From the architect. On a gritty stretch of Venice Boulevard in Los Angeles, the PSPMLA office sits on a previously vacant 2,500 sf infill commercial parcel. Dubbed the “Light Box” for its simple geometry slotted in acknowledgement of the natural solar conditions, the 2,200 sf office for a boutique property management firm discretely slips into the streetscape of tightly packed auto body shops, neon sign fabricators, digital printers, and various light commercial businesses. The design expands upon the urban texture of the street, while also carving out a bright, naturally illuminated respite for the office staff and their clientele.
The project is composed of two primary furniture elements, a double height rift sawn white oak clad spatial volume and a white lacquered cluster of seating modules, inserted into a 25’-0” wide X 66’-6” long X 22’-6” tall building envelope. To maximize the useable area of the narrow lot, the exterior walls were assembled and waterproofing installed horizontally on site and then tilted into position along the property lines with a crane. Following the completion of the envelope, the furniture elements were installed within the space. The office’s interior is organized into three zones of program: the double height ground floor area contains the primary circulation and the staff seating; the ground floor of the wood insertion is populated by the waiting room, conference room, two management offices, and the restrooms; and the mezzanine holds additional staff workrooms and storage areas.
Diagram
In response to the contrasting goals of an open and naturally lit, yet secure and private working environment, the “Light Box” is fitted with an array of skylights within the ceiling slots at the roof and a perforated steel screen at the Venice Boulevard façade. The skylights register the time of day through the constantly changing light on the wood interior. In addition, the scale and orientation of the façade screen provides diffused lighting in the afternoon and presents an illuminated edifice by night to safely light the sidewalk and bike parking at the street. Ultimately, the “Light Box” serves as a device to both capture and emit the quintessential glow of Los Angeles.
Product Description. The rift sawn white oak cladding is used to define the double height furniture element inserted into the overall building envelope. To contrast the purity of the smooth plaster interior, this furniture element is assembled of various sized panels detailed at the scale of furniture. This composition proves an excellent canvas to capture the changing light patterns throughout the day.
Street Plaza View. Image Courtesy of Ennead Architects
Ennead Architects has broken ground on the construction of an addition to the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) in Salem, Massachusetts, the country’s oldest continuously operating museum (since 1799).
The expansion project includes a new 40,000 square foot wing and 17,500 square feet of renovation to adjacent structures. Upon completion, total gallery space will be increased by 15% for a total of 100,000 square feet, making the Peabody Essex into one of the top 20 art museums in the country.
Entrance. Image Courtesy of Ennead Architects
“Designed to clarify and strengthen the Museum’s current programming, the new wing will enhance the older sections of the museum while providing new gallery spaces dedicated to the presentation of the museum’s extensive collection, creating a new, unified sequence throughout,” says lead designer and Ennead partner Richard Olcott.
South Atrium. Image Courtesy of Ennead Architects
The new wing will be located on the northwest corner of the museum complex, linking the East India Marine Hall to the east, the Asian Export Art Wing to the south, and a new 5,000 SF garden to the west. Behind the structure’s stone and glass facade, a three-story gallery space will connect to the existing museum through a double-height glass atrium, bringing natural light into the building.
East Atrium. Image Courtesy of Ennead Architects
Bridge. Image Courtesy of Ennead Architects
“This naturally lit, interior atrium brings the historic Salem street fabric into the museum while providing new space for circulation, respite and events,” explain the architects in a press release.
The project is led by Richard Olcott along with management partner Molly McGowan. The new wing is scheduled to open to the public in 2019.
From the architect. We spent a year and a half or more on this project, working with one of the persons I care most in the world and who also happens to know about architecture. Having such clients is a privilege, because they let you do your work with an understanding of the reasons for your decisions.
Developing the plot was not the hardest thing: from the beginning we wanted the house to be positioned at the end of the plot and give priority to the views and breeze in order to make full use of the plot’s amplitude 5,000 –square-meters (50 by 100 meters).
Sketch
The requirement was to make a garden more than a house. The challenge was creating a setting rather than a container, with a unique program. The house is arranged in two volumes, one sitting firmly on the plot and other one floating above, with a visual connection between both. A special virtue of the project is the diversity of scales in the various areas: double-height spaces, corners with 2.20 meters, open-plan spaces throughout with a cozy slab that is welcoming and level changing on the floors.
The common and service areas are all on ground level. The second volume contains the bedrooms and at the same time is the roof of a large terrace. Between the two volumes is a reflecting pond, with fish and lilies. It works as a screen which reflects various episodes of architecture throughout the day. I consider that this house needs more time for the gardens to assume the leading role that they had when the project was first conceived.
The one and a half year of developing the project and the two years of construction, were very eventful. Sudden changes, readjustments of the soul and unforeseen absences, all combined to create a house that happened to be a special experience.
From the architect. We spent a year and a half or more on this project, working with one of the persons I care most in the world and who also happens to know about architecture. Having such clients is a privilege, because they let you do your work with an understanding of the reasons for your decisions.
Developing the plot was not the hardest thing: from the beginning we wanted the house to be positioned at the end of the plot and give priority to the views and breeze in order to make full use of the plot’s amplitude 5,000 –square-meters (50 by 100 meters).
Sketch
The requirement was to make a garden more than a house. The challenge was creating a setting rather than a container, with a unique program. The house is arranged in two volumes, one sitting firmly on the plot and other one floating above, with a visual connection between both. A special virtue of the project is the diversity of scales in the various areas: double-height spaces, corners with 2.20 meters, open-plan spaces throughout with a cozy slab that is welcoming and level changing on the floors.
The common and service areas are all on ground level. The second volume contains the bedrooms and at the same time is the roof of a large terrace. Between the two volumes is a reflecting pond, with fish and lilies. It works as a screen which reflects various episodes of architecture throughout the day. I consider that this house needs more time for the gardens to assume the leading role that they had when the project was first conceived.
The one and a half year of developing the project and the two years of construction, were very eventful. Sudden changes, readjustments of the soul and unforeseen absences, all combined to create a house that happened to be a special experience.
From the architect. We spent a year and a half or more on this project, working with one of the persons I care most in the world and who also happens to know about architecture. Having such clients is a privilege, because they let you do your work with an understanding of the reasons for your decisions.
Developing the plot was not the hardest thing: from the beginning we wanted the house to be positioned at the end of the plot and give priority to the views and breeze in order to make full use of the plot’s amplitude 5,000 –square-meters (50 by 100 meters).
Sketch
The requirement was to make a garden more than a house. The challenge was creating a setting rather than a container, with a unique program. The house is arranged in two volumes, one sitting firmly on the plot and other one floating above, with a visual connection between both. A special virtue of the project is the diversity of scales in the various areas: double-height spaces, corners with 2.20 meters, open-plan spaces throughout with a cozy slab that is welcoming and level changing on the floors.
The common and service areas are all on ground level. The second volume contains the bedrooms and at the same time is the roof of a large terrace. Between the two volumes is a reflecting pond, with fish and lilies. It works as a screen which reflects various episodes of architecture throughout the day. I consider that this house needs more time for the gardens to assume the leading role that they had when the project was first conceived.
The one and a half year of developing the project and the two years of construction, were very eventful. Sudden changes, readjustments of the soul and unforeseen absences, all combined to create a house that happened to be a special experience.
From the architect. We spent a year and a half or more on this project, working with one of the persons I care most in the world and who also happens to know about architecture. Having such clients is a privilege, because they let you do your work with an understanding of the reasons for your decisions.
Developing the plot was not the hardest thing: from the beginning we wanted the house to be positioned at the end of the plot and give priority to the views and breeze in order to make full use of the plot’s amplitude 5,000 –square-meters (50 by 100 meters).
Sketch
The requirement was to make a garden more than a house. The challenge was creating a setting rather than a container, with a unique program. The house is arranged in two volumes, one sitting firmly on the plot and other one floating above, with a visual connection between both. A special virtue of the project is the diversity of scales in the various areas: double-height spaces, corners with 2.20 meters, open-plan spaces throughout with a cozy slab that is welcoming and level changing on the floors.
The common and service areas are all on ground level. The second volume contains the bedrooms and at the same time is the roof of a large terrace. Between the two volumes is a reflecting pond, with fish and lilies. It works as a screen which reflects various episodes of architecture throughout the day. I consider that this house needs more time for the gardens to assume the leading role that they had when the project was first conceived.
The one and a half year of developing the project and the two years of construction, were very eventful. Sudden changes, readjustments of the soul and unforeseen absences, all combined to create a house that happened to be a special experience.
From the architect. We spent a year and a half or more on this project, working with one of the persons I care most in the world and who also happens to know about architecture. Having such clients is a privilege, because they let you do your work with an understanding of the reasons for your decisions.
Developing the plot was not the hardest thing: from the beginning we wanted the house to be positioned at the end of the plot and give priority to the views and breeze in order to make full use of the plot’s amplitude 5,000 –square-meters (50 by 100 meters).
Sketch
The requirement was to make a garden more than a house. The challenge was creating a setting rather than a container, with a unique program. The house is arranged in two volumes, one sitting firmly on the plot and other one floating above, with a visual connection between both. A special virtue of the project is the diversity of scales in the various areas: double-height spaces, corners with 2.20 meters, open-plan spaces throughout with a cozy slab that is welcoming and level changing on the floors.
The common and service areas are all on ground level. The second volume contains the bedrooms and at the same time is the roof of a large terrace. Between the two volumes is a reflecting pond, with fish and lilies. It works as a screen which reflects various episodes of architecture throughout the day. I consider that this house needs more time for the gardens to assume the leading role that they had when the project was first conceived.
The one and a half year of developing the project and the two years of construction, were very eventful. Sudden changes, readjustments of the soul and unforeseen absences, all combined to create a house that happened to be a special experience.
“The good news is that if we have the power to radically transform our planet by accident, imagine what we can do if we are actually trying to do it. Once you’ve accepted that there is no way we can be here without having a very, very significant influence on our planet, you just have to take it as a positive.”
In this interview from the Louisiana Channel, Bjarke Ingels discusses the impact of humanity on the environment, and the role we must take in shaping our global future. Ingels describes cities as “very specific experiment[s]” on how to inhabit each unique part of the planet, and how creating architecture requires both a local approach and learning from the successes of other communities.
A/D/O, the new design space in Greenpoint, Brooklyn founded by MINI, has completed construction, and will open to the public following the holiday season. Designed by Brooklyn based nARCHITECTS – the award-winning firm, founded by Principals Eric Bunge and Mimi Hoang, that was behind New York City’s first micro-unit building – A/D/O will provide a groundbreaking new kind of space for designers.
Axonometric
Occupying a former warehouse at the intersection of Norman and Wythe Avenues in Greenpoint, the new space will be open to the general public, combining spaces for events and exhibitions, design education, free communal workspace, a fabrication lab, a design shop, and the new restaurant Norman, by chef Fredrik Berselius with Claus Meyer. The building will also host Urban-X, an accelerator founded by MINI and SOSV, which supports startups working on products and services to improve urban life.
Reflecting the role of A/D/O in actively encouraging the cross pollination of creative ideas, nARCHITECTS’ transformation of the 23,000sf building was guided by a principle of remixing. According to nARCHITECTS Principal Eric Bunge, “This idea of remix – which we applied to both the physical building and its program – involves placing existing and new conditions into varying and often ambiguous relationships.”
“Rather than simply dividing the existing warehouse into various zones for different activities, or, on the other hand, creating a continuous and undifferentiated space,” says Bunge, “We chose to create variable connections between gastro, event, design, exhibition and retail spaces. Neither rooms nor an open hall, the spaces kind of bleed into each other, allowing people who are curious to see what would normally be going on behind closed doors.”
Floor Plan
One example of this intentionally ambiguous approach to remixing can be found in the new “porch” at the main entrance. A triangular section at the southwest corner of the building was removed, replacing an opaque facade with full glazing that invites passersby, and offers wide views down Wythe Avenue from within. While this intervention is clearly new, nARCHITECTS has rebuilt the building’s modified outline using the original graffiti covered bricks, resulting in “reconstituted graffiti”. This approach was applied to all the new apertures that have been introduced into the existing façade. “What was really important to us,” says Principal Mimi Hoang, “was to create a project with rich layers of history – of the building, and of the community.”
A central feature of nARCHITECTS’ design is a large kaleidoscopic periscope that reflects both the Brooklyn and Manhattan skylines, joining these together into a single horizon – a remixing at an urban scale that visually and metaphorically brings the city together and into the space.
Model
Extending the principle of remixing, nARCHITECTS has designed custom reconfigurable furniture for the project, including the large X-shaped modular “Crosstalk Table”, the “Pie Lounger”, functioning as both seating and a stage; the “Design Library” bleacher seating, and custom tables throughout the restaurant. The flexible nature of this furniture will allow these free-flowing spaces to double as platforms for A/D/O programming.
The European Commission and the Fundació Mies van der Rohe has announced the 356 projects from 36 countries which have been nominated for the 2017 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award. Among the countries included, France and Spain are represented the most among the selected projects, with each country featuring 28 times. Meanwhile, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine appear in the prize for the first time, with Georgia offering a commendable 7 listed projects.
Among the building types included on the list, as in the 2015 Prize housing and cultural buildings dominated. However, the 2017 Prize sees an increase in the number of educational buildings and mixed use buildings compared to two years ago.
The list will be narrowed to a shortlist of 40 projects in late January, with the winner announced in April 2017. In addition to the main prize, the Fundació Mies van der Rohe is once again running a special mention award for emerging architects, with winners of this award receiving a €20,000 prize.
Read on for the full list of 356 selected projects.
Courtesy of Fundació Mies van der Rohe
TID Tower / 51N4E Tirana, Albania
Marubi National Museum Of Photography / Casanova+Hernandez Architecten Shkodra, Albania
Tiwag KWB Control Center / Bechter Zaffignani Architekten Silz, Austria
Primary School Dorf / Feyferlik / Fritzer Lauterach, Austria Lauterach
Pfauengarten Development / Pichler Graz, Austria
Panzerhalle Salzburg / LP architektur ZT GmbH Salzburg, Austria
Residential Care Home Erika Horn / Dietger Wissounig Architekten Graz, Austria
Herberge Refugee Home / STUDiO LOiS Barbara Poberschnigg Walch Elias Innsbruck, Austria
House Moser / Madritsch Pfurtscheller Neustift im Stubaital, Austria
KAMP Office Building / gerner°gern er plus architects Theresienfeld, Austria
Motorway Maintenance Centre Salzburg / Marte.Marte Architekten Salzburg, Austria
Residential building St. Gallenkirch / Dorner\Matt St. Gallenkirch, Austria
Barn Loft / Georg Bechter Architektur+Design Hittisau, Austria
Weingut Högl / Ludescher + Lutz, Architeken Spitz an der Donau, Austria
Building. School of Arts and Architecture / studio3 – Institut für experimentelle Architektur Innsbruck, Austria
Erste Campus Headquarters Building / Henke Schreieck Architekten ZT GmbH
Vienna, Austria
Revitalisation of the Biomedical / Gangoly & Kristiner Architekten Graz, Austria
NAVEZ – 5 social units as Northern entrance Brussels, Belgium / MSA / V+ Schaarbeek, Belgium
Structure and Gardens / BAUKUNST Brussels, Belgium
House H / Broekx-Schiepers architecten Belgium
Keramis – Ceramic Center / Association Coton_Devisscher_Lelion_Nottebaert_Vincentelli La Louvière, Belgium
OFFICE 119: Villa Der Bau / OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen Linkebeek, Belgium
M Garden pavilion / Vers.A Renaix, Belgium
DC L-Berg / architecten de vylder vinck taillieu Ghent, Belgium
University Psychiatric Centre Gasthuisberg / Stéphane Beel Architecten bvba Leuven, Belgium
Mons Memorial Museum (MMM) / Atelier d’architecture Pierre Hebbelinck – Pierre de Wit Mons, Belgium
TRAX: Redevelopment of a former train / BUUR | bureau voor urbanisme Roeselare, Belgium
Zwin national park / Coussée & Goris Architects Knokke-Heist, Belgium
Polyvalent Infrastructure / BAUKUNST Spa, Belgium
House CG / architecten de vylder vinck taillieu Pajottenland, Belgium
Hotel Pino Nature / Studio Zec Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Cherry Orchard Residence / Events / bureau XII Sofia, Bulgaria
Observation House / I / O a r c h i t e c t s Sofia, Bulgaria
Varna Office Building / MMXX Architects Varna, Bulgaria
Hotel Amarin / STUDIO UP Rovinj, Croatia
Vacation Housee on Silba Island / AB Forum Zadar, Croatia
Sala Beckett Theatre and International Drama Centre / Flores & Prats Barcelona, Spain
National Museum of Pilgrimages and Santiago / Manuel Gallego Santiago de Compostela, Spain
House 104 / HARQUITECTES Granollers, Spain
Ressò / RESSÒ – ETSAV – UPC Rubí / Spain
COMMUNITY ARCHITECTS. Office of Citizen Assistance at the Raval in Barcelona / ETSAB-UPC (Esclla Tècnica Superior d’Arquitectura de Barcelona – Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya) Barcelona, Spain
Recovery of the Irrigation System at the Thermal Orchards / CICLICA [space, community & ecology] Caldes de Montbui, Spain
New access to the historical centre of Gironella / Carles Enrich architecture + urbanism Gironella, Spain
Collective housing for elderly people and civic and health centre / Bonell i Gil Barcelona, Spain
Federico García Lorca Centre / MX-SI architectural studio Granada, Spain
Encants School / AMB (Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona) Barcelona, Spain
Fire Prevention Park – Firemen space / Roldán+Berengué, arqts. Barcelona, Spain
Architecture School of Granada Sciences of UGR University, Granada / Victor Lopez Cotelo Granada, Spain
Learning Center at the Campus of Health / Cruz y Ortiz Arquitectos Granada, Spain
New Helsingkrona Student Nation / Fojab Lund, Sweden
Malmö Live / Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects Malmö, Sweden
Katscha Appartments / a+d reppen wartiainen Norrköping, Sweden
The Auditorium Public Park / Tyréns AB Norrköping, Sweden
Östermalm’s Temporary Market Hall / Tengbom Stockholm, Sweden
KTH School of Architecture / Tham & Videgård Arkitekter Stockholm, Sweden
KAPKAR/SF-P7S / Studio Frank Havermans Heeswijk, The Netherlands
De Halls Amsterdam / Architectenbureau J. van Stigt bv Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Integrated Coastal Defense & Underground Parking Garage Katwijk, the Netherlands / Royal HaskoningDHV Katwijk aan zee, The Netherlands
Tennisclub IJburg / MVRDV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Cheese Dairy / Bastiaan Jongerius Architecten Westbeemster, The Netherlands
KWR Watercycle Research Institute / Architectenbureau Cepezed b.v. Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
A Home away from Home / COA (Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seeker of the Netherlands) The Hague, The Netherlands
Nieuw Bergen / Monadnock Boxtel, Brabant and Noord, The Netherlands
Timmerhuis / O.M.A. Rotterdam, The Netherlands
deFlat Kleiburg / NL Architects Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Supreme Court of the Netherlands / KAAN Architecten The Hague, The Netherlands
Luchtsingel / ZUS [Zones Urbaines Sensibles] Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Museum Fort Vechten / Anne Holtrop Bunnik, The Netherlands
Public transport terminal building / Koen van Velsen architects Breda, The Netherlands
Protel Office Building / HS Architects Istanbul, Turkey
Diyarbakir Yenisehir Municipality Building / Uygur Architects Diyarbakır, Turkey
A. Nuri Çolakoğlu Anatolian Technical / Norm Architects Kocaeli, Turkey
Sky Garden / SO? Architecture and Ideas Istanbul, Turkey
TAC-SEV New Campus / Erginoglu & Calislar Architects Mersin, Turkey
T-House / Teke Architects Izmir, Turkey
Abdullah Gül University Sümer Campus / EAA – Emre Arolat Architecture Kayseri, Turkey
The Architecture Faculty, Mardin / Mardin Artuklu University Faculty of Architecture Mardin, Turkey
Angelos Organic Olive Oil Mill / Mimarlar ve Han Tümertekin Bademli, Dikili and Izmir, Turkey
Kılıç Ali Pasha Hamam / Cafer Bozkurt Architecture Istanbul / Turkey
Abdullah Gül Presidential Museum and Library / EAA – Emre Arolat Architecture Kayseri, Turkey
Robert College Murat Karamancı Student Center /l Alatas Architecture and Consulting Istanbul, Turkey
Beyazıt State Library Renovation / Tabanlioglu Architects\ Istanbul, Turkey
The Space of Synagogues / Franz Reschke Landschaftsarchitektur Lviv, Ukraine
University of Greenwich / heneghan peng architects London, United Kingdom
Drawing Studio / Cook Robotham Architectural Bureau Ltd Poole, United Kingdom
Holmes Road Studios / Peter Barber Architects London, United Kingdom
Shepherdess Walk Housing / Jaccaud Zein Architects London, United Kingdom
Leadenhall Building / Graham Stirk, Senior Partner, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners London, United Kingdom
Weston Library, University of Oxford / Wilkinson Eyre Architects Oxford, United Kingdom
Outhouse / LOYN + CO ARCHITECTS Brockweir, United Kingdom
Sir John Soane’s Museum Opening Up / Julian Harrap Architects LLP London, United Kingdom
The Whitworth / MUMA Manchester, United Kingdom
Stanbrook Abbey / Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios Wass, United Kingdom
House of Trace / Tsuruta Architects London, United Kingdom
Investcorp Building / Zaha Hadid Architects Oxford, United Kingdom
Ely Court / Alison Brooks Architects London, United Kingdom
York City Art Gallery / Simpson & Brown with Ushida Findlay York, United Kingdom
Pensthorpe Play Barn / Adam Khan Architects Fakenham, United Kingdom
Granby Four Streets / ASSEMBLE Liverpool, United Kingdom
A House for Essex / FAT Essex, United Kingdom
Newport Street Gallery / Caruso St John Architects London, United Kingdom
The Fishing Hut / Niall McLaughlin Architects Hampshire, United Kingdom
Sig Nordal 