In this interview, presented in collaboration with PLANE—SITE, Ali Karimi and Hamed Bukhamseen, curators of the Kuwait Pavilion at the 2016 Venice Biennale, discuss the architectural identity and potential of Kuwait and the Middle East region as a whole. The duo explain how they approached the pavilion design by asking themselves the question: “How do we imagine a conversation between the different countries of the Gulf?”
On the pavilion’s stainless steel floor, the curators have placed models and images of the Middle East’s past, present and future, describing what the region’s architecture has been, and what it has the potential to become.
“Really I think for us it is saying, ‘Can this discussion go back to the middle east and can people begin to understand the kind of available toolsets for describing landscape and architecture – understanding the realities of the place you’re in, but also understanding the possibilities.’” explains Karimi.
Bukhamseen concludes, “What I hope people take away upon entering the space and looking at the projects that they see within the space is the realization that there is architectural talent from the region and the capabilities of the architects in the area to address issues that go beyond their fields of work.”
Online retailer Needs & Wants Studios has collaborated with a Toronto architecture student to transform a shipping container into a mobile boutique that serves as the brand’s first physical store (+ slideshow). (more…)
An expansive terrace provides a meditation space at this weekend residence and spiritual retreat in the Utah desert, which US firm Imbue Design completed using stone-filled gabions for some of the external walls (+ slideshow). (more…)
From the architect. Two requirements were sufficient for the approach and the genesis of this project. The first activities under typical rural environment equestrian uses were present as indissoluble features in the design concept; and the second project a rural housing under a contemporary reading embodied in its architecture.
Thus the fundamental challenge of the project was to ensure that both the use and image were in constant symbiosis. For this and before generating a design scheme, architects initiate an investigation of the cultural aspects from the area of habitat that have been established in rural dwellings of the place. Thus there are different reference elements from the formal reading provided design guidelines as a starting point. In the first instance it is found that the facades of urban and rural households in the area have different rhythms of composition generally built with traditional materials such as stone, adobe and lime.
Another important design element is the generation of orthogonal frames, lintels and porches that generate vestibules and access to different areas, a vernacular architecture derived from different eras and historical moments. Finally it is found that the use of earth colors inherited from the traditional rock art site, is a constant in the facades of peasant homes, this being a constant that characterizes the customs, identity and historical memory of the people in building its environment.
1st Floor Plan
2nd Floor Plan
From them and to the natural virtues of the place of implementation, the project approach is generated. Both functions such as space requirements and enjoyment to various important views from the landscape, the inner plasma spatial distribution. This distribution is not more than the sum of different experiences through rural and traditional activities of the area. Both rural life, as their activities sought to integrate into the design. For them a series of mews arises on the first floor being a fundamental requirement of their owners for the design of the equestrian peasant house. Also this first level have a wide service area and a number of ancillary units derived from such activity.
As zoning was looking all activities that make vital the operation of traditional rural house and second floor as a loft (interpreting the contemporary search city), the dependence necessary for the permanent accommodation is found to concentrate on first floor or casual, areas such as kitchen, multiple living room, bedroom and bathroom. There, from the second level and through the different terraces exploited on the roof of the stables, is privileged view towards the mountains, the countryside and its traditional environment. As for the construction, it was done with traditional techniques using clay blocks, rustic adobe and lime plastering.
Sections
The tones of the facades are a formal reading of the typical and traditional colors of their surroundings and historical memory with emphasis on earth-colored houses and the reddish rock art; These loose walls were painted with natural dyes derived materials. As for the climate whose constant is the cloudiness, humidity and fog, bioclimatic was an important factor where natural lighting and ventilation make comfortable interior spaces, as well as the use of materials that help energy optimization, materialized double walls, eaves and heights that allow a pleasant atmosphere.
Inside, details such as the door to the loft, re-used element of the Republican period, and the lintel of the fireplace, they become benchmarks and memory. Also the couch corner built in masonry contains two trundle multiple space turning this area into a flexible four-bed accommodation beds. Finally the master bath has a sober mix of colors that refer to the typical peasant tones. Both the horses and the different uses that are part of the traditional peasant housing, were the genesis of the design of this multifunctional, discreet but modern turn housing, details for their owners make a perfect correlation between the traditional and the contemporary.
In the late 20th century, restricted by an a small landmass and extreme terrain, the Hong Kong urban area grew to become one of the densest and most vertical places on the planet, with more buildings taller than 500 feet than any other city in the world. But instead of the steel or aluminum structures used as scaffolding in Europe and the Western Hemisphere, the majority of skyscrapers built in Hong Kong and much of Asia used scaffolding systems constructed out of bamboo.
To create the structures, the high strength, lightweight material is strapped together with plastic ties by construction crews, who also use the structure as a ladder for scaling the building. Despite using few safety restraints, crews are able to construct up to 1,000 square feet of bamboo scaffolding in just one day. To protect the structure, nylon gauze is sometimes draped along the outside.
Check out a series of GIFs and images showing how it works after the break. And if you’re interested in learning more about bamboo construction materials, check out our Materials catalog.
Using plastic ties to strap the bamboo poles together:
French practice Bertrand Guillon Architecture has made the most of extra height at the front of this shop in Marseille when transforming the interior into an épicerie (+ slideshow). (more…)
Invited by Coca-Cola, Atelier Marko Brajovic designed a surprising and immersive installation where the public is introduced in an iconic and unique multi-sensorial experience. Parada Coca-Cola interior design is a strong and photogenic phenomenological gesture that represents the freshness sensation. An augmented physical real time hub that extends in a digital space through interactive technologies, sharing moments and music concerts.
The project Parada Coca-Cola was installed in the portuary warehouse Armazem 3, revitalized area of Rio de Janeiro new boulevard known as Pear Mauá. From main boulevard the public is invited to start the journey by entering the immersive room, a sensorial experience designed in collaboration with SuperUber. After the introduction show the public enters the main installation, a free flow space where the public creates its own narrative experience.
The public experience culminated In the center of the space made out of more than five hundred translucent acrylic spheres that simulated the physical behaviour of sparkling bubbles. A design process took advantage of generative parametric softwares that could simulate such a natural phenomenon. that A seven meter wide golden finished bar marks the center of the installation.
The visual effect of movement is enhanced by lightning system programmed to react on different events as concerts, games and other brand activations. The main installation as well organize and introduce the public into the interactive installations as photo in 360 degrees, real-time dance game, a gallery, concert stage… and entrance to the store.
Sig Nordal 