30-Story Building Made Out of Wood by Architect Michael Green
Architect Michael Green has plans for a 30-story wooden skyscraper in Vancouver, while plans are afoot in Norway and Austria for 17- and 20-story buildings that use wood as the main building material, eschewing steel and concrete.
“We think we can go higher than 30 stories,” says Green. “We stopped exploring wood around 100 years ago (with the advent of steel and concrete); now we’re looking at a whole new system using mass timber products.”
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Cube Tube by Sako Architect
Developed by Sako Architects “Cube Tube” office and restaurant is a nine storey building with square structure, intersected with a vertical succession of criss-crossed corridors which terminate as open-air terraces overlooking the landscape. Contrasting the style of the existing context, a fenestration pattern of varied squares surfaces the main cubic volume and adjacent linear block, generating their respective names, “cube” and “tube”. The configuration introduces light and breezes into the internal core while allowing a divided working space with an airy atmosphere.
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Peace Bridge, Calgary by Santiago Calatrava
On Saturday, March 24, The City of Calgary will celebrate the anticipated opening of Santiago Calatrava’s signature Peace Bridge. The red twisting helix shaped pedestrian bridge is unlike any of the renowned architect’s other designs.
Known for his soaring, vertical icons, Calatrava opted to design a low single-span bridge in order to meet geometrical constraints. With a no fly zone enacted above the bridge due to a nearby heliport and the high water and ice levels of the Bow River beneath it, Calatrava had an envelope of only 7 meters in which to create his signature bridge.
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The Small House by Unemori Architects
Unemori Architects were commissioned to build this home in a 112 square foot plot. Unemori decided to place the “Small House” in the center of the property, which permits plenty of light and wind to encircle the tower.
“The small house which the married couple and their child live stands at the densely populated area in Tokyo. Though the neighboring houses is very close, I aimed to design the house which exceed the physical narrowness living at the city.
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Starbucks Coffee Decorated with 2,000 Wooden Sticks
This Starbucks based in Fukuoka, Japan, is decorated with 2,000 wooden sticks, woven into the walls and ceilings.
The building is made of 2,000 stick-like parts in the sizes of 1.3m – 4m length and 6cm section. Total length of the sticks reached as far as 4.4km. We had experimented the weaving of sticks for the project of Chidori and GC Prostho Museum Research Center, and this time we tried the diagonal weaving in order to bring in a sense of direction and fluidity. Three sticks are joined at one point in Chidori and GC, while in Starbucks four steps come to one point because of the diagonal – a more complicated joint.
Floating Eco House by Monika Wierzba
The project of the “floating eco house”‐ fully ecologic, floating residential facility, was created in response to contemporary problems of the environmental pollution to meet new trends in real estate market related to lack of space in city centres. This is a project of the fully economically and environmentally sustainable building. Read More…
Alexander Wang Flagship Store
The Alexander Wang Flagship store by Kramer Design Group was completed in February, 2011. The 3,000 sq. ft. SoHo New York space, like the collection it houses, blurs the line between relaxed and refined.
“I wanted to create a pristine store, but I wanted to take the sterile aspect and kind of formality out of it,” the designer who was in a very good mood said in an interview Wednesday afternoon. “I want it to be like I’m entertaining in my house.”
Other such touches in the 3,500-square-foot, white-walled, big-windowed store include antique brass, a “super luxe” version of a lawn chair (made with leather) and a big overstuffed leather sofa, which we sat on during the interview. (It was super comfy.)
In addition, acclaimed florist Jeff Leatham worked with the designer to decorate the store with baby shrubs (“You always see it in cheap boutiques,” Mr. Wang said, laughing) and black orchids from Africa. “It’s just bringing some life into the space as well as some warmth, while having it super luxe.”
The A.R.E. Design Awards are an annual event honoring all aspects of retail design from all over the world, held by the Association for Retail Environments. This year’s event was held at the XS Nightclub at Encore Hotel, where top industry officials gathered as 65 awards were presented to the best designs of 2011. “We are honored to be recognized for our work on the Alexander Wang flagship store. It was a wonderful creative process and truly reflects the laid-back luxury of the brand” explains Robin Kramer, President of Kramer Design Group.
‘Abondantus Giganticus,’ Church Pavilion by LOOS.FM
LOOS.FM, a Dutch design firm have built Abondantus Giganticus, a 20 meter tall church-shaped temporary pavilion created for last year’s Grenswerk Festival in Enschede, The Netherlands. Read More…
Håkansson Tegman House by Johan Sundberg Architect
Hakansson Tegman House based in the city of Höllviken, Sweden has been completed by Johan Sundberg. The clients commissioned a modern and nature-oriented one story house where sensuous qualities were the most important parameters throughout the design process.
The architects says:
“Höllviken south of Malmö was originally a seaside resort, but the forested rows of summer houses are continuously being transformed into a carpet of permanent housing. The site is a somewhat complicated corner plot with roads to the north and west.
Aquaria Grande Towers by Wadhwa Group
Aquaria Grande residential towers currently undergoing construction, will be equipped with one of the most stunning architectural feats when the project is completed, transforming standard balconies into swimming pools. This distinctive project includes two 37 storeys soaring residential towers, a fully facilities equipped clubhouse, a sustainable podium garden and an enormous car park, which create a novel and luxury lifestyle to the Borivali district. Read More…
House at the Edge of a Forest in Netherlands by Hilberinkbosh Architects
The house, situated on a beautiful lot at the edge of the forest, consists of two different volumes: an L-shaped base on which an oblong volume balances.
Together they form a sculpture which resembles a fallen tree on a pile of earth.
The public functions of the house are situated in the L-shaped base. The outside walls of the L-shape which face the public road look unapproachable and secretive. The wall is made with long, dark, robust bricks emphasizing the horizontal lines. Read More…
7th Street Residence by Pulltab Design
This beautiful apartment located in new york and built by interior designers ’Pulltab Design‘ is a haven of peace and zen in the middle of the crowd.
The owners of this duplex apartment, located on a beautiful tree lined street in the East Village, retained Pulltab Design to create a unique living environment for a young family of four. As a starting point, the clients requested that their 2,400 square foot apartment be selectively renovated and that the new design revolve around not only creative architectural additions but also the thoughtful selection of free standing furniture and lighting. In the schematic design phase, initial conversations revolved around modern masters such as Geoffrey Bawa, Carlo Scarpa and Richard Neutra.
Based on these conversations, it became apparent that the new design should strive to create a warm and open living environment with unique handcrafted detailing. Materials such as stained concrete, American black walnut, bronze and steel were selected along with modernist finishes, including hand applied active patinas, true pigment paints and high gloss lacquer surfaces.
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Brick Kiln House by SPASM Design Architects
Based in a small the small village Munavali,the favorite getaway, for affluent Bombay citizens as a place to build their dream country home, the ‘Brick Kiln House’built by SPASM Design Architects was partly a grove of Tamarind and Mango trees, with the odd , Champa, Vad tree.
Brick Kiln House by SPASM Design ArchitectsThe lighting is exuberant and the materials of the interior and furnishings are modern once more, with a saturation of wood and metal especially. The main aspect of the interior however, is the swimming pool.
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‘Fincube,’ Prefab House by Studio Aisslinger
Fincube Prefab House is a sustainable & transportable low-energy house built by Studio Aisslinger. Made entirely of local wood, the building provides 47 m2 of living space with a minimal CO2 footprint: local suppliers and local crafts using local long-lasting and recyclable materials manufactured with the precision and care of tyrolese handwork. It can easily be dismantled and rebuilt on a new site, and even more important for nature hideaways: it requires minimum soil sealing.
Developed with a South Tyrolian team, the FINCUBE was created 1200m above sea level near Bozen in Northern Italy, with a brilliant view of the famous Dolomite mountains. The hideaway-innature nomadic housing concept is since recently exhibited as a prototype in Ritten, above Bozen. Read More…
apbcOffices at The Pavilion Tower in Kuala Lumpur by Asylum
Redefining the conventional office space, Asylum’s forte in sculpting experiential spaces lends a touch of nature to apbcOffices’ latest venture in Kuala Lumpur. Located in the bustling city’s main shopping, entertainment and tourism district, the new serviced office occupies the 16th floor of The Pavilion Tower at 10,473 square feet.Opened in October 2011, the offices were conceptually designed with strong elements of nature, unfolding an experiential story at every corner. Upon stepping into the office, the walls are lined with timber strips, simulating a walk amongst trees, leading the way to the reception desk carved out of natural stone. Read More…
Astarte Suites Hotel, Santorini by Aygoustis Krousis
Astarte Suites is a spectacular 9-suite complex designed by Aygoustis Krousis and located on a cliff on the beautiful Santorini island in greece. small, but with impeccable services, infinity pool, and unforgettable views, the hotel is perfect for a romantic getaway. here is an excerpt from the official description from the architects: “magic is in the details at Astarte Suites, beginning with the twinkling Swarovski stones that adorn the ceiling above each suite’s jacuzzi pool, ending with the personalized service each guest enjoys.
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‘Lovelli Residence,’ in Semiyak, Bali by Word of Mouth Studio
This refreshing residence with rounded corners and an ice cube aspect is called ‘Lovelli Residence.’ The house built by Word of Mouth Studio, is 3,230 square foot two story home located in Seminyak, on the west coast of Bali.
What brings this light touch to this home are; the perfect proportions, the mix of white and green nature and the fact that all are angles rounded. Word of Mouth Studio has reached a dimension, giving this house a touch’Zen’ in all aspects, both with the layout of the rooms inside, the relationship between indoor and outdoor.
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Villa T by Architrend Architecture
Architrend Architecture has designed this impressive project for Villa T, located on outskirts of Sicilian city of Ragusa. This villa offers incredible views and perspectives, no matter which room you are in. This architecture opens to the outside offering magnificent views.
