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This Firm is Putting Amazing Architecture at the Service of Communities
CategoriesArchitecture

This Firm is Putting Amazing Architecture at the Service of Communities

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. 

Questions abound when architecture firms choose to undertake a project intended for community use. How can a building fulfill multiple client purposes in ever-more diverse communities? How will architects respect and contribute to a sense of identity for the people intending to use the place? How will a building incorporate sustainable design and technology given budgetary limitations? These questions constantly challenge architects because they require a different answer for every new context. Moreover, such projects require teams of architects and designers who have a rigorous understanding of the multi-faceted needs of a community but who are still willing to make bold architectural statements.

KSS Architects is one of those firms that regularly handle a high level of coordination between design teams, client interests and the built environment. It’s why for this week’s jobs newsletter, we want to highlight KSS, the award-winning firm designing new and adaptive reuse community-oriented projects across the United States.

The award-winning full-service architecture, planning, and interior design firm has offices in New York, Philadelphia, and Princeton. Founded in 1983, KSS has grown to a team of 80 design professionals, building a reputation for design projects that stimulate the intersections of learning, commerce, and community.

When completed, the Amy Gutmann Hall by KSS Architects will be Philadelphia’s tallest timber building; image by KSS Architects

KSS’s architects takes pride in the firm’s comprehensive design approach – a quality apparent in the dozens of projects the firm has developed over the past few years. Take for instance the Amy Gutmann Hall, the University of Pennsylvania’s future data science building. The university wanted a building that would bring the digital and natural worlds together but was unsure how this vision could materialize. After extensive consultation with the administration, members of faculty, students and other community groups, KSS developed a plan to achieve just that: their final design is not only the first mass timber project for UPenn, but also the first six-story mass timber building in the city of Philadelphia. The timber structure reduces the building’s carbon footprint by 52% relative to concrete and 41% relative to steel. The project, which is slated for completion in 2024, is bound to herald a new era for sustainable architecture at the university and beyond. It will also provide a new spacious, warm and tactile environment welcoming to students, instructors and visitors alike.

The Amy Gutmann Hall project illustrates well the design approach and work culture undertaken at KSS. The firm pairs extensive community research with deft consensus-building in which every member of the team has a voice — and a stake — in the collective success of the project. Thanks to its collaborative and transparent design process, KSS builds strong relationships of trust with clients, allowing the firm to make boldly imaginative designs to address the unique goals of clients and the environmental challenges of today.

The Foundation Collegiate Academy in Newark, NJ, is one of many renovation projects KSS Architects has undertaken on charter schools in underserved communities; photo by KSS Architects

Interested in working for one of the most dynamic architectural firms in the United States focusing on community and sustainability? Consider applying to KSS Architects through Architizer’s jobs board.

The firm is currently for eight new positions for their Philadelphia offices: including Project Architects with levels of experience ranging from 3 to 10 years for QA/QC and Industrial Markets, as well as Architectural Designers with 3-5 years’ experience.

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

To Make Sure Neutral Architectural Surfaces Don’t Fall Flat, Just Add Texture
CategoriesArchitecture

To Make Sure Neutral Architectural Surfaces Don’t Fall Flat, Just Add Texture

By Zarkon Group,

At their best, blank white walls can make a room feel large and airy; on the other hand, expansive blank planes can also lend themselves to clinical or boring atmospheres. And while vibrant colors and bold patterns can inject some personality into spaces, they might not always be an option for homes and offices that are dimly light, narrow or cramped.

In such cases, where neutral tones like white and beige are preferable, adding texture to walls and ceilings can add movement and depth to a monochrome space. Subtle textural protrusions won’t take up much space yet will leave a strong impact. More and more architects are incorporating corrugations, curved profiles, shallow folds and more to add intrigue to greyscale walls and ceilings.

Images by Jonathan Leijonhufvud Architectural Photography

Nanchang Insun International Cinema by One Plus Partnership Ltd, Wuhan, China

Taking inspiration from the black font over white pages in books, the studio transformed the cinema into a heavily textured space. The different panels on the walls are reminiscent of the flipping of pages of masterpieces written by scriptwriters. In the lobby, visitors come across cashier tables that resemble giant stacks of paper — in reality, they are made of Corian.

Panels with slim triangular blocks are suspended from the ceiling to resemble a curtain of flipping paper. Even the columns in the space have been painted and textured to continue the black and white theme. The only thing breaking up the monotony of black and white is a series of green cylindrical spotlights that are put together in an abstract composition.

Huaxin Business Center by Scenic Architecture, Shanghai, China
Jury Winner, 2014 A+Awards, Office Building – Low Rise (1-4 Floors)

The aim of the project was to maximize green cover and protect the six trees present on site. This is achieved by elevating the main mass above the ground to leave more room for green spaces below. The four blocks of the building are connected by open bridges. On the upper level, the spaces holding important functions are covered in twisted aluminum strips on the outside. These strips add translucency to the walls and help establish connectivity with nature beyond. The thin panels, much like light strips of paper floating and twisting with the wind, give the building a very tactile quality and heighten the experience as people walk around and try to peek at the trees beyond.

Images by Sharyn Cairns

Paperbark by KOICHI TAKADA ARCHITECTS, Melbourne, Australia

The restaurant offers a zero-waste menu with locally foraged Australian produce that is designed to inspire and delight. The space reflects this awareness of nature and slow movement. It is inspired by the Victorian Dandenong Ranges and the organic lines of the native paperbark tree. Repurpose biodegradable fabric is used to create the contoured ceiling installation. The subtle tones and softness of the installation help people form an emotional connection with nature while they dine and thereby create more awareness around conservation.

“Light Arrival” Yorkshire Ceiling by Flynn Architecture & Design, Crystal Lake, Illinois

Fluid lines on the ceiling of the sunroom help soften the rectangular edges of this space. Instead of going the digitally designed route, the ceiling is hand sculpted using translucent contoured panels that cover low-voltage LED strip lights for a diffused glow. During the day, when the lights are turned off, the shadows created by sunlight add more dimension to this three-dimensional installation. Fans suspended from this ceiling feature a similar curved profile.

Norwegian embassy in Athens by gfra, Athens, Greece

Unlike traditional origami, the art of kirigami uses small cuts in paper along with folks to create intricate, three-dimensional patterns. The Norwegian embassy in Athens uses this technique to imitate mountains reflecting in the fjord waters. Lights placed above this wooden structure enhance the folds and make this the focal point of the overall space.

Images by Alik Usik and Serhii Nikiforov

Tween Coexistence by Dmytro Aranchii Architects, Kyiv, Ukraine

Curved and bent strips of white shape all elements of this space — right from the ceilings to the reception desk. This technique also helps the furniture to blend into the walls, visualizing fluid circulation. The waiting area contains a large reception desk and an L-shaped sofa that blends in with the stairs leading to the interior spaces. On the ceiling, one can see two distinct patterns: one that originates in the reception area and another that continues along the transition to the inner spaces.

Images by Anil Patel

1102 Penthouse by Apical Reform, Ahmedabad, India

Much like a handcrafted contour model, planes with gradually decreasing cutouts are layered on top of one another to create the ceiling. Similar cutouts are used to embellish the kitchen island and console. The entire space is decorated in a neutral palette of grey and white to create a calming atmosphere. The staircase leading to the terrace is also composed using folded strips of metal similar to the forms of kirigami sculptures. Despite its lightness, it still holds a strong presence within the space.

Images by Jun Murata

N STRIPS by Jam, Osaka, Japan

This project is a renovation of a multi-tenant building that holds living areas and office spaces. The previous blank façade of the building is transformed into an eye-catching display with the help of white fins. This was done to add more privacy as the plot across from it is meant to have an apartment building built on it in the future. Furthermore, the louvers help conceal any unevenness in the external walls as well as the new pipes installed. The extrusions also create constantly changing shadows throughout the day.

 

Reference

How Will Modular Construction Continue Changing Design?
CategoriesArchitecture

How Will Modular Construction Continue Changing Design?

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. 

Modular construction isn’t a new concept in architecture; however, it wasn’t until the 20th century that the concept began gaining traction: pre-fabricate parts of buildings in factories how we build car parts and then assemble them onsite as if they were human-sized Lego bricks. Even still, until recently the term ‘modular construction’ brought to mind clunky concrete boxes and repetitive housing blocks.

Yet, now, as manufacturing technology in the architecture sector continues advancing and the environmental cost of construction is being evaluated more critically, modular design is becoming an increasingly attractive approach for architects and contractors. In fact, AMA Research reported that modular construction is set to grow by 14% between 2020 and 2024, and its seemingly limitless possibilities portend even greater growth for years to come. We’ve only scratched the surface of what is proving to be one of the most promising research fields in architectural design.

By shifting construction towards a manufacturing-style process, the modular design presents a host of unique advantages. The fabrication of materials inside the strictly controlled setting of a factory reduces the number of uncontrollable variables that might have otherwise caused delays or cost overruns. All the pre-fabrication work also means that the assembly phase itself is as streamlined as possible: the bulk of the work consists in stacking and bolting together the components of the building, reducing the inconveniences of construction — waste, noise and pollution from heavy-duty machinery — to a minimum.

Take for instance B100arcquitectos’ Science of Rehabilitation Faculty building at Don Bosco University in Soyapango, El Salvador. The project by the A+Award finalist firm offers us a glimpse of what the future of architecture might look like thanks to modular construction.

Annex Building Science of Rehabilitation Faculty Don Bosco University by B100arquitectos, Soyapango, El Salvador

The impact is apparent in the most striking feature of the building: the large, beautiful trees stooping over and surrounding the campus building, as if they had been purposely planted around it decades ago (and not the other way around!). This impressive architectural feat could only have been possible thanks to the flexibility of modular construction; the pre-fabricated cubic modules only had to be moved into place rather than built from the ground up. And though that presented its own logistical challenges, it spared the sacrifice of many trees, leaving over over 80% of the lot’s forestry untouched. The old trees now form an integral part of the architectural experience and give a sense of maturity to the building far beyond its one-year-old existence.

Aside from the aesthetic advantages, the modular construction was completed quickly and with little material waste. This allowed the firm to work on a tighter budget — the whole project ringing in at under a million dollars — allowing the University to invest more on what’s inside the classroom rather than on the classrooms themselves.

Are you interested in joining one of the most promising fields in architecture? Consider applying to a firm that specializes in modular construction.

Volumetric Building Companies (VBC) is a global leader in volumetric modular construction headquartered in Philadelphia, PA with locations across the United States and in Europe. The firm uses its precision-driven manufacturing capabilities and project-proven expertise to provide high quality, sustainably produced modular-designed buildings in less time across varied market sectors. VBC is currently looking to hire a Design Technology Manager, a Senior Project Designer / Senior Project Architect and a Senior Design Associate for their Somerville, MA offices.

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

Why Portugal Is a Dream Destination for Design Lovers
CategoriesArchitecture

Why Portugal Is a Dream Destination for Design Lovers

By Zarkon Group,

Portugal is one of the most visited countries in Europe, and there is no surprise why. Located at the southwest point of Europe, Portugal enjoys a coastline connected to the Atlantic Ocean and borders Spain to the east. The country is filled with a range of breathtaking landscapes and historical sites to explore, all within close proximity to one another. Portugal harmoniously blends heritage with modernity, making it an unbeatable travel destination — for leisure and for architecture. From museums and interactive installations to distinctive religious sites and elevated hospitality, there is something for everyone in Portugal. This collection will highlight some some of the country’s stunning contemporary architecture, represented by a range of typologies.

Museums 

Photos by Joao Morgado

Museums play an important role in reciting the history, culture and heritage of a nation, and in Portugal, one will find an abundance of modern complexes dedicated to Portuguese art and culture.

Take the Olive Oil Museum for example. Located in Oliveira do Hospital, Portugal, and designed by VT – Vasco Teixeira Architecture, this site delineates the history of olive oil production. The museum features an array of objects belonging to the owner António Dias’ private collection dating back to the Romans. The site was built in the shape of an olive branch, which reflects the museum’s theme and becomes recognizable to visitors. From a bird’s eye view, one can recognize the form of an olive branch, which was designed using natural shapes and earth-toned hues.

Visitors are taken through a chronological journey that retells the history of producing olive oil. Each room is connected to the museum’s central space, and as viewers move through the edifice, they finish in a room that faces the breathtaking Serra de Estrela mountain range. This museum is distinctive and particular to Portugal and serves as a fantastic day trip for tourists who find themselves in the central district of Coimbra.

History 

One does not need to venture far to be immersed in Portugal’s expansive history. From the eighth century, Muslim communities dominated the Iberian Peninsula and have left their mark in today’s modern-day Portugal. Moorish architecture can be spotted by simply browsing the streets of Lisbon, while others incorporate traditional Moorish elements into their contemporary builds.

For example, a residential dwelling located in Mesão Frio, Portugal embraces the Moorish tradition of privacy without compromising sight. Quinta da Boavista designed by SAMF Arquitectos is located near Portugal’s Douro River and overlooks a hilly valley. The home is located on a wine-producing estate and takes the form of a U shape. The home’s two existing structures are connected by a new volume and together create an expansive courtyard.

The newer dwelling continues the stonework found in the original edifice and was designed to relate to the surrounding landscape. Openings were added to strengthen the relationship between indoors and out — even the additional bedrooms lead onto an outdoor terrace. The home is deeply connected to the outdoors however, in keeping with Moorish traditions, a sense of privacy is maintained through a purposeful placement of openings that can be obscured if need be.

Progressive Private Residences 

Portugal’s visual language is rich in well-preserved historic architecture and innovative contemporary design. This marriage of old and new makes for a special place to explore.

Located in the prestigious town of Cascais is The Wall House, a residential dwelling designed by Guedes Cruz Architects. The home is everything but boring and was built primarily using concrete, glass and wood. At first glance, the home looks like a large concrete box, which was done to protect the structure from the Atlantic winds as well as provide a sense of privacy. However, once inside, the experience changes. The dwelling’s most pronounced feature is the two exterior pools, one located on the ground level and the other above.

The upper-level pool is placed across the ground-level pool and features a transparent glass floor. Due to its transparency, the ground level is filled with a unique blue hue. Additionally, a glistening ambiance is created by the shadows from the water above as well as the sunlight filtering through the upper-level pool. The home is designed to offer expansive views of the adjacent golf course while maintaining a degree of privacy. It is not every day that one comes across a residence like this. The Wall House exemplifies the innovative architecture one will come across in Portugal.

Interactive Streets 

Portuguese designers utilize public spaces in a very special way. With the goal of strengthening community and encouraging interaction, public structures can be found throughout the country.

atelier do rossio architecture embraced the metamorphosis of a butterfly to inform the design of a public installation. Located in Viseu, Portugal is COCOON, a public structure designed for anyone and everyone. The cocoon symbolizes metamorphosis, growth, and shelter, and the structure is intended to do just that – protect and aid in transformation. The structure is a weaved cocoon made of wood and steel. Origami pieces cover the façade which works to enclose the structure and give it its distinctive appearance. Passerbyers are able to interact with the space in whatever capacity they please – whether it be admiring it from afar or enjoying it from within.

Elevated Hospitality & Unbeatable Landscapes

Jury Winner & Popular Choice, 2021 A+Awards, Unbuilt Hospitality | Photo by Mir AS

Photo by 24STUDIO

Photo by 24STUDIO

From mountain ranges, rolling plains to archipelagoes, Portugal is filled with spectacular landscapes all within arm’s reach. Portugal’s special topography has attracted tourists for decades, and the recent influx of visitors has given rise to the booming hospitality industry. In Portugal, one will find luxurious hotels and breathtaking landscapes, and sometimes, the two collide.

Located in Tabuaço, Portugal on the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Alto Douro Wine Region is Quinta de Santo António Hotel & Winery. This award-winning hotel is located below an 18th-century chapel and consists of a series of volumes positioned around a courtyard. The design team, Atelier Sérgio Rebelo, carefully studied the region’s vernacular architecture and local materials to construct the hotel. The site effortlessly integrates with the surrounding landscape and is designed so that guests can connect and experience this special wine region. The site’s architecture works to frame views of the surrounding landscape while offering a high-end hotel experience. Quinta de Santo António Hotel & Winery is an unparalleled hotel experience that offers breathtaking views, incredible wine and sophisticated amenities.

Unique Religious Sites

Popular Choice, 2018 A+Awards, Architecture + Wood | Jury Winner & Popular Choice , 2018 A+Awards, Religious Buildings & Memorials

Portugal’s most practiced religion is Roman Catholic, and as a result, one will find an array of ancient religious sites to visit. However, today’s devout don’t only frequent historic sites to practice their faith.

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

 

Reference

Architects Should Stop Using Concrete. Change My Mind.
CategoriesArchitecture

Architects Should Stop Using Concrete. Change My Mind.

By Zarkon Group,

How can architecture be a force for good in our ever-changing world? During Future Fest, we’ll pose this question to some of the world’s best architects. Launching in September, our three-week-long virtual event will be 100% free to attend. Register here!

Concrete is one of the most widely used substances on Earth, it has been around for centuries and makes up most of our modern-day and past world. It is used to build our roads, our buildings and the many historic monuments we cherish today. Humankind relies on concrete for everything: to build our hospitals, transportation systems and schools. We have greatly benefitted from this material and it is thanks to its relatively straightforward manufacturing process that makes it easy to use on a global scale.

When we think back, some of the most important historic monuments still stand thanks to concrete. Take the Colosseum for example, or Le Corbusier’s Unité d’Habitation, such architectural wonders are owing to concrete.

The Colosseum metro exit, Rome, Italy, Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Concrete has played a pronounced role in architectural movements like Brutalism and Futurism and its aesthetic properties have been contested and debated time and time again. When and where concrete was first used is often debated and it typically depends on how one defines the term “concrete.” Although its origins are contested, it is clear that ancient civilizations have combined limestone with water and sand for a very long time. This historic mixing of limestone, water and aggregates can be seen as a precursor to the modern-day cement-making practices we use today.

In 2022, we live in a world dominated by concrete.The Romans were known to use concrete similarly to the way we do today. This ancient civilization built everything with concrete – bathhouses, harbors and important religious structures like the Pantheon. What’s significant about these ancient Roman structures is their ability to have lasted centuries. The lifecycle of modern-day concrete is roughly 100 years, however, there was something about the Roman structures that stood the test of time. Many believe the longevity seen in the structures built by the Romans is thanks to the use of volcanic ash, otherwise known as pozzolana. 

Today, concrete is made by blending Portland cement with water and then mixing the paste with aggregates — typically sand, gravel and crushed stone — which hardens and binds into an incredibly durable substance. Portland cement is a limestone powder developed in the late 19th century and is hugely popular in today’s cement-making industry. Concrete’s unyielding nature mixed with its relatively straightforward construction process has helped it land its name as the most used substance on Earth (after water, of course).

The Pantheon dome, Rome, Italy, Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

We are living through the age of concrete, and the time has come for this epoch to draw to a close. The world’s most beloved material is, simply put, detrimental to our planet.

Concrete has kept us sheltered and secure for a long time. Safe from the elements, inside our concrete fortresses unaware of what’s happening outside. We have reached a time in history where concrete is competing — and winning — against the Earth’s fauna. Concrete accounts for around 4-8% of the world’s CO2 emissions and most of that is produced during the manufacturing stage. The concrete industry has tried to divert attention toward the material’s positive capability of capturing CO2, but studies have proven that concrete absorbs a mere 17% of emissions produced, and that’s over its lifecycle of 100 years.

However, it’s not just CO2 emissions that worry scientists: the cement-making process accounts for one 10th of the world’s industrial water consumption. An equally worrying issue is concrete’s impact on natural resources. The cement-making process is draining many natural infrastructures that humans rely upon. For example, the acquisition of sand to make concrete is destroying many of the world’s beaches. The glorified concrete jungle is covering the productive land we rely upon for our very existence.

Unité d’Habitation by Le Corbusier, Marseille, France, Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The craze for concrete, excess and grandeur is seen all over the world and is especially pronounced in China. Statistically speaking, China has poured more concrete into its land every three years than the United States has in the past hundred years. Not only is this significant in terms of environmental impact, but it is a costly endeavor for governments to replace and dispose of old concrete.

What can possibly be the solution to replacing the world’s most used substance? There is certainly no clear path to doing so, but there are ways to start. Architects, builders, manufacturers and consumers all carry a responsibility when it comes to making conscious choices that will impact our planet. Rethinking the production process, using alternative materials and conserving existing concrete structures are starting points. Finding alternative construction practices, such as timber-framed buildings, is important areas to explore. However, it is crucial not to replace one ecological issue with another.

The situation is complex, political and far from resolved. Demanding architects, who have been taught to rely upon concrete, to avoid the material altogether will take time. However, we need to start somewhere. We should be striving toward a mindset shift, one where humans understand their place on Earth and respect their ecosystems and natural terrains. We must shift our priority from grandeur and excess to preserving the Earth’s natural resources and ultimately, close the chapter on the concrete era.

How can architecture be a force for good in our ever-changing world? During Future Fest, we’ll pose this question to some of the world’s best architects. Launching in September, our three-week-long virtual event will be 100% free to attend. Register here!

Reference

Future Fest: Watch Michael Green Speak About the Timber Architecture Revolution
CategoriesArchitecture

Future Fest: Watch Michael Green Speak About the Timber Architecture Revolution

By Zarkon Group,

If you are interested in learning about the future of sustainable timber construction, we have some exciting news: Michael Green, Founder and Principal of MGA | Michael Green Architecture, will speak at Architizer Future Fest this September! Celebrating his firm’s latest A+Award for Best Architecture Firm in North America, Michael will take to the Future Fest stage to present his ideas on “Buildings for a Changing World”. The virtual live talk is scheduled to take place on Monday, September 19th, and is 100% free for attendees. Register to attend Michael’s presentation during our biggest ever celebration of architectural innovation:

Register for Future Fest

Michael Green is an award-winning architect, speaker, and author known for using design to create meaningful, sustainable built environments that benefit both people and planet. A leader in wood construction and innovation, Michael is a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and the recipient of an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Northern British Columbia, lecturing internationally on the subject of mass timber and new building technology, including his TED talk, “Why We Should Build Wooden Skyscrapers.”

Michael serves as a government policy advisor on mass timber design and is the co-author of the first and second editions of ‘The Case for Tall Wood Buildings’ and ‘Tall Wood Buildings: Design, Construction and Performance.’

Top right: Wood Innovation and Design Centre, Prince George, Canada; bottom left: North Vancouver Passive House Plus, North Vancouver, Canada; photos by Ema Peter Photography

MGA | Michael Green Architecture is one of the most internationally recognized architecture firms in Canada. Beyond winning multiple A+Awards over the past few years, the firm has also received four Governor General’s Medals for Architecture and two Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Awards for Architectural Innovation. MGA is particularly well-known for its innovation in sustainable architecture and developing carbon-neutral buildings with advanced wood construction.

During his presentation entitled ‘Buildings for a Changing World’, Michael will explore some of the most pressing issues facing the architecture industry today. The world is evolving at a rapid pace, and architecture and construction must evolve with it in order to create a sustainable future for communities around the globe. What should the architecture of tomorrow look like? What should it be made of? And how should it be built? Michael and other Future Fest presenters will explore answers to these questions and more through the lens of some of the best, A+Award-winning architectural projects from recent seasons.

For a running list of speakers and more information on upcoming events, check out the Future Fest website, and register to receive invitations to each live talk in September:

Register for Future Fest

Top image: T3 Minneapolis by MGA | Michael Green Architecture, Minneapolis, MN, A+Award Finalist in the Commercial Mixed Use category; photo by Ema Peter Photography

Reference

Want to Stay Relevant in Architecture? Become an Adaptive Reuse or Renovation Expert
CategoriesArchitecture

Want to Stay Relevant in Architecture? Become an Adaptive Reuse or Renovation Expert

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. 

Few architectural design processes begin with a blank slate. Rarely is a plot of land as flat and featureless as the sheets of paper used to plan it. This is especially the case in our post-industrial cities, where something likely already exists on that plot. Perhaps a Victorian redbrick or a shingled house that has seen better days? These buildings generally have a host of structural problems that can cause headaches for architects and engineers. And the easiest solution always seems to be to tear it all down and start anew.

But demolishing and starting from scratch is also a lost opportunity to rehabilitate the history and character of a place. By destroying the ‘outdated’ buildings that seem to cause us so many headaches, we are erasing the cultural heritage of our neighborhoods. While preservation projects can be prescriptive, adaptive reuse invites architects the flex their creative muscles by finding a way to express the evolution of a building and neighborhood. Almost paradoxically, renovation projects rely on innovative thought and cutting-edge technologies. Meanwhile, to paraphrase form AIA President Carl Elefante, “the greenest building is one already built”. Retrofitting existing structures is a conscionable alternative to the carbon-intensive nature of new construction.

The Westmount Building, by Dubbeldam Architecture + Design, took home the Popular Choice prize in the 10th Annual A+Awards. The firm transformed a century-old, three-storey brick building — a patchwork of decades-old neglect with mismatched bricks and randomly positioned windows — into a vibrant, urban-oriented community hub.

More and more, adaptive reuse projects are being undertaken by a diverse range of firms — often, these projects are topping awards lists that were once reserved for ground-up constructions. For all of these reasons and more, we are highlighting architecture firms on this week’s job’s board who are willing to give old buildings a second chance. Whether with refurbishing projects or meticulous renovations, these firms are proving that the old can be a fertile source for reinvention. Not all ‘new’ buildings need to be completely new. Sometimes incorporating or preserving elements of old buildings serves as a gift both to the past and to the present.

Tyler Engle Architects — who are currently hiring a Project Architect for their Seattle studio — are no strangers to providing old buildings with a new lease of life.

Freyer Collaborative, an architectural design firm in New York City, also has a diverse portfolio of renovations that stylishly incorporate pre-existing buildings into their high-end residential projects. They are currently looking to hire an Intern Architect.

MJA+A Architects are hiring for an architectural drafter for their offices in New York City. The firm focuses on renovations and restorations for commercial and residential projects both big and small.

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

sail house_aerial
CategoriesArchitecture

6 Rural Residences Composed of Clustered Volumes

By Zarkon Group,

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

Whether on top of the mountain or deep into the woods, staying in close contact with nature can free your heart and mind from exhausting urban life. When designing with rich natural contexts, breaking the architectural volume down into smaller units is an unexpected approach that architects should consider. This strategy allows flexibility in organizing functional spaces, especially when the project needs to cope with the undulating landscape.

Explore with this collection of projects that are clustered in groups of small volumes across stunning landscapes. Instead of a huge, loud form, they communicate with their natural surroundings more harmonically.

sail house_aerial

sail house_terrace

Photos by Kevin Scott

Sail House by David Hertz Architects, Studio of Environmental Architecture, Grenadines, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 2020
Jury Winner, 2021 A+Awards, Private House (XL > 6,000 sq ft)

Located on one of the beautiful islands of the Grenadines, the Sail House consists of a series of residences overlooking the bay. Hiding in the jungle, there are a primary residence, a caretaker’s residence and several guesthouses, all scattered across the mountainous landscape.

Inspired by the local sailing culture, the roofs are formed by white membranes which are stretched into shapes by steel ‘masts.’ The tensile roofs provide enough shading to keep the residences from overheating. At the same time, the second layer of membranes allows heat to escape from the roof without exposing the interior to rainwater. Rainwater is collected by the roof system and channeled down to the basement through the structural masts. Utilizing the rich precipitation of the site, the sail house is self-sufficient in water.

knot house_aerial

knot house_private entrance

Photos by Kyungsub Shin

Knot House by Atelier Chang Ltd, Geoje-si, South Korea, 2014
Jury Winner & Popular Choice, 2015 A+Awards, Hotels + Resorts

The Knot House comprises five sculptural volumes. Five volumes are modular yet closely connected, creating a continuous geometrical form that follows the geological profile. Each knot is a folding shape that provides a private ocean view. The houses are twisted 40 degrees toward the sea to create a triangular private zone by each knot. This twisting exaggerates the dynamicity in the overall form, making the building visible from far away. Among the five knots, the big knot houses a clubhouse and the owner’s residence, and four one-story knots host six guestrooms. Tilted walls and fragmented timber surfaces extend the formal dynamic to interior spaces.

jikka_exteriorjikka_interiorJIKKA by issei suma/SUMA, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, 2015

JIKKA is like a bunch of mushrooms growing in the woodland of Shizuoka. The house consists of five huts that together accommodate two ladies in their 60s. Each hut is tailored to fit its program, making them vary in dimensions. The dining/living room and the master bedroom each have a skylight on top, while the other three huts housing the guest room, guest bath and utility room have enclosed, pointed roofs. In contrast to the tall ceiling, the glazed openings are relatively low while meeting the ground. Such form-making strategies create a spacious yet cozy living space.

casa sardinera_farcasa sardinera_poolCasa Sardinera by Ramon Esteve Estudio, Xàbia, Spain, 2014

Casa Sardinera stands on the top of a rockery hill, enjoying an unblock view of the Mediterranean Sea. The building is east-west orientated which facilitates cross-ventilation in the summer and helps capture sunlight in the winter. Adjustable shutters provide shading and privacy for the entry-facing west façade. In contrast, the east façade is made transparent by floor-to-ceiling glazing, generously inviting the attractive landscape into the rooms. The overhangs become sheltered verandas that lead to the outdoor pool and panoramic view of the landscape. While the architectural volumes are rather blocky, white concrete and pale-color timber create a sense of lightness.

Es Pou_aerialEs Pou_exteriorEs Pou by marià castelló, architecture, Balearic Islands IB, Spain, 2021

The project is sited on a rural plot on the island of Formentera. Around the project are farmlands and a flourishing woodland in the west, protecting the house from the setting sun. All three volumes are oriented south-north to avoid overheating. From south to north, the first volume consists of a porch that protects against the burning summer sun. The volume in the middle houses the main living space and the third volume accommodates two bedrooms. The three volumes are similarly white triangular blocks but vary in width, roof plan, and façade openings. Textured with ceramic and wood, the interior has a cozy coolness. Timber breeze walls add textuality to the sleek surfaces while controlling the amount of light and heat that enters the rooms.

Comporta 10_aerialComporta 10_courtyardComporta 10_innerComporta 10 by Fragmentos, Grândola, Portugal, 2021

Comporta 10 is situated in a landscape that features sand dunes and diverse vegetation. The residence comprises a group of one-story white blocks and a courtyard on one corner of the site. The courtyard is loosely enclosed by a group of blocks yet still closely connected to the surrounding natural environment. Living areas and en-suite bedrooms are placed opposite each other and organized by a straight corridor. The kitchen, living room, and dining room enjoy the view of the carefully designed courtyard through large glazed sliding doors. Meanwhile, the bedrooms are rather enclosed that open only toward private verandas and the corridor.

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Top 10 Architecture Projects on Architizer in June 2022
CategoriesArchitecture

Top 10 Architecture Projects on Architizer in June 2022

By Zarkon Group,

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

Architizer’s journal is fueled by the creative energy of the thousands of architects from around the world who upload and showcase their incredible work. From conceptual designs to projects under construction to completed buildings, we are proud to serve as a platform for showcasing global architectural talent and the brilliance of visualizers, engineers, manufacturers, and photographers who are crucial members of the industry. A stellar drawing, rendering or photo, as well as a detailed project description, can go a long way in making a project stand out, as does indicate the stellar contributors on a project.

Firms who upload to Architizer share their work with professionals and design enthusiasts through our Firm Directory and Projects database. They also gain exposure by having their projects shared on our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages, as well as in our Journal feature articles. Indeed, through these various channels, hundreds of thousands of people in the global design community have come to rely on Architizer as their architectural reference and source of inspiration. In 2022, we’re rounding up our database’s top 10 most-viewed, user-uploaded architecture projects at the end of each month.

By MC arquitectura in Zapopan / El Arenal, Mexico

The objective is to build a rest house developed on a single level, which houses the minimum spaces necessary for living and at the same time offers an experience of peace and total isolation, allowing the user a place of quietness just minutes from the city. This may sound like a tall order, but situated in a rural context on the border between two urban areas, the design masterfully draws on materials from the surrounding area: stone, brick, concrete, wood and the finish on the walls.

This gives a warm and cozy result that allows it to adapt to a bioclimatic environment in constant change and thus achieve a lower visual contrast in the different seasons of the year. The barrel vault structure offers a subtle play of volumes and heights, opening the home up towards the best views. Open air circulations together with 2 outdoor patios, the front garden and the visuals projected on each window invite the user to coexist with the context and communicate with the exterior.

By AOS works : architecture & design — Concept (Southwestern Desert, United States)

This fascinating combination of geometries draws lessons from traditional Japanese tea houses with the aim of transporting visitors to an alternate realm of ceremony and contemplation. The design, evocative of geological formations typically found in the surrounding desert stands out like a land art sculpture set in a vast landscape. The material composition is minimal: thick, battered limestone walls, travertine wainscoting and a roof clad in weathering steel panels.

The project’s size was inspired by a 4.5 tatami mat layout. A sunken hearth serves as the nucleus, framed by a border of alcoves that house the functions of the tea ceremony. The large roof overhang evokes a precariously balanced rock, providing shade in the harsh, sun-drenched environment. The reflecting pool, which defines the space below the roof, and acts as an opposing force to the solid walls of the tea house, which erupt from the earth, also aids in evaporative cooling.

By Horibe Associates, Japan

This house was created for a true car and bike enthusiast, who wished to bring his passion home. This two-story residence makes this dream come true, while also providing a quiet domestic space for the client’s wife and dog on the second floor. On the ground floor, a garage houses the client’s favorite Maserati Shamal, among other Italian cars and motorcycles. Meanwhile, the use of durable, reinforced concrete guarantees the tranquility of the upper level. A courtyard at the end of the garage acts as an outlet for the release of sound and vehicle exhaust. Likewise, the courtyard’s greenery muffles engine noise, while helping to purify the air.

By S+S Architects in Bangkok, Thailand

This remarkable home renovation project is found on Ratchadaphisek Road a suburban area that has a surprisingly high-density. Privacy, safety and elder friendliness were the three values that guided the design. To this end, outer decoration is guards the domestic space, creating more privacy, while the interior design emphasizes voids. The ingenious façade is make of perforated aluminum sheets that screen out the sun and filter in natural breeze; they can be closed or opened as the dwellers’ needs for any interactions with the surrounding neighborhood.

By Robert Konieczny KWK Promes, Poland

Photos by Jakub Certowicz

The design of this private home has an unusual genesis: the owner had already had already begun designing a garden and wanted a home that would respond to it — the inverse of the usual order of business for architects. The design was thus inspired by the curving green oasis that the patron had created. The topographically shaped ground floor is thus contrasted with the block of the upper floor closed with shutters on the south side, providing privacy from the access road. These two different geometries are linked by a softly cut atrium — the green heart of the house.

Ultimately, the idea to start the investment with a garden was inspired, with many benefits over the traditional order for designing things. The moment the house was completed, the client could immediately enjoy greener. Meanwhile, to reach the target size, plants need more time than it takes to build the house, and planting tall trees generates high costs. What’s more, because of the transportation and the need for heavy equipment, it is not environmentally friendly.

By Mado Architects in Senegal

Equality, conservation, cost-effectiveness, construction methods and step-by-step construction: these were the top concerns that drove the design of this project. In Senegal, cultural myths involving baobab trees are the origins of many villages. This was the genesis of the idea to form spaces around the existing trees on the site —  the competition also called for them to be preserved. Two circles with a radius of 8 meters surrounded the central trees of the site, and to provide the area of the yard and playground, a third circle was added to the circles for this purpose.

Circular spaces were formed around the courtyards, which eventually connected to each other and formed a unified form. A triangular shape was used to form the roof and walls of the school, where the roof and the wall were connected. To create dynamic circulation, two movement paths were considered in the inner and outer walls, one of them was dedicated to the ramp for the disabled. To facilitate the construction method and cost-effectiveness, an attempt was made to use native materials such as wood and straw in the project, and to adopt a simple construction method.

By Atis — Concept (for Knowsley, United Kingdom)

This project imagines a new life for the former Cronton Colliery — a disused coal mine at Knowsley near Manchester — as a world class, sustainable park. At its heart, the architects designed a community space that projects the positive co-existence of natural and urban areas. The buildings and infrastructures are inspired by the textures and color palette naturally occuring on the site — grasslands and birch groves. The master plan takes into account extensive land remediation and revegetation  along with the phased introduction of proven community amenities that would draw the public to the area including sustainable housing and eco-tourism in the form of an ecologically designed hotel, conference centre, spa and restaurant.

By Roovice in Nishigahara, Kita City, Japan

Photos by Akira Nakamura

This renovation project is found in the central north area of Tokyo. The owner of the two-floor family house envisioned a DIY atmosphere filled with custom made furniture crafted by himself. In Japan, most traditional buildings have little to no insulation; many are also behind current seismic regulations, which are rapidly constantly evolving. The renovation sought to remedy these outdated aspects, while enhancing other traditional aspects of Japanese design, such as a  using voids above the ceiling to help the ventilation. In sum, the design is characterized by a dynamic double character: the imperfection of the irregular wooden elements and DIY atmosphere mixed with the precision and ingenuity of the newly designed structure.

By line+ in Hangzhou, China

After 4 years, line+ completed the headquarters building for VIEWSHINE, a listed company developing from traditional instruments to intelligence. With integrated design, line+ has created a brand-new office space fit to accommodate the ever-evolving working scenarios and needs in the future and reflecting a unique corporate image in the historic city center. After the tailor-made architectural space language has completed the empowerment of the company’s own brand image, the original concept and vision will be embodied in the spatial details of the user’s personal experience. Through interior design, the intangible corporate values will be conveyed. Ultimately, line+ incorporates corporate culture into the workplace by building its headquarters.

By STOPROCENT Architekci in Zory, Poland

Flamingo house sits on the frontier of a former brickyard, which has been been transformed into a recreation park for the historic city of Zory. The site’s varied terrain, which ranges significantly in height, informed the design. On one side, a simple and light rectangular volume emerges; it is raised above the ground level with a glazed ‘belt’ that delimits the building from the ground, creating the illusion of levitating structure. An internal patio serves as the nucleus for the lower level. The façades revel in the juxtaposition between fullness and transparency, and lightness and heaviness — massive blocks contrast with glazed stripes of the facades and the whiteness of the full surfaces is set off by dark rhythm of the windows.

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



Reference

Laneway Homes as a Housing Alternative
CategoriesArchitecture

Laneway Homes as a Housing Alternative

By Zarkon Group,

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

The woes of housing shortages plaguing many large cities across the world are well-known and manifold; from a lack of affordable housing driving lower-income families out of cities, to skyrocketing house prices making it even harder for younger people to enter the housing market. But, while drastic rezoning laws to encourage denser housing seem still far off in the future, municipal authorities and architects are finding ways around the problem.

One alternative in vogue has been the concept of ‘gentle density’ — an increase in housing density that has little impact on the outward appearance or character of a neighborhood — and laneway houses have been a driving force behind the trend. Architects are demonstrating that, though tucked behind principal residences, laneway houses need not compromise comfort or privacy. Their designs suggest that one remedy to the housing shortage might be awaiting in our own backyard.

Full House by Leckie Studio Architecture + Design, Vancouver, Canada

The added density provided by this two-story house and laneway addition in Vancouver seeks to push beyond the affordability calculus by rethinking how a multigenerational family can co-exist in a suburb of single-family homes. A hidden one-bedroom, secondary residence provides additional living space in the backyard and matches the sleek and understated design of its bigger sibling.

Central to this aim are the Marcel Duchamp-inspired doors that allow the family to reconfigure the house’s layout as it sees fit. By hinging between two possible frames, the 5-bedroom main home can be split into two discrete dwellings of either 3 and 2 bedrooms or 4 and 1 bedrooms. When comes time for the perennial family gathering, the units can be reopened as one large multi-generational house.

Photo by Matthew Gianoulis

Laneway House by 9point9 Architects, Townsville, Australia

Rather than keeping all three bedrooms and two bathrooms compact into one large house, this bungalow in Townsville, Australia, unfurls its rooms on the full length of its lot. Two guest rooms and a living room receive lighting through the front yard, while the offshoot master bedroom reaches the other end of the lot and is connected to the main building by a translucent walkway that opens onto the central courtyard.

This expansive layout allows the house to breathe both literally and figuratively. The main wing and the master bedroom have direct access to the courtyard, enabling full, unencumbered ventilation of the house. Likewise, the central courtyard gives the house a sense of spaciousness that a larger home on the same lot could not provide.

Rough House + Laneway, by Measured Architecture Inc.Rough House + Laneway, by Measured Architecture Inc., Vancouver, Canada

This single family home and an expanded laneway studio in suburban Vancouver uses Japanese-inspired landscaping to create calm spaces within narrow confines. The corrugated steel-clad studio has both landscaping on the roof and a green wall facing the house, reclaiming the green space lost by the densified back yard. The wall also provides a lush and peaceful background for weekend family meals or a late-afternoon summer nap. 

Laneway Wall Garden House by Donaghy & Dimond Architects, Dublin, Ireland

This 19th Century Dublin house renovation now boasts an expanded kitchen that protrudes into the cobblestone courtyard garden and an additional bedroom in a separate structure by the laneway. A lean-to zinc covered roof acts as a mediator between the two new spaces, serving as both a rainwater collector and connective tissue. The concrete walls and timber structure have been left unpainted, with the expectation that lichen and moss will one day overtake them, hence mitigating the urban footprint of the new construction.

McIlwrick Residences by B.E. Architecture, Melbourne, Australia 

Three townhouses are clustered within this single residential block in Windsor, Melbourne. Small courtyards intertwine with cobblestone alleyways, offering intimate and flexible spaces for the multigenerational family that occupies the residences. The flush struck brickwork and deep-set windows are a contemporary re-iteration of early Victorian Australian architecture thus fitting snuggly in a neighborhood mostly occupied by residences from that era — an attribute that has earned it the label of “quiet integration”, which the architects gave to their design.

Riverdale Townhomes by Studio JCI, Toronto, Canada

The Riverdale Townhouse development gently increases the number of residences on this quiet residential street in Riverdale, Toronto. The bright and spacious five two-bedroom units make for ideal housing for young professionals and new families. Floor-to-ceiling windows and internal voids maximize the interior’s exposure to sunlight, ensuring that the units are generously lit. The dark brick columns of the front-facing façade pay respect to the Victorian-era architecture of its neighbors, while partitioning the modernist charcoal-colored exterior into more palatable doses. 

Photos by Mansyur Hasan

R Micro Housing by Simple Projects Architecture, Surabaya, Indonesia

The R Micro Housing complex in the suburbs of Surabaya, Indonesia squeezes five separate, affordable units onto a 39 feet by 98 feet strip of land. The residences might be glued together, but they don’t feel cramped: the complex aligns wall-length skylights above each unit’s staircase, enabling natural sunlight to brighten the ground floor.

The minimalist, monochromatic ‘quintal-plex’ stands out among the neighborhood’s classical hip-roofed terracotta-tiled residences – as if wanting to show off how densification can be a pathway to affordability.

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

Reference