Submit a Project Advertise Architonic
World
© All rights reserved. ArchDaily 2008-2024 ISSN 0719-8884 All images are © each office/photographer mentioned.
  1. ArchDaily
  2. Bjarke Ingels

Bjarke Ingels: The Latest Architecture and News

"A Truman Show-Style Nightmare"? Critics React to BIG and Heatherwick's Designs for Google

In their designs for Google's new headquarters, released last week amid much excitement, Bjarke Ingels and Thomas Heatherwick have taken cues from the utopian visions of the past to create a radical solution for the sprawling tech campus in Mountain View, California. Citing the lack of identifiable architecture in the technology sector, a promotional video on Google’s own blog reveals how the company plans to embrace nature, community, and flexibility with the new scheme.

Chief among the company’s concerns was creating a building capable of adapting to future uses in addition to serving as a neighborhood-enhancing environment to welcome visitors from the surrounding community. As with any news related to Google, the design has already attracted the attention of the media - read on after the break for our rundown of the most salient reviews so far.

"A Truman Show-Style Nightmare"? Critics React to BIG and Heatherwick's Designs for Google - Image 1 of 4"A Truman Show-Style Nightmare"? Critics React to BIG and Heatherwick's Designs for Google - Image 2 of 4"A Truman Show-Style Nightmare"? Critics React to BIG and Heatherwick's Designs for Google - Image 3 of 4"A Truman Show-Style Nightmare"? Critics React to BIG and Heatherwick's Designs for Google - Image 4 of 4A Truman Show-Style Nightmare? Critics React to BIG and Heatherwick's Designs for Google - More Images+ 5

Here's How BIG's Power Plant Ski Slope Will Blow Smoke Rings

When BIG's proposal for Amager Bakke, a waste-to-energy plant in Copenhagen, was unveiled in 2011, there was a lot for skeptics to pick apart. Is it really possible to run a publicly accessible ski slope on the roof of an industrial building? Would they really be able to make it blow giant smoke (or rather, steam) rings? The whole idea seemed rather too good to be true. The project's ground breaking in 2013 may have silenced some critics, but the video above should convince the rest of the design's feasibility.

Win a BIG Trip to Copenhagen

Daydreaming about a trip to Copenhagen? Now is your chance to go. As part of BIG’s HOT TO COLD exhibition on view at the National Building Museum, Visit Denmark is hosting a sweepstakes for two to see the architectural and cultural sights of Denmark’s capital. All you need to do is watch the video above, find out which seaside museum Bjarke Ingels believes to be one of the world’s greatest (hint: take a look after the break), and enter your answer here (click "Win a trip to Copenhagen!"). Only US residents are eligible.

VIDEO: Bjarke Ingels Walks Us Through The Design of Vancouver House

Post by Bjarke Ingels (BIG).

Taking the urban high-rise “one step further,” BIG’s Vancouver House (formerly known as the Beach and Howe Tower) is a gesamtkunstwerk - total work of art. Detailed to the smallest scale, the grand scheme makes use of a difficult site trisected by the Granville overpass and burdened by setbacks, transforming it into a “lively village” at the city’s gateway.

Learn how Bjarke Ingels plans to revolutionize urban living by watching the video above.

HOT TO COLD: BIG’s “Odyssey of Architectural Adaptation” Opens at the National Building Museum

Circle the globe in 800-feet at the National Building Museum’s latest exhibition HOT TO COLD. BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group’s first North American exhibition, HOT TO COLD takes viewers on an “odyssey of architectural adaptation” from the “hottest to the coldest parts of our planet to explore how BIG’s designs are shaped by their cultural and climatic contexts.”

More than 60 architectural models of BIG’s most recent projects, including 20 premiering for the first time, are being suspended from the second floor of the museum’s historic Great Hall. Each project is interpreted through Iwan Baan's "masterful" photography, films by Ila Bêka and Louise Lemoine, and the Grammy Award-winning graphic artist Stefan Sagmeister’s design for the accompanying catalog by Taschen.

A word from Ingels, after the break.

HOT TO COLD: BIG’s “Odyssey of Architectural Adaptation” Opens at the National Building Museum - Image 1 of 4HOT TO COLD: BIG’s “Odyssey of Architectural Adaptation” Opens at the National Building Museum - Image 2 of 4HOT TO COLD: BIG’s “Odyssey of Architectural Adaptation” Opens at the National Building Museum - Image 3 of 4HOT TO COLD: BIG’s “Odyssey of Architectural Adaptation” Opens at the National Building Museum - Image 4 of 4HOT TO COLD: BIG’s “Odyssey of Architectural Adaptation” Opens at the National Building Museum - More Images+ 4

Videos: Bjarke Ingels on His Europa City Project for Paris

In 2013, Bjarke Ingels Group came first in Paris' Europa City competition, an 800,000 square meter cultural and recreational facility on the far North-Eastern outskirts of the city. In an attempt to explain the design of this huge project, filmmakers Squint/Opera have enlisted the help of Bjarke Ingels and a green screen to describe the project - Minority Report style - with a combination of live action and futuristic video effects. In a second video, a detailed walkthrough of the building enlists both 2D and 3D graphics "to capture the excitement and energy of this unique centre." Read on after the break for both videos.

Bjarke Ingels' Advice for the Young: "It's Important to Care"

The latest in a series of videos from Louisiana Channel sees Danish architect Bjarke Ingels of BIG dispensing wisdom for a new generation of architects. Speaking with characteristic zeal, Ingels advises young architects "to care, because if you don't care, it doesn't matter." "We're not here to build for other architects," Ingels says, describing architecture as "fundamentally the art and science of accommodating life."

BIG Unveils Design For Battersea Power Station Square

BIG has unveiled the design for their addition to the development at Battersea Power Station, a public square that will link the power station itself with the Electric Boulevard development designed by Norman Foster and Frank Gehry. Called Malaysia Square after the Malaysian development consortium behind the plans, the design features cascading steps that link the main public space at the lower level with the entrance to the power station above. The split-level design also provides for two pedestrian bridges and a road bridge that cross above the "urban canyon" of the public square.

Video: Bjarke Ingels on the Power of Architecture

This past month at WIRED by Design, Bjarke Ingels gave a rundown of his most ambitious projects, highlighting one underlining theme: BIG’s mission to “create social infrastructure for resilient cities.” From their Manhattan “BIG U” storm proofing plan, recently awarded $400 million in federal funds, to their “ski slope” waste-to-energy plant currently underway in Copenhagen, the Danish practice is undoubtedly fulfilling their mission in a BIG and infectious way.

West 57th Street / BIG

West 57th Street / BIG - Apartments, Facade
The southeast corner from West 57th Street. Image © Field Condition

  • Architects

    Bjarke Ingels Group

  • Location

    West 57th Street, New York, NY, USA

  • Project Year

    2015

  • Photographs

    Field Condition

West 57th Street / BIG - Apartments, Facade, CityscapeWest 57th Street / BIG - Apartments, Facade, Handrail, BalconyWest 57th Street / BIG - Apartments, FacadeWest 57th Street / BIG - Apartments, FacadeWest 57th Street / BIG - More Images+ 10

VIDEO: Bjarke Ingels on "Promiscuous Hybrids" and "Worldcraft"

Referring to his work as “promiscuous hybrids,” Bjarke Ingels details his vision of “worldcraft” where architecture harnesses the desires, knowledge and technology of its people to transform surreal dreams into reality.

Bjarke Ingels Lays Foundation Brick at LEGO House

BIG's LEGO House is now under construction, following a one of a kind foundation laying ceremony featuring - what else - supersized lego bricks. Bjarke Ingels himself was in attendance to lay one of the foundation bricks. Constructed in LEGO's hometown of Billund, Denmark, the LEGO House will be a 12,000 square metre "hands-on minds-on experience centre."

More on the LEGO House, and the foundation laying ceremony, after the break

3 of The New Yorker's Best Architecture Reads

If you like magazines, then you'll love this: the New Yorker, celebrating their recent redesign, have made their archive free for a limited period only. And, making up for their hiatus as they wait for a redesign of their own, Places Journal has gone to the effort of rounding up the best architecture reads from the last few years. Here are our top three:

BIG Unveils Design For "Zootopia" In Denmark

Danish architects BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) have just released ambitious designs for a zoo in Givskud, Denmark. It's a project that provides an intriguing opportunity for, as BIG explains, the creation of a space with "the best possible and freest possible environment for the animals’ lives and relationships with each other and visitors." The firm has been working for the past two years to make Zootopia what the Danish press is calling "the world's most advanced zoo." According to Givskud Zoo's director Richard Østerballe, the park's transformation will benefit greatly from BIG's fresh approach to design--one that has been characterized by the integration of nature and natural elements into cutting-edge, innovative architecture.

The project will attempt to "integrate and hide buildings" within the landscape. Upon entering the zoo, visitors can either enter a large central square or climb the "building-landscape," allowing them to get a general overview of the layout of the park. From this central element, visitors can access different areas of the zoo. A 4km hiking trail connects the different areas (which represent the continents of Africa, America and Asia). 

 The first phase is expected to be completed in 2019 to coincide with the park's 50th anniversary. 

Read on for more images and BIG's project statement. 

BIG Unveils Design For "Zootopia" In Denmark - Image 1 of 4BIG Unveils Design For "Zootopia" In Denmark - Image 2 of 4BIG Unveils Design For "Zootopia" In Denmark - Image 3 of 4BIG Unveils Design For "Zootopia" In Denmark - Image 4 of 4BIG Unveils Design For Zootopia In Denmark - More Images+ 24

BIG Designs Spiralling Museum for Swiss Watchmaker

Swiss luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet have announced BIG as the designers for an extension to their headquarters in Le Brassus, near Le Chenit. The design includes gallery spaces for a museum, work spaces and a guest house. Conceived as a spiralling glass pavilion embedded in the landscape, BIG's design - entilted Maison des Fondateurs - will take visitors on a narrative journey through the company's 139-year history.

More images after the break

BIG Designs Spiralling Museum for Swiss Watchmaker - Pavilion, Facade, CityscapeBIG Designs Spiralling Museum for Swiss Watchmaker - PavilionBIG Designs Spiralling Museum for Swiss Watchmaker - Pavilion, FacadeBIG Designs Spiralling Museum for Swiss Watchmaker - Pavilion, StairsBIG Designs Spiralling Museum for Swiss Watchmaker - More Images+ 16

BIG Designs Labyrinth for Atrium of National Building Museum

The National Building Museum (NBM) has announced that BIG has designed a 61x61 foot maze to be housed in the building's grand atrium from July 4th to September 1st of this year. According to the NBM's website, the labyrinth's Baltic birch plywood walls, which stand 18 feet high at the maze's periphery, descend as you make your way towards the center. From the core, then, visitors receive a view of the entire layout - and a better understanding of how to get back out.

According to Bjarke Ingels, "The concept is simple: as you travel deeper into a maze, your path typically becomes more convoluted. What if we invert this scenario and create a maze that brings clarity and visual understanding upon reaching the heart of the labyrinth?" Of course, those uninterested in the challenge of figuring out the maze can peek down on it from the Museum's second and third floors - but where would be the fun in that?

More images, diagrams and drawings after the break!

Antoine Predock and Bjarke Ingels Awarded 2014 RAIC Honorary Fellowships

The wisdom of the Old West, New-Mexico based architect Antoine Predock (who designed the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg) and the vitality of the New East, BIG founder and principal Bjarke Ingels (whose office is responsible for the Beach & Howe Tower in Vancouver and Telus Sky in Calgary), are being distinguished by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) this year with Honorary Fellowships for extraordinary achievement in the field of architecture. More on this news, here.

AD Interviews: Bjarke Ingels / BIG

At ArchDaily, we think that Bjarke Ingels is one of the most inspiring architects practicing today. Having found success at a relatively young age, Bjarke has never shied away from embracing his YES IS MORE philosophy. His conspicuous enthusiasm for the potential of architecture and design sets him apart from his peers. And it is precisely this go-to attitude that has allowed him to overcome some of the significant limits that face many young architects today. An impressive portfolio of both built and upcoming projects shows that his approach to design, though sometimes criticized, is profoundly impacting the social environment of architecture.

On running an office, Bjarke says that “you have the opportunity and the responsibility to create the work environment that you would like to work in.” He has modeled his firm as a type of organism that is able to adapt to growth and change. In the interview, Bjarke explains that not only does his own role constantly evolve, but that the success of BIG is contingent on the invaluable contributions of his partners. BIG is more than just Bjarke.

We also asked him to define architecture (“the art and science of making sure that our cities and buildings actually fit with the way we want to live our lives”), and to give students advice about pursuing a career in architecture. Be sure to read the full interview after the break.

AD Interviews: Bjarke Ingels / BIG - Arch Daily InterviewsAD Interviews: Bjarke Ingels / BIG - Arch Daily InterviewsAD Interviews: Bjarke Ingels / BIG - Arch Daily InterviewsAD Interviews: Bjarke Ingels / BIG - Arch Daily InterviewsAD Interviews: Bjarke Ingels / BIG - Arch Daily InterviewsAD Interviews: Bjarke Ingels / BIG - Arch Daily InterviewsAD Interviews: Bjarke Ingels / BIG - Arch Daily InterviewsAD Interviews: Bjarke Ingels / BIG - Arch Daily InterviewsAD Interviews: Bjarke Ingels / BIG - More Images+ 5