Architects: Langarita Navarro Arquitectos – María Langarita, Víctor Navarro
Location: Medialab Prado, Madrid, Spain
Collaborators: María Langarita, Víctor Navarro, Juan Palencia, Roberto Gonzalez
Client: Area de las Artes, Ayuntamiento de Madrid
General Contractor: Pecsa Teconsa U.T.E.
Engineers: Mecanismo
Lighting Consultant: Ca2l
Project Area: 144 sqm
Project Year: 2008
Construction Year: 2008-2009
Photographs: Miguel de Guzman
Browsing: Building Technology and Materials
Last weekend I had the chance to spend the afternoon with a group of entrepreneurs and Chris Anderson, editor for Wired magazine and author of The Long Tail and Free, two books that define the new economies of the Internet (highly recommended if you haven´t read them yet, specially Free)
Chris did a little speech on his new research, which immediately made sense to me from an architect’s point of view. At this point, it is more than clear that the bit revolution turned our world in 360º, and thanks to the connected world it seems that the technology development curve is more steep than ever. And now, many rules of the online world are being adopted by the physical world, and according to Anderson “atoms are the new bits”.
First, it was the media revolution. Information became democratic, collaborative, the tools became free, and everyone is part of it. But how do we take this to the World (World 2.0?)? Actually… it´s happening and very close to our profession:
PATTERNS has designed a new three story cultural center for West Hollywood, California. The center, known as Prism, will become a cornerstone of artistic experimentation, carving a new niche for the arts in Southern California. The facade will be the first in the nation to be constructed entirely out of a resin based composite polycarbonate. Inspired by automotive design supple forms, streamlined detailing and plastic finishes; the façade has a dual aesthetic performance associated to its plastic materiality and responsive to the lively energy of its context: it behaves as a reflectively glossy surface during daylight and as a translucent skin at night.
More about Prism after the break. read more »
This month we would like to introduce you the Box Series, another product from Hunter Douglas Contract, part of the Linear Ceiling System.
Luxalon box and deep box systems all use a universal carrier suspension system to maximize design flexibility, allowing combinations of 2-, 4-, 6-, and 8-inch widths in either depth. Box panels are .625″ deep. The crisp module definition of the box and deep box systems makes them an excellent solution for either interior or exterior applications. All box and deep box ceilings feature easy installation, provisions for acoustics, HVAC, and lighting. Available in a variety of paint colors and finishes, including wood veneer and metallic.
Key Features
- Panel widths: 2″, 4″, 6″ and 8″
- Panel depths (nominal): 5/8″ (Box); 1 1/2″ (Deep Box)
- Easy installation – no fasteners required
- Built-in provisions for acoustics, HVAC, and lighting
- Box systems have crisp edges for precision reveals. Deep Box profiles allow stronger reveals
- Easy access to plenum
- Perimeter trim options available
- Panels contain from 70% to 95% recycled content
- Interior and exterior applications available
- Colors, finishes and perforation/acoustical options available
- GREENGUARD Children and SchoolsSM Certified for Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
The defined, square edges of Luxalon® Box and Deep Box systems create a crisp, modular ceiling for interior and exterior applications. All panels fit our exclusive universal carrier, allowing mix-and-match patterns to establish texture and pattern.
Colors
Hunter Douglas offers a wide choice of colors and finishes. Some colors and finishes carry a premium price over manufacturer’s standard colors. Custom color matching is available upon request. Please consult Hunter Douglas for minimum quantities and lead times on specific orders.
Standard Colors

Simulated Wood Finishes

Construction Details
Example of Multi-Box System

Example of Box System


Characteristics
Substrate: Aluminum
Suspension: Concealed
Panel Profile: Reveal
Projects that used this product
James E. Rogers College of Law U. of AZ (pictures ©Bob Perzel)
Chanhassen High School
This post is part of our ongoing effort to create a database of architectural products, a useful resource for all architects, with the help of our partners.
Designed for an 80 year old woman, EASTERN Design Office’s Slit House, a reinforced concrete residential project, “presents her both a life space with a soft light and an interesting experience of scale unlikely in a house.” Situated in an old Japanese city on a site 50 meters by 7.5 meters, the home has long slits that run along a 22 centimeter thick wall, making the interior space open, while providing enough privacy.
More about the home and more images after the break. read more »
This month, we’d like to share with you another product from Hunter Douglas Contract, that can help you improve the energy efficiency of your projects.
The Nysan aerofoil (fin) louvers deflect thermal gain from incident sun, integrating light control into the building envelope. Not only they deliver outstanding functionality, but will also help architects create a distinctive look for the building surface. Well-designed louver configurations can be as striking as they are effective, shading the facade against low or high sun angles while making an aesthetic statement. As with any system, design considerations such as louver size and composition can affect performance.
TSC Architects have completed a 1,180 square ft single family residence in Ichinomiya City, Japan. The two story home is constructed primarily from reinforced concrete. The materiality gives a strong character to the residential design as the concrete creates a harsh and bold exterior. The architects do not attempt to soften that effect as the concrete stays exposed throughout the interiors. Slices of light illuminate the hard wood floors bringing a touch of warmth to the structure.
More images after the break. read more »
After meeting Claudia Pasquero and Marco Poletto, founders of ecoLogicStudio at the Beyond Media Festival in Florence, they talked to us about one of their latest projects, the STEMcloud v2.0 that now we want to share here, as is a really new and avant-garde vision about parametric and genetic architecture and the way that human interaction can bring new life to architecture projects:
The STEMcloud v2.0 project proposes the development and testing of an architectural prototype operating as an oxygen making machine. The project has been presented and designed for the SEVILLE ART and ARCHITECTURAL BIENNALE 2008.
Tim Harris just shared with us some photos of the Doha Office Tower in Qatar, a 45-story tall tower by Jean Nouvel currently under construction, with an interesting skin.
Tim says: The Tower is in the West Bay area of Doha, close to the iconic pyrimidal Sheraton hotel, built in the 1980’s when it was alone and terminated the view of the prettiest corniche’s in the Middle East.
Now there is a frenzy of building and this area has become the financial and business hub of the city. Nouvel’s tower stands amid a mixed bag of buildings some dating back closer to the Sheraton but most built in the last few years.
The adjacent cylindrical building that expands at the bottom and top, is the ‘Tornado Tower’, and has just won the best tall building award in the Middle East and North Africa.
The ‘Tornado Tower’ lacks shading and becomes very dusty. Nouvel’s tower acheives the opposite with effortless ease, elegance and elán.
Expect this building to be winning awards soon.
More pictures after the break:

Architects: Christian Pottgiesser - architecturespossibles (Paris)
Location: Paris, France
Client: private
Design Team: Christian Pottgiesser (architect) , Alejandro Ratier (designer), Pascale Pottgiesser (artist)
Engineer: Joël Betito
Assistant: Dr. Florian Hertweck
Furniture design: arch. Raphael Budin (low table + dining table)
Contractors: ERCN (main construction), Carrières du Bassin Parisien (masonry), Menuiserie du Val de Loire (carpentry), ATN (landscaping), CMBR (windows), Miroiterie MARUT (mirrors), ESBEI (waterproofing), EGEBAT (plumbing), SAP/ABD (paintwork)
Design year: 2002
Construction year: 2003
Constructed area: 140sqm extension, 40sqm entrance + winter garden,
160sqm terraces + gardens + 160sqm existing house
Budget: private
Photographs model: Pascale Thomas
© Photographs: Gert von Bassewitz (Hamburg)
One of the challenges of prefab housing solutions is that not all families live the same way, resulting on standard environments not suitable for family living. With this in mind, KKA (Kjellgren Kaminsky Architecture) desgined Villa Grow, a Villa that is adaptable to all to all kinds of families and can be extended as they grow.
This villas have a common basic unit that can be extended by adding new modules. The angles at the end of each unit allow for different orientations, on which you can have a linear house, a patio house, or an organic layout that opens to the landscape. They can even be put together to form a large neighbor.
Interesting presentation on how an evolving family (single with dog, just married, 2 kids…) can grow its house by just adding modules as needed, a true custom prefab.
The Villas are sold in the United Kingdom and Sweden, and are produced by Kjellgren Kaminsky and Emrahus.
For more info about getting your own Villa Grow please visit Emrahus.

Architects: V+/Bureau vers plus de bien-être
Location: Ternat, Belgium
Client: Cortier – De Lat
Design Team: Jörn Aram Bihain, Thierry Decuypere, Shin Hagiwara
Engineers: Kathleen Mertens
Contractor: CPR Construction (main construction), De Meersman (carpentry), FMP (metalwork)
Design year: 2001-2003
Construction year: 2003-2005
Surface: 360 sqm
Budget: 325.000 euro
Photographs: V+, Olivier Chenoix, Patrick Van Roy

The city within a building – Mario Fiorentino
In the last 50 years, we have built a massive amount of buildings, experimenting techniques and philosophies as never before. Reinforced concrete, cheap energy and cars allowed us a freedom to build that we never experienced before.

Architects: Monolab architects (Rotterdam)
Location: Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Client: Tijs van Ruiten & Paula Colenbrander
Engineers construction: K-constructies (Rotterdam), Ove Arup (London)
Engineers specifications/costs: Ingenieursbureau Multical (Rotterdam)
Advisor installations: Schwagermann (‘s-Gravenzande)
Contractor: Bouwbedrijf Hofman (Maasdijk)
Construction Roof tent: Stre@m (Rotterdam)
Design year: 2001
Construction year: 2003
Budget: 238.000 euro incl. tax
Constructed Area: 156 sqm, 537 cbm
Photographs: Monolab

Architects: R&Sie(n)
Location: Paris, France
Creative Team: François Roche, Stéphanie Lavaux, Jean Navarro
Hydroponic System: R&Sie(n)
Key dimensions: 130 sqm
Construction year: 2008
Photographs: R&Sie(n)
Glass Beakers : Pedro Veloso including the consulting of Vanessa Mitrani
Structural development and construction of the green prototype: Christian Hubert De Lisle & Cie

Our green friends over Inhabitat just tipped us on a new project by NYC/Napoli based office LOT-EK, a practice that has been doing an interesting job by reusing containers.
24 containers are put together to create a 3 storey store with over 11,000 sqf, including a bar/lounge area and 2 decks.
The store is currently at the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009, and it´s transported to each location (Alicante, Boston, Stockholm) and assembled quickly.
More pictures details after the jump.

Architects: LAVA – Chris Bosse, Tobias Wallisser and Alexander Rieck
Location: Sydney, Australia
Project year: 2008
Project Team: Chris Bosse, Tobias Wallisser, Alexander Rieck
Collaborators: Jarrod Lamshed, Esan Rahmani, Kim Ngoc Nguyen, Anh Dao Trinh, Erik Escalante Mendoza, Pascal Tures, Mi Jin Chun, Andrea Dorici
Materials: Specially treated high-tech Nylon and light
Area: 300 sqm
Volume: 3,000 sqm
Fabrication and installation: Mak Max
Photographs: LAVA

Architect: Felipe Assadi / Assadi + Pulido
Location: Santiago, Chile
Collaborators: Pablo Casals, Francisco Duarte
Project year: 2008
Constructed Area: 400 sqm
Material: Scaffolding, Hunter Douglas aluzinc stripes, Wood
Photos: Felipe Assadi & Nicolás Saieh

Architects: Shuhei Endo
Location: Sayo-cho, Hyogo, Japan
Project team: Kengo Sasamoto, Aya Umemoto
Design year: 2005-2006
Construction year: 2006-2008
Principal use: Institution and exhibition of earth environmental
Site Area: 5,000 sqm
Constructed Area: 968 sqm

The University of Sheffield’s state-of-the-art music practice and studio facility, the Soundhouse, is now complete. The striking development, conceptually designed by careyjones architects and delivered by Jefferson Sheard Architects, is completely enveloped in black rubber – a technique never seen before in the UK.
More info & pictures after the break.






















































