Industrial buildings are among the best examples of Louis Sullivan's famous phrase "form follows function." Generally, they are functional, efficient buildings, quick to build and unornamented. That is why, when we study the industrial heritage of different cities and countries, we are able to understand local materials, technologies, and traditional construction methods of the time. England's red brick factories come to mind, as well as the roof lanterns used to provide natural light to factories and other typical construction elements. Metallic and precast concrete structures are currently the most commonly used due to a combination of construction efficiency, cost, the possibility of expansive spans, and the unawareness of the benefits of other materials, such as wood. Often, these industrial warehouses are also characterized by being cold and impersonal, in addition to having a considerable carbon footprint. But Canada's experience in recent years is noteworthy, where there have been an increasing number of wooden buildings constructed for industrial programs.
Is It Time To Start Thinking About Wooden Industrial Buildings?
Architecture and the Environmental Impact of Artificial Complexity
This article was originally published on Common Edge.
There is an astonishing degree of complexity, order, and beauty in the natural world. Even so, and especially within the realm of living things, nothing is more complex than it needs to be to sustain its existence. Every aspect of the system serves a purpose. If it does not, the unneeded component eventually ceases to exist in future generations. Even with these constraints of resource and energy efficiency, we find boundless beauty and harmony in the natural world. Contrast nature’s “just the right amount of complexity” to the way many architects design buildings today. While nature is only as complex as it needs to be, architects and designers add excessive and inessential complexity to their buildings and landscapes when none is warranted.
Berching Culture Hall / KÜHNLEIN Architektur
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Architects: KÜHNLEIN Architektur
- Year: 2020
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Manufacturers: DELABIE
Susan Wakil Health Building at the University of Sydney / Diller Scofidio + Renfro + Billard Leece Partnership
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Architects: Billard Leece Partnership, Diller Scofidio + Renfro
- Year: 2021
Greengrass Office / Plainoddity
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Architects: Plainoddity
- Area: 281 m²
- Year: 2019
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Professionals: Monoha Design
The Kensington Learning Space / Plan Architect
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Architects: Plan Architect
- Area: 4000 m²
- Year: 2020
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Manufacturers: Hitachi Air Conditioning, Johnson Controls–Hitachi Air Conditioning, SCG, SK Kaken, TOA, +2
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Professionals: Integrated Field, ANT Engineering, Plan Engineering Company Limited
Ya Space! / PIG DESIGN
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Architects: PIG DESIGN
- Year: 2020
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Manufacturers: Memphis
Home of Blended Pluralities / Ego Design Studio
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Architects: Ego Design Studio
- Area: 500 m²
- Year: 2019
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Manufacturers: Berger Paints, CAD, Fenesta, Kajaria
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Professionals: Down to Earth
Inside-Out House / Studio Krubka
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Architects: Studio Krubka
- Area: 1115 m²
- Year: 2020
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Professionals: Anupap Pongnametta, Singha Dangniwat
Fireplace Pavilion / gruppa2020
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Architects: gruppa2020
- Area: 35 m²
- Year: 2020
Rendezvous House / CLB Architects
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Architects: CLB Architects
- Area: 7000 ft²
- Year: 2019
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Manufacturers: Dornbracht, Miele, Franke, Kohler, Subzero, +3
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Professionals: Jorgensen Engineering, Energy 1, KL&A, Capstone Construction & Management Inc.
Jorge B. Griffa Athletes Building / Taller de Arquitectura La Fundación
Mima House / Marta Brandão + Mário Sousa
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Architects: Marta Brandao, Mário Souza
- Year: 2021
CUBE Temporary Exhibition Pavilion / urban curators + Iegor Shtefan
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Architects: Iegor Shtefan, urban curators
- Area: 490 m²
- Year: 2019
ArchDaily China's 2021 Building of the Year Awards are Now Open for Nominations
As we successfully launched our 12th Building of the Year Awards earlier this year, we want to thank you for being part of our community for over 10 years. Together we have been growing and contributing to the architectural scene, aiming for a better world.
Now, we are proud to announce the 5th edition of The ArchDaily Building of the Year China, celebrating the best architecture in China, as chosen by you, the reader.
By nominating and voting, you form part of an interdependent, impartial, distributed network of jurors and peers that has consistently helped us celebrate architecture of every scale, purpose, and condition, and architects of all profiles. Over the coming weeks, your votes will result in 700 Chinese projects filtered down to just 10 best projects in China.
The 2021 Building of the Year Awards China is brought to you thanks to Dornbracht, renowned for leading designs for architecture, which can be found internationally in bathrooms and kitchens.
Hourglass Corral House / decaARCHITECTURE
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Architects: decaARCHITECTURE
- Area: 2800 m²
- Year: 2020
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Professionals: Giorgos Filippou, ERISMA G.P, ASlight, Petros Papageorgiou, TEKEM S.A
Housing Complex Corazón de Tierra / P11 Arquitectos
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Architects: P11 Arquitectos
- Area: 5780 m²
- Year: 2021
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Manufacturers: AutoCAD, Boxito, Elemetic