In the heart of Colombo, Sri Lanka, a lot surrounds a historic British-colonial building. In this country, density is not limited and the program quickly takes on an exceptional scale. Designed by Maison Edouard François, the 450,000m² Heritage Building is planned for offices, apartments, a hotel, a cinema, and a commercial center. As two spectacular bridges unite the three towers, the challenge becomes how to successfully create such a massive program adjacent to a historic monument. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Built and exhibited at “Data Curation” in the Museum of Art at Seoul National University, ‘Mood Map’ visualizes the moods of Korean people in color and light through textual analysis of their Tweets on Twitter. Designed by E/B Office, they created a custom software program in Processing that will search and analyze Tweets in Korean language through the Twitter API. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The new cultural hub of Sejong city, the proposal for the Sejong Art Center features a 700 seat theater for classical concert, ballet and musical, a 300 seat black box theater, a cinema, gallery spaces, and a 1,500 seat opera theater as an extension. Designed by H Architecture + Haeahn Architecture, the project aims to embrace the polarity of the city and nature. It was initiated from a scrupulous speculation concerning the dichotomy between them since the site is located at the edge of the city. More images and architects’ description after the break.
With a unique, prominent position in the urban landscape of Oslo, the Tryvann Tower is an existing TV transmission tower high up on the forested hills surrounding the city. Launching the idea of developing a new Tryvann Tower, MAD Arkitekter envisioned a tower with an elegant and bold design, placed in the same position as today’s tower. The new Tryvann Tower would be both higher and more spacious, giving increased room for a public program. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Dorell.Ghotmeh.Tane / Architects recently completed their 'Frozen Time' Installation for a Japanese watch brand CITIZEN in Baselworld which is the largest watch and jewel industry exhibition in the world. This year, the main exhibition hall was fully renewed, therefore all the brands are intended to express their next 4 year’s vision. Instead of just renewing entire booth for next 4 years, CITIZEN reserved a large reception space to be opened and to present an installation every year as space to evolve and to express their fundamental identity of ‘Challenging spirits’. More images and architects' description after the break.
ZNA / Zeybekoglu Nayman Associates just won the competition to design the Changbaishan Exhibition Hall in Jilin, China. The exhibition center is centered on the functions of displaying, negotiation & reception and signing, and also has the advanced function of conducting activities, business & leisure, etc. as well as the indispensable supporting functions of office, storage and finance, etc. The construction of their project skillfully uses Jilin cultural elements, pursuing energy conservation and environmental protection and adhering to the principles of low construction energy consumption & durable construction. More images and architects' description after the break.
Architect Frank Gehry has voiced concerns that the new Los Angeles subway, scheduled for construction in two to three years, may disturb concerts in his famous Disney Hall. The planned subway line would run 125 feet below the venue's parking garage and recent simulations have shown that the rumblings could be audible inside the concert hall. Mr. Gehry has called for the review of previous noise projections for the metro project, which two years ago predicted no audible impact on his design. “It would be a disaster for Disney Hall,” Gehry told the LA Times. “The flag is up and we should go over it and make sure.”
Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, the Messe Basel New Hall stands out as an important urban planning matter for the development of the surrounding Kleinbasel neighborhood. The exceptional photographic work of Hufton + Crowhighlights the highly modern building and optimum exhibition areas while showing how this interconnected design ensures flexibility for various events. The concentration of exhibition halls around the Messeplatz (Exhibition Square) is the key entrepreneurial aim of the Messe Basel leadership in its further development. A complete gallery of images can be viewed after the break.
Taking advantage ofthe competition site’s strengths, this proposal by Mauro Turin Architectes for the Museum of Bavarian History features, onurban terms, a system that serves as a liaison between the banks of the river and the old urban fabric of the city. While do so, the project also acts as an articulation of urban spaces through its various places and passage, creating a symbolic point of convergence. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Courtesy of MARS Architekten, Uberbau Architecture and Urbanism and TH Treibhaus Berlin & Lavaland
The proposal for the New Central Library in Berlin by MARS Architekten is a social and cultural centre for Tempelhof’s new quarter. In collaboration with urban designers UBERBAU Architecture & Urbanism and landscape architects TH Treibhaus Berlin & Lavaland, their design was chosen as one of eight winning entrants. Their project focuses upon achieving an immense and complex building that offers a large amount of varying interior spaces in combination with a strong exterior form serving as a public landmark. More images and architects’ description after the break.