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Coach Houses Are Full of Creative Potential
CategoriesArchitecture

Coach Houses Are Full of Creative Potential

By Zarkon Group,

Architizer is thrilled to announce the winners of the 10th Annual A+Awards! Want to earn global recognition for your projects? Sign up to be notified when the 11th Annual A+Awards program launches.  

Coach houses first appeared in England around the 18th century and eventually took off in the United States a century later. Such structures were originally intended to store horse-drawn carriages and eventually used to house automobiles. Unlike a modern-day garage, coach houses were a symbol of status; only a select few could afford personal transportation and as a result, these structures were reserved for the wealthy. The traditional coach followed a distinct layout, they were typically two-storied volumes built separately from the main dwelling. There was space designated for the carriage and a private room built for the driver. These structures were functional in nature and reflected the architectural aesthetic of the main house.

Today, those fortunate enough to come across a property with an existing coach house have the chance to restore and rebuild the edifice into whatever they please. Whether it be an elevated garage or a cozy apartment, the potentialities of a coach house are limitless.

Photo by Harold Clark

Photo by Harold Clark

Cabbagetown Coach House by CORE Architects Inc., Toronto, Canada

This Toronto coach house was remodeled into a functional and minimalist apartment. The coach is roughly 2,500 square feet, which meant that all desired functions and amenities could be easily equipped in the home. The two-storied coach house features a spacious living room, a comfortable kitchen and a separate formal dining area. The dining room was positioned in the atrium to maximize space and comfort as the homeowners enjoy cooking. The kitchen is finished with stainless steel counters, a built-in cutting board and an “appliance garage” perfect for the cooking enthusiast. Bi-fold doors in the living room lead onto a relaxed outdoor courtyard space. The outdoors can equally be enjoyed by the upstairs master bedroom, which leads onto an upper floor exterior space.

Coach House Restaurant by SHH, London, United Kingdom

Located on the historic grounds of Hatfield House is a renovated 19th-century coach now turned elevated eatery. The premise of this construction was to create a space that would maximize revenue, increase year-round access and contribute to the cost of maintaining the historic property. In order to do so, the architects designed a dining space that could be enjoyed by the site’s visitors, tenants and nearby residents.

The coach house was redone using materials that reflected the original 19th-century structure and surrounding buildings. The architects blended older-appearing materials with a contemporary design to create a functional dining environment. The original tea house was expanded to two floors, with a glass extension leading to the exterior grounds. Moreover, a rooftop terrace can be accessed via a central spiral staircase. The renovation has increased the floor space by 70 percent and offers a deli, bakery and chef’s table option.

Flynn Mews House by Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects (LOHA), Dublin, Ireland
Finalist, 2014 A+Awards, Single Family Home M 1,000-3000 sq ft

This residential dwelling is located in the heart of Dublin and celebrates the site’s historic fabric. The home was built on the site of a previous 19th-century coach house and retains its history through a respectful contemporary design. The traditional mews entrance features large floor-to-ceiling windows, which ensure that the new edifice remains connected to the original preserved wall. The home is comprised of two volumes attached by a central sunken courtyard; it is a special indoor/outdoor living environment not typically found in Dublin.

An enclosed glass bridge connects the two volumes and creates a rather striking juxtaposition. The home took part in the Dublin Green Building Pilot Program and features a solar panel water heating system and an underground gray water pump. The project is an exemplar of preserving the old and blending it with the new.

Photo by Christel Derksen & Rolf Bruggink

Photo by Christel Derksen & Rolf Bruggink

House of Rolf by ROLF.FR, Utrecht, Netherlands  

Located in Utrecht, Netherlands, this 19th-century coach was turned into a truly unique space that underwent a distinctive design and building process. The home was constructed using materials that came from a demolished building nearby and proves that waste can, in fact, create something beautiful.

The original edifice was built in 1895 behind an aristocrat’s home, and then in 1955, an additional outbuilding was constructed adjacent to the coach. The current homeowners acquired both structures and the surrounding garden to build a singular dwelling. The interior space was divided into three zones, each of which offer a distinctive living environment. The first zone was left relatively void so that the original coach atmosphere can be experienced.  A freestanding structure, standing separate from the coach, forms a second zone housing the kitchen, bedroom, bath and office space. The third zone, meanwhile, is a sculptural structure attached to the shell of the original volume. The entire house was furnished using local Dutch designers.

Wicker Park Residence by Wheeler Kearns Architects, Chicago, IL, United States

This single-family residence consists of two separate volumes — a primary dwelling and a historic coach — which are attached by an enclosed glass walkway. Located in one of Chicago’s Landmark Districts, the design carefully respects the neighborhood’s historic architecture. The original coach was viewed as a special asset to the property and informed the material choices and decorative elements found in the main dwelling. The interior of both the house and the coach embrace a contemporary aesthetic, while the exterior design is more reflective of the historic neighborhood. For example, metal doors and dark window frames were purposefully incorporated to complement the design of the original coach. Equally, the new edifice is clad in brick which speaks to the coach’s brick façade. Floor-to-ceiling windows adorn the home’s façade and look onto the original structure, thus furthering the connection between the two volumes.

Whether it be for commercial or private use, there are countless ways to design, reinvent and interpret the traditional coach house structure. The possibilities are limitless and the outcome is a special bespoke space.

Architizer is thrilled to announce the winners of the 10th Annual A+Awards! Want to earn global recognition for your projects? Sign up to be notified when the 11th Annual A+Awards program launches. 

Reference

Architects are Making Heroes of Hexagonal Forms
CategoriesArchitecture

Architects are Making Heroes of Hexagonal Forms

By Zarkon Group,

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

From molecules to beehives to large basalt columns, the hexagonal shape is commonly found in both organic and inorganic objects. The shape is also considered one of the most efficient ways of covering a surface, given that a hexagonal grid uses the least amount of separating walls. Using nature as inspiration, architects are now designing with hexagonal forms in both horizontal and vertical planes.

Some embrace these six-sized shapes as a foundation for planning and others to create decorative walls. The hexagon allows radial organization as well as flat surfaces. A honeycomb-like grid can also be built upon or broken down into a triangular grid, while a hexagonal shape also lends itself to a larger number of external surfaces. While not the most conventional form, some architects have shown how the shape can be used to plan and transform spaces.

Images by Jaime Navarro

Liverpool Insurgentes Department Store by Rojkind Arquitectos, Mexico City, Mexico

When expanding, a department store in Mexico City has to reconsider the traditional big-box model in order to attract more traffic and make a bolder statement. To do so, Rojkind Arquitectos created a façade that interacts with the environment around and lets passersby look into the building. The new scheme includes a network of differently sized hexagons that overlap, combine and open up to create a pattern that looks like it is animated. Made using fiberglass, steel, aluminum and glass, the arrangement plays with transparency to create translucent walls in spaces as well as large openings to show parts of certain stores.

Images by Zhang Chao

HEX-SYS by OPEN Architecture, Guangdong, China

Given the need for short-term real estate show spaces, the firm conceptualized a sustainable typology that can grow to adapt to different programs; it can also be dismantled after use or transported and assembled again. The form takes inspiration from traditional Chinese wooden building systems. The system comprises 430 square feet hexagonal cells that can be arranged into different configurations based on the program. The inverted umbrella-like roofs also collect rainwater for use on-site. Within the cells there are three typologies — transparent, enclosed and peripheral cells — to cater to different functions.

Josefine/ Roxy Club by Fred Mafra, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Fred Mafra moved away from regular hexagons to a more elongated version to create dramatic walls for this nightclub. The shape is also used in different versions and sizes along with other prismatic elements throughout the two fools of the club. The 100+ hexagons not only hide the structural framework supporting them but also act as an illuminating element. The embedded LED system is connected to a video pixel mapping program that helps change the colors of these lights.

Image by Sergio Gomez

Image by Iwan Baan

Orquideorama by plan:b, Medellín, Colombia

Much like a tree, this project is a series of hexagonal canopies that contain a central module with six other modules growing from it. Its spread makes it seem like an organic design despite its geometric nature. The central module stands on a twisted column that expels hot air and funnels rainwater. The system allows repetition, growth and the ability to build around the trees on the site to avoid damaging them. The layering of wooden strips also gives it lightness and transparency.

Images by Purnesh Dev Nikhanj

Hexalace by Studio Ardete, PB, India

The building’s unique façade was a way to exercise creatively when the restrictive plan prevented the team from doing so. In addition to being a showstopper, the exterior also serves as a buffer from the extreme climate. The façade comprises a 3-inch later of concrete with hexagonal cutouts to create shaded balconies and windows. Over this base is a network of white hexagonal frames that act as balcony railings in certain parts of the surface. The introduction of plants on these balconies adds pops of color to this system and makes the concrete slab come to life.

Aron R&D Center by Osamu Morishita Architect & Associates, Aichi, Japan

The brief was to create a space that acts as a research lab and also promotes new ideas. Drawing inspiration from the cloud and virtual networks, the studio envisioned a hexagonal grid that facilitates the easy connection of internal spaces. This framework allows users to transform interior spaces according to their needs. The 27 hexagonal towers placed on equally spaced vertices in the grid act as green pockets and introduce light and fresh air into the interior spaces. Additionally, the building features a solar energy system, heat reservoirs, passive cooling systems and rainwater collection mechanisms. The hexagonal form is also replicated in furniture throughout the building.

Hive by OPENIDEAS ARCHITECTS, Surat, India

A variety of different hexagonal patterns strategically placed on the walls of this home turn it into a sensorial delight. The sun’s path and climate were some of the governing factors in this design. The v-shape opening up towards green spaces as well as a green oof that provides thermal insulation are just two such examples. The star of the show is a solar-sensor-based honeycomb façade. Some hexagons in the 3D lattice automatically open and close to maintain ideal thermal conditions within the home. To complement these walls, hexagonal patterns at different scales are also incorporated on other exterior surfaces across the home.

East China Normal University Affiliated Bilingual Kindergarten by Scenic Architecture, Shanghai, China

The courtyard is a very significant element in traditional Chinese architecture. It stands as a space for the family to gather and connect and also brings in fresh air and light into the home. The firm wanted to provide this element of comfort and a connection with nature to the children in this kindergarten. Following the sun’s path, the team added hexagonal shapes to the western side to maximize natural light within. A honeycomb pattern follows along the site with a series of courtyards and terraces breaking up the mass. The greater number of surfaces in every independent module also helps bridge the connection between the interior and exterior throughout the structure.

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

Reference

7 Buildings Structured Like Origami Sculptures
CategoriesArchitecture

7 Buildings Structured Like Origami Sculptures

By Zarkon Group,

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

The Japanese art of origami consists of intricately folding paper to create detailed and delicate sculptures, ideally without using any cuts or glue. Triangular forms and fragmented surfaces are distinctive features of such sculptures. Much like these paper figures, origami-inspired architecture is a series of volumes that appear to be formed using folded sheets of paper.

These buildings feel light and in motion. The freedom from a traditional box shape also gives rise to dynamic interior configurations that are exciting and innovative. Cutouts and inward folds help carve out windows, balconies and terraces. Below are just a few examples of origami-inspired structures that can offer some out-of-the-box inspiration.

Origami House by Office of Architecture in Barcelona, Sant Cugat, Spain

White sloped roofs of the house stand out against the lush vegetation of the forest behind. The home looks more like a series of open boxes that look more like a pavilion than a home. Guests encounter a pool as soon as they reach the entrance, much like a plaza. This gives way to the changing volumes of the home, defined by sloping roofs and large windows.

The services are all located on a concealed lower floor, without any connecting staircase in sight. From within, the angled planes make it look like a camera lens that captures different parts of the scenery around. A well-hidden narrow staircase leads to a lower level which houses an indoor swimming pool and sauna. The home also features a library, cinema room, a loft, staff housing, garage, and more.

Klein Bottle House by McBride Charles Ryan, Rye, Australia

Challenging the idea of standard cuboidal spaces, the house takes inspiration from a unique surface developed by topological mathematicians. This allows the architects to create new and interesting spaces that create interest and create fun. Originally imagined as a complex spiral, the design slowly evolved into the form of a Klein Bottle, and then finally an origami version of the complex shape to create spatial intrigue. The form wraps around a central courtyard and a grand staircase, making all spaces feel both near and separate from each other. In addition to its energizing form, the house also showcases a changing color palette that incorporates shades of red, black and white.

Cardero by Henriquez Partners Architects, Vancouver, Canada
Popular Winner, 2021 A+Awards, Multi Unit Housing High Rise (16+ Floors)

Folded strips of white covering the façade are the first thing that makes visitors stop in their tracks when they see Cardero. These modules are inspired by seagulls and seaplanes found in the Coal Harbour area as well as hand gliders found in the Grouse Mountain region nearby. In addition to being an aesthetic element, the origami-like screen also acts as a sun shade on the building’s southern and western façades. While one part of the tower has 26 floors, the other side has 21 floors to help it fit better with the buildings on that side.

Kinematic Sculpture by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), Chicago, Illinois

Much like folds in a paper, the dynamic pavilion is made of 99 flat wooden panels that are connected at different angles with stainless steel hinges to form a continuous sheet. It hopes to use kinematics to show the mathematical relationships between force and motion as it uses its hinged arrangement to change forms. It also shows how principles of origami, which is often associated with paper, can be adapted to other materials and architecture. This also paves way for similar structures that can be customized to cater to different programs.

Zigzag House by Cobaleda & Garcia Arquitectos, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain

The geometric configuring of this home starts from the plan itself. Instead of a traditional grid, Cobaleda & Garcia Arquitectos opted for a diamond-shaped pattern that is better suited for the oddly shaped plot. This helped create cavities along the exterior for green spaces. The fragmented geometry continues to the upper level as well as the roof, causing it to aptly be named the Zigzag house. The form is achieved using reinforced concrete slabs.

Images by Milo Keller

Temporary Chapel for the Deaconesses of St-Loup by LOCALARCHITECTURE, Pompaples, Switzerland

When renovating the mother house of the Deaconess Community of St-Loup, the studio proposed to construct a temporary chapel that worshipers could visit while the main building was inaccessible. Given their expertise in timber construction, they devised a computer-generated form that would use thin timber panels and could be built directly on the ground. The form appears like an accordion-folded tunnel that has just been stretched. Each panel reflects light in different directions and gives the building dimension and height. The gable end comprises clear plastic panels covered with fabric to filter natural light into the gathering space.

Images by David Frutos

Coworking LAB Nucía by CrystalZoo, Alicante, Spain
Jury and Popular Winner, 2020 A+Awards, Government & Civic Buildings

The building’s solid volume appears to have cutouts that open into the structure to create windows and intermediate spaces. The design is governed by a central core around which the geometric volume shapes itself. The bright yellow used in the interior spaces contrasts with the muted gray of the exterior walls, holding an unexpected surprise as one goes in. The core is a large stepped space that can be used for presentations, social interactions and staged talks. There is a large terrace behind it that also governs the programming of the building. It connects to workshop areas, classrooms and offices.

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

Reference

The Future of Architecture: Stylish Home Furnishings With Lighter Ecological Footprints
CategoriesArchitecture

The Future of Architecture: Stylish Home Furnishings With Lighter Ecological Footprints

By Zarkon Group,

 The A+Product Awards is open for entries, with a Main Entry Deadline of June 24th. Get started on your submission today! 

Environmental ethics has been increasingly the concern of the built environment industry. When constructing buildings and styling interiors, more and more attention is paid to sustainably sourcing and recycling materials. Eco-friendly design does not limit products to just a few looks, nor does it compromise their functionality. These four beautiful A+Awards winning products will add tasteful texture to your designs while lessening the environmental impact of your project.

The Embossed Acoustic Panel Series from Woven Image, distributed in the USA by Kirei
Winner, 2021 A+Product Awards, Acoustics

Acoustic panels are useful not only for workplaces and auditoriums but in domestic scenarios as well. Whether in a home office or a family theater, acoustic panels make sounds and voices sharper by reducing undesirable reflections on hard surfaces. They also insulate your room from external noises.

The Embossed Acoustic Panel Series by Woven Image offers high-quality acoustics together with a range of choices for styling. There are three types of patterns to choose from: the linear, simplistic ZEN, the rhythmic GEM, and the origami-inspired ION, each comes in 12 colors.

The panels are made from over 60% recycled PET and fiber while manufactured in a carbon-neutral production facility that utilized solar energy. The product has a low VOC emission rate of 0.023mg/m²/hr and a good Noise Reduction Coefficient of 0.75. It is also easy to trim that a utility knife can cut it through. The subtle light and shadow created by the 3D patterns make the panels an addition to interior styling.

Silestone® Sunlit Days by Cosentino Group
Winner, 2021 A+Product Awards, Hard Surfacing, Tiles and Stone

Quartz surfaces are popular in home designs for their stone-like appearance, high versatility, durability and accessibility, especially when compared to natural stones like granite and marble. They are cast from a mixture including small pieces of quartz, resins, pigments, etc. Bonded by resins, the finished surface comes sealed and flat, making them easy to clean. The mixture is made in a way that allows it to be colored as needed, ensuring that owners will not have to make compromises on home styling. AT present, Quartz surfaces from the Silestone® Sunlit Days series are available in white, light grey and red, blue, and green in low saturation. The soothing colors and clean shapes give interiors a modern looking.

Quartz surfaces have the appearance of stones but are more eco-friendly than natural stones. The Sunlit Days series provide carbon-neutral quartz surfaces that incorporate extra strategies to cut the material’s carbon footprint. The production uses 99% reused water, 100% renewable electric energy and a minimum of 20% recycled raw materials in its composition. Furthermore, the brand has committed to offsetting GHG emissions through the Voluntary Carbon Market. Being environmentally aware does not limit our choice of furnishing and surface texturing to synthetic materials that comprise recycled resources. Instead, natural materials can also be consumed sustainably.

Brace by Davis Furniture
Winner, 2021 A+Product Awards, Contract Furniture

Brace from Davis Furniture is one of this kind. Each Brace table is made from a tree at the end of its lifecycle, leaving plenty of time for the material to store carbon during its growth. Furthermore, the brand has committed to planting two saplings for each tree they harvest. In this way, the sourcing is sustainable and the European forest is never overly exploited by the product’s production.

The solid wood table comes in various sizes and shapes to accommodate a range of events. For example, a long, rectangular table can be perfect as a home office desk while a small, round one can serve an intimate meal for two people, etc. The sleek table top is supported by the iconic legs. Each leg splits into two as it goes up, creating a slim triangular space within itself. More than 50 types of selectable coatings on each Brace table allow the table different colors and textures that best suit the home design. The design celebrates the uniqueness of the natural material with the technological precision of modern design.

Koroi Side Table by MAJA
Winner, 2021 A+Product Awards, Residential Furniture

The Koroi Side Table also embraces the characteristics of natural materials. Each Koroi Side Table is handcrafted from solid wood by artisans in Bangladesh with a resource-efficient approach. Burls, deep cracks and other features of the tree remain visible from the smoothened surfaces. Comprising two geometric forms, the design of Koroi sets a subtle balance between fragile and sturdy. Althought the connection between the two parts looks delicate — precarious, perhaps — the piece’s solidity is guaranteed by the thick wood. The two parts are cut at opposing grains, giving them contrasting textures and different reflectiveness.

 The A+Product Awards is open for entries, with a Main Entry Deadline of June 24th. Get started on your submission today! 

Reference

5 Californian Vineyards Pairing Fine Wine With Fresh Design
CategoriesArchitecture

5 Californian Vineyards Pairing Fine Wine With Fresh Design

By Zarkon Group,

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

The summer months are upon us, which comes with the return of beloved summer activities, including wine tasting and vineyard touring. California is one of the world’s largest wine-producing regions and is visited by millions of tourists each year. Its sunny climate makes for successful growing seasons and an abundance of wines to try. From Napa to Sonoma to Los Carneros, there are countless vineyards to explore and taste the best of the region’s grape offerings.

The Californian landscape equally draws in visitors, with countless mountain ranges and rolling hillsides to explore. In California, we see unparalleled wine tasting experiences, which are often a result of successful architectural design. When architecture successfully responds to the geographical nuances of a particular land and prioritizes visitor experience, the result is a bespoke, intimate wine tasting experience that is hard to beat. Listed below are 5 wineries located in California, all of which boast intimate and site-specific environments to taste wine and embrace the scenery.

Aperture Cellars by Signum Architecture, Healdsburg, CA, United States

Located in Healdsburg, California is a unique vineyard that merges the art of winemaking with photography. Designed for a winemaker and his father, this project embraces the landscape as well as the family’s unique approach to winemaking. The winery was built into two volumes — a production space and a hospitality building. Both volumes are seen as apertures into the process of winemaking, which echoes the father’s love for photography.

The large 20,000 square-foot production building was designed in such a manner that despite its size, it’s not harsh against the landscape. Keeping with the theme of the aperture, the architect’s deconstructed the hexagonal lens and used this shape to inform the roof’s design. Both volumes are connected by a series of interconnected and abstractly protruding rooflines. A darkened metal covers the buildings’ façade, equally reducing the sense of scale (so as not to take from the landscape). The hospitality building is set facing the Sonoma Mountains, with large windows that create a connection between the indoors and outdoors. The space features private, glass-walled wine tasting rooms with views of the surrounding mountain range.

Theorem Winery by Richard Beard Architects, Calistoga, CA, United States

Nestled in Napa Valley’s Diamond Mountain appellation is Theorem Winery, a bespoke winery experience. The goal was to create a space that eschews the large-scale winery experience, instead creating an intimate space that offers uncompromised hospitality. The winery sits on 60-acres and is made up of a series of 19th-century structures that once served as a country retreat. Certain original structures, such as the Greek revival cottage and schoolhouse were individually restored before commencing the large master plan.

The new build was inspired by the site’s vernacular architecture and was designed with the intention of complementing the original edifices. The guest experience is centered around a play of light. Visitors are welcomed into the 8,000 square foot venue through a large-scale trellis which shades the sun and prepares guests for the darker subterranean levels. The winery is filled with numerous tasting sites that are deliberately oriented toward picturesque landscapes. Steel-framed windows adorn the structure, filling the space with natural light and connecting the indoors to the outdoors. The structures are clad in a dark material to ensure the site blends and does not take away from the surrounding landscape. Theorem Winery is by appointment only, which reinforces the intimate and bespoke nature of this wine tasting experience.

Covert Estate Winery by Signum Architecture, Napa, CA, United States

Located amid the rolling hills in the Southeastern part of Nappa Valley is Covert Estate Winery. This vineyard achieves the quintessential winery feel while still offering a surprising and unmatched experience. The client — a passionate winemaker — desired a space that reflected both his love for wine and the land. The challenge was to erect a space that was unexpected and unique while minimally impacting the land.

Responding to the client’s request, Signum Architecture designed the entire winery underground. Three circular portals are seen from ground level, which follow the natural curves of the hillside and is completely invisible within the landscape. The volumes were curved around the existing landscape to not sacrifice trees during its construction. The tasting room was positioned near the entrance to ensure guests can enjoy and benefit from natural light. The interior space is defined by its barrel-vaulted ribbed ceilings and series of curved tunnels which lead to winemaking and guest rooms.

Quintessa Pavilions by Walker Warner Architects, Saint Helena, CA, United States

Quintessa Pavilions are a series of independent volumes, each designed to offer personalized and privately hosted wine tasting sessions. The pavilions were an added addition to a Napa Valley winery that sits on 280-acres. Each of the three volumes was carefully placed to ensure guests are well protected from the elements while still offering views of the surrounding landscape. This way, the pavilions can be enjoyed year-round.

Moreover, careful consideration was taken to preserve the mature oak trees found throughout the property. Guests are guided to each pavilion through a pathway nestled in the forest which leads to the whimsical pavilions. The architects made sure to mimic the existing winery’s aesthetic by using similar materials and color palettes. The pavilions lie elegantly within the landscape, with operable doors that offer ventilation and unobstructed views. The grounds surrounding the pavilions were planted with drought-resistant grasses that create a smooth visual transition from the pavilion to the mountain range.

Progeny Winery by Signum Architecture, Napa, CA, United States

Located high in Nappa Valley’s Mount Veeder AVA is a winery with an untraditional ethos. The winery sits atop a mountainous terrain known for producing incredible wines; however, its rugged, uneven and steep terrain posed a big challenge to the architects. The clients wished for a gallery-like space where they can exhibit their wine like a fine painting. They equally wished for a site that responded and remained authentic to the unique landscape.

To achieve this design, the master plan includes two separate volumes: one for entertainment purposes and the other housing private offices. The volumes are set only four feet apart, which allows for a smooth operation and a connected environment. Both volumes were oriented in such a way that views are offered of the mountains to the west and the vineyard to the northwest. Raw concrete was chosen for the frame as its aging properties fit the feel of the terrain. To achieve a gallery-like experience, the interior space boasts a monochrome aesthetic, with white walls and light wood floors. This atypical gallery ethos makes for a distinctive and relaxed wine tasting experience.

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

Reference

Atomic Architecture: Nanotechnology and Building Sciences
CategoriesArchitecture

Atomic Architecture: Nanotechnology and Building Sciences

By Zarkon Group,

Send us a photo. Tell us a story. Win $2,500! Architizer’s 3rd Annual One Photo Challenge is underway with a Main Entry Deadline on June 24, 2022! Start your entry for architecture’s biggest photography competition here.

Architecture is designed across scales and mirrors developments in science and research. Investigating matter on atomic, molecular and supramolecular scales, the field of nanotechnology has now started informing architectural design. In turn, structures for building sciences and research have rapidly expanded. As architects and designers are taking on this typology in public and private sectors alike, the study and evolution of nanotechnology mirror broader developments in how sciences are flourishing.

Combining science, engineering, and technology conducted at the nanoscale, the field focuses on a scale of 1 to 100 nanometers. At such a small scale, nanomaterials, begin to exhibit unique properties that affect physical, chemical and biological behavior. By manipulating matter, nanotechnology can create new structures, materials, and devices. Taking a closer survey into the design of structures and buildings for nanotechnology and research, the following collection of projects explores what atomic architecture looks like today.

Krishna P. Singh Center for Nanotechnology by WEISS/MANFREDI, Philadelphia, PA, United States

As the university’s first cross disciplinary building, this nanotech research facility was designed to encourage the collaboration, exchange and integration of knowledge that is the core of this emerging field. The facilities will combine the resources of both the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the School of Arts and Sciences.

Defined by a new central campus green, the building ascends as a spiral of research, reaching its highest elevation at the forum, a meeting space that cantilevers over the quad and opens to views of both the city and campus. A new multi-level crossroads, the center is a significant step toward signaling the University’s leadership in the emerging field of nanotechnology.

National Nanotechnology Park by Arch International Pvt Ltd., Homagama, Sri Lanka

The Nanotechnology Center of Excellence forms the epicenter of a National Nanotechnology Park that is a result of SLINTEC’s aims to create an ideal space for ‘thinking’. The campus will be a key feature within the ‘knowledge hub’ development plan in Homagama, creating a unique opportunity to house research, incubation and technology commercialization in an area that aims to draw both the public and private sectors.

Elements of all scales and sizes within the architectural language have been used in order to depict the relationship with nanotechnology as well as geometries that are closely involved in the sciences.

Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre by KPMB Architects, Waterloo, Canada

The Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano is a showcase for Canadian innovation and industry in the fields of quantum computing and nanotechnology. The social components of the facility in the form of atria, mind spaces and collaborative areas manifest the original goals to attract and inspire the brightest minds in the world. At the official opening, Stephen Hawking, world-renowned physicist and partner with the University of Waterloo since 1999, described the design as a work of “architectural genius”.

New Center for Manufacturing Innovation by Brooks + Scarpa Architects, Monterrey, Mexico

Located in Mexico’s Research Park for Technical Innovation (PIIT), a science and technology park, which is a partnership between government, universities and the private sector to seek economic growth through technical innovation. The sprawling campus is host to more than 50 research centers devoted to R&D as well as the development of technology innovation in nanotechnology, biotechnology, mechatronics and advanced manufacturing, information technology, clean energy and advanced materials development. The iconic saw-toothed roof is inspired by the geometry of old factories and the surrounding Monterrey Mountains.

Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation by EDGE Studio, Pittsburgh, PA, United States

The University of Pittsburgh decided to expand and renovate Benedum Hall, the circa 1968 home for the Swanson School of Engineering on their main Oakland campus. The original limestone clad modernist tower and separate auditorium buildings, with their inflexible and non-daylit concrete block labs and offices and out of date classrooms, had become obsolete as the school’s focus shifted to the 21st century collaborative disciplines of nanotechnology, bioengineering and materials research. The University desired a more flexible facility that was conducive to inter-departmental collaboration, and that could help attract the best and brightest research faculty and students from around the world.

La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science by Lyons, Melbourne, Australia

This new research centre is a world-class facility for molecular science, biotechnology and nanotechnology research, teaching and learning. The 6 story facility provides approximately 11000m² of learning space – both wet and dry labs – on the lower 3 levels, and 18 research labs on the upper floors. It contains research groups in life sciences (biochemistry and genetics), physical sciences (chemistry and physics), and applied sciences (pharmacy) and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in these areas through the School of Molecular Sciences.

Send us a photo. Tell us a story. Win $2,500! Architizer’s 3rd Annual One Photo Challenge is underway with a Main Entry Deadline on June 24, 2022! Start your entry for architecture’s biggest photography competition here.

Reference

8 Stunning Structures Shaped By Their Sloping Sites
CategoriesArchitecture

8 Stunning Structures Shaped By Their Sloping Sites

By Zarkon Group,

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Despite technical complications involved in construction, inclined sites can invoke inspiring new architectural possibilities that just aren’t possible on flat sites. Better views, unique spatial design, creation of privacy using a variety of levels, and much more. Floating buildings can be constructed on slopes either by using a taller foundation or supports. On the other hand, architects have also created buildings that follow the incline or are even partially or fully buried into the slope. Below are a few ways in which architects have made the most of sloped sites to create unique homes and public buildings.

Villa Vals by SeARCH, Vals, Switzerland

SeARCH took the idea of a mountain house one step further by building a home that is concealed within the slope rather than on top of it. Given its proximity to the bath of Vals, the team wanted to create a home without disrupting the snowy inclines. A circular cavity into the mountain becomes the entrance as well as a patio. The rooms are placed around this central opening, ensuring that all the windows reach the surface. And while it may look small, appearances can be deceiving, and the inside of the home feels spacious, bright and airy. Meanwhile, the use of materials like stone, wood and concrete helps unify the design with the terrain around.

Khyber Ridge by Studio NMinusOne, Whistler, Canada

This home is broken up into five levels that adapt to the changing slope. The arrangement of the volumes is based on the unique function and views that each space requires. The topmost level contains the bedrooms as well as a large balcony for residents to take in the nature around. Part of it is embedded into the rock to create a sense of intimacy and privacy. The level below cantilevers out of the rock and houses the common areas, making it seem like it is floating within the trees. Below the mid-level entrance lies the guest room, which is completely sunken into the mountain slope for privacy. Some of the natural rock surfaces were in the interior spaces remains exposed, amplifying the alpine atmosphere.

Images by Benedikt Markel

Krkonose Mountains Centre for Environmental Education by Petr Hajek Architekti, Vrchlabí, Czech Republic

Inspired by the geometry of the Krkonose Mountains, this new building blends into the landscape (almost completely!) when seen from certain angles. The roof is covered with vegetation to reinforce this illusion. While mostly underground, a part of the structure rises above the terrain and features a glass wall that invites passersby to peek into the building and observe the activity taking place inside. Concrete is used to create the interior volumes that are then divided using plywood partitions. The furniture within is made using the leftover plywood from the bigger partitions to reduce waste.

House D by PAUHOF Architekten, Austria

Connected volumes, natural finishes, spacious interiors and stunning views make up this home. One the one hand, this is a four-story structure with stacked volumes that follow the contours of the site. On the other hand, the structure’s rounded corners are governed by the property line. The windows are placed in a way that the residents can overlook the mountains while also preventing their neighbors from being able to peek in. It follows a spiral circulation with a floating roof on the upper level. The home comprises a studio gallery, library, multiple bedrooms, baths, a family room as well as other utilities.

Sheltered Villas by A&M Architects, Karpathos, Greece

This multi-level structure creates a strong relationship between the exterior and the interior. The different volumes that make up the three villas are partially nestled into the slope of the site. The retaining walls holding up the structure extrude from the ground and are painted in white to help them stand out in the landscape. The inner volumes feature clean lines, simple geometry and black accents for the minimal aesthetic and help the view of the Aegean Sea become the hero of the experience.

Ebenezer Chapel by Vilalta Studio, Raleigh, North Carolina

Building on the increase of architecture that challenges the perception of what religious buildings should look like, Vilalta Studio presents a conceptual underground chapel. Dug into the sloped terrain near Richland Creek, the granite structure is imagined to stretch about 50 feet deep into the ground. Visitors would enter the chapel through a downward ramp that leads to an underground chamber and creates a contemplative space before entering the main gathering area. A large tower, the only element that visibly extends out of the site, brings light and air into the building. The chapel, which can accommodate 250 people, also has a skylight above for light and ventilation.

House in Chihuahua by Productora, Chihuahua, Mexico

In addition to adapting to the site, this home’s form is designed with the area’s extreme climatic conditions in mind. The temperature in the northern region of Mexico can go below freezing point in the winter and turn to scorching heat in the summer. And there are drastic temperature differences between day and night as well. Having part of the house underground helps regulate the temperature within by using the soil’s thermal mass. There are multiple roof openings and patios that not only bring in light but also create breakout spaces for the residents.

Åre Solbringen by Waldemarson Berglund, Åre, Sweden

The project includes three inclined homes on the Åreskutan mountain in Sweden. Most houses in this region are built in a way that results in one habitable floor. The architects cultivated a diagonal typology that allows them to create five usable levels that all get abundant light. The unit lies entirely along the slope. The different levels within are connected by a long flight of stairs on one side. Starting with the living room and the kitchen at the bottom, the stairs lead to the bedrooms, hall, bathroom and sauna on the upper floors. It is constructed using brick slabs, timber structural elements, a metal sheet roof and white plasterboard. Unlike the bright interiors, the wooden panels used on the exterior surfaces will age with and time and turn grey.

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Why Capturing Movement Will Elevate Your Architectural Photographs
CategoriesArchitecture

Why Capturing Movement Will Elevate Your Architectural Photographs

By Zarkon Group,

Architizer’s annual One Photo Challenge offers professionals and blossoming design students the chance to showcase a photograph that they think best captures the essence of an architectural design or specific surrounding. The 2021 One Photo Challenge brought a wonderful selection of images, all of which demonstrated the potentiality of capturing architecture through a camera lens.

Enter One Photo Challenge

While each entry was remarkably singular and distinctive, a notable overarching theme emerged across a handful of photographs. One will notice that in last year’s One Photo Challenge, many photographs capture a strong sense of movement. Listed below are four photographs from the 2021 One Photo Challenge, all of which explore the human form coupled with interesting architecture to produce movement-heavy imagery. 

“Social Bathing” by Derek Wasylyshen

This image captures a bird’s-eye shot of the hugely popular and highly recognizable Széchenyi Medicinal Bath. Located in Budapest, Hungary, this large-scale bath is a popular tourist attraction where visitors can experience social bathing as well as marvel over the site’s ancient Roman history.

At first glance, the eye is caught by the vibrant aqua blue water, which greatly contrasts the surrounding cement floor. Following this, the gaze moves to the abundance of dark spots (human bodies) that span the entire photograph. The moving bodies are small in scale but their abundance creates a strong feeling of sociality and community. Moreover, the gently-sloping staircase that covers the bath’s perimeter is filled with lounging bodies, which equally enforces a strong social atmosphere.

The large presence of water and abundant human form work together to create a movement-heavy photograph. Whether the movement is caused by the natural rhythm of the water or the frolicking bodies, lively energy is produced and the same social ideology of the ancient Romans is presently felt. 

“The roofscape of the obscure” by Venla Rautajoki 

Non-Student Winner, 2021 One Photo Challenge

This photograph has an extra-terrestrial feel, which makes it immediately enthralling and equally challenging to pinpoint. The image was shot at Amos Rex, the famous art museum in Helsinki, Finland designed by JKMM Architects.

Amos Rex is known for its windowed domes that span the urban environment like a series of hills. Each dome has a peephole large enough for visitors inside the museum to see out of. The photographer was immediately captured by a young boy who continuously climbed atop the domes to peep into the interior museum space. The image is captured in monochrome which strengthens the viewer’s gaze on the young boy. The boy is captured in a highly active pose — his two hands perched like a cactus and his leg bent as if he’s climbing.

The image at first appears static and isolated as the background is dark and unembellished. However, the focus on the young boy positioned in such an active stance lends a feeling of lively existence and movement. 

“Yoga” by Edmund Sumner 

This photograph was shot in Bangkok, Thailand in January 2020. The image depicts a yoga master and owner of the studio, Yogi Konstantin Miachin, holding an extended side-angle pose. Immediately what captures the eye is the incredible structure in which the yoga master is practicing.

The space feels intimate and warm and appears to be enclosed by a bamboo-esque material that wraps the walls in a curved manner. The wall material extends upwards to create an unconventional curved ceiling. Moreover, the cavities in the wall allow light to fill the interior, warming the environment and spotlighting the practicing yogi. The light-filled room feels like an incredibly zen and comforting space to practice yoga and meditation.

In this photograph, the human form balances and compliments the pronounced structure in a harmonious manner. The practicing yogi may feel small in scale, but his strong pose and reaching arm fills the photograph with energy. An equal vitality is felt in the structure’s curved and pronounced ceiling. The site was designed by architecture firm Enter Projects and the photograph was realized using low-tech materials such as rattan, with newer high-tech computer modeling such as Rhino. 

“Echo” by Philippe Sarfati 

This photograph feels mysterious, dramatic and incredibly intriguing. “Echo” is located in Tadao Ando’s gallery and features an autobiographic installation by the famed Cuban-American artist, Félix González-Torres. The photograph depicts an individual walking through the installation, which consists of a large-scale curtain made of red and white beads.

The installation underscores the difficulties and reality of living with HIV. The curtain of beads represents the progression of the virus within the bloodstream in a confronting and honest manner. As the person pushes past the curtain, one can sense the dramatic sway of beads that is to follow.

This photograph feels like the calm before the storm – before the intense movement following a disrupted installation. The interaction between human form and object in this photograph demonstrates a dramatic transition from still to moving. 

All four photographs highlight that when human forms are perfectly captured amongst static surroundings, there is the potential to create lively and active images that celebrate movement! Click here to learn more about this year’s upcoming 2022 One Photo Challenge and to start your entry:

Enter One Photo Challenge

Reference

Høllesli
CategoriesArchitecture

Daring Design at Dizzying Heights on Norway’s Scenic Routes

By Zarkon Group,

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Good trails guide you through different landscapes while minimizing the impact of tourism on the environment. Trails also build connections between humans and nature. It is about view framing/directing, and infrastructure designs that cope with people’s needs and environmental factors. Providing the right amount of information for visitors to learn about the cultural and natural history of the site is part of the infrastructure as well.

This story takes you through a trail of great scenery and beautiful architecture, introducing Ryfylke, one of the 18 Norwegian Scenic Routes developed by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. Along the route of 260km, there are 8 structures by different architects. Including installation, viewing platform, footbridge and museum, these structures become part of the scenery with their clean forms that are not disrupting the natural landscape.

Høllesli by Lie Øyen Arkitekter (2020)

Høllesli

Viewpoint at Høllesli ©Frid-Jorunn Stabell.

Starting from the south end of the route, the Høllesli viewpoint is a continuous concrete platform that cuts through the rock. The cuts are shaped into neat slopes and are sprayed with concrete to improve their stability. The concrete spray also gives the slopes a color similar to that of the platform, making them transition between the artificial and natural.

The platform provides safe access to an open view of Lysefjorden. Zig-zagging along the steep terrain, the sharp-edge platform extends two steps further down. It forms an artificial terrain that leads visitors towards the great fjord.

Lovra

Viewpoint at Lovra ©Foto Per Kollstad / Statens vegvesen.

The viewpoint of Lovra was always missed until a simple architectural intervention called attention to the overlooked and under-appreciated site. The simple addition of metal benches and tables on top of the old concrete blocks on the site called attention to the rest area/viewpoint, which is a little off the road, making it more visible.

Ropeid by Jensen & Skodvin Arkitektkontor and KAP – Kontor for Arkitektur og Plan (2004 and 2021)

Ropeid

Inside the ferry waiting room ©Foto Helge Stikbakke / Statens vegvesen.

Ropeid

Furniture made of recycled plastic ©Frid-Jorunn Stabell.

In 2004, Jensen & Skodvin Arkitektkontor designed a fully glazed ferry waiting room on the peninsula Ropeid. The building has floor-to-ceiling fenestration, inviting the view of fjords and mountains into the waiting room while sheltering waiting passengers from the elements.

A second intervention in 2021 saw the addition of several mushroom-like structures to the shore. These yellow “mushrooms” of varying height and proportion form three clusters where some can function as tables and others as seats. Those structures that are neither table nor seat become street lamps when they are lit from under the cap.

Ostasteidn by KAP – Kontor for Arkitektur og Plan, 2018

Ostasteidn

Resting area at Ostasteidn ©Foto Frid-Jorunn Stabell / Statens vegvesen.

Ostasteidn

The viewpoint at Ostasteidn ©Foto Lars Grimsby / Statens vegvesen.

This resting point extends from the road towards another fjord. A staggeringly tall concrete structure houses the washrooms. The top of the structure splits into three branches, each has a skylight.

The walkway connects the service building with the viewpoint on the other side of the site. Visitors can enjoy the attractive view of Sandsfjorden from the designated area. The walkway is made of fiberglass grating that allows grass to breathe and grow from underneath.

Høse bridge connects the town of Sand to a vast woodland on the other side of the Suldalslågen river. The straight bridge stands on steel beams and is textured with weathering steel, giving it a brownish-orange looking. It offers a view over the river that differs from the scenery received on the banks.

Both solid steel panels and mesh, as well as vertical and diagonal steel members, create patterns both on the outside and inside of the bridge. Sunlight penetrates the perforations on the mesh panels, leaving rhythmic shadows inside the crossing area. The bridge is lit from the inside during the night, giving the structure a glowing appearance from the exterior. The bridge culminates with a concrete pavilion that can shelter small groups of visitors on the woodland side.

Svandalsfossen by Haga & Grov AS Sivilarkitekter MNAL and Helge Schjelderup Arkitektkontoret Schjelderup & Gram (2006)

Svandalsfossen stairs ©Foto Per Kollstad / Statens vegvesen.

Both Svandalsfossen stairs and Høse bru echo the industrial history of their site with weathering steel. The rough surface and earthy color make the stairs a nice band of decoration up the terrain. With 540 steps in total, the stairs vertically link the low/riverside level, the middle/road level, and the top-level, where the Svandalsfossen waterfall is close at hand.

Allmannajuvet by Atelier Peter Zumthor & Partner (2016)

zinc mine

Allmannajuvet Zinc Mine Museum ©Foto Fredrik Fløgstad / Statens vegvesen.

Inside the museum ©Foto Fredrik Fløgstad /Statens vegvesen.

The project by Peter Zumthor consists of a carpark, walkways and three buildings along the route walked by the miners between 1881 and 1899. The buildings — a café, a museum and a service building — are of similar languages; they all rely on a timber frame supporting system to stand on the steep, rocky terrain. A dark grey box stays within each supporting system and a tile roof floats on top.

The buildings are painted dark on the inside as well. Views of the Allmannajuvet enter the interior space through limited openings, creating a serene atmosphere that is slightly isolated from the outside.

Both café and museum are open to tourists every summer. The museum documents the hard life and work of the zinc miners, while the café offers visitors local foods and a place to rest. The café functions as a community space for the locals when not in service time.

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Reference

Designing Domestic Interiors for the Microbiome
CategoriesArchitecture

Designing Domestic Interiors for the Microbiome

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. 

One of the clearest byproducts of the pandemic has been a renewed focus on the domestic interior. As stewards of our own homes, we have found ourselves examining them under a new microscope, both for their aesthetic ability to bring comfort during a difficult period and for imagined traces of the virus, which we may have reluctantly brought indoors from the outside world at any time. Early on, bags of groceries often spent a day or more outside of our homes; they were punished as alleged viral transmitters and forced to enter a period of quarantine before being allowed in to provide much-needed sustenance. Countertops, doorknobs, and other surfaces that regularly made corporeal contact were scrubbed with a renewed vigor in an effort to sterilize our home from any living presence but our own.

Over the course of the last century, much of modernist architecture can be understood as a consequence of the fear of disease; the construction of physical space to facilitate an ability to cleanse rooms where bacteria lurk. Clean, empty white walls, open floor plans and industrial, highly polished surfaces became synonymous with functional space that allowed the occupant to feel comfortable, safe and germ-free — at least to the naked eye. Architects such as Le Corbusier famously thought that a house should function as a “machine à habiter” or machine for living in his 1923 manifesto for future habitation, Towards a New Architecture. But the lines immediately following this iconic phrase are equally revealing:

“Baths, sun, hot water, cold water, warmth at will, conservation of food, hygiene, beauty in the sense of good proportion… We must clear up a misunderstanding: we are in a diseased state because we mix up art with a respectful attitude to mere decoration.”

The entrance hall in Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoye. © Thomas Nemesker

On the surface, Corbusier’s aesthetic focused on the qualities of unornamented, rectilinear spaces. Yet, a deeper reading reveals an agenda of moral and physical cleanliness. While diseases like tuberculosis and the resulting technologies developed to diagnose them helped to shape modernism and the work of architects like Corbusier throughout the 20th Century; similarly, Covid-19 and our cultural propensity to spend time indoors (up to 90% of our days) will influence architecture in the near future.

Today, our culture is saturated with products focused on sanitizing and architectural surfaces that help to facilitate this ritual cleansing. We commonly hold that sterility is the ideal state of existence, even though it is impossible to achieve for more than even a brief moment. We regularly consume antibiotic treatments for even the most minor illnesses, hoping to eradicate all germs or bacteria on contact. In reaction to the pandemic, architectural publications widely circulated articles detailing products and surfaces with natural anti-microbial properties, including copper and cardboard (to name a few). While there are certainly architectural contexts including the healthcare industry that require starkly hygienic environments, this strategy exists at the expense of the “good” bacteria we need to foster healthy immune systems.

Colonies formed by a variety of bacterial and fungal species. © Scott Chimileski and Roberto Kolter

Conversely, we are composed of 100 trillion microbes, and over half of the cells in our body belong to foreign microbes that inhabit us. On an architectural scale, according to Emily Anthes’ book The Great Indoors, our homes are filled with up to 2000 different microbial “squatters” at any given time. Different areas of the home tend to reveal distinct differences; bacteria found in kitchens is most commonly associated with food, while doors and door knobs are covered in species most typically found in leaves and soil.

Domestic elements like toilet seats and pillowcases look more similar than you’d like to believe under a microscope — both harbor bacteria that typically lives on our skin and in our mouths. More recent research on hygiene espouses a modern microbial perspective that is complex and intertwined with both outdoor and indoor environments; a combination of strategies to expose the body to certain bacteria while targeting certain hygiene to create the framework for healthy protection from pathogens while restoring and reinforcing our microbiomes.

With this in mind, how should our interior domestic environments intervene to foster the restoration, growth or even flourishing of microbial cultures? Revisiting the kitchen with a renewed focus would not be a bad start. In order to re-frame our relationship with microorganisms, we should reference symbiotic examples from the world’s culinary traditions. Bread-baking, kombucha and other fermentation processes that revolve around the kitchen, all produce healthy bacteria that humans benefit from, both during the processes of production and following consumption. In some cases, as with sourdough bread, the microbes found on bakers’ hands even mirror the microbes within their starters, the bubbly mix of yeast, bacteria and flour that’s the basis of every loaf.

Kombucha is fermented by a floating biofilm made up of a symbiotic community of bacteria and yeast, or SCOBY. © Scott Chimileski and Roberto Kolter

In “Micro-ecologies of the Built Environment,” a chapter in The Routledge Companion to Biology in Art and Architecture, Ted Krueger argues that architecture’s conventional focus on the human scale should be brought down in scale to the microbial and that architects should operate more like “creative chefs than forensic doctors”, manipulating conditions to encourage the cultivation of healthy microbiota. In turn, as the architectural discipline evolves into a more microscopic realm, we should promote the design of micro-ecologies within our domestic spaces through the careful selection of materials and spatial conditions, that do not only destroy bacteria but work to nurture what may be beneficial to us.

How can we reframe the notion of cleanliness through the lens of architecture in an age where filth and germs might actually help us survive? It’s clear that our interior environments and the products we use within them need to evolve from a purely adversarial position towards microorganisms, to a far more symbiotic relationship with “good” bacteria. There is an urgent need to develop “architectural probiotics”; environments and surfaces that support the complex conditions needed to partner with microorganisms for mutual benefit. What would this architecture look like?

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