“This national museum helps to tell a richer and fuller story of who we are,” said Obama. “It helps us better understand the lives, yes, of the president but also the slave, the industrialist but also the porter, the keeper of the status quo but also the activist seeking to overthrow that status quo.”
Also speaking at the opening event were former President George W. Bush, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., Smithsonian Secretary David Skorton, Rep. John Lewis and Lonnie G. Bunch III, as well as prominent figures such as Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith.
Designed by David Adjaye as the leader of the Freelon Adjaye Bond/SmithGroup (FAB) team, the 400,000 square foot building is the first national museum dedicated to the history and culture of African Americans, and includes exhibition space for the display of more than 3,000 artifacts.
Check out the video above to see the Dedication Ceremony in its entirety, and watch the video below for a timelapse of the building’s construction.
These new photographs reveal a vast cultural complex by Zaha Hadid Architects, which is reaching its final stages of construction in the Chinese city Nanjing (+ slideshow). (more…)
From the architect. An order is received and according to the evaluation of the initiative it offers limited financial benefits, but simultaneously has excellent conditions to start a creative process, represented in a bet that assumes the premise: “the possibility of generating a project that is a CREATION and not a replica of something already imagined.”
The proposal comes as a result of the relationships and conflicts between three basic components: the natural, anthropic and metaphorical; each component is approached from a key variable for its morphological interpretation (formal – spatial):
Model
In this way the dialogic triad is obtained: LAND – PLANT – ROOF Addressing the analysis of joints and contradictions present and possibles between these three components, leads to find a complex interlocutor to establish simple relationships (above – below, outside – inside and solid – transparency, among others), from the previous EXPLORATIONS made about THE GRID, allow assuming the project as a testing laboratory of concepts and relationships.
Taking lessons: “Para no contradecir la realidad, el arquitecto debería atenerse a los hechos arquitectónicos que a partir de ella se puedan formular” (Pérez, Aravena y Quintanilla, 2007:15). Based on this reflection it asks for an assessment of reality in search of the purposes to which must answer the triad. FIRST: Addressing the pedestrian and vehicular accessibility in relation to the adjacent street to 45°. SECOND: To form a permeable frontal plane to the breezes coming down from the Venezuelan Andes to clean the warm meadows and the reed fields. THIRD: Floating perpendicularly the parking integrating to the house exoskeleton, as opposed to the prevailing separate proposal. FOURTH: Structuring the central yard of 6 * 6 meters, which serves as a flow collector in both directions. FIFTH: An opening of 12.00 meters that allows integrating kitchen – bar – dining room – living room in a unit space conditioned for the furniture. SIXTH: Solving generic variables as:
Three grids that cross each other, the first one forming the LAND as a stepped floor, situating the house in downward cascade, allowing expand the section from the entrace to the interior; the next one forms the PLANT, a sequence of horizontal planes sized in relation to the housing program, working to compression and supporting the ROOF falling from above in a grid of inverted beams.
Section
Concept
Section
[program]
…domestic skeleton-…
A set consisting of roof – study – patio – parking – hangs from above by subjecting the inverted beams working simultaneously as hanging beams, two groups of load-bearing planes that fit with the program by way of partition walls, the first one groups rooms and the study on the northeast side integrating the intimate area of the house, while on the southwest side, kitchen, laundry area and guest bedroom, make up the structural corbel what affixed to the floor gives balance to the imposing cantilever. On the floor, under an opening of 12 meters in a continuous space, the furniture is placed demarcating living room – dining room – bar, while the accordion unfolds delimiting the outside terrace facing the pool.
Floor Plan
[materiality]
…exposed concrete skeleton …
A exposed concrete skeleton defines the materiality of the house, which is subtly added three materials: MURO-CEL in black concrete redefines its use forming the permeable vertical plane in a openwork way. Urapo and pardillo wood treated with natural wax bee impose their presence marking the space whit its horizontal grains, and the glass communicates that supports and not that is supported, desmaterialize with multiple reflections.
The oblique beam receives breezes from the northeast and send them giving natural aceleration, toward the permeable frontal plane that as a filter allows its path and simultaneously controls solar radiation of the access corridor, while the horizontal planes float laterally supporting this strategy and minimize the east – west sunlight.
On the southwest side as an accordion, urapo wood partitions allow the passage of the evening breezes and filter the afternoon sun giving a magical atmosphere of shadows and reflections. The system is complemented by a central yard formed by hanging beams that work as a flows collector and link the house with the outside.
… “As family members that project-planning-in-the-making” (Smithson & Smithson, 2001:30) We have learned from the master to put together things that Mies had; simple self-imposed rules show a clear intention to achieve the maximum benefit of a standard shuttering; to join two planes requires dilate, the inability to use paints and this way the “gray work”… is “white work”.
Richard Meier & Partners has released images of their competition-winning design for a new 34,750 square meter (374,045 square foot) mixed-use building in Hamburg, Germany that will combine luxury condominiums, rental apartments and the new headquarters for German real estate company Engel & Völkers.
The firm was selected as the winners of an international competition for the design in 2013, beating out proposals from Foster + Partners and Zaha Hadid Architects.
The new building will be located in the HafenCity quarter of Hamburg, on the waterfront of the Elbe River. The design takes advantage of this location, providing units in the 16-story residential tower, known as “STRANDHAUS by Richard Meier,” with floor to ceiling windows to take in panoramic views of the city and the water. The third to 15th floors will consist of 66 apartments, while the top floor will contain two large penthouse units.
All units will feature open, light-flooded interiors and unique details designed also by Richard Meier & Partners.
“The early history of our office is rooted in the design of some of the most iconic residential projects,” says Bernhard Karpf, design partner-in-charge. “This project continues the tradition of minimalist and light-filled spaces and of the continuous and clear organization of the intricate program requirements of a mixed-use building.”
“Natural light is the main building material, and the main characteristic of the interior spaces is their openness and transparency. They are filled with natural light and animated by the connection to the port, the city and the street life around the HafenCity district. Each floor of the development is a study in balancing transparency and natural light with various degrees of privacy required for the residential and office interiors.”
The Engel & Völkers headquarters will be located in the five levels of the base, occupying a total space of approximately 6,800 square meters. Office spaces will be organized around a double-height entrance lobby, which will invite in both employees and visitors to enjoy the public space, with details bearing Richard Meier’s signature white finishes.
“The color white is a fundamental part of Richard Meier & Partners inimitable style – a color that is also dominant throughout Engel & Völkers branding,” said Christian Völkers, CEO/Founder of Engel & Völkers AG.
Courtesy of Richard Meier & Partners Architects
Courtesy of Richard Meier & Partners Architects
Construction on the project is already underway, as the shell construction of the four-level underground parking garage has recently been completed. Due to the proximity to the Elbe River, the garage needed to utilize non-traditional construction techniques typically associated with large scale infrastructure projects and underground train tunnel designs.
“Besides the technical challenges, the planning phase has also had to take the varied uses of the building ensemble into account. The final design is a good solution that safeguards the functionality of individual areas while ensuring an attractive overall appearance,” said Philipp Schmitz-Morkramer, Founder and CEO of Quantum Immobilien AG, the project developer.
The next phase of the project with be structural construction and fitting out of the above-ground structure. The building is expected to be completed in 2018.
This set of 10 houses (first stage) is located northwest of the town of La Barca, Mexico.
The houses are built on an area of 924.04m2 in a horizontal subdivision called Jardines de San Ignacio which has approximately 450 lots which are mostly of 90.00m2 (6.00×15.00m).
One of the features and benefits of the location is that the set is attached to a green, which will take place the implementation of a municipal linear park.
Axonometric
The main objectives were to identify the market which led us to stick to the ideology of the region, and therefore decided to build walls of solid block and concrete structure armed in order to achieve greater confidence with the inhabitants of the municipality. We also seek with the established budget, worthy interior spaces and on the other hand a clear image of quality in design which is achieved by the plastic of the property, concluding that the assembly is shown as a unit.
It was proposed to achieve a different landscape which has been marked by large social housing developers, where the sequence of our architectural design allows to observe a number of full and empty accented with a color change.
The immediate role is completely accomplished by the use of materials not common in this sector like the front wall of Okume wood and with that emphasize the demarcation of competition.
Elevation in X-Ray
We worked on the outside a traditional flattened sand-cement base with making this offer a better product and remove in a certain way the stigma that carries the social housing in Mexico.
Inside lighting and ventilation of spaces occurs naturally through the backyard and the front of the house. According to the excess of light and the arid context, it was decided to provide small windows to the property. The back yard is shown as a living and private element, which is attached to the public area of the house. We also look forward to separate the private areas from public areas of the neighbors.
At the top there is a terrace, which is shown as an element with foundations in the principle of incrementally based on the homes of Alejandro Aravena, allowing in the future to grow automatically to prevent program changes (needs) during the time of a family in the building.
These gaps in the volume will generate a play of shadows during the day.
Dezeen promotion: this year’s Beijing Design Week features installations, design exhibitions and pop-ups focused on the redevelopment of China’s urban environment. (more…)
Design Team: Liliana Amorim Rocha, María Bergua Orduna, Nils Büchel, Amparo Casani, Yolanda De Rueda, Claudius Frühauf, Yannik Keller, María Ángeles Lerín Ruesca, Monica Leung, Christina Liao (Animation), Adriana Müller, Argel Padilla Figueroa, Francisco Requena Crespo, Juan Sala, Francisca Soares de Moura, Carlos Viladoms, Federica von Euw, Thomasine Wolfensberger
From the architect. Strengthening and Reinforcing the City
The overall masterplan for Porta Volta holds an important strategic potential for creating a positive impact on the surrounding area, due to its important urban dimension. As part of the redefinition of the area Porta Volta, Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli intends to relocate its seat to the northern centre of Milan, considered as an ideal environment for the foundation’s multiple activities. Together with the building of Fondazione, the project includes the development of two further buildings, mainly dedicated to offices, and a generous green area as extensions of the existing boulevards.
The historical analysis of the site drove the evolution of the design proposal. The urban organisation of Porta Volta traces back to the course of the Mura Spagnole, the ancient 16th century city walls which were the last of a series of fortifications which since Roman times have defined the city’s growing boundaries. After the opening of the bastion in the late 19th century, Via Alessandro Volta laid the basis for the city’s extension outside the ancient walls, connecting as a new, prominent urban axis the historical centre with Cimitero Monumentale. Today, the emptiness of the site is a testament to the walls and, at the same time, reminds one of the destructions this area has suffered during the Second World War.
Together with a series of preserved gates, the two Caselli Daziari di Porta Volta offer an important reference point within the Milanese city plan. The allocation of Edificio Feltrinelli and the Fondazione along Viale Pasubio and the allocation of Edificio Comune along Viale Montello opposite the axis Via Alessandro Volta underline this historical gate, taking up the Milanese tradition of twin buildings as in Piazza Duomo, Piemonte or Duca D’Aosta.
Besides the preservation of the Mura Spagnole’s archaeological remains, the concentration of building mass endeavours to create a generous public green area as extensions of the existing boulevards. On the street level, the new edifices will house cafes, restaurants, and shops, offering an area for interaction and recreation to the citizens.
A House for the Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli
A narrow gap separates the Fondazione from the adjacent building, reflecting two autonomous constructions which are simultaneously part of an overall whole. The ground floor of the Fondazione accommodates the main entrance, cafeteria and book store, followed by the double height multi-functional space on the first floor, and an office area on both the third and fourth floors. The reading room on top of the Fondazione offers researchers and interested public the opportunity to study documents from the historical collection stored in the secure underground archive.
A Milanese Project: Scale, Structure and Repetition
The new buildings are inspired by the simplicity and generous scale of historic Milanese architecture as Ospedale Maggiore, Rotonda della Besana, Lazaretto and Castello Forzesco. They are also inspired by the long, linear Cascina buildings of traditional rural architecture in Lombardy, which already were an important reference in Aldo Rossi’s work, for instance his residential building in Gallaratese.
This is why we propose an elongated and narrow architecture which in a vaguely figurative way introduces a roof which melts into the facades. The structure expresses the geometrical conditions of the site in a rotation of its members and balances between transparency and spatial definition. Façade, structure and space form an integrated whole.
The redefinition of Porta Volta will intrinsically be a Milanese Project, taking up themes of Milanese urbanism and architecture, which through the course of history have led to a series of emblematic buildings for which the City of Milan is renowned.
Sharon Baurley, head of the Royal College of Art‘s Design Products programme, is leaving after just three years to take up a post at a “prestigious European institution”. (more…)
The Nolli Map made history when it was created in 1748, largely because of its focus on public spaces. With it, Giambattista Nolli highlighted the fact that public places don’t exclusively exist in the forms of streets and parks, but also in enclosed spaces. Yet the importance of our communal areas is constantly being undermined. Our public areas exist to promote inclusion and equal opportunities, but despite that they are being forgotten and abandoned, debilitating their ability to bind communities together.
Given that the main goal of Studio Gang’s newly released, free, downloadable booklet, Reimagining The Civic Commons has been to “help communities everywhere activate their civic commons,” then, it is unsurprising that the booklet includes graphic maps reminiscent of Nolli’s visual aim. The booklet, which arose from work funded by the Kresge Foundation and Knight Foundation, focuses on the advancement of 7 types of “existing assets”: libraries, parks, recreation centers, police stations, schools, streets and transit. Since the start of Studio Gang’s research, a larger, $40 million initiative has begun—funded by the JPB Foundation, The Knight Foundation, The Kresge Foundation and The Rockefeller Foundation along with a multitude of local donors—with plans taking shape in Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, Memphis and Akron. The graphic guide is designed to offer adaptable, cost-effective and flexible approaches to these spaces, so that it can be implemented over time and in a variety of different communities. Read on for our summary of the report’s 7 strategies for improvement.
Libraries house a vast amount of public resources and information, with over 120,000 libraries across the US hosting over 90 million visits per year. The physical interiors of many library buildings however, feel closed off and isolated due to their traditional function of storage and as places for individual study. As this method of information exchange gradually becomes less relevant in the new digital era, libraries have begun to adapt the services they provide, and Studio Gang believes that the buildings need to follow suit.
Opening up the façade to create a generous, accessible entrance, as well as installing large windows to visually connect the interiors with surrounding streets, will work to draw in passers-by. Once inside, Studio Gang suggests meeting areas, fabrication tools and technology rooms to support digital development in the workforce. In order to expand the library’s function as a place of gathering, an extension of the building in the form of a covered outdoor space is also proposed, serving as a new neighborhood destination for events.
10% of the urban area of the United States is covered in parks, totaling almost 2 million acres in total. Greenery in cities is known to improve people’s happiness, health and productivity, as well as providing “ecosystem services,” such as relieving strain from storm water systems. In order to increase their reach, Studio Gang encourages more diverse topographies to serve as gathering points, but also manage storm water. Bold and vibrant art, furniture and greenery can help to attract people into the parks, as well as visually emphasizing their presence.
Despite the intended use of recreation centers as year-round social, health and education hotspots, current centers offer far less than what was originally planned. The “Civic Commons” booklet proposes the supplementation of centers with other wellness opportunities, such as on-site medical care, nutrition workshops and stress-relieving activities to attract a broader market.
Once again, the opening of facades, as well as the removal of interior walls, will open up single-purpose rooms into larger, more adaptable spaces. By connecting indoor and outdoor areas more light and air will flow into the buildings, as well as removing barriers to participation. This will hopefully also attract external service providers that can make use of the suggested leasable spaces. Finally, there is the possibility of activating entrances to mobile services such as health and food trucks.
Studio Gang feels that police stations have become isolated from communities, often separated from the surrounding urban environment and surrounded by parking lots. This isolation minimizes productive exchanges between police, residents and city officials, instead increasing the dissonance between policemen and the community they serve. To counteract this, stations can begin by offering free Wi-Fi and ATM services to attract people inside. Implementing art and furniture at the entrance can also create a “porch”-like atmosphere for locals to enjoy. Including a roof-top canopy space may invite more shared activities such as dining and gardening, and opening retails spaces that benefit both policemen and local residents can establish lively community surroundings.
With nearly 50 million students being educated in about 97,000 elementary and secondary schools in the US, schools hold an enormous responsibility for the education, health and welfare of young people, as well as the future of the population. Unfortunately US students have fallen behind their international counterparts in mathematics and sciences, and a third of the children are overweight or obese. Implementing “laboratories” for experiential learning through the utilization of all surfaces, especially in outdoor areas, can enhance the learning environment, improve health, reduce stress and add natural beauty.
The four proposals for achieving this are: converting rooftops to greenhouses and “garden classrooms”, implementing green spaces that reach out into the surrounding neighborhood, growing agriculture on adjacent vacant land that can be used for phenological science, and incorporating student-grown vegetables in the cafeteria.
Streets are used by all people, everyday. They are “the fabric that connects a city,” but how can they be transformed from thoroughfares to places? By developing a dynamic roof canopy pedestrians will be protected, improving the walkability of streets and the public health of a community. Additionally, developing storefronts and supporting local events will provide a form of entertainment for pedestrians, as well as encouraging local spending to stimulate economic growth. Planting trees can solve increasing urban heat, and designing the surface of the streets can optimize the maintenance of storm water, as well as increasing options for transit.
Over 35 million people in the United States use public transportation every weekday, which saves them an average of $10,000 per year and increases property values by 42% when located near a high-frequency transportation service. However, public transportation nodes are often inconsistently located; they include gaps in certain routes and separate neighborhoods, causing socioeconomic divides. Studio Gang envisions future transit stops as “civic anchors,” that are communities in themselves, by expanding existing routes to create “transit hubs” where different circuits meet. In addition to this they propose adding new stops on transit lines, as well as infrastructure to supplement those new connections.
Sig Nordal 