Courtesy of KPF

The new Midfield Terminal Complex at Abu Dhabi International Airport was just approved by the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi. Within master plan, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF), the terminal is conceived as a gateway to the city. The design creates large, unimpeded internal zones that will enhance the passenger experience, and can accommodate long‐term adaptability to industry demands. More images and architects’ description after the break. read more »

Courtesy of UnSangDong Architects

Architects: UnSangDong Architects
Location: 555-9 SongSan-li SeolAk-myeon GaPyung Kyeunggi-do, Korea
Bldg, Area: 505.00 sqm
Gross Floor Area: 637.40 sqm
Structure: R.C.
Photographs: Courtesy of UnSangDong Architects

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Courtesy of Collective Architects

Collective Architects shared with us their proposal for the Uşak Intercity Bus Terminal Complex Architectural Design Competition which won the second prize. Their design aims to bring in a terminal building to the city, which is designed with a well topographic analysis of the competition site. Their approach also involves combining the space left from the terminal building with the recreational area. More images and architects’ description after the break. read more »

In this video, Brookings expert Robert Puentes discusses the importance of construction projects and infrastructure investments that provide real and lasting value to the American economy. Puentes warns against thinly spreading around smaller infrastructure projects that only provide a short-term, seasonal boost in “shovel ready projects” that temporarily help job creation. Infrastructure investments can and must play a key role in the next American economy. Puentes urges that these smaller infrastructure projects must be connected to a larger infrastructure strategy that focuses on exports and globalization, technological innovation and clean energy. This will not only immediately create jobs and boost the economy, but also provide a framework that will sustain the American economy for the long term.

Also, if you are in the Washington DC area, Brookings will be hosting an event tomorrow, at the John L. Thornton China Center at Brookings, to discuss low-carbon development and clean energy in the United States and China. Follow this link for more information.

Subarquitectura transforms a roundabout into a public space with the Parametric Romantic Garden that creates a system of paths leading to a tram station in Alicante, Spain. The parametric design accommodates for existing trees while establishing 32 unique ways in which the platforms may be reached. Each platform is capped with a hollow luminary, serving as an identifier for the station while breaking down the scale for the travelers. Follow this link for more information on the project.

Courtesy of Lindsay Bremner and Jeremy Voorhees

The proposal for the international competition for a cyclone shelter in Bangladesh by Lindsay Bremner and Jeremy Voorhees is conceptualized as a boat-building, referencing two local typologies – the boat and the landing ghat. Located in Ranggabali, a small village in the Patuakhali Province, the building is half submerged in water in times of cyclone flooding while beached against a concrete ghat in dry seasons. Sheltering its occupants in the liminal zone between land and water, it makes place by transitioning from depth and section to surface and plan. More images and architects’ descriptions after the break. read more »

Courtesy of ZNA

Sofia’s new Metropolitan Station 20 on line 1 connects the nearby historic city with a modern and developing city center. It creates an underground world inspired by the cities’ culture and modern day aspirations. The design strategy by ZNA (Zeybekoglu Nayman Associates, Inc.) seeks to take advantage of the overlapping relationship between Obikolna Street and the proposed station below. The design of a centralized median, which moderates traffic, becomes the glass spine of the station. Composed of high angled walls in white architectural concrete the station is formed to capture natural light. More images and architects’ description after the break. read more »

© John Edward Linden

Architects: Brooks + Scarpa
Location: Eight locations along 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica
Client/Owner: Tina Rodriguez, Project Manager – tina.rodriguez@smgov.net
Project Team: Lawrence Scarpa, FAIA – Principal-in-Charge, Angela Brooks, AIA, Omar Barcena, Mark Buckland, Brad Buter, Silke Clemens, Stephanie Ericson, AIA, Jordon Gearhart, Chris Ghatak, Luis Gomez, Emily Hodgdon, Ching Luk, Matt Majack, Gwynne Pugh, Sri Sumantri 
Architect of Record: Taylor Fierce Orne Architects
Project Area: 2,071,139 sqf
Project Year: 2011
Photographs: John Edward Linden

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view from main plaza

The Metro Station 20 proposal by Peter Ruge Architekten on Metro Line 1 in Sofia, Bulgaria acts as a primary metro connection between Sofia’s city center and the airport, and the hub of a major commercial redevelopment plan. Their design seeks to establish clear pathways, form active connections and harmonize architecture and landscape. More images and architects’ description after the break. read more »

© Architect Koen Olthuis of Waterstudio.NL

As a response to urban density, Waterstudio.NL has created a floating Sea Tree that would restore environmental value in crowded metropolises.  The Sea Tree, a multilayered tower-esque structure, would inhabit the harbors and rivers surrounding major cities, such as New York, as a way to provide an opportunity for flora and fauna even when land is sparse.

More about the Sea Tree after the break. read more »

© Christopher Frederick Jones

Architects: Cox Architecture + Architects 61 
Location: The Helix at Raffles Avenue and Bayfront Bridge, Singapore
Project Year: 2010
Cost at completion of construction: SGD$82,900,000
Project Area: 1379.08 sqm
Project Team: Philip Cox, Michael Rayner, Hang Chung Ling, Spyros Barberis, Lynn Heng, Michael Ngu, Siti Suriah Taib, Sunita Menon.
Consultant Team: Arup – Structural consultant, Arup – Civil consultant, Arup – Mechanical consultant, Arup – Electrical consultant, Arup – Lighting consultant, Tierra Design – Landscape consultant, Davis Langdon Seah – Cost Consultant.
Construction Team: Sato Kogyo (S) Pte Ltd – Builder
Photographs: Christopher Frederick Jones, Angus Martin

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© Xoan Piñón

Architects: CREUSeCARRASCO Arquitectos
Location: Malpica Port, La Coruña, Spain
Project + Work Directors: Juan Creus, Covadonga Carrasco
Collaborators: Francisco Rosell, Felipe Riola, Roi Feijoo, Belén Salgado, Alexandre Antunes, Bárbara Mesquita, Laura Coladas
Completion: January 2009
Total Cost: 2,843,239.43 euros
Intervention Area: 13,710 sqm
Photographs: CREUSeCARRASCO arquitectos, Xoan Piñón 

   
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© UNStudio

We are continually impressed by the variety of projects from UNStudio’s office.  The firm just unveiled a new vertical city highrise for Singapore previously featured on AD, and recently, the Dutch studio’s international air terminal and traffic control tower for Kutaisi was officially presented by Mikheil Saakashvili, President of Georgia.  The country is growing quickly and changing rapidly, with new tourist and economic activity, plus different political developments.  As such, the design for the new airport seeks to showcase Georgia new identity by providing a contemporary gateway to the country.

More about the airport after the break.  read more »

Courtesy of Ali Ghorbani, Ali Kashfi, Hosein Shirazian

The Ghalemorghi Airport, the first airport established in Iran, was opened in 1922 on 300 hectares of land in the south of Tehran and the first ever flight in Iran took place from this airport. When Tehran municipality decided to demolish the walls of this military airport in order to change its function to a public space and theme park, a competition was announced for designing the main entry gate of the project. The aim of this new gate by Ali Ghorbani, Ali Kashfi and Hosein Shirazian is to create a space to establish a strong link with the park away from the traffic and chaos of the nearby highways. This new gate has to correspond to the scale and atmosphere of the park. More images and project description after the break. read more »

© anthimeria - http://www.flickr.com/photos/anthimeria/

The quaint and picturesque suburbs have insulated themselves against the urban environment with miles of highways, strip malls and the traffic between endless sprawl. To get to the artificial nature of surburban streets and parks you must first make an exodus out of the city, arriving in an area that is usually unwalkable: no sidewalks, large streets impossible to cross and large distances between destinations. Kaid Benfield looks at Montgomery County, Maryland’s streetscape initiative to address some of these issues in his article “Fixing Suburbs with Green Streets that Accommodate Everyone”.

Follow us after the break for more. read more »

Courtesy of MSB Architects

The proposal for the Metro Station 20 by MSB Architects aims to create passing spaces, with the creation and delineation of structures and trees that provide the amenities for this occupation. Assuming that the city will grow to this area, this project may be structured in this new area of the city through the creation of common spaces – above and below ground – with a philosophy of unity at a visual and functional language. More images and architects’ description after the break. read more »

Courtesy of JBMC

Architects: JBMC Arquitetura & Urbanismo
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Photographs: Celso Brando, JBMC

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© Foster + Partners

Along with engineers G.O.C. and Cabanelas Castelo Architects, Foster + Partners have won an international competition to design a new high-speed rail station in the city of Ourense in Galicia, located in northwestern Spain. The winning proposal integrates transport infrastructure with a new urban park, providing a large public space that will open up a series of pedestrian links to connect the districts divided by the track.

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© Statens Vegvesen

Architect: L J B
Location: Aurlandsfjellet, Norway
Design Team: L. J. Berge, Z. Jelnikar
Completion: 2010
Area: 90 m path 300 sqm parking
Photographs: Statens Vegvesen, E. Marchesi, L J B AS

   
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landscape walkway

Architectural designers Alan Cheung Kwok-lun and Sam Hau Sum-ming from Hong Kong have designed a conceptual passenger terminal building for the International Design Ideas Competition for Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point Passenger Terminal Building, in an attempt to link up China and Hong Kong through the reveal of nature. Inspired by the distant nature of the lands along the border, the proposed architecture does not merely fulfill the purpose of border crossing. It should be capable in enhancing the usability for both Hong Kong and Shenzhen citizens, as well as the aesthetic quality of the hidden natural surroundings. More images and architects’ description after the break. read more »