Are you an Architect? Take the quiz…
Jody Brown, the architect behind the blog Coffee with an Architect made this interesting quiz to determine if you are indeed an architect or not.
Best Hepburn? Is it Katherine or Audrey? Better Duchovny? Is it X-Files or Californication?
The 50 questions and their correct answers after the break.
Dress Code / Complex City
Olivier Brouillard, from Complex City, shared the design of Dress Code, an elementary school designed for the community of Fréchy, Switzerland, an area surrounded by farming and nearby hills. Under the idea that once the program and the function are defined, the architect’s job consists in dressing up architecture; Dress Code was conceived. It gives a major importance to the facades and to the way the building is seen externally. Visual communication is a key point, especially considering that school is the first source of knowledge for youngsters.More images and project description after the break.
In Progress: City Green Court / Richard Meier & Partners Architects
Construction for the City Green Court, Richard Meier & Partners third building within the Prague 4-Pankrác Master Plan, is underway. Receiving a pre-certification of LEED Platinum, the building’s design is inspired by the language of Czech Cubism simultaneously responding to issues of conservation and sustainability. A completion date of early 2012 is anticipated. The video,
“We are working together to make City Green Court a benchmark for green building design in the Czech Republic,” shared Richard Meier. “This assignment has been particularly challenging as it also meant addressing the historic beauty of Prague and at the same time creating a modern image of the City for its future.”
More renderings and drawings of City Green Court following the break.
Architects: Richard Meier & Partners
Renderings: Courtesy of Richard Meier & Partners Architects, vize.com
Video: vize.com
Huga Fab III and Headquarters Building / J. J. Pan & Partners
Architects: J. J. Pan & Partners, Architects & Planners (JJP)
Location: Central Taiwan Science Park, Taichung, Taiwan
Project Team: Shun Yi Cheng, Martin Hagel, Yi Shien Chin, Shih Cheng Yang, Wen Chi Wang, Shih Fan Huang
Building contractor: Fu Tsu Construction Co., Ltd.
Project year: 2007 – 2009
Photographs: Chun Chieh Liu
Update: Opera House / Zaha Hadid
Tomorrow marks the opening day of Zaha Hadid’s Guangzhou Opera House. The 70,000 sqm project consists of two solid geometric forms wrapped with a structural exoskeleton. The two components, with their similar form, color and shared structural expression, create a strong artistic expression to house the cultural center. Hadid’s angular exterior intentions are carried through the interiors, shaping dynamic gathering spaces and interstitial spaces. For the main auditorium, Hadid’s concept has manifested itself in the form of fluid ribbons that wrap the main stage. Previously, we have featured some great photos showing the building further along in its construction process , thanks to our reader Sharwe, and we’re excited to share news of its opening!
“Overlooking the Pearl River the Guangzhou Opera House is at the heart of Guangzhou’s cultural sites development. Adopting state of the art technology in its design and construction it will be a lasting monument to the New Millennium, confirming Guangzhou as one of Asia’s cultural centers. Its unique twin boulder design will enhance urban function by opening access to the riverside and dock areas and creating a new dialogue with the emerging new town,” explains Hadid.
More images after the break.
KNOCK Inc. / Julie Snow Architects
The renovation of a neglected 1960’s food distribution center on the edge of downtown Minneapolis into a gleaming new headquarters for the creative innovators at KNOCK Inc. is both a fresh and welcomed presence on the underrated stretch of Glenwood Avenue just west of International Market Square. The project’s inventiveness lies in the sustainable transformation of a potential “tear down” structure into a high performance building.
Architects: Julie Snow Architects, Inc.
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Design Principal: Matthew Kreilich, AIA, LEED AP
Project Manager/Designer: Pauv Thouk
Project Team: Tamara Wibowo
Client: KNOCK Inc.
Project Area: 10,000 sqf
Project Year: 2010
Photographs: Paul Crosby
Wondangri House / UOSarchitects
Architects: UOSarchitects / Jung ki jung
Location: 348-15, Wondangri, Toechon-myeon, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
Client: Ok Jung In
Project area: 127 sqm
Project year: 2008 – 2010
Photographs: Park Wan Soon
Odontology Facility / eSTUDIO vS
Architects: eSTUDIO vS
Location: León, Guanajuato, México
Collaborator: Miguel A. Maestro Gz.
Client: Universidad de La Salle Bajío
Project area: 778 sqm
Project year: 2006 – 2007
Photographs: Roberto Ortiz
Podčetrtek Sports Hall / Enota
Architects: Enota
Location: Podčetrtek, Slovenia
Project team: Dean Lah, Milan Tomac, Maruša Zupančič, Polona Ruparčič, Anna Kravcova, Zana Starovič, Tomi Maslovarić, Dean Jukić, Darja Zubac, Sabina Sakelšek, Nuša Završnik Šilec, Marko Volf, Esta Matković, Andrej Oblak
Structural engineering: Elea iC
Mechanical services: Nom biro
Electrical planning: Forte Inženiring
Project area: 3,570 sqm
Project year: 2007 – 2010
Photographs: Miran Kambič
Video: BIG’s Website as Presentation Tool
Bjarke Ingels recently appeared on CNN’s series Big Idea, very fitting for his architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group or BIG. Utilizing the firm’s website, Ingels turns it into a presentation tool, and with ease discusses the design process, sharing diagrams and photographs for four of their projects: Mountain Dwellings, their submission to the Shanghai Expo complete with video of Ingels himself riding through the Danish Pavilion, the recently unveiled designs for West 57th in New York City, and the winning design for a new Waste-to-Energy plan in Denmark. The quick, straightforward, and stylish presentation beckons the question, is there still a place for powerpoint?
AD Classics: St. Mary Cathedral / Kenzo Tange
There are some buildings that do not belong to any time or age. The Saint Mary Cathedral of Tokyo by Kenzo Tange is definitely one of these. Of course materials and technologies make it recognizable as a project of the 20th century, but we could easily say that this project has been built yesterday the same as 50 years ago. It’s not usual, in terms of the quality of architecture. And it is not the only quality of this project.
More after the break.
Old Tannery School / Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects & Greer Hindmarsh Architects
Architects: Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects & Greer Hindmarsh Architects
Location: Waterloo, New South Wales, Australia
Design, Project Manager and Builder: Kane Construction P/L
Mechanical and Electrical Engineering: Wood And Grieve Engineers
Photographs: Bruce Usher, Glenn Macari, Nick Bowers
DIG, a performance installation by Daniel Arsham/Snarkitecture
On March 1st 2011, Storefront for Art and Architecture will inaugurate Dig, by Daniel Arsham/Snarkitecture, an experiment to construct new spatial relations and programs that emerge from the interplay between drawing, materiality and performance.
Dig will be developed in three stages. ‘Exhibition’ will run from March 1 to March 28. ‘Installation’ from March 29 to April 4. And finally, ‘Performance’, from April 5 to April 23. At the close of the exhibition, all material will be returned to the manufacturer and recycled into rigid foam insulation, leaving no evidences or traces behind.
Parallel to the exhibition, a series of talks, excursions and encounters happening inside the work in progress will address the emerging forms of the installation in relation to contemporary notions of collectivity and inhabitation in the quest for moments of architectural reinvention and surprise.
For more information you can click here.
West Potomac Park to Host 2011 Solar Decathlon
View New Location for 2011 Solar Decathlon in a larger map
The U.S. Department of Energy just announced that the West Potomac Park, adjacent to the National Mall between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials will be hosting the 2011 Solar Decathlon. The event’s permit for the National Mall, the launching pad for the largest solar competition in the world, had been revoked in mid January creating a lot of disruption for the 20 collegiate Solar Decathlon teams who had put over 18 months of work in preparation for the event.
Here is our previous coverage of the Solar Decathlon.
First Certified “Green” Project in the Philippines / Oppenheim Architecture + Design
Leading international “green” architect Chad Oppenheim of Oppenheim Architecture + Design was selected by top Philippine developer, The Net Group, to design the nation’s first certified green project in Taguig City, Philippines. The Net Metropolis is the flagship pilot development of the recently created Philippine Green Building Council (PHILGBC) to answer to the local environment’s specific needs.
Oppenheim, who has a growing reputation for his green design work, participated with the PHILGBC in the actual creation of the nation’s new rating system BERDE (Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence) to apply to the design of the first tower in the project, The Net Lima. You can check more projects by Oppenheim here, and don’t miss our interview with him! More images and project description after the break.
Center for Urban Waters / Perkins + Will
Architects: Perkins + Will
Location: Tacoma, WA, USA
Client: National Development Council and the City of Tacoma
Structural/Civil Engineer: AHBL, Inc.
Mechanical/Electrical Engineer: WSP Flack + Kurtz
Lighting: WSP Flack + Kurtz
Landscape Architect: Swift & Company
Commissioning Agent: Rushing
Acoustical: Yantis
Cost Estimator: Davis Langdon Associates
Developer: Loring
Contractor: Turner Construction
Project area: 51,000 sq. ft.
Project year: 2010
Photographs: Benjamin Benschneider
Mar do Oriente / Aires Mateus
Architects: Aires Mateus
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Project Leaders: Valentino Capelo Sousa, Bruno Moura Anes
Collaborators: Patrícia Marques, Maria Rebelo Pinto, Tiago Mestre, Afonso Almeida Fernandes
Client: “Mar do Oriente” Cooperative
Structural Engineer: José Nascimento
Air treatment: João Soares
Electrical Engineer & Communications: Saraiva de Figueiredo
Acoustics: José Nascimento
Landscape design: Margarida Quelhas
Constructor: Empreiteiros Casais
Surface Area: 7,200 sqm
Built Area: 16,700 sqm
Project Year: 2008
Photographs: FG+SG – Fernando Guerra, Sergio Guerra
American Institute of Architects 2011 Honorary Fellowship Announced
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) recently announced the recipients of the 2011 Honorary Fellowship (Hon. FAIA). This is given to architects with distinguished achievements, who display exceptional character and are held in high esteem by colleagues. Hon. FAIA members are neither U.S. citizens nor U.S. residents, and do not primarily practice architecture within the domain of the AIA.
The 2011 Hon. FAIA recipients:
Angelo Bucci, Brazil, SPBR Arquitectos
Kristin Jarmund, Norway, Kristin Jarmund Arkitekter
Marcio Kogan, Brazil, Studio mk27
Kengo Kuma, Japan, Kengo Kuma and Associate
Carme Pinós, Spain, Estudio Carme Pinós
Louise Cox, Australia, Professional Organization: International Union of Architects
Many of the Hon. FAIA recipients have had featured work on ArchDaily. Take a look at Kengo Kuma’s winning design for the new landmark building V&A at Dundee, Kristin Jarmund Arkiteckter’s Gjerdrum Secondary School in Norway, Angelo Bucci’s House in Ubatuba, Marcio Kogan’s Osler House, and the Spain Department Building design by Carme Pinós which will be part of the Vienna University Campus.
Architecture City Guide: Boston
For this week the Architecture City Guide series headed to the city of Boston including neighboring Cambridge just across the Charles River Basin. This area has an overwhelmingly large amount of modern architecture in a small radius, and our list reflects just that. What buildings do you want to see added to our Boston list, share them with us in the comment section below.
The Architecture City Guide: Boston list and corresponding map after the break!
The Hidden Depth / thegroundstudio
South Korean architects thegroundstudio shared with us their winning proposal for the Shop & Cafe + Pavilion Redesign Competition at the entrance of Seoul National University’s main gate and SNU Museum. More images and a brief description after the break.
Wurstershire Sauce / UC Berkeley Landscape and Architecture Graduate Student Team
In the Spring of 2010 a team of Landscape and Architecture graduate students from the University of California, Berkeley led a design build seminar to rethink a little known courtyard on the northeast corner of Wurster Hall. Originally used as an outdoor classroom, plant demonstration area, work space, and location for the CED happy hour, the objective of the project was to make a “bench” to accommodate and enhance these diverse activities. More images and team’s description after the break.
