anchored into the load-bearing pillars of the frame, along with small bottom-hung windows for ventilation and long French windows. The exterior cladding of the façade in the upper floor is of unplanned boards treated with protective varnish.”

Countryside House / Benjamin Murua & Constanza Infante

Architects: Benjamín Murúa A. - Constanza Infante S.
Locaction: Lo Prado, Curacaví, Chile
Estructural Engineer: Luis Ignacio Correa P.
Construction company: Carlos Torres U.
Site Area: 3985 sqm
Constructed Area: 415 sqm
Project Year: 2006
Construction Year: 2007-2008
Photography: Cristóbal Palma

The expansion and renovation project of the countryside house is located on the road to Cuesta Lo Prado, on Curacavi city (Metropolitan Region).

The building sits on a plain between the hills and the valley on a widely open space overlooking the hills on the east and the valley on the west.

Requirement was to expand the house adding 3 bedrooms and a sala but keeping the existing geometry intact.

The objective of the project was to reuse and emphazise some elements of the Chilean houses of the early 20th century present in the pre-existing building like patios, galleries and open corridors.

The house had an “L” shape layout housing a sequence of bedrooms with a gallery on the east side and a open corridor on the west. This 2 circulations were used and extended to the north so as to integrate all with a second “L”where the new bedrooms and sala were included, connecting the old part with the new one with a threshold.

With this operation, the gallery took the place of the core circulation connecting all the areas but also as place to stay because of its width and orientation to the morning sun and the hills. On the other side, the corridor was extended to the garden overlooking the valley and protected from the heat during summer days. The bedrooms and the sala surround a patio that being enclosed becomes an inner court as an extension of the sala.

Once the gates that contain the space are opened, the garden blends with the geography of the hill, bringing it into the project.

The configuration of the house allowed working with open corridors, galleries and patios and to give it a fresh look contemporary materials were used like glass, steel, wood and concrete.

The sofits disappeared and special constructive details were used on the joints between the windows and the roof taking advantage of the lightness of the materials.

Impressive Storm Sewer System / Saitama, Japan

To avoid floodings on typhoon season, the city of Saitama in Japan features an impressive storm sewer system. Its construction started in 1992, and its composed by giant concrete silos (65m tall, 32m wide) connected by 6.4km of underground tunnels 50m below the surface. It also has a giant tank: 25.4m tall, 177m long and 78 wide, with 59 concrete columns.

This impressive structure is opened for tourists. More pictures and videos below. Be sure to check out the truck being lifted through the sewer!.

J2 House / 3LHD

Architects: 3LHD
Location: Zagreb, Croatia
Project team: Saša Begović, Marko Dabrović, Silvije Novak, Tatjana Grozdanić Begović, Irena Mažer, Marin Mikelić
Collaborators: Paula Kukuljica, Lucija Staničić, Marija Babojelić
Project: 2004
Construction: 2005-2007
Site area: 687 sqm
Gross floor area: 396 sqm
Footprint: 159 sqm

This family house for a couple with children is located in the green residential part of the city of Zagreb. The former family house was built in the 1950s on a steep hill slope and did not fully use all the advantages of the site nor did it meet the requirements of contemporary living standards. The beautiful view to the city and large garden was not valued appropriately.

On both sides the site is bordered by a street and a high building. These contextual facts determined the concept and the shape of the new project. The “L” layout with closed fronts “protect” the house from the street and the neighbouring building. At the same time the garden has been redesigned with all the main rooms in the house oriented towards it.

The living room, dining room and kitchen form a unique space and together with a swimming pool are built into the ground. In this way, being at the same level and separated from each other by a glass wall they bring the garden into the house. The house entrance is above, at street level, together with garage, storages, closet-space and studio. The family area is above the entrance space along with the living and dining rooms.

The materials used for the façades correspond to the spatial organisation of facilities. The living and dining spaces are separated by glass walls which completely open the living space to the outside; on the other hand, the bedroom walls are alternatively panelled by wooden boards.

Temistocles 12 / JSª

Architects: JSª: Javier Sánchez - Juan Soler, Diana Elizalde, Angelica Soberanes, Enrique Salazar, Ana Luna, Alejandro Ita
Location: Temístocles 12, col. Polanco, Mexico D.F., Mexico
Project year: 2006
Client: Grupo Pegaso
Structure & Services: Hector Margain, Fernando Valdivia
Contractor: Ménsula México S.A. de C.V.
Architectural Supervision: Mariana Ugalde
Technical Supervision: Hugo Mendoza
Average Area: 150 sqm
Total Area: 1,892 sqm
Number of Units: 9 apartments
Photographs: Paúl Rivera (PR), Mariana Ugalde (MU)

Temistocles 12 is a building on a rectangular-shaped property, like many others in Polanco. However, the way in which it is set on the property is the result of a structural analysis which allowed us to avoid the use of intermediate columns, and gave us great freedom in the interior distribution. A cube providing lighting and ventilation in the center is also used for stairs that go up the five levels, and reach the eight apartments and pent-house on the top level.

Four concrete walls go through the building; they become thinner toward the street, forming two volumes which make up the façade. All the apartments have an irregular terrace to the front, accentuating the verticality of the walls and the depth of the facade. A large tree, which covers the west facade, plus the wide range of apparent materials result in a building with character.

Richmond Place House / Boyd Cody Architects

Architects: Boyd Cody Architects - Sinead Bourke, Dermot Boyd, Peter Cody, James Corbett, Ryan Kennihan
Location: Rathmines, Dublin 6, Ireland
Programme: Residential House
Engineer: John Casey
Site Area: 121.5 sqm
Constructued Area: 110 sqm
Budget: 250,000 EURO (US $394,900)
Design & Construction: 2004-2005
External Materials: Brick, Satin Anodised Aluminium Windows
Interior Materials: White Oak, Concrete, Plaster and Rubber


The house is located in a conservation area close to Dublin’s city centre, on a small but prominent infill corner site at the junction between Mountpleasant Avenue and Richmond Place. A modest dwelling built to replace the existing cottage located on the site. The accommodation consists of 2no. bedrooms, 2no. bathrooms, kitchen, utility and living / dining area set over three separate levels. At two stories the house remains substantially in character with the nearby terrace of houses and forms a low book-end building to Richmond Place, while making a strong contextual response to both the unusual site configuration and the prevailing architectural context, in particular the gable end of the house immediately opposite on Mountpleasant Square.

The ambition is to build the entire site, maximising the footprint of the building and visually extending the living area into the external courtyards formed to each side. The geometry of the existing site is the principal generator of the building form. Approximately triangular in shape and with a pronounced curve along Richmond Place, the house adopts the site boundary line along its north and south elevations and aligns with the adjacent terrace to the east and west. The resultant form is carved twice to make two compressed entrance spaces one to the front and a smaller one at the rear. In order to maintain the low-lying nature of the block fronting to Richmond Place, the living room is sunk 750mm into the ground, following the natural fall across the site.

The house exploits its section to create a series of interconnected but separate spaces of varying height and dimension, creating a sequence of compression and release as one circulates through the plan. The main bedroom opens out into the roof-lit stairwell by means of a work desk and folding screen forming a potentially seamless flow of space connecting with the living room and kitchen below. The kitchen itself is placed at the entry level and overlooks the living space across the worktop, with the storage units opening into the living room. The concrete desk formed by extending the ground surface into the building, faces west into the courtyard and the neighbouring street beyond. Externally the house is faced entirely in brick, directly referencing the neighbouring house. Satin anodised aluminium windows are brought flush to the surface of the outer skin to accentuate the tautness of the form and emphasize the two entry points. Internally a simple palette of materials is deployed, white oak for the service areas, concrete, plaster and rubber to the living areas to give a legible uniform reading to the interior.

Hong Luo Club House / MAD

Architects: MAD Office
Location: Beijing, China
Construction year: 2006
Constructed Area: 487.2 sqm
Interior Area: 189.7 sqm
Project Directors: Yansong Ma, Yosuke Hayano
Project Architect: Florian Pucher
Design team: Shen Jun, Christian Taubert, Marco Zuttioni, Yu Kui
Associate Architects & Engineers: IDEA Design Studio
Photographs: Shu He


The expansion of Beijing city has intensively accelerated the development of its periphery area for the last few years, which thereby helped develop the first space typology in China. In the meantime, the suburbia emerged gradually. Enclosed by grand natural environment, Hong Luo Villa district is a popular residential area in north Beijing‘s Miyun-district, which is within one hour’s drive away form the heart of the city. As Hong Luo’s popularity keeps growing, the promise of its rapid development in the foreseeable future has attracted huge investment into the district.

Hong Luo Villa district is a three-phased project. The sites for each phase are allocated along Hong Luo Lake, reflecting the grand view of the mountains sitting behind it. Hong Luo Club floats on the lake, creating an easily accessible public space at the center of the district.

A wood bridge was introduced as an access to the Club House. The house has two branches, one is a swimming pool floating on the lake, the other is an underwater platform. The architectural form is shaped by people’s circulation. Two major roads converge at the center of the house and reach all the way up along an ascending roof. The ever changing water surface joins the ascending roof, expressing the transition from liquid to solid. The space structure and the functions of the house are integrated naturally.

The main access to the house will bring the visitor to 1,300 mm under water, where people feel like walking in the lake. The access road ascends to the ground level gradually as it nears the house, which reveals the main function of the building — a gathering space. The roof shape is a projection of the linear, functional organization of the ground level’s program. The outdoor swimming pool is built into the lake, which keeps the surfaces of the natural and the artificial water at the same level. The architecture explores the city dwellers’ understanding of the nature.

Hong Luo Club House creates an ever changing space that echoes with the surroundings, where people and the nature are united. The mountain and the water provide hope and inspirations for people who live in concrete woods.

Valley House / Guilherme Machado Vaz

Architect: Guilherme Machado Vaz
Client: Júlio Machado Vaz
Location: Vieira do Minho, Portugal
Project: 1998 2002
Construction: 2002 2005
Consultants: SGPE, lda.
Contractor: António Dias Ribeiro, Lda.
Constructed Area: 350m2
Budget: 250.000 EURO (US $386.200)
Photographs: Leonardo Finotti

All the conception process of the Valley House starts with the Valley without the house, or either, with the confrontation of the architect with natural space. I started defining intentions. The will to respect the local topography and to take the people, through the house, to cover and to usufruct 10.000m2 of available area had been the first ones to appear. I wanted a proportionate volume in relation to the land. The idea of one lost object in the vast space did not please me, so I came up with a long and compact element embedded in the ground.

To decide the plant of the house, I recouped a traditional typology of the region. A great veranda occupies the center of the house while the remaining divisions organize themselves around it demanding its place. The simplicity and logic of the traditional typology allowed its adaptation in the time.

The house is directed towards the Valley and the Mountain range, the swimming pool stands in the opposite side, in the roof with its vegetal covering. I wanted a strong relation between the interior and the exterior but not a direct one, or either, there should be an ample visual contact but the physical transition from one space to the other could not be immediate for Nature in its entire splendor and the wild fauna imposed respect and even fear. Therefore, the big windows stand higher than the exterior level which transforms them into contemplation platforms. This level difference between the interior space and the exterior is enough to transmit comfort and security in days of absolute isolation.

When you enter the site you see the house hidden behind nature without any constructed way to the entrance which makes it look even more as an isolated element in space. The first impression we have, when we arrive at the plain of the Valley, does not show the true form of the house, then, as you walk through the land, you get to discover the rest of the house gradually and that provokes a surprise effect when you finally get to see it all. This ` surprise element ‘ (Montesquieu) contributes to stimulate the observer and its perception of the relation between the space and the house. The architectonic experience is made to the base of sensorial stimulations. This project looked for, the best way that it could, to explore sensations through the perception of space.

The entrance is a covered exterior space that gives access to the garage and to the interior of the house. The stairs lead to the entry hall that separates the veranda from the living room. In the living room we come across a great curtain that divides it in two distinct spaces, an introverted one, with the fireplace, and another one that opens to the exterior. This last one takes us by assault as the smashing sight of the mountain appears for the first time. In fact, the entire trip to the interior of the house is made with the mountain on your back, so you never get to see its beauty until then. Each space has a different relation with the surroundings which confers a unique identity to them. The opened veranda, protected by the trees, is a place of libation of nature, where we get lost inside ourselves.

The bedroom’s area consists of two identical nucleuses with a hall, two rooms and bathroom. The rooms have access to the back garden that leads to the swimming pool. Finally, to close the corridor and in coherence with the regional tradition, the kitchen and the dinning room are in the same space. It makes sense to appreciate the meal in the place where it is made, where the complexity of the flavors flow freely to create the perfect aura.

The house is made of concrete, used as a constructive and finishing element, searching a hard materiality and contrasting aesthetics with the chromatic and textural diversity of nature that encircles it. On the inside, this contrast is emphasized through the neutral color that coat walls and ceiling and by the ‘monotonous’ way that space is designed.

Shelter was a question of survival for man, a turning point in its existence, the essential to continue. This house does not intend to be more than a shelter of body and soul. Without shelter, we are rocks in the rain.

Rafael Arozarena High School / AMP Arquitectos, S.L.

Architects: AMP Arquitectos, S.L.
Location: Lercaro Urbanization, La Orotava, Spain
Architecture team: Felipe Artengo Rufino, Fernando Martín Menis, José Mª Rodríguez Pastrana Malagón
Furniture: Rafael Hernández Hernández, Andrés Pedreño Vega
Engineering: Martín Díaz
Structure Engineering: Arcal
Contractor: Construcciones Rodríguez Mesa
Client: Consejería de Educación, Cultura y Deportes del Gobierno de Canarias
Photographs: Hisao Suzuki & Miguel de Guzman

The building is set on a plot of land that is very close to the historic town centre of La Orotava and this large building blends in perfectly with, and relates to the urban lay-out, the topography of the land around and in its visual relations from the near-by listed buildings. The school has been resolved as a plinth for the buildings located on the edge of the city centre, on the axes Colegio Street - S. Francisco Street. In the implementation of the project, consideration has been given to maintenance costs by using a very elemental lay-out, primary materials and recordable installations.

The whole blends in with the pre-existing walls of the farming terraces, where it rests on them at some points and passes over them at others, letting the land flow under the building, propitiating enclosed spaces for games or for people to gather.

The plot covers a site on the slopes of the Orotava valley between 345 m and 365 m in altitude, which used to be used for growing the traditional single crops of the area, of which, the magnificent walls and stone paths that terrace the land remain as witnesses of the past.

The main access is from the south-east street, the only horizontal road of the network around the block, in order to provide the best access for students arriving by bus. It is also the road that links to the largest population of potential school children. One arrives by ascending a slight ramp up to the hall floor. The porter’s office, administration offices and the library are all on this floor. The library is placed right next to the entrance so that this space is visible to the inhabitants of La Orotava and the surrounding area, when there are no classes.

Most of the high school secondary education activities take place on the two floors immediately below the entrance level: multi-purpose class rooms facing south east towards the boundary and towards the urbanisation’s containing wall; and the special class rooms, facing the surrounding open spaces. On the floor below, one finds the science, nature and health laboratories and the sixth form computer room on one side, and, on the other, the spaces used for the vocational training programmes: class rooms, departments and work shops that have to be in contact with the ground.

At the northern end, at a much lower level, is the gymnasium or sports centre, set into the hillside. The volume is partially set into the earh, on the one hand, to minimise the size of this hall and the impact it has on its surroundings and, on the other, in order not to obscure the views over the valley and the sea from the upper terrace.

The concrete finish is softened with a degraded wash of different tones, on the one hand to blend the building in with the urban strata of La Orotava and, on the other, to blend in with the more rural nature of the south-western zones. These colour washes start from the staircase and the volume of the main access. The chromatic character of the building is important both inside and out, and it relates to the educational function of the centre.

Double House / Iodice Architetti

Architects: Iodice Architetti (Francesco Iodice, Giuseppe Iodice, Orsola Pezone, Marcello Silvestre)
Location: Aversa, Italy
Programme: Private Residence
Collaborators: Donatello Diana, Stefano Sembiante
Construction year: 2008

This house is a sculptural object that lives in its relationship with light. Interaction perfect, calibrated, plastics between mass and generate a light directed by dense shadows, defined safe. The intervention is in a degraded site.

It is an almost alien presence, in terms of quality compared to the context, and is also a sign of redemption, proactive, able to witness the possibility of an alternative way to build, intelligent, sensitive to the territory in which you insert.

The ground floor houses the living area and consists of a single environment, fluid, open, designed in direct continuity with the outside areas. The upper body accepts the sleeping area. The two plans are linked in connection with a generous skylight made up of large travoni reinforced concrete on sight.

Capitol Residence - Pb Elemental Architecture

Architects: Pb Elemental Architecture
Location: Seattle, Washington, US
Contractor: Lead Construction
Landscape: Volz Landscaping
Interior Design: Modern Dwelling, LLC
Constructed Area: 1.688 sqft (156.8 sqm)
Design Period: 60 days
Construction year: 2008
Photographs: Pb Elemental Architecture

The project includes 1688 sf of living space, one car garage, driveway, and green space on a small lot centered in Seattle’s Capitol Hill urban community. Exterior elements distinguish the homes different areas; extra rooms and stairwell clad in black aluminum panel, while the main areas; common level and master suite, are outlined with white aluminum panel, cedar rain screen and glass. Extensive store-front windows facing the street add a voyeuristic element to the home, giving away intimate views of the master suite and living room floors.

Exposed cedar beams on the ceiling, scored concrete floors and steel-supported stair treads are visible through the window views. Clerestory windows located near the ceiling line allow light to continuously move through the home. Many are used in the bathrooms and hallways, lessening the usage of energy, allowing for more use of natural light.

Maximizing Green Space in Urban Infill

Moto Designshop recently finished schematics for this beautiful modern residence situated on Pine street in Philadelphia. The Grid House packs a highly efficient floorplan into tight quarters, maximizing daylighting and ventilation via an abundance of open green spaces. The entire front and back façades open to infuse interior spaces with fresh air while the home’s flowing floor plan ensures a seamless transition between rooms. An elevated front garden preserves the residence’s interaction with the street while concealing an underground garage.




Moto Designshop employed a variety of techniques to ensure that the Grid House was as efficient as possible in terms of lighting and ventilation. A long three story skylight suffuses the interior spaces with light, while the home’s open-ended construction allows for excellent cross-ventilation. The front façade features two stories of wooden solar shades which are deployable in a variety of configurations to allow for variable degrees of privacy.


In order to maximize the residence’s available space, Moto Designshop chose to situate the home’s garage below ground floor: “Within the property line, is a 2-tier car/garden lift which lowers the car to the basement level, hiding it from view while creating a private garden space at street level.”

We love how the re-envisioned row home integrates a variety of green spaces and a rooftop garden into an elegant example of efficient modern design.

La Reserva by Sebastián Irarrázaval

This stunning prefab in Colina, Chile, is the work of Santiago-based architect Sebastián Irarrázaval. Despite its unique form, it is not meant as a custom design but rather a housing solution that can take shape repeatedly. Constructed of concrete, steel and timber, the 120 square meter structure (1290 sq ft) lives large with a simple geometric that is at ease with the surrounding landscape.



While the sustainability of steel and concrete are debatable, Irarrázaval takes advantage of the inherent benefits of these materials, mainly their thermal attributes. The exterior steel panels create a double facade where sandwiched air is heated and creates a natural draw of ventilation around the structure. The concrete elements work to regulate temperature by moderating swings between heating and cooling. As a complete system, and coupled with expansive adjustable openings, the building self regulates for the thermal comfort of occupants.

Completed in 2006, the La Reserva house is, according to the architect, low-cost housing that “relates to the idea of the container.” Its striking steel facade is meant to weather “as a continuation of the building process rather than as a force antagonistic to it” making the material choice a dynamic part of the design.

Although our critical side questions the materials, we can’t help but be drawn to this design from one of the world’s most exciting new architecture practices.

Vila Romana Residence / MMBB Arquitetos

Architects: MMBB Arquitetos
Location: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Architects in charge: Fernando de Mello Franco, Marta Moreira, Milton Braga
Project team: Marina Sabino, Márcia Terazaki, Marina Acayaba, Rodrigo Brancher, Thiago Rolemberg
Client: Iran do Espirito Santo
Project year: 2004-2005
Construction year: 2005-2006
Site Area: 500 sqm
Constructued Area: 435 sqm
Budget: US $425,000
Structural Engineer: Kurkdjian e Fruchtengarten Engenheiros Associados
Mechanical Engineer: Procion Engenharia
Interior Design: MMBB e Iran do Espírito Santo
Landscape: Iran do Espírito Santo & Ana Cintra
Fundaciones: Cepollina Engenheiros Consultores
Contractor: Bremenkamp Engenharia e Construção
Photographs: Nelson Kon

The design of the Espirito Santo Residence is derived from the twin imperatives of topography and usage.
It is situated on a corner plot with views of the town’s principal valley, with a drop of 10 meters from one side of the plot to the other.
The first question to be tackled was that of creating an artificial terrain that would allow for easy transit around the external areas and their use for day-to-day activities. The landscaping was determined by the creation of these areas.


The second question was that of the residence’s dual usage. The building houses not only the residence but also the working studio of the artist owner.
The strategy adopted was to divide the building into two autonomous blocks. In contact with the terrain is the studio block, partly embedded in the hill and illuminated only by an overhead opening. Its interior is divided by a series of walls which serve as supports for the works to be created there.

Suspended above the terrain is the block containing the residency itself, open to the views that surround it. Its internal layout is designed to facilitate integration and fluidity between separate sectors for living, sleeping, cooking and the service area.
Between the two blocks, on the slab that forms the roof of the studio, a large veranda has been created, partly in shadow. Another space, uncovered, occupies the slab over the residential block, increasing the total external ground area.

The suspended block is supported on only four points, with prominent overhangs. The two solid slabs that support it are constructed from exposed prestressed concrete. A further layer of concrete conceals the steel reinforcing elements. This concrete and the window system form the façade of the building.
The concrete slabs, once polished, form the floor of the interior environment, with no need for additional surfacing.
Conical niches in the concrete allow for the direct installation of lighting, with no need for additional fixtures.
It is this succession of constructional features that defines the project as a whole.

Coal Fired Power Plant Turned “Eco-Dome” in London

There is nothing quite like a creative redux on a post industrial site. When done right, innovative reuse and repurposing of obsolete structures can set some pretty amazing examples for a sustainable future. One such model conversion is taking root in the newly unveiled plan for Battersea Power Station in London. Once a coal-fired electric plant (and defunct for near 25 years), this industrial icon is getting a 21st century makeover to become a mixed use development that produces renewable energy.



The master vision is headed up by London-based Real Estate Opportunities Limited (REO) with a new landmark building designed by architect Rafael Viňoly. The idea is to breathe life back into the site and structures through what the collaborators call “the most advanced sustainable development ever to be built in this country.”

The plan calls for an innovative natural ventilation feature, a 300 meter high chimney in Viňoly’s design which is being touted as the “cleanest and greenest building in London.” The dual purpose of the chimney is to house apartments and provide a natural thermal draw that ventilates the living spaces and ground floor retail spaces. The “eco-dome” at the foot of the chimney allows solar gain to heat the air, creating a natural upwards draft. The “chimney” effect will cool the building without mechanical air conditioning and significantly decrease energy demand.

A portion of the project’s £4 billion budget will go towards renovation of the original 1930s power station. Historically significant spaces will be repaired and open to the public as an industrial heritage site. Other sections of the old power plant will be developed into hotel, residential and commercial space. The power station will also be adapted to produce renewable energy from biofuels, waste and other sources. Parts of the existing building will be used in these new processes - for instance, two old chimneys will be put to use as flues to exhaust water vapor from the new biofuel energy plant.

As the largest development site in London, the new Battersea Power Station has some pretty impressive tallies. It will house nearly 7,000 people, create up to 20,000 new jobs, and provide about 8 million square feet (750,000 square meters) of residential, office and retail space. The site will also incorporate a six acre public park, a riverside walk and an urban square. Discussions are also in the works to extend a Tube line into the new development.

The immense project of turning Battersea from an abandoned industrial site to a mega mixed-use energy center is expected to start in 2012 and be completed by 2020.

Sustainable Style in Venice, CA

The stunning 700 Palms Residence is a prime example of site-specific architecture. Designed by Steven Ehrlich Architects, the striking structure mixes raw industrial materials with a polished modern aesthetic, making it a monument to eponymous SoCal style and a sustainable marvel in its own right. Its breezy construction seamlessly integrates outdoor spaces with a flowing interior floor plan that was carefully considered to address the freedoms and constraints of residential design in Venice, Los Angeles.

Steven Ehrlich Architects approached the project from a practical angle, making the most of a tight floor plan “by maximizing volume, light and privacy on a narrow lot with sensitivity to scale and context”. Large sliding glass doors provide natural ventilation while contributing ample amounts of daylight to the lovely lofted interiors.



A smart layout bathes all of the living areas with sunlight throughout the day, while solar shading minimizes heat gain. As dusk draws, night radiant concrete flooring helps to regulate temperature. The home owes its high-low aesthetic to the prolific use of low-maintenance recycled materials, making it an excellent example of how industrial construction and a sharp modern form can exude warmth and a welcoming atmosphere.

Stunning New Terminal at Shenzen Bao’an International Airport

It’s not often that we get to talk about airports but there is a lot happening in the aviation industry. One landmark development is the proposed construction of a new terminal at Shenzen Bao’an International Airport in China. Positioned as a gateway to China and designed by architects Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas, the terminal will no doubt be a sleek transit destination. What has captured our attention is the incredible double skin canopy intended to let patterned natural light into the space, and significantly reduce energy consumption.



Shenzhen, located in the southern portion of the Guangdong Province in China, is one of the most important industrial and tourist locations, and holds a great potential for economic development. The new terminal at Shenzhen Bao’an International has been proposed as an addition to the 10.8 km2 airport, located near Huangtian and Fuyong villages in Bao’an District of Shenzhen.

The design has been made keeping in mind the unpredictable nature of the aviation industry. The terminal will be made so that people could have a glimpse of the outside, where planes will fly in and out to all corners of the world. The roof canopy will be made of of a patterned double skin. The inner skin will be made of fine net and allow diffused sunlight into the terminal. It will reduce energy consumption and create a pleasant indoor atmosphere.

The master plan shows a truly stunning design. The new terminal, dubbed Terminal 3 or T3, will be built in three phases and cover 400,000 square meters. Phase 1, expected to be complete in 2015, will bring the unit terminal, traffic system, parking place, landscape, and shopping center into form. During phase 2, the first remote passenger concourse, and satellite terminal with rail stations will be built and completed by 2025. Phase 3 is scheduled to be complete in 2035, when the terminal will be fully constructed.

Casa 11 Mujeres by Mathias Klotz

Casa 11 Mujeres by Mathias Klotz is build on a cliff-top near Santiago de Chile.

The brief was to provide a second home laid out on three levels for a couple with eleven daughters, whose ages range from four to twenty, and to provide all services, a master bedroom and spaces for entertaining and guests.

Divided in three floors, the house was built with bare concrete with wood floors, glass, and steel on a 45 degree slope looking down the beach. The bottom floor contains shared spaces, while the second level has the daughters bedrooms, and the top floor has the master bedroom, kitchen, living room, and dining room.

Innovative Watertecture in the Dead Sea

In the Dead Sea region, control of water is a source of political friction and presents an ecological quandary that threatens the drinking supply for inhabitants. A research project from New York-based architect Phu Hoang Office seeks to address and solve these site specific issues with ‘No Man’s Land’, a series of artificial islands that would provide recreation, tourist attractions, renewable energy, and create fresh water.



The project was shortlisted in the Architectural Association’s Environmental Tectonics 2007 competition for its innovative approach to a complex issue. Showing how architecture can be part of multi-disciplinary solutions, ‘No Man’s Land’ tackles the environmental, political and humanitarian problems related to the procurement of fresh water for the region.

As a network of built islands with three distinct designs, ‘No Man’s Land’ would create an artificial archipaelago that employs a variety of building technology. In order to become a source of fresh water, the islands will extract water molecules from the air to be desalinated. Salinity gradient solar ponds, water purification tanks, and water filtering processes will all be integrated into the designated “water islands” of the chain. The other two island designs will be for tourists and solar energy production, providing self sufficient power as well as creating revenue.

Floating City for Climate Change Refugees

There are very few urban design solutions that address housing the inevitable tide of displaced people that could arise as oceans swell under global warming. Certainly none are as spectacular as this one. The Lilypad, by Vincent Callebaut, is a concept for a completely self-sufficient floating city intended to provide shelter for future climate change refugees. The intent of the concept itself is laudable, but it is Callebaut’s phenomenal design that has captured our imagination.

Biomimicry was clearly the inspiration behind the design. The Lilypad, which was designed to look like a waterlily, is intended to be a zero emission city afloat in the ocean. Through a number of technologies (solar, wind, tidal, biomass), it is envisioned that the project would be able to not only produce it’s own energy, but be able to process CO2 in the atmosphere and absorb it into its titanium dioxide skin.

Each of these floating cities are designed to hold approximately around 50,000 people. A mixed terrain man-made landscape, provided by an artificial lagoon and three ridges, create a diverse environment for the inhabitants. Each Lilypad is intended to be either near a coast, or floating around in the ocean, traveling from the equator to the northern seas, according to where the gulf stream takes it.

The project isn’t even close to happening anytime soon, but there is value in future forward designs like the Lilypad. They inspire creative solutions, which at some point, may actually provide a real solution to the climate change problem.

Landscape House for an Ecologist

In 2006 the AIA set forth an architecture challenge to create ‘A House for an Ecologist’– a home base from which a US Fish and Wildlife Service Ecologist in Residence could live and conduct field research. Raphaelle and Alfredo Maul, of Maul Dwellings in San Sebastian, Spain, answered the call with The Landscape House - a site-sensitive, passive solar dwelling designed to fuse environmental performance with aesthetic integrity, building science with architectural excellence.



Meant to be oriented along an east-west axis on the highest elevation of the rural West Virginia site, The Landscape House takes advantage of prevailing winds with a double roof system that improves air circulation around the structure and generous, adjustable openings on the north and south façades. Passive solar heating and natural daylighting are controlled by a system of operable louvered shutters which incline on the north and revolve on the south. On the roof, a highly efficient Sphelar (3D cell) photovoltaic system collects sunlight for on-site energy.

The Landscape House is an exercise in water conservation. Water usage is clustered within the dwelling to minimize material consumption. The kitchen and bathroom are equipped with low-flow fixtures, dry-compost toilet, recycling area and compost unit. Rainwater is harvested and stored under the solar roof providing grey water to fixtures, thermal mass and a source of heat in winter through circulation in a radiant floor system. A solar dehumidifier draws moisture from inside and outside the building to produce potable water for drinking.

Although meant to pass through many seasons, The Landscape House’s locally-sourced, recycled and renewable materials are easily disassembled for reuse at a different site. The AIA competition jury from the Architecture of Sustainability conference took note saying, “We like the pre-fab-ness of it—from prefabricated elements. We also had a lot of discussion about ‘touching lightly’—what a small footprint means. It could be totally non-physical, the footprint.”

The Landscape House won the 2006 AIA Committee on Design Ideas Competition. Although it exists only in concept we’d certainly like to see it built.

WALL HOUSE: Build Your Own With Customizable Kit!

One year ago we brought you the Wall House, an elegant small-scale home that challenges the concept of walls with its delaminated construction and a flexible shell that invokes a sky-blown kite or a pristinely unfurled sail. Now we’ve got exciting news for all those interested in the innovative structure: Frohn & Rojas Architects just launched a customizable kit that will let you build your own Wall House!



Entitled Your Wall House, the new kit will allow anyone access to the schematics that was recognized as one of Architectural Record’s 2008 Record Houses and swept the AR Emergent Awards in 2007.

The house itself is an elegant exercise in conceptual architecture: “The project breaks down the “traditional” walls of a house into a series of four delaminated layers (concrete cave, stacked shelving, milky shell, soft skin) in between which the different spaces of the house slip. From the inside out the layers build upon one another, both materially and geometrically, blurring the boundary between the interior and the exterior and creating . . . a series of qualitatively distinct environments.”

Your Wall House kit includes a full set of schematics that can be precision tailored for a variety of applications based upon personal needs, local building codes, and varying climate conditions. Prices range from $1,499 - $12,462, and we can’t wait to see more permutations of this innovative approach to architecture.

New LEED Living in Greenwich Village

A new project in Greenwich Village is bringing a mix of modern luxury and green building to the historic West Village district. Architect William Pederson, with international real estate firm Hines, recently announced the design for One Jackson Square. With an eye-catching glass façade and a host of environmentally sound features, the new development will be Greenwich Village’s first LEED-certified multi-unit luxury condominium.

One Jackson Square will provide 35 loft condominium residences on 11 floors, each with floor-to-ceiling views of the surrounding neighborhood. Eight of the condos have outdoor spaces, and the penthouse boasts a 1,670 square-foot roof terrace. On the luxury side, the building offers a round the clock concierge, valet parking, plush lounge area and catering kitchen. On site facilities include a fully stocked exercise room and a luxury spa.



The sustainable aspects of One Jackson Square include multiple terraces and a green roof which covers about 20% of the total site. Native and low maintenance landscaping was selected to reduce water consumption. Efficient HVAC systems lower the building’s overall energy usage. And, the construction materials were chosen to lower the building’s environmental impact, as well as improve indoor air quality for residents. Construction waste was kept to a minimum and much of it recycled.

Solar Harvesting Textiles Energize ‘Soft House’

If architect Sheila Kennedy gets her way, textiles will soon be able to take the sun’s energy and turn it into electricity. Kennedy is an expert in the integration of solar cell technology in architecture. And, her team from KVA Matx has designed the Soft House, a structure that can create close to 16,000 watt-hours of electricity by transforming household curtains into flexible, semi-transparent, solar collectors.



Textiles have been a fixture of architecture and design for their ability to define and modify a space. For Sheila Kennedy, textiles are just another material from which energy can be generated. The thin-film photovoltaic textiles are essentially solar panels created from organic photovoltaics. While not as efficient as the silicon based type, they are able to be molded and modified without any manufacturing process.

The Soft House has gone through a number of prototypes, but don’t expect to see it anytime soon. The cost of the solar textiles would, at current, make it cost prohibitive. However, Kennedy’s work on this project shows that renewable energy technologies can be easily integrated into designs in ways that had never been thought of before. Kennedy’s own words best describe our thoughts on the Soft House: “Never underestimate the power of the architectural imagination.”

Empire Today

Just when I thought that everything is almost done.. I was so shocked to know that we are having changes with my Mother - in law’s renovated house. We are set to have granite tiles for the living room, because based on my experience, it maybe a little pricey than the ceramic tiles, it lasts longer , and when it comes to quality, i can attest to that. Not to mention, i love the effect of granite tiles on the floor. But just this morning, she informed me and my husband that she will be getting Hardwood flooring for the living room and dining room. She finds it safe for kids. Good point though, especially now that we are having 2 in the family soon. I am really not aware on the pricing of hardwood flooring , so I checked on Empire Today and was lucky enough to see what I want. To save me time and effort, I am planning to schedule an In-home estimate service with them. This way , they can also talk to the contractor while they are at the house. I am checking online some really nice samples of their designs. Their specialty line of wood is really appealing, especially the dark colored ones. I think aside from granite flooring, this will be on my list too when it comes to home stuff.

The Masters Bedroom will have a carpet finishing on the other hand. I never experienced living in a room with wall to wall carpeting since I am asthmatic. I find carpets hard to maintain too, because it is too prone with dust, not unless you have someone who can clean it for you daily, which is the case of my mother in law. Empire Carpet is my choice because of their wide range of textures. This will also be included at the in home service, because the carpet should match the interiors of the room. I have seen a 50% offer on some of their products too, such huge savings, and Im thinking of getting some for our house too. I can ask them to have an in-house demo too. Imagine, shopping while at home , and you are seeing the products right away. I just hope that the house will be finished soon. Im afraid we are entering the rainy season already , It might be a little difficult to do stuff when it’s raining. I can’t wait to witness the in - house demo too, it just makes me feel excited to see on how well the wood and carpet will coordinate the rooms.

Spiraling Calatrava Chicago Tower to be World’s 2nd tallest

Chicago’s city skyline is about to be graced by a stunning new super-structure that will rise above its shore like a helical seashell. Designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, the 2000 foot Chicago Spire will be the world’s second tallest building upon its completion in 2011. The halcyon monolith is beautiful example of biomimicry, taking cues from the spiraling structure of the nautilus. It’s an iconic spire with a timeless form that will take strong future-forward steps with a projected LEED gold rating.

The Chicage Spire has been called the world’s most significant residential building, featuring 150 floors and 1,194 residences. The slender structure rotates each floor an average of 2.44 degrees to total 360 degrees from top to bottom, guaranteeing that no two views are the same. Calatrava explains: “what distinguishes this building from any other tall building . . . is that this building is not done for a corporation, or a group of corporations, it is done for individual human beings”



“Inspired by nature, by the interaction of earth, water, and air,” the structure is replete with biomorphic elements. Its helical form incorporates the golden mean and the Fibonacci sequence to closely mirror the spiraling growth of the nautilus shell. Calatrava states “the principles I follow are based on repetition. This reminds you of nature because nature often works in patterns.”

The sparkling super-structure incorporates a variety of sustainable elements, including a fluid facade shrouded in high performance glass that has been designed to protect migratory birds. All landscaping is maintained via a rainwater recycling system, and a geothermal system draws river water to cool the building. The entire interior is outfitted with an Intelligent Building & Energy Management System, and it bests energy efficiency standards by 15 percent.

Lately we’ve seen Chicago bolstering its eminent architectural heritage with scores of stunning projects and sustainable initiatives; this latest project is sure to be a sustainable gem that will channel and exemplify the ardency of these efforts.

Las Vegas CityCenter Set to Green Sin City

The sustainable buzz around CityCenter starts with the team. At the core of the design are some of our favorite green-minded architects including Pelli Clarke Pelli, Foster + Partners, and Rafael Vinoly. The developers have also employed hundreds of sustainability consultants to bring a whole systems approach to the project, and the tradesmen carrying out construction are educated in green building practice. MGM MIRAGE has trained over 10,000 construction trade and craftsmen on green building techniques that are already being forged into the site.

CityCenter is making some pretty big efforts to tout itself as a model of sustainability. Green building practices like recycling construction waste, using eco-friendly materials, boosting natural lighting, and incorporating an onsite co-generation power plant are just a few of the ways that the project is earning its eco-credentials. Materials from the imploded Boardwalk Hotel (cleared for the site of CityCenter) are being recycled into the project, crushed to be recycled into material going into the project, and bathroom fixtures are being shipped to other countries wrapped in the old drapes and carpeting from the original hotel to be used again.

Additional efforts were undertaken to improve even the smallest details. Unhappy with the current designs of low flow water fixtures, MGM MIRAGE used their purchasing power to design custom low-flow features to high design standards. The sustainable step will save an estimated 76 million gallons of water daily when CityCenter is completed and occupied.

The finished CityCenter will include a resort casino, two non-gaming resort hotels, a 500,000 square foot retail and entertainment district and will also feature a $40 million public fine art program.

Luxury Home and Luxury House

Bela Cintra by Triptyque

I found another amazing bookcase, like the one I posted a few weeks ago, created for a private apartment in Sao Paulo by Brazilian firm Triptyque.

The bookcase serves as bulkhead in this apartment, since it winds all the way through the whole place, serving as entertaiment system, bookshels, etc.

Via io9