The House of Cards / Architecture W
The HOC is a schematic design for a small (2,000sf) house in Portland, OR. Architecture W design exploration began with using children’s wood blocks to explore simple concepts of space and light and shade, whilst concurrently thinking of Mies’ experimental Brick and Concrete houses. The project builds upon the modern movement’s legacy of an architecture built on an honest expression of material, structure, and strong ties to the landscape. The House of Cards uses the building blocks of architecture; using plan and section to explore the interplay of volumes and spaces, both inside and out.
Maserati’s Garage Competition Winners
The luxury car brand Maserati organized a competition to search for the finest architectural garages. The competition was divided into two sections. One for existing garages and other for concept garages.
The existing competition was won by Holger Schubert from Archisis. This garage was designed with two main objectives in mind: to create a pure and restrained minimalist environment that allows one to focus on the car as a piece of art and to create the ultimate experience for the driver to arrive at home.
The concept garage winner was Chris Altman from Stubbs Muldrow Herin Architects. The design approach seeks to redefine the relationship between car, driver and garage. Unlike the typical garage of today, the design redefines the notion of the garage from a space of storage to a place that exhibits the quality and prestige of a Maserati. In concept, the garage is designed to refocus one’s attention on the car.
You can see more info on the winners and other entries in the competition’s official website. More images and a great video after the break.
House in the Woods / archimania
Architect: archimania
Location: Smyrna, TN, USA
Client: Baker & Rhonda Raborn
General Contractor: Homeowner, consulting with Architect
Project year: 2006
Budget: US$ 289,000
Project Area: 278.7 sqm
Photographs: © Jeffrey Jacobs Photography
Conduit / Stanley Saitowitz | Natoma Architects
Architects: Stanley Saitowitz | Natoma Architects
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Project team: Stanley Saitowitz, Alan Tse
General Contractor: Brian Spiers
Acoustics: Dale Pekrul
Project year: 2007
Photographs: Rien van Rijthoven
Skysong at ASU Campus / FTL Design Engineering Studio
Architects: FTL Design Engineering Studio
Location: Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Project Area: 4,645 sqm
Photographs: FTL
St Edward’s University New Residence and Dining Hall / Alejandro Aravena

Architects: Alejandro Aravena, Ricardo Torrejón
Partner Architects in Texas: Cotera + Reed
Texas Team: Tiffani Erdmanczyk, Adam Pyrek, Travis Hughbanks, Leyla Shams, Joyce Chen
Chilean Team: Víctor Oddó, Rebecca Emmons
Project: 2006-2007
Completion: 2008
Built Area: 30.000 m2 (10.000 m2 dorms + 20.000 m2 parking)
Photography: Cristobal Palma
McDonalds Cycle Center at Millennium Park / Muller&Muller
Architect: Muller&Muller, Ltd
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Client: City of Chicago Department of Transportation
Program : parking for 300 bikes / bike repair and parts shop / showers and lockers / Chicago bicycle police station / portable cafe / bike rental
Project Area: 1,486 sqm
Budget: US $3,000,000
Photographs: Nathan Kirkman & Robert Murphy
Outdoor Chattanooga Center / Artech
Architect: Artech
Location: Chattanooga, TN, USA
Client: City of Chattanooga / Outdoor Chattanooga
Project Architect: Tim Burney
Project Designer: Steven Brown
Design Team: Tim Burney, Steven Brown, David Patty, Keith McCallie & Kelly Fitzgerald
General Contractor: Palmertree Construction
Project Year: 2009
Project Area: 557 sqm
Photographs: Walker Scott Moore
Tehama Grasshopper / Fougeron Architecture
Architects: Fougeron Architecture
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Project Team: Anne Fougeron, Todd Aranaz, Toby Stewart, Dennis Luedeman (Architectural Metals), Endres Ware Architects / Engineers (Structural Engineering)
Project area: 418 sqm
Project year: 2007
Photographs: Richard Barnes & Rien Van Rijthoven
Bridge House / Stanley Saitowitz | Natoma Architects
Architects: Stanley Saitowitz | Natoma Architects
Location: Marin, CA, USA
Project year: 2002-2005
Photographs: Natoma Architects
Bengt Sjostrom Starlight Theatre / Studio Gang Architects
Architect: Studio Gang Architects
Location: Rockford, IL, USA
Owner: Rock Valley College
Completion: 2003
Photographs: Greg Murphy
Rosa Parks Transit Center / FTL Design Engineering Studio
Architects: FTL Design Engineering Studio
Location: Detroit, USA
Project Architect: Parson Brikerhoff, MI
Project area: 4,645 sqm
Budget: $22.5 Million USD
Project year: 2009
Fabric: PTFE glass
Photographs: FTL
Alan Voo House / Neil M. Denari Architects
Architects: Neil M. Denari Architects
Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Project Team: Neil Denari and Duks Koschitz with Joe Willendra
Program: 2,000 sf conversion of residence
Client: Eric Alan and Rhonda Voo
Budget: US $700,000
Project year: 2007
Photographs: Benny Chan of Fotoworks
SkyCottage / archimania
Architect: archimania
Location: Memphis, TN, USA
Client: Barry Alan Yoakum, AIA, LEED AP
General Contractor: Barry Alan Yoakum, AIA, LEED AP
Structure: Poe Engineering
Mechanical consultant: Haltom Engineering
Electrical Consultant: De Pouw Engineering
Lighting Advisor: Benya Lighting Design
LEED for Homes Provider: AEC
Project year: 2007
Budget: US$ 416,387
Project Area: 238 sqm
Photographs: © Jeffrey Jacobs Photography
Pitch House / Carl Hampson & Eunike Design

Carl Hampson and Eunike Design recently designed the Pitch House for Belmont, Massachusetts. The home is the reinterpretation for the ideals of early European modernism as it “evolves the universal machine for living concept into a site-specific contemporary dwelling shaped by the local forces of climate, culture, and sustainability.” The main living spaces sit under a pivoting roof that responds to the changing seasons by providing the correct amount of sunlight and shade to the interior throughout the year. The constantly changing roof “provides a centerpiece for year round outdoor activities.” An open ended site strategy responds “to the transformation of suburban ideals facilitated by the influx of information technology” while the home’s orientation, active and passive solar strategies, thermal mass, and earthen berms collectively reduce year round energy loads.
More images after the break.
Afterparty, P.S.1 2009 Installation / MOS Architects

A few months ago we presented you the winning entry for this years YAP competition for the P.S.1 summer installation, awarded to MOS Architects (Michael Meredith, Hilary Sample) as we reported earlier.
This competition has been a field for experimentation on digital manufacturing, new materials and new construction techniques -all under a tight budget-, as we saw in 2008 with the P.F.1 by WORKac.
To keep the courtyard fresh, a series of “hut” like structures conformed by inverted catenaries (part of an on going research by the practice) acting as chimneys: The faux fur that covers them collects heat from the sun, transfering it to the air inside the huts creating a chimney effect that keeps air flowing to cool the lower level.

The resulting space corresponds to the after-party concept envisioned by MOS:
The main purpose of the afterparty is to provide a relaxing environment, as compared to the earlier venue, where the atmosphere is usually more frenetic. During an afterparty people often sit down, relax, and chat freely, meet new people in a more controlled setting. If the original party was one that continued until late at night, the afterparty will often include a morning snack, which usually counts as breakfast. …. Possibly in contrast to relaxation, the afterparty can provide a chance for people to get away from the eyes of people who were overseeing the main party. This tends to be more common in events such as school balls where alcohol consumption is not allowed, and provides a location where the partygoers will be allowed to drink. In this case, the afterparty may turn out to be more lively than the main party, as the people are freed from the restrictions that were placed on them during the main party.
All photos by © Florian Holzherr. See more after the break:
Holy Rosary Church Complex / Trahan Architects
Architects: Trahan Architects, APAC
Location: Lousiana, USA
Project Architect: Victor F. “Trey” Trahan III, FAIA
Design team: Brad David, Kirk Edwards
Structural Engineer: Schrenk & Peterson Consulting Engineers
Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing Engineer: Apex Engineering Corporation
BUILDER: Quality Design and Construction, Inc.
Project Area: 1,586 sqm
Project year: 2004
Photographer: Tim Hursley / The Arkansas Office
Big Dig Building / Single Speed Design
Architects: Single Speed Design
Location: North Cambridge, MA, USA
Programme: Housing, Commercial
Project year: 2008
Site Area: 2,335 sqm
Constructed Area: 2,936 sqm
Images: Single Speed Design












































































