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Brazilian Firm Brings Passive Design Principles to New Production Facility
CategoriesArchitecture

Brazilian Firm Brings Passive Design Principles to New Production Facility

By Zarkon Group,

Judging is now underway for the 10th Annual A+Awards Program! Want to earn global recognition for your projects? Sign up to be notified when the 11th Annual A+Awards program launches.  

Aldous Huxley said that “springs and landscapes have a serious defect: they are free” and that “love for nature does not provide work for any factory.” Well, sorry to contradict the famous writer and philosopher but the new industrial complex for Nice — the Italian multinational leader in Smart Home, Security, Home & Building Automation solutions, designed by M CA – Mario Cucinella Architects  in Limeira, Brazil — proves exactly the opposite: namely, that an industrial building can concretely combine productivity, social and technological innovation, research and environmental sustainability.

All images courtesy of MC A Mario Cucinella Architects

Nothing could be further from the apocalyptic and sooty atmospheres of Friz Lang’s film Metropolis (1927) in which the machines of productive dehumanization devoured the lives and identities of workers, reducing them to an automated mass swarming beneath the ground.

On the contrary, here, the building’s iconic roof appears like a large tropical leaf floating on light pillars, evoking the idea of an almost “maternal” architecture that is protective and enveloping, its organic forms in tune with the natural ecosystem. Unusually, equally strong themes of production efficiency and quality of work are combined with the strong emotional impact of this architecture.

The intervention is, on the one hand, a manifesto of cutting-edge technology aimed at increasing productivity according to a sustainable business model. Meanwhile, on the other, this is an architecture of social commitment to promote the professional growth of the local community by leveraging constant training and innovative work experiences.

The complex, covering an area of about 215, 278 sq ft (20,000 sqm) in a forest rich in underground water sources, houses the headquarters of the group with two floors of offices, common areas, showrooms, service and training areas. The production facilities, located at the back, are connected to the central atrium by a large window from which visitors can directly observe the industrial process.

Also at the back, a system of suspended paths, immersed in nature, connects to the building that houses services for employees, such as the gym and the inevitable “churrasqueira.” The working environment is a bit like a home, where it is also pleasant to spend moments of relaxation and socializing. 

The building has been designed to reduce energy consumption and toxic emissions through the use of active and passive measures that, thanks to the favorable local climatic conditions, allow the systems to operate completely off-grid for some periods of the year.

In general, the use of natural ventilation is possible for two thirds of the year, thanks to openable facade elements and the integration of mobile openings in the atrium patio that transform it into a giant “ventilation chimney”. The production area, thanks to the combination of thermal mass and natural ventilation, is operational all year round without the need for cooling or heating; showrooms and offices benefit from a mixed system that encourages natural ventilation while reducing overall cooling loads.

The roof, as well as a strong characterizing element of the project, is also an important passive device that provides shading to the large glass fronts during the hottest hours, reducing by 47% the incident radiation and avoiding the risk of overheating. 43 055 sq ft (4,000 sq m) of photovoltaic panels installed on the roof cover the electrical load of the entire building and potentially allow the systems to work off-grid during sunny days.

The landscape design is an equally important part of the intervention and is functional to increase the rich local biodiversity. The project proposes a playful interpretation of the variety of the Cerrado biome, the second largest in Brazil, ranging from grassy glades, to savanna, to forest formations, represented here in different expressive languages along the outdoor paths, inspired by local wild species and native vegetation. Small ponds and water basins mitigate runoff and direct rainwater to a large basin at the bottom of the area; a 2, 120 cubic foot (60 cubic meter) tank stores water to reuse for irrigation.

Image courtesy of MC A – Mario Cucinella Architects

Mario Cucinella, founder and creative director of MC A, states that “sustainability is a founding element of making architecture. Looking back at history, we have always needed a relationship with matter, and the energies brought into play were those of the climate: the sun, the wind, the light. The project re-establishes a symbiotic relationship between the architectural structure and nature, interacting with the landscape and reinterpreting the traditional Brazilian architectural elements and encouraging the use of all its passive characteristics.”

Love for Mother Earth — “our mother and sister who governs us and sustains us” as St. Francis of Assisi said — permeates the work, suggesting a broader reflection on the concept of sustainability that extends not only to environment but also to society and economy. MC A’s building encompasses a cultural approach in which ecology and industry coexist beyond hierarchies and commonplaces.

Judging is now underway for the 10th Annual A+Awards Program! Want to earn global recognition for your projects? Sign up to be notified when the 11th Annual A+Awards program launches.  

Reference

8 Contemporary Ways to Resurrect Art Deco Glamor
CategoriesArchitecture

8 Contemporary Ways to Resurrect Art Deco Glamor

By Zarkon Group,

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.

Art Deco, which is short for Arts Décoratifs, emerged as a design style in France just before World War I and predated the more minimal and functional Mid Century design. Characterized by bold sleek forms, geometric patterns, reflective finishes, metallic and inlaid wood embellishments as well as luxurious materials, the aesthetic later gained popularity in the 1920s and 1930s, where it was showcased across architecture, interiors, fashion, automobiles and more.

The style married high-quality opulence and dramatic simplicity while also paying homage to technological advancements and mass manufacturing. In addition to Cubism and Viennese Succession, Art Deco also draws inspiration from cultures across India, China, Egypt and Mesopotamia. For many in North America, it is epitomized by icons like the Chrysler and Empire State buildings, completed when America was on the brink of the Great Depression. When America emerged from the crisis, the world had changed and so had aesthetic preferences. Today, we’re exploring how 21st century architects and designers are reviving Art Deco sensibilities and adapting them for the contemporary era.

San George by Framework Studio, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Chevrons and starbursts were some of the most defining elements of the Art Deco style. These patterns can be used in walls, furniture and even floors. Statement zig-zag floors in a high-gloss black and white pattern create a neutral base to place colorful furniture while also adding a stylistic layer to the design. In the San George restaurant, the bold floors come together with bright turquoise and rich emerald tones to create a retro aesthetic without it being too overwhelming.

Restroom in Art Deco Style by Futuris Architects, Yerevan, Armenia

Gold is an easy way to bring in the glamour of the roaring 20s. Instead of large metallic furniture pieces, the color can be introduced in a subtle way by using it in the edges or outlines of décor and furniture pieces, molding, lighting or handles. In this restroom, the studio added oblong mirrors with gilded frames and then reinforced this design language with gold-finished lights and matching accessories. The dark tones of the walls and furniture also help the metal stand out more.

Jazz Billet by Envisage, Gurugram, India

Starburst, solar forms, and stepped patterns are other characteristic elements from this era. These geometric forms were often used in wallpapers, moldings, mirrors and even building exteriors. An Art Deco-style apartment in India showcases these patterns in the form of wall paneling. A dramatic living room wall arrangement is achieved by staggering curved and flat panels of different lengths with recessed light fixtures.

Death & Company Los Angeles by AAmp Studio, Los Angeles, California

Jewel tones have long been associated with wealth and grandeur. Deep shades of red, green, navy or purple can either act as a backdrop or be used in furniture as accents. In Death & Company Los Angeles, these rich hues create a moody atmosphere that is part nostalgic but also contemporary. These colors are juxtaposed with dark wooden panels, light natural stone, metallic accents and floors with geometric tiles.

Beau Cloud Mansion / The Cascade by Bean Buro, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong

Taking inspiration from the automobiles and ocean liners in that era, curvilinear forms and clean lines also became a part of the style in the 1930s. The Bean Cloud Mansion / The Cascade does the same in a modern way. Corners, wall edges and furniture profiles have all been given smooth edges or curved profiles. This is even replicated in cabinet doors and wall dividers. The curved lines are also incorporated at a smaller scale by adding fluting to the dining table.

Santomate by Daniela Bucio Sistos // Taller de Arquitectura y Diseño, Morelia, Mexico

Art Deco is the epitome of making a statement, and lighting can be a big part of this. Illuminators with sleek or geometric forms can easily spruce up simple spaces. This is exhibited in the design of Santome — a restaurant and bar in Morelia Mexico. Globe lights attached to oblong profiles are suspended in a row over the bar. The setup also comprises recessed lighting in the same warm hue to create a halo effect.

Project 1874: Photorealistic 3D Rendering Restaurant by Yantram Architectural Design Studio, Rio Rancho, New Mexico

In addition to floors or walls, patterns can also be introduced on the ceiling. In a conceptual design for a restaurant in New Mexico, the firm used a striped pattern in green and ivory to decorate the ceiling. The Art Deco theme is further reinforced with the addition of geometric starburst lights.

5550 Wilshire by TCA Architects, Los Angeles, California

The style manifests in different forms for the exteriors as well. The most iconic Art Deco buildings across the world often mimic lines and forms of old ocean liners. Curved edges, flat roofs, bands of windows, circular openings, horizontal bands, ship railings and ziggurat-shaped decorations are just a few examples. The 5550 Wilshire is a building that encapsulates this style masterfully. The horizontal mass of the structure is further broken up with vertical divisions to create the illusion of height.

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

Architecture Building Blocks: Placing 3D Models in Photographs
CategoriesArchitecture

Architecture Building Blocks: Placing 3D Models in Photographs

By Zarkon Group,

ArchiHacks is an online resource for architects dedicated to architecture visualization, portfolio, and design tips and tricks for students and professionals. This article was written by team member Tommy Minh Nguyen.

With the closure of workshops and in-person meetings, physical models became less effective during the pandemic. Nevertheless, there is a sense of completion and achievement that comes out of having physical models occupy real space. Today’s article will walk you through adding a 3D model into a photograph to fabricate a situation where a digital model can occupy “real” space. Unfortunately, not everyone will be able to utilize this tutorial, but it could still offer an alternative to achieving the same goal! Remember, design will always have more than just one solution.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 3D model
  • Rhino + V-ray *You can use any 3D software that supports V-ray
  • Photoshop

Step 1: Align Perspective

This is possibly the most tricky and frustrating part. Import the image into the background, and take your time to adjust the camera focal length to match perspective with the image. You might benefit from the video demonstration on our YouTube channel.

Step 2: Setup Light and Environment

Try to replicate the real-world setup as much as possible, including lighting and other walls in the scene. In our example, we placed a rectangular light to the right side to simulate a diffused light from the window and blinds.

Step 3: Shadow Matte

This is the magic material that will help us with the shadows. Create a generic material and a wrapper material. Use the generic material as the base, and use the following settings. Then you can apply the wrapper to the tabletop surface.

Step 4: Render in High Resolution + Save

Make sure to save it as a .png file to preserve transparency and shadow!

Step 5. Combine Rendering on Top of the Background Image in Photoshop

Place the rendering on top of the base image and make adjustments to help it blend in. In our case, we added a bit of color correction.

That’s all we got for today! Let us know how this came out for you and share it with our Instagram page by tagging @archi.hacks and #archihacks! I hope you found this article helpful, and if you have any tips for future students, please let us know in the comments below. Make sure to follow our YouTube and Instagram for more content!

 Send Us a Rendering. Tell Us a Story. Win $2,500! Architizer’s 3rd Annual One Rendering Challenge is open for entries, with a Late Entry Deadline of March 25th, 2022. Submit a rendering.



Reference

7 Restaurants Serving Up an Industrial Aesthetic
CategoriesArchitecture

7 Restaurants Serving Up an Industrial Aesthetic

By Zarkon Group,

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work through Architizer and sign up for our inspirational newsletter.    

Unfinished concrete surfaces, metal pipes, visible ducts, high ceilings and exposed structural systems are common sights in old factories and warehouses. However, in recent years, we have seen an increasing demand for this aesthetic in both residential and commercial spaces. Those remodeling old warehouses or pre-war buildings into homes have been choosing to preserve elements of their older structures. Some offices are incorporating similar design elements to make their spaces more trendy, and less clinical or formal.

The industry that has seen a massive adoption of this trend is the hospitality sector, especially in the past two decades. Restaurants and bars across the world are taking cues from old factories and playing with unfinished surfaces, metallic accents, industrial lights and heavy-duty hardware to create an atmosphere that is both nostalgic and modern. Designers have found several ways to soften these harsh materials and craft spaces that are welcoming. Below are just a few examples.

Images by Mikael Axelsson

USINE by Studio Richard Lindvall, Stockholm, Sweden

It is hard to tell that this restaurant and meeting area was once a sausage factory. The remodeled space combines Scandinavian minimalism with a more industrial aesthetic, while also referencing hotels in Shanghai, New York and Amsterdam. Materials like concrete, galvanized steel and black cast iron are softened with cognac leather and maple wood. All the ventilation systems are left exposed and painted in white. Light fixtures with bold black details are juxtaposed against this lighter canvas to strengthen the aesthetic.

Spokane Steam Plant by HDG Architecture, Spokane, Washington

This restaurant design is conscious of the century-long history of the steam plant in Spokane. The metal columns and beams are not only left exposed but also painted in black to have them blend ini. These structural details are joined by black-tinted furniture, mesh-covered concrete walls, metal-backed chairs and dramatic pendant lights. Furthermore, the studio also used copper-toned pipes to create a drink dispenser at the bar.

Bicycle Thieves by Pierce Widera, Northcote, Australia

Named after the best-known film of Italian neorealism, this eatery is a lighter and fresher take on the traditional industrial style.  It references the late 1940s (when the film was released) with the use of mid-century modern materials and details. Suspended lighting acts as dividers, breaking up the open plan into smaller seating areas. Linear pendant lights are used above the bar, Globe lights over the communal tables and track lights around the periphery where the smaller tables are placed. Exposed concrete and cement finishes cove the walls, columns, floors as well as the ceiling.

Images by Dirk Weiblen

Tribeca by Linehouse, Shanghai, China

The New York-style gastropub evokes images of drinks with friends, city streets and late-night food cravings. The ceiling drops down in different parts to separate spaces. White false ceilings form the periphery whereas a suspended shelf canopy hangs over the bar. Mirror bulbs frame the entire space to infuse old-world glamour.

Restaurant & Bar Nazdrowje by Studio Richard Lindvall, Stockholm, Sweden

Minimal, raw and timeless: these words encapsulate the essence of Nazdrowje. The restaurant was initially a parking lot and the studio decided to use the natural atmosphere of the space as inspiration for the final design. Concrete is the predominant material in the space. The light grey concrete seats were cast and mounted directly into the walls, tying them with the concrete floors. The space also includes a large copper fireplace and visible copper pipes throughout.

Images by Andres Martellini

Victoria Brown Bar & Restaurant by Hitzig Militello arquitectos, Buenos Aires, Argentina

The bar has the mysteriousness of a speakeasy and the flash and flair of a private social club from the 19th century. Staying true to the theme, it also features a secret entrance through a coffee shop in the front. The space evokes nostalgia with a combination of elements like aging barrels, uneven brick walls, rich leather, vintage seating and suspended light bulbs. In one room, scissor screens break up the larger area into intimate pockets for small groups.

Industrial Brewery Pub in Saigon by T3 Architects, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

The studio wanted to adopt the industrial aesthetic from 20th century Europe given that the brewery serves Belgian beers and food. Traditional European elements have been given a tropical twist by using local ventilation mechanisms and ceiling fans. The design also uses second-hand bricks sourced locally to reduce the carbon footprint. Pops of green, black and white posters and photographs, hanging backpacks and a suspended motorcycle also bring in the humorous side of the Belgian culture.

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Reference

SOM Builds a Community Hub with Heavy Timber
CategoriesArchitecture

SOM Builds a Community Hub with Heavy Timber

By Zarkon Group,

Judging is now underway for the 10th Annual A+Awards Program! Want to earn global recognition for your projects? Sign up to be notified when the 11th Annual A+Awards program launches.  

As spaces for gathering and discovery, libraries are made for exchange. Breaking away from tradition, the new Billie Jean King Main Library by SOM provides a welcoming and flexible environment for the diverse community of Long Beach, California. Showcasing new approaches to construction with the use of heavy timber, SOM designed the Billie Jean King Main Library to incorporate 80 percent of the natural material throughout. The result is an open, warm and inviting community hub that embraces the public.

The first Long Beach library was founded in 1896 in a room adjoining the City Council office. Three years later the library moved into City Hall next to Pacific Park, and in 1909, a new Carnegie library opened near the location of the present Main Library. In 1915 Pacific Park was renamed Lincoln Park.

For more than six decades, the Main Library in Lincoln Park served the public, but a growing collection combined with a fire in the 70s made the construction of a new library a necessity. In 1976 a new Main Library opened, and on September 21, 2019 the City of Long Beach unveiled the new Billie Jean King Main Library at the corner of Broadway and Pacific. Inside and with abundant natural light, visitors are invited to experience the warmth surrounded by wood.

With its name that pays homage to the famed athlete and Long Beach native, the Billie Jean King Main Library is adjacent to Lincoln Park, a local landmark. The library was imagined as a pavilion within the new park, welcoming people inside from all parts of the city. It was made to serve as a traditional library and a modern, technology-focused hub for the community. SOM outlines that while there was a tight budget, the open interiors incorporate multi-use, flexible spaces that allow visitors of all ages to participate in solo and collaborative activities.

Interior spaces are organized around a central, triple-story atrium for porosity and lightness. The building serves the city’s diverse population with a variety of spaces including group study rooms, independent work areas, and a technology-driven “makerspace” with a learning lab and 3D printers. An independently operated community center with meeting rooms and programs is also available for public use.

The library offers a rich program of activities, in which reading and browsing book stacks are only a part of the experience. For instance, the main level features sizeable open spaces dedicated to children’s literature and activities organized by age. Each space is designed for social interaction, play and learning, while computers, book collections and quiet reading areas are available for use on the second level.

Lounge spaces with views of Lincoln Park and the surrounding neighborhood are dispersed around the floorplate’s exterior perimeter. Beyond the program, the signature element of the library is the heavy timber structural system. Timber was selected for its light weight, architectural warmthand character.

The building is one of the few in Southern California that utilizes a heavy timber structural system, composed of renewable timber reinforced with steel and concrete where needed. Each material is employed in a hybrid system to optimize its respective properties. The library’s superstructure consists of glue-laminated timber girders and joists with plywood decking, highlighting the warmth and character of the building.

American ash, ideal for bending and turning, is used for interior decoration and furniture. It is strong and tough with distinctive grain, character and color. This type of timber is also generally straight-grained with a coarse uniform texture. Working together, Douglas fir was chosen for the superstructure, while the American ash was also used for the bottom layer, such as girders and joists. Not only did the team choose to celebrate the timber structure, but also expose most of the mechanical, electrical and fire safety systems.

By using timber, a lightweight material, the library could be built atop the existing structure of an underground concrete parking garage. Saving most of the extant concrete structure also allowed the design team to significantly cut down on material waste; the design reduces embodied carbon by 61 percent, compared with erecting a new parking garage and a conventional concrete building. “Our goal was to leverage the power of clear ideas, natural materials, and Southern California sunlight to create a bright, beautiful, and beloved new place for the people of Long Beach” noted Paul Danna, Design Partner.

After its completion, the Billie Jean King Main Library received LEED Platinum certification. The Library also won the Gold Award for the Best Social Infrastructure Project in 2016 and the Excellent Structural Engineering Excellence Award from the Southern California Structural Engineers Association in 2020.

The 93,500-square-foot library is part of the Long Beach Civic Center Master Plan, along with a new City Hall and Port of Long Beach Headquarters. SOM also designed the master plan to revitalize 22 acres of downtown Long Beach by creating a vibrant, mixed-use district and reactivating Lincoln Park. Today, the two-story timber building opens to visitors and the community while offering numerous activities that foster connection, learning, and collaboration.

Judging is now underway for the 10th Annual A+Awards Program! Want to earn global recognition for your projects? Sign up to be notified when the 11th Annual A+Awards program launches.  

Reference

CategoriesArchitecture

Tantalizing Techno: Berghain’s Mysterious Architecture Is Essential to Its Unwavering Allure

By Zarkon Group,

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.

The famed techno club Berghain is known for its intense electric tunes, adult sights and promise of boundless freedom. Since its opening in 2004, this Berlin club has received immense global recognition and is regarded as an institution of techno and culture. Reminiscent of Studio 54’s notorious entry policy, Berghain’s entry policy is heavily subjective. However once past the bouncers, patrons are welcomed into a sensational, no-judgment zone — one where decadence, hedonism and free rein prevail.

Despite its libertinism and untamed image, the club keeps a low profile in the press and on social media. Berghain’s exclusive entrance policy makes it quite challenging to experience the club for oneself. The bouncers allow entry to those they feel fit the ‘vibe,’ and as a result, many don’t make it past the door. While the determined head to the back of the line, hoping their second time around will get them the go-ahead. Berghain’s exclusive ethos is furthered by its strict no-photo policy. Once patrons enter the venue, a sticker is placed on every mobile, ensuring that no photos of the inside circulate on the outside. In this sense, while gatekeeping is clearly recognized as an important part of the club’s allure, less often remarked upon is the role played by architecture in constructing the club’s exclusive ethos. 

As a young person currently living through my twenties, I find myself quite intrigued with the idea of this club, despite never attending. And this intrigue is not uniquely mine: many see Berghain as a rite of passage, once you’ve made it in, you’ve accomplished all there is to accomplish when it comes to the European club scene. There is something quite enthralling by the exclusivity and the unknown aspect of what lies beyond the entrance doors. What’s the atmosphere like? The design? The furnishing choices? How does the architecture contribute to the club’s great success? What exactly makes Berghain so special? 

Berghain, one of the most widely known clubs in the world, just so happens to be one of the most challenging to see inside of. The club keeps a low profile and as a result, the public relies on firsthand stories and experiences to envision the interior space. Nonetheless, one thing we do know is that Berghain sits in a former post-war power plant and received a facelift in 2003. Berlin-based design firm, studio karhard® was commissioned to lead the design. 

The space boasts a raw, industrial aesthetic and is primarily built with steel and concrete. The club is divided into numerous spaces, each exuding its own personalities and providing a unique atmosphere and place of refuge. The main room is grand and boasts 60 foot (18 meter) high ceilings. While the upstairs space, known as the Panorama Bar, offers a raw and sparse atmosphere. From the exposed electrical equipment, unpolished finishes, and seating structures made of concrete pipes, it is certain the feel of the club transforms when jam-packed with moving bodies. Over the years smaller renovations have taken place, such as adding a smoking lounge and a coffee bar. 

This cultural institution takes its no-photo, no-media policy so seriously that there are no mirrors to be found in any of the venue’s bathrooms. This equally enforces the club’s rules, encouraging guests to commit to an evening of folly. Berghain’s low profile has made me ponder the idea of architecture and privacy. Within the context of this club, the architectural mastery that contributes to its great success cannot be widely appreciated as images of the design are not made public.

The only substantial collection of images I have come across is the beautifully curated photographs featured on studio karhard®’s website, which reveal a thought-out and tantalizing architectural design. However, these images are under copyright and therefore, do not circulate. But shouldn’t this incredible architectural design be widely celebrated and appreciated? What happens when such images turn public? Does the mystery wear off? Does the space lose its exclusivity and allure? 

In the summer of 2020, Berghain opened its doors at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but this time without the subjective entry policy and deep techno tunes. The club was transformed into an art exhibition and invited the public into its prized space. The art installation featured artworks that were made during the pandemic, all of which were done by local artists. This event marked a unique chance to experience the space and the inside architecture — all in a relaxed and non-confronting environment, without the noise, the boisterous behavior and the crowd. And for the first time, images of the interior space began circulating. News outlets covered this significant moment in Berghain history, and individuals who would likely never attend the venue on a normal Saturday night got to see inside.

On March 5, at long last, Berghain reopened its doors and returned to its pre-pandemic spirit: decadence, freedom and penetrating techno. And with this reopening comes the return of the subjective entry requirements, covered cameras and no-media policy. Once again, Berghain will only be experienced by the lucky patrons that make it past the entrance, and studio karhard®’s design will return a mystery. This techno institution exemplifies a pronounced intersection between architecture and privacy, and forces individuals to reevaluate their habits of easily acquiring images, ideas and information. Sometimes, the beauty lies in the unknown. 

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

New Contracts, Net Billing, Net Revenue and More
CategoriesArchitecture

New Contracts, Net Billing, Net Revenue and More

By Zarkon Group,

Lior Schnabel is a Co-Managing Partner at Precise, a company that provides financial management and control services for architectural and engineering firms across the USA and Europe. This article was written and researched with Yotam Kedem, who is a partner in Precise and the head of their USA office. 

To keep up with industry trends and stay ahead of the competition, our clients love to get info on what’s been going on in the architecture and engineering sector. In order to keep them and you up to date, we decided to collect and analyze data about project statistics and performance from 50 architecture and engineering firms based in the New York Tri-State area.

Five major criteria points we analyzed to reflect the industry trend: New Contracts, Net Billing, Net Revenue, Backlog, and number of Professional Employees. The starting point was Q1 of 2019 and we used it as the ‘index’ for the rest of the survey.

Below are the results of our findings up until December 31st, 2021:

Total Amount in New Contracts represents the total value of ‘new work’ that was signed in each quarter. After a slower Q3 2021 (which can be attributed to timing more than anything else), we see Q4 2021 reaching the highest level since the beginning of the survey in Q1 2019 (120% over the index). This is a very positive indicator that reflects that the volume of projects is growing substantially.

Net Billing represents work that was invoiced and we noted an increase in every quarter from Q3 2020. During Q3 2021 and Q4 2021 invoicing was higher than the index figure for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. This means that workload is the highest we have seen for a very long time, including the pre-Covid era.

Net Revenue represents the net cash revenue collected. Following the positive Net Billing trend, we can see a consistent increase in cash collection since Q3 2020, and by Q4 2021 billing was back to pre-Covid levels. This means firms are in a more stable place financially right now, which translates to hiring and investments in the business (such as renovations, technology, and more). It is also important to emphasize that Net Revenue figures only include revenue streams from projects/clients (and don’t include any funds such as grants or PPP).

Backlog refers to the remaining fees/balance in contracts for the active projects in the firm i.e signed work that hasn’t been billed yet. Amid a small decrease in Q3 2021 (which again is mostly timing), we can see the backlog continues to improve every quarter since the big dip in Q2 2020 (i.e., beginning of Covid). Backlog is a great indicator of workload, and Q4 2021 had  the highest backlog since the beginning of the survey. This indicates that the workload is very high right now and It’s very promising to see the backlog continuing to increase even with billing increasing as well.

Number of Professional Employees refers to the number of technical, billable employees in the firm, (not including admin, IT, accounting or marketing staff). We are finally seeing staffing getting back to pre-Covid levels. Although the increase has been slower compared to other criteria such as backlog and billing, it still managed to get back to the index level. The increase in Professional Employees is due to the high workload in the industry  but it  lags behind because initially firms were reluctant to hire in Covid times due to the uncertainty as well as staff working remotely. Firms seem to be actively looking to hire at the moment, however it is much tougher than it used to be.

Specific Sectors

Although we can detect a high index in all criteria, the situation still varies significantly between different firms and sectors.

On the upside, the private residential sector, specifically single-family houses, has been consistently active and has continued to yield work since the early days of the pandemic and in recent months.

As for other sectors that slowed substantially during the pandemic such as housing , commercial and even public and hospitality projects, we have spotted a strong resurgence in the last two quarters.

On the downside, institutional work, such as libraries, higher education, hospitals etc., indicators are still very low.

To summarize, this is the first time since tracking started in Q1 2019 that all of the metrics reached or surpassed the index. We are pleased to see this and hope the trend will continue to progress in this positive direction or at least sustain it’s current levels. We will continue to track the numbers every quarter and report the industry trends accordingly.

Top image: The JACX by MdeAS Architects, Queens, New York, United States | Jury Winner, 2021 A+Awards, Office Building High Rise (16+ Floors)

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

What Kéré Architecture’s Renderings Reveal About the Firm’s Design Process
CategoriesArchitecture

Diébédo Francis Kéré Makes History as the 2022 Pritzker Prize Winner

By Zarkon Group,

Have your say in which architects will take home Architizer’s prestigious A+Awards: Public Voting opens this spring. Interested in next year’s program? Subscribe to our newsletter for updates.  

Burkina Faso-born architect, educator and social activist Diébédo Francis Kéré has made history after being named the 2022 Pritzker Prize laureate. Known as Francis Kéré, the founder of Kéré Architecture is recognized for his “commitment to social justice and engagement, and intelligent use of local materials to connect and respond to the natural climate, he works in marginalized countries laden with constraints and adversity, where architecture and infrastructure are absent.” He is the first African and the first Black architect to win the prize since it began being awarded in 1979.

Trained first as a carpenter and later as an architect, his deep knowledge and concern for materiality is visible in his work. Though based in Berlin, his practice often gravitates towards works throughout the continent of Africa. From contemporary school institutions to health facilities, and professional housing to civic buildings and public spaces, his designs steer clear of simple categorizations: global vs. local, aesthetic vs. social, and so on.

As the Pritzker jury succinctly put it, “Francis Kéré’s entire body of work shows us the power of materiality rooted in place. His buildings, for and with communities, are directly of those communities – in their making, their materials, their programs and their unique characters. They are tied to the ground on which they sit and to the people who sit within them. They have presence without pretense and an impact shaped by grace.”

Though many architectural enthusiasts around the world may only now be acquainting themselves with his larger body of work, they are likely already familiar with his design for the 2017 Serpentine Pavilion — a timber structure accented with indigo blue that ingeniously connected different times and spaces and reinterpreted form of the massive tree at the heart of his home town.

His signature architectural vocabulary of double roofs, thermal mass, wind towers, indirect lighting, cross ventilation and shade chambers (replacing conventional windows, doors and columns), confounds attempts to separate practicality from poetry in design. Yet, while Kéré’s architectural reputation is strongly tied to the work’s built realization, yet, his working images and visualizations are also remarkable in their own right.

“Francis Kéré’s work also reminds us of the necessary struggle to change unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, as we strive to provide adequate buildings and infrastructure for billions in need,” the Jury noted. “He raises fundamental questions of the meaning of permanence and durability of construction in a context of constant technological changes and of use and re-use of structures. At the same time his development of a contemporary humanism merges a deep respect for history, tradition, precision, written and unwritten rules.”

Have your say in which architects will take home Architizer’s prestigious A+Awards: Public Voting opens this spring. Interested in next year’s program? Subscribe to our newsletter for updates.  



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Webinar: Learn How Real-Time Visualization Works With Enscape!
CategoriesArchitecture

Webinar: Learn How Real-Time Visualization Works With Enscape!

By Zarkon Group,

You’re invited! Join Architizer for an engaging live webinar presented by Roderick Bates, Head of Integrated Practice at Enscape, and learn how to successfully implement real-time visualization at every stage of design, while also creating a more inclusive design process.

Hosted by Editor in Chief Paul Keskeys, Architizer’s first webinar on architectural visualization is one not to be missed! Hit the button below to sign up for the talk, which will take place at 12pm EST on Tuesday, March 29th:

Register for Event →

BIM/CAD software often lacks a visually intuitive interface, making it too far removed from reality to understand on a level sufficient to make rapid, informed design decisions. Real-time visualization is the missing link that bridges the gap between a BIM/CAD interface and a constructed project, helping both designers and their clients to envision what a design will actually look like when built.

Decision making, BIM model quality assurance, performance analysis, and coordination all benefit from bringing real-time visualization to the BIM/CAD workflow, and Roderick will show how to do this best.

By attending this webinar, you’ll learn how to:

  • Utilize real-time visualization to increase client and stakeholder understanding of the project design at every phase
  • Leverage real-time visualization to conduct individual and collaborative BIM/CAD model quality assurance workflows
  • Identify opportunities where real-time rendering can greatly reduce the time required for critical decision making

About Roderick

Throughout his career, Roderick has sought out and developed solutions to environmental challenges related to the design, construction, and operations of buildings. As the Head of Integrated Practice at Enscape, he is responsible for researching industry and market trends which are shaping the way Enscape customers work. Leveraging that industry knowledge, Roderick collaborates with Enscape Product and R&D leaders to assess new product development opportunities that will shape the future of building design. Previously, as a Principal at Kieran Timberlake, Roderick led the efforts to develop and commercialize software and hardware tools used by the greater the AEC community to improve the environmental and operational performance of buildings.

About Paul

Paul Keskeys is Editor in Chief at Architizer. An architect-trained editor, writer and content creator, Paul graduated from UCL and the University of Edinburgh, gaining an MArch in Architectural Design with distinction. Paul has spoken about the art of architecture and storytelling at many national industry events, including AIANY, NeoCon, KBIS, the Future NOW Symposium, the Young Architect Conference and NYCxDesign. As well as hundreds of editorial publications on Architizer, Paul has also had features published in Architectural Digest, PIN—UP Magazine, Archinect, Aesthetica Magazine and PUBLIC Journal.

Register for the Talk →

Reference

8 Student Projects Demonstrate Ingenious Approaches to the Future of Accessibility
CategoriesArchitecture

8 Student Projects Demonstrate Ingenious Approaches to the Future of Accessibility

By Zarkon Group,

Universal Design, the practice of creating environments equally usable by anyone regardless of physical circumstance, is increasingly gaining traction among design professionals. As this practice requires designing beyond minimum standards set by codes that seasoned practitioners have spent decades learning to master, a change in approach must come from the bottom up. That’s why the University of Arizona’s College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture hosts an annual Universal Design awards program for architecture students with Ascension Wheelchair Lifts.

Now in its second year, the program aims to instill in future architects an inclination to envision how the spaces they design will be used. “The ability to imagine spatial experience is essential in architecture,” Teresa Rosano, one of the program’s studio professors, said. “Doing so can hone our awareness of all our senses and also serve as a practice in empathy – a skill that transcends any discipline.”

For this year’s program, students were asked to design an arts center on a steeply sloped site in Bisbee, Arizona, a town defined by elevation changes. Public staircases, emblematic of the challenges facing the implementation of Universal Design, are famously utilized by the town to connect vertically separated streets, including on the site chosen for the competition. Here’s a look at the winning designs.

“Bisbee Mercado” by Alexis Campion

First place honors went to Alexis Campion’s Bisbee Mercado, an open-air space for local artisans to make and sell their work. Neatly organized around a three-story atrium, each floor opens to the exterior directly at grade, connecting to an adjacent commercial district, city park and residential neighborhood without level changes.

Campion also considered sensory concerns caused by the site’s slope. “Digging into the earth can create an environment similar to a basement,” she said. “To resist this, I split the space down the center to create an atrium bringing light into all the spaces.”

“Bisbee Art Center” by Andy Demetriou

Inspired by an existing graffiti-covered wall on the site, Andy Demetriou’s Bisbee Art Center was awarded the second place prize. Demetriou’s design kept the existing wall in place, expanding it into an ever-evolving outdoor gallery. “Over time, the graffiti changes into new designs and layers on top of each other,” he said.

The outdoor gallery is distributed onto several levels connected by a simple, intuitive system of ramps. These levels are all aligned with the levels of an adjacent, indoor multi-purpose space, leading one juror to describe the solution as “masterfully integrated Universal Design.”

“Apiledo Theatre Company” by Brandon Willmon

Coming in third, Brandon Willmon’s Apiledo Theatre Company reconciled Universal Design principles with the enjoyment of kinetic performance styles. Centered around the exhibition of Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art that combines acrobatics with music and dance, mid-air stages hang dramatically in a triple-height performance venue ringed by fully accessible viewing areas on multiple levels.

“My inspiration for a ‘free floating’ performance, in lieu of a better phrase, was derived mostly from the fluid nature of Capoeira coupled with getting physically challenged members of the community involved in such a physically demanding art form,” he said.

“Bisbee Sculpture Park & Museum” by Ralph Mersiowsky

Ralph Mersiowsky’s Bisbee Sculpture Park & Museum earned the program’s “Innovation in Universal Design” award by co-locating multiple modes of vertical circulation, ensuring a common experience of traveling from floor to floor. Distributed across three levels with minimal overlap, the challenge of artfully placing a staircase, elevator and ramp adjacent to each other was overcome by making each one a unique architectural feature.

“Light + Life + Performance” by Tyler Newman

Garnering the “Innovation in Graphics” award, Tyler Newman’s design for a group living community explores the effect that light and materiality have on perception. Focused on tactile experience for the benefit of people with differing levels of sensory ability, walls and floors featuring wood, concrete and other materials offer feelings of warmth, coolness or other sensations depending on the time of day.

“Culinary Arts Center” by Eva Serbin

Eva Serbin’s methodology for creating a culinary arts center bisected by an open-air thoroughfare likened to a canyon won the program’s “Innovation in Design Narrative + Process” award. All the various uses in the multi-level “canyon” are connected with an ingenious system of ramps one juror described as “an exciting spatial experience all can participate in.”

“The Living Mural” by Alyssa Fink

Alyssa Fink’s The Living Mural distributes its program across separate buildings but makes the paths between them the star of the show, “highlighting the spatial quality and experience of the in-between spaces,” as one juror put it. Switch-backing ramps between buildings are surrounded by artful graffiti displayed on dramatic architectural forms, earning the project one of two “Innovation in Design Concept” awards.

“To Intersect & Carve” by Freddy Arvizu

Awarded the second “Innovation in Design Concept” honor, Freddy Arvizu organized spaces dedicated to painting and artist housing within overlapping, angular forms one juror called “a strong generative move that is carried throughout the spatial experiences.” Eschewing ramps, a centrally located elevator offers easy access to all parts of the building.

To learn more about how you can make your upcoming projects accessible with the help of the experts at Ascension Lifts, click here.

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