The first stage in the Augmented Structures project by Salon2 is the Augmented Structures v1.1: Acoustic Formations / İstiklâl Caddesi installation which reanimates phenomena (architecture, sound and visual arts) that appear to be completed and concluded. The acoustic memory of İstiklâl Caddesi is first transformed into an architectural surface and then this solid form becomes a dynamic visual performance through a 400m2 installation on the facade of Yapı Kredi Bank Culture Building. More images and architects’ description after the break.

With the theme of ‘No Precedent’ this year, the annual Architectural League Prize competition invited young architects and designers to submit their work. Projects of all types, either theoretical or real, and executed in any medium, are welcome. Driven by the desire to create, to be heard, to keep busy or to fulfill untapped and forbidden niches, young architects are a self-defining generation. They are unwilling to wait their turn or to follow in footsteps. It has become normative for young architects to cast aside unfit precedents, codes, rules, and primitives, restlessly defining their projects, their problems, their methodologies, their users, and their spaces of intervention. Their work becomes uncategorizable, suggestive, and speculative; it’s on the brink. It’s neither here nor there, but fodder for the future. The competition deadline is February 15th. For more information, please visit their website here.

Office Jarrik Ouburg (OJO) shared with us their plan for the urban redevelopment of the ‘Havenkwartier’, the harbor of Deventer. Although the harbor will continue to function as a place for transhipment of goods, it has lost one of its biggest customers: the grain silo. The building dates from 1961 and was the first building in Europe to be constructed with a sliding formwork. Although it is not in use anymore, it still is the pivot in the existing urban ensemble at the moment. More images and architects’ description after the break.

The Urban Community of Bordeaux (CUB) and MVRDV recently presented the master plan for Bastide Niel, a 35ha extension of Bordeaux’ city center onto the right bank of Garonne River. The dense urban master plan will offer 3200 homes, offices and urban amenities, respect the existing fabric of the city and become one of the largest zero energy neighborhoods in the world. Construction is to start in 2014. More images and architects’ description after the break.

Although Kish Island is currently a developing region, it can be observed as two main zones; one of which is based on former developments of the Island in previous years, and the other is the currently developing parts. The project for an office and hotel complex by Hooman Balazadeh and team is located at the threshold of the developing zone and the former developed zone. This role facilitates it to collaborate with the two zones and also work effectively with future developments. More images and architects’ description after the break.

At the virgin beach front area where Min River meets the Pacific Ocean, and adjacent to Fuzhou Changle Airport, Netdragon Websoft Company is building their brand new campus. Nearly 700 employees and their families will relocate from the center of Fuzhou city to here. OPEN Architecture is commissioned to design a new living quarter for them on a 50,000m² piece of land that used to be an eel farm. This is a very interesting and young community of people. Their work is to create wonderful virtual worlds that entertain millions of people. In real life and on this land of their new dreams, they need a unique living area and a brand new collective life style. More images and architects’ description after the break.

The design for the ‘Wafra Living’ complex by AGi Architects won the first prize in the future project/residential category in the WAF 2011 competition. The proposal consists of a high rise building set back from the street and an L-shaped building defining the street edge, conceived to maximize privacy within the community, whilst providing ample natural light and usable indoor and outdoor common spaces. Cuts have been made in the front building in order to provide better views for the lower floor apartments in the back tower. More images and architects’ description after the break.

Located at the southeast of the historical city center in Havenkwartier Deventer, the site for the project by Erwin Schot, Eloi Koster, Bas Meijerman and Elmar Hammers is marked by a remarkable building: the Hoge Silo. Accompanied by the Zwarte Silo, an elevator building and several other industrial buildings, the Hoge Silo and the present inhabitants of the harbor area form the basics of an unusually different residential and working environment. Their new urban design for the area focuses on the preservation of this genius loci. It emphasizes the existing qualities of the built environment and searches for a new social cohesion for its new inhabitants: entrepreneur, student, artist or starter. More images and architects’ description after the break.

Duccio Malagamba shared with us his photographic work on Herzog and de Meuron’s Museum der Kulturen. His photos not just provide us with more images on this exciting design, but allow us to really appreciate the stunning details and architectural elements shown such as its historic walls and beautiful rooftop of irregular folds.

After two years of reconstruction, refurbishment and expansion, it recently re-opened in early September of this year and continues to be one of Europe’s great ethnographic museums. More photos by Duccio Malagamba can be viewed after the break.

The mayor of Montréal, Gérald Tremblay, recently announced the winning project in the architecture competition for the new indoor soccer center at the Saint-Michel Environmental Complex (SMEC). The jury has chosen the concept developed by Saucier + Perrotte & Hughes Condon Marler Architects from among the four submitted by the finalist firms. The daring and creative project is one more step toward the completion of this long-awaited project, which will provide Montrealers with access to a sports center that is not only functional but boasts a modern design meeting the highest standards of quality. This public building, a testament to the talent of our local architects, will be incorporated into the SMEC, one of the largest parks in Montréal. More images and project description after the break.

In this temporary pavilion by Mark Talbot and Tyler Survant just outside of Louisville, Kentucky, the controlled collision of ruled surfaces generates arched passageways and vault-like spaces. In addition to defining a social milieu at the threshold of lake and land, the pavilion provides shade from the summer sun by day and magnifies the light of campfires lit beneath it by night. More images and project description after the break.

The project, Diamond for Dementia by Haugen/ Zohar Arkitekter, is a winning entry in a competition for upgrading an outdoor electrical supplier in a healthcare center for people suffering from dementia. The project intention was to transform the supplier’s old concrete walls into a jewel, a diamond, giving a focal point to the space, which the user could relate to as a steady though ever-changing reference. Since dementia is a condition that impacts one’s memory and other sensory related functions that many of us may take for granted, this project can provide a healthy experience for patients suffering from the condition and a rewarding experience for visitors and other users at the center. More images and architects’ description after the break.

Maide Inc. recently released an app that controls 3D programs over the wifi network from the iPad. The app now works with Maya, 3DS Max, Sketchup, Rhino and Solidworks (Beta). The company is just one step closer to controlling all CAD software through multi-touch applications. Check out the video above for a demo on the app.

Warming Huts v.2012, an arts and architecture competition on ice in Winnipeg, Canada, recently announced the winners which demonstrate a collection of varying interpretations of shelter.

Frank Gehry will design a hut made from large blocks of ice entitled, FIVE-HOLE. The blocks are slated to be shipped from Montreal especially for Gehry’s project. Three huts were chosen from over 40 other entries in the open design competition. The winning designs, WIND CATCHER, Ice Pillows, and ROPE Pavilion represent Norway, Czech Republic and New York respectively. The fifth and final hut, entitled HOTHUT, came from a call to University of Manitoba Architecture students who competed in teams for the final coveted spot. More images and information on the winning proposals after the break.

Carrilho da Graça Arquitectos recently won the international competition for the protection project and musealization of the Gallo-Roman villa of Séviac, in Montréal-du-Gers, France. The project sets up a protective device and does not relate to a known typology that is a technical device with its own logic – a homogeneous-looking device that creates an event – which does not compete with the archaeological remains, but rather gives a new insight into the importance and influence of the villa. The event: to take this opportunity to give contemporary architecture its legitimate place in Gers. More images and architects’ description after the break.

In typography, the ‘Counter’ is the space contained by letters (this is where monkish Irish Illuminators famously had space to play). For the monks, the space between the letters was as meaningful as the letters themselves. In ‘Counterspace’, the winning proposal by CODA for the Europan 2011 competition in Dublin, the linear forms of the traditional rows are transformed and interwoven to create a range of counterspaces: from enclosed collective space for safe children’s play, to urban plaza for adults’ lattés. Just like on the 19th century street of industrial terraced Dublin, the life of the community happens in the space between the rows of housing, in the counterspace. More images and architects’ description after the break.

The proposal for the Metro Station 20 by MSB Architects aims to create passing spaces, with the creation and delineation of structures and trees that provide the amenities for this occupation. Assuming that the city will grow to this area, this project may be structured in this new area of the city through the creation of common spaces – above and below ground – with a philosophy of unity at a visual and functional language. More images and architects’ description after the break.