Amsterdam-based Rietveld-Architecture-Art-Affordances (RAAAF) and Atelier de Lyon have revealed designs to reimagine one of The Netherland’s monumental “tribute[s] to the majesty, and seemingly indestructible power, of the Dutch Delta Works.” The works themselves—a network of dams, sluices, locks, dykes, levees and storm surge barriers in South Holland—have collectively been described as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Deltawerk 1:1 is an intervention examining the practice of the preservation of cultural heritage by inserting a new structure within Waterloopbos, the former Dutch Hydrodynamics Laboratory.
One structure in Waterloopbos, a collection of test models each no longer serving their original function, is the Delta Flume – a structure used to artificially form enormous “full-scale” waves to test the strength of the Delta Works projects. By excavating the sand plateau around the flume, RAAAF intend to reveal “a gigantic ‘Delta Work'” 7 meters high and 250 meters long, surrounded by water. In their words: “Massive concrete slabs [will be] cut out of the 80 centimeter-thick walls and turned 90 degrees around on their axis.” The ‘room’ thereby created offers an intense spatial experience of contrasting light, shadow, reflection – and views through the Waterloopbos itself. “Over the years,” the designers state, “the slabs will be colonized by nature. The space [will] change throughout the day, the seasons, and over the years.”
Deltawerk 1:1 has been commissioned by the Natuurmonumenten & Dutch Cultural Heritage Agency and conceptualized by Erick de Lyon, Ronald Rietveld and David Habets. It is set to be realized in 2017.
From the architect. The Hill House sits in an area of Winchester that has a hidden and secluded feel yet somewhat paradoxically, has some of the greatest views in the city.
Built in the late 70s, the five bed house was recently bought by the current owners from an elderly lady who had not changed the property since its construction. The existing layout was dark, outdated and denied the occupants an appreciation of the stunning views of which the house commands.
The client’s approached AR Design Studio with a simple brief; increase the area of the living spaces, allow as much natural light in to the house as possible and maximise the views out.
Externally, the now linear nature of the house is highly apparent. At the rear, an elongated insertion frames the new aspect of the house. At the front, one now enters the home via a new double height box which has created a visibly welcoming and clear entrance. Both of these new features are clad in fibre cement, defining the property with a bold and contemporary character.
The house, split across three levels, has the bedrooms and bathrooms located on both the lower and upper floors. One arrives on a split level landing and is met with snippets of the stunning views that make the location so special.
Proposed Ground Floor Plan
Descending a few steps down, one arrives at the central floor which plays host to the kitchen, dining and living spaces where the insertion of the contemporary box has allowed for the exterior wall to be completely removed and replaced with a single expanse of sliding glazing; one cannot fail to appreciate the uninterrupted panorama yet feel complete privacy due to the clever orientation of the house.
To make the most of the wide plot and provide a new outlook, AR Design Studio proposed the idea of increasing the width of the central floor. In this new space the kitchen, a clean and seemingly simple space, encompasses clever touches which hide the pantry and utility rooms with ‘secret’ kitchen unit doors.
As keen hosts, the client’s wanted somewhere for entertaining. The dining space, now large enough to contain a dining table of grand proportions, allows the client’s to enjoy parties.
The entire property has been finished with a visibly neutral palette; primarily designed to allow the walls and floors to be decorated by the ever changing play of shadows and dappled light that filters through the trees and dances around the spaces throughout the day.
Product Description:The fibre cement cladding was chosen as it provided the clean and contemporary sense that we wanted to achieve, yet still gave a subtle connection to the existing brick pattern and form.
James River House is a private home located in Virginia, USA. It was designed by Architecture Firm. James River House by Architecture Firm: “The James River House was designed as a place for three young boys. It is a place where they can grow and learn from their surroundings – experience mud, moths, flowing water, and the changing light of the seasons; a place that would allow for many gatherings..
From the architect. The design for the Strasbourg Palais de la Musique et des Congrès by Austrian architectural firm Dietrich | Untertrifaller and French firm Rey-Lucquet & Associés combines the two existing music halls from the 1970s and 80s with new buildings to create a harmonious ensemble with a distinctive architectural identity. The expansion and general renovation of the convention center involves the construction of a 3,000 m² multifunctional hall, a conference hall for 450 people, and a 520-seat auditorium, the expansion and conversion of two existing concert halls, plus a new rehearsal hall for the Strasbourg Philharmonic orchestra. In December 2016, the recently completed project was nominated for the European Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award 2017.
For their design, Dietrich | Untertrifaller and Rey-Lucquet decided to further develop and expand on the existing central motif of equilateral triangles. They also created a completely new silhouette with the new buildings and stainless steel arcades. The architects integrated as many useful functions as possible into the existing buildings and continued the use of the typical hexagon in the new buildings. A central foyer with air spaces, galleries and bridges unites and connects the concert, conference and exhibition spaces. This clearly arranged and open spatial design simplifies and structures the complex’s functional processes and provides visitors with improved orientation. The architectural concept is also visible on the façade: An almost kilometer-long arcade wraps around and encloses the entire building complex, giving it a distinct profile. The fifteen-meter high and six-ton steel columns covered in angularly folded stainless steel sheets form an attractive, dynamic outer shell with their twisting rhythms.
The capacity of the Auditorium Schweitzer was expanded from 900 to 1,200 visitors and the 1,900-seat Auditorium Erasme was optimized for concerts and conferences. Located just to the west of these two buildings is the new hexagonal multifunctional hall that is integrated into the existing structures and together with the old buildings forms the new main entrance and forecourt. The Palais de la Musique et des Congrès now comprises a huge multifunctional hall, three auditoriums, two conference halls, fifteen conference rooms, foyers, staircases, bars, a restaurant, office spaces and a parking garage.
With a gross floor area of 44,500 m², the Palais de la Musique et des Congrès is an important part of the Wacken-Europe urban development project. The district located in the north of the city center close to the European Parliament receives a new architectural landmark and positions itself as an attractive international business and service destination.
In June 2011, Dietrich | Untertrifaller Architekten along with French architectural firm Rey-Lucquet & Associés won the international competition organized by the city of Strasbourg by unanimous jury decision. Construction work began in late 2012 and continued uninterrupted until its completion in the summer of 2016.
Battersea Church Road is a residential project designed by extrArchitecture in 2016. It is located in Westbridge Road, London, England. Battersea Church Road by extrArchitecture: “Located in the Westbridge Road Conservation Area in Battersea by the River Thames, the house is part of a group of brown brick cottages, dated circa 1840, originally with a flat roof at the rear and sixteen pane sash windows. The final design of the house has..
From the architect. The project site is located in the town centre of Herderen, in between church and cemetery, a small park and a day care centre. The site has a 3m level difference, which is exploited to arrange access to the school.
The school exists of two three story rectangular volumes. The shifted configuration of these volumes creates two corners/‘armpits’ where the entrances are located. By pushing the volumes against the steep level drop, a separate access to each level can easily be organized.
Section
The lower level houses the nursery school that has its own playground, adjacent to the day care centre. A wide hall in between class rooms serves as an indoor playground or lunch room for the toddlers.
The primary school’s main entrance is located above, at the level of the church, and has another playground. This level houses the school’s administration and a multi use hall that serves as a refectory for the primary school.
Level -1
After school hours and during weekends, the hall is used as a neighbourhood centre by various social & cultural associations.
The upper level contains the primary school’s class rooms. High up in the trees, they overlook the town’s green surroundings. The spacious hall in between the class rooms can be used for communal activities.
Doctor XU Hongquan is painter, and a literati who is good at writing books, calligraphy, literary review as well. Mr. Xu found us through friends this summer, to make this reconstruction of the old factory building, which will be used as his studio and home in future: Hall within the Cloud.
Through conversation with Mr. Xu, we clarify the basic function of the studio, which is studio, tea room, bedroom, study room, etc. The typical configuration of an artistic studio. The site is also a typical linear brick factory with slope roof, which was used as factory office before. The height of the building is about six meters, with the triangular steel roof truss structure, overall keep in good condition. For us, what unique about the project is, Mr. Xu is trained in eastern and western education at the same time, he is taking art comments and art history research in college together with young students,. And also had successively studied from Lou Jiye, Huang Yecun, Shi Gufeng about calligraphy, painting and art history. So he is not a “traditional” painter, because he is not only drawing, His literary achievements is even above drawing. However, he is also a traditional literati, who keeps lifestyle in spirit of Chinese traditional culture.
Original building
We find his demand on functions for an oil painting room, and a traditional painting room as well. Two separate studios with different atmosphere and scenario. In this unique mission requirement, we find our entry point: Perspective, the biggest difference between east and west painter art.
Follow this perspective clue, we designed a nested life scenario. Through a series of psychological analysis. We propose an artist’s psychological space diagram. In this chart, we put sleep, diet and other most basic physical need in center position, reception, exhibition these social needs in the middle layer, the outermost layer as the painter’s most important art pursuit and demand. If the psychological space relationship directly projected on the layout of architectural space, we can just create a nested progressive space structure. Through the corner of room export, people enter from one room to another, through the open of every corner, form a visual corridors through buildings. Because this kind of nested layout, space of each layer are wrapped in another layer, reach one layer space needs get through another one, Space events in each layer are affected and watched by another layer, this is also thoroughly eliminated the element of the corridor.
This space may let us think of traditional ink painting scenario, such as painting < play chess in multiple screen>from Zhou Wenju in Song dynasty, four men in a circle to play chess. There is a screen behind them,In the screen which shows a person in front of another screen on the couch served by a few servants. This perspective on screen makes people feel like they are in the same space with play chess in front，which makes it difficult to distinguish the screen definitely is a picture or just a real door frame in space. It is interesting to note that the< play chess in multiple interfaces > originally is also mounted on a screen. Thus formed three layers of nested relations about the painting of the painting, box in box, impossible to distinguish which is the real space, which is the reappearance imagination space, a effect ” multiple screen”.
Our this kind of space layout is also intended to reproduce the “multiple screen”.
Screen overlapping chess drawing
Due to the site is surrounded by a lot of forest land, Mr. Xu hopes to move the bedroom and study to second floor, so that the beautiful scenario outside the window can be caught. So our plan which only do the modification inside the factory has been changed. Under this change, we hope to implant new orders to respond new needs, We took the gradient type slope roof as the treatment. On one hand, because of there is no need to use the slope roof, it will let the height too high and abrupt.Meanwhile this can’t connect new added parts and the original factory history form into some kinds of distinction and dialogue relations. The perspective theme from the external form which hints that theme extends to the second floor. On the other hand, We also think by changing slope is a translation of traditional artistic conception, we imagine in the rain, raindrops fall on the slow and steep roof, and then gently sprinkled on the yard. Make the slope roof as a water and gravity acting stage. At first we are going to make the top a purely hyperboloid, but as the limitation of manufacturers craft level and cost, we chose the segmented folding roof form finally. In order to ensure construction quality , we also made an 1:1 scale structure test sample before the construction. Finally this meaningful construction from ideal to reality “translation” complete.
Analysis of visual screens
Finally, In addition to “the perspective of layout” and “changing slope roof”, We didn’t do more big actions during the design, how to treat the outdoor garden, a large number of display interior, the painting on the wall, they all according to Mr. Xu’s wishes. This bold design decision finally make a good harmonious fusion from designers and customer’s will luckily. Our design is like a stage set, or like “white space” of traditional ink painting technique, make the Chinese traditional culture elements in full display here. Mr. Xu with his students and friends involved in the whole process deeply, after completion of the construction, they will start to do art activities such as kunqu opera the Pony Pavilion. In a demo perform finished complete, we appreciated the shocking scenario of kunqu opera song in the high open studio space.
Walking Into the studio which has just completed, We can imagine to watch the lake and snow in next winter; and Mr. Xu and his friends listen to zither in a teahouse next summer under the warmsun; and in the big studio rocking chair with Cricket chirping, a series of touching scene.
Sig Nordal 