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Architecture

Sloping roof shelters House of Noufal in India by 3dor Concepts

By Zarkon Group,15/10/2022

Architecture studio 3dor Concepts used a giant sloping roof to cover all three levels of this house in Kerala, India, which features an internal courtyard garden that can be opened up to the outdoors.

Named House of Noufal, the dwelling was designed by Kanpur-based studio 3dor Concepts for a client who is an avid traveller and wanted his family home to reflect his open mindset and curiosity.

The project is located in the Kannur district in the north of India, which has a wet maritime climate with heavy rain during the monsoon season and hot summer days.

While striving to be unique, the House of Noufal’s design also incorporates features evoking the region’s vernacular buildings to ensure it is suited to the climate.

Indian home by 3dor Concepts with sloped roof — It was designed by 3dor Concepts for a site in Kannur district

“One notable requirement was that the house should be unique and weird at the same time, and full of surprises,” said the studio.

“We started with an idea to design the house by stirring modern architecture with traditional Kerala architecture, a proper climatically responsive tropical house.”

Interior of Indian residence by 3dor Concepts — The floors of House of Noufal follow the slope of its roof

The roof of the House of Noufal slopes down to touch the ground on the front elevation, sheltering it from heavy rain and strong sunlight while giving it a distinctive appearance.

Its tiled surface is interrupted by a full-width opening that allows daylight to pour into a double-height courtyard inside containing large boulders, pebbles and plants.

The courtyard separates the main living spaces at the front of the house from more private areas including the bedrooms and a kitchen towards the rear.

Large openings on the ground floor, including full-height operable glass walls at either end of the courtyard, connect the interior with the garden and allow breezes to naturally ventilate it.

Interior courtyard of House of Noufal — An internal courtyard garden forms a focal point of the home

Across the pebble garden, a path links the kitchen with a dining area and lounge featuring a bench suspended between two columns. Seating areas face the courtyard, making it the focal point of the home.

A set of minimal metal stairs with open treads connects the house’s three levels, which follow the slope of the roof. Open balustrades and screens maintain a visual connection between the spaces on each floor.

House of Noufal has a steel framework that supports the roof made of locally sourced tiles. Openings with wooden louvres on the external and internal walls are in the traditional Kerala style.

3dor Concepts was founded in 2013 by architects Muhammed Jiyad CP, Ahmed Thaneem Abdul Majeed and Muhammed Naseem M. Its previous projects include a house in the town of Taliparamba that features walls, windows and furniture with curved edges.

The photography is by SyamSreesylam.

Reference

Architecture

The New Venture X Office by Studio+ Is a Masterclass in What Makes a Co-Working Space Great

By Zarkon Group,14/10/2022

When Studio+ began designing the new office space for Venture X, the firm asked itself the question: “What makes a co-working space great?”

Studio+ figured that inspiring creativity in a workplace takes more than luxurious finishes and the right furniture but requires above all an understanding of the psychology behind great work. The firm took notes from the Venture X team — who have designed and built over 50 facilities around the world — and translated their lessons into a design that is both fresh and homey.

6 Soon-To-Be-Built Projects by World-Renowned Architecture Firms

By Zarkon Group,13/10/2022

The winners of Architizer’s 3rd Annual One Rendering Challenge have been revealed! Interested in next year’s program? Subscribe to our newsletter for updates.

Drawing in architecture takes many forms. Sketching and illustration are excellent tools for idea forming and concept development, while using CAD for spatial planning is fundamental during the design process. Yet, above all others, one branch of architectural methodology has developed rapidly over the last two decades, with swathes of new businesses offering their services springing to life each month. As rendering technology has improved, becoming increasingly user-friendly, cost-effective and efficient, working with 3D modeling software has become a key pillar of standard practice. Furthermore, the art of translating these models into compelling architectural drawings — known as 3D rendering — has not only cemented itself as a core stage in many firms’ design workflow but has also become a standalone industry in its own right.

Indeed, 3D architectural rendering has gone beyond the boundaries of design development and has become a marketing tool for the industry like no other. These details images can tell stories and are used for pitches and proposals to drum up excitement and investment. Once a scale model that took considerable time to make was the only way to represent a site proposal, and a single illustration was the only “sneak peek” of a project. Today we can explore entire proposals, concepts and ideas using walk-throughs and visual representations of every nook and cranny — try before you buy for the modern era.

Here are six exciting projects whose 3D architectural renderings have us excitedly waiting for the real thing.

Abrahamic Family House

By Adjaye Associates, Abu Dhabi, UAE

In the UAE’s picturesque capital, Abrahamic Family House will be a collection of three religious spaces: a mosque, a synagogue and a church, all upon common ground in Abu Dhabi. The development is set to serve as a community for inter-religious dialogue and exchange, emphasizing the value and importance of peaceful co-existence and acceptance among different beliefs, nationalities and cultures. A fourth space — not affiliated with any specific religion — will serve as a community center for all people, offering educational and event-based programming.

The design of the building and the interior intertwine the commonalities of each of the three religions, celebrating their similarities against highlighting their differences. Each of the bold structures features colonnades, screens and vaults to represent the sacred nature of their existence, and they are surrounded by vast meandering gardens bringing life and supporting connection.

Mirvish Village

By Henriquez Partners Architects, Toronto, Canada

Popular Choice, 2019 A+Awards, Unbuilt Multi-Unit Housing (L>10 Floors)

Built on the site of Honest Ed’s, an eclectic discount store that was once a landmark to the people of Toronto, the newly imagined Mirvish Village will be a comprehensive purpose-built community for rental apartments and innovative retail. Mirvish Village will comprise 32 micro buildings and eventually be home to over 2,000 Torontonians. All 800 suites will be rented, with some apartments available below-market rates and almost half designed for families.

The development aims to preserve its community atmosphere by applying mixed precast and brick panel cladding treatments to various tower and mid-rise components. The new structure is set to look like individual buildings that have evolved, giving the feeling of a traditional neighborhood street rather than a mega-development. The project is designed to meet LEED Platinum ND standards, will include a site-wide utility and support sustainable transportation with an extensive bike and car co-op program.

The Forestias

By Foster + Partners, Bangkok, Thailand

Situated on the outskirts of Bangkok, The Forestias is a residential-led masterplan with a substantial forest at its heart. The pioneering development aims to become an example and a template for future urban living in Thailand and globally. Lush greenery dissects the urban development that hosts a variety of housing types. The development creates shared facilities that encourage community interaction by visually reducing boundary walls and hedges.

High-rise condominium buildings are designed to suit families perfectly alongside low-rise condominiums that bring residents close to the surrounding nature. Cluster-home residences are included for extended, multi-generational families wishing to live close together in multiple homes that are easily connected. Additionally, as a way of futureproofing generational changes, the design includes a residential offering that has been developed to suit the needs of older residents with lifetime care services.

Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library

By JLG Architects and Snøhetta, Medora, ND, United States

A challenge was set for the design of the much-anticipated Library of the 26th President of the United States: “Build an awe-inspiring, architecturally significant destination that works with, not against, nature.” Of all the competitors, JLG was chosen to work hand-in-hand with Snøhetta to develop a destination that strives to continue the legacy of Roosevelt and his pursuit and creation of conservation ideas that have shaped the country.

The Library utilizes the sweeping views of the Little Missouri River, Elkhorn Ranch, and Theodore Roosevelt National Park, delicately carving out modern, sustainable architecture in the Badlands and riverbanks. The project aims to protect and nourish the land on which it will be built while encouraging education and conservation for many years.

New North Zealand Hospital

By Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and Herzog & de Meuron, Hillerød, Denmark

The New Hospital in North Zealand, Hillerød, has been planned to be the central hospital resource for more than 310,000 citizens in the northern part of the Capital Region of Denmark. The hospital merges three existing hospitals: Hillerød Hospital, Elsinore Hospital and Frederikssund Hospital. Focusing on questioning how we facilitate healthcare, Herzog & de Meuron and Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects’ design ambition is to redefine how we perceive a hospital and how we design and construct them.

With a budget of 600 million euros, the teams will challenge the traditional hospital design that, in many places, has recently been seen to make healthy patients increasingly unwell, weakening them physically and emotionally rather than improving their condition. The new mega-hospital will break the boundary between illness and health by providing care and focus on well-being as opposed to mere treatment.

Green Villa

By MVRDV and Van Boven Architecten, Sint-Michielsgestel, Netherlands

Located on the southern edge of the Dutch village of Sint-Michielsgestel, the four-story Green Villa by MVRDV and Van Boven Architecten is a unique and exciting proposal that explores the potential of ‘façade-less’ buildings and ‘radical greening.’ The inner and outer skin is made up of a “rack” of shelves, varying in depth, that hosts an abundance of potted plants, bushes, and trees such as forsythias, jasmine, pine, and birch, all labeled and cataloged. The forward-thinking approach stems from MVRDV’s belief that sustainability implies a technological challenge and a positive change in lifestyle, where urban areas should be considered a part of the natural landscape. The flexible mixed-use development will be home to adaptable residential and commercial spaces.

The winners of Architizer’s 3rd Annual One Rendering Challenge have been revealed! Interested in next year’s program? Subscribe to our newsletter for updates.

Reference

mobius architekci carves dune-shaped residence into lush hillside site in poland

Architecture

mobius architekci carves ‘dune house’ into lush slope in poland

By Zarkon Group,12/10/2022

Dune House by Mobius Architekci

Architecture firm Mobius Architekci has completed its latest residential project called ‘Dune House’ near Warsaw, Poland. Nestled in green meadows and surrounded by lush forests, the house features a distinctive curved silhouette reminiscent of a sea dune, rightly giving the project its name. The curved shape, which the Polish architects characterize as a harp, stretches across the hillside and follows the line of the winding Narew River.

nestled in green meadows, the house features a distinctive curved silhouette | all images courtesy of Mobius Architekci

Cubist forms and sharp lines emerging from an organic residence

Lead architect Przemek Olczyk of Mobius Architekci carved the building into the hillside of the site, creating a modern and spacious residence of over 1,500 square meters. The expansive structure that rises gently from the slope undergoes defragmentation inside the organically shaped body. Cubist forms, and sharp lines, cut out the semi-open atrium, providing intimacy and allowing light into permeate the interior.

Dune evokes futuristic imagery, though it harkens back to the minimalism that the Polish studio has used for years. From the perspective of the river, the building appears to be a monolith. The balance and completeness of the space are also achieved through the materials used: white plasters and stone quartz sinter.

cubist forms and sharp lines cut out the semi-open atrium

glass box ‘periscope’ and automated technological features

The house captures light while providing shelter from the burning sun, allowing residents to be indoors and outdoors without barriers or separations. The design ensures the intimacy of the house’s inhabitants while being open and free from functional architecture – a common approach and a feature of Przemek Olczyk’s projects.

Looking at the house from the river side, the architect placed the bedrooms in the right part; in the middle there is a living room with kitchen and on the left a recreation room. Also noteworthy is a glazed rectangular box placed on the roof of a one-story sprawling body. Like a periscope, it allows to look over the crowns of the surrounding trees. The house has two swimming pools, including an indoor pool and two helipads, a 300-meter running track and a mobile platform that allows free communication with the base of the hill. Many elements of the house are automated, which, combined with innovative technological solutions, directly affects the comfort of the home.

the house captures light while providing shelter from the burning sun

the curved shape stretches across the hillside and follows the line of the winding Narew River

Reference

Architecture

JKMM and ILO architects create Dance House in Helsinki factory

By Zarkon Group,11/10/2022

A large steel-clad cube encloses the Dance House in Helsinki, which local architecture studios JKMM and ILO architects have created by converting and extending part of a former cable factory.

Providing over 7,000 square metres of space, the Dance House forms part of a wider redevelopment of the old industrial building that was acquired by the city in 1991 to create the Kaapelitehdas, or Cable Factory, which is Helsinki’s largest cultural centre.

JKMM and ILO architects were tasked with reconfiguring part of the existing structure while adding new spaces to its eastern end, housed inside a steel-clad cuboid informed by the “gravity, lightness and weight” of dance.

“The Dance House adds a striking contemporary layer to the history of the former factory and its surroundings,” said JKMM.

Corner of Dance House by JKMM and ILO architects — The centre occupies part of a former cable factory

“The new and old are placed in contrast, but also in dialogue with each other. Together, the Dance House and the Cable Factory create a meaningful destination and a revived neighbourhood,” JKMM continued.

Inside are two black-box dance studios. One of them is housed in the Cable Factory’s redesigned Pannu Hall, which now seats up to 400 people, and the second is the new 1,000-seat Erkko Hall – the largest dance performance space in the Nordic countries.

Detail image of the circular metal cladding panels — Metal clads the exterior of the building

These two performance spaces sit on either side of an entrance lobby, which connects to an enclosed street-like space between two existing facades, described by JKMM as a “glass courtyard”.

An underground club, cloakroom facilities, restaurant, rehearsal and back-of-house spaces are organised across the building’s five levels, with all of the circulation spaces designed to have the potential to be used for performance.

“All the public spaces in the Dance House have been designed with performance in mind,” explained JKMM’s project architect Harri Lindberg.

“It is possible for dance to take over, for example, the entire Cable Factory for the duration of a performance,” he continued.

Exterior image of an entrance to Dance House in Helsinki — An entrance links to an enclosed street-like space. Photo is by Hannu Rytky

Large steel panels, one of them highly reflective and one weathered, form the facade of the extension, hung slightly above the ground and at different levels to give the effect of them shifting away from one another.

On the building’s north elevation facing a nearby park, the stacked levels have been covered in hundreds of small aluminium discs, designed to create an “abstract rhythm” against the sky.

Interior view of Dance House in Helsinki by JKMM and ILO architects — There are two black-box dance studios. Photo is by Tuomas Uusheimo

“Dance deals with gravity, lightness, and the weight of the human body,” explained JKMM.

“The ‘floating’ metal facades were custom designed by using laser welding technology, to create bespoke sandwich panels with the biggest possible surface,” it continued.

“Dance performers also create illusions. The light, satin-like steel surface can be transformed with light, becoming part of the scenery of dance events.”

Auditorium by JKMM and ILO architects in Helsinki — It has the largest dance performance space in the Nordic countries

Inside, robust materials such as raw steel and concrete have been chosen to complement the existing structure of the former factory.

JKKM recently incorporated heritage structures into another of its designs in the Finnish capital, creating a new home for the University of Arts Helsinki that partially occupies an old soap factory and silo building.

The photography is by Peter Vuorenrinne unless stated otherwise.

Reference

Architecture

Technical Details: An Architect’s Guide To Level Thresholds

By Zarkon Group,10/10/2022

Emma Walshaw is the founder of First In Architecture and Detail Library. She has written a number of books aiming to facilitate a better understanding of construction and detailing. First In Architecture is a website providing resources and guides for architects and students.

Level thresholds can be very difficult to detail, with many standard details always showing a 150 mm step between the finished floor level and external ground level. However, level thresholds provide a future-proof solution to an aging population and ensure a building can be used and visited by everyone. They are also a very aesthetic solution to bridging the gap between indoors and outdoors.

Level thresholds are also a legal requirement for new build housing in the UK. This means that all external doors, front, rear and side, plus any sliding, bifold, French or terrace doors, must provide a level entrance and exit. Although it is not a building regulation requirement in renovation projects, some councils may require level thresholds as a planning condition within extensive renovation projects.

Below we look at key considerations when designing level thresholds to ensure water does not enter the building.

Bienville House by Nathan Fell Architecture, New Orleans, LA, United States

Accessible / Level Threshold

An accessible threshold is defined as a threshold this is level or, if raised, has a total height of not more than 15 mm, a minimum number of upstands and slopes and with any upstands higher than 5 mm chamfered.

Building Regulation Requirements

For single new build properties, Building Regulation Part M4(1) and M4(2) must be met. This requires all access to the dwelling to be step free, including the entrance, garden and any terraces. For larger developments or flats, the local council may require 10% of units to meet Building Regulations Part M4(3), meaning the unit is fully adaptable to a wheelchair user.

Whilst these Building Regulations do not need to be met in the case of an extension, some Local Authorities, Building Control and/or Approved Inspectors may require the need to meet Part M4(1) within a planning approval condition, requiring entrances and exits to the house to be accessible.

Ground Floor Thresholds

LHS – In-situ concrete threshold drain built under the sill and pavers, pavers to be removable or inspection hatch to be provided at either end of the drain for cleaning and maintenance.

RHS – Aluminum threshold drain installed between pavers and sill with removable grill for inspection, drain with low level water entry of water infiltration between drain and sill.

There are various ways of designing a level threshold based on aesthetic, cost, structure, site conditions and location. However, there are a number of key features that all level thresholds should take into account.

Door — When specifying a door to be used in a level threshold, most manufacturers will state if the system is compliant with Part M of the Building Regulations. This guarantees that the element you step over is no more than a maximum 15 mm in height with no upstands of more than 5mm. Most sliding door manufactures provide frames with a completely level base frame. However, it is important to check the base frame of elements such as front and rear doors, especially in timber, as these will need special aluminum thresholds to be fully accessible.

Threshold Drainage — This is a building regulations requirement when designing this type of threshold. A drain can be installed between the sill and external landscaping flush with the level floor or hidden under the finishes. Many door manufacturers will even be able to provide a threshold drain for the door system chosen. This will help drain away any water near the drain as well as water which hits the door or glass and drains through the frame.

Threshold drain designed to clip into the aluminum sliding door system to drain both surface rain and rain hitting the glass and filtering through the window frame.

Waterproofing — Damp proof membranes should be draped up the door or window frame system at the point of the threshold. Water should be moved away from the threshold, by sloping eternal finishes away from the drain. To either side of the threshold, the damp proof course should be minimum of 150mm above ground level.

Key Points To Remember

The threshold — including the door frame — should not be more than 15 mm in height overall. Of these 15 mm, there should be a minimum number of upstands and slopes, with any upstands higher than 5 mm chamfered.
If the threshold is exposed to wind driven rain the landing can be up to 10 mm below the level of the sill if the sill is rounded or chamfered.
The external landing should have a fall ratio of between 1:40 and 1:60.
Ensure all water falls away from the doorway in a single direction.
Build a drainage channel between the landing and the threshold.
Ensure the channel discharges to a drainage system or land drainage such as a soakaway.

Timber Frame Key Considerations

LHS – Timber frame construction either side of threshold showing concrete slab construction and raised foundation blocks 150 mm above finished floor level, with threshold drain.

RHS – Level threshold with drain

Usually when designing for a timber frame structure, the timber frame should begin 150 mm above the ground level. This concept should be maintained when the ground level externally is level with the internal finish floor level. All the same considerations as above should be taken to account as well as the foundation or timber structure being raised 150 mm above the external ground level, usually 150 mm higher than the internal finished floor level.

Raised Terrace

Another way of preventing water ingress at this critical junction is to use a raised terrace such as paving slabs on pedestals. Whilst this is the best option if you have a raised terrace area, it is also used when the garden level is lower that your internal ground floor level, such as with a beam and block construction. Further details can be found in the following section.

Level Balcony and Terrace Thresholds

When designing a level threshold onto a raised terrace or balcony, even more care needs to be taken to assure that water does not enter the building fabric.

When creating a level threshold over a heated space, care needs to be taken when setting the internal finish floor level and ceiling level to allow for the new insulation. Many people opt for vacuum insulation to this area to allow for a reduced terrace build-up.

Adjustable pedestals can be used to bridge the gap between the level pavers or timber deck with the sloped flat roof. The gaps between the deck material is also key in allowing the water to drain through to the roof and the roof outlet.

Key Points To Remember

The threshold including door frame should not be more than 15mm in height overall. Of these 15mm, there should be a minimum number of upstands and slopes, with any upstands higher than 5mm chamfered.
The gap between door sill and paving or timber to be a minimum of 10mm.
The gap between paving or timber to be a minimum of 6mm.
Flat roof to have 1:40 falls for a 1:80 minimum built slope.
Ensure all water falls away from the doorway in a single direction.
Build a drainage outlet on the opposite side of the flat roof to the threshold.
Ensure the flat roof has an overflow.
Ensure all waterproofing has a minimum of 75mm upstand under the threshold.
Provide a minimum 150mm waterproofing upstand to sides such as brickwork.

Bienville House by Nathan Fell Architecture, New Orleans, LA, United States

Resources

If you want more inspiration on level thresholds, detailing and precedents, be sure to follow Detail Library on Pinterest where we have lots of examples.

For more information on how to detail level and accessible thresholds check out the fully resolved details on The Detail Library.

Top image: Canyon Run by Migration Studios, Concept

The Fourth Annual One Drawing Challenge is open for entries! Architecture’s most popular drawing competition is back and bigger than ever, including larger prizes. Get started on your submission and hurry — the Main Entry Deadline of October 21st is fast-approaching.

Reference

Architecture

Brilliant Bio-Based Materials Curated for Commercial Interiors

By Zarkon Group,09/10/2022

Our esteemed jury is now reviewing the submissions for this year’s A+Product Awards. Stay tuned for the winner’s announcement later this summer.

We are often introduced to biomaterials regarding their application to support medical advancements. A massive amount of research is being conducted globally, with innovations being announced all the time. You’ve probably heard the word bouncing around the design industry too. However, crucially it must be understood that the two subjects, although identical in name, as products are wildly different. In medical terms, biomaterial refers to a substance engineered to interact with biological systems for a medical purpose (like a heart valve or bone graft). In the design industry, when we discuss biomaterials, we are actually talking about bio-based materials, which are derived and manufactured from living organisms.

Bio-based material is a new and fascinating industry that has come to fruition due to the need for more sustainable construction and manufacturing base materials. Across the world, the quantity of furniture, fabrics and materials that end up in landfill is staggering and arriving there at a rate that cannot be sustained. As a reaction to this, many designers are seeking inspiration from nature and natural life cycles.

Forager Foam by Ecovative Images provided by Ecovative

Forager Leather by Ecovative Image by Vasil Hnatiuk

One such company is Ecovative. Ecovative are experts in something called mycelium. Mycelium is an essential part of fungi. It is a web-like substance formed from the pores of fungi. Often residing beneath ground, the probing webs assist in growing the mushrooms we see above ground while interconnecting the fungi from below. The mycelium search for food, passing on nutrients and other information to the fleshy mushrooms above ground. At Ecovative, they have learned how to guide the growth process of the mycelium to create large webs that are almost completely solid. The result is a wide range of natural, biodegradable materials that form textiles, packaging, and even alternative food products.

As a material, mycelium is incredibly resilient, with many other valuable qualities. By studying the growth of mycelium, scientists at Forager Ecovative have drawn out the most useful traits such as tensile strength, waterproofing, fire resistance, pliability and texture. They are producing foams and leather alternatives that rival any on the market. Mycelium hides and foams offer many advantages over traditional leather and plastic materials. Vivid colors and durable, supple textures are possible without the need for caustic chemicals or waste.

Finishing can be achieved with heat, pressure, and bio-based chemicals rather than petroleum-derived coatings, with a wider variety than traditional leather, minus the variability and blemishes that impact price. The foams produced by Ecovative rival any plastic-based alternative in performance and are unmatched in their circularity — mycelium, when thrown away at the end of a product’s life, returns to the earth as a nutrient rather than a pollutant.

Also working tirelessly with mycelium’s exceptional properties and potential are the team at MOGU. Offering functional, beautiful and meaningful products with a durable and sustainable life cycle, MOGU is committed to introducing the world to industrial processes with the lowest possible environmental impact.

“MOGU was founded on the belief that it is possible to employ nature’s intelligence to radically disrupt the design of everyday product, seeking a finer balance between the man-made and the rhythms of the ecosystem.”

MOGU’s floor finishes are genuinely remarkable. The floor finishes are made of solid and stable mycelium-based core boards coupled with high-performance bio-based coating. Each tile or roll integrates low-value biomasses such as corn crops, rice straw, spent coffee grounds, discarded seaweed and clam shells as an alternative to traditional industrial pigments. This choice in toning allows the natural pigments embedded in the product to appear visibly on the surface, creating a unique look to the materials that is elegant, on-trend and subtle.

That’s Caffeine by Atticus Durnell

Handmade in London by Atticus Durnell, That’s Caffeine is a unique bio-based material created from recycled coffee grounds that feels and looks like granite stone. The bio-based material is a composite of bio binders, minerals and plant-based resin, making it incredibly lightweight compared to its peers. The material is sustainable and biodegradable, water and heat-resistant, and successfully diverts coffee waste from landfills while enabling its distinctive surface finishes and colors.

Totomoxle by Fernando Laposse Images by Fernando Laposse

Bio-based materials do not need to be grown into something, as is the case for mycelium-based products. Mexico-based innovator Fernando Laposse has shown how waste material from our other consumables can also be utilized in making new, beautiful materials.

Totomoxtle is a new veneer material made with husks of heirloom Mexican corn. Ranging from deep purples to soft creams, Totomoxtle showcases the wealth of diversity of the native corns of Mexico.

Unfortunately, the number of native varieties of Mexican corn are in sharp decline. International trade agreements, aggressive use of herbicides and pesticides, and the influx of highly modified foreign seeds have decimated the practice. At the moment, the only hope for saving the heirloom species of maize lies with the indigenous people who continue to plant them out of tradition rather than for financial gain.

Laposse has been working with a group of families from the community of Tonahuixtla, slowly reintroducing native seeds in the village and returning to traditional agriculture. The husks collected from the harvest are now transformed by a group of local women into the veneering material, thus creating much-needed local employment and beautiful saleable materials that are forgiving to the environment.

Brusseleir, Clay Plaster by BC Materials Image by BC Materials

BC Materials work on several bio-based products made for the construction industry from the construction industry’s waste. Using material taken from the ground during excavation, the Brussels-based company has created Brusseleir. This clay plaster alternative regulates the humidity of indoor climates and is also wholly vapor permeable all the while, the plaster alternative is four times more acoustically effective than traditional plaster finishes.

From an environmental perspective, biomaterials are a compelling choice: They are biodegradable and store carbon dioxide, which means they can lower the carbon footprint of a product or a building during its lifetime. These materials can often perform just as well, sometimes better, than less sustainable alternatives. We have barely scratched the surface of the potential of bio-based materials and are in no position to propose bio-based materials everywhere just yet. However, there is an argument that says that is precisely what we should be striving for.

Consider this, across all industries, consumers have changed; buyers no longer need items that last a lifetime, typically trends drive sales, and the majority of people want their surroundings to evolve as they do. In such a society, products manufactured from bio-based materials have a stronger appeal than ever. As their usefulness is met, items can be discarded without concern. Each piece naturally breaks down and returns to the earth while leaving space for something new. No need for landfill, no need for chemicals to break things down, just a product from the earth, going right back into the earth — like a leaf working its way through the seasons year after year. That is the future of bio-based materials; hopefully, with suitable investments, it’s not too far off.

Our esteemed jury is now reviewing the submissions for this year’s A+Product Awards. Stay tuned for the winner’s announcement later this summer.

Reference

workshop architects fuses yucatecan + modernist elements in eclectic mexican home-studio

Architecture

workshop architects fuses yucatecan + modernist elements in mexican home-studio

By Zarkon Group,08/10/2022

workshop architects melds traditional + modern design

In a historic neighborhood in the Mexican city of Mérida, Workshop Architects’ ‘Studiolo’ is a traditional yet eclectic home-studio which fuses juxtaposing elements of Yucatecan colonial architecture and 20^th-century Italian modernism. A celebration of vibrancy, risk-taking, and iconic design elements, the space serves as a residence and studio for Mexican artists David Serrano and Robert Willson, and perfectly encapsulates both their personal and professional personalities. The loft-style interior is characterized by a simplistic spatiality, enlivened by iconic furnishings and decor including an LC1 Le Corbusier armchair, and vibrant statement elements such as a bright orange bathroom ‘cubicle’ which doubles as a canvas.

all images courtesy of Workshop Architects

an eclectic home-studio in historic Mérida

The space is modeled after the traditional Italian ‘studiolo’ which during the Renaissance era served as a lavishly decorated palace chamber where owners could retire to read, study and write in privacy. Similarly, Workshop Architects’ ‘Studiolo’ provides its residing artist duo with a place to not only live, relax and socialize, but also to work on their pieces and meet with collectors, gallery owners, and colleagues. Beyond the minimalist, pristine white façade inspired by Italian architect Gio Ponti, the loft-style interior conjures a vibrant and idiosyncratic fusion of historical Yucatecan colonial elements with modernist aesthetics which reflect the duo’s practise with 20^th-century pieces in their LA Gallery ‘Downtown’.

In a vibrant and eclectic display, the architects utilize traditional materials in contemporary ways. Along the floor, Yucatecan pasta tile rugs are reinterpreted and randomly ‘thrown’ as if they were fabric rugs, rather than precisely fitted into the space. Different shades of chukum coat the interior walls, their velvety textures and natural tones exuding a sense of dynamism and depth through the space. The windows are made with black ironwork and transparent glass alluding to functionalist architecture and connecting the interior spaces to the gardens, generating cross ventilation.

the loft-style interior is characterized by a simplistic spatiality

infusing iconic modernist design elements from the 20th-century

Workshop Architects enlivens the simplistic spatiality with bold sparks of color and iconic design elements. On the open plan ground floor living area, furnishings include a Jean Prouvé style table in the work area, an LC1 chair by Le Corbusier and a Verner Panton lamp in the living room, vintage pieces from the 1940s by Woodard in the dining room, and SMEG appliances and a lamp by Wilhelm Wagenfeld in the kitchen. Floating in space, an orange glass cube emerges as an unexpected element, doubling as a half bathroom and a canvas for drawing and experimenting.

In the monochromatic rear garden, a statement pink Roly Poly chair by Faye Toogood sits beside a black pool that recalls the architecture of Mies van der Rohe. A subtle yet sculptural staircase elegantly winds to unite the communal ground floor space with the private bedroom upstairs. The bed floats in the center of the space beside a Gio Ponti lamp, angled to overlook the patio and terrace. The space also includes a wet room, walk in closet and laundry room.

Yucatecan pasta tile rugs are reinterpreted and randomly ‘thrown’ as if they were fabric rugs

Reference

Aerial image of the Yong'an Community Hub and surrounding setting

Architecture

Archi-Union works with students to design rammed earth community centre in rural China

By Zarkon Group,07/10/2022

A sweeping, tiled roof informed by the surrounding mountain ranges tops the Yong’an Community Hub in China, which has been designed by students from Tongji University in Shenzhen with architecture studio Archi-Union.

Referencing local structures and involving residents in its construction process, the rammed-earth, courtyard-style building provides a gathering space and residence for the Yong’an village’s more isolated upper area.

Shortlisted in the civic building category of Dezeen Awards 2022, Yong’an Community Hub forms part of an ongoing social welfare programme funded by Tongji University and led by Philip F Yuan, principal of Shanghai-based studio Archi-Union.

“The villagers from the upper village often suffer from inaccessibility to transportation, and are living in strained circumstances,” said the project’s team.

“The majority have no space to interact with one another other than their working space, therefore building a community centre for the upper village [became] the main goal of the volunteer activity.”

Bordered by stone walls, the main building sits at the north of the site, with a smaller toilet block on the opposite side of a large courtyard. Both were built using rammed earth partially made from the red sandstone found near the site.

Image of children playing at the Yong'an Community Hub — The building features rammed-earth walls

A run of wooden doors allows the main building to be almost completely opened to the courtyard, while a thin, letterbox-style window in its northwest corner frames views back towards the village.

The steel-framed, curving roof contrasts these traditionally-built rammed earth structures, using parametric design methods to create an undulating arc around the courtyard and minimising the use of non-standard components to make construction easier.

This roof shelters what the team describes as a “floating corridor”, an area of covered seating space that provides an area to dwell, watch performances or take in expansive views of the surrounding valley landscape.

“While retaining the functionality of the interior spaces, we tried to maximise the open public space as much as possible… from funerals to weddings or even daily socialising, the openness of space becomes the top priority to [the villagers],” said the team.

“The ‘floating corridor’ became a continuous yet fluid element that held the spaces together…to accommodate the low height of the entrance the roof was lowered, forming a starting point that ends when it meets the mountain slope.”

Interior image of a space that is zoned by rammed-earth walls — An undulating canopy wraps around the centre

Other projects on the shortlist for the civic project category of Dezeen Awards 2022 include a hospital in Myanmar by German practice A+R Architekten, which also drew on materials and typologies local to the area for its design.

The photography is by Schran Images.

Reference

Architecture

A Step-By-Step Guide to Designing and Drawing Architectural Lighting Plans

By Zarkon Group,06/10/2022

Enter the One Drawing Competition

Are you interested in improving your architectural drawing technique? Follow along as the Founder of 30X40 Design Workshop and One Drawing juror Eric Reinholdt designs and draws an architectural lighting plan showing the necessary fixture types, switching, receptacle locations and all electrical devices and equipment. Designing such details in coordination with the other essential building systems — architectural, structural, mechanical and plumbing — affords the architect more control in the final outcome by anticipating how these systems will work in conjunction with invisible elements such as beams, ductwork, vent stacks.

Drawing and overlaying each helps to identify conflicts on paper where it’s much more efficient and cost-effective to make changes. In this video, you’ll see how the abstract concepts of ambient, task and accent lighting are accounted for and applied in a real-world design of a remote, off-the-grid residential project in Maine, USA.

Want to get your drawings in front of industry experts like Eric Reinholdt? Consider entering architecture’s biggest drawing competition, which Eric will judge along with other architectural figures such as Bob Borson, Dan Hogman and more!

Eric Reinholdt is an architect, founder of the residential architecture practice, 30X40 Design Workshop, author of Architect + Entrepreneur, innovator of progressive practice models, and the creator of the eponymous YouTube channel, 30X40 Design Workshop. From his remote island studio, Erc makes videos about architecture, designs simple, modern homes, and shares his process online.

Reference

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Cubist forms and sharp lines emerging from an organic residence

glass box ‘periscope’ and automated technological features

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workshop architects melds traditional + modern design

an eclectic home-studio in historic Mérida

infusing iconic modernist design elements from the 20th-century

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