© Juan Alberto Andrade

• Arquitectos: Inai Arquitectura
• Ubicación: Cuenca, Ecuador
• Arquitecto A Cargo: Paúl Vazquez Espinoza
• Área: 145.0 m2
• Año Proyecto: 2016
• Fotografías: Juan Alberto Andrade

© Juan Alberto Andrade

The project has 145 square meters on two floors and a terrace. The building location is an important factor because it is on the lower side of Turi, a natural viewpoint of the city of Cuenca-Ecuador where there were some retaining stone walls from a destroyed and abandoned construction. These walls were originally raised to stop the gradient of over 30% of the natural slope, which is why they are included as part of the formal and structural design.

© Juan Alberto Andrade

The purpose was for building a small detached house, with basic functional spaces for everyday life, with a local and contemporary language.

© Juan Alberto Andrade

The design refers to vernacular materials; we have used dry stone walls, located where the original walls of the previous construction were, the roof structure made entirely of exposed wood clad in unglazed handmade tile and carrizo pambil on the ceiling, adobe prepared in blocks to clad some walls and as mud plastering for others. This sort of traditional materials incorporated into the architecture confer the popular warmth of local buildings and simultaneously engage a project of contemporary features with large glass surfaces that dominate the north facade, with a complete view of the city.

© Juan Alberto Andrade

Other more contemporary materials have been added, such as ceramic floors with traditional motifs of hydraulic tiles to accentuate the style, the glass in the interior wooden staircase that contrasts due to its modern appearance, natural wood doors with decorative rivets in iron, raw iron railings and of course the decorative pieces of furniture that have been carefully selected to emphasize the dialectical style between the traditional and the contemporary.

Plan

Plan

The spatial distribution is quite simple. Due to the topography, the main entrance is located on the top floor and can be reached by a grand stone staircase that externally connects the two levels of the project. Before entering there is a pergola terrace to enjoy the view and with it the wooden door that leads into a hallway that connects to the bedroom hall on the same level and the glass staircase that leads to the social area on the lower floor.

© Juan Alberto Andrade

The upper floor has two bedrooms facing north, with wood floors, and an adjacent full bathroom. The bedrooms are separated through a closet cabinet with two fronts; the city view is not the only attraction of these spaces, if we look up we see the craft construction of the roof and its wood assemblies; all these areas are accessed through an exhibition hall that is lit and ventilated through a window that looks directly into one of the retaining walls. This view may seem unattractive, however it is totally entertaining to see the moss between the rocks and on rainy days the drops falling like a waterfall filtering through the vegetation. The exhibition displayed is a very special collection of old radios belonging to the owners of the house. On the ground floor is the living and dining in a single room, a guest bathroom and kitchen, all communicated through a corridor that runs parallel to the facade and thus enjoys the visual spectacle of the entire city at its feet. The entire floor of this level is ceramic.

© Juan Alberto Andrade

As for the exterior spaces, we have maintained the landscape of the mountain, preserving all species of trees and adding others belonging to the area.

© Juan Alberto Andrade

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View from the path. Image Courtesy of Vo Trong Nghia Architects

Vo Trong Nghia Architects has released plans for The Signature Spa on Phu Quoc, one of the major islands of Vietnam. Nestled into surroundings of vast forests and pristine beaches, the spa will serve as an addition to its neighboring 5-star hotel. The project has been tucked into the corner of the site to provide a serene atmosphere aimed at establishing “a compact and autonomous place of solace, wherein one can immerse themselves within the lush mangrove reservoir whilst nestled inside the bamboo [structure].”

Treatment room entrance. Image Courtesy of Vo Trong Nghia Architects

The project plan consists of an organic layout of three distinct areas: the main building, the treatment rooms and the back of house, connected to the complex by a floating bridge. Sweeping stone walls guide visitors to the entrance, providing a momentary sense of enclosure before releasing into the open spa compound. The buildings, constructed of bamboo, hover over the water, leaving room for giant mangrove trees and an entire ecosystem of flora and fauna.

Treatment rooms. Image Courtesy of Vo Trong Nghia Architects

Twelve bamboo bays positioned along an arc create the space of the main building, which houses reception space, waiting areas and consultation rooms for foot treatments and pedicures. The curved bamboo framing is on display from the interior, bending toward the skylight openings that shower the space in natural light. Conditioned and open-air spaces are separated by glass panels shielded with bamboo louvres, blurring the line between indoors and outdoors.

Interior – main building. Image Courtesy of Vo Trong Nghia Architects

Bird's eye view. Image Courtesy of Vo Trong Nghia Architects

Treatment rooms are accessed via a stone pathway that sits just above the level of the water. Large windows in each room offering views out the mangrove forest and a stone buffer separating the private wing from the public areas both help to create an uninterrupted, immersive environment for visitors.

Each room is constructed of a bamboo shell, with clearly detailed joints where it means the natural stone, emphasizing the project’s reserved materiality. The structure mimics the expression of clasped hands with interwoven fingers, giving the structure a dynamic, curvilinear appearance.

Interior – single treatment room. Image Courtesy of Vo Trong Nghia Architects

View from the main entrance. Image Courtesy of Vo Trong Nghia Architects

Realization of The Signature Spa in Phu Quoc Island is currently in progress.

View from the hotel. Image Courtesy of Vo Trong Nghia Architects

Interior – double treatment room. Image Courtesy of Vo Trong Nghia Architects

• Architects: Vo Trong Nghia Architects
• Location: Phú Quốc, Phu Quoc, Kien Giang, Vietnam
• Principal Architect: Vo Trong Nghia, Hidetoshi Sawa
• Design Team: Nguyen Quynh Han
• Client: Syrena Viet Nam Investment & Development joint stock company
• Area: 813.0 sqm
• Project Year: 2016
• Photographs: Courtesy of Vo Trong Nghia Architects

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© Onnis Luque

• Architects: Moro Taller de Arquitectura
• Location: Concordia, San Juan de Ocotán, Zapopan, Jal., Mexico
• Area: 333.0 sqm
• Project Year: 2016
• Photographs: Onnis Luque

• Collaborators: Mauricio Rodríguez Mejía , Zarak Alaine Modad Betancourt, Ricardo Arámbula González.
• Built Area: 155 sqm
• Site Area: 333 sqm

© Onnis Luque

Located outside of the city without drinking water services, drainage, in a rectangular land with a regular topography, the house is solved along the ground in 3 simple segregated modules, which allowed to be built in stages. The spaces are linked via exterior circulations directly coexist with the environment, sheltered by the horizontal roofs of the volumes that extend over the aisles.

© Onnis Luque

Plan 1

© Onnis Luque

The medium volume contains the public open center of the house, a single space comprising kitchen-living room-dining room. The other two closed volumes contain the bedrooms, bathrooms and service.

© Onnis Luque

The house is solved with eco technologies (filter soapy water, dry toilet and solar heater) making a home with less expenditure of water and gas. It was built strictly following manuals of land building systems and examples of buildings that can be found in the region. The materials used are: structural cuatrapeado adobe walls, glued with mud; tapial with 5% cement; finished clay, straw and flattened ground lime-sand without cement. The ceilings are beams and wooden stave combined with a light covering of concrete structural element. The floors, polished concrete and washing. The steel is in doors, windows and as a supporting element in the public volume. This combination of natural materials and industrial space generates warmth of this project.

© Onnis Luque

Plan 2

© Onnis Luque

It was local labor, whom participated in this house, which had never done work with walls of earth or with this construction system before. Architects and engineers had basics of building with earth, learned from courses, books and manuals. This house gave us the opportunity to compare the cost of building with natural materials compared to the current construction that uses materials that have a high energy cost.

© Onnis Luque

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Courtesy of The National Trust for Historic Preservation and People for the Pavilion

The National Trust for Historic Preservation and People for the Pavilion have announced the winners of the New York State Pavilion Ideas Competition in the Queens borough of New York.

Sponsored by Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, the competition called for creative ideas to reimagine Philip Johnson’s New York State Pavilion, a “forgotten star” of the 1964-65 World’s Fair.

Courtesy of The National Trust for Historic Preservation and People for the Pavilion

The New York State Pavilion is more than half a century old, but Philip Johnson’s iconic structure in the center of Queens is still the ‘Tent of Tomorrow’ to those who know it,” notes architecture critic and competition judge, Paul Goldberger. The outpouring of ideas for its reuse not only shows how beloved this structure is, it gives me confidence that this great building can have a future that will be as meaningful as its past.

The winners of the New York State Pavilion Ideas Competition are:

First Prize: Hanging Meadows / Aidan Doyle and Sarah Wan

First Place. Image Courtesy of The National Trust for Historic Preservation and People for the Pavilion

A repurposed Pavilion would serve as the base to a suspended natural environment with its design nodding towards the future. “Hanging Meadows” would feature plants from the Northeastern U.S. and provide visitors with a beautiful view of the city while standing amidst nature. A planetarium and classroom space would be found below the garden.

Second prize: Civic Hub / Javier Salinas, AIA

Second Place. Image Courtesy of The National Trust for Historic Preservation and People for the Pavilion

Focusing on the community’s priorities and input, this multi-purpose space would work in conjunction with public programming. Shuttles from local community and senior centers would be sure to include everyone on the various local events and festivals that would be hosted in the open event space. 


Third Prize: Pavilion for the Community / Rishi Kejrewal and Shaurya Sharma

Third Place. Image Courtesy of The National Trust for Historic Preservation and People for the Pavilion

This plan would transform the Pavilion into a cultural marketplace working towards harmony through human interaction and sustainability. Features such as a communal children’s play area and solar panels pave the way towards a brighter future for the coming generations. 


Queens Winner: Pavilion Park / Cesar Juarez and Alida Rose Delaney

Queens Winner. Image Courtesy of The National Trust for Historic Preservation and People for the Pavilion

Submitted by Queens residents, the “Pavilion Park” would seek to honor the historical significance of the space and convert the vacant Pavilion into a public park. With a focus on the integrity of the original structure, the flexible communal space would be centered around a stage with built-in stadium seating. 


Fan Favorite: Tent of the Future / Ramzi Houiji

Fan Favorite . Image Courtesy of The National Trust for Historic Preservation and People for the Pavilion

The National Trust and People for the Pavilion will host a companion exhibition at the Queens Museum from August 5-28, where visitors can view the top entries submitted from around the world and learn more about the history of the iconic Pavilion.

News and project descriptions via The National Trust for Historic Preservation and People for the Pavilion.

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Courtesy of Jon Sealy of Marques and Jordy

Overpopulation, pollution, congestion and inflated land prices are putting an increasing amount of pressure on the urban functionality of Bangkok, Thailand. Renowned for its cultural vibrancy and constant activity, the city is struggling to keep up with the rapid pace of its sprawl. In order to ease the pressure and reinsert the public realm back into the metropolis, a new proposal transforms the spaces below major highways in the city into a public network dubbed “The Thailine.” 

Jon Sealy, the Global Design Director of London’s Marques and Jordy (M&J) spent three years interrogating the ways in which existing space in the metropolis could be repurposed to provide inhabitants with vital public space and amenity. Initially appearing as a playful intervention, the colorful project addresses a myriad of social, economic and ecological concerns. Envisioned as a pedestrian and cycle path which interlaces ecologically sustainable initiatives with lively public space, the project would see green areas within Bangkok increased by over 200%.

The design is driven by a constant consideration of ecological impact and the reduction of carbon footprint. The main issues identified by Jon Sealy include air quality, water usage, health and energy usage, and in response to each of these, sustainable elements are intertwined within the program of the Thailine. Waste treatment centers, health centers, private and residential zones are embedded within the design, and sustainable measures such as solar trees and gray water storage are integrated throughout.

Courtesy of Jon Sealy of Marques and Jordy

Movement and circulation are addressed in a number of ways, with the main modes of transport along the Thailine being pedestrian, bicycle, and a new hybrid infrastructure of electric tuk-tuks. The water becomes a functional space when the existing “klongs” (canals) are cleaned and can once again become industrial networks. With the water acting as a stage for floating marketplaces and recreational activities, Bangkok can be reestablished as the “Venice of the East.” 

Courtesy of Jon Sealy of Marques and Jordy

The Thailine was developed with Thai sensibilities in mind, taking a multifaceted approach to designing for the people of Bangkok. Cultural references are integrated throughout the project, both through the program and the formal outcomes. Temples find their place along the network, along with community centers, cafes, and local businesses. In accordance with the local method of working and designing, the project champions local craftsmanship and many elements require a specialist Thai approach. 

Courtesy of Jon Sealy of Marques and Jordy

Jon explained in a press release, “It’s important that Thai values are enriched and embedded into the scheme. It’s really a development about Thai people and their communities. There is nearly a million square meters of space in these areas. We can develop this space for people.”

Courtesy of Jon Sealy of Marques and Jordy

The proposal actively regenerates economic activity in areas which are currently unoccupied and in disrepair. The provision of clean and open public realm will not only allow users new places to socialize and undertake recreational activity, but also increase the value of the adjacent land. Moreover, the green space will provide local people with entire zones activated by small local businesses or market stall holders. 

• Architects: Marques and Jordy
• Location: Bangkok, Thailand
• Lead Architect And Creative Director: Jon Sealy
• Area: 960000.0 sqm
• Project Year: 2016
• Photographs: Courtesy of Jon Sealy of Marques and Jordy

News via Marques and Jordy.

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