Alison Furuto
Central Mosque of Pristina Competition Entry / Tarh O Amayesh
Designed by Tarh O Amayesh, their proposal for the Central Mosque of Pristina, the fundamental principal of the project comes from the definition of Mosque, which is a place for praying and going from body to soul. The prayer is someone who connects the earth to the sky, while the mosque is a space for the becoming. Becoming is a symbol of movement and movement is the source of the mosque (the house of god). This plan is shaped in this framework as the mosque is a symbol of ascending sprit from soil to the sky, from city to the Kiblah. More images and architects’ description after the break.
‘The Fenland Beacon’: Great Fen Visitor Center Competition Entry / Nicholas Hare Architects
Titled, ‘The Fenland Beacon’, this proposal for the Great Fen Visitor Center is rooted in the landscape; responding to the inherent qualities of the Great Fen. Designed by Nicholas Hare Architects, the expansive sweep of the timber façade that ventures out and dissolve into the landscape is punctuated by the tower dramatically rising above the Fenland horizon, anchoring the visitor center within the wider context; an orientating beacon within the expanse of the Great Fen. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Revit Technology Conference (RTC) Europe 2013
Coming to Delft, The Netherlands this September 27-28, the Revit Technology Conference (RTC) is an independent training conference covering Building Information Modelling in all its aspects, with a core focus on workflows centred on the Autodesk Revit Technology. This is a unique ‘for users, by users’ event, where experts and leaders in the field of BIM share their knowledge and exchange their insights. With speakers and delegates from all aspects of the industry – from designers to owners, from surveyors to facility managers ‐ RTC provides many opportunities and benefits together in a single location. To register, and for more information, please visit here.
Residential Bridge Competition Entry / Rasha Kiani + Mahdi Kamboozia
With the challenge of defining a new residential typology on the outskirt of a historic Prague zone that combines a pathway to cross the river and residential units over the Vltava River, Rasha Kiani and Mahdi Kamboozia proposed a new extension to Prague’s urban space. Their concept, which won an honorable mention, makes a lively and vibrant community that joins both sides of the Vltava River by means of social activities in a dynamic space. More images and architects’ description after the break.
‘Resilient Mikkeli’ Third Prize Winning Proposal / Mandaworks + Hosper Sweden
Mandaworks and Hosper Sweden were just awarded this past week with the third prize in the open international architectural competition in Mikkeli, Finland. From 107 proposals submitted last October, Mandaworks and Hosper Sweden were one of five teams selected to continue work in the second stage. Mikkeli is a medium-sized municipality with 80,000 inhabitants, most of whom live in the urban area Mikkeli. Their challenge was to find a model for how Mikkeli can densify around and best utilize the lakefront in an ecologically sensitive & holistically sustainable way. More images and architects’ description after the break.
‘Shenyang International Automobile City’ Winning Proposal / SBA International
SBA International’s concept of a sustainable development among industry, business and residential in the Chinese city of Shenyang just won the first prize in the in the “Tiexi Waterfront Area” competition. Their ‘Clean City Concept’ includes a reduction of CO2 emissions, environmental green areas and office buildings which comply with the latest standards of a ‘Green Building’. The planning area is divided in three theme areas and in total covers an area of 90 square kilometers. More images and architects’ description after the break.
‘Paradiset 19-21′ Housing Proposal / Kjellander + Sjöberg Architects
Designed by Kjellander + Sjöberg Architects, their ‘Paradiset 19-21′ housing project creates a distinctive residential infill on Western Kungsholmen in central Stockholm. A distinctive addition with a strong urban identity, the project is a pliable mini-Manhattan, landing in the city block and building a vibrant streetscape with premises on the ground floor and inviting activities with an expressive urban character. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Naves Temporary Pavilion Proposal / Appareil
Designed by Appareil, their proposal for Naves, a temporary pavilion for the city of Mons, Capital of Culture in 2015, addresses a contextual relationship to the gothic surroundings as an exploration on lightness and transparency. Inspired by this historical context, this project explores structural and material logics to revisit the gothic arch; the ‘curve’ is examined as a bending element caught within a woven collaborative structure of glass fiber tubes, in which the use of compression is exchanged by the one of tension for the building to achieve maximum lightness. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Central Mosque of Pristina Competition Entry / Maden GROUP
The idea behind the proposal for the Central Mosque of Pristina comes from the first religious needs and the study of the earliest styles of mosque architecture in Kosovo. Designed by Maden GROUP, the concept is to convey tradition through contemporary architecture while combining in the best mode of architecture and religious rules. Therefore, the architects developed in geometric foundations, by combining simple geometrical elements. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Sejong Art Center 2nd Prize Winning Proposal / Tomoon Architects & Engineers + Ison Architects
Designed by Tomoon Architects & Engineers, in collaboration with Ison Architects, their second prize winning proposal for the Sejong Art Center is a cultural center for opera, music, dance, drama, art exhibitions, cinema, and all types of formal and informal performances. With a total program area of approx. 11,000 square meters, the architects proposed that all of the program elements be brought together into a single mass made as compact as possible, maximizing functionality and efficiency, while conserving open space. More images and architects’ description after the break.
2013 EBie Finalists Announced
Known as the ‘Oscars of Sustainable Existing Buildings’, the finalists for the annual EBie Awards were recently announced by the Urban Green Council which aimed to celebrate sustainability improvements in Existing Buildings (therefore the EBies) and the individuals who made them happen. Recognizing “unsung heroes” who have made great strides in improving environmental performance, research shows that changes to existing buildings will have the greatest environmental impact, despite new buildings often getting the spotlight. More images and information on the finalists and their projects after the break.
‘Salute to the White City’ Festival
Taking place May 2-4, Tel Aviv’s upcoming ‘Salute to the White City’ weekend is a citywide festival in celebration of the Mediterranean coastal city’s 10th anniversary of being named a UNESCO World Heritage site. Known as the ‘White City,’ Tel Aviv is home to more than 4,000 International Bauhaus style buildings built in the 1930’s by German Jewish architects following World War II. Today, Tel Aviv is home to the world’s largest collection of Bauhaus architecture in the world. The Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality is inviting guests to “Salute the White City” and celebrate its stunning collection of architecture and design-focused events, exhibitions and tours, including: Houses from Within–Bauhaus Edition, Guerilla Lighting in Tel Aviv, and Greening the White City. For more information, please visit here.
Hotel Park and Seeallee Heiden Competition Entry / Kubota & Bachmann Architects + Martinez
Located in a strategic point in Heiden, where different urban conditions come together, the Hotel Park and Seeallee Heiden proposal is shaped by the surrounding landscape. The landscape continuity crossing the plot area, the particular building density, and its relevant position from the main entrance to the city are all used to achieve a perfect urban integration. Designed by Kubota & Bachmann Architects + Martinez, this strategy enhances the environmental qualities, while staying within the strict respect of urban regulations. More images and architects’ description after the break.
‘Flying Saucer’ Condominium Proposal / 5468796 Architecture
Set for completion in 2014, Winnipeg’s “Flying Saucer” condominium project 62M, designed by Winnipeg-based studio 5468796 Architecture, will occupy the corner of MacDonald Avenue and Waterfront Drive, close to the Exchange District. Named after its address, 62M will be a two-storey, circular building lifted up on 35-foot stilts. Its circular design is spatially efficient and will provide each unit with a view. As a whole, the 360° plan provides the widest possible perimeter for glass with the smallest amount of exterior envelope to construct. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Portland Oregon to Portland Place in London
Having started this past Thursday, April 25th, and concluding in July, a team of British riders are cycling from Portland Oregon to Portland Place London with the intent of studying how cities are coping with the increasing interest in the bicycle as a credible form of urban transport. The riders will be making comparative analyses of the 12 major cities they ride through including how they are providing facilities and infrastructure for cycling. They, they will ride through the cities to experience cycling facilities directly and talking to local architects, cyclists and policy makers. On our return we will compare our findings with other expert groups, before publishing the research in print and digital formats. For more information, please visit here. A video of the event can be viewed after the break.
‘Soft Modernism – The Nature of Circumstance’ Peter Bohlin Lecture
Taking place at NewSchool of Architecture and Design this Wednesday, May 1st, at 6:00pm, architect Peter Bohlin, FAIA, will be speaking on the topic of ‘Soft Modernism – The Nature of Circumstance’. Using examples of the firm’s work from early to current projects, Peter will discuss the rich and powerful buildings of Bohlin Cywinski Jackson that resulted from The Nature of Circumstance. These range from the nature of places, both man-made and natural, to the varied nature of humans and their particular activities and to the nature of the means with which we build. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, please visit here.
Famen Temple Zen Meditation Center Winning Proposal / OAC
Following OAC’s win in the international design competition and completion of the master plan for the Famen Temple Zen Meditation Center in 2012, the architects recently completed the schematic designs for the buildings, landscape, and experiential features and art installations for meditation in the first phase of the project called the ‘Eightfold Path Forest’. As part of the new cultural master plan development on the site of the renowned 1,800 year-old Famen Buddhist Temple (aka Dharma Gate Temple) outside Xi’an, China, this project is one of the largest architectural and landscape commissions in the world focused around an historic religious temple.More images and architects’ description after the break.
Bandar Malaysia Masterplan Winning Proposal / Broadway Malyan
1MDB (1Malaysia Development Berhad) has just appointed Broadway Malyan to partner with local planner Arah Rancang Malaysia to create a game-changing masterplan for Bandar Malaysia, Malaysia. Supported by world-class design and engineering teams from Arup and Sinclair Knight Merz, the 196-hectare Bandar Malaysia is envisioned to be one of the most desirable environments to live, learn, work and play in the Asian region. The strategic real estate development project aims to combine a vibrant mixed-use community with a commercial district to foster creativity and innovation. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Another Pamphlet, Symmetry no.05 Launch Event
Above all, another pamphlet is a conversation, a loose exchange of forms and ideas, an excuse to play, a frame through which to look, a shared excitement. It is an open dialogue with our friends, our histories, and our surroundings. Meaning both “more of the same” and “something different”, “another” contains the seeds of both continuity and change. Another pamphlet mines this contradiction – this tension between past and future – opportunistically interrogating, critiquing, and celebrating the discipline of architecture. Their latest issue, Symmetry no.05, was just released and they are having a launch event this Thursday, May 2, from 6:00pm-8:00pm at Printed Matter, Inc. in New York City. For more information, and to order a pamphlet, please visit here.
FAR ROC [For a Resilient Rockaway] Competition
The extensive damage to low-lying waterfront zones caused by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012 reinforced the need for resilient infrastructure and redevelopment strategies for existing coastal communities throughout the greater New York area. Costly damage to buildings, roads, and utility systems by the storm raises the controversial question of whether areas of particular geographic vulnerability should be rebuilt, maintained and defended, or simply abandoned. In an effort to solicit creative ideas, the FAR ROC [For a Resilient Rockaway] competition seeks innovative proposals for the design and development of a comprehensive new master plan for Arverne East, a vacant 80+ acre Urban Renewal site on the Rockaway Peninsula in New York City. Submissions are due no later than June 14. For more information, please visit here.
Israel National Library Competition Entry / Gil Even-Tsur
Designed by Gil Even-Tsur Architecture Workshop, their concept for the new National Library suggests that the architecture should be critical, strong, but also deferential and contextually responsive. Their intent is to display an almost aesthetic neutrality in terms of its form, assemblies, and materials by providing an architecture that acknowledges this complexity. More images and architects’ description after the break.
