© Zachary C. Hone

• Architects: JCA
• Location: Taipei, Taiwan
• Lead Designers: Johnny Chiu, Nora Wang, Maria Isabel Lima
• Area: 315.0 sqm
• Project Year: 2016
• Photographs: Zachary C. Hone

• Function: Space Furniture, Commercial Space
• Outdoor: 212 sqm

© Zachary C. Hone

A collaboration that started with a discussion of what makes one feel happy, whether tangible or a feeling, from small pleasures tolife conquests. Happier cafe is a place for change and evolution, where people feel comfortable but also are key attributes to the space. For that, we believe each person sharing the space should be able to change and contribute to its creation. 

Diagrams

Diagram

We imagined it as an art installation, given the lease was granted for only six months, something perhaps temporary, nonetheless imaginative and playful. Using paper was an ideal scheme to allow people to express, build, and adjust the environment according to their mood. Paper became a simple tool that records the change of the space, and the idea that each one of us can seek and manipulate their own search for balance and transformation. 

© Zachary C. Hone

Plan

© Zachary C. Hone

Large paper rolls create a time machine installation, forming walkways, niches, and intimate spaces for coach sessions, gatherings and relaxation. The cafe bar is designed as an open counter where users hand pick their snacks and prepare their drinks, and are trusted to pay and collect their own change, enabling and sharing the responsibility and maintenance of the space to the community, an overall feeling that directly connects the people and space together.  

© Zachary C. Hone

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Courtesy of Design Week Mexico

Now in its eighth edition, Design Week Mexico, in collaboration with Museo Tamayo, has unveiled the design for a major public architectural pavilion designed by leading German architects Nikolaus Hirsch and Michel Müller. Until Spring 2017, the installation will be a cultural attraction at Chapultepec Park, Mexico City’s largest public park. 

Courtesy of Design Week Mexico

Entitled Museum of Immortality II, the project is based on an unrealized concept by German-Russian philosopher Boris Groys, and draws on 19^th Century Russian philosopher Nikolai Federov’s “notion of the ‘Common Task,’ which envisions the creation of the social and political conditions necessary to achieve technological immortality and material resurrection for all men who have ever lived. Federov believed that museums provided the ideal setting for such resurrections to take place, having developed preservation and conservation techniques.”

Courtesy of Design Week Mexico

Made up of modules assembled into a six-by-six and eight-meter-high hexagonal arrangement, the installation is situated in Museo Tamayo’s gardens in a vertical configuration—opposite of that of the project’s arrangement while it was on display in Beirut as Museum of Immortality I, when its configuration was horizontal.

Courtesy of Design Week Mexico

The architectural structure is additionally accompanied by a 30-minute video by Anton Vidokle and Oleksiy Radynski that explored the theoretical premises of the project.

Courtesy of Design Week Mexico

Courtesy of Design Week Mexico

We are thrilled to show a prototype for the Museum of Immortality in Mexico City, said architects Hirsch and Müller. Its deep fascination with death cults makes Mexico a very special context for such a speculative project. Based on theories of cosmism and resurrection by philosopher Boris Groys and artist Anton Vidokle, we try to speculate on the limits of what we call design and the material world. We ask: can we design after-life? Can—as the context of the Museo Tamayo suggests—humans be preserved like museum artifacts?

Courtesy of Design Week Mexico

Courtesy of Design Week Mexico

News via Design Week Mexico. 

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Courtesy of Behnisch Architekten

Behnisch Architekten has announced the groundbreaking of the AGORA—Cancer Research Center located in Lausanne, Switzerland within sight of Lake Geneva. As the new home of the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), the Center will bring together 400 researchers, scientists, doctors, and clinicians under the goal of enhanced communication. 

The new AGORA building will connect to an existing building on one side, with minimal disruptions to existing programming. “Visual relationships both on the site and to the landscape beyond require a carefully defined building mass and the new building responds sensitively to these site conditions while sculpturally standing out from its heterogeneous surroundings.”

Courtesy of Behnisch Architekten

Both interdisciplinary and disciplinary communication will be addressed in the organization of the building’s floor plans. The public level of the center will connect the campus’ existing pathways with the laboratory and office levels via interconnected communication areas and informal workspaces.

Courtesy of Behnisch Architekten

Designed to enhance daylight use throughout the building while minimizing heat gain, the building’s skin will work in conjunction with daylight enhancement systems and optimized sunlight protection. Furthermore, operable windows will allow for natural ventilation, providing better individual climate control.

Courtesy of Behnisch Architekten

A green rooftop will provide recreational space for the building.

AGORA is expected to be completed in 2017.

News via Behnisch Architekten. 

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© Marcos Betanzos

• Architect: Muñoz Arquitectos
• Location: Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
• Architect In Charge: Javier Muñoz Menéndez
• Area: 235.55 sqm
• Project Year: 2015
• Photographs: Marcos Betanzos

• Construcción: Ing. Eduardo Ancona
• Gaviones: Ing. Ricardo Solís

© Marcos Betanzos

From the architect. Hermana República is a tasting place for Patito a beer made in a local brewery. Behind this tasting spot is the factory where the beer is made.

© Marcos Betanzos

There are two conceptual axis that ruled this project; the first one was to create an environment that has a bound with the beer production, an industrial environment that is also a comfortable place to drink beer. The plan was to create a place that had an environment of a yucatecan cantina and a good restaurant where you can go and have a quality meal.

© Marcos Betanzos

On the other hand, one of the strongest concepts of the craft beer served in Hermana República, is it’s ingrained with the sister republic of Yucatán, therefore its name. The formal and constructive concept of this point of sale has strong roots on the constructive systems and the formal space of construction in Yucatán.

Sketch

Plan

The traditional “stone walls” of Yucatán, are represented by gabion walls in which they inserted some PVC tubes to allow the wind to pass through. This gabion walls hold a big metallic box that also evokes the big structures in which henequen and other products from our region where stored.

© Marcos Betanzos

The interior is not presumptuous; it’s all about natural concrete floors, essential furniture designed by Oscar Hagerman, a very casual environment but at the same time with a human scale that provides us confidence and warmth.

© Marcos Betanzos

The constructive system made by Joist structures that holds a concrete roof in which the constructors left the wood falsework apparent, an illumination based on hanging sources of light without any lamp to cover or decorate them.

Sketch

The general volumetry of Hermana República is conceived as a big metallic box supported by this gabion walls that don’t meet with the box but they stand out of it accommodating the services and framing the beer garden that its used for private parties and on weekends its used as a parking lot for food trucks that get together and create this casual environment.

© Marcos Betanzos

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via Dilip Khatri

For architects seeking NCARB licensure, few things are more daunting than the dreaded structural exam. But now, thanks to a series of videos from structural engineer Dilip Khatri, even those of us who spent more time doodling than paying attention in college engineering classes can acquire the skills needed to pass the structural section of the ARE.

Khatri, principal of Khatri International Structural and Civil Engineers, has a PHD in Structural Engineering from the University of Southern California and over 30 years experience in the profession, including over 20 years of teaching structural engineering. In the videos, he covers everything you’ll need to know for the exam, from test-taking strategy to shear and moment diagramming to complex problem solving, illustrating with the help of a sharpie pen.

Check out the videos below, and find links to supplementary notes here:

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Team Rambo, also known as Ramboland, is a project born from the need of Ron Rambo, born with Cerebral Palsy, for a home that can support his disability and increase his quality of life. However, Ramboland doesn’t just stop there. LEED Fellow Max Zahniser, has used his experience with Green Architecture to combine Ron’s social vision with an environmental one that can benefit the entire community. The meeting of these objectives has been defined by the goal “to design a project that will actually increase the vitality of life and life-support systems in every way possible,” using architecture to make a difference. 

Courtesy of Team Rambo

The building that will result from the Ramboland project aims to be not only energy grid independent, but also water grid independent and 50% food “grid” independent. As a result of the solar panelled roof, the house is estimated to generate about 40,000kWh/year – far more energy than it consumes. Any excess energy could be shared with neighbors, as well as support the surrounding common area. In addition to this, Ramboland hopes to generate funding for an accessible electrical car that could be shared with nearby residents in wheelchairs. The building’s backyard will be an edible Permaculture garden, with the only required maintenance being to harvest all the fruits, nuts, herbs and vegetables that will be growing there. 

Courtesy of Unknown

In order for Ron to access the agricultural space, the building will contain wheelchair accessible planter beds, in addition to adjustable height furniture and appliances, a suspension system between the bedroom and bathroom, automated mechanical and electrical systems and extra wide doors. At Ron’s request, the house is designed to accommodate anyone with any type of special needs that may inhabit the house in the future, greatly exceeding ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements. These elements and objectives embody the community-oriented foundation of the Ramboland project. As they put it themselves, “it’s not just about the building.” 

Courtesy of Team Rambo

When it comes to the technical aspects of the building, however, there is just as much attention to sustainability and health as with the rest of the project. Nearly no new materials are being used in the construction, as almost all of the project’s wood and steel elements will be sourced from reclaimed materials destined for landfills. Perhaps unexpectedly, the materials themselves will also contribute to building health; studies have shown that reclaimed materials often produce better indoor air quality, as any chemicals contained within them have been fully released over time. Obviously, this results in a far better environment for Ron’s health and comfort. By maximizing natural light and providing greenery indoors and views to the outdoors, the architecture also increases the physical, as well as the mental and emotional health of any inhabitants. 

Courtesy of Team Rambo

Clearly, Team Rambo is fulfilling their philosophy of extending the length and enhancing the quality of life, while reducing costs and improving sustainability. It’s no wonder that the project is so well received by the community; the architecture it looking to influence society far beyond the property line, improving the natural and social environment of the area.

You can find out more about the Ramboland project on the project website, here.

Courtesy of Team Rambo

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© Garrett Rowland

• Interiors Designers: FormNation
• Location: Little Italy, New York, NY 10012, United States
• Design Team : Jan Habraken, Lotte van Velzen
• Area: 7500.0 ft2
• Project Year: 2016
• Photographs: Garrett Rowland

• Fabricator: Abunch

© Garrett Rowland

Located in New York’s Little Italy, Karma’s office was transformed by design studio FormNation into a modern space that combines Dutch and American design influences and provides transparency, communication and work-life balances for the employees.

© Garrett Rowland

Karma’s design brief was short, but clear: Design a space with 40 desks, ample break out areas, a war room, communal lunch space for 40, that fits the brand, and they had to move in there in 4 weeks.

© Garrett Rowland

Karma is a tech start up with strong Dutch influences, that brings a clear, simple, honest and powerful wifi product to the US. Without falling into the typical start up design trap of creating an industrial chic loft design with a slide, FormNation relied on its own Dutch background and design influences to create an aesthetic that focused on a mix of clean Dutch design with American design. 

© Garrett Rowland

The L-shaped space boasts a 14’ tin ceiling in an industrial loft with an abundance of natural light from large windows along one wall that overlooks Little Italy and provides the perfect environment for collaboration and communication.

© Garrett Rowland

The space is divided into 3 main areas:
Work: A colorful pathway of blue and grey floor tiles welcomes employees and guests alike into the office. Employee desks are laid out in a clean grid, comfortable lounge seating exist in the center aisle for conversations and the windows are visible from all desks so everyone can enjoy the view and sunlight. The large, white Delta lights by Rich Brilliant Willing create a cozy work environment and the perfect working light. To top off the space is an oversized company logo, in iconic Dutch orange, resembling an all-American gas station. 

Floor Plan

Meet/private: FormNation built an extension to the existing conference rooms to create an open war room for meetings and brainstorming sessions in a central location. The conference rooms offer transparency through their glass walls and functionality as the walls are often used to write meeting notes. The conference rooms are a mix of Scandinavian design with American industrial chic.

© Garrett Rowland

Relax/break out: Adjacent to the meeting rooms is a lunch space big enough for the entire office with a long communal table and 40 modern handmade lamps that provide a mix of Brooklyn industrial design and European flair. Following Dutch tradition, Karma employees eat lunch together every day and then take a walk to get coffee. It’s become the norm for Karma now but it’s still strange for new employees to take an hour from their day to eat and not talk about work. 

Employees often enjoy their coffee in the break out space featuring grey Moroso sofas and iconic Anglepoise lamps in white.

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The wide range in which pieces of masonry can be arranged allows for multiple spatial configurations. Born in a furnace, the brick adorns and reinforces, protects and—to various degrees—brings natural light into spaces that need slight, natural illumination. 

Throughout history, traditional brick-laying consisted of predetermined arrangement of parts, and lines of rope to guide the consistency and placement of each individual brick. But there are many other ways to exploit this multi-faceted, timeless material, so we’ve selected 16 projects that demonstrate the potential of the humble brick. 

Below find 16 construction details from projects that use bricks in ingenious ways. 

01. House of Sieves / Francisco Cadau 

Courtesy of Francisco Cadau oficina de arquitectura

02. Brick House / Ventura Virzi arquitectos 

via © Ventura Virzi arquitectos

03. Alejandra House / Cekada-Romanos Arquitectos 

via © CEKADA-ROMANOS arquitectos

04. YAS House / Estudio Arzubialde 

via © Estudio Arzubialde

05. House Parque Leloir / Becker & Ferrari Arquitectos 

via © Becker Ferrari arquitectos

06. Brick House / AZL architects 

via © AZL architects

07. Alfonsina House / CEKADA-ROMANOS Arquitectos

via © CEKADA-ROMANOS arquitectos

08. Corisco Houses / RVdM Arquitectos 

via © RVdM Arquitectos

09. Quinta House / RAIZALCUBO Arquitectura

via © RAIZALCUBO Arquitectura

10. Casa Tabique / TAC Taller de Arquitectura Contextual

via © TAC Taller de Arquitectura Contextual

11. GPL House / Estudio BLT

via © Estudio BLT

12. RedHouse / Hans Kabsch Vela 

via © Hans Kabsch Vela

13. “U” House / Eleonora Aquilante, Ariel Busch Arquitectos

via © Eleonora Aquilante, Ariel Busch Arquitectos

14. House in Carrizal / Daniel Moreno + Sebastián Calero 

via © Daniel Moreno + Sebastián Calero

15. 712 House / H Arquitectes

via © H Arquitectes

16. Experimental Brick Pavilion / Estudio Botteri-Connell

via © Estudio Botteri-Connell

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© Imagen Subliminal

• Architects: Israel Alba Estudio
• Location: Calle 3 Sur, 14, 28042 Madrid, Spain
• Area: 1100000.0 sqm
• Project Year: 2013
• Photographs: Imagen Subliminal , Courtesy of Unknown

• Collaborators: José María Cristóbal, Javier Martínez, Juan Nevado, Fernando Sanz
• Landscape: José Antonio de Frutos
• Measuring And Budget: Enrique Medina
• Quality Report: TÉCNICAS REUNIDAS, S.A.
• Client: Ayuntamiento de Madrid
• Years Of Activity: 22 years
• Tons Of Waste Accumulated / Accumulated Tons Of Waste: 21,7 million
• Waste Landfill Level Rising: 40 m
• Planted Shrubs: 300.000 units from 35 local species
• Planted Trees: 7.000 units from 16 local species
• Wetlands (New Ecosystems): 2 – 1.500 m2 each
• Hydroseeding: 400.000 m2
• Biogas Collection Wells: 280 – 42 Km of transport pipes
• Regulation And Measurement Stations: 10
• Accumulated Biogas: 433 millions of Nm3
• Electrical Energy Production / Production Of Electrical Energy: 1 million of MWh (equivalent to Madrid’s city lighting consumption durign 6 years)
• Reduction Of Greenhouse Gas Emissions: 3 millions tons of CO2
• Bicycle Lanes: 3,2 Km
• Pedestrian Paths: 4,0 Km

The project for the restoration and transformation of the Valdemingomez landfill in Madrid brings together four basic actions: sealing the surface of the landfill, extracting the biogas accumulated within it for use in generating electricity, while transforming the surface of the landfill into a public park of enormous biological value. This is a new public educational and cultural facility, situated in a strategic position for the development of the city. All of this was made possible by simply regenerating and transforming a heavily-damaged area.

© Imagen Subliminal

Plan 1

© Imagen Subliminal

Plan 3

© Imagen Subliminal

The Valdemingomez landfill constitutes an example of a proposed model of continuity between the forest and the surrounding area; a pseudo botanical garden with indigenous species seeking integration into the Parque Regional del Sureste. It was transformed into a free public area, along with woods and wetlands which have helped to create small localized ecosystems. Within it, one can observe the life of both nature and the city. The plan was to establish small colonies which would grow over time, expanding and becoming more complex, responding to local conditions, and this has indeed occurred.

Diagram

© Imagen Subliminal

Diagram

A series of public facilities were added to the recovery project after the reforestation: trails, paths, a bike lane connected to the rest of the city, small woods, picnic areas and two wetland lagoons with areas for observing both the newly developed ecosystems and the city, into which this new area will soon be incorporated.

© Imagen Subliminal

By assigning a new value to waste, the recovery and transformation of a landfill provides a new topography which is capable of being useful and productive for contemporary society, for leisure or for agriculture, revealing itself as a free space of the new city. The architectural project which was undertaken involved the proposal of new strategies for creating an area which will be open, flexible and dynamic throughout time, in a search for equilibrium between city and nature. 

Plan 2

This project’s relevance stems from its attainment of the three main objectives that this type of intervention required: resolving a complex technical problem, producing a new free public space and constructing a new landscape via the creation of soil and the manipulation of the topography. It could be affirmed that it is not a full recovery per se, because the natural state which was lost can never be recovered. Rather, it is a “reinvention” whose value lies in changing the attitude of man towards landscapes and areas of deterioration.

© Imagen Subliminal

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Courtesy of Schulz Architektur

• Architects: Schulz Architektur
• Location: Bad Aussee, Austria
• Area: 6641.0 sqm
• Project Year: 2013
• Photographs: Courtesy of Schulz Architektur, C. Wökinger Photography

• Sole Contractor: Porr Bau GmbH
• Management: GMF – Company for the development and management of recreational systems mbH & Co.
• Vivamar Operating Company: Bad Aussee mbH

Courtesy of Schulz Architektur

Bridging the tension between tradition and modernity 

Embedded in the breath-taking mountain landscape of the Salzkammergut, the new wellness and spa resort “Narzissenbad Aussee” is built on the “Lerchenreither Plateau” in Austria´s geographical heart and well-known recreational area Bad Aussee.

© C. Wökinger Photography

Local building tradition and modernity are combined to a contemporary architecture representing a mixture of domestic materials and modern, expressive design. The sharp and edgy form of the outer shell refers to the characteristic mountain range surrounding the area of Bad Aussee.

Section B

Depending on the point of view, the shape of the circumferential structure is designed to act as a continuation of the alpine skyline or to stand out as an independent, topographical point. The latter is accentuated by the tall entrance tower that marks the highest point of the building.

Courtesy of Schulz Architektur

The centrepiece of the resort is a brine grotto which was symbolically shaped as a salt crystal to underline the theme of brine itself. The interior design of the swimming complex combines the picturesque nature of the “Ausseerland-Salzkammergut” with the themes of salt and brine.

Courtesy of Schulz Architektur

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