Video: A Plea for Modernism
Scheduled for demolition in Summer 2011, the Phillis Wheatley Elementary School is a treasured piece of regional modernism in New Orleans. Designed by Charles Colbert, the school has served the historic African-American neighborhood of Tremé since it opened in 1955. It is just one of over thirty public schools that were constructed at that time. These schools were designed by architects who practiced a regional modernism, incorporating innovative design for circulation, ventilation and lighting. Of the thirty schools only four are still standing, three of which are threatened with demolition (including Phillis Wheatley). DOCOMOMO Louisiana is advocating for the restoration through adaptive reuse for the Phillis Wheatley Elementary School. “A Plea For Modernism” was created by Evan Mather and is narrated by actor Wendell Pierce.
Barcelona Rock / UGO architecture
Poland-based UGO architecture shared with us their proposal for the Barcelona 2011 Bohemian Hostel for Backpackers International Competition. More images and architect’s description after the break.
Low Cost, Low Energy House for New Orleans / sustainable.TO
Hosted by Design By Many, the Passive House for New Orleans competition challenged designers to design a single-family dwelling that is sustainable in the broadest sense of the term: affordable to build and purchase, long-lasting, with minimal impact on the local environment, and affordable to heat and cool throughout the life of the building.
The winning proposal, designed by sustainable.TO, is based on the vernacular shotgun typology. The affordable, low-energy, single-family low cost, low energy house will help to revitalize the existing neighborhood of the Lower Ninth Ward. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Logowines Winery / PMC Arquitectos
Architects: PMC Arquitectos – Leonor Duarte Ferreira/ Miguel Passos de Almeida
Location: Évora, Portugal
Cost: 2.200.000 €
Site area: 35,000 sqm
Project year: 2007 – 2009
Photographs: João Morgado
Update: Tenant for Freedom Tower
Each week, progress is being made on Manhattan’s Freedom Tower as it slowly rises to meet its 1,776 ft mark. In addition to the skyscraper, we’ve shared Calatrava’s Transit Hub design with you and we are excited to see the completed complex. Although the new project will offer dynamic architecture in conjunction with a spiritual environment to remember the victims of the attacks, many wonder what companies will occupy the 2.6 million sqf of office space. A few days ago, media company Conde Nast (a publishing company responsible for the likes of Vanity Fair, Vogue, The New Yorker, among others) announced their plan to lease 1 million sqf, giving the Tower its first high-profile anchor. Christopher O. Ward, executive director of the Port Authority, told the Times, “We built a new reality at the World Trade Center, and this transaction will be the exclamation point on that turnaround.” This deal has appeased rising concerns that the Tower would be solely occupied with government offices; with such a progressive company slated to move in, hopefully others will follow suit. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo told the Times, “[Conde Nast's lease] sends a message to the global business community that Lower Manhattan is alive, growing and open for business.”
Bodega Bauer Winery / Field Architecture
Field Architecture‘s goal for Bodega Bauer was to create an architecture informed by the same particularities of the earth which are embodied in the wine of the region. Siting and materiality are guided by the subtleties of sun and wind exposure, climate, the unexpected nuances of each season, and the presence and absence of water and shade.
Salamanca City Hall / Carreño Sartori Arquitectos
Architects: Carreño Sartori Arquitectos / Mario Carreño Zunino, Piera Sartori del Campo
Location: Salamanca, Chile
Collaborator: Pamela Jarpa Rosa
Client: Municipality of Salamanca
Construction: INCOBAL Construction
Structural Engineering: SyS. Mauricio Sarrazin A.
Electrical Engineering: ICG S.A.
Services: Roberto Pavéz
Project Area: 4400 sqm
Project Year: 2008-2010
Photographs: Cristóbal Palma
Henley Street House / Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
Architects and Interiors: Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
Location: Victoria, Australia
Project team: Jon Clements, Graham Burrows, Tim Jackson, Chris Botterill, Nick James
Landscape design: Tim Nicholas Landscape Architect
Structural: Lambert and Rehbein
Builder: Irene Morgan
Project area: 370 sqm
Project year: 2009
Photographs: John Gollings Photography
Skype Offices in Stockholm / PS Arkitektur
Architects: PS Arkitektur
Location: Munchen Brewery, Stockholm, Sweden
Project team: Mette Larsson-Wedborn (head project architect), Peter Sahlin, Beata Denton, Thérèse Svalling and Erika Janunger
Project area: 1,680 sqm
Project year: 2011
Photographs: Jason Strong
University of Oregon John E. Jaqua Academic Center for Student Athletes / ZGF Architects
The John E. Jaqua Center for Student Athletes at the University of Oregon explores the limits of transparency and connectivity to provide the UO’s student-athletes a place to gather as a community focused on study and learning. The challenge of creating a tranquil environment where students feel connected to natural landscape elements and daylight was heightened by the chosen location: a busy intersection between campus and the city of Eugene, on the site of a former parking lot at one of the major campus entrances.
Architects: Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects, LLP
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Project Area: 40,000 sqf
Photographs: Courtesy of ZGF Architects
Havenstraat Dwelling Scheme / Allard Architecture
With a primary focus for new construction in Amsterdam South, 2700 new houses will be developed in the Havenstraat and Zuidas zones. The Havenstraat masterplan is currently the biggest project in this area, with construction due to start in 2014. The plans are yet to be finalised, as the city must reclaim the land from companies which occupy the existing temporary buildings. As a result, Allard Architecture was triggered by these plans to develop a dwelling scheme that adapts to the specific qualities of the Havenstraat area, near the old Olympic stadium in Amsterdam. More images and architects’ description after the break.
In Progress: USJ Campus de L’Innovation et du Sport / 109 architectes
Architects: 109 architectes
Location: Beirut, Lebanon
Client: Université Saint-Joseph (USJ)
Partner in Charge: Ibrahim Berberi
Architect in Charge: Nada Assaf TEAM: Rani Boustani, Etienne Nassar, Emile Khayat, Naja Chidiac, Richard Kassab
Collaborating Architect: Youssef Tohme
Project Area: 57,000 sqm
Photographs: 109 architectes
May 2011 Issue of the Charrette from Tulane School of Architecture
The Tulane School of Architecture, theCharrette presents its May 2011 Issue. The culmination of a year with a new image for the publication, theCharette has included in this issue key architectural topics at Tulane and adjacent realms including the Richardson Memorial Hall renovations with FXFOWLE and el dorado.
Included in this issue is the latest update from Byron Mouton and students who have completed URBANbuild build 06 house at 1821 Toledano. Also don’t miss the articles featuring Dutch Dialogues and Architecture 2030.
Winning Proposal for Copa Arquitectura 2011 Contest / Urban Recycle Architecture.Studio
With a main focus on establishing a relationship between the social, the ecological and the economic together in one building, Urban Recycle Architecture.Studio won the Copa Arquitecture 2011 Contest, organized by Architecture for Humanity, Liga FOS,Fu.de and Nike. For this relationship to be successful, they decided on a building with multiple functions, a rectangular design and metallic structural system of fast construction and high strength. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Wisła Krakow New Sports Centre Proposal / Estudio Lamela Polska
Architects: Estudio Lamela Polska
Location: Cracow, Poland
Project team: Carlos Lamela, Pierluca Roccheggiani, Przemek Kaczkowski, Alessandro Mattei, Gabriel Fortes Cala, Martyna Tejwan
Project area: 8,914 sqm
Competition year: 2011
Renders and drawings: Courtesy of Estudio Lamela Polska
The Miller Hull Partnership Expands to San Diego
Seattle based Miller Hull Partnership has recently shared with ArchDaily that they have expanded to open an office in San Diego. Formed in 1977 the award-winning [check out our coverage of The Miller Hull Partnership here] firm’s design reputation is based on simple, innovative and authentic designs that incorporate sustainable practices.
The Miller Hull Partnership has been working in San Diego for seven years, and has a number of projects currently under way. These include the renovation of the San Ysidro Land Port of Entry, the busiest border crossing in the world (Phase 1 in construction), and the University of California San Diego Structural & Nano Materials Engineering building also in construction.
Shakujii Y House / Ikeda Yukie Architects
Architects: Ikeda Yukie Architects
Location: Nerima, Tokyo, Japan
Structural design: Kume structural research & development office
Constructor: Fuji construction & planning
Project area: 90 sqm
Project year: 2011
Photographs: © Koichi Torimura
Monumental School Renovation / BYTR Architects
Architects: BYTR Architects
Location: Utrecht, The Netherlands
Project year: 2006 – 2011
Photographs: Cornbread Works
Shenzhen Cultural Complex / Mecanoo
Architects: Mecanoo
Location: Shezhen, China
Client: Shenzhen Vanke Real Estate
Project Area: 90,000 sqm
Artistic Impressions: Doug & Wolf
Portland State University to host Student Exhibition
The Department of Architecture at Portland State University will celebrate the graduation of its first-ever class of Master of Architecture students with an end-of-year design show, titled “Materialize | Student Work 2010-2011.” Hosted by the Portland chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the show will highlight the achievements of students throughout the graduate and undergraduate programs, with an emphasis on the independent design theses of the Master of Architecture students. An opening reception will be held in conjunction with First Thursday on June 2, 2011, from 5:30pm to 8:30pm.
FibroCITY / Perkins+Will
FibroCITY is a proposal by Perkins+Will that operates as a restorative catalyst for communities that have been segregated by 20th century superhighways and the environment built around the car. FibroCITY is a template that restores urban voids with places for people, activities, and interactions, set in Houston, Texas, USA.
More on this project after the break.
