© Aaron Pocock

• Architects: SCDA Architects
• Location: Singapore
• Architect In Charge: Soo K. Chan
• Design Team: Malcolm McCulloch, Edward Lau, Yap Shee Leng, Johnston Kor, Joyce Heng, Edo Adrianus Kartono, Chong Shu Mun, Ronilo Gabon, Earl Monroe Magale, Lee Kit Hung, Lydia Loke, Lois Kok, Venus Pagdunzulan, Nguyen Tien Dung, Yvonne Tan, Janice Kwa, Marianne Ponce Mateo, Goh Leena, Mariana Charters, Aleksandra Koroleva, Faye Marie Dy-Liacco, Wahyuni Kurniawati, Sumanee Ampansap, Johnson Chng
• Area: 7000.0 sqm
• Project Year: 2016
• Photographs: Aaron Pocock

• Developer: Shelford Properties Pte Ltd
• Main Contractor : Hock Guan Cheong Builders Pte Ltd
• Structural Engineer: WEB Structures Pte. Ltd.
• M&E Engineer: Bescon Consulting Engineers Pte Ltd
• Quantity Surveyor : Rider Levett Bucknall Pte. Ltd.

© Aaron Pocock

From the architect. Set in a lush tropical landscape across the street from the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Cluny Park Residence comprises 52 units positioned over four storeys, each with private lift access. The condominium takes full advantage of its privileged location by the new UNESCO World Heritage site, with every unit sporting a large balcony bordered by angled fins that provide sun shading and division between neighbouring units, whilst directing and framing the views towards the Garden’s greenery.

© Aaron Pocock

© Aaron Pocock

© Aaron Pocock

The units’ full-height glazing dissolves the barrier between indoor and outdoor space, visually extending the interiors. Ground-floor apartments feature private patios and pools that are protected from the street and the adjacent lots by a layer of perimeter planting. The top two floors house duplex units, allowing for generous double-height living spaces and higher ceilings on the fourth storey. The condominium’s public facilities – which include a pool with a deck and Jacuzzi, a barbecue pit, and a gym – are situated on the roof level with unhindered 360-degree vistas accessible to all residents. 

© Aaron Pocock

Floor Plan

© Aaron Pocock

The façade is composed of glazing framed by light composite timber trimmed with extruded aluminum section, giving it a natural yet clearly structured look. This is carried over to the interiors, which employ a luminous colour scheme and feature subtle inclusions of wood in its many forms: it can be found in the white oak floors, textured brushed-cypress feature wall, and walnut wardrobe cabinets.

© Aaron Pocock

Product Brief: The most prominent materials of the projects are used on its façade: full-height glazing allows to maximize natural lighting within the apartments; composite timber, which clads the balconies, gives the building a warm, natural look, blending in with the surrounding greenery; extruded aluminum trims section accentuate the lines that compose the façade. 

© Aaron Pocock

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© Peter Clarke

• Architects: MDS
• Location: Clifton Hill VIC 3068, Australia
• Area: 500.0 sqm
• Project Year: 2014
• Photographs: Peter Clarke

• Client: Birkenstock Australia
• Builder: emac Constructions
• Design Collaborator For Shop Furniture/Fitout: Cibi
• Structural/Civil: Hive Engineering
• Energy & Daylight Modelling, Mechanical Engineering: The Green Factory

© Peter Clarke

From the architect. The multi-award-winning design succinctly translates the brand’s core values into a spatial experience, intuitively illustrating Birkenstock’s commitment to craftsmanship and quality, to health and sustainability. The warm and contemporary design, with a hip feel and an holistic approach to sustainability, results in enjoyable spaces for both workers and customers.

© Peter Clarke

The scope 
The run-down heritage building was brought back to its former glory, extended and complemented by a contemporary fitout. The new headquarters consist of wholesale offices, workshop, courtyard, retail space, online store, and a warehouse with newly inserted Mezzanine storey as wholesale showroom.

© Peter Clarke

© Peter Clarke

The Concept 
The layout allows for spontaneous staff encounters, unifying different departments into one company culture through the design. A new central core connects, with staff amenities as meeting points between the levels. The shopfront becomes a single point of entrance, so all staff experience the ‘front end’, where shoe meets customer.

© Peter Clarke

Architecture follows values 
Birkenstocks are natural, handcrafted, healthy shoes. This is reflected in the design; from concept to detail, the HQ promotes a healthy lifestyle / workplace. Both natural materials and nature itself form an integral part of the design.

Plan 2

Healthy, Natural, Sustainable 
Carefully selected greenery is built into the sustainable design, working as ‘air-purifiers’ throughout : Remaining emissions / offgasing from low VOC materials get filtered and cleansed by the planting.

© Peter Clarke

An element of surprise 
Traditional materials/elements are put into new context : The shopfront uses natural grass for flooring, plants are replacing office screen partitions, plywood forms a complete interior covering all surfaces in some areas, and a ‘homely’ fireplace invites customers to relax at the tea bar within the shop.

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A view of the museum's interior courtyard.. Image © flickr user gorbould. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

One year after public outcry led the Frick Collection to abandon plans for a 6-story addition by Davis Brody Bond, the museum has announced its newest renovation plans: a major upgrade, enhancement and expansion of the institution’s facilities to be designed by Selldorf Architects.

The expansion plan will address the Collection’s needs to “accommodate the growth of its collections and programs, upgrade its conservation and research facilities, create new galleries, and—for the first time—allow for dedicated spaces and classrooms for the Frick’s educational programs,” while staying within the museum’s existing built footprint. Circulation throughout the Frick will also be redesigned to provide a more natural visitor flow through the building’s exhibition galleries, library and public spaces.

The museum along 5th Avenue. Image © flickr user shinyasuzuki. Licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

The appointment follows a rigorous 18-month process that considered 20 architects from around the world with experience in restoration and expansion of historic buildings and cultural institutions. Selected by The Frick’s Architectural and Long-Range-Planning Committee, Selldorf Architects stood out for their “creativity, vision, and approach, which respects the institution’s core goal of amplifying opportunities for intimate engagement with great works of art while preserving the domestic scale and aesthetic of the original home and the gardens.”

“Annabelle Selldorf is a visionary who creates elegant designs that seamlessly integrate the historic with the modern,” said Ian Wardropper, Director of The Frick Collection. “The firm understands and appreciates the value of institutional mission and has clearly demonstrated in past projects—such as New York’s Neue Galerie and the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown—how new designs can enrich, rather than overwhelm, already distinguished architectural spaces. Such an approach is essential to our project, which seeks to preserve the peaceful and contemplative experience that the Frick provides to its visitors.”

Selldorf Architects may be uniquely qualified for the project, considering their well-received renovation to the nearby Neue Galerie, which, like the Frick, was also originally designed in 1914 by Carrère and Hastings.

“We are honored to play a part in this critical moment of the Frick’s continued evolution,” said Annabelle Selldorf, Principal and lead designer at Selldorf Architects. “Success for the project will be a visitor experience that feels deeply familiar, authentic, and reassuring for those who know and love the Frick, and a welcoming and enchanting atmosphere for those visiting for the first time. We’re looking forward to working with the Frick to develop a gracious design befitting a great institution.”

The Frick and Selldorf Architects will now work together to develop conceptual designs for the project, with initial plans expected to be released in winter 2017–18.

News via the Frick Collection.

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© Jaime Navarro

• Architects: Ricardo Casas Design
• Location: Viale della Liberazione, 15, 20124 Milano, Italy
• Design Team: Ricardo Casas, Leonel Terres, Victor Miranda, Derek Salgado, Irene Luviano
• Area: 320.0 sqm
• Project Year: 2015
• Photographs: Jaime Navarro

• Brand And Graphic Design: Liquen S.A. de C.V. Angélika Barbeyto
• Construction: ERREGI / Dario Riva, DUEBI INTONACI / Giovanni Briola, BRUSBAN COMPANY / Paolo Bandera
• Engineer And Systems: ARIATTA Ingegneria dei Sistemi S.r.l. / Cristian Zeni / Mimmo Blasi/ Andrea Patelli
• Furniture Production: Tecnoarredamenti Srl
• Sings And Prints: Expo Grafica Allestimenti
• Client: Liquen S.A. de C.V. (Sandro Landucci)

© Jaime Navarro

Bésame Mucho is a restaurant that seeks to position the real Mexican cuisine, named by UNESCO as intangible heritage of humanity in 2010, in the European market. The restaurant is located in Milan, capital of fashion, Italian creativity and economic engine of the country, located in the “Porta Nuova” area, few minutes from the historic Brera district, this new area of the city becomes a natural extension of the revitalized city center, and one of the major developments that establish the new business district of Milan.

© Jaime Navarro

The “Liquen” Agency, developed the brand concept Besame Mucho, was inspired by the Mexico of the 50’s, when Acapulco was considered the favorite Hollywood´s stars international destination.

© Jaime Navarro

The agency commissioned the firm RCD (Ricardo Casas Design) restaurant´s interior design, emphasizing the importance of creating an atmosphere in which clients live a “Mexican” experience; and Chef Mario Espinosa menu design, emphasizing the importance to include dishes that cover the different regions of Mexico and eliminating false concepts of Mexican food as burritos or nachos.

© Jaime Navarro

 Considering the requirements, it was decided to generate an open kitchen which functions as multiple scenario, where you can observe the ingredients and the way the food are prepared, or you can also take cooking classes, food or wine tastings, and know Mexican food brands and products.

Floor Plan

There is another element, which dominates the space due to its originality, scale and aesthetic level: the monumental chandelier hanging from the ceiling. RCD designers used the Acapulco chair, one of the most iconic elements of the 50’s. The piece is made up of forty blue chairs in three rows of concentric circles.

© Jaime Navarro

In order to generate a neutral base that gives uniqueness to the environment, most of walls and columns are covered with Italian handcrafted ceramic in dark tone, evoking the traditional Oaxaca black clay and, which was placed in a “thorn fish” way, simulating the pattern of Mexican baskets and textiles.

© Jaime Navarro

Some of the walls are covered with wallpaper in Mexican pink color, most used in vernacular architecture in the country and widely used by some representative architects of the modern movement in Mexico as Luis Barragán and Ricardo Legorreta. Another touch of color is achieved through the range of blue chairs, tableware and accessories.

© Jaime Navarro

Furniture is mostly made of natural wood. The Liquor Storage, an independent area in place, is located within a cube of concrete that has wooden shelves; fifty desk lamps recalling Moooi´s piece, Dear Ingo that was designed by Ron Gilad in honor of Ingo Maurer, illuminate it. A neon sign that says “Salud” gives the emphasis in this area, word that Mexicans use to say “cheers”.

© Jaime Navarro

Finally, bathrooms are covered with a special coating where people can write phrases and drawings with colored chalks.

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Courtesy of David Rumsey Map Collection

History and geography lovers rejoice! You can now see and even download incredible maps from the David Rumsey Map Collection database. The website contains more that 71 thousand maps and images that span the 16th to the 21st century and illustrate everything from the seven continents, to the entire world and even celestial bodies. 

The maps and images serve as useful historical and artistic references, offering rare cartographic detail and insight into the visual organization of territories. The exceptionally high-resolution images can be filtered by place, author, and date of creation.

Courtesy of David Rumsey Map Collection

Courtesy of David Rumsey Map Collection

Courtesy of David Rumsey Map Collection

Courtesy of David Rumsey Map Collection

Courtesy of David Rumsey Map Collection

Take advantage of this unprecedented resource!

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