From the architect. The Docks area is a new ecodistrict on a former industrial area near Paris. Located at the edge of the city directly along the Seine, its significant industrial heritage provided inspiration for the construction of this 90-housing unit building.
Next to the former Alstom industrial hall, which is in the process of being rehabilitated, this project drew on the considerable history of the area. It was inspired by early 20th century concrete industrial buildings, whose forms were powerful and imposing, if at times strange, to which it has added footbridges and metal stairways.
The project has a strong, very assertive, and even imposing character that draws on the surrounding environment and its history to insert itself into this novel urban situation. To the north, along the parvis des Bateliers, across from the new parc des berges de Seine, the building asserts its verticality and height. To the south, the stories descend in steps, refining the overall volume and allowing for light to penetrate the core of the block. Perforated metal, lacquered “boxes” stretch out from the building to shape its silhouette, creating large outdoor spaces that look out onto the landscape. At the ground level, a private passageway crosses right through the block through a landscaped garden while the base of the building houses businesses.
Ground Plan
Floor Plan
Floor Plan
Planted terraces punctuate the project at almost every level. On the 6th floor, a large, shared vegetable garden is open to inhabitants who want to grow things high up. At a time when local consumption has become a necessity and even a commitment, and as the open surfaces of our cities continue to dwindle, using rooftops opens up a world of alternatives.
After two years of intensive planning, Trinity ChurchWall Street revealed the design for its new building at 74 Trinity Place, in the Financial District of New York City. New York-based firm Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects designed the building to serve as both a ministry and community center for the church. Using open public spaces and multipurpose rooms, the structure will connect neighbors, workers, and families — reflecting the church’s aim for community engagement.
Our building is a statement of Trinity’s dedication to serving the people of this community, this neighborhood, and the city of New York for a fourth century, said Reverend Dr. William Lupfter of Trinity Church.
With 26 floors located directly behind Trinity Church, the project reconciles the churchyard and church by forming a larger public setting. Its design is also reminiscent of the original church —glazed panels within metal framework resonate with Trinity’s ancient stonework. Although the base will be reserved for the Parish Center, the rest of the 160,000 square foot office tower is devoted to commercial space.
The Parish Center will have two lobbies: Trinity Place Lobby, a large space for congregating and art exhibits, and Greenwich Street Lobby, an amphitheater type space where smaller performances could be held.
Seating up to 300 people, the Parish Hall will be designed for banquets and theatrical performances. In addition, the structure will include a parlor Library with full-height windows facing Trinity Church, and educational spaces for Sunday school and seminars. A gymnasium with 22′ ceilings and terraces outside of the Parish Hall add to the building’s amenities.
In their press release, the architects write – The addition of office space reaffirms Trinity’s commitment to Lower Manhattan, which the Church views as an investment in continued economic development and job creation in the Financial District.
Near Pondicherry in Southern Indian is Auroville, an experimental township devoted to the teachings of mystic philosopher Sri Aurobindo. The 20 square kilometer site was founded in 1968 by Aurobindo’s spiritual collaborator, Mirra Alfassa. Otherwise known as “The Mother,” she saw Auroville as a place “where men of all countries would be at home”.
Today, Auroville has roughly 2,500 residents and continues to sustain itself, albeit to mixed results. On one hand, the Mother’s utopian vision has somewhat fallen short, with murders, suicides, visitors warned not to go out alone at night, and the questionable control of money in a theoretically “money-less” society.
On the other hand, Auroville is a hotbed of creative eco-experimentation, with the transformation of once-desert land into forest, solar panels powering much of the town, organic farming, and sustainable construction. This experimentation fits under Auroville’s charter as a “site of material and spiritual researches.” [1]
It’s not surprising then, that the architecture of Auroville is too, is an experimentally mixed bag. There are modern Kahn-like standalone houses, vernacular huts with thatched roofs, homogeneous clusters with names like “Aspiration” or “Solitude” and eco-friendly public centers dedicated to earth building, all around a central, gold, monumental building.
Below are just some of the buildings that make up Auroville’s unique built environment:
1. The Matrimandir Temple, designed by Roger Anger
Quite literally the heart of Auroville is Matrimandir, a golden temple that sits at the centre of a galaxy-inspired master plan. Although Anger designed alongside the Mother upon his commission in 1965, the temple was not complete until 2008, taking a total of 37 years to build. Anger noted Le Corbusier as inspiration, for “genius in his use of form” and how he was “single-minded, bold in his conceptions.” [2] The contradiction between this top-down design inspiration and the Aurovillean ideals of equality is yet another paradox of the town.
2. The Auroville Visitor Center, designed by Suhasini Iyer-Guigan
Departing from Anger’s sculptural dictation, Iyer-Guigan is an architect drawn to self-building, prefabrication and alternative building technologies. Her Auroville Visitor Center is an expression of this, built in 1998 from compacted earth bricks and prefabricated ferrocement. It doubles as both a reception center and a demonstration complex where villagers can learn and hone their earth building techniques. [3]
3. The Vikas Settlement, designed by Satprem Maïni
Specializing in compressed stabilized earth blocks (CSEB), Maini headed the design of the Vikas Settlement, a four-story building built using CSEB. The blocks can be said to be more sustainable as they can be fired at 700-900 degrees Celsius instead of the 1,200 degrees required by concrete. The building’s incorporation of renewable energy sources and wastewater management system earned it a place as a finalist for the World Habitat Award in 2000.
A resident of Auroville for the last 25 years, Doctor-Pingel considers sustainability as “a way of life and not an add-on.” Central to her design philosophy is Bauibiology, or Building Biology. This considers electromagnetic fields, natural materials and earth energies in a design process that seeks planetary harmony. The Temple Tree Retreat is reflective of these respects, fusing greenery into its structure of terracotta blocks and cuddapah floor.
References:
1. Kundoo, Anupama. (2007), Auroville: An Architectural Laboratory. Archit Design, 77: 50–55. doi:10.1002/ad.557 2. Desai, Madhavi. Women Architects and Modernism in India: Narratives and contemporary practices. Routledge, 2016. 3. Miles, Malcolm. Urban Utopias: The Built and Social Architectures of Alternative Settlements. Chippenham: Routledge, 2008.
The Longcave is a residential project designed by 23o5 studio in 2015. It is located in Vĩnh Long, Vietnam. The Longcave by 23o5 studio: “Urbanization process in Vietnam that is seen as the development, but in our opinion it is the disorder and vandalism. People are driven to the house where they are not inherently subject to change and adapt to his way of life and the environment. Tra On..
Happy wife, happy life. If you’ve heard this before, you know that if you pissed off your wife royally bad, you have to make her happy again.
Even though each woman is different, some traits are common to all including feeling happy when showered with kindness and appreciation. Let her know how much you think about her, how glad your wife makes you with her existence and how much you care for her.
If you’re getting the cold shoulder, here are some ways to turn it around:
1. Do something amazing and lovable
Search out a special gift or throw a surprise party. Keep in mind, a beautiful flower a day keeps the quarrel at bay. This is the common and most usual technique to lift your partner’s spirits.
2. Treat her to a holiday
If your pocket can take it, she will definitely enjoy a lavish cruise in gentle waters and blonde sunshine. Propose to take her out for shopping and be openly keen on the places your wife wants to explore.
If you’ve been spending too much time at work, a holiday would also benefit you.
3. Write a romantic and sweet poem or love note for her
Romantic gestures don’t have to be expensive. If you can’t afford that luxury cruise, how about DIY-ing something your wife would love?
Handwritten romantic love letters never go out of style. Write down your most genuine and sincere feelings and they will be sure to reach her.
4. Plan dates around her interests
If she loves to watch movies, buy a ticket to a movie she’s been waiting to see. If she loves gourmet food, learn one recipe and try it out for a special dinner with just the two of you. Whether you succeed or not at whatever you plan, your wife will see your effort and be touched by it.
5. Be a good listener
Some women (and men) suffer from feelings of neglect. Oftentimes, all they need is to know that one person loves them wholeheartedly and listens to them. Be that person for her.
When she encounters any troubles, pay attention carefully to your wife and explain your concern by uttering sounds of solace. Put down your mobile phone and instead give her your 100% attention.
6. Keep your sense of humor
When a person is angry, she might not be in the mood for jokes or humor. However, avoid clashing with her temper too as this will not yield any positive results. Instead, bide your time and know when to lighten the mood around the house.
7. Do any household chores that your wife really hates
Think of a household chore that your wife REALLY hates to do. Maybe she hates to do the laundry or do the cooking. Now start doing those for her for a couple of days.
Though presents and holidays are perfect but expensive treats, consider that there other heartfelt ways to turn around your wife’s state of mind. A shower of love and affection and a truly affectionate heart is needed to make her feel happy.
Chile and Cuba’s contributions to the London Design Biennale suggest that, while the Global South is expected to copy the design of the north, it could offer a more radical future, argues Owen Hatherley in his latest Opinion column. Read more
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) first opened in 1941 in the oceanfront La Jolla home of philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps. In the half century that followed, the museum saw three distinct expansions; now, as it turns 75, MCASD anticipates its latest addition, a flexible new multipurpose design by Selldorf Architects that will quadruple the current gallery space.
Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
There is a spirit that is made up of all different things, from the collection and the location to all the people that make it a very special place, there is work to do and I think the rewards are going to be tremendous said Annabelle Selldorf, founding principal of the New York-based, 65-person firm. Inspired by San Diego‘s diverse cultural influences, Selldorf hopes to make the original Scripps house, designed by Irving Gill, the centerpiece of the area.
Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
The addition, which is conceived as a series of smaller volumes, aims to create a more welcoming entry to the museum and blend it more cohesively to its coastal site. In a harmonious contrast with the stucco finish of the current building, the addition will be composed of cast concrete, travertine panels, and aluminum brise-soleils. The new buildings will provide spaces for both the permanent MCASD collection and changing exhibitions, as well as public programs, performance art, and other educational activities.
The museum will close next January to prepare for construction, which is projected to begin in the second half of 2017. The building is expected to reopen in late 2019.
Sig Nordal 