© Ulysse Lemerise / OSA

• Architects: BONE Structure®
• Location: Wentworth, QC J0V, Canada
• Area: 3000.0 ft2
• Project Year: 2013
• Photographs: Ulysse Lemerise / OSA

© Ulysse Lemerise / OSA

Quebec is known worldwide for its picturesque landscapes and natural beauty – and along the horizon a new technology is disrupting how North Americans are building their homes. At the forefront of high-performance custom homes lies BONE Structure®, a company devoted to designing and building energy efficient steel structure homes. 

© Ulysse Lemerise / OSA

Situated two hours northwest of Montreal, in the township of Wentworth, this 3,000 sq. ft. home is characterized by its open concept main floor and easy access walk-out basement. 

Floor Plan

The wrap-around balcony encourages the occupants to step outside and enjoy the natural view of the Laurentians. Indoors, they continue to breathe easy in the completely open-concept main floor. The sense of peace comes from a combination of the open floor plan and the 15’ ceilings above the living and lounge space. The floor to ceiling black aluminum windows allow light to completely flood the social spaces of the main floor and highlight the elegantly simple furnishings of the home. The main floor boasts primarily white furnishings, accented with natural wooden and sandy tones that complement the natural forest outside. Most notably, the kitchen stands out on its own, with its quartz Caesarstone countertop and black walnut natural tone cabinets. The polished concrete flooring that supports this floor is radiant and emits heat as necessary for comfort in the chilly Canadian winter months. The master bedroom has arguably one of the best views in the house and a personal walk-out balcony that allows occupants to completely immerse themselves in it.

© Ulysse Lemerise / OSA

Descending into the walkout basement, guests may find themselves seated in the supplementary lounge space or in one of the two additional bedrooms available in the home. The walkout to the outdoors is an excellent complement to the balcony of the main floor. Guests can now venture outside, unrestricted and as far into the woods as desired.

Floor Plan

This home would not have been complete without the exterior’s classic finish of wood siding from Maibec, outlined with black metal that gives this home its modern feel. 

Courtesy of BONE Structure®

Detail

© Ulysse Lemerise / OSA

BONE Structure challenges the traditional construction process with its innovative patented steel construction system, allowing a home of this size to be built and ready to move in within a few months. All BONE Structure homes are pre-engineered to the highest standards with incomparable precision and flexibility; while making it simple and fun for their clients. 

© Ulysse Lemerise / OSA

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Courtesy of Aedas

Aedas has released its design for Gmond International Building, a representative regeneration project located in the old town area of Shenzhen, China. The 200-meter super high-rise building is inspired by the traditional form of Chinese totem bamboo, which symbolizes prosperity and moral integrity.

With nearly 60,000 square meters of gross floor area, the building will house the headquarters for Tellus-Gmond, Grade 5A lettable office spaces, and a jewelry-trading center.

Courtesy of Aedas

Courtesy of Aedas

“The ascending podium massing recaptures a growing bamboo, featuring exterior landscaped staircases, public platforms, eco-friendly rooftop gardens, and an art center that will also serve as a jewelry exhibition venue.”

Courtesy of Aedas

Courtesy of Aedas

Additionally, the podium façade resembles large bamboo leaves, and encloses the commercial component of the building, “forming an interesting duet with the blooming tower.”

Courtesy of Aedas

Gmond International Building is expected to be completed in 2019.

News via Aedas. 

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© Takuji Shimmura

• Architects: MGAU
• Location: Paris, France
• Architects In Charge: Michel Guthmann, Stéphanie Appert, Olivier Barthe
• Area: 4500.0 m2
• Project Year: 2016
• Photographs: Takuji Shimmura

• Architects Team: Oona Savransky, Nicolas Zaegel
• Engineers: AT3E (MEP)
• Client: NEXITY
• Constructors: ECM, HELBUL, EEGC,

© Takuji Shimmura

The project for Lot B1 of the Saint Denis Confluence urban project is located on the south side of the West Square in front of the RER Saint Denis station. It is one of the first projects to be built in this new district, and is a natural extension of the overarching vision of the coordinating urban planners. Thanks to its location, it is exceptionnaly visible from the front square of the railway station. The building takes full advantage of this location on the square, while masking effects and shadows created by inserting the building between the public space and the sun are minimized in order to ensure the highest possible quality of housing.

Axonometric

Schemas

It is a relatively compact building aligned along the streets, it can be considered from different angles: its urban presence, its multi-functional street level that enlivens the public space, and as the part of a built environment encircling a central interior garden.

© Takuji Shimmura

A large vertical fault opens a passage out of the north façade, revealing a less massive silhouette from the far end of the square, and allowing the planted, sunny interior of the block to be felt all the way from the station. Light and sun can therefore shine through from the south to the square and diminish the shadows cast by the building. The reflection of light on the interior façades of this passageway add vibrancy and a variable component that changes according to the hour of the day and the season.

© Takuji Shimmura

Floor Plan

© Takuji Shimmura

Dividing the building in such a way allows for the multiplication of orientations, and maximizes the light and energy provided by the sun. All the landings are naturally lit.

Section

The interior and city façades are in contrast one to another. On the city side, a strict pattern of openings confirms its urban stature. These facades are finished with a dark material (dark plaster) that is in keeping with the urban surroundings. The interior façades, on the other hand, largely exposed to the sun, are finished with a light-colored paint (light metal paint), which reflects the sunlight all the way to the square. A planted, open-ground garden sits in the center of the block. 

© Takuji Shimmura

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© Omega Render

Mecanoo has unveiled its design to transform The Soestdijk Estate into Eden Soestdijk, “an experimental garden for a sustainable society and a paradise destination for all” in The Netherlands. In an effort to become an educational tool for environmental awareness, the project aims to make a significant contribution to meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

“The world is facing pressure from increasingly larger and more complex problems when it comes to water, food, climate and energy,” said Anton Valk, chairman of the Eden Soestdijk foundation. “Eden Soestdijk wants to tackle these problems and contribute to a more sustainable society by stimulating and inspiring visitors to change their behaviour in a positive way.”

An architectural greenhouse behind the palace gardens will be the centerpiece of the project, and will house an interactive exhibition focusing on topics like circularity, ecological balance, and social aspects of sustainability.

© Mecanoo architecten

© Mecanoo architecten

The existing palace and gardens will be restored to their original character. Chambers within the palace will showcase the estate’s history and residents, and will serve as cultural and business event space, as well as an incubator space for entrepreneurial sustainability efforts. Moreover, the wing chambers of the palace will house multimedia, interactive exhibitions.

© Mecanoo architecten

© Rijksvastgoedbedrijf

“The palace gardens will be restored in full glory. Exciting, educative and fairytale-like gardens and landscapes strengthen the experience of nature. They will each connect with the central theme of sustainability while showcasing a unique individual atmosphere.”

© Mecanoo architecten

A pedestrian and cycling tunnel beneath the Amsterdamse Straatweg will provide public access to the front square, which connects the palace and restaurant in the conservatory.

“The Palace Soestdijk Estate is one of the most fairytale like surroundings of the Netherlands: the ideal canvas for Eden Soestdijk,” noted Francine Houben, Creative Director at Mecanoo. “The royal family has always cherished the relationship with the surrounding landscape. The plan for Eden Soestdijk responds to this in a beautiful manner.”

© Mecanoo architecten

© Mecanoo architecten

From 2020 onwards, more than half a million visitors are expected to come to Eden Soestdijk annually, which is projected to feed 57 million euros back into the regional economy each year.

As a response to the redevelopment competition for the Palace organized by the Dutch government, the proposal is a collaboration between the Eden Soestdijk foundation, Mecanoo architecten, Kossmann.dejong and Royal HaskoningDHV. Development of the project additionally is in dialogue with residents, entrepreneurs, and organizations from the region.

Learn more about the project here.

News via Mecanoo.

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