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Humble Roots: 6 Contemporary Architecture Projects Grounded In Vernacular Design
CategoriesArchitecture

Humble Roots: 6 Contemporary Architecture Projects Grounded In Vernacular Design

By Zarkon Group,

The latest edition of “Architizer: The World’s Best Architecture” — a stunning, hardbound book celebrating the most inspiring contemporary architecture from around the globe — is now available. Order your copy today.  

Architects often strive for innovation and seek to push the bounds of design into uncharted territory. But there is much to learn from the ground already trodden. Revisiting the typologies of the past through a contemporary lens can yield exciting, fresh perspectives.

Vernacular architecture is a product of its locality. It’s a patchwork of design languages, native materials and building traditions informed by centuries of lives before us. This distilled knowledge is part instruction manual, part storybook — it summons rich cultural tales and imparts the blueprints for building on unique, regional terrain. Evoking the vernacular is a form of time travel — a way of colliding the past and present.

These six A+Award-winning projects each draw inspiration from historic, localized design and reimagine the vernacular spirit for the 21st century.

Komera Leadership Center

By BE_Design, Rwinkwavu, Rwanda

Popular Choice Winner, 11th Annual A+ Awards, Community Centers
Jury Winner, 11th Annual A+ Awards, Architecture +Community
Jury Winner, 11th Annual A+ Awards, Architecture +For Good
Jury & Popular Choice Winner, 11th Annual A+ Awards, Architecture +Low Cost Design

Komera Leadership Center by BE_DesignThis remarkable women’s community and health center in Rwanda’s rural eastern province is as dynamic in its design as it is in its plight. Set against a mountainous backdrop, the building itself is an architectural topography of angular peaks, shaped from patterned brickwork and woven eucalyptus screens. This graphic silhouette was inspired by the region’s traditional imigongo art, which emphasizes bold, geometric shapes. Deeping rooted in the cultural landscape, the vernacular art form has become a powerful symbol of resilience thanks to its resurgence in recent decades.

At the core of the center is a succession of airy, vaulted halls. Hinging translucent panels segment the spaces and offer impressive multifunctionality. When closed, they carve out three classrooms for more intimate teaching and mentorship. When the panels are retracted, the interior transforms into a vast meeting hall for large community gatherings and events.

Super Paradise beach club

By Omniview Design, Mykonos, Greece

Popular Choice Winner, 11th Annual A+ Awards, Bars & Wineries

Super Paradise beach club by Omniview Design Super Paradise beach club by Omniview DesignThe landscape of Mykonos is bristling with new development, however, this enigmatic beach bar harks back to the Greek island’s architectural roots. Its crisp white form, articulated in organic, flowing lines, is reminiscent of the Cycladic vernacular. Allusions to historic motifs are playfully incorporated — recessed pockets in the walls have been reincarnated as presentation spaces for the work of local artists, as well as storage nooks for the bar.

Traditional materials abound throughout the scheme, yet their handling is deftly modern. The project’s curvilinear geometry, seamless and sophisticated in its finish, is a product of cutting-edge design technology. The result is an aesthetic the architects call future retro. It’s a space that straddles different temporal plains, and in doing so, finds itself somewhat timeless.

The Kaleidoscope

By Inrestudio, Quang Binh Province, Vietnam

Jury Winner, 11th Annual A+ Awards, Low Rise (1 – 4 Floors)

The Kaleidoscope by Inrestudio The Kaleidoscope by InrestudioConstructed on a remote factory site in central Vietnam, this pioneering live-work project has a wonderfully whimsical inspiration. Capped with a conical roof, the building was modeled after a traditional Vietnamese farmer’s hat, known as a nón lá. Vernacular fashion is something of an unconventional architectural influence, yet the unusual form was mindfully chosen.

The surrounding region is known for its fiercely hot winds in the dry season. Consequently, the structure’s walls are placed perpendicular to the undulating roof periphery, creating channels of natural ventilation throughout the building. Intricate perforated block walls, a common design feature in tropical regions, help to moderate the extreme temperatures too. Constructed by a diverse team of experienced craftspeople and inexperienced farmer-builders, the project itself facilitated a valuable exchange of regional construction knowledge.

Marlboro Music Reich Hall

By HGA, Marlboro, Vermont

Jury Winner, 11th Annual A+ Awards, High Education & Research Facilities

Marlboro Music Reich Hall by HGA Marlboro Music Reich Hall by HGANestled on the historic Marlboro College campus in the foothills of Vermont’s Green Mountains, four newly constructed gabled volumes stand harmoniously amid a collection of centuries-old former farm buildings. With its rectangular box structures and pitched roofs, the Reich Hall complex is a stunning modern iteration of a historic Cape Cod cottage. This classic vernacular has been sensitively reimagined with crisp, minimalist lines and contemporary vertical cladding.

Respectful of the site’s organic terrain, the stepped forms follow the natural incline of the hillside. Inside, the new lofty rehearsal spaces are enveloped in warm-hued wood to clarify the acoustics. Vast, floor-to-ceiling windows merge the stripped-back interior with the rugged mountains and woodlands beyond. The project’s simplicity pays homage to the architectural past, while celebrating the vitality of the landscape.

Locust Grove Event Pavilion

By de Leon & Primmer Architecture Workshop, Louisville, Kentucky

Jury Winner, 11th Annual A+ Awards, Pavilions

Locust Grove Event Pavilion by de Leon & Primmer Architecture Workshop Locust Grove Event Pavilion by de Leon & Primmer Architecture WorkshopLocated on the grounds of Locust Grove, an 18th-century agricultural estate and National Historic Landmark, this experimental pavilion is an artful interpretation of the surrounding acreage. The structure was conceived as a sweeping, large-scale porch, an exaggerated feature of the nearby Georgian farmhouse. In keeping with its vernacular inspiration, the pavilion has been masterfully positioned to frame picturesque views across the grounds. The project is anchored in stone and timber, reinforcing the material connection with the property’s historic buildings.

The pavilion is a porous space, simultaneously offering shelter yet open to the elements. Fittingly then, domestic symbolism is balanced by articulations of the external environment. The structure’s roof is coffered with a tangle of glulam beams, an allusion to the sinuous bark of the surrounding black locust trees, the farm’s namesake. Meanwhile, restrooms and storage spaces are concealed within volumes clad in a herringbone limestone skin. The undulating design recalls the repetitive stonework of the historic ha-ha walls that delineate the estate.

Hub of Huts

By NOA, Trentino-South Tyrol, Italy

Popular Choice Winner, 11th Annual A+ Awards, Spa & Wellness

Hub of Huts by NOA Hub of Huts by NOAAt first glance, this wellness complex manifests as a floating village, reflected in a covert mirror line in the clouds. Looming in mid-air, the extraordinary cantilevering structure subverts perception. The project was envisaged as a traditional Italian hamlet in the mountains, pared back to its simplest gabled form — and turned on its head. These simplistic silhouettes conjure up childlike notions of shelter and protection, though their purpose is two-fold.

While the open upper-level cabins house two jacuzzis, outdoor showers and a changing room, the inverted lower level hides the swimming pool’s water purification system and the sauna’s tiered seating, along with other amenities. The complex is fantastical in appearance, yet the cabins’ light brown aluminum panels channel the hues of the surrounding valley. It’s at once a masterpiece forged in the mountains and a product of an otherworldly realm. Here, the humble vernacular form has been elevated to dazzling new heights.

The latest edition of “Architizer: The World’s Best Architecture” — a stunning, hardbound book celebrating the most inspiring contemporary architecture from around the globe — is now available. Order your copy today.  

Reference

KAAN architecten poort prijkels
CategoriesArchitecture

KAAN architecten’s poort workspaces to rise from belgian woods

By Zarkon Group,

dutch design by KAAN Architecten to arrive in belgium

 

Dutch studio KAAN Architecten takes to the Flemish Valley near Ghent, Belgium, to design a sustainable new expansion for the De Prijkels business park, which is currently home to over sixty businesses. Developing an entrance for this collection of workspaces, KAAN Architecten has collaborated with developer Steenoven, contractor Alheembouw, DENC-studio, DELVA Landscape Architects, and artist Paul de Kort to design Poort van de Prijkels. Once built, the project will take shape an ensemble of three buildings located in Karrewegstraat, Deinze.

KAAN architecten poort prijkelsimages © Vivid Vision | @3dvividvision

 

 

Integration with the Historical Landscape

 

Designing the master plan of the Poort project, the team at KAAN Architecten works with local architects DENC-STUDIO to carefully consider the historical significance of the surrounding landscape. The intention is to revive the Flemish Valley, depicted in old maps as a mosaic of agricultural fields and wooded lots. Central to the project is the captivating land art installation called Het Karrenspoor, created by Paul de Kort. This installation brings back to life the elliptical tracks of the historic cart road within a field, resembling the shape of wheat. The tracks are meticulously maintained through regular mowing, and a path runs through the field, bordered by latticed screens that provide dynamic views reminiscent of wheel spokes.

KAAN architecten poort prijkels

 

 

transparent Design with Sustainability in Mind

 

In contrast to conventional closed-box industrial buildings, the Poort ensemble stands out with its predominantly transparent design. The buildings boast floor-to-ceiling glass facades and wooden galleries along their perimeter, offering exceptional viewpoints to observe the ever-changing colors of the surrounding landscape throughout the seasons. Dark-stained oak cantilevers extend further on the sun-facing sides, serving as both terraces and structural sun protection.

 

Solar control glazing effectively manages heat gain and optimizes natural light, while slender columns and central circulation cores ensure unobstructed views on all floors and allow for future adaptability. The structure’s high thermal inertia contributes to temperature regulation. The ground floors feature spacious double-height halls that facilitate interaction among occupants through open sight-lines and interconnected spaces, serving as meeting areas and entry points.

KAAN architecten poort prijkels

 

 

kaan architecten aims to Enhance Employee Well-being

 

The new buildings have been thoughtfully designed to cater to the needs of businesses within the estate, offering various office facilities and employee amenities such as child daycare, a bank, a fitness center, and other commercial services. Each building incorporates underground parking facilities on two levels, utilizing excavated earth to create adjacent slopes adorned with natural greenery, including diverse trees and shrubs that enhance the area’s landscape. This lush greenery not only promotes the well-being of employees but also acts as a natural carbon sink, absorbing nearly 16.5 tons of CO2 annually.

 

The project employs ground heat exchangers, utilizing soil as temporary energy storage. Additionally, the roofs are equipped with photovoltaic installations to generate renewable electricity and enable greywater recovery. Runoff is effectively managed through the integration of above-ground bio-retention systems known as wadis, contributing to ecological balance and efficient water usage.

KAAN architecten poort prijkels

 

 

Poort van de Prijkels not only transforms an ordinary intersection into a welcoming zone but also ensures continued access to the business estate. The project prioritizes the use of renewable resources, minimizes energy requirements, and employs rational management of surplus demands, resulting in a BREEAM Excellent score. With their height and functionality, the buildings create a distinctive entrance area while preserving the serene pastoral environment, complete with dedicated green paths for pedestrians and cyclists.



Reference

Converted car showroom
CategoriesArchitecture

Johnston Marklee converts historic Los Angeles car showroom into gallery

By Zarkon Group,

A vaulted ceiling punctured with skylights features in a 1940s auto dealership that architectural studio Johnston Marklee has converted into a bright home for the Roberts Projects art gallery.

Roberts Projects chose the local studio to transform the brick and cinder-block building into its new home as it moved from Culver City to the mid-Wilshire district, which has seen an influx of art galleries in recent years.

Converted car showroom
Johnston Marklee has converted a Los Angeles car showroom into an art gallery

The architects conceived a total overhaul of the 10,000-square-foot (929-square-metre) former auto dealership, which was built in 1948 and features an arched, 30-foot-high (nine-metre) ceiling.

For many years, the building housed a Chrysler-Plymouth dealership known as the “Auto Dealer to the Stars”, as it drew celebrity clients such as actors Fred Astaire, Lucille Ball and Bob Hope.

Gallery renovation by Johnston Marklee
Roberts Projects acquired a historic building in the area

“We searched for a space for over four years and felt this building was ideal due to the raw talent of the structure, incredible ceiling height and great location,” said Roberts Projects co-owner Julie Roberts.

The exterior of the building – which once featured large stretches of glass for the display of cars – was replaced with solid walls in grey stucco, which suits the “gallery’s minimalist aesthetic”, the gallery said.

Solid grey stucco walls
The exterior was replaced with solid walls in grey stucco

Marking the entrance are a glazed garage door and an existing ficus tree.

“The elemental facade and building mass will integrate the new gallery into the cultural landscape of the arts and architecture across the city,” Johnston Marklee founding partner Sharon Johnston said.

Johnston Marklee conceived a total overhaul of the car showroom

Inside, the building houses four exhibition spaces, offices, study areas and a reception with a bookshop.

Throughout the building, “cavities of light” reveal architectural elements and enhance the viewing experience, the architects said.

Glazed garage door by Johnston Marklee
A glazed garage door marks the entrance

The main exhibition space sits under the vaulted ceiling, which was given a fresh layer of paint.

Here, skylights usher in daylight. In other areas, illumination is provided by “clearstories” made of panels uplit by LEDs.

Concrete flooring and bright white walls lend to the gallery’s austere character. Furnishings include pieces by Alvar Aalto, Gijs Bakker and Jean Prouvé. Shelving is made of birch plywood.

Illuminated shop area of Roberts Projects gallery
Illumination is provided by “clearstories” made of panels

In the office area, the flooring consists of red-tinted concrete with exposed aggregate, which is original to the space. The concrete was polished and given a terrazzo-like appearance.

The gallery’s new home was inaugurated with an exhibition of colourful portraits by renowned US painter Kehinde Wiley, whom Roberts Projects has represented for over two decades.

“This new space is the next chapter in our long history of being at the forefront of the Los Angeles art scene,” said gallery co-owner Bennett Roberts, who said that LA is in the midst of a “creative renaissance”.

“With access to outstanding exhibitions year-round, dedicated collectors, and creative energy from those who call this city home, Los Angeles is poised to be one of the most important creative hubs for years to come,” he added.

Red-tinted concrete flooring in the office area
In the office area, the flooring consists of red-tinted concrete with exposed aggregate

The opening of Roberts Projects’s new home follows a period of continual growth for the city’s arts scene.

Galleries such as Hauser & Wirth and The Future Perfect have recently opened venues in Los Angeles, and an annual edition of the Frieze Art Fair was introduced here in 2019.

Other art-related buildings in Los Angeles include a new home for auction house Phillips that was designed by local studio Formation Association, and the recent completion of a 20-year renovation and expansion of the Hammer Museum that was overseen by Michael Maltzan Architecture.

The photography is by Eric Staudenmaier.

Project credits:

Architecture: Johnston Marklee
Lighting design: Buro Happold
Furnishings consultant: Ellen Brill

Reference

Sustainable Practice: How To Create a Concrete Oasis in a Forgotten Public Space
CategoriesArchitecture

Sustainable Practice: How To Create a Concrete Oasis in a Forgotten Public Space

By Zarkon Group,

Architizer is thrilled to announce the winners of the 11th Annual A+Awards! Interested in participating next season? Sign up for key information about the 12th Annual A+Awards, set to launch this fall.

Now home to 1.4 billion people, India, the most populous nation on Earth, is under immense pressure across numerous socio-economic factors. This is rarely more evident than the challenge of developing urban areas in livable ways. 

The United Nations predicts that by 2030 around 40% of the country will be living in cities, a four-fold increase on figures from the turn of the 20th century and significantly more than the 28% recorded in a 2001 census. An astounding rate of urbanization, according to a 2019 study by Manish Ramaiah and Ram Avtar, “Urban Green Spaces and Their Need In Cities of Rapidly Urbanizing India,” these booming centers of human activity are struggling when it comes to public realms and natural assets. 

Looking across India’s densest cities with populations over one million, none offer more than 410 square feet (38 square meters) of green space per capita. In Mumbai, it’s less than 110 square feet (10 square meters). We tend to think about the introduction of parkland as a major undertaking that needs vast amounts of potentially profitable real estate to realize, but there’s much to be said about smaller interventions that reuse and rethink infrastructure to address the imbalance between built and living environment. 

Promenade Plantée in Paris (C) La Citta Vita

Arguably the most famous example in recent memory is New York’s High Line. A 1.5 mile (2.5 kilometer) stretch of former elevated rail turned into a greenway, although actually modelled on Promenade Plantée in Paris, which opened 20 years earlier, the Big Apple take made the biggest noise and catalyzed similar ideas in other cities.  From Atlanta and Los Angeles to Manchester, taking disused transportation routes and creating gardens or parks on them is now relatively commonplace. 

Others — for example Toronto and San Francisco — have set out to place modern green spaces on the roof of in-service interchange hubs. Rather than looking up, Mumbai’s One Green Mile offers a narrow 1-mile-long (2-kilometer) public realm at ground level because the street offers one of few potential spaces in the locality. Winning the Jury Award for Built Sustainable Transport at this year’s Architizer A+Awards, the project is located partly beneath the flyover of a major commuter route and alongside a busy street.

Artwork, planting and public realms within One Green Mile, Mumbai, by StudioPOD

Efforts began with an analysis of existing conditions in the area, unsurprisingly concluding there was a severe shortage of open space. Stakeholder consultations also offered an insight into how interventions should and could be made. Three priorities were identified: streamlining traffic movement and street geometry, equitable allocation of space for all and the creation of high quality public realm beneath the road. 

Designed by StudioPOD, and completed in 2022, the results are impressive. Play and seating areas, an amphitheatre, Vachanalaya and 130 trees now sit under the flyover. Vertical sections are painted with imagery reflecting the story of the Lower Parel district and have been extensively planted with native species.

Back out on the street, road capacity has been reduced to allow more room for people, to add greenery, open up space for bus stops and to lay street furniture in place. In total, 2.3 acres (1 hectare) of public space has been added to the area, with 21, 500 square feet (2,000 square meters) under the flyover alone. A route taken by more than 150,000 people each day, in the centre of Mumbai’s frantic financial district, has been not only improved but turned into a destination in itself.

One Green Mile public realm interventions

One Green Mile’s covered public realm, before the project began in 2018 and today, by StudioPOD

Countless studies have identified a strong link between access to urban space and health, not least in terms of green areas. Physically, we know exercise and active lifestyles keep our bodies in better condition, and One Green Mile clearly answers a call for active travel in Mumbai. But the benefits are also evident in terms of psychological wellbeing, too.

Earlier in 2023, Finish researchers presented one of the latest studies on this subject, concluding that visiting urban green space three or four times a week significantly reduces the likelihood of drug use to combat mental health, high blood pressure and respiratory illness. Rates fell by one third, asthma dropped by a quarter. This was true of parks and community gardens.

One Green Mile public realm interventions

A children’s play area (top) and communal seating form part of Mumbai’s One Green Mile, by StudioPOD

Adding further evidence to the benefit of smaller interventions of this type, in 2019 University of Wollongong experts published a paper that showed a tree canopy alone can lower psychological distress by as much as 31%. It’s also important to consider the specifics of One Green Mile’s masterplan when gauging its success. Of course there are designated areas — the children’s playground is specifically for children to play — but much of the space is adaptable.

Sites of loose congregation, to some extent they reflect the public realms celebrated in the book Designing for Disorder. A conversation between architects Pablo Sendra and Richard Bennett responding to the former’s 1970 publication, The Uses Of Disorder, both texts and practitioners see static, planned and specific as negative public realm planning because they do not reflect human life, nor evolution. Truly worthwhile interventions must offer use cases that become apparent in the eye of the beholder ,or risk falling into neglect, effectively becoming another waste of space. 

Architizer is thrilled to announce the winners of the 11th Annual A+Awards! Interested in participating next season? Sign up for key information about the 12th Annual A+Awards, set to launch this fall.

Reference

studeny architekti embeds concrete shell house into a hillside in pernek, slovakia
CategoriesArchitecture

studeny architekti embeds concrete shell house into hillside of pernek, slovakia

By Zarkon Group,

an underground mountain house

 

Design studio Studeny Architekti has recently completed a contemporary house in the scenic village of Pernek, Slovakia. Embedded into the earth a vast plot of land surrounded by the pristine beauty of the Small Carpathians, the Family House in Pernek embodies the studio’s vision of a simple dwelling existing in dialogue with its natural surroundings.

 

The primary objective of this project was to create a residence that makes use of the contours of the land but also harmonizes with the environment. By strategically placing the concrete house beneath a slope below the road, the architects ensured that the residents would have unobstructed views of the opposite forest, allowing them to connect with nature effortlessly. This underground placement also freed up the flat portion of the plot, which was reserved for a wide, open front yard.

studeny architekti embeds concrete shell house into a hillside in pernek, slovakiaimages © Alex Shoots Buildings | @alex.shoots.buildings

 

 

the concrete shell structure by studeny architekti

 

Studeny Architekti constructs its Family House in Pernek with a unique design element — a monolithic concrete shell without internal supports. This choice not only adds structural integrity to the building but also contributes to its aesthetic appeal. Inside the house, the concrete shell remains exposed, creating a distinct visual feature. However, the facade opening out toward the south is defined by its large glass wall, opening the interior spaces broadly outward to gaze onto the wooded mountains beyond.

studeny architekti house pernek

 

 

inside the family house in pernek

 

Studeny Architekti organizes the floor plan of its Family House in Pernek in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid, mirroring its longitudinal profile. This unique layout results in an interior space that feels open and free-flowing. The house consists of two floors interconnected by a stylish staircase.

 

The ground floor, in direct contact with the garden, encompasses a multifunctional area housing the living room, a work corner, the parents’ bedroom, a kitchen with a dining room, and the technical facilities of the house. On the upper floor, two children’s bedrooms, a bathroom, and an entrance area can be found. All the living spaces benefit from ample natural light and are oriented towards the garden and the forest through expansive windows.

studeny architekti house pernek
the house is built as a concrete shell with no internal supports studeny architekti house pernek
full height glazing opens onto the forest beyond through a trapezoidal frame studeny architekti house perneksliding glass doors fills the underground home with natural breezes and sunlight



Reference

Swimming pool outside of La Casa de los Olivos in Valencia by Balzar Arquitectos
CategoriesArchitecture

Balzar Arquitectos nestles La Casa de los Olivos into Valencian olive grove

By Zarkon Group,

Spanish studio Balzar Arquitectos has added a copper-toned family house named La Casa de los Olivos to an olive grove in Valencia, Spain.

Aiming to blend into its site in the town of Quesa, the long and low-lying home has been finished with a red-hued lime mortar that mimics the surrounding soil.

Balzar Arquitectos also preserved as much of the existing planting as possible by designing the house with a linear form that fits within a grid of trees.

Swimming pool outside of La Casa de los Olivos in Valencia by Balzar Arquitectos
Balzar Arquitectos has added a copper-toned house to an olive grove

“The landscape was already wonderful as it was, so when it came to the intervention, we wanted to respect this place, trying to keep as many olive trees as possible,” said studio co-founder Laura Moreno Albuixech.

“We wanted to create a dialogue between the natural and the artificial, between the olive trees and the house,” Moreno Albuizech told Dezeen.

Built with a steel frame, the copper-toned home is nestled into the gaps of the eight-by-eight-metre grid of trees. Inside, rooms are arranged across a single floor.

Person standing on opening of red-toned house in Spain
La Casa de los Olivos is designed to blend in with its surroundings

“The olive trees are arranged in a perfect grid of eight by eight metres and this was a key factor in the geometry of the house,” said Moreno Albuixech.

“Both the house and the swimming pool take advantage of the free spaces left in the grid of olive trees and insert themselves between them.”

Patio outside La Casa de los Olivos in Valencia
Its red exterior mimics the colour of soil nearby

Running down the centre of a gravelled courtyard is a long swimming pool. It extends towards the main building, curving to meet a porch that is covered by an overhang perforated with a circular skylight.

A large glass door separates this porch from the open living space, which extends into a dining area and kitchen with green-toned cupboards and brass surfaces.

“The muted green colour of the leaves of the olive trees was used for the woodwork and the gold of the sun at sunset was reinterpreted in the kitchen with natural brass,” said Moreno Albuixech.

Throughout the home, red walls and accents mimic the soil-informed colour of the exterior, including terracotta-toned floors and Iranian travertine marble surfaces that feature in the bathrooms and interior pool.

Interior of Spanish house by Balzar Arquitectos
The reddish tones continue inside the home

“The choice of materials and colours was clear from the beginning,” said Moreno Albuixech. “Both the clients and we were looking for colours that respected the chromatic range that the plot already had when we visited it for the first time.”

Two ensuite bedrooms branch off from the main living space and open onto private patios that frame views of the surrounding olive trees.

Bedroom of La Casa de los Olivos in Valencia
Green elements mirror the leaves of the olive trees

“The home integrates with the rural environment through patios that embrace the existing olive trees and a longitudinal platform that reinforces the linear perspective towards the horizon,” said the studio.

“Through the patios, the olive trees and the wide terrain become part of the dwelling and lives of the people.”

Other Spanish homes recently featured on Dezeen include a narrow home designed for indoor and outdoor living and a house spread across six pavilions arranged around a courtyard.

The photography is by David Zarzoso.

Reference

From Rendering to Reality: Morphosis' Evolving Practice of Visualization
CategoriesArchitecture

From Rendering to Reality: Morphosis’ Evolving Practice of Visualization

By Zarkon Group,

The One Rendering Challenge is now part of the Architizer Vision Awards, honoring the best architectural photography, film, visualizations, drawings, models and the talented creators behind them. Winners are published in print! Start your entry >

Rendering transformed how architecture was visualized and shared. As one of the most common ways that designs are communicated to clients and the public today, these constructed images have become central to practice. Increasingly more realistic as technology has evolved, firms have been exploring diverse ways to understand the impact and potential of renderings. Now more than ever, designers and artists can make visualizations in less time and create new visions of what could be.

For interdisciplinary design practice Morphosis, the firm has made a name for itself by pushing boundaries. In their own words, the designers are “enthusiastically wondering at the future” as they test out new forms and building technologies. Founded in 1972, the firm’s work ranges in scale from residential, institutional, and civic buildings to large urban planning projects.

Like the practice itself and implied in the firm’s name, the renderings produced by Morphosis have shifted and evolved over time. However, a central theme is a blurred entourage and context, creating a sense of movement within an image. The following projects showcase renderings from the firm’s portfolio and photography of their built architecture. As a collection, they show how the practice continues to set the stage for innovation.

Orange County Museum of Art

Costa Mesa, CA, United States

Jury Winner, 2023 A+Awards, Museum

The design of the new Orange County Museum of Art addresses the need for museum space to be both flexible and functional as well as inviting and memorable. With flexible exhibition galleries, dedicated space for educational programming, and areas for public gathering, the new building was made to provide expanded access to the museum’s permanent collection and its world-class special exhibition program. The main floor is dedicated to reconfigurable open-span exhibition space, complemented by mezzanine, black-box, and jewel-box galleries that can accommodate temporary and permanent collection exhibitions spanning scales and mediums.

A spacious roof terrace, equivalent in size to 70 percent of the building’s footprint, serves as an extension of the galleries with open-air spaces that can be configured for installations, a sculpture garden, outdoor film screenings, or events. While the interaction and entrance to this terrace changed over the course of the design, later renderings more closely echo the final project. A sculptural wing hovers over the lobby atrium and creates a prominent location for the educational hall, a dynamic architectural space illuminated by a full-height window overlooking the terrace.

Perot Museum of Nature and Science

Dallas, TX, United States

Giving shape to concrete, Morphosis Architects explored the material’s potential through the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas. Built to bring a simple cube and plinth into high relief, the Perot Museum showcases a precast-concrete panel façade. As a material investigation integrating structure and formwork, the elegant cladding solution was made possible through computer aided modeling and a collaboration with Gate Precast of Hillsboro, Texas.

The Perot Museum is a showcase of versatility and technical ability. Its design creates a distinct identity for the new institution and enriches the urban environment of the emerging cultural district of Victory Park. The overall massing for the building floats a cube of galleries above a thickened landscape containing classrooms, a theater and support spaces. Breaking the solid geometry of the museum cube, a glass-encased 54-foot (16-meter) continuous flow escalator moves patrons up from the ground floor to a cantilevered platform, which is seen in both renderings of the project and the completed building.

Bloomberg Center

New York, NY, United States

Designed to become a net-zero building, The Bloomberg Center forms the heart of the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island. The Bloomberg Center was made to reflect the school’s joint goals of creativity and excellence by providing academic spaces that foster collective enterprise and collaboration. The four-story, 160,000-square-foot (14,865-square-meter) academic building is named in honor of Emma and Georgina Bloomberg in recognition of a $100-million gift from Michael Bloomberg, who was responsible for bringing Cornell Tech to New York City while serving as the city’s 108th Mayor. The four-story building is set beneath a photovoltaic canopy with a low and narrow profile framing views across the island.

One of the building’s most distinctive features is its façade, optimized to balance transparency — optimizing daylighting and exterior views — while maximizing insulation and reducing thermal bridging. As the renderings echo the building’s form, they also hint at this texture created along the building facade. Designed as a rain screen system, the outermost layer of the façade is composed of aluminum panels surfaced in an iridescent, PPG polymer coating. Viewed from afar, the aluminum panels register a continuous image that merges the river-view scenery from Cornell Tech’s Roosevelt Island location and Cornell University’s idyllic campus in Ithaca, New York.

Emerson Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA, United States

Emerson Los Angeles has emerged as a significant landmark in Los Angeles. As a backdrop for student filmmakers, the building weaves an urban fabric of outdoor and indoor spaces together with two slender residential towers bridged by a multi-use platform. With over 180 student rooms, four faculty apartments, film and video production labs, and classrooms, the project combines both a sculptural central mass and an undulating, textured metal scrim. At over 100,000 square feet (9,290 square meters) and ten stories high, the project spurred redevelopment as part of a larger transformation in Hollywood.

As the most distinctive element of the project, the building features a custom metal panel systems manufactured by Zahner. These screens and panels were made to provide shade and privacy, and are composed of seventeen different folded aluminum components. This screen is seen in both renderings of the design, as well as in the heart of the finished building. Zahner used 3D models to produce and fabricate the curvatures. The eight-story sunscreen was made using computational scripting to determine the final geometry that would shade the internal façades.

Kolon One & Only Tower

Gangseo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Sited in Seoul, Kolon’s new flagship research and development facility brings together researchers, leadership and designers in one location. The building combines flexible laboratory facilities with executive offices and active social spaces that encourage greater interaction and exchange across the company. The four-acre project site sits adjacent to Magok’s central park — a prominent location for what will be the district’s first major completed building. The building folds towards the park, providing passive shading to the lower floors.

Bridging the three extending laboratory wings, the building’s folding volume contains conference rooms and social spaces, augmented by flagship retail and exhibition galleries at the street level to communicate the brand’s vision to the public. A transparent ground plane extends the landscape into the interior, drawing light and movement towards an open pedestrian lane-way and grand entry. The distinctive brise-soleil system on the western façade is both a performative and symbolic feature of the building; the façade units have been parametrically shaped to balance shading and views, and are made from a GFRP formulation that uses one of Kolon’s own high-tech fabrics.

Gates Hall

Ithaca, NY, United States

The Bill & Melinda Gates Hall brings together the faculty and students of Cornell University’s Computer Science and Information Science departments. Housed within a single structure, the project was designed to facilitate collaboration and spontaneous discourse between disciplines. Projecting westward from the building, a two-story cantilever creates a dramatic canopy over the elevated Entry Plaza to establish a new visual gateway to the campus. Advanced digital modeling tools are used to map a double skin of undulating, perforated stainless steel panels, which envelop the reflective glass curtain wall on the second and third levels.

The complex patterning of the façade causes the building to appear to shift throughout the day, evening and seasons, as the sun reflects off this textural surface. The renderings of the project produced for Cornell echo the final design. Performative as well as aesthetic, the metal screen shades the building from the sun, while admitting diffuse daylight and affording exterior views. Accentuated by fritted interior glazing, active social spaces interweave with academic program to extend education beyond traditional classroom settings. Public activity is organized around a dynamic, multi-level atrium on the west side of the building, with an efficient layout of classroom, laboratories and offices to the east.

The One Rendering Challenge is now part of the Architizer Vision Awards, honoring the best architectural photography, film, visualizations, drawings, models and the talented creators behind them. Winners are published in print! Start your entry >

Reference

a tapestry-like facade made of clay bricks weaves across paperfarm's veil house in taiwan
CategoriesArchitecture

a tapestry-like facade weaves across paperfarm’s veil house

By Zarkon Group,

veil house: challenging public/private of compact urban living 

 

Situated near the historic ‘Taiwan-Renga’ (台灣煉瓦) brick kiln from 1899 that prospered in this working-class district in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, the Veil House by Paperfarm revisits this history by weaving a modern, tapestry-like facade using floating clay bricks. In such an area with very narrow streets, and a hyperactive social fabric, privacy is often compromised. To maintain boundaries, windows are often shaded throughout the day; outdoor spaces, such as balconies and terraces, are left largely unused. The project challenges this public/private dynamic of compact urban living, creating a peaceful retreat that redefines this neighborhood’s typical house character: a perforated brick facade liberates the need for window treatments, still allowing filtered light into all the living spaces and bedrooms.

a tapestry-like facade made of clay bricks weaves across paperfarm's veil house in taiwan
all images © Daniel Yao

 

 

using clay bricks to create a breathable, permeable facade 

 

‘The impetus for security and privacy reimagines the home as a body with a breathable, permeable skin. Like skin’s pores, perforation density is devised according to the functional needs behind the enclosures. With cored bricks secured by rebars, shelf angles, and steel channels, the brick veil is designed to withstand the local challenges of earthquakes and typhoons. There are also three emergency exits, engineered with saw-tooth pivots, seamlessly inserted onto the facade,’ explains Paperfarm (see more here).

 

On the street level, automobile storage is provided without visually distracting pedestrian entry. The powder-coated stainless-steel door is 12 ft by 7 ft (366 cm by 214 cm) in size and is two inches thick. The door and its mechanical track are hung from above, installed behind five courses of veneer bricks with a guide rail below. The entry, through an interior garden, helps quiet the transition from the bustling city streets and provides a deep threshold into the heart of the Veil House, thus acting as a type of perforation

a tapestry-like facade made of clay bricks weaves across paperfarm's veil house in taiwan
challenging the public/private dynamic of compact urban living

 

 

paperfarm defines veil house around an atrium + rich materials

 

The residents circle an open atrium clad with 2×6 vertical aluminum louvers to enter the main living area on the second floor. This materiality pays homage to another Taiwanese vernacular of protected fenestrations while enhancing the home’s verticality. Programmatically, this atrium is the engine of the house: an urban garden on the ground floor; a light well introducing natural illuminance into the rooms on the bedroom’s balconies; an airshaft for cross-ventilation with the brick veil at the front facade; and a connector that ties circulation and program together across multiple floors. Behind the veil, this shifting perspective and the vertical stratification of the program accentuate public versus private relationships. This forms the central discourse on the introverted approach to the Veil House by Paperfarm.

a tapestry-like facade made of clay bricks weaves across paperfarm's veil house in taiwan
using floating clay bricks to create a breathable facade

 

 

Throughout the Veil House interior, custom-designed terrazzo flooring defines spaces within the larger, open-plan living floors, while full-length, custom white-oak millwork conceals the kitchen and the entertainment and storage spaces. The reductive use of materials enhances the focus on the brick veil and the respite gained in the quiet, minimal interior. ‘Ultimately, the defining characteristic of the Veil House is the desire to build a cozy, airy lifestyle behind an urban façade that successfully withdraws from the frenetic street life,’ concludes Daniel Yao from Paperfarm. 

a tapestry-like facade made of clay bricks weaves across paperfarm's veil house in taiwan
entrance to the Veil House by Paperfarm

Reference

David Adjaye 130 William skyscraper
CategoriesArchitecture

Dezeen Debate features David Adjaye’s “wonderful” first skyscraper

By Zarkon Group,
David Adjaye 130 William skyscraper

The latest edition of our Dezeen Debate newsletter features David Adjaye’s reveal of the 130 William skyscraper in Lower Manhattan. Subscribe to Dezeen Debate now.

Ghanaian-British architect Adjaye has completed the 130 William skyscraper in Lower Manhattan, which is the first skyscraper finished by the architect and his studio Adjaye Associates.

The tower is 800 feet tall and has an exterior that is covered in hand-troweled concrete panels.

Readers were fascinated by the tower. One thought it was “wonderful” that the skyscraper is not “just another blue glass box”, whilst another disagreed, describing the building as “another pointless skyscraper for the super-rich to live in”.

Hotsat 1 satellite
Hotsat-1 satellite launched to identify energy-inefficient buildings

Other stories in this week’s newsletter that fired up the comments section included British technology company SatVu’s launch of a satellite that will map the energy efficiency of buildings from space, architecture studio Hickok Cole’s use of AI chatbot ChatGPT to design a large mixed-use building and Pei Cobb Freed & Partners and Moody Nolan’s reveal of a museum in South Carolina.

Dezeen Debate

Dezeen Debate is sent every Thursday and features a selection of the best reader comments and most talked-about stories. Read the latest edition of Dezeen Debate or subscribe here.

You can also subscribe to our other newsletters; Dezeen Agenda is sent every Tuesday containing a selection of the most important news highlights from the week, Dezeen Daily is our daily bulletin that contains every story published in the preceding 24 hours and Dezeen In Depth is sent on the last Friday of every month and delves deeper into the major stories shaping architecture and design.

Reference

AI Architecture: 15 Breathtaking Modern Residences (Prompts Included)
CategoriesArchitecture

AI Architecture: 15 Breathtaking Modern Residences (Prompts Included)

By Zarkon Group,

This article was produced using AI tools such as Midjourney and Chat GPT, with additional edits by our editorial team. Follow Architizer’s Editor in Chief Paul Keskeys on LinkedIn for more tips on harnessing AI in your architectural workflow!

In the crowded market of modern residential architecture, captivating visualizations are essential to powerfully convey an initial concept and convince clients of your vision. With the advent of AI image generation tools like Midjourney, architects and designers now have an incredible resource at their disposal to ideate like never before — and at record speed.

In this article, we will showcase some compelling examples of contemporary residential visualizations brought to life using AI image generation tool Midjourney. When provided with an appropriate text prompt, Midjourney can be harnessed to create stunning visualizations, from sleek and contemporary exteriors to meticulously designed interiors, with the click of a button. These renderings can form a starting point for further refining an architectural concept or be added to a collection to form a mood board that captures the essence of your ideas at the early stages of the design process.

Follow Architizer’s new AI Instagram channel, @midjourneyarchitecture, where we’ll be sharing extraordinary examples of AI-assisted architecture and providing tips and tricks for mastering Midjourney. Explore the architectural images below, try the prompts out for yourself, and make sure to read all the way down for some key tips on how to perfect your Midjourney visualizations.

Contemporary A-Frame Cabin

Prompt: /imagine a highly detailed image of a futuristic A-frame cabin nestled in a dense forest, showcasing its distinctive angular shape and large windows. Capture the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees onto the wooden facade. Set your professional camera to manual mode, f/5.6, ISO 400, and use a tilt-shift lens for enhanced focus. –v 5.1

Modern Beachfront Villa at Sunset

Prompt: /imagine a stunning visual of a modern beachfront villa at sunset, with warm golden light cascading through floor-to-ceiling windows. Set your professional camera to aperture priority mode, f/8, ISO 200, and use a wide-angle lens to capture the expansive view. –v 5.1

Tropical Dome Home

Prompt: /imagine a striking visual of a contemporary dome-shaped residence surrounded by lush tropical foliage. Capture the interplay between the curved glass panels and the organic forms of the landscape. Set your professional camera to manual mode, f/4, ISO 400, and use a fish-eye lens to accentuate the unique geometry. –v 5.1

Sleek Urban Loft at Night

Prompt: /imagine an architectural visualization of a sleek urban loft in the heart of a bustling city at night. Illuminate the space with dramatic artificial lighting, highlighting the contemporary design elements. Set your professional camera to manual mode, f/5.6, ISO 800, and use a tilt-shift lens for creative perspective control. –v 5.1

Cantilevered Cliffside Residence

Prompt: /imagine an architectural visualization of an innovative cantilevered home suspended over a rocky cliff, overlooking a serene ocean. Highlight the seamless integration of glass, steel, and concrete in this modern masterpiece. Set your professional camera to aperture priority mode, f/8, ISO 200, and use a wide-angle lens to emphasize the suspended structure. –v 5.1

Shell-Inspired Residence

Prompt: /imagine a beautiful architectural visualization of a futuristic residence with a spiral-shaped exterior, resembling a seashell. Showcase the interplay of light and shadow on the curved surfaces, evoking a sense of tranquility and harmony. Set your professional camera to aperture priority mode, f/11, ISO 100, and use a fish-eye lens for a unique perspective. –v 5.1

Snowy Mountain Retreat

Midjourney Architecture Snowy Mountain RetreatPrompt: /imagine a highly realistic image of a contemporary mountain retreat covered in fresh snow, with sunlight reflecting off the pristine white surface. Set your professional camera to manual mode, f/16, ISO 200, and use a wide-angle lens to capture the grandeur of the surroundings. –v 5.1

Tropical Modernist Getaway

Prompt: /imagine a visual masterpiece of an eco-friendly home nestled in a lush tropical rainforest. Highlight the sustainable features, such as green roofs and large windows inviting nature inside. Set your professional camera to shutter priority mode, 1/60 sec, ISO 400, and use a macro lens to capture intricate details of vegetation. –v 5.1

Glass-Walled Hilltop Residence

Prompt: /imagine an impressive image of a contemporary glass-walled residence perched on a hilltop, overlooking a sparkling city skyline. Capture the dramatic twilight sky and the reflection of lights on the transparent surfaces. Set your professional camera to aperture priority mode, f/5.6, ISO 400, and use a wide-angle lens to encompass the panoramic view. –v 5.1

Contemporary Cave Dwelling

Midjourney Architecture Contemporary Cave DwellingPrompt: /imagine a highly detailed, intriguing visualization of an underground residence carved into the rocky cliffs of a remote island, taking inspiration from ancient cave dwellings. Highlight the interplay between the natural rock formations and the modern architectural elements. Set your professional camera to aperture priority mode, f/8, ISO 200, and use a macro lens to capture the textures of the rock surfaces. –v 5.1

Contemporary Lakeside Home

Midjourney Architecture Contemporary Lakeside HomePrompt: /imagine a captivating image of a contemporary lakeside residence, with the setting sun casting a warm glow on the reflective surface of the water. Set your professional camera to manual mode, f/8, ISO 200, and use a telephoto lens to capture the serenity of the scene. –v 5.1

Vertical Garden Apartments

Midjourney Architecture Vertical Garden ApartmentsPrompt: /imagine a visually stunning visualization of an eco-friendly residence with a living facade composed of vertical gardens. Showcase the integration of nature into the architecture, with cascading greenery and vibrant flowers. Set your professional camera to aperture priority mode, f/8, ISO 200, and use a macro lens to capture the intricate textures of the vegetation. –v 5.1

Floating Mirrored Retreat

Midjourney Architecture Floating Mirrored RetreatPrompt: /imagine an impressive visualization of an avant-garde house constructed from a series of interconnected floating wood volumes, suspended and supported by slender steel supports. Capture the sense of weightlessness and the play of light and shadow on the metal surfaces. Set your professional camera to aperture priority mode, f/11, ISO 100, and use a telephoto lens for emphasizing the intricate details. –v 5.1

Modern Courtyard Residence

Midjourney Architecture Modern Courtyard ResidencePrompt: /imagine a visual masterpiece of a modern courtyard residence with lush landscaping and a tranquil pool. Capture the soft, diffused light of a cloudy day, enhancing the architectural details and creating an atmosphere of serenity. Set your professional camera to aperture priority mode, f/5.6, ISO 200, and use a wide-angle lens for a comprehensive view. –v 5.1

Floating Dome Home

Midjourney Architecture Modern Courtyard ResidencePrompt: /imagine a stunning architectural visualization of a modern floating home with transparent walls and a glass dome, offering uninterrupted views of a serene lake. Capture the reflections on the water and the seamless connection between the interior and the natural surroundings. Set your professional camera to shutter priority mode, 1/125 sec, ISO 400, and use a wide-angle lens to encompass the panoramic vista. –v 5.1

3 Tips to Help You Perfect Your Midjourney Architecture Visualizations

Midjourney makes it simple to create striking imagery of any kind, but here are a few tips to take your AI-generated architectural visuals to the next level.

1. Use professional camera settings.

Unlock the full potential of your architectural visualizations with Midjourney AI by harnessing the power of professional camera settings. By specifying these settings, you can elevate your creations to a whole new level of realism and impact.

With precise control over aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and focal length, you can craft visually stunning compositions that mimic the subtleties of real-world photography. Adjusting the aperture allows you to control depth of field, lending a sense of realism and focus to your images. Fine-tune shutter speed to capture motion or create long-exposure effects. Master ISO to balance light and minimize noise, and experiment with focal length to achieve desired perspectives.

By taking command of professional camera settings, you’ll transform your architectural visualizations into captivating, lifelike experiences that leave viewers amazed. Unleash your creative potential and bring your designs to life in ways you never thought possible with Midjourney AI’s powerful capabilities.

2. Harness the power of architectural vocabulary.

Take your architectural visualizations to new heights by incorporating descriptive architectural vocabulary and keywords when generating designs with Midjourney AI. By choosing the right words to describe elements such as materials, textures, lighting, and spatial qualities, you can enhance the realism and impact of your visualizations.

Using precise terminology allows Midjourney AI to understand your design intentions more accurately, resulting in more faithful and detailed renderings. By specifying features like “glass curtain walls,” “warm wooden finishes,” or “dramatic vaulted ceilings,” you can evoke a specific atmosphere and convey your design concept with precision.

Empower your visualizations with the language of architecture, enabling Midjourney AI to create immersive, realistic representations that truly capture the essence of your vision. Let your designs speak volumes and make a lasting impression with the help of descriptive architectural vocabulary.

3. Use Midjourney acronyms.

Maximize the quality and precision of your architectural visualizations generated with Midjourney AI by leveraging specific acronyms designed to enhance your experience. By utilizing acronyms such as “–v 5.1” to specify the Midjourney version, “–ar 16:9” for a wide aspect ratio, and “–q 1” for a detailed image quality, you can achieve unparalleled control over your renderings.

By specifying the Midjourney version, you ensure compatibility with the latest features and advancements, guaranteeing optimal performance and results. The aspect ratio acronym enables you to define the proportions of your visualizations, ensuring they align seamlessly with your intended display format. Fine-tune image quality with the “q” acronym, allowing you to strike the perfect balance between file size and visual fidelity.

Embrace the power of these Midjourney acronyms to fine-tune your architectural visualizations with precision, ensuring optimal results that align precisely with your vision.

You can learn all the basics about how to use Midjourney AI in our handy guide.

Share Your AI Architecture for a Chance to Get Featured!

Calling all architectural visionaries and visual artists! Are you ready to showcase your awe-inspiring creations to a global audience? Architizer’s new Instagram channel — @midjourneyarchitecture — is the ultimate platform to elevate your AI-generated architectural imagery to new heights and inspire a fast-growing community of creators! ?

Submit your best examples of architectural artistry crafted with Midjourney AI, and be considered for a feature. With thousands of architecture enthusiasts eagerly waiting to be inspired, this is your opportunity to shine!

On our experimental new channel, anything goes: Harness the cutting-edge capabilities of Midjourney AI to transform your existing sketches, photographs and renderings into mesmerizing masterpieces, or create something completely new. Bring your architectural dreams to life with stunning realism, captivating compositions, and extraordinary details that will leave the world in awe.

Ready to make your mark in the world of AI architecture? Here’s what you need to do:

1️⃣ Create breathtaking imagery using Midjourney AI.
2️⃣ Share your masterpiece on Instagram with the hashtag #MidjourneyAI.
3️⃣ Tag @midjourneyarchitecture in your post to catch our attention!

Our editorial team will be on the lookout for the most remarkable submissions. Select images will be featured on @midjourneyarchitecture, granting you exposure to a new audience of AI architecture aficionados, industry professionals, and design enthusiasts worldwide!

Don’t forget to follow @midjourneyarchitecture on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midjourneyarchitecture/

This article was produced using AI tools such as Midjourney and Chat GPT, with additional edits by our editorial team. Follow Architizer’s Editor in Chief Paul Keskeys on LinkedIn for more tips on harnessing AI in your architectural workflow!



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