© Nguyễn Quốc Anh

• Architects: Global Architects & Associates
• Location: Hoàng Văn Thái, Thanh Xuân, Hà Nội, Vietnam
• Architect In Charge: Nguyễn Hoàng Hiệp
• Area: 46.0 sqm
• Project Year: 2016
• Photographs: Nguyễn Quốc Anh

• Project Architects: Nguyễn Danh Hoan, Nguyễn Văn Nghĩa, Phan Mạnh Tùng, Phạm Tuấn, Phan Lịch, Nguyễn Trung Kiên, Nguyễn Quốc Anh.
• Construction Cost: 16.300 USD
• Furniture Cost: 5.500 USD

© Nguyễn Quốc Anh

From the architect. From the architect. Separated from the noisy city, the house is humbly ensconced in a small alley on Hoang Van Thai Street, Hanoi.

With an area of just over 46 square meters, the house is required to guarantee essential and necessary functions of a home for a young couple about to get married, however are limited in terms of extremely tight budget, and time of construction as short as possible, especially in the future it can be easily renovated and replaced when the economy is stable and life-changing is needed. Over many plans in place, the architects finally find the most optimal plan.

Diagram

With a design perspective of linking living space to natural, atrium space plays the central role of the house, which is the convergence of the sun, wind and trees, of all factors that contribute to a healthy life, which has always been purified.

Entering the house, the entire public space is arranged smoothly and airy, with a garage, living room, kitchen and dining room splited in a conventional way, which creates the feeling that the house is really large and comfortable. There are issues that many Hanoi tube houses are suffering: fragmented space, lack of light and low humidity.

© Nguyễn Quốc Anh

The second floor is a space reserved for the privacy of the owner, with the bedroom having its windows open directly into the atrium space, where homeowners can breathe fresh air every morning, and from here it can easily connect to working space through the bridge corridor. The main purpose of this place is to work, but it is also a storage space, serving the demands for future use when the young couple welcomes their offsprings.

The furniture of the house uses warm and rustic colors, from the arrays of ceiling tiles and termites-treated pine wood, to the arrays of flower bricks recalling nostalgic past and the details on the tables made from wood blocks which is not only unique but also a highlight for the house …, all blend together to make up the truest, most rustic atmosphere, but no lack of interest for young couple.

© Nguyễn Quốc Anh

Construction costs is also a completely surprising factor that the house bring to, due to the consultant has flexibly used steel structure, which not only reduce the load of the house, but also maximally shorten the construction time and labor work. On the other hand, the recycling of some details from the old house is both the way to keep back memories and the way to save costs.

Each house built has their own interesting story behind and this house does, too. The owner, a young lecturer, with his little knowledge in wood furniture, had himself designed and created furniture for his own house, making the house look as it is hiding something really special in his way!

© Nguyễn Quốc Anh

1st Floor Plan

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© Peter Bennetts

• Architects: K20 Architecture
• Location: Ballarat VIC, Australia
• Architect In Charge: K20 Architecture
• Area: 808.5 sqm
• Project Year: 2015
• Photographs: Peter Bennetts

Site Plan

From the architect. Located in the regional setting of Ballarat, Australia, Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility has been designed to provide leading edge sporting and social facilities for elite. A level as well as international level games. Designed as a series of stages that form part of a Master plan for the site, Stage 1 includes the BRSF building, a 2 star FIFA rated turf playing pitch and synthetic training ground. 

The design concept emerged as a response to clients brief to provide a stadium for world-class soccer. With Ballarat’s rich cultural heritage in mind, the concept of the Eureka Stockade wall emerged as the leading design principle and enabled the facility to be built in segments and in stages as various funding streams became available over time. The Eureka rebellion, which is often referred to as the ‘Eureka Stockade’, is a key event in the development of Australian democracy and Australian identity. The Battle of the Eureka Stockade was fought between miners and the Colonial forces of Australia on 3 December 1854 and named for the stockade structure erected by miners during the conflict. The stockade itself was a makeshift wooden barricade enclosing about an acre of the goldfields.

© Peter Bennetts

Ground Floor Plan

In contrast to the hastily constructed barricade, the stockade wall by k20 Architecture is designed to embrace the community and protect the building’s program and playing field from the prevailing winds and harsh western sun. The wall emerges from the landscape and is made up of equal proportions of grey ironbark, spotted gum and stringy bark. Its curvilinear form in plan is the starting point for the stadium which contains the grand stand with 500 seated capacity, conference and catering facility for 200 people, external viewing decks and players change rooms, media rooms, and sports administration facilities.

In addition to the distinct and rugged outline of the Stockade wall, the BRSF building is characterized by distinct sectional cuts to the North and South accentuated by bold black skeletal forms and flashes of red in the eaves, the team colours of the host team the Ballarat Red Devils. The entry to the building allows a visitor to see into the heart of the club with the clubs honour wall and function rooms visible via the double height glazed entry.

© Peter Bennetts

East Elevation

South Elevation

Additionally, the facility has been designed to enhance the spectator’s experience and bring the viewer closer to the playing pitch. The coach’s boxes are also designed to be transparent with the grand stand elevated above the ground level to create a direct viewing line to the playing surface. The internal function rooms and catering facility also has important social and economic benefits to the club and broader community.

The facility is unique in that it has been designed specifically for the soccer community of regional Victoria. As a result, k20 Architecture was able to customize the design to emulate the experience of a world standard soccer stadium. This is illustrated in the alignment of the primary player’s race to the centre line of the playing pitch, which enables players of all ages and standards to experience key aspects of playing on the “big stage”.

© Peter Bennetts

Sustainable design innovations were intrinsically linked to the design as well as the development of sustainable design innovations. Passive solar design features include high-level extended eaves to reduce heat load on the building, double-glazing throughout and high levels of insulation. Natural ventilation is maximized via the inclusion of thermal chimneys providing stack effect cooling, and mixed mode heating and cooling through an under floor air-plenum to the first floor. k20 Architecture sourced recycled and local timber to assist with carbon sequestration, resulting in a reduced carbon footprint.

A high level of environmentally sustainable materials and fittings were incorporated and include low energy light fittings, low VOC paint, durable finishes for lower maintenance and longevity, carpet with 40% recycled content. Locally sourced and manufactured materials and components achieve approximately 80% of local content outcomes.

© Peter Bennetts

© Peter Bennetts

The grandstand seating is also made of recycled plastic while the timber is used from shading to external glazing. The grand stand was manufactured using off the shelf pre-built concrete construction planks.

Although it continues to evolve, with a master plan for future development still “in play”, the completion of Stage One of the BRSF provides a world-class home for soccer in the region. This was highlighted by its selection from a pool of national sports facilities to host Bahrain’s national soccer team in the 2015 Asian Cup. The building plays an important role in creating a link to the past with its Stockade wall whilst providing a valuable stimulus to the cultural, economic and social sustainability of the community.

© Peter Bennetts

West Elevation

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via Coordination Asia

• Architects: Coordination Asia
• Location: De Bang （ Chang Jiang Xi Lu ）, Baoshan Qu, Shanghai Shi, China, 200431
• Architect In Charge: Coordination Asia
• Design Team: Tilman Thürmer, Manuela Mappa, Jinjin Wang, Vega Li, Kiki Tang, Shirley Li, Catherine Hewett, Bon Wen
• Area: 2100.0 sqm
• Project Year: 2016
• Photographs: via Coordination Asia

• Client: Shanghai G+ Culture Creative Developing Co.,Ltd

via Coordination Asia

From the architect. As part of the Shanghai Museum of Glass and its home G+PARK’s fifth anniversary, COORDINATION ASIA has designed the two-floor Design Wing, breathing new life into a former industrial building. Linked to the Shanghai Museum of Glass main hall by the Golden Fire Bridge, constructed of tinted glass with a special holographic treatment, the Design Wing serves as a beautifully minimalist extension of one of Shanghai’s most unique museums. 

Section

via Coordination Asia

While in separate buildings, these two facets of the museum park are linked by their exploration of what glass can do. Since opening in 2011, the collection of artworks and design pieces belonging to the museum has steadily grown, and the Design Wing is a space that can swiftly adapt to the ever-evolving design landscape in glass, representing the possibilities that glass offers.

via Coordination Asia

Exquisite pieces from Pia Wüstenberg, Formafantasma, Nendo, the Campana Brothers, and more are available to view in this permanent collection. The curated variety demonstrates the breadth of the material’s properties. Renowned architect Tadao Ando, whose glasswork is also on display in the Design Wing, sums up this unique medium beautifully: “During a time when human warmth is being lost, a material such a glass, in itself cold, preserves, through its hand-manufacturing, its warmth.”

via Coordination Asia

When walking from the Main Hall through the Golden Fire Bridge and into the Design Wing, the difference is stark. The two complement each other like night and day. Both are streamlined and minimalistic, however, the Main Hall is dark and withdrawn, made for a deep dive exploration of the glass world that looks inward. Encompassing 2,100 square metres, the Design Wing is open, brighter, and filled with daylight; perfect for creativity to grow, like a studio. It is like a canvas for the nature of these design works to reveal itself. Large windows and light walls maximise the natural light, and mirrors lining select sides of the interior create an effect of fathomless space.

via Coordination Asia

Though the majority of the space resembles a minimalist and clean studio, a mind-bending art installation sits at the central staircase that was commissioned for the space. Cleverly placed neon lights and mirrors play on the words “Whatever you think, think the opposite,” and “Everything essential is invisible to the eye” in English as well as their Chinese adaptations. More than a place to walk through and see incredible designs, the Design Wing gives visitors pause for thought about what they are experiencing.

via Coordination Asia

As the Shanghai Museum of Glass and G+PARK continue to develop, COORDINATION ASIA is proud to work closely with this trailblazing design museum in China, as they did with previous projects such as the award-winning Kids Museum of Glass and the highly acclaimed Rainbow Chapel. Tilman Thürmer, Founder and Design Director, hopes the Design Wing will become a destination for creative people looking for inspiration in the Chinese metropolis: “Like art, design has a desire to communicate, and the expressions of glass are truly endless. Once inside the Design Wing, every visitor will have an incredible idea of all the things you can say with this extraordinary material.”

via Coordination Asia

Zhang Lin, President of G+PARK, is pleased to welcome the wing as a new commemorative addition to the Park for its anniversary: “Design has been increasingly important in the current industrial society, not only making life better, but also bringing spirit. During the initial stage of the museum founding, we have formed a steady and sound cooperation with COORDINATION ASIA, whose creative design and rigorous work attitude pairs well with such powerful and unconstrained glass artworks.”

Section

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© Flickr cc user letsbook. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

One man’s trash is another man’s building material. Researchers from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (commonly known as RMIT University) have developed a technique for making bricks out of one of the world’s most stubborn forms of pollution: discarded cigarette butts.  Led by Dr. Abbas Mohajerani, the team discovered that manufacturing fired-clay bricks with as little as 1 percent cigarette butt content could completely offset annual worldwide cigarette production, while also producing a lighter, more efficient brick.

Courtesy of RMIT University

Dealing with cigarette waste is one of the world’s most difficult environmental dilemmas: billions of cigarettes are littered worldwide each year, causing millions of tonnes of toxic waste containing metals like arsenic, chromium, nickel, and cadmium to be released into soil and waterways.

According to Dr. Mohajerani, “About 6 trillion cigarettes are produced every year, leading to 1.2 million tonnes of cigarette butt waste. These figures are expected to increase by more than 50 per cent by 2025, mainly due to an increase in world population.

© Flickr cc user restlessglobetrotter. Licensed under CC BY 2.0

The solution? Introducing the accumulated cigarette butts into the clay of bricks before firing. In addition to the environment benefits, Mohajerani’s team found that adding the butts cut the energy expended in the firing process by up to 58 percent. The finished bricks maintain the comparable structural properties to normal bricks, but were lighter and had better insulation capabilities. The firing process also traps the poisonous pollutants from the cigarettes inside the bricks, so they can’t be leached into the environment.

“Incorporating butts into bricks can effectively solve a global litter problem as recycled cigarette butts can be placed in bricks without any fear of leaching or contamination,” says Mohajerani. “They are also cheaper to produce in terms of energy requirements, and as more butts are incorporated, the energy cost decreases further.”

News via RMIT’s post on EurekAlert, H/T Science Daily

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© Jovian Lim

• Architects: Wynk Collaborative
• Location: Singapore
• Principals: Leong Hon-Kit & Si Jianxin
• Client: Honestbee
• Area: 12000.0 ft2
• Project Year: 2015
• Photographs: Jovian Lim

• Main Contractor: ISG plc

© Jovian Lim

Plan

From the architect. Honestbee is an online grocery delivery service based in Singapore, with operations in Singapore and other parts of the Asian region. Located in a former industrial warehouse space, the office is designed to accommodate around 120 staff members, with the aim to create an open and collaborative environment that blends the functions of work, play and community. A complex of spaces are arranged around 2 volumes inserted into the space, one containing a series of meeting rooms and library, and the other a small theatre; creating a variety of situations that allow for different activities to occur, from more tradition desktop work spaces and meeting rooms, to casual seating areas and informal little nooks, to small plaza-like spaces. There is also a series of enclosed and secret rooms waiting to be discovered. Many of the casual interstitial spaces are designed without a predetermined programme to allow a certain flexibility and spontaneity to occur. The whole complex is unified by the generous splashes of colours throughout and the presence of the existing waffle slab ceiling that is left exposed.

© Jovian Lim

Entrance
The entrance is along a common corridor, with the entrance door set in from the bounding wall to create a small foyer space. The foyer space is finished with stained timber panelling and yellow back-painted glass, with a neon light to mark the entrance. This space is deliberately kept dark to contrast with the brightness and colours of the interior, to create a sense of surprise when one enters for the first time.

© Jovian Lim

The Meeting Block
When one enters the premises, one is confronted with a block that contains the reception, meeting rooms, a library alley, and various hidden Skype rooms that are behind concealed doors. There is also a ladder in one of the hidden rooms that contains a ladder that allows access to the roof of the Meeting Block. A corner of the Meeting Block is cut away to create a circular plaza space, between the Meeting Block and the office spaces.

© Jovian Lim

The Office
The office  is designed with an open concept with daylight flooding in from the windows at the side. A variety of types of workspaces are created to catered to the work habits of the different individuals. Beside the standard open benching, there are standing height desks, booth style workspaces allowing for close collaboration, and arched niches for people who prefer to a more private setting for their workspace.  A glass meeting room punctuates the office allowing for transparency through the whole space. A hexagonal array of tube lights spread across the ceiling ties the whole office space together. 

© Jovian Lim

The Pantry
The pantry area consists of a small kitchenette and also a coffee stand that opens at certain times to serve coffee to the office staff and also to the other occupants of the building. A reconfigurable seating area is situated in front. The pantry caters for daily lunch and can function as an event space. There is also a small  “outdoor” area at the end of the pantry that is open to the fresh air outside.

© Jovian Lim

The Theatre
A small 25-seater serves as a media room and also as a seminar room for staff training. Internally, the theatre is cladded in navy colour acoustic panels with the stepped flooring in a bright blue carpet. The theatre seats, recycled from an old theatre in Singapore, form the central focus of the theatre. Externally, the volume containing the theatre is cladded in a patchwork of veneer panels. The front of the theatre can be opened up to let the space in the theatre flow into the pantry just outside. This allows for the “stage” area to be extended outwards or for the theatre to function as additional seating for the pantry. 

© Jovian Lim

Unprogrammed Spaces
Many of the common corridor and interstitial spaces are deliberately designed to be quite generous, and without program, allowing for spontaneity and creative input from the user in deciding how to utilise them. Things like, townhall-style gatherings, hackathons/makeathons, recreational activities, festive decorations (like a big christmas tree) etc, can easily happen in these spaces. 

© Jovian Lim

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Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill’s Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon has been on the chopping block for some time now: since the city’s NBA team moved to the Moda Center (known also as the Rose Garden) next door in 1995, the building has struggled to find the funding necessary for maintenance, and since 2009 calls have been made for the demolition of the iconic modernist structure. The threat reached peak levels last October, when the Portland City Council nearly voted to approve a proposal for demolition before ultimately denying it by a narrow 3-2 margin.

Now, preservationists have a new designation to use in their defense. Today, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named the Veterans Memorial Coliseum its newest National Treasure, joining 60 other threatened sites including the Houston Astrodome and Philip Johnson’s New York State Pavilion for the 1964-65 World’s Fair.

© Wikimedia cc user Steve Morgan. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

One of the Pacific Northwest’s most significant examples of International Style architecture, the Memorial Coliseum was selected for both its historical value and engineering feats. The arena has played host to over 5,000 events in its 56 years, including performances from the Beatles and speeches by Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama, and features an innovative structural system that places the building’s entire weight onto just four concrete columns, intended to provide spectators with unobstructed views of the city through the building’s glass envelope.

via City of Portland Archives

“We believe this mid-century masterpiece is poised to once again become a symbol of Portland’s highest aspirations,” said Brian Libby, member of Friends of Memorial Coliseum, a local coalition dedicated to preserving the VMC. “This building’s potential in its intended open-curtain configuration, with a 360-degree view from your seats to the outside, has remained hidden away even from Oregonians who have spent their lives attending the Coliseum. We’re inspired to renew its possibilities and build on its design’s cultural and economic value.”

© Flickr cc user diversey. Licensed under CC BY 2.0.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation lists National Treasures as “threatened buildings, neighborhoods, communities, and landscapes that stand at risk across the country.” While the building is already listed on the National Register of Historic Places, inclusion on the National Treasures list allows the trust to provide the funds, organization, promotion and legal action necessary to protect places of history and significance. The designation does not ensure preservation, however – while many projects have been saved by the organization, such as Cincinnati’s Union Station and Chicago’s Pullman Historic District, others have still been lost to the wrecking ball, including Bertrand Goldberg’s iconic Prentice Women’s Hospital in 2013.

© Flickr cc user A.F. Litt. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

For now, the Veterans Memorial Coliseum is still fighting an uphill battle. A study published last year by the city showed that even spending the $35.1 million to $142.9 million necessary to upgrade the facility would not make the arena profitable, and the city’s growing demand for housing has made the site even more valuable to potential developers. The struggle between historical value and functionality is not one easily resolved, but with its new status as a National Treasure, the VMC may yet stand a fighting chance.

via City of Portland Archives

via City of Portland Archives

© Wikimedia cc user Steve Morgan. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

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