Boston based DesignLAB Architects designed the World Headquarters for the International Fund for Animal Welfare(IFAW). Given the mission of the IFAW (“provide a better world for animals and people”), the challenge was to incorporate this through sustainable design.

The program distributed in 54,000sqf is arranged in three clean volumes sitting on a reclaimed brownfield site. The volumes are open to the outside, integrated with the surroundings, through transparent planes. To control the sun over these facades, a series of louvres are arranged along them as you can see on the photos.

The building received the LEED Gold Certification, validating the sustainable strategy.

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Architects: Sauerbruch Hutton
Location: Munich, Germany
Client: Staatliches Hochbauamt, Munich
Project Area: 12,100 sqm
Budget: $46M Euro
Project year: 2002
Construction year: 2005-2008
Photographs: Sauerbruch Hutton

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Architects: Jendretzki Design and Planning Consultant
Location: Sag Harbor, NY, USA
Architect of Record: Sal Croce
Design Consultant: Pablo Jendretzki
Contractor: Tim Mott, Sag Harbor
Client: Debora Oppenheimer
Landscape Designer: Maria Jose Recabarren
Project year: 2009
Photographs: Jendretzki

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Architects: Turnbull Griffin Haesloop / Eric Haesloop, FAIA and Mary Griffin, FAIA
Location: The Sea Ranch, CA, USA
Year completed: 2007
Structural Engineer: Jon Brody, Jon Brody Consulting Engineers
General Contractor: Don Matheny, Don Matheny Construction
Photographs: David Wakely

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Architect: Bates Masi Architects
Location: East Hampton, NY, USA
Client: Private
Structural Engineer: Steven L. Maresca
Landscape: Coen & Partners
Contractor: Robert Padden Company & Brian Mannix Builder
Project Year: 2008
Photographs: Michael Moran Photography

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Architects: Bricault design
Location: Venice, CA, USA
Structure: Steel and Wood
Heating: Hydronic radiant slab
Electricity: Grid-tied solar
Insulation: Icynene spray foam insulation, recycled cotton fibre battens
Site Area: 490.5 sqm
Constructed Area: 352.5 sqm
Project year: 2009
Photography: Kenji Arai, Danna Kinsky

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Architect: Johnsen Schmaling Architects
Location: Spring Prairie, Wisconsin, USA
Project team: Brian Johnsen, AIA; Sebastian Schmaling, AIA; Nick Woods
Area: 125.4 sqm
Project year: 2008
Photography: Doug Edmunds

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Architect: Johnsen Schmaling Architects
Location: Green Lake, Wisconsin, USA
Project team: Brian Johnsen, AIA; Sebastian Schmaling, AIA
Area: 250 sqm
Completion Date: May 2007
Photography: Kevin Miyazaki

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Architect: Chadbourne + Doss Architects
Location: Portage Bay, Seattle, Washington, USA
Constructed Area: 221 sqm
Project year: 2008
Photographs: Benjamin Benschneider

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Architect: Epstein | Metter Studio
Location: Hoffman Estates, Illinois, USA
Principal Designer: Andrew Metter, FAIA
Design Architect: Daesun Park, AIA|LEED AP
Interiors: Epstein Interiors
Landscape Architect: Jacobs/Ryan
Engineer: Epstein Engineering
General Contractor: G.A. Johnson
Constructed Area: 8,360 sqm
Project year: 2009
Photographs: Mark Ballogg

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Architects: Paul McKean Architecture
Location: Hood River, Oregon, USA
Project team: Paul McKean, Amy Donohue
Client: Paul McKean, Amy Donohue
Project Year: 2007
Constructed area: 93 sqm
Photographs: Paul McKean

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Architects: SchappacherWhite Ltd. & Gregory Cranford – Brennan Beer Gorman Architects
Location: New London, Connecticut, USA
Principal: Steve Schappacher
Design/Restoration Architect: Gregory Cranford
Interiors: SchappacherWhite Ltd.
Construction: Mixed Structure
Project Year: 2005
Photographs: SchappacherWhite Ltd.

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Architects: LOHA Architects
Location: West Hollywood, California, USA
Principal in Charge: Lorcan O’Herlihy
Project Team: Katherine Williams (PM), Kevin Tsai, Evan Brinkman, Kevin Southerland
Client: Habitat Group Los Angeles, LLC
Project year: 2008
Constructed Area: 1,486 sqm
Area per unit: 140 sqm aprox.
Photographs: Lawrence Anderson

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Architects: Johnston Marklee & Associates
Location: Beverly Hills, California, USA
Project year: 2007
Project Architects: Mark Lee, Sharon Johnston AIA, Katrin Terstegen
Project team: Albert Chu, Robert Garlipp, Nicholas Hofstede
Client: Sonia Eram (Mameg), Staff USA (Maison Martin Margiela)
Contractor: Lofton Contracting, Inc. (Sherman Oaks, CA)
Structural Engineer: B.W. Smith Structural Engineers (Studio City, CA)
Lighting Consultant: Kaplan Gehring McCarroll Architectural Lighting (Los Angeles, CA)
Electrical Engineer: A&F Consulting Engineers (Reseda, CA)
Photographs: Eric Staudenmaier

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Architect: René van Zuuk Architekten
Location: Almere, the Netherlands
Client: René van Zuuk & Marjo Körner
Program: Villa
Structural Ingeneering: Van de Laar, Eindhoven / NL
Project Year: 2008
Site Area: 454 sqm
Constructed Area: 215 sqm
Photographs: Christian Richters & René van Zuuk

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The last 2 times I went to San Francisco, I saw the progress of the new California Academy of Sciences building, by italian architect Renzo Piano. It was amazing to see how the 2.5 acre green roof took shape. The building is now complete, it was opened to public yesterday.

The building recovers two and mixes it with a whole new structure, which is actually very transparent, connecting it visually with the Golden Park, away from the old conception of dark museums. Shade will be provided by a canopy that goes around the bulding, with solar panels on it.

Sustainability was a key aspect of the design, as this project is one of the ten pilot “green building” projects of the San Francisco Department of Environment, aiming to get platinum LEED certification. Actually, the building will consume 30-35% less energy than required by code.

The project conserves two limestone walls from the previous building (1934), and houses a planetarium, a rain forest habitat and an aquarium, and several exhibition spaces to house the several Academy collections.

The planetarium and the bubble that contains the rain forest habitat are the two big spheres that shape the green roof. The roof becomes a landscape with California native species, that won´t need extra maitenance or water, attracting local species to occupy it. Thus, the green roof won´t be fully accesible to visitors, who can only walk through a small path.

All the pictures on this post are © Tim Griffith. Check out his website for great architecture photography.

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