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“Architecture is about giving form to the places where we live. It is not more complicated than that, but also not easier than that.” – Alejandro Aravena
On the first day of the vernissage 15th International Architecture Exhibition at La Biennale di Venezia, ArchDaily is pleased to show you a preview of the exhibitions and installations that were hand selected by Alejandro Aravena and his firm Elemental. Separate from (but in dialogue with) the National Pavilions, “Reporting From the Front” celebrates work that “address[es] a problem that matters and for which quality architecture made a difference.”
In an exhibition whose aim is to share the “success stories” where architecture is making a difference, Alejandro Aravena has convened offices and practitioners from across the globe to show—”in the simplest possible terms (without trivializing)”—projects that demonstrate innovation, resolve and quality problem-solving abilities.
The “Reporting from the Front” exhibition is spread over two sites: the Padiglione Centrale in the Giardini and the Arsenale. Today we are bringing you a first look at the projects exhibited in the Arsenale, along with an exclusive interview conducted with our partners PLANE—SITE.
As he explains in the exhibition’s catalog,
“Our curatorial proposal is twofold: on the one hand we would like to widen the range of issues to which architecture is expected to respond, adding explicitly to the cultural and artistic dimensions that already belong to our scope, those that are on the social, political, economic, and environmental end of the spectrum. On the other hand, we would like to highlight the fact that architecture is called on to respond to more than one dimension at a time, integrating a variety of fields instead of choosing one or another.”
From the architect. All housing, but student housing especially, benefits from a network of figural and easy to use spaces and circulation to make a sense of place and connection. The site redesign captured the opportunity created by emergency vehicle access to make a “clearing” with a clearly articulated esplanade connecting this site to the larger campus. The new commons straddles this esplanade with gathering spaces. Acknowledging the difficult soil condition, the commons cantilevers more than 30’ over this poor soil making indoor spaces above and outdoor spaces below. The newly reconfigured site now emphasizes community through a multitude of areas that provide chance encounters which are so important to student life.
SITE CONDITIONS: The 2.8 acre site sits in the north western corner of the UCLA campus along De Neve Drive. The eastern third of the site was found to have more than 60’ of undocumented and unsuitable soil. Additionally, the existing complex did not provide adequate emergency vehicle access and suffered from a “placelessness” that discouraged connection and community. The site did, however, have a dense canopy of trees.
PROGRAM: 96 two bedroom suites were stripped to the studs and rebuilt. A meager common building was demolished and replaced with a new 2story building that includes gathering spaces, study lounges and offices.
MATERIALITY: Renovated buildings were reclad in a mix of cement board sidings and a composite fiber reinforced hybrid cladding called “Resysta”. Stairs and bridges, as the most visible and active parts of the circulation system, have stainless steel incisions with glass rails and back-lit acrylic panels. The neutral palette of the renovated building’s envelope is contrasted with lighter and brighter “insides”.
The Commons is an expressed steel frame structure with a hovering weathering steel box over edge to edge glazing enclosures at the ground level. The undersides are clad in reclaimed Douglas Fir spaced to allow for lights and mechanical devices. The weathering steel box pivots on a brick clad service bar containing the restroom, mechanical spaces and the laundry room. Its “vee“ shape directs all storm water down a rain chain into an integrated biofiltration basin. Expressive stairs encourage walking up instead of using the elevator. The blank upper level wall overlooking the plaza is designed for community movie nights on the plaza. Students have also started using it to project gaming tournaments.
Most people would be happy to do any pull-up, but you still need to follow the cardinal rule of strength training: use proper technique and form. This video from Buff Dudes can help by addressing some common pull-up bad habits.
This week’s Dezeen Mail features Apple’s new approach to retail, virtual reality tools for architects, and the latest stories from the Venice Architecture Biennale 2016 including MVRDV’s see-through glass kitchen (pictured).
Read Dezeen Mail issue 307 | Subscribe to Dezeen Mail
Sig Nordal 