Breaking news: Brazilian architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha has been named as the 2017 recipient of the Royal Gold Medal for architecture, after winning both the Praemium Imperiale prize and the Venice Architecture Biennale Golden Lion this year. (more…)
Design firm Benoy has just revealed its design for “Gala Avenue Westside,” a future mixed-use structure set within the iconic Lujiazui HARBOUR City development of Shanghai. Benoy (who recently created a green architectural design for Taiwan’s High-Speed Rail’s Hsin Chu Station Mall) have been appointed as the Masterplanner, Architect and Interior Designer of the Gala Avenue, set for completion in 2018.
HARBOUR City’s progressive redevelopment comprises 250,000 square meters of riverside land that was formerly an industrial shipyard region. As an integral component of the overall scheme, Gala Avenue Westside will serve as a commercial and entertainment space inspired by both “historical elements and modern materials.”
We have embraced the history of the site and built upon this as we conceived our design which celebrates the themes of ‘New and Old’, ‘East and West’ and ‘Traditional and Modern’, said Qin Pang, Director and Head of Benoy’s Shanghai Studio.
Allowing scenic views of the Huangpu River and Pudong cityscape, the Gala’s plan encompasses a 100-meter office tower and 12 interlocked retail hubs linked by a chain of squares (above and below ground). In maintaining modern materials, the interior design components maintain a minimalist aesthetic and palette, motivated by the traditional Shikumen style.
Alongside Mango West Bund Plaza and Vanke Xuhui Center, Gala Avenue Westside will be one of many projects Benoy has completed in Shanghai.
News via: Benoy
The Most Eco-Friendly Building in Vilnius to improve Quality of Life
The K29 business center is a major, new landmark in Vilnius that was to improve quality of life for 1250 workers in a healthy working environment – setting the standards for a healthy and attractive workplace in Lithuania. K29 is built from all natural and mostly local, eco-friendly materials making it the most eco-friendly building in Lithuania to date. The building is situated on Konstitucijos Prospektas (Constitution Avenue) and has created a new destination in Vilnius with a strong iconic expression in the skyline.
Blending in to the Urban Scale
The building is placed in the central business district of Vilnius – and creates a transition area between a large park area to the north of Vilnius and the city’s international business area in the east. It’s open and inviting to the surroundings and integrates the use of a new attractive park in the dynamic development area of Vilnius. K29 was designed to blend into the urban scale of the area and the surrounding landscape and is placed in the area between public green spaces and the cluster of high-rise buildings along Konstitucijos avenue 29.
The Oval Shape
The architectural concept is the iconic oval shaped atrium building, to end the densely built area along Constitution Avenue. The oval shape of the building with the central atrium and a sloping roof gives optimal conditions for daylight for all users. Because of the sloping roof, light flows in to the atrium most of the day – and users placed close to the windows of the inner atrium can look beyond the atrium itself having visual contact with the cityscape. The building thus ensures maximum wellbeing and daylight access having no dark areas.
Optimized Energy Savings
The complex is equipped with the newest building management system optimizing energy savings. The lighting design is with the newest and most energy efficient components and the façade is an advanced double skin building with energy glass and automated solar control system. K29 has a hybrid ventilation and cooling system with natural ventilation of office spaces with openable windows in the inner façade and through the atrium skylight.
Interior with Soft Colors and Natural Materials
The design will support modern knowledge based companies with requirement for a diverse workplace design. The interior design comes with soft colors and with natural materials, wood and natural stone. The lighting design is aimed at 3000 kelvin providing soft and elegant light in working areas. All working areas have raised floors with carpet tiles. The acoustic design has been developed with a strong focus on creating the best acoustic environment for the users in all areas of the building.
The Building has a pleasant working environment, is sustainable, energy efficient and flexible – and meets the requirements for a class A+ office building.
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I’m not writing my usual Politics Live blog today so, as an alternative, here’s Politics Live: readers’ edition. It is intended to be a place where you can catch up with the latest news and find links to good politics blogs and articles on the web.
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US tech-giant Apple Inc. have revealed that they will consolidate their UK operations to “a new Apple campus” in London’s Battersea, at the heart of a site formerly occupied by the derelict Grade II* Listed Battersea Power Station. The 42-acre complex, which is currently undergoing major redevelopment (and is soon to have a public square designed by BIG connecting to the Electric Boulevard development designed by Norman Foster and Frank Gehry), will provide a mix of commercial space and residential zones. According to the London Evening Standard, Apple will be relocating around 1,400 staff from eight sites around the British capital to the former power station, occupying all six floors of the restored building’s extensive new office space. They will be the site’s single largest single tenant.
In a statement to the Evening Standard Apple have said that they expect the move to be complete by 2021. “This is a great opportunity to have our entire team working and collaborating in one location while supporting the renovation of a neighbourhood rich with history,” a spokesperson said. Apple’s primary European headquarters will remain in Cork, Ireland, where around 6000 employees currently work.
London’s Mayor, Sadiq Khan, is “delighted [that] Apple is moving into Battersea Power Station, helping to generate new jobs and economic prosperity for London.” The British Chancellor, Philip Hammond, also commented: “Apple’s decision further strengthens London’s position as a global technology hub and demonstrates how the UK is at the forefront of the next steps in the tech revolution. It’s another vote of confidence in the UK economy,” he added.
News via London Evening Standard
Video: Apple 2 Campus Headed Toward Completion
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Apartment in Taipei is a private residence renovated by Alfonso Ideas. The 1,098-square-foot home is located in Taipei, Taiwan. Photos courtesy od Alfonso Ideas
Every one of us is special, after all we are unique. But what differentiate you from another? Have you ever thought about that?
It could be your sense of duty, or your ability to make everybody around you smile. Or is it maybe your compassionate nature? There is only one way to discover your uniqueness!
Take jut now this quick, easy and fun quiz and find out what makes you special!
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From the architect. 13, rue d’Uzès : behind the impressing 19th century industrial front elevation, at the back of a courtyard covered by a glass ceiling made by Eiffel workshop, the brand new head office of Talent.IO pops up from the 3rd floor thanks to the lightened brand name appearing behind floor to ceiling windows.
The architectural concept chosen for this rehabilitation was to find back the original beauty of the building that has been masked and altered by successive works for a century and a half. Demolitions, cleaning, scouring pickling have revealed a wooden floor, original Eiffel-style walls and structure, freeing this big floor with a generous volume: high ceilings, 500 sq.meters without walls.
In order to respect the raw industrial spirit of the place, technical networks have been left apparent on purpose, and lights are industrial tubular devices. The paintings are purposely remaining incomplete to create a contrast and highlight zones that have been left raw.
Closed rooms have been placed at the end of the open floor to let the central space as open as possible. Floor to ceiling industrial windows let the natural light enter the closed spaces.
Alike every Vincent & Gloria project, the architectural approach is expressed from end-to-end and a specific focus is made on choosing and designing furniture. Raw, industrial materials have been chosen, often with a different usage than the initial one.
Attention paid on details and the superposition of several wooden materials (Finadiamant, industrial floor, Batipin) are creating a customizable, welcoming space full of character. With their organic design, the office tables are allowing developers to change their position according to their mood and teamwork: face to face, alongside or alternate.
Batipin and Fermacell (cement panel traditionally used for tightness) has been used for the furniture of common spaces: kitchen, bar and eating room. The ‘Talent.IO’ neon light highlights and differentiates this space from the rest of the open floor.
Along the courtyard front elevation, work and rest space thanks to contrasted and filtered lights, a long multipurpose furniture has been designed in Batipin. The long bar table is combined with 2 cocoon seats covered by acoustic material for phone calls or simply rest.
Sig Nordal 