Zaha Hadid´s project rejected due to heat
I just read on Design Boom that Zaha Hadid´s extension proposal for the Middle East Centre in St Antony´s College in Oxford has been denied approval by the the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE). The comission wrote in their report “it appears unfortunate to position the archive and reading room behind the large south facing window; we wonder whether full sunlight and overheating could potentially compromise the usability of this space”.
Too bad for Zaha, but thank god the CABE took a closer look at the project before its occupants had to go trough the heat. I wonder how many built projects that we occupy every day should have been revised by a comission that take this in count.
More pictures of the denied project below.
![Design Like You Give A Damn [2] / Architecture for Humanity](http://ad009cdnb.archdaily.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/1337368807-design-like-you-give-a-damn-ii-125x125.jpg)
I am a fan of Zaha’s architecture…feel this should have matched a fair bit with the neighbors.
I believe that this one of Hadid’s nicest schemes she has produced in some time. I like how its form interacts between the historical buildings and the interior seems interesting.
Its a shame this was denied for that reason, i’m sure there are a number of options for combating the heat – the two that immediately come to mind are insulated glass panels, or electronic shades (my law school has this and they work remarkably well on the large panels of glass facing the exterior of our study lounges). Another option would be (and the exact terminology escapes me) the glass that can change its level of transparency via electric current.
Nice, great project !! But the sun light, and the heat might be a real problem.
Reflective Glass film would be the nastiest and cheapest option, but would still work. There are countless ways to combat this issue… but… oh well. We’ll see whether ZH changes it a bit to get through or thats the end of it?
comment for those who would solve the problem with reflective glass, special panels and so on… I think that it would be stupid tu build a window and than ‘close’ it in some sort of way. it only proves that there is no need for the window so CABE decision was right!
Perhaps if Zaha recognized that her buildings get built on Earth rather than on Planet Rino she might come to appreciate the architectural effects of the sun moving through the sky.
Sad to say, that’s never going to happen when you’re only interested in the very narrowest of architectural concerns: form.
Hello People!!
Man!!!, a UFO spaceship had landed!!!!
Damn!! its so hard the contrast between this building with the others. Ok, its a Zaha building but because she is Zaha it doesn´t mean that she doesn´t have any respect of the other historical buildings. Zaha an advice check up the jewish berlin museum, its a good solution u can do something similar in concept.
And the glass facade man, i agree with the people that reject the project, because of that glass the building is goin g to consume a lot of energy for cooling it up.
Sahem on you Zaha
See ya guys!!!!
I can’t believe that such a big star architect firm doesn’t care about a simple south window…
I start asking myself where is architecture going…
it’s just bad lazy design, aspect and light are more important than form in architecture
shoddy shoddy practice
it’s unbelievable what certain starchitects get away with, glad CABE intervened here
looks like a great piece of work from Zaha….
alot of time practicality and aesthetic doesnt go hand in hand
I absolutely agree with CABE, Ronan and Mole. WTF Zaha?! but wait… based on the rendering above, it appears that the [main?] building would shade the archive and reading room. In fact, the glass is so far set in, much of the eastern sunlight would likely get shaded by the lip as well. That said, the reading room would be quite pleasant and film or shades would probably block out too much of the indirect light.
My 2 cents…
I’ve always though ZH was a total hack and I’m glad to see I’m not alone!
ZH sure did manage to piss off a lot of people…
the second picture, looks like an xbox xD.
I think principle ZH office use to generate architectural form now is resemble to the work of Eero Saarinen (TWA Terminal) and of Oscar Niemeyer . Those work of these two architects has been done many years ago when the use of concrete to shape the curve form was very popular at that time. Some of work looks like a spaceship (70s)but now she has more advantages driven by the computer aided design software and new material technology.
i too agree what CABE has taken the action, coz space should be habitable before then the aesthetic n form, alltogether makes genious..
While not normally being a fan of her projects, I like the look of this smaller scale intervention and I hope they figure out a way to get it built.
I’ve always considered Hadid’s architecture to be unfit for human-use, just pure mental masturbation with the use of 3d modeling software.
This project is a sample of that. Consider the complete lack of respect or regard to the surrounding architecture. Now, if you are building an archive, well, damn it, give the use of the building you are designing some consideration!!! I think it’s embarrassing her building gets the no-no because she and her employees did not give a flying hoot about the building’s final use.
ugly
I think the CABE didnt have the guts to say they dont like the way it looks..so they put the blame on a window….!
the problem of overheating from the southern side is a really simple one to solve. most of the sun rays get reflected due to the rays’ angle or blocked if the glazing is recessed (as in this case). so ppl, before you start criticising, take a look at the project. cheers
How in the world does she continue to get her minions to pump out such banal pudding? My 3 year old son has a more sensitive hand. Please, please, please do not give this woman any more publicity.
I might have taken the critics’ concerns seriously, but then reminded myself that Oxford’s still in ENGLAND. Sun? . . . please. Snarkiness aside, Zaha: it would serve you well to keep in mind that the swoosh as a design choice isn’t universally applicable. Looked great in the Austrian transit stations, the German fire station, etc., but here you’ve got a TV monitor splotched up onto a nice, unassuming old stone building using the mother of all caulk guns.
I’m totally agree with CABE, we must respect the local behavior, this means: environment, not just the sun and heat, also the surrounding buildings, i like a lot the new “respectful” projects, but come on, lets think and create equally, not just draft and forget the real world.
This is perfect. Holding a starchitect accountable for their innapropriate design! Just because she has a famous name doesn’t mean the sun won’t shine on her buildings.
i surely can do a better work…. n i can prove it…. any one out here can mail me on kirtiramolia@yahoo.com and try me…. u surely can try me…..
Although the project is interesting in form, it obviously doesn’t respond to the program or climate. Reflective glass, electronic shades, and insulated panels are sticker solutions that should be unnecessary in good design.
Interesting form, but not so interesting internal space, since when architecture has been designed to be viewed from outside, not been designed to be felt inside. So why do we need architecture? ? Just to look at??
Yep that’s the problem with formalism but who cares it’s worked for the Italians for years you never hear people talking of Ferrari and Lamborghini in the same sentence as comfort and reliability. Pretty always get chosen before kind hahahaha…
i like the curvilinear form especially through the way it unites with its neighborhood by introducing the modern architecture linking present to the past.
Too bad for Zaha, but is part of the game.
Im asking myself where is architecture going…
I must say i agree with the comments about the need for better contextual response. However it is nice to see a project that unashamedly is about itself and about how technology gives near ultimate freedom to architects. But it is also a very strong juxtaposition which is an appropriate architectural response sometimes.
It’s a shame that everyone here, particularly the author, doesn’t seem to understand what CABE is. It’s an advisory body. They have no right to accept or deny any development, they simply advise those that do. So either CABE have come out against this development and the local authority will make their own decision, or the local authority have turned the building down based upon CABE’s advice.
Either way, anyone that designs a huge window that’ll obviously cause overheating issues is asking for it – it’s pretty obvious stuff.
This is true (at least the last part) I didn’t know about CABE. What I am saying is that we have the airconditioner and while it is not the most responsible or well considered choice it is an option.