Architecture

Zarkon Group Real Estate Builders & Developers > Blog > Architecture

Category: Architecture

Architecture

The A+List: 196 Architecture and Design Firms to Watch
CategoriesArchitecture

The A+List: 196 Architecture and Design Firms to Watch

By Zarkon Group,

Architizer’s global architectural awards program, the 11th Annual A+Awards, is now accepting submissions, with a Main Entry Deadline of December 16th this year. As well as celebrating some of the most innovative, recently-completed projects around the globe, the A+Awards also serve as an incredible indicator of which designers will be at the forefront of innovation in the coming year.

In recognition of this fact, Architizer is delighted to present the fourth edition of the coveted A+List, an annual run-down of every firm that scooped an A+Award and A+Firm Award in the previous season. The A+List forms a comprehensive guide to the world’s best architecture firms and is refreshed each year based on the results of the annual A+Awards program. You can see last season’s A+List here.

The A+List is arranged alphabetically, with more information available by clicking on the link to each firm’s profile. We’ve also picked out a selection of featured firms, providing some extra background on their A+Award triumphs.

Get Your Firm On the Next A+List

If you missed entering last season’s program and would like to secure your position on the next A+List, we encourage you to enter your firm’s recent projects in the 11th Annual A+Awards. Every winner features in this definitive directory of high-quality firms, and will also see their work published in a stunning, hardbound compendium on the World’s Best Architecture, as well as gaining continual publicity through our year-round global celebration of design.

Begin A+Awards Submission

Without further ado, explore the work of each of these immensely talented firms below, and good luck with your submissions to this year’s program!

The Fourth Annual A+List

314 Architecture Studio
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Hospitality

35-51 ARCHITECTURE Office
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Private House (L 4000-6000 sq ft)

5+design
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Shopping Center

9M Design
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards,Multi-Unit Housing – High Rise (16+ Floors)

AB design studio
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Private House (M 2000-4000 sq ft)

Adjaye Associates
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Libraries

AECOM
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Sports & Recreation

Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Pavilions

Mission Possible: The ‘UN’ Opportunity Pavilion by AGi architects, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Pavilions

With offices in Kuwait and Madrid, AGi architects is a truly international studio with a multidisciplinary focus. Joaquín Pérez-Goicoechea and Nasser B. Abulhasan first met during their studies and later founded the studio, whose team now comprises more than 50 professionals. AGi’s architecture is based on four founding pillars: innovation, an inherent life component, ecological and social interventions and research. The diversity of their output is exemplified by their two most recent A+Awards-recognized projects: The ‘UN’ Opportunity Pavilion in Dubai, a floating canopy that brings to life the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and Trazas de Pontevedra, a landscape intervention that reinterprets ancient Galician-Roman settlements.

AIDIA STUDIO
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Transportation

AKA – Apostolou Colakis architects
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Color

Akira Koyama + KEY OPERATION INC. / ARCHITECTS
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Firm in Asia

AL_A
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Community Centers

Alibi Studio
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Light

APPAREIL Architecture
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Residential Interiors (<3000 sq ft)

archi5
Jury & Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Primary & High Schools

Architectural Association (AA) School of Architecture
Emergent Technologies & Design (EmTech) Post-Graduate Programme
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Collaboration

ArchSD
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Landscape
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Joy

Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tsinghua University
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Environment

ARCity Office
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Government & Civic Buildings

asap/ adam sokol architecture practice
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Workspace

ASPECT Studios
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Landscape Design Firm

Atelje Ostan Pavlin (Aleksander Ostan and Natasa Pavlin)
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards,Transportation Infrastructure

ATRIUM studio
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Transportation

Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Private Garden

Xiaoyunlu 8, MAHA Residential Park by Ballistic Architecture Machine (BAM), Beijing, China | Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Private Garden

As a locally grown design firm with offices Beijing and Shanghai, Ballistic Architecture Machine (BAM) is somewhat of an anomaly. Founded by foreigners in 2007, the design practice rose to prominence as it navigated the changing contemporary Chinese metropolis and rising technological innovations, and the firm became well versed in the ins and outs of breakneck urbanization. These experiences were formative and instilled the firm with the conviction that as societal views of nature are change, architecture must imagine new ways of inspiring healthy relationships with the environment.

Bando x Seidel Meersseman – BxSM
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Showrooms

Barker Associates Architecture Office
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Learning
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Educational Interiors

Bates Smart
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Commercial

BDP Quadrangle 
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Stairs

BERKTOLD WEBER Architekten
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Private House (S 1000-2000 sq ft)

Bernardes Arquitetura
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Private House (XL >6000 sq ft)

BKVV Architects
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +For Good

Büro Ziyu Zhuang
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Facades
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Metal

Candida Tabet Arquitetura
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Multi-Unit Housing – Low Rise (1-4 Floors)

CEBRA architecture
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Urban and Masterplan

Chiangmai Life Architects
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Small Firm (1-10 Employees)

Christensen & Co Architects
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Community Centers

CO Architects
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Higher Education & Research Facilities

Featured Firm: Cobe

Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Transportation Infrastructure

Ultra-Fast Charging Stations by Cobe, Fredericia, Denmark | Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Transportation Infrastructure

Architects today are all well aware that the building and construction sector are are massive contributors to the world’s CO2 emissions, and the Danish firm Cobe has been on the vanguard of those studios who have shaped their practice around challenging this status quo. Though the studio recognizes that no new build is 100% sustainable, they strive to transform these commissions into resilient, long-term buildings and landscapes. By championing innovative aesthetics and intrinsic beauty, Cobe aims to empower and engage inhabitants, inspiring better habits and behaviors from the larger community.

Concentrico
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Retail

Cristina Menezes Arquitetura
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Private House (XS <1000 sq ft)

Crossboundaries
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Community

Cumulus
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Firm in Australasia

Daniel Joseph Chenin
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Private House (XL >6000 sq ft)
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Residential Interiors (>3000 sq ft)

DOMANI Architectural Concepts
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Adaptive Reuse

Dreyfuss + Blackford Architecture
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Preservation

Dubbeldam Architecture + Design
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Renovation
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Stairs

Duvall Decker Architects
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Medium Firm (11-49 employees)
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Affordable Housing

Ema Peter Photography
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Photography & Video

ENOTA
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Sports & Recreation

EQ Office
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Workspace

Estudio Santiago Fernández
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Multi Unit Housing – Low Rise (1-4 Floors)

Extended Play Lab
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Prefab

Façade Architecture
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt – Private House (S <3000 sq ft)

Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Medium Firm (11-49 Employees)
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Firm in Australasia

Faraday Street Studio by Fearon Hay Architects, Auckland, New Zealand

Fearon Hay Architects is a design-led studio that excels at designing buildings that thoughtfully reflect their site and place. Founded in Auckland in 1998, over twenty years later the firm has grown to encompass a studio in Los Angeles as well. From office and workplace design to complex heritage environments to public work within the urban realm or wider landscape, Fearon Hay approaches every project with an inventive sense of creativity, as is reflected in the diversity of forms, materials and typologies in their portfolio.

Félix Michaud － Photographie
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Photography & Video

FGMF
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Firm in Central & South America

FRANKLIN AZZI ARCHITECTURE
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Cultural

Future Simple Studio
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Apartment

fws_work
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Apartment

FXCollaborative Architects
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Office – High Rise (16+ Floors)

Fyra
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Interior Design Firm

General Architecture Collaborative
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Community
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +For Good

Gensler
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Commercial Interiors (<25,000 sq ft)

Geoffrey Nees
Jury & Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Art

Geza Architettura
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Mixed Use (L >25,000 sq ft)

Gisele Borges Arquitetura
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Metal

GOA (Group of Architects)
Jury & Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Restaurants (L >1000 sq ft)

GRAAM
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Office – Mid Rise (5-15 Floors)

Gustavo Penna Architects and Associates
Jury & Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Factories & Warehouses

Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Higher Education & Research Facilities

Nicol Building, Sprott School of Business by Hariri Pontarini Architects, Ottawa, Canada | Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Higher Education & Research Facilities

The Canadian firm Hariri Pontarini Architects has carved out a name for themselves on the global stage by creating exceptional, complex projects as well as cultural landmarks. With a team of 85 professional and technical staff, the firm has won over 60 national and international awards, and currently has nearly 50 institutional, cultural a mixed-use projects on the docket. In particular, the firm’s illustrious portfolio includes a number of outstanding academic buildings that are on the forefront of university campus architecture today.

Hawkins\Brown
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Commercial

Heatherwick Studio
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Public Parks & Green Spaces

Henriquez Partners Architects
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Multi Unit Housing – High Rise (16+ Floors)
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt – Multi-Unit Housing (L >10 Floors)

HIBINOSEKKEI + Youji no Shiro + KIDS DESIGN LABO
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Kindergartens

Hooba Design
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Office – Mid Rise (5-15 Floors)

Hopkins Architects
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Gyms & Recreation Centers

HQ Architects
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best in the Middle East & Africa

ICON
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +New Technology
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Experimental Design

Idaho Design Build
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Collaboration

INFINITIVE ARCHITECTURE
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Coworking Space

iraisynn attinom
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Hospitality

James Corner Field Operations
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Urban Transformation
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Public Parks & Green Spaces

JC Architecture
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Transport Interiors

JENSEN Architects
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Residential Additions

Jí ARCHITECTS
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Stone

Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Showrooms

Ghost Hangar by John Grable Architects, TX, United States | Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Showrooms

John Grable Architects was founded in 2005 by the eponymous designer who sought to combine his love of craft with an appreciation of technology. Fas forward to the present, and this approach has proved fruitful: the high-performance design firm’s trademark is creating buildings with expressive architectural details that celebrate building materials and the construction trades. While the buildings that John Grable and his team of skilled staff produce may recall the sound building practices of the past, they are achieved by integrating complex building and information management systems and software. This is combined with an approach to the construction process as a continuous dialogue with contractors and the trades that allows the firm continuously modify their designs.

Jonathan Burlow Architects
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Young Firm

JSa Arquitectura
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Small Projects

JUNSEKINO Architect and Design
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Office – Low Rise (1-4 Floors)

KANVA
Jury & Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Museum

Kengo Kuma & Associates
Jury & Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Art

Khmaladze Architects
Jury & Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Pop-Ups & Temporary

Killa Design
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Large Firm (50+ employees)

Klein Dytham architecture
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Branding

Koichi Takada Architects
Jury & Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Multi Unit Housing – Mid Rise (5-15 Floors)

Konstantin Arkitekter
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Pavilions

KRIS YAO | ARTECH
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Firm in Asia

Krueck Sexton Partners
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Commercial Interiors (>25,000 sq ft.)

L&M Design Lab
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Young Interior Design Firm

LIGHTING DESIGN INSTITUTE of UAD
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Light

line+
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Landscape
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt – Private House (L >3000 sq ft)

Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Wood
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Branding

Timber Bridge in Gulou Waterfront by LUO studio, Jiangmen, China | Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Wood

Glancing through LUO studio’s oeuvre, it is immediately clear that the firm champions a spirit of craftsmanship and the principle of caring for nature in all of their work. This firm’s attention to craft and mastery of structural language is evident; their buildings speak with intricate syntax that is elegant but boldly expressed. It’s no wonder, then, that the studio’s found Mr. Luo Yujie also teaches a course in Construction Basics in the School of Architecture at Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA). With a creative approach, the firm demonstrates a strong commitment to creating more durable, friendly and quality spaces.

MAD Architects
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Stadium & Arena

MADO ARCHITECTS
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt – Private House (L >3000 sq ft)

Marble Fairbanks
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Libraries

Mario Cucinella Architects
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Religious Buildings & Memorials

Mark Cavagnero Associates
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Hospitals & Healthcare Centers

MARS Studio
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Bars & Wineries
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Bars & Wineries

MAYU architects
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Adaptive Reuse

Mecanoo
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Firm in Europe

MGA | Michael Green Architecture
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best North America

Mikkelsen Architects
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Hospitals & Healthcare Centers

Mix Architecture
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Environment

Montalba Architects
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Firm in North America

Montforthaus Feldkirch GmbH
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Cultural & Expo Centers

Moriyama & Teshima Architects and Smoke Architecture
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Institutional

Murray Legge Architecture
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Private House (S 1000-2000 sq ft)
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Residential Additions

Featured Firm: MVRDV

Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Gallery & Exhibition Spaces

Depot Boijmans van Beuningen by MVRDV, Rotterdam, Netherlands | Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Gallery & Exhibition Spaces

For nearly 30 years, MVRDV has been providing solutions to contemporary architectural and urban issues, with their reach extending from their home base in Rotterdam to all regions of the world. Their collaborative, research-based design method harnesses the full power of their 250-person strong team, which includes architects, designers, urbanists and official in-house BREEAM and LEED assessors, and involves rigorous technical and creative investigation. The often iconic results represent true outside-the-box thinking that challenges established building typologies and reveal new possibilities for our cities and landscapes.

NADAAA
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Public Projects Firm
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Mixed Use (L >25,000 sq ft)

Neri&Hu Design and Research Office
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Private House (M 2000-4000 sq ft)
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Preservation

NZI Architectes
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Affordable Design

ORG Permanent Modernity
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Landscape

OYTT Design
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Restaurants (S <1000 sq ft)

Panorama Design Group
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Interior Design Firm

Peter Pichler Architecture
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Private House (L 4000-6000 sq ft)

PETITDIDIERPRIOUX Architectes
2022 A+Awards Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Residential Firm

PH Alpha Design Limited
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Shopping Center

Plan Architect
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Affordable Housing

PLP Architecture
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Stone

QINGMO Architects
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Cultural
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Mixed Use (S <25,000 sq ft)

querkraft architects zt gmbh
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards,Architecture +Sustainability
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Retail

RDG Planning & Design
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Stairs

Rhotenberry Wellen Architects
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Gyms & Recreation Centers

Featured Firm: RIOS

Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Health

Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine by RIOS, Los Angeles, CA, United States | Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Health

RIOS is an international design collective with interdisciplinarity at its heart. From architecture to urban and landscape planning to graphic, interior, exhibit and product design, by blurring the boundaries of traditional distinct disciplines within the profession, Rios’ diverse team amplifies the impact of design. The resulting integrated and comprehensive solutions are irreversibly connected to the narrative of place and the complex order of human culture, creating solutions that are joyful, authentic, and unexpected.

RJRX Urban Planning & Design Consultants
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Masterplan

Roark Studio
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Firm in Europe
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Multi Unit Housing – Low Rise (1-4 Floors)

Robert Hutchison Architecture
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Small Projects

Rogers Partners Architects + Urban Designers
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Government & Civic Buildings

ruanxiaozhou design studio
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Facades

Salem Architecture
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt – Multi-Unit Housing (S <10 Floors)

Sanjay Puri Architects
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Residential Firm
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Color

SBM studio
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Public Projects Firm

Shanghai TIANHUA Urban Planning & Design
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Urban and Masterplan

Shomali Design [Yaser Rashid Shomali & Yasin Rashid Shomali]
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt – Private House (S <3000 sq ft)

shulin architectural design
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Hotels & Resorts

Silvester Fuller
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Educational Interiors

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Sustainable Firm
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Sustainability

SML
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Concrete

Snorre Stinessen Architecture
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Prefab

Sò Studio
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Restaurants (S <1000 sq ft)

Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt – Multi-Unit Housing (L >10 Floors)
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Spa & Wellness

Akumal Monterrey by Sordo Madaleno, San Pedro Garza García, Mexico | Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt – Multi-Unit Housing (L >10 Floors)

Founded in 1937 by Juan Sordo Madaleno, this family-owned architecture firm has remained in the family for three generations. Over the course of just under a century, the firm has built landmarks throughout Mexico, honing its own distinct architectural style while contributing to the country’s rich architectural fabric. A thread woven through all of their work is the desire to improve the city; the firm gravitates towards projects with social and urban impact, including countless pro bono projects, that may regenerate areas, improve quality of life, add value and create new urban conditions. SMA has implemented international environmental impact certifications. Their work represents a significant contribution to the evolution of Mexican design.

SRG Partnership
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Stadium & Arena

STLarchitects
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Institutional
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Models & Rendering

Studio 21@CCDI Group
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Office – High Rise (16+ Floors)

Studio Libeskind
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Religious Buildings & Memorials

Studio MK27f
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Firm in Central & South America

Studio O+A
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards,Commercial Interiors (>25,000 sq ft)

studio razavi architecture
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards,Commercial Interiors (<25,000 sq ft)

Studio Seilern Architects
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards,Hall / Theater

Studio Toggle
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards,Best Young Firm
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Firm in the Middle East & Africa

Studio+
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Coworking Space

StudioX4 Architect and Associates
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Spa & Wellness

SUP Atelier of THAD
Jury & Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Brick

Supercloud Studio
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Kindergartens

supermanoeuvre
Jury & Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Ceilings

SvN Architects + Planners
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Masterplan

Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Mixed Use (S <25,000 sq ft)

FH Office by TA-CHA Design, Bangkok, Thailand | Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Mixed Use (S <25,000 sq ft)

Bangkok-based TA-CHA Studio is self-described as “just ordinary tiny firm doing better thing for our client and society;” however, we’d argue that, to the contrary, they are an extraordinary tiny studio. Time and again, TA-CHA’s projects present innovative way of incorporating passive design approaches: a highly thought-out approach to airflow is at their heart of all their work. Likewise, re-used or locally grown wood and recyclable metal are mainstays in their material palette, while a human-centered approach to floor plan thinks about how space can motivate inhabitants to form healthier behaviors.

TAA DESIGN
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Office – Low Rise (1-4 Floors)

Tabanlioglu Architects
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Cultural Firm

TAC
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Private House (XS <1000 sq ft)

Tegnestuen LOKAL
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Renovation

The Architectural Design and Research Institute of HIT
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Hall / Theater

The Design Institute Of Landscape & Architecture China Academy Of Art-Young Designer Studio
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Small Firm (1-10 employees)
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Cultural Firm
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Urban Transformation

The Miller Hull Partnership
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Sustainable Firm

Tommila Architects & Kaleidoscope Nordic
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt – Multi-Unit Housing (S <10 Floors)

TROP : terrains + open space
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Landscape Design Firm
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Private Garden

UAO Design
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Affordable Design
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Small Projects

UNITEDLAB Associates
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Landscape

Valenti Albareda Studio
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Residential Interiors (<3000 sq ft)

Various Associates
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Commercial Firm

Vaslab Architecture
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Hotels & Resorts

Ventura + Partners
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Health

Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Learning
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards,Hospitals & Healthcare Centers

LIFE Campus by Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects, Lyngby, Denmark | Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Learning

As the namesake of one of Denmark’s most celebrated modern architects, Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects has big shoes to fill. Founded in 1922, the firm has evolved is trademark functional architecture and design rooted in classic Nordic modernism. Today, the team of 150 architects, technicians and administrative staff maintains this spirit of innovation, but are better known for excellence in high-complex typologies, such as airports, hospitals and life science. Despite being a century old, they have embraced digitalisation and development projects within A.I. and blockchain, carrying on Vilhelm Lauritzen’s vision: “Good architecture should be for everyone – never a privilege for the few.”

VISIOARQ ARQUITECTOS
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Wood

Visionnaire
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Water

Vtrilloarquitectos
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Landscape

Walker Warner Architects
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Models & Rendering

WIP ARCHITECTURE
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Water

WIT Design & Research
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Young Interior Design Firm

Woods + Dangaran
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Residential Interiors (>3000 sq ft)

X+Living
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Commercial Firm

XING DESIGN
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Transport Interiors

Z-one Tech
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Gallery & Exhibition Spaces
Public Vote Winner , 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +New Technology
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Experimental Design

Zaha Hadid Architects
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Large Firm (50+ employees)
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Concrete

ZJJZ
Jury Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Joy

Zone of Utopia + Mathieu Forest Architecte
Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards,Cultural & Expo Centers
Jury & Public Vote Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Glass

You can check out previous editions of the A+List here: First Edition, Second Edition, Third Edition

To secure your position on next year’s A+List, make sure to enter the 11th Annual A+Awards before the Main Entry Deadline on December 16th:

Enter the 11th Annual A+Awards

Reference

discarded timber regenerates set of farmhouses hidden on mount emei
CategoriesArchitecture

discarded timber regenerates set of farmhouses on mount emei

By Zarkon Group,

three timber houses stand in china’s mountainous countryside

 

Super Normal Design Office assembles a set of country houses in a tiny village at the bottom of Emei Mountain, reusing old materials. Surrounded by wild foliage, three timber buildings stand hidden behind huts, paddy fields, and untamed springs in Sichuan Province, China. Each building serves a distinct purpose while sharing the same easy-living character of the countryside. Respecting Chinese natural aesthetics the design concept ‘regenerates farmland buildings’ former appearance’ in selected reclaimed materials.

discarded timber regenerates set of farmhouses hidden on mount emei
all images courtesy of Super Normal Design

 

 

new + old materiality composes the solitary farmhouses

 

Overlooking Emei’s peak to the west, and the rice field to the east, the solitary houses blend seamlessly with their surrounding landscape. The residence’s open layout interconnects indoor and outdoor zones in a natural unforced ambiance. Both the framework and the furniture in the interior and exterior spaces were carefully carved out with no excessive ornamentation. Concepts of ‘new’ + ‘old’ coexist in the construction forming balanced wooden volumes. Super Normal Design used previously discarded timber elements, locally sourced, following an approach of environmental protection and sustainability. All textures and finishes display earthy hues and tones in minimal design.

discarded timber regenerates set of farmhouses hidden on mount emei
observation hallway runs around the main volume

discarded timber regenerates set of farmhouses hidden on mount emei
open layout interconnects indoor and outdoor zones

Reference

House in former Forestry Commission land by Denizen Works
CategoriesArchitecture

Crushed TV screens cover Hundred Acre Wood house by Denizen Works

By Zarkon Group,

Recycled TV screens cover the walls of the seven-bedroom Hundred Acre Wood house, which architecture studio Denizen Works has created on a site overlooking Loch Awe in Scotland.

Named Hundred Acre Wood, the castle-like dwelling was designed for a couple with six children on former Forestry Commission land with its own private lochan – a small lake.

House in former Forestry Commission land by Denizen Works
Denizen Works has created the Hundred Acre Wood house

Denizen Works has lowered the house into a hollow in the landscape, making it appear as though it emerges out from the ground on the north and south elevations.

According to the studio, this aims to give the home a protective quality, with the help of its monumental appearance that references the work of Spanish sculptor Eduardo Chillida.

Hundred Acre Wood beside lochan in Scotland
Its located on former Forestry Commission land with a lochan

“The brief was for a family home for our clients and their six children – as well as an increasing number of grandchildren – that would reflect their personalities and provide a lasting legacy for the family,” project architect Andrew Ingham told Dezeen.

“Conceptually, it was conceived as a sculpted solid, referencing the work of Eduardo Chillida, to heighten the sense of a protective shell that appears as a robust object in the landscape.”

Side profile of Hundred Acre Wood house by Denizen Works
The building has a monolithic form

While referencing the work of Chillida, the form of Hundred Acre Wood has also been developed in response to the home’s environmental context.

Its layout aims to ensure it has the least visual impact on the nearby road, it makes the most of its vantage point above Loch Awe and its rooms align with the movement of the sun.

Close-up of facade clad in recycled TV screens
It references the work of Spanish sculptor Eduardo Chillida

“The plan is narrow on the west elevation, where it was considered more sensitive due to views from the road below,” said Ingham.

“The form responds to the environmental context, key views and the site’s topography.”

Close of facade clad in crushed TV screens
Its rough exterior is clad in recycled TV screens

One of the most unusual features of Hundred Acre Wood is its facade, which is covered in recycled and crushed TV screens for a low-maintenance, pebbledash-like finish.

This was developed by Denizen Works as a “take on a traditional Scottish harling” – a rough wall finish that is made from lime and aggregate.

Hall of Hundred Acre Wood house by Denizen Works
The hall is the home’s centrepiece

“We sourced a decorative glass chipping created from recycled TV screens collected in Scotland which come in a lovely range of blue-greys which we felt was appropriate for the moody Scottish skies,” Ingham explained.

“Our client is also not keen on TVs, so there was an element of playfulness in their use.”

Circular skylight
It is naturally lit by an oculus

As the material had not been used on a building before, the studio had to develop prototypes with the construction materials company Sika to test its performance.

“Large sample panels were produced for client sign-off and to help convince the planners that the system would be successful,” added Ingham.

Inside, the focal point of Hundred Acre Wood is a central, double-height hall lit by an oculus in the ceiling.

This was designed to accommodate a five-metre-tall Christmas tree – one of the client’s main requests for Denizen Works.

Pared-back interior of Hundred Acre Wood by Denizen Works
Living spaces are arranged around the hall

Around the hall are the main living spaces and the seven bedrooms, all arranged to maximise views of the loch and sun throughout the day.

The majority of the interior has a deliberately pared-back finish to retain focus on the client’s furniture collection, but the hall is designed to be more dramatic.

Living room overlooking Loch Awe
The rooms have views over Loch Awe

“We wanted to use the finishes to create a sense of drama,” said Ingham, referencing the studio’s design for the hall.

“It features a recycled paper ceiling, clay walls with gold mica flecks and a screeded floor with exposed mirror aggregate,” he continued. “A large, gold-lead-lined oculus is situated over the Christmas tree pit and casts a warm glow into the space.”

Kitchen with sculptural pendant light and glazed wall
The interiors of deliberately pared-back

The thick walls of the home are visible in the deep window reveals of each room, bringing the sense of protection granted by its sculptural exterior to the interior.

Finishing details of the house include a ground source heat pump that provides heating and hot water, while a private borehole provides fresh water to the whole house.

As part of the landscape design, reed beds have been introduced to treat wastewater and rainwater, which is sent to the lochan.

Interior of Hundred Acre Wood by Denizen Works
The client’s furniture pieces have been used as focal points

Founded in 2011 by Murray Kerr, Denizen Works is an architecture studio with offices in London and Glasgow.

Other recently completed projects by the studio include the Floating Genesis church, which is crowned by a pop-up roof, and a house on the Scottish island of Tiree with a gable-shaped glass wall.

The photography is by Gilbert McCarragher.

Project credits:

Architect: Denizen Works
Project team: Charlotte Airey, Matthew Barnett, Andrew Ingham, Murray Kerr, Dimitri Savitchev
Client: Private

Reference

4 New Gadgets to Elevate Your Workstation and Increase Productivity
CategoriesArchitecture

4 New Gadgets to Elevate Your Workstation and Increase Productivity

By Zarkon Group,

Architizer Journal is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

Leading technology brands have released a plethora of exciting new tech products and upgraded devices this fall. Navigating the swarm of recently available products can, at times, feel overwhelming. So, we’ve tried to help simplify the process by recommending four newly released tech products to consider obtaining for your architectural practice.

For the Architect in Search of a Good 2-in-1

Microsoft has just released its Surface Pro 9 tablet, which has been designed to perform like a laptop but move like a tablet. This device boasts a flexible interface and bespoke user experience. This tablet comes with a 13’’ PixelSense™ touchscreen which creates a larger interface to work on and clearer viewing options. It has also been equipped with an adjustable built-in kickstand, which offers a range of angles to work in and creates a bespoke computer experience. One of the handiest features of this tablet is the Surface Slim Pen 2, a digital writing and drawing tool that is perfect for designers who prefer sketching and note taking by hand. Architects who prefer experimenting with freehand sketches can leverage apps such as Adobe Fresco directly on this device.

The Surface Pro 9 comes with a powerful new 12th-Gen Intel Core processor and weighs less than 4 lbs, making it a reliable, durable and easy-to-transport device. Its Windows 11 operating system can perfectly organize active apps into a grid format which is perfect for designers multitasking multiple programs. When architects are in need of writing briefs or responding to emails, they can switch from tablet to laptop with the Surface Pro 9 Signature Keyboard. Meanwhile, designers who require larger views can easily dock the device to a monitor. The Surface Pro 9 remains one of the best 2-in-1s on the market and meets many requirements for an architect-suitable device.

See more info and buy >

For the Architect Who Loves To Capture

Fujifilm’s recently-released X-H2 Mirrorless camera is perfect for the architect who enjoys photographing the built environment as much as they do designing it. The X-H2 camera is the fifth generation of Fujifilm’s X series and boasts a high-quality resolution and unmatched speed. This camera is equipped with a new 40.2-megapixel APS-C sensor which unlocks new creative possibilities. This device comes with a pronounced imaging sensor and optimized pixel layout which ensures exceptional detail, color accuracy and video flexibility. The camera’s new X-Processor 5 helps deliver exceptional video quality, an enhanced autofocus and blackout-free image bursts at 15 fps – which makes capturing the small details of a built structure that much clearer. Moreover, the X-H2’s range extends to 13+ stops, which helps ensure a straightforward post-production process. Moreover, wireless image transfers are made simple and hassle-free through Fujifilm’s Remote Camera App. This camera is perfect for the architect looking to shoot professional images or simply pursue their love of photography.

See more info and buy >

For the Architect Looking To Experiment With Something New

Sometimes the most modest tools prove to be the most useful. 3D pens are relatively new to the market but have taken off thanks to their experimental and exploratory nature. Although at first the 3Doodler Create+ may seem more suitable for children, it is a great tool for designers looking to quickly visualize an idea. Without having to turn to large and tedious 3D printing machines, architects can conceptualize a form with the 3Doodler Create +. This device comes with a comprehensive guide, a pack of colorful plastic refills and is ideal for designers looking to explore the possibilities of 3D pens. Designers can create miniature models with the 3Doodler Create+ which uses PLA, ABS and Flexy Plastic to create freestanding lines and shapes. Whether it be to visualize a project, create a quick craft or work into a rendering, the 3Doodler Create+ is a great starting point for architects. This handheld 3D printing device is portable, compact and the perfect addition to any architect’s pencil case.

See more info and buy >

For the Architect Looking To Zone Into Their Work

The Jabra Elite 9 True Wireless earbuds may just be the next investment for architects looking to focus-in on their work. These earbuds have been equipped with the latest Hybrid ANC and HearTouch technology which blocks out ambient noise and reduces wind sounds. This new technology makes for the perfect device for designers working in busy office settings and need to block out distracting noise. These upgraded earbuds are now compatible with Spotify Tap Playback and come with a customizable equalizer which produces a first-class sound quality. The device can also be paired with Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant, offering hands-free help to architects. Whether it be double checking a measurement or reading an email aloud, this new pairing feature helps optimize a designer’s workflow. The Jabra Elite 5 come with a high-performing battery life and are resistant to dust and water, making them a reliable device for on-the-go designers.

See more info and buy >

For more ways to supercharge your workflow, check out more articles in our Tech for Architects series, which includes our recommendations of Top Laptops for Architects and Designers. 



Reference

"Architects, We Need To Talk."
CategoriesArchitecture

“Architects, We Need To Talk.”

By Zarkon Group,

Erin Pellegrino and Jake Rudin are the co-founders of Out of Architecture, a career consulting firm helping architects and designers find creatively fulfilling roles beyond the bounds of traditional architectural practice. Nikita Morell is a copywriter for architects and the founder of Architects WordShop. She is on a mission to make architecture websites sound more human, less robot.

Architects, we need to talk.

We need to talk about being overworked, underpaid and undervalued.

We need to talk about how sacrificing your health, sanity and relationships at the altar of architecture and for the glory of good design is not okay. Burnout is like a dormant virus. It incubates in architecture school, spreads through architecture companies and slowly infects your entire life. It sounds grim. Because it is.

We need to talk about the “M” word. Yes, money, money, money. It seems no one wants to talk openly about money and *gasp* profit. Straight out of architecture school, we’re conditioned to believe it’s better to work for peanuts at a Starchitecture firm than to find a role that will help us pay off our student loans.

We need to talk about all the ways we get pigeonholed into exercising only a handful of skills — often the ones we don’t enjoy as much. It’s time we talk about all the skills we have and how they can be applied to roles outside of architecture.

But, why aren’t we already talking about these things…

When your boss gives you a dirty look as you try to leave for the day at 6:30pm. Or when you’re running on coffee and Red Bull as you pull another all-nighter. Why don’t you speak up? Tell your boss to ‘back off’?

Maybe you feel like you’re letting your team down by leaving or that your boss will think you’re not taking your job seriously. Whatever the reason…

It isn’t your fault.

We know not everyone is in a position to talk about feelings of discontentment. You can’t talk with your boss or colleagues (they’ll think I’m ungrateful!). You can’t talk to your family (they’ll question; why do you want to throw away years of study!). You can even post on social media (what happens if my boss/peers see it!).

It’s easier, less awkward, and non-confrontational to quietly daydream about changing your situation or job than to *actually* talk about it. (Come on, be honest, how many times a day do you think: “I can’t do this anymore” or “It’ll get better in the New Year / when this deadline is over / [insert excuse here]”?)

You may not be able to talk about it.

But we can.

We’ve spoken to hundreds of designers, fellow architects and people out there who have come to us in a state of burnout, a state of anxiety and a feeling of helplessness — feeling trapped in a discipline they once loved. We want to speak on behalf of those who have trusted us with these experiences.

And we want to share some insights and possible solutions.

Let’s talk about taking care of ourselves…

Creativity never sleeps… but you should. In fact, you’ll be more productive if you do!. No design solution is perfect, there will always be one more possible iteration. Don’t let your employer pressure or guilt you into putting a project before your wellbeing, your health or your personal relationships.

Architecture companies are structured to glorify long working hours because it benefits their bottom line. At the end of the day, the only person who is going to look after you is… you. Good firms design their business around the need to pay employees well and keep them from burning out in the long run.

If you think it’s impossible — look around. Explore jobs outside of architecture where you can lead rich creative lives and take care of yourself.

Businesses that can afford to take care of employees can also be extremely creative. For example: Design strategy for a software company, computational design for a large hardware producer, community engagement for an education consultant or retail design for a clothing brand.

Let’s talk about better pay…

Why do we feel ashamed about the financial value of the work we do?  We need to get comfortable with speaking about money and understand the financial value our skills bring to their practices and market.

It’s okay to be motivated by financial success.

It’s no secret that we’re driven by passion. We want to enrich lives and make the world a better place. But it’s also okay to want to earn decent money — so you can pay your bills, send your kids to college and buy that gorgeous vintage Eames chair you’ve got the perfect spot for.

Financial gain and passion are not mutually exclusive. You can have both. You can find a job that you’re passionate about and get a solid paycheck —it’s about finding the right company that aligns with your values. And that values you in return.

Let’s talk about doing more of the work you love…

If the work you’re asked to do is not aligned with what you want to do. If 90% of your job isn’t the part of it you love, know that there are other options.

Model making. Rendering. Graphics. Website development. Presenting to clients. Designing that tiny bench in the courtyard. These are all specialty jobs that exist beyond the scope of architecture. You can focus on one thing and this can be your whole job.

Here’s the thing: Not all architects have to be architects. Not everyone wants to be a project architect, project manager or principal. There are other paths you can take.

The skills that you have developed, over the course of your career (no matter if you’ve been working for 2 years or 20 years) can be put to use in hundreds of other roles in dozens of other industries.

If you think you want out, look at your options. Talk to other architects who are out in the world doing other equally amazing things. You owe it to yourself to at least explore what else is out there.

We also realize not everyone has the privilege and the circumstances to quit their jobs or change careers right now. You’ve got families to feed, mortgages, and other financial commitments. All these things may prevent you from taking the leap. And that’s okay.

There’s a whole world beyond the title of Architect…

You can get creative fulfillment, passion and purpose both alongside and beyond the title of Architect. The term ‘architect’ shouldn’t isolate us from other kinds of design. It should celebrate our breadth and versatility across design disciplines. 

You can leverage your skills, discipline, experience and knowledge in other industries. Here are just some of the ways:

You could be a graphic or visual designer at Amazon, a game designer or environmental artist at Rockstar, a design consultant at Doblin or McKinsey, a UX designer at Kayak, a computational designer at Adidas or New Balance, a real estate developer or analyst at JLL. Business development, customer excellence, client-side project manager, set design, service design, workplace design.

These paths and the stories of thousands of people who have transitioned out of architecture and forged pathways into new industries, are documented in our new book Out of Architecture. Instead of tip-toeing around the topic of leaving architecture, we need architects who’ve applied their skills in other industries to share their stories, to show that there are other paths for people who aren’t happy in the field. 

We need to create safe spaces where we can freely discuss our career options. That’s what Out of Architecture stands for, and you can always come to talk with us. 

Take action in your career. Even if that first step is just a conversation.

Architects, it’s time to talk.

References

If you’re thinking about making a career change or looking for support in your job search or negotiation, Out of Architecture is here to help. There are loads of resources including our job board, podcasts, and you can book a free consultation with us all on our website at www.outofarchitecture.com.

Even if you’re looking to stay in the profession, talking about your skills and projects in a different way can accelerate your practice. If you’re looking to reframe your narrative, Nikita Morell specializes in copywriting for architects.

 Browse the Architizer Jobs Board and apply for architecture and design positions at some of the world’s best firms. Click here to sign up for our Jobs Newsletter. 

Reference

oma perigon miami
CategoriesArchitecture

OMA’s first residential tower in miami ‘the perigon’ reveals its sunlit interiors

By Zarkon Group,

interior designer tara bernerd works with oma

 

Sited proudly along the sparkling waterfront of Miami Beach, OMA‘s diamond-shaped residential high rise ‘The Perigon’ reveals a first look at its sunlit interiors. Fit for its exclusive, resort-minded location, the luxury tower will boast hotel-style amenities private to owners to blur the line between condominium and resort. Evoking the atmosphere of a five-star hotel, the interiors have been designed by Tara Bernerd, a renowned hospitality designer who has shaped iconic spaces from Belgravia to Vienna.

 

The architecture itself will take shape as an array of nesting towers, each rotated to enhance views for all residences toward the Atlantic Ocean. See designboom’s previous coverage here.

oma perigon miami
image, header image © Binyan Studios

 

 

the perigon: warm, welcoming, and sophisticated

 

Curating the amenities of The Perigon, interior designer Tara Bernerd looked to the masterful architecture by OMA. Arriving to the building, residents are welcomed by a grand and inviting lobby with honed white travertine flooring showing a diamond pattern, a nod to the project’s distinctive footprint, an Italian stone finish connecting with the natural textures which are recognized throughout Miami.

 

The design team sought an atmosphere which is warm, organic and bright, while at once evoking the sophistication of the European Riviera — a design choice which draws from the future residents’ many seaside travels.

oma perigon miamiimage © The Boundary

 

 

‘We envisaged the residents at The Perigon to be well travelled, design-savvy and highly cultured,’ said interior designer Tara Bernerd. ‘We have created interiors that speak to the architecture of the building, with a conversation between interior and exterior design, that would appeal to this individual and their penchant for an international design sophistication. The amenity collection epitomizes this ethos, with finishes and furnishings chosen to evoke a refined relaxation, so that it truly is a destination in and of itself.’

oma perigon miami
image © The Boundary

 

 

inside the miami beach tower

 

The amenities which have been revealed as part of the first look at OMA’s The Perigon are located along two levels and include a highly anticipated spa. These spaces will be finished with a combination of materials and fabrics selected both for their authenticity to the area and their connection to sought-after natural environments.

 

A billiards room was designed by Tara Bernerd as a refreshing, mature approach to a game room. The warmly lit space is located just off the lobby and features a floor-to-ceiling glass interior wall to invite participation and spectatorship. The building’s signature diamond pattern is repeated here via its clever wood flooring. The sunrise lounge and hospitality kitchen stay consistent with the building’s soft and natural color palette, with light wood paneling and a dramatic stone bar for entertaining and private events.

oma perigon miami
image © The Boundary

 

 

With views over Miami Beach, an awe-inspiring indoor-outdoor conservatory doubling as a breakfast lounge and terrace stands apart as one of the most hotel-like amenities at The Perigon by OMA. Residents will start their days in the serene, dedicated space, where a barista will be available upon request to serve hot or iced coffee to a resident’s liking. The staff at The Perigon will always ensure that every owner’s ideal daily morning routine, from reading the local paper to enjoying sunny-side-up eggs, will be realized.

 

The wine room and garden on the building’s south side is another unique space inspired by serenity, with views overlooking the property’s waterfall garden. The space will keep nearly 450 bottles of the most refined wine selections in stock and will offer storage services to residents with their own prized collections. A top sommelier will be on hand to host private tastings both at the bar and in the garden, while a celebrated chef will design a variety of pairing menus depending on the season.

oma perigon miami
image © The Boundary

 

 

‘When we first launched The Perigon, our buyers were struck by the tower’s remarkable design that is seemingly afloat above lush gardens,’ said Camilo Miguel, Jr., CEO of developer Mast Capital. ‘The architecture’s slender columns, soaring lines and wraparound terraces maximize the indoor- outdoor experience, and we had a clear vision to use this additional space to bring resort amenities and experiences into the condominium setting.

 

‘With reservations successfully converted to contracts, and incredible demand for the limited remaining inventory, we’re proud to reveal how The Perigon’s amenities are as impressive as the residences themselves, and a true extension of one’s home. The amenity collection will cultivate a community for private owners to enjoy this enriched everyday lifestyle together; with every need being met by a team of butlers and expert concierges ready to make any request a reality.’

Reference

Concrete interior of House of Voids by Malik Architecture
CategoriesArchitecture

Malik Architecture punctures house in Delhi with multi-storey voids

By Zarkon Group,

A series of openings that let in natural light penetrate a residential building in Delhi named House of Voids, created by Indian architecture studio Malik Architecture.

The Indian house is on a dense urban site, which led Malik Architecture to design skylights and openings between floor levels to maximise natural light entering the home.

Concrete interior of House of Voids by Malik Architecture
The living spaces on the first floor are supported by a large stilt

The structure was made from reinforced cement concrete with exterior walls clad in Gwalior mint sandstone.

Malik Architecture separated the house’s circulation from the main living and office areas with the stairwell situated on the east side of the home, where there is little opportunity to gain natural light as the site shares a wall with the adjoining plot.

Interior light well of House of Voids by Malik Architecture
Skylights and voids increase natural lighting in the house

The western facade of the house is set back six metres from the neighbouring building.

Malik Architecture created openings, screens and characteristic voids that penetrate multiple floor levels to flood the living spaces on this side of the home with sunlight.

Basement offices of House of Voids by Malik Architecture
An opening in the ground floor lets sunlight into the offices in the basement

Office spaces were located in the basement and mezzanine level above the ground floor while the main living spaces begin from the first floor, which is cantilevered six metres above a ground-level courtyard.

The living room on the first floor opens onto a terrace that is surrounded by the foliage of the ground-floor trees.

Exterior of House of Voids by Malik Architecture
The living room on the first floor leads to an outdoor terrace

“The excisions are very deliberate; for example, the angular slice at the northwest corner, where the living room opens into the veranda deck, is made to maximise the experience of large trees within the plot and beyond,” Malik Architecture told Dezeen. “This same slice turns into a north light for the living room.”

“The slices, voids and excisions are the protagonists for the spatial and structural frameworks of the house – connecting people to light and the trees,” the architecture studio continued.

According to Malik Architecture, Delhi’s neighbourhoods have traditionally been characterised by two-storey houses with front gardens that separate the buildings from tree-lined roads.

Malik Architecture designed House of Voids with green spaces and openings that let in light and restore thermal balance in ways that are indicative of the traditional Delhi building typology.

Exterior courtyard at House of Voids in Delhi
The upper floors of the house cantilever over the courtyard to provide shade

“This proposal re-evaluates the typology of the building form as prescribed by the current guidelines and adapts it to re-establish the sensation of the pre-existing urban condition by introducing a network of labyrinthine voids running through the house, catching light and restoring thermal balance, expressed as a combination of green spaces, deep fissures and skylights,” said Malik Architecture.

“A gigantic structural pylon is the load-bearing pivot for the cantilevered superstructure, creating shaded ground and resonating the language of Delhi’s monumental institutions.”

Interior staircase at House of Voids by Malik Architecture
The circulation is separated from the rest of the home

Malik Architecture created fixed and operable sandstone screens for the exterior of the house to provide shading and privacy, which were cut by hand and water jet techniques.

The design of the screens references traditional Indian jaali – perforated stone or lattice screens with ornamental patterns.

Exterior of House of Voids in Delhi
Perforated screens shade the house

“We resisted the urge to use intricate or ornamental patterns for the screens, choosing instead to focus on the sense of the heavy stone mass dissolving into abstract compositions of light and shadow,” said Malik Architecture.

“A few panels with traditional patterns were randomly inserted into the overall composition.”

House of Voids has been shortlisted in the urban house category of Dezeen Awards 2022, alongside a compact family home in Tokyo where the staircase is designed as a relaxing social space and a house in Melbourne that makes the most of its narrow plot with eight courtyards and gardens.

The photography is by Bharath Ramamrutham.

Reference

Is VR The New Paradigm for Architectural Visualization?
CategoriesArchitecture

Is VR The New Paradigm for Architectural Visualization?

By Zarkon Group,

Architizer Journal is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

Is virtual reality (VR) necessary in my design practice? Many architects — not only those with established careers and years under their belts but also recent grads weary of technological trends — question if there is any need to pivot and incorporate VR into their practices. Some see it as futile, others resist the digital era, but most designers reluctant to VR implementation are simply unfamiliar with this virtual world. Yet, there is a new paradigm for architectural visualization that is being shaped by virtual reality, along with its cousins, augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR). Utilizing virtual reality as a visualization tool has become increasingly popular amongst designers as it offers a space for endless exploration and development. As the potentialities of VR continue evolving, here are a few reasons architects should consider investing in quality VR sets like the Meta Quest Pro to enhance their practice.

Whether it be to develop a design, contextualize a project or win over a client, the metaverse is making its mark in the architecture community. One of VR’s biggest advantages is providing a comprehensive understanding of space. When it comes to appreciating the detailed particularities of a site, 2D drawings and built models can only go so far. The beauty of VR is that it takes architectural visualization one step further and allows architects to deeply conceptualize and experience an environment. Through 360-degree views, VR can be incorporated at any stage of the design process. Whether it be to simply make sense of a space and its massing or to create a hyperreal experience with detailed elements, the possibilities are endless.

Top-of-the-line VR sets, like the newly-released Meta Quest Pro, are great gateways into the digital world. The Meta Quest Pro is packed with new and improved features which expand the possibilities of VR for architecture and ensure a comfortable and uncomplicated user experience. VR sets like the Meta Quest Pro are designed for collaboration. The device comes with a resizable screen that allows designers to organize their work however they please while simultaneously communicating with other users. Moreover, the Meta Quest Pro is especially handy for architects as they can collaborate in real-time while working with modeling software such as Akrio and Gravity Sketch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaRastZmucQ

Compared to older models, this device boasts a wide color gamut, an expanded dimming range and an increased contrast ratio. Whether the designer is adding light features or sun studies into their design, the viewing experience will feel ultra-realistic and help accurately conceptualize a space. Equally, the controllers on this device have been upgraded to capture a greater range of motion and more precise operations. Designers can therefore replicate writing and hand-sketching directly in the virtual world! For designers who plan to stay immersed for longer periods of time, The Meta Quest Pro has been engineered to be more ergonomic and ensure long-lasting comfort.

VR lets architects visualize and experience a design long before it’s been built. However, it can also be used to strengthen client relations. Architects can share their ultra-realistic and immersive designs with clients to help strengthen relationships and solidify deals. Therefore, investing in VR is not only an investment in better design but an investment in a flourishing practice. Architectural approaches, practices and standards are constantly evolving and it is up to the architect to pivot when they feel fit. Nevertheless, VR sets like the Meta Quest Pro are tools not to overlook.

For more ways to supercharge your workflow, check out more articles in our Tech for Architects series, which includes our recommendations of Top Laptops for Architects and Designers. 

Reference

6 Expressive Projects Flaunting Their Structural Frames
CategoriesArchitecture

6 Expressive Projects Flaunting Their Structural Frames

By Zarkon Group,

Architizer is thrilled to announce that the 11th Annual A+Awards is open for entries! With an Early Entry Deadline of November 4th, 2022, the clock is ticking — get started on your submission today.

With the plethora of materials available today, architectural frames have become increasingly complex, moving further and further away from the simple cast iron and concrete examples of the past. A confluence of factors influences the design of a frame, which in turn shapes the building’s height, shape and interior spaces. As architects push the limits of creative possibility, the skeletons of some of the world’s most beautiful buildings have evolved into evermore intricate and visually exciting structures. Using modern building techniques and innovative materials, building frames have become webs of beams, posts, knuckles and joints that, in the past, may have been hidden behind stone and drywall.

There’s a widely known expression that suggests a magician never shares his secrets; however, when it comes to architects and the craft of structural design, this seems to be less and less the case. Gazing through the gallery of the 10th Annual A+Awards-winners, we noticed an increased number of buildings expressively flaunting their structures for all to see. Could a renewed appreciation for the masterful art of structural design be why we are seeing more projects with exposed frames? Or are there other reasons — including transparency about sustainable material choices or even representing the program within — motivating architectural firms to reveal their buildings’ skeletons?

Caisse d’Epargne Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Headquarter

By GRAAM , Dijon, France

Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Mid Rise (5-15 Floors)

Banking group Caisse d’Epargne has a new head office designed by GRAAM. An intelligent seven-story modular building, the headquarters is designed with a prefabricated concrete floor and exo-wooden structure covered with a glazed double skin. The goal was to design a building that reached Passivhaus standards while providing a flexible work environment. Local materials were expertly implemented to create the stunning structure whose timber frame and glazed façade assist in heating and cooling, while the cleverly placed timber columns are ideal for partitioning work areas.

Casa Malandra

By TAC, Puerto Escondido, Mexico

Popular Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Private House (XS <1000 sq ft)

Photographs by Onnis Luque

Casa Malandra was conceived by the Mexican firm Taller Alberto Calleja amid the lush fields of Puerto Escondido in Mexico. The design creates many juxtapositions. While the concrete frame that forms the private domain of the dwelling emerges as a contemporary cuboid structure, it contrasts to the open wooden build that borders (next to the private pool), which draws inspiration from the Mexican Palapa — a traditional shelter roofed by palm leaves or branches whose timber frame is in keeping with the uncultivated surroundings. The exposed structure in both instances aim to increase the volume of space throughout while simultaneously connecting the various vernacular voids and implementing visual appeal.

IKEA – the good neighbour

By querkraft architekten zt gmbh, Vienna, Austria

Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Retail

Photographs by Christina Häusler – Querkraft Architekten

In Austria’s capital, Vienna, Querkraft Architekten constructed the first IKEA store unsuitable for cars and parking. Designed to be “a good neighbor,” the community conscious building is the essence of its origin. The exposed framework of the no-frills building showcases how the structure is assembled, much like the renowned furniture pieces within. By exposing the infrastructure, the perceptible height of the spaces is increased dramatically, and the continuous void in the interior of the building allows visual contact between the different floors.

Additionally, the prefabricated reinforced concrete columns are set on a grid of around ten by ten meters, which guarantees considerable flexibility in the design and use of the spaces within. To ensure the efficient conditioning of the building, all of the services are based on a simple principle: short distances and direct access, which is helped by the lack of internal cladding. Like the beloved Kallax for apartments worldwide, Querkraft Architekten’s The Good Neighbor could well be a city center staple of the future.

Ghost Hangar

By John Grable Architects, TX, United States

Popular Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Showroom

Photographs by John Grable Architects

Ghost Hangar was designed exclusively to house a living collection of Vintage WWII-era aircraft. The 32,000-square-foot structure sits on a remote site in Texas Hill Country, Texas. With their traditionally inspired design proposal, John Grable Architects aspired to ensure a minimal visual impact on the surrounding landscape. Drawing inspiration from the historical shape and form of the Quonset hut developed during WWII, a rigid frame was selected using a triangulated wide-flange barrel-vault structural system connected through a series of knuckles. This composition enables the building to achieve longer spans suited to aircraft housing. The unconventional steel roof structure and board-formed concrete buttresses provide unquestioned durability. At the same time, reclaimed barn wood siding was specified pre-weathered to tolerate the surrounding climate while blending harmoniously with the territory.

The passive light shelves, deep roof overhangs and cupola openings work in conjunction with the Thermasteel envelope to render the hangar volume a shaded refuge throughout the warm summers. The building is not only aesthetically era-appropriate but it also achieves sustainable properties through the use of age-old principles.

Cycling and Pedestrian Bridge in Bohinj Slovenia

By Atelje Ostan Pavlin, Municipality of Bohinj, Radovljica, Slovenia

Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Transportation Infrastructure  

Photographs by Mirian Kambič

The intricate footbridge on the Bohinj Cycle Route connects the upper and lower banks of the Sava Bohinjka River. The central volume of the bridge is supported at three points, and the load-bearing structure consists of four steel beams running the length of the bridge. The intermediate ellipsoid concrete pillar rests on the river bed and carries steel “branches” to support the beams. The architects aimed to evoke the sense of a “rural wooden temple” with their bridge reflecting the form of a traditional hayrack. The main construction, pillar rhythms, wooden details, ties, eaves and roof are all built from local larch wood to ensure harmonious integration with the natural landscape.

Nantong Urban Agricultural Park Exhibition Center

By Z-ONE Tech, Nantong, China

Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Gallery & Exhibition Spaces

Photographs by LINBIAN

Experimental architectural practice Z-ONE Tech has designed several distinct buildings for Nontong Urban Agricultural Park. The Rural Living Room Exhibition Centre is a contemporary building in form and construction. The white tent-like structure has a membrane segmented by the structural lines that shape its two ovoid figures with their sky-lights while vertical columns hold the perimeter glazing that captures the raw vistas beyond.

Architizer is thrilled to announce that the 11th Annual A+Awards is open for entries! With an Early Entry Deadline of November 4th, 2022, the clock is ticking — get started on your submission today.

Reference

Perkins&Will el paso recreation
CategoriesArchitecture

new recreation center by perkins&will completes in el paso

By Zarkon Group,

global firm perkins&will takes to el paso

 

Perkins&Will celebrates the completion of its Eastside Regional Recreation Center in El Paso. In the heart of the Chihuahuan Desert, about forty miles from central El Paso, is the Hueco Tanks — an area of clustered rock formations home to hollows of water and petroglyphs dating back to 6000 BCE. The colors, forms, and light of the Hueco Tanks have sparked human creativity for centuries.

 

Adding to this rich history, Perkins&Will’s Dallas studio drew inspiration from the site for El Paso’s new Eastside Regional Recreation Center, now known as ‘The Beast,’ a name selected by community vote. Located in a fast-growing part of the desert, the recreation center and water park is the first component of a 92-acre regional park, transforming an extreme, high-altitude desert basin into an inviting oasis for the historically underserved multigenerational community.

Perkins&Will el paso recreation

 

 

a state-of-the-art recreational center

 

Seeking to enhance the quality of life for residents, the city of El Paso engaged the architects at Perkins&Will to spearhead the development of the recreation center alongside local architecture firm, In*Situ. With a population of over 150,000, East El Paso is the fastest growing town in Texas but is also the least developed in terms of community resources, making this project a significant milestone for the community.

 

The first phase included a state-of-the-art natatorium — swimming center — community center, fitness center, gymnasium, and an outdoor waterpark. Informed by numerous stakeholder meetings, the designers addressed the community’s need for an oasis to escape the heat, creating swimming areas as both a temporary escape from the weather as well as an activity that promotes wellbeing and connectivity.

Perkins&Will el paso recreation

 

 

responding to the natural context

 

Entering the recreational grounds, guests encounter a public art display referencing the Hueco Tanks State Park. Dallas-based artist Brad Goldberg embraced elements of the surrounding environment in the piece, incorporating Palo Verde trees and large granite boulders shaped into outdoor seating, creating an area of respite for guests at the front of the recreation center.

 

A wide selection of local species helps conserve irrigation water throughout the landscape, with grading designed to accommodate periods of intense rainfall. Arroyos surround the building as a clear reminder of the desert environment.

 

A large plaza serves as a community civic space and gateway to other areas of the center. On the west side of the building is the entrance to the multigenerational community center, built with a long format brick that provides a much-needed breakdown in scale for a residential, welcoming feel. In support of a city-led regional colored lighting initiative, the south façade is illuminated at night, transforming into a beacon for the neighborhood.

Perkins&Will el paso recreation

 

 

Modulation of the intense, dynamic desert light guided the design concept. The design team carefully articulated humble materials, creating a range of experiences with modest cost implications throughout the building. Shade structures allow for exterior activities, providing relief from the desert sun and creating a transition between indoors and out.

 

Sight-lines and connectedness also served as a driver of the design. Inside, light enhances the vitality of people in motion. The shade structures, tilt-wall concrete, wood slats, and perforated metal filter light and views throughout the interior in ways appropriate to the desert context.

 

The north façade panels allow indirect sunlight into the building and provide relief from the potentially monolithic wall panels. In the indoor natatorium, a saw-tooth panel arrangement provides indirect natural light without creating dangerous reflections that might impact a lifeguard’s ability to monitor underwater conditions. At night, the south façade is animated with light in support of a city-led lighting initiative.

Perkins&Will el paso recreation

 

 

The state-of-the-art natatorium includes a competition-ready fifty-meter pool, a 25-yard lap pool, and two diving boards (one meter and three meters) with associated diving well. The pool can host up to 400 athletes on the deck and has support functions to hold regional competitive swim meets. Ascending to the second floor, patrons have access to spectator seating that accommodates up to 800 people.

 

Above the spectator seating, acoustic panels help minimize echoes and reverberation in a color palette inspired by the Hueco Tanks’ flora. Also on the second floor is a fully-equipped fitness center with a walking track, a gym with a main basketball court, and two side courts holding up to 250 people. The outdoor waterpark is separated from the natatorium. It includes a wave simulator, a 25-foot-tall water slide, a lazy river, rentable shaded cabanas, and a rock-climbing wall with an associated plunge pool.

Perkins&Will el paso recreation

 

 

 

Throughout the project, the design team prioritized the health and wellbeing of its users. The team utilized energy modeling to optimize HVAC and envelope performance, learning a counterintuitive lesson along the way. By removing interior insulation and wall finish at the aquatic center and gym, the team freed up budget dollars that could then be applied to enhanced HVAC systems for overall better energy performance.

 

Additionally, the concrete interior surfaces require less maintenance than traditional painted gyp board. In support of the wellness goals for the center, an efficient method for removing harmful chloramines from the air in the pool was utilized. A continuous evacuation chamber embedded in the pool deck extracts these chloramines. This works in tandem with the perimeter HVAC duct layout in sweeping the air towards the evacuators, ensuring the air is as clean and healthy as possible.

Reference