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Modern Masterpiece: Architect David Strand on Designing the Perfect “Home in the Woods”
CategoriesArchitecture

Modern Masterpiece: Architect David Strand on Designing the Perfect “Home in the Woods”

By Zarkon Group,

If there is one thing that architects and their clients can agree on, it’s that architecture should always work in harmony with nature. When it came to Silver Residence, a stunning modern home located in Minneapolis, nature wasn’t just a consideration — it was the starting point for developing the architectural concept.

Local architect David Strand, Principal and Director of Strand Design, was tasked with creating a private residence that remained intimately connected to its site, while providing light, open spaces and high-end finishes to meet the needs of its client. The resulting house comprises an elegant arrangement of three volumes, cleverly oriented to provide a sense of privacy while maintaining uninhibited views of the surrounding forest.


Architizer’s Editor in Chief Paul Keskeys sat down with Strand to discuss the conception and development of Silver Residence, including the material choices and product specification decisions that helped make the design a reality.

Paul Keskeys: How did the client brief and the project’s unique site help to shape your initial concept for Silver Residence?

David Strand: This was a truly unique site. The lot was essentially an established woodland in the backyards of the neighboring homes. Encircled by their neighbors, our main goal was to utilize the large wooded site while maintaining discretion for the neighbors and our clients. Careful site placement and rotation, focused view corridors and room placement was our initial goal.

What most influenced your choice of materials and products for the project and why?

We wanted the house to stand stoically, but also fade into the surroundings. Getting two large, flat roofed volumes to blend in with nature isn’t that simple. The soft tone of the siding and mixed palette of dark brick and concrete helped reduce the impact. The vertical siding has a very calm and natural look that mimics the linear trees and sky.

The expansive windows reflect the woods, so it appears that you are seeing through the home to woods beyond, helping to minimize the mass of the structures. The home changes throughout the seasons, with the warm glow of the windows in the evening accentuating the natural wood ceilings and cabinetry.

For this project, we chose Marvin windows for several reasons. Firstly, both the builder and Strand Design are familiar and comfortable with the brand, and they know they can trust Marvin to stand behind its product. We were also aiming to maintain the crisp and clean aesthetic of the home, and wanted a product that was more streamlined for the windows within the primary spaces of the living room and kitchen.

The Marvin Modern line brings a refined option to the residential market and allows us to intermix supplier and installer within one brand, facilitating multiple sizes and styles of windows throughout the home. These windows allow for massive pieces of glass with minimal structure between them.

In the Silver Residence, the clean lines and minimal articulation create a truly modern and elevated experience for the public spaces of the home. To be cognizant of the budget and quality we established, we chose Marvin Ultimate due to its durable exterior aluminum extrusion and finish.

In terms of the building envelope, what were your goals and how did you achieve them through detailing?

The expansive glazing of the Silver Residence creates movement and intrigue within its harmonic envelope. From the exterior, during the day, the windows reflect the trees and sky surrounding the home, adding tones of green and blue to the otherwise neutral exterior palette. At night, they allow for the warm interior light to filter out to enliven the facade as it blends into the fading light.

From the interior, the glass connects the home to its site and allows the family to interact with nature, even while inside the home. By drawing natural light deep within the home, we created a dynamic and inviting quality that energizes the interior and enriches the time spent at home.

It is always about purposeful material usage and clean transitions. We strive to design each home within its own scale, allowing for quality material usage inside and out.  We aim to create a jewel box, whatever size that may be. The main problem with what is often perceived as the modern architecture aesthetic today, is the patchwork application of trendy materials that serves no purpose and has no correlation to the massing of the structure.

This home, like most of our homes, is thought of in terms of overall massing to create a relevant aesthetic for the site, with consideration for the scale of the project and also the clients. We created interest by using textural and material changes rather than jarring transitions. By maintaining one primary tone, we were able to create a refined yet tactile material palette. These elements carry subtly into the home, reminding you of what you are inhabiting.

What was the biggest design challenge you faced during the process, and how was it overcome?

For this question, we need to go back to the site. What seemed like a large and blank canvas became very compact and directional when taking all of the neighboring homes into account. Managing the sightlines and drawing the natural light into the homes was the main priority.

Which elements of the project do you feel are most successful and may influence your future designs?

From both the exterior and interior, the large expanses of glass that cleanly transition from one to another add depth and refinement to the home. Blurring that line of transparency and reflection is something we feel this home does well and will aim for in future homes. Purposeful material transitions are a huge part of the success of this home. Simplicity starts and stops with the absence of adornment.

Another programming element that is incorporated very well with this home is the screen porch. Protected between the wings of the house and backed by the glass breezeway, this space allows for intimate family moments and transitions from an open deck to a screened porch seamlessly. Watching the screen slice through the building façade is a satisfying moment.

What has the client’s response to the project been like?

Our clients truly love their home and utilize the residence to its fullest. It’s a home that selflessly demands little of their time and thought, while encompassing comfort, space and warmth. The home serves as the “form and function” backdrop, enriching their own free flowing lives within it.

To explore more case studies featuring Marvin Modern and learn how to harness windows and doors like these for your next project, click here.

Photographs by Chad Holder Photography; plan drawing courtesy of Strand Design.

Reference

How to Create a Compelling Architectural Rendering Using Customizable Materials and Assets
CategoriesArchitecture

How to Create a Compelling Architectural Rendering Using Customizable Materials and Assets

By Zarkon Group,

Translating the architectural masterpiece in your head into a tangible visualization for clients and colleagues can feel like an impossible task if you don’t have the right tools in your arsenal. Fortunately, cutting-edge real-time rendering software like Enscape can help architects and designers bring their projects to life with breathtaking clarity — and improve the speed and efficiency of your workflow. 

Exploring 3D models in real time allows you to quickly evaluate every facet of a design. At the ideation stage, it’s easy to identify mistakes, experiment with different solutions and make instant alterations. Furthermore, with new levels of customization now possible, you can transform your concepts into immersive worlds for clients, imparting a compelling, human perspective to each project. Most importantly, your design intent is crystal clear from the outset.

Here are five steps to creating stunning architectural visualizations with adjustable assets and real-time rendering software.

1. Perfect your perspective.

Like a photographer, it’s important to consider the composition of your renderings. There are a number of general rules you can follow to make your framing more powerful — though these are yours to break.

The rule of thirds is an age-old principle. Dividing the frame into a three-by-three grid, this composition ensures the most important features fall along the lines or at their intersections. Alternatively, you could consider using one-, two-, or three-point perspectives anchored around crucial moments in the frame. If your scene is laden with multiple strong elements, it may be more impactful to hone in on one single focal point instead and tell that story succinctly.

If you’re an Enscape user, you have the ability to create handy presets for each view once you’ve settled on your composition. Every camera angle requires its own unique settings. In Enscape, you can link the preset to the view, so the visual settings will automatically change when you navigate through the different perspectives.

2. Plan your lighting setup.

Negotiating the balance between light and dark is key if you want to produce a realistic rendering. Think about what time of day your scene is set and examine the conditions in the real world. What position would the sun or moon be in? Depending on the orientation of any windows, where would shadows be cast and how dark would they be? Are there any surfaces light might reflect off? In Enscape, it’s possible to customize the time of day for each view to set the right mood for the scene.

For artificial lighting, consider the angle of the light, its strength and how intense shadows would be according to each particular lighting system. Extremely dark areas can lose detail and material quality, so ensure the frame’s main focal points are adequately lit. 

Enscape 3.5, the software’s newest iteration, features updates to their global illumination algorithm, including a host of changes to make the light quality in your renderings more lifelike. These include more accurate shading in mirror reflections and more realistic indirect lighting in interior scenes.

3. Customize your project materials.

Blurry and pixelated 3D textures result in lackluster visualizations. Material clarity can elevate your architectural renderings to the next level. Enscape’s Material Library offers an array of high-quality, versatile textures you can apply across interior and exterior surfaces. It’s easy to experiment with different materials and instantly swap them in and out until you arrive at the right finish. You can also import materials from other sites to expand your library. 

Textures with visual repetitions can be jarring and disrupt the illusion of realism. However, bump maps and reflections are automatically applied to materials from the Enscape Material Library to impart even more depth to your renderings. If these settings don’t align with the aesthetic you’re trying to achieve, you can use the Enscape Material Editor to customize displacement maps.

As well as the exterior and interior textures of your project, don’t neglect the other scene elements that will bring your image to life. Pay special attention to typically overlooked surfaces such as the asphalt of an adjacent road or the ripples of a lake in the background to ensure the entire composition feels palpable.

4. Utilize realistic assets.

Illustrating your renderings with the fixtures of everyday life, be it furniture, decorations, trees, vehicles and even people, can enforce your world-building and strengthen your design. Enscape’s recently released adjustable asset series offers options for you to modify assets to your liking. There are over 1,000 new 3D adjustable assets, encompassing texture alterations and variants of an item’s geometry, plus almost an infinite number of color options to choose from.

What’s more, the Enscape 3.5 update offers 93 new unique people assets to help demonstrate the functionality of your project and add a more emotive dimension to your scenes. In instances where architects and designers need specific assets, you can import your own models into the Custom Asset Library too. Check out this in-depth tutorial on harnessing Enscape’s asset library within Revit, SketchUp, Rhino, Archicad and Vectorworks.

5. Fine-tune in post-production.

When you’ve finished crafting your scenes, there may be post-production tweaks you want to make to add the finishing touches to your renderings. In Enscape, you can easily export your images and continue work in any photo editing software. You can even export different types of rendering elements so you can quickly modify a specific object or material. For example, you can export object ID, material ID and channel depth for more targeted editing. 

Enscape 3.5 also benefits from improvements to the alpha channel functionality (the alpha channel is a layer that represents an image’s degree of transparency). The alpha channel export feature allows you to take renderings with a transparent background out of Enscape and edit them externally. The recent update now enables users to export semi-transparent materials too, such as windows and glass surfaces, speeding up post-processing.

Supercharge your design communication and try Enscape’s real-time rendering software for yourself with a free 14-day trial. The Enscape plug-in is compatible with popular modeling software, including SketchUp, Revit, Rhinoceros, Archicad and Vectorworks. 

Reference

Perforated metal wall panels ImageWall by Zahner
CategoriesArchitecture

An Architect’s Guide To: Graphic Perforated Metal Panels

By Zarkon Group,

Architectural innovation and creativity go hand in hand. Designers are constantly seeking new ways to push boundaries, challenge norms, and create buildings that resonate with places and people. One material that is increasingly being harnessed to this end is perforated metal, with a multitude of high-tech systems now available to architects looking for customizable wall and façade solutions.

One such example is the ImageWall system by Zahner, a renowned engineering and fabrication company with a long-standing reputation for its work with architects. Developed specifically for perforated metal panels, it offers a range of diverse qualities for projects across typologies and climates.

Perforated metal wall panels ImageWall by ZahnerZahner became known for advanced metal surfaces and systems with both functional and ornamental forms. With ImageWall, Zahner has created a system that offers design versatility to make immersive experiences. With its accessible design tools, affordability, and wide range of applications, the perforated metal panel system empowers designers and architects to bring their visions to life.

Whether used in commercial, hospitality, retail, or residential settings, this material provides a customizable canvas for integrating backlighting, materials, and graphics. In this guide, we’ll explore the creative potential of perforated metal panel systems like ImageWall, from the design process to technical detailing and application.

Conceptualization: Pushing the Boundaries of Design

Perforated metal wall panels animation ImageWall by ZahnerOne of the most remarkable aspects of the ImageWall system is its accessibility to designers. Gone are the days of tedious back-and-forth communication. With this system, designers can now conceptualize and design directly within an intuitive online visualizer tool on the Zahner website.

This streamlines the design process and empowers architects to bring their visions to life more efficiently than ever before. The accessibility provided by the system fosters a greater sense of creative freedom, allowing designers to experiment, iterate, and explore a multitude of design options.

Design With ImageWall

Recently, Zahner Labs has further developed the system with ImageLines — an additional customization for generating perforated images. As the team explains, perforations are positioned by an array of customizable lines or curves, while perforation size is driven by a source image. Try it out; it’s easy to upload an image to the configurator and see how ImageLines takes perforated façades to the next level.

Technical Details: Streamlined Installation and Pre-Engineered Elements

The ImageWall perforated metal panels not only look beautiful, but also allow for more streamlined detailing. Through the use of pre-engineered elements and easy-install systems, the cost and lead times are significantly reduced compared to traditional custom solutions. This makes affordability a key advantage offered by Zahner’s system.

Their product also allows clients with tighter budgets to benefit from the company’s reputation for quality craftsmanship and design expertise. In turn, the evolution from custom projects to a pre-engineered product demonstrates Zahner’s commitment to making cutting-edge design accessible to a wider audience.

Download ImageWall Details

Perforated metal wall panels ImageWall by ZahnerFrom sleek and modern metals like stainless steel and aluminum to warm and inviting materials like pre-weathered weathering steel and copper, ImageWall provides architects and designers with a wide selection of options to suit their desired aesthetic.

Additionally, the system can incorporate other materials such as glass, ceramics, or options like recycled materials, ensuring that each project can be uniquely tailored to meet the specific design requirements and desired visual impact. The versatility in material choices offered enables the creation of customized architectural elements that seamlessly integrate into a design.

Applications: Versatility Across Architectural Typologies

At its heart, Zahner’s system has wide-ranging applications across architectural typologies. From commercial buildings to hospitality spaces, retail environments to multi-unit residential common areas, ImageWall seamlessly integrates with other building systems, structures, and assemblies.

This adaptability makes it a valuable tool for architects and designers working on a diverse range of projects. Whether it’s an eye-catching façade for a high-end hotel, an immersive retail environment, or a statement piece in a public space, the system offers endless possibilities for enhancing the appeal of a structure, entry or interior.

Creative Possibilities: Enhancing Design with Light, Materials, and Graphics

ImageWall offers a myriad of creative possibilities, including lighting options, material choices, and graphic integration. Backlighting adds a whole new dimension to architectural design, bringing depth, texture, and visual interest to spaces.

Perforated metal wall panels ImageWall by ZahnerWith a vast array of materials to choose from, architects can find the perfect match for their desired aesthetic, whether it be sleek and modern or warm and organic. The graphic options also enable the integration of custom patterns, logos, or artwork, allowing architects to create truly unique and memorable spaces that leave a lasting impression.

Case Studies: Showcasing the Power of ImageWall

To appreciate the capabilities of perforated metal panels, there are many noteworthy case studies. For example, the ImageWall system was employed only a short walk from Canada’s Parliament buildings in Ottawa, Ontario, where the team of B+H Architects and Morguard collaborated with Zahner to enhance the experience of entering their office complex at 350 Sparks. The installation of custom perforated wall art showcases the journey along the Ottawa River adjacent to Parliament Hill. Zahner supplied 1,563 visible square feet of aluminum panels and associated sub-framing for the installation.

Zahner also collaborated on the Legacy Pavilion for The Equal Justice Initiative. The Pavilion, designed by Williams Blackstock Architects, is the EJI Museum campus’ new building. Zahner engineered and fabricated the custom Angel Hair stainless steel that clads the exterior of the building, which depicts the iconic images of several local civil rights activists that inspire hope for equal justice. In a similar way, two ImageWall murals clad the east and north sides of 1256 Penn Ave, featuring individual portrait panels of renowned local civil rights activists that helped shape the culture of Minneapolis.

These case studies demonstrate how Zahner’s perforated metal panel system can be utilized by architects to enhance their designs. Its adaptability, material options, and creative possibilities have allowed architects to push boundaries and transform their visions into new landmarks.

Explore More Projects

ImageWall represents the evolution of architectural solutions, bridging the gap between visionary concepts and practical implementation. Its accessibility to designers, affordability, wide range of applications, and design potential make it a versatile and valuable tool for architects and designers alike.

As Zahner continues to push boundaries and redefine what is possible in architectural design, the system stands as a testament to their ability to transform visionary concepts into innovative architecture products and systems.

Learn more about ImageWall here, start designing your own custom perforated panel here, and reach out to Zahner’s specialists about your next project here.

Reference

Free Webinar Recording: Implementing Zero Waste Strategies into Your Design Practice
CategoriesArchitecture

Free Webinar Recording: Implementing Zero Waste Strategies into Your Design Practice

By Zarkon Group,

Do you ever sit back and wonder what happens to your waste? Do you ever ponder the environmental and economic impacts of waste on the planet?

Architizer was thrilled to have Jessica Jenkins, Environmental and Technical Project Specialist at Inpro, speak at the most recent Architizer live event. Hitting us with hard facts, the dos and don’ts and workplace initiatives for waste diversion, Jessica left the audience empowered to take matters into their own hands. Zero waste is attainable within the design industry, and Jessica thoughtfully broke down how to get there.

To reach a wider audience and for those who were unable to attend, the recorded session is available on-demand! Click the button below to watch Jessica Jenkins’ insightful presentation:

Register + Access

Waste is at the forefront of many global sustainable initiatives. Why? Because we all contribute to waste. It is part of our daily lives and, realistically, isn’t going anywhere. Currently, we are running out of space to house our waste. In the US alone, a whopping 292 million tons of trash was generated in a single year. To make room for all this waste, natural habitats have been destroyed, greenhouse gas emissions have risen, and taxes have gone up to offset the costs of running expensive landfills.

Zero waste has been defined as diverting 90% of total waste from landfills.

Thankfully, there are proactive ways to reduce our collective and individual contributions to waste. And such strategies can be implemented into building design. The benefits of designing for zero waste are immense, leading to more sustainable creations, increased property value and safety. Whether a boutique architecture firm or a large manufacturing company, waste diversion is possible within all parts of the design industry. All it takes is a little bit of elbow grease.

For some real-world context, Jessica shared a bit on Inpro’s zero waste journey. By 2025, Inpro aspires to become a zero-waste company. Currently, they have hit an impressive 85% diversion rate, and with only 5% to go, the company is thrilled to offer long-lasting, recycled products to their customers. Sharing a few of Inpro’s key strategies on waste diversion, here are three important factors to consider:

  1. Take ownership: Owning up to your company’s waste streams and processes is a must. It is the first step before implementing waste diversion strategies.
  2. Collect and use data: Striving for zero waste is not a linear process. Examining your company’s current processes through metrics and data is crucial to reaching this goal. Constant reevaluation and reassessment is key.
  3. Convenience is a must: Waste diversion initiatives must be made convenient and straightforward to use.

Looking beyond the workplace and towards the design process itself, Jessica also shared some helpful strategies for zero-waste design.

  1. Clearly communicate: Communicate valuable information (such as recycling guidelines) through legible signage.
  2. Prioritize easy access: Ensure your zero waste strategies (such as designated recycling areas) are accessible and conveniently placed within your building.
  3. Opt for sustainable products: While performance is key to waste diversion, so are the materials used within said processes. Ensure you have durable wall protection and long-lasting materials.

To hear Jessica Jenkins’ complete list of tips for zero-waste design, click the link below.

Register + Access

Striving for zero waste is attainable within all aspects of the architecture and design industry. At first, it may appear like a demanding and unattainable goal. However, in practice, all it takes is a solid waste diversion plan and a continual commitment to the cause.

Top image: The Cradle by HPP Architects, Düsseldorf, Germany

Reference

Take Our Survey on the Future of Architectural Visualization and Win a $500 Amazon Gift Card!
CategoriesArchitecture

Take Our Survey on the Future of Architectural Visualization and Win a $500 Amazon Gift Card!

By Zarkon Group,

Architectural visualization plays a crucial role in bringing designs to life and communicating ideas effectively. As the industry continues to evolve, it is important to gather insights from professionals like you to understand the present landscape and envision the future of architectural visualization.

In partnership with Chaos and Enscape, Architizer invites you to participate in a global industry survey to share your experiences and perspectives. As a token of our appreciation, one lucky respondent will have the chance to win a $500 Amazon gift card! (Terms and conditions apply).

The survey will open very soon (click here and sign up to the newsletter to be one of the first to know when it’s live!) and should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete.

Image courtesy of Enscape

Help Shape the Future of Architectural Visualization

Built in collaboration with Chaos, a world leader in 3D visualization technology, this key industry survey aims to capture valuable insights about architecture firms’ visualization workflows, together with their expectations for the future. By participating, you’ll contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the industry, which will help shape the direction of architectural visualization tools and technologies.

The survey covers a range of topics related to your firm and its visualization practices. Some of the key questions include demographic details of you and/or your firm, the types of work you specialize in, the visualization techniques and tools you utilize, the stages of the design process where you employ visualizations, and your experiences with real-time rendering software.

Additionally, we explore your views on the future of architectural visualization, including potential advancements in collaboration, design tools, cost-effectiveness, accessibility, and immersive technologies such as virtual reality.

Image courtesy of Enscape

Benefits of Participating

By responding to the survey, you’ll not only contribute to the collective knowledge of the architectural community but also gain insights into the practices and trends in architectural visualization. The results will be summarized in the form of a white paper, which will be shared first with survey respondents. The report will provide valuable benchmarks and information for professionals like you to enhance their visualization workflows.

Furthermore, your participation enters you into a draw to win a $500 Amazon gift card, which could be a great opportunity to invest in tools, resources, or treat yourself to something special.

We encourage you to share this article with your colleagues and peers, including anyone you know who works in architectural visualization. The more respondents we receive, the richer the data, and the better insights we’ll be able to offer about the present and future of the industry!

Image courtesy of Enscape

How to Participate

Participating in the Chaos / Enscape + Architizer Survey is easy. Simply visit [survey link] to access the questionnaire. The survey should take approximately [estimated time] to complete. Please ensure your responses accurately represent your firm’s practices and opinions.

Conclusion: Architizer invites you to contribute your insights to the Chaos / Enscape + Architizer Survey on the future of architectural visualization. Your responses will shape the trajectory of the industry and help identify areas for improvement and innovation. Don’t miss the opportunity to win a $500 Amazon gift card! We value your participation and appreciate your dedication to advancing the field of architectural visualization. Start the survey today and join us in envisioning the future of architectural visualization!

Disclaimer: The survey is organized in partnership with Chaos, who will provide the $500 Amazon gift card to one randomly selected respondent. Participants must comply with the survey terms and conditions to be eligible for the prize. Restrictions apply; see: http://amazon.com/gc-legal

Images courtesy of Chaos & Enscape.

Reference

Architectural Details: How to Create a Stunning Minimalist Residence That Brings the Outside In
CategoriesArchitecture

Architectural Details: How to Create a Stunning Minimalist Residence That Brings the Outside In

By Zarkon Group,

Brevity is one of the most powerful tools in the architect’s apparatus. This astonishing glass house, perched on the banks of Minnesota’s Lake Minnetonka, is proof of precisely that. Clean, crisp lines define its striking structure, which emerges from the trees like a modernist specter.

The brief for the project called for a design that maximized light and forged an intimate relationship with the external world. Thanks to magnificent expanses of glass, the residence is a conduit for the surrounding landscape — an elegant, architectural “picture frame”. Yet creating a home that is visually defined by its glazed skin is not a straightforward endeavor, and its successful resolution hinges on the integration of resilient, high-performing materials.

Photo courtesy of Spacecrafting.

Making a Glass House Structurally Sound

Less is more, or so the mantra of modernism goes. Somewhat ironically though, achieving minimalism is no simple task. Subtracting as much as possible from a building’s fabric is an act of bravery, a challenge that Charlie & Co. Design and John Kraemer & Sons Custom Builders admirably rose to.

Charlie Simmons, the founding principal of Charlie & Co. Design, shared the formative questions they asked themselves at the start of the project: “You strip out all the unnecessary things. What’s the limited amount of structure you need? Could you really go floor-to-ceiling with glass? How high can you make it? And then you start whittling away and whittling away and what’s left?”

The team turned to Marvin to help them deliver the seamless, streamlined esthetic their client wanted. The Marvin Modern product line, comprising a modular series of durable, fiberglass products with narrow sightlines, was the ideal fit for the ambitious design. The doors and windows feature an integrated structural cavity that adds up to half an inch of mull reinforcement to aid structural performance.

But there was still a fundamental obstacle at the heart of the scheme: glass is not typically made to hold significant weight. The project architect and the Marvin engineering department crunched the numbers and came up with an innovative solution: unobtrusive, load-bearing components were integrated into the design without compromising its sleek finish.

“There are very few actual walls in this place, particularly on the first floor … so we have these structural elements that we need to keep the house up and prevent it from twisting,” Simmons explained. A stone fireplace at one end of the home anchors the building, bookended by what Simmons calls “a box within a box” at the opposite end – a wood structure that houses the kitchen, laundry room and powder room.

Photo courtesy of Spacecrafting.

Ensuring Impressive Thermal Efficiency

Minnesota is a land of climatic extremes, from frigid, frosty winters to humid summer months. For a form dominated by glass, extreme fluctuations in temperature posed another major challenge. Unsurprisingly, the home’s thermal envelope was of paramount concern for the architects, and it was vital that the material structure could stand up to snowstorms and heatwaves alike.

Marvin Modern doors and windows proved strong enough to endure the site’s environmental demands. Made from solid pieces of high-density fiberglass, they provide powerful insulation and an impressive U-factor of 0.28. Shielded from the elements, the residence’s interior is comfortable and inviting all year round, while maintaining a palpable connection with the natural topography. Remarkably, no additional insulating materials were required to aid the glazing’s thermal efficiency.

Photo courtesy of Spacecrafting.

Blurring the Boundary Between Inside and Out

The result of this innovative project is a stunning, living glass box that shifts organically with the light levels, weather conditions and seasons. The stretches of glazing are punctuated with Accoya wood cladding, while interior millwork in the same warm grain establishes a sense of continuity between indoors and out.

Yet however you look at this modern masterpiece, glass is the star of the show. Imbued with the Marvin Modern product line, the structure is a skillful and poetic negotiation of transparency. A trellis and purlins frame the skylight above the main living area, while latticework fragments the full-height windows that flank the stairwell. “It becomes a very subtractive and additive design process but in the end, it’s all about transparency and keeping things as simple and clean and minimalist as possible,” Simmons says.

 

The most staggering feats of engineering are the two 60-foot-long glass walls, which line opposing aspects of the residence. Each wall is made up of three sets of 20-foot sliding doors with only 4 inches of steel structure in between them, allowing for uncompromised views throughout. Like the other Marvin Modern products, the profile of each door is slim and inconspicuous. Recessed channels in the frames conceal motorized insect screens and blackout shades, while still providing consistent, narrow sightlines of less than three inches.

The swaths of glass are a portal to the organic terrain, rather than an obstruction. To that end, internal covers across the frames disguise fasteners and rubber gaskets, while low-gloss aluminum interior finishes and black spacer bars ensure an unimpeded outlook. This seamless finish allows inner and outer worlds to collide. In the warmer months when the doors are retracted, the covered deck becomes a natural extension of the interior floor plan.

Photo courtesy of Spacecrafting.

An interplay of modernist finesse and material resilience, this incredible waterfront home is a masterclass in building with glass. Negotiating challenging contextual and structural obstacles, the residence epitomizes the virtues of architectural minimalism. Simmons succinctly summarizes the scheme’s dual nature: “When you have this much glass, you feel like you’re a part of something out here, but you’re also being protected as well … Marvin gives us the tools to create environments such as this.”

To explore more case studies featuring Marvin Modern and learn how to harness windows and doors like these for your next project, click here.

All architectural drawings courtesy of Charlie and Co. Design; photography courtesy of Spacecrafting.

Reference

Hidden Secret: How Energy Usage Was Transformed in Marcel Breuer’s Iconic Hotel
CategoriesArchitecture

Hidden Secret: How Energy Usage Was Transformed in Marcel Breuer’s Iconic Hotel

By Zarkon Group,

With climate change now firmly at the forefront of every architects’ mind, new innovations that help reduce carbon emissions are more critical than ever. While flashy façades and green roofs often take the headlines, it’s actually the hidden components of buildings — those elements concealed behind walls, in roof spaces, or within maintenance floors — where the most groundbreaking energy-efficient systems can be found.

Mitsubishi Electric’s Heat2O® Heat Pump Water Heater is a prime example. Through energy-efficient operation and reduction of on-site carbon emissions, this cutting-edge system significantly reduces the environmental impact of producing large volumes of Domestic Hot Water (DHW), a key consideration for hospitality, commercial and multi-unit residential projects.

Thanks to its modular design, the Heat2O system can be harnessed for complex adaptive reuse and renovation projects as well as new constructions. Notably, the technology was put to use in the iconic Hotel Marcel, a $50 million adaptive reuse of the historic Pirelli building, designed by Marcel Breuer. With the goal of becoming the first net-zero hotel in the United States, the installation of Heat2O is helping the building secure its LEED® Platinum certification.

Hotel Marcel, formerly the Pirelli building, designed by Marcel Breuer

Architizer spoke with the bright minds behind Mitsubishi Electric’s latest systems to learn more about how the brand is innovating to meet the increasingly ambitious environmental goals of its clients.

Architizer Congratulations on winning a 2022 A+Product Award! What does winning this accolade mean to you and your brand? 

Mitsubishi Electric: As a company, Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US works toward contributing to a more sustainable society by developing and promoting energy-saving all-electric products and systems that will reduce the use of fossil fuels in the heating and cooling industry. Being recognized for our efforts in this area is significant and means a great deal. Recognitions such as this confirm we’re on the right track and provide momentum in moving forward to reach our goals.

What inspired the design of your product?

Heat2O has been available overseas for several years. After witnessing its positive impact on a building’s energy efficiency and carbon footprint, we wanted to bring this technology to the U.S. market. Domestic Hot Water (DHW) required by multifamily buildings, hotels, hospitals, senior living facilities and other commercial spaces accounts for roughly 25% of these buildings’ annual energy usage. Until the introduction of Heat2O, the U.S. building industry lacked an energy-efficient solution to provide high-volume DHW for commercial buildings.

Tell us about the manufacturing process — What are the key stages involved and how do these help ensure a high quality end product?

To produce the Heat2O QAHV units, Mitsubishi Electric uses a “cell manufacturing process” whereby one person is responsible for each step of the assembly process. Each person is trained at a high level and has an electronic display to ensure they follow clear guidelines/instructions in the process.

Once the unit is assembled it goes through a full functionality test, including electrical safety and operational testing. All test data and unit information including the people who assembled the product are recorded and assigned to the serial number of the product. This ensures that an audit can be performed, and data retrieved post sale if required.

Mitsubishi Electric’s Heat2O® Heat Pump Water Heater

What detail of your product was most challenging to design, and why? How did you resolve it?

The most challenging aspect was the heat exchange between the CO2 refrigerant and water circuit. The heat exchanger is a unique and patented design and is called the “Twisted Spiral Gas Cooler.” The challenge was to provide the best possible efficiency while still maintaining a relatively small footprint. This was overcome by using a unique design and using a twisted coil approach, with six of the heat exchangers stacked above one another.

What makes your product unique and of great value to specifying architects?

The all-electric, cold-climate Heat2O Hot Water Heat Pump reduces the environmental impact of DHW through energy-efficient operation and using CO2 refrigerant. CO2, a natural and environmentally friendly refrigerant with a global warming potential (GWP) of one and an ozone depletion potential (ODP) of zero, helps commercial facilities qualify for rigorous sustainability certifications such as passive house status. Using Heat2O reduces on-site carbon emissions in the production of domestic hot water.

Bathroom in the new Hotel Marcel

What has the reception to your product been like from architects/clients/consumers?

We launched Heat2O in select markets. So far, the demand has been phenomenal. One of the most notable installations was in the $50 million adaptive reuse of the historic Pirelli building in New Haven, CT, into Hotel Marcel, which is projected to be the first net-zero hotel in the United States. Aiming for LEED® Platinum certification and a 60% increase in energy efficiency compared to code requirements, Heat2O was installed to achieve the project’s aggressive sustainability goals.

How do you see the product evolving in future?

Efficiency improvements will always be a driving factor and goal, together with evolving controls options. There are also many opportunities to combine QAHV with other future products in the Mitsubishi Electric portfolio.

To find out more about Mitsubishi Electric, visit MitsubishiComfort.com, and reach out to one of their experts to learn how to incorporate the Heat2O into your next project.

All photos courtesy of METUS

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Brave New World: How Real-Time Rendering Can Lead Architectural Design Into the Future
CategoriesArchitecture

Brave New World: How Real-Time Rendering Can Lead Architectural Design Into the Future

By Zarkon Group,

New technologies breed new behaviors, so it’s no surprise that real-time rendering software is being harnessed by some architects to create whole new design processes. Two such firms, Intelligent City and Viewport Studio, are using the real-time rendering capabilities of Enscape to produce high-quality building designs in a fraction of the time it takes with traditional working methods. Basing their workflows on AI-enabled algorithms and the experiential capabilities of virtual reality, they’ve created design processes that are more efficient, more productive, and arguably more effective than today’s typical design practices.

The Key to Low-Cost, High-Quality Urban Housing

Animation courtesy of Intelligent City

Intelligent City, a design-build firm based in Vancouver, has created a proprietary design process called Platforms for Life to develop high-quality, sustainable urban housing at low cost. Taking a tech-forward approach to architecture, Platforms for Life employs algorithms to create fully fleshed out iterations for the design of an entire building. Modifying an individual property on one iteration automatically updates all associated parameters to incorporate the change, allowing an infinite number of fully detailed design options to be generated instantaneously. When the desired iteration is reached, all required construction documentation and manufacturing instructions are created with the push of a button.

Platforms for Life achieves even greater cost and time savings by prefabricating the primary components of their buildings in a factory. Employing the precision and speed offered by the latest automated manufacturing techniques, on-site construction time of their buildings can be reduced up to 50% over fully on-site methods. Relying heavily on mass timber as a structural material and the principles of Passive House to guide their design algorithms, the Platforms for Life process results in low-cost, energy efficient buildings with minimal carbon footprint.

Monad Granville, Vancouver (concept); image courtesy of Intelligent City

Intelligent City brings Enscape into the Platforms for Life process to fine-tune their designs in real-time when collaborating with clients. “We were looking for a way to visualize the buildings quickly,” explains Intelligent City’s Computational Design Architect, Timo Tsui. “If we couldn’t keep up with the iterations of the generated designs, then we wouldn’t be able to visualize them properly for our clients.”

A simple way to do this in a collaborative working session is to pin the Enscape rendering window alongside whatever software is being used to design a building, such as Revit or Rhino. This allows a fully rendered view to be updated automatically as design modifications are being made. If something more portable is needed for a client to evaluate on their own time, then Enscape can generate an easily shareable, read-only 3D model rendered in a web browser, in addition to 360-degree panoramas, videos or still images.

Forging New Frontiers in Interior Design

Image courtesy of Viewport Studio

Viewport Studio employs Enscape’s next-generation virtual reality capabilities to take an innovative approach to creating highly detailed interior designs. Recently tasked with designing the interior of Virgin Galactic’s Spaceport America, the first commercial spaceflight facility in the world, Viewport Studio’s design team knew they had to utilize a truly groundbreaking design process to satisfy the client’s aspirations for an equally groundbreaking space.

“We were tasked with designing something that had never been designed before,” says Viewport Studio director Gautier Pelegrin. To meet the challenge, they used Enscape’s virtual reality feature as a primary design tool, conducting live sessions to view and change design elements in real-time. This workflow resulted in the design of the spaceport’s “Astrowalk”, where astronaut passengers are given a celebratory send-off by their friends and families before embarking on their journeys. A showcase experience enhanced by a mirrored ceiling covered with LED screens, Enscape’s virtual reality feature helped the design team determine if spectators could see the Astrowalk from their seats.

Image courtesy of Viewport Studio

Enscape was additionally used to determine the exact dimensions of a barista station, as well as the amount of natural light that would reach certain planters, guiding the choice of plants used in specific locations. “The virtual reality function quickly became a staple in all our meetings,” explains Pelegrin. “It helped to reduce testing iterations by at least 20 percent. It also allowed us to check the simple ergonomics of the bespoke furniture we designed, and we were confident with what we gave to the manufacturers.”

Able to integrate directly into all major design software, including Revit, SketchUp, Rhino, Archicad, and Vectorworks, the possibilities for creating your own pioneering design process with Enscape are endless. Head over to Enscape to see all its capabilities and start your free 14-day trial today.

Reference

Wonder Wood: Black Label Sets a New Standard for Sustainable Materials
CategoriesArchitecture

Wonder Wood: Black Label Sets a New Standard for Sustainable Materials

By Zarkon Group,

For architects specifying materials for their projects, it’s hard to look past the building envelope as the most important element to consider. Not only is it one of the most visually significant aspects of a building, but it can also make or break a project’s sustainability credentials, given the potential environmental impact of sourcing, transporting, constructing and maintaining materials used for exterior surfaces.

Enter Black Label by Tropical Forest Products, one of the world’s most sustainable building products for decking, cladding and more. This forward-thinking manufacturer has refined its process to minimize the environmental impact of its products without compromising on the durability and incredible aesthetic qualities of its collection. The results are stunning: the warm, rich tones and resilient nature of tropical hardwood makes it a fit for a wide range of contemporary architecture projects, including hospitality, commercial, residential and landscape design typologies. Black Label Sustainable Lumber topped the popular choice vote in the Landscape Design category for the 2022 A+Product Awards.

Architizer spoke with Tropical Forest Products about their products, their processes, and how they see their work evolving in the future.

Congratulations on winning a 2022 A+Award! What does winning this accolade mean to you and your brand?

We are thrilled to have Black Label sustainable lumber named a winner in the world-renowned Architizer A+Awards. This prestigious recognition proves that the architectural community appreciates our efforts to bring high quality and organic tropical hardwoods to market.

The fact that we were awarded by People’s Choice makes it even more special. We would be equally thrilled if this was a jury award, but the fact that this came from architects, designers, contractors and homeowners who have been using Black Label wood confirms the great acceptance that the industry has given to our sustainable, architectural grade products.

What inspired the design of your product?

We are inspired by nature. We believe that natural hardwoods are not only the most sustainable and renewable building product in the world, but they’re also the most exquisite. So we keep our interference as minimal as possible. That means that Black Label hardwoods have no chemicals, additives or toxins – nothing is added. Our products are already what the engineered industry has tried to mimic for years, with no success.

From natural one-of-a-kind designs to unmatched structural strength, our hardwoods are born nearly impeccable. Our role is selecting the optimal boards – Premium Architectural Grade on all sides and edges, with no knots – and kiln-drying them in state-of-the-art Italian chambers.

Using advanced sustainable forest management techniques certified by the Forest Stewardship Council or Unfloresta, we go deep inside the forest and hand pick a limited number of trees with potential to become a piece of art in the hands of architects. Our mission is to give professionals the ability to create stunning, meaningful work that not only delights people, but that also reconnects them to nature.

Add to that the design of specific product profiles, along with the product testing and engineering into a system-based approach consisting of CAD details and CSI based specification language, and you have the essence of the Black Label brand.

Tell us about the manufacturing process — What are the key stages involved, and how do these help ensure a high quality end product?

Manufacturing sustainable wood products goes way beyond what meets the eye. Kiln-drying every board in Italian-made chambers until they meet precise humidity levels is a challenge, as is the world-class millwork we do with our state-of-the-art German-built planers. But it’s when we go into the forest to source our wood that we really set ourselves apart.

To craft every piece of Black Label hardwood, we use the most stringent forest management protocols, guaranteeing forests forever for all future generations. We remove less productive trees (that no longer store carbon) and make room for new trees to flourish.

Think of it as a garden, but on a bigger scale. We prune aging trees the same way you prune old branches in your backyard, allowing new life to grow. And not just any aging tree. From an area as big as a football field, only four to six trees are carefully selected, leaving the remainder intact. And for every one we harvest, up to 25 new trees benefit from the opening in the canopy of leaves and have a chance to flourish.

We go out of our way to keep our products not only sustainable and organic, but to make sure they bring a positive impact on both nature and people. Our multiple certifications with world-class organizations like FSC and Unfloresta only prove how seriously we take sustainability at Black Label.

What detail of your product was the biggest challenge to design, and why? How did you resolve it?

Solving design challenges are at the core of Black Label. Wood, by its very nature, is an incredibly flexible building product, and we take that to the next level by bringing unlimited profile options with state-of-the-art molders and CNC platforms. There’s nothing a commercial or residential project would need, no matter how big or small, that we could not provide.

We also have a dedicated department to serve designers and architects in their specification development process with all of the tools and data they require available on our website. Additionally, we always love to hear from designers directly so we can match their needs, from product sampling to our mill shop.

What makes your product unique and of great value to specifying architects?

Tropical hardwoods are the best in the world for a wide range of residential and commercial applications, and Black Label heightens this aspect. Black Label wood products such as Ipe, Garapa, Tigerwood, Jatoba, Cumaru and Bulletwood — the world’s most appealing species — are sustainably sourced and perfect for all climates. Besides, all of them have unmatched durability and require low maintenance, without the use of chemical treatments. They represent the perfect mix of beauty and unrivaled performance.

Black Label hardwoods have almost twice the strength of Generic FAS grade lumber, and because of the establishment of definitive grading rules, Black Label offers lifestyle products with Premium Appearance on all four sides and edges of each board. Our hardwoods are 100% organic — with absolutely no additives — harvested from sustainably managed forests, and some species have an impressive lifespan of up to 75 years. Hardwood last longer than other materials, and therefore does not have to be replaced nearly as often, making it even more sustainable. Plus, every piece of wood has enhanced stability, made possible by an optimal temperature control system that increases the structural performance by hardening the cell walls. It’s what the industry has been trying to match for years by using chemicals and toxic additives, with no success.

Combine this with FSC, Unifloresta, and even our own Legal Lumber certification program, and designers have a validated and comprehensive approach to biophilic design within the wood product category.

What has the reception to your product been like from architects/clients/consumers?

It has been amazing to watch the incredible reception for such a young brand that has been on the market for less than two years. Dealers all over North America are working with Black Label products every day, and we were awarded by People’s Choice at the Architizer A+Awards. On top of that, we received additional prestigious recognition, which made us the most awarded hardwood brand in our industry in 2022.

Technically, the architects and designers are astounded by the breadth of resources that are available to them to assist in specifying naturally durable hardwood products from our resource library and our availability to work through design challenges with them.

Both designers and consumers are reassured by our comprehensive environmental compliance certification programs, including FSC certification. But the real challenge remains in the continuing education about the Life Cycle Benefits of renewable wood products over non-renewable building products. We are extremely grateful to have received the Architizer A+Award and for any attention it brings to this most important environmental initiative.

How do you see the product evolving in the future?

We have just recently introduced prefabricated deck tiles into our Black Label roof deck system. And for the first time ever in our industry, they are kiln-dried, providing a resistance only similar to that of steel.

But only offering wood sometimes isn’t enough for a brand that aims to support architects and builders with everything they need to deliver world-class projects. So, we’re excited to announce the evolution of the Black Label brand into a wide range of accessories from deck and clad clips to tool kits to stains and beyond.

This evolution is how we guarantee our builders will always find the same quality standards we stand for, from the wood all the way down to the smallest screw.

To find out more about Black Label Sustainable Lumber, visit their website, and reach out to one of their experts to learn how to implement the product in your next project.

All images courtesy of Tropical Forest Products

Reference

Mission Invisible: Door Details That Blend Seamlessly With Modern Interiors
CategoriesArchitecture

Mission Invisible: Door Details That Blend Seamlessly With Modern Interiors

By Zarkon Group,

There isn’t much an architect loves more than clean lines, seamless details and high quality materials, but successfully combining all three is an endless challenge. As many of their clients seek increasingly streamlined spaces in which to live and work, designers are being tasked with perfecting the art of Minimalism  — and it’s only made possible in collaboration with manufacturers that appreciate the complex technical considerations behind this goal.

Led by Isabel & Jan Karcher, door furniture business Karcher Design embraces this challenge. This innovative German company designs and manufactures door hardware with incredible rigor, constantly considering how its products will fit with the wider context of a project. Their latest lever set, entitled “Mission Invisible”, takes their vision of minimalism to another level, reducing the door handle to its purest form and providing architects with the perfect solution to their clients’ needs. The product topped the jury vote in the 2022 A+Product Awards.

Architizer spoke with Karcher to learn more about the inspiration behind Mission Invisible, how its design was developed, and the company’s plans for the future.

Congratulations on winning a 2022 A+Award! What does winning this accolade mean to you and your brand?

As a leading manufacturer of door and window levers in the European market, this award and the recognition it brings will help us bring even more of our modern but timeless style to America and expand our market there.

What inspired the design of your product?

Drawing on our European roots, we are always developing designs that are a little smaller, a little more sleek, a little more elegant. Mission Invisible is the pinnacle of minimalism, reducing the lever set to its bare essentials without compromising on quality. This trend can be seen everywhere in modern design, and we wanted to offer architects a product range which can blend seamlessly into their minimalist design concepts.

Tell us about the manufacturing process — What are the key stages involved and how do these help ensure a high quality end product?

Our company motto “Edles aus Stahl” is a bit of a German play on words – Edelstahl, meaning stainless steel, directly translates as Nobel Steel. We recognized decades ago the value of using high quality materials — where brass and aluminum are cheap and easy to manufacture, stainless steel is more durable and adds that extra hint of quality and luxury.

Because of this, our Mission Invisible set (and many of our other lever sets) is made entirely of high quality stainless steel. Through precision investment casting and CNC machining processes, we ensure that our parts fit together every time and with as little play as possible. Combined with our European mortise locks, we ensure a long lasting, good-looking door opening experience.

What detail of your product was most challenging to design, and why? How did you resolve it?

The standard door preparation for a lever set is a 2 1/8” diameter hole which is bored through the door. A standard lever set is designed to make use of this space. Now, imagine you have only a 1” diameter hole in the door, but you have to fit the same technology into less than half the space. Everything has to be thinner and smaller, but it can’t be more fragile.

The secret was to develop a lever rose which wasn’t fixed onto the door, but one which integrated itself into the door itself. The stainless steel rose has an array of flexible hooks which balance out any misalignment between the latch and the door. Once the handle is inserted into the rose, these hooks are pressed into the wood of the door and provide an incredibly stable base for the lever set. A small, but precision-cast, nylon bearing sits between the lever and the rose, ensuring a long life and silent operation.

What makes your product unique and of great value to specifying architects?

First and foremost, its minimalistic design and clean look is unique. Mission Invisible is also compatible with various different designs and finishes, so there are many possible applications. Then there is the size: Compare a standard lever rose (2 5/8” diameter and 7/16” thick) with the Mission Invisible mini-rose (1 3/16” diameter and 1/8” thick!).

Architects don’t have to accommodate the size of a Mission Invisible lever set; it blends into its surroundings. Combine this with a range of durable, powder coated finishes and lever designs specifically made for the Minimalist look, and you have a product which fits in anywhere. You don’t have to stand out to make a statement!

What has the reception to your product been like from architects/clients/consumers?

Architects have said that Mission Invisible opens up new ways to unify the look of a door within a room. They love how it combines with invisible hinges for a complete look, and is very easy to install. The overall reception from both architects and their clients has been very positive.

How do you see the product evolving in future?

Developing an even smaller system isn’t really realistic, but if the minimalist trend in architecture continues, we might develop more products which compliment seamless transitions between design components. We’re also slowly introducing our range of European products to the USA. These are a great compromise for those who want something a bit more elegant, but aren’t quite into the full minimalist aesthetic.

To find out more about Karcher and Mission Invisible, visit their website, and reach out to one of their experts to learn how to implement the product in your next project.

All images courtesy of Karcher Design

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