© Leo Torri

• Architects: Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel and Partners, Beretta Associati
• Location: Milan, Italy
• Area: 15500.0 sqm
• Project Year: 2008
• Photographs: Leo Torri

• Structure: Redesco
• Lighting Design: Metis lighting
• General Contractor: Colombo costruzioni
• Facades: Tosoni

© Leo Torri

The former Riva Calzoni re-conversion, in Milan, has produced a business district, almost entirely dedicated to the fashion field, through a new interpretation of  industrial areas of a peculiar worth.

© Leo Torri

Plan 0

© Leo Torri

This project, studied out for Ermenegildo Zegna, substitutes an existing shed, impossible to be preserved because of  the complexity of its structures, with a completely different space which, with its two buried levels of parking lots, takes up the previous disposition of volumes. The brand new building, even if reproducing the profile of a shed roofing, gives a fresh interpretation of spaces organisation.

Section

Totally set in a courtyard system, the structure overlooks the street only by a long glass tunnel which opens itself on via Stendhal through a narrowed foyer. The long tunnel, on four levels, holds flights and footbridges connecting the showrooms’ area to the offices’ building.

© Leo Torri

As a matter of fact, Zegna’s headquarters in Milan have a showroom for each of its collections, the commercial offices, the public relations and a presentation area on the ground floor, conceived as a real theatre. All the functional spaces develop around an inside court-terrace which corresponds to the covering of the theatre and gives an inside overlooking to the different activities.

© Leo Torri

The external front of the building comes out to be a very closed one. Only partly glazed and treated with reflecting materials, this façade exploits the inclined plane shapes to reflect the surrounding industrial scenery, creating, this way, a strong effect of abstraction that “dissolves” the new building outline into the surrounding context.

© Leo Torri

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© Shao Feng

• Architects: X+Living
• Location: 4th floor, Réel Mall, Jing’an District, Shanghai, China
• Architect In Charge: LI Xiang
• Design Team: LIU Huan, FAN Chen, TONG Ni-Na
• Area: 1000.0 sqm
• Project Year: 2016
• Photographs: Shao Feng

© Shao Feng

From the architect. Background of a busy city is always the randomly standing neon lights. Hurried pedestrians cross the street from one side to the other, from one block to another block by passing through the street. When viewing from above, you could see people come and go, the streets are crowded with pedestrians and vehicles, only the zebra crossings stand still to offer convoy and guidance. Réel Mall is at such a street corner filled with traveling and short stay, which is located at the centre of Shanghai – Jing’an district, and Zhongshuge is at the end of the 4th floor of Réel Mall.

© Shao Feng

On the floor, there are painted white zebra crossings linking to the book tables, which give clear guidance to the path between book tables. On the wall, it is fully covered with white circular tubes. Each of the white circular tubes spread over the wall could retract into or stretch out of the wall freely, in this way, different array patterns could be formed with such flexibility. While this flexible design acts as book shelves, it also reflects the quick changed social status quo. Here, readers enter into a city space where there is no heavy traffic, but only quiet “roads and zebra crossings” and mountains of books on the books tables. Zebra crossing is like books that accompany our growth. Get the correct guidance at the right time. The spiritual connection between books and readers is thus expressed.

© Shao Feng

What connects to this space is a long corridor for leisure reading, where there is a long row of park benches. The book shelves are placed at the two sides of the corridor, and there is a street lamp at a regular distance from one another. This is not only a reading corridor but also an interior reading park. Walking slowly in the world of books, when you get tired, you could sit on the chairs under the street lights and relax your mind by reading your favorite books- this is the reading environment that this space intended to create for readers.

© Shao Feng

Walking through the quiet park of books you will arrive at the castle of books in the sky. A winding path gets through the 4 architecture-like book shelves which are built with shelves, bringing the reader with an experience of walking through a real city of books.  Along the path, you will notice that exterior walls of every “house” are built with book shelves, and on the wall there are big windows through which the interior of the “house” could be seen. From the inside of the “house” you will find out that the “houses” are book libraries with different themes of culture and art.

© Shao Feng

The interior area of the 4 “houses” are very different, the small one is like a quiet study while the big one could hold a small reading party. Here, the designer builds a city with books. Different from the outside bustling streets, this place is a spiritual world where readers could communicate with authors quietly through the books. The width of the path between book shelves is changing, and on this winding path you can see zebra crossings, you may dimly feel that you  were walking in the centuries-old Shanghai streets where you can feel the romance and mood of Shanghai.

The world of mortals is a temptation that everyone could not escape from. Shanghai, in particular, a “top-ranked romantic and rich place within the world of mortals”, is saturated with far more desires and helplessness. Thus people who struggle within this world of mortals always long for a quiet place where their body and mind could be set free! Zhongshuge (Réel Mall) uses the concept of zebra crossing to penetrate and lead the plot of the story, which expresses the idea that under the busy and impetuous pace of city, books, being a companion to life, is acting as association between all kinds of functions of the city and our life; and that books give convoy and guidance to our growth just like what zebra crossing does!  

© Shao Feng

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© Mario Wibowo

• Architects: DP+HS Architects
• Location: North Jakarta, North Jakarta City, Special Capital Region of Jakarta, Indonesia
• Architect In Charge: Don Pieto, Henny Suwardi
• Area: 600.0 sqm
• Project Year: 2015
• Photographs: Mario Wibowo

• Structural Engineer: Anwar Susanto, Cipta Sukses
• Interior Design: DP+HS Architects
• Lighting: DP+HS Architects
• Landscape: DP+HS Architects

© Mario Wibowo

Located in a residential area in North Jakarta, Indonesia, the 600 sqm house occupies a 440 sqm plot of land. This project’s site is facing a main road on the west side, and an alley on the other side (south side). We noticed that this site, particularly the one facing the main road, has a considerably large building line. And we are aware that the building line will decrease the building’s size. Based on that observation, we attempt to locate the main door on the side which facing the alley (south side); thus allowing the reduced area in the west side, to be utilized as an open-space gathering place. The open-space gathering place itself is an extension of the main living room that is purposely designed to be slightly away from the main door to keep it private.

© Mario Wibowo

This house is inhabited by a small family. However, both the husband and wife come from a big family. Consequently, the potential for such large family to come to visit, spend some quality time and even stay overnight affects the space program of this house. Hence, causing the space program to be quite compact. Considering the compact programming, the concept proposed is “compartment box”. The idea is to position the spaces into two big mass boxes. Then, each box is given a bold treatment through the materials used at the façade.

© Mario Wibowo

These two mass boxes come from one mass box that is subtracted by the open space. This open space is placed on the 3rd and 4th floor (rooftop); it serves to soften the rigid shape of the box and creates a lot of potential openings, so the building can breathe and get enough natural light. A reflecting pool is also built on the rooftop to help lower the building’s temperature.

Section

In accordance to the owners’ preference, their relatively young age, and budget consideration, the structure is designed as a modular structure, combined with modern architectural language throughout the building details. We set the building’s tone to be monochrome, with black lines element, such as the door and window frame,  to help define the space. Meanwhile the accent colors are presented through the use of loose furniture and decoration. Exposed materials are also brought consistently into the interior part of the building, such as  exposed cement in the living room, exposed painted brick in the study room, and solid wood in common spaces.

© Mario Wibowo

Several existing big trees, which are on the west side facing the main road, are preserved as they are to give some shades to the big garden behind them. With enough shade trees, the garden is designed to be a big pool area with a deck functioned as a gathering spot and as the extension of the living room.

© Mario Wibowo

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© Youtao Cao

• Architects: LATITUDE
• Location: Beijing, Beijing, China
• Principal Architect: Manuel N. Zornoza
• Project Architect: Jorge Cortés de Castro
• Team: Manuel Coves Botella, Lucía Bravo Guinea, Zhang Wen
• Client: Beijing Pengyouquan coffee (Beijing) Co., Ltd
• Budget: 140,000€
• Area: 350.0 sqm
• Project Year: 2016
• Photographs: Youtao Cao

© Youtao Cao

Copper is the main material applied to create craft beer experience for the customer

Dongli Brewery was created to surprise and indulge patrons with a unique craft beer tasting experience.The concept delivers the expertise gained from working with traditional craft beer fermentation techniques to a contemporary and cozy gathering place.

© Youtao Cao

In 2015, the founder of Dongli Brewery decided to open a bar chain in China to provide patrons with a venue to better taste and enjoy craft beer. Among his requirements a key principlewas pointed out: to make visually accessible to customers the process of beer distillation.

© Youtao Cao

This350m² space is composed of a main dining area and a VIP room area, a kitchen, and other service areas. The dining area is organized around a bar counter in the center, which is radically accessible from all directions. A battery of eight brewing kettles is located behind a glass wall on one side, making it also visible from the entrance in order to welcome customers.

Axometric

Due to the industrial appearance of the elements in the project, copper materials take the leading role, shaping up joints, ceilings, lamps, handrails and other design elements according to the nature of artifacts used during beer production, such as pipes and tanks.

© Youtao Cao

The concept provides ceiling lamps with golden mesh surfaces and copper pipes which, on one hand, channel the wiring, shape the lamps and the signage, and on the other, indicate zones in the dining area. These ceiling lamps work according to a design concept: pipes coming down hold big glass bulbs that provide warm color lighting, a sense of coziness, and a unified look.

© Youtao Cao

In addition, pairing concrete walls and floors with wood furniture complete the selection of materials and give a strong character to the bar. The floor in the dining area is finished with concrete of three different tones, while most of the walls portray concrete as well. The wooden elements are appliedin the sitting areas, tables, chairs and bar counter, providing the design with a touch of domestic and welcoming feeling that anybody would desire for a long afternoon with friends sharing craft beer.

© Youtao Cao

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© Anice Hoachlander

• Architects: Robert M. Gurney
• Location: Washington, DC, USA
• Architect In Charge: Brian Tuskey; Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, Architect
• Area: 2500.0 ft2
• Project Year: 2016
• Photographs: Anice Hoachlander

• Interior Designer: Therese Baron Gurney, ASID; Baron Gurney Interiors
• Engineer: TadjerCohenEdelson Associates, Inc.
• Contractor: Brook Rose

© Anice Hoachlander

The Metropole is a sleek, new, urban condo development positioned on a prominent corner in the Logan Circle neighborhood of Washington, DC. The seven-story building comprises 90 residences.

© Anice Hoachlander

Plan 1

© Anice Hoachlander

The starting point for this project is a corner unit penthouse with walls of windows along a southern and western exposure.  The space as inherited was raw and included a large double height space, anchored at the corner with expansive two-story walls of glass.  These windows afford generous city views, including a defined view toward the Washington Monument.

© Anice Hoachlander

Plan 2

© Anice Hoachlander

The design strategy employs part of the two story space to be used for a bedroom and bathroom while providing access to two rooftop spaces. These spaces are located away from the double height window wall. A large pocketing door in the bedroom provides views through the space below and south toward the Washington Monument. As designed, the stair location and arrangement of spaces allow public access to the larger rooftop terrace, while the smaller terrace becomes privately accessible from the bedroom.

© Anice Hoachlander

This project is organized around the two story corner window walls. A fireplace is suspended from the ceiling and floats in the space. A cantilevered glass platform extends from the bedroom and extends into the volume. Light fixtures that change color animate the space. The goal was to provide a dynamic space that anchored the unit while not distracting from the city views beyond.    

© Anice Hoachlander

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REX has released images of the future Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center (The Perelman Center), located on the World Trade Center site in New York City. Located between the gleaming glass tower of One World Trade and the future Two World Trade Center, the Perelman Center takes on a solid, pure form as it is set to become a new home for theater, dance, music, film, opera, and multidisciplinary works for visitors and residents of Lower Manhattan.

© Luxigon

Set into the complex campus, the 90,000 square foot building has been rotated to fit within below-ground constraints, as well as address the 9/11 museum and transportation hub. To complement the building’s overall stoic demeanor, a slice has been cut out of the cube to provide seating that opens onto the new public plaza outside.

© Luxigon

© Luxigon

The structure is wrapped in translucent, veined marble (“from the same Vermont quarry as the U.S. Supreme Court building and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial”) and then laminated within insulated glass – giving the building an elegant, book-matched stone appearance by day, while the thinness of the material creates a dematerialized, glowing appearance at night that displays silhouettes of activity within.

Designed for high-levels of flexibility, the Perelman Center will contain three performances halls seating 499, 250 and 99 people, as well as a rehearsal room capable of adapting for alternative performance configurations.

© REX

© REX

“While the building’s elegant exterior befits the site, its muscular, utilitarian interior expresses the workhorse quality necessary for the changing nature of The Perelman Center’s artistic needs, through ruggedly beautiful materials that encourage the frequent transformation of scenery and stage-audience configurations,” explain the architects in a press release.

© Luxigon

“The Perelman Center is an immensely flexible canvas on which directors can script the patrons’ entire experience from their very entrance into the building,” said Joshua Prince-Ramus, Principal of REX. “It is a ‘mystery box,’ a constant source of surprise for theatergoers and the community. We are honored to be involved with such an important project on such an important site.”

The Perelman Center is expected to open to the public in 2020. Construction costs for the project are currently estimated at $243 million. 

© Luxigon

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