Designed by Chengdu Urban Design Research Center, the “Southern Island of Creativity” is the start-up phase land of the Eastern New Town which endeavors to develop creative industry and is one of the 13 strategic function zones of future Chengdu, China. The Eastern New Town consists of three “Islands” based on their varied topography. The southern one is located in hallow hills, which stands adjacent to the art village which came into being spontaneously. The design team for this project consisted of architects Liu Gang, Zhang Yang, Yu Jia, Lan Mi, and Xu Xin. More images and architects’ description after the break.
By courageously connecting the design of the building with the territory, in constant dialogue with the urban texture, nature and its limits, Architetto Matteo Ascani (AMA) enhances the position of the new Beton Hala Waterfront Center within the city of Belgrade. Through their concept, the building becomes a mixed use area that blends culture, shopping and outdoor activities. Thanks to its strategic location served by the tram line, the Passenger river port and the main road Vojvode Bojovica Boulevard and Karadjordjeva a network of connections is created where the Beton Hala Waterfront Center is turned into an intermodal hub. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Young, promising architects Cebra(more projects here), Various Architects(more projects here), and Østengen & Bergo(more projects here) shared with us their competition proposal where they won the first prize. Their “relativity” concept for the Mesterfjellet School creates a unique experience for Larvik, Norway, designed around the user’s room program, site conditions and functional specifications to cultivate a positive learning environment. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Recently completed as part of a digital fabrication course at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, the Visual Permeability Pavilion was designed and built as part of their end of the year show and graduation ceremonies. The purpose of the pavilion is to provide multiple spaces for relaxation, contemplation, and social interaction. The group members included Luis Alarcon, Aaron Berman, Michael Georgopoulos, Eun Ki Kang, Dayeon Kim, Nicole Kotsis, Jeeun Grace Lee, Aaron Mark, Hylee Oh, and Steven Sanchez. More images and their description after the break.
Directed with respect for all views and spatial elements of the incredible energized given space, the concept for the Beton Hala Waterfront by Pero Vukovic, in collaboration with Branka Vukovic, becomes a zone of overlap of the two natural barriers, park/forest (Kalemegdan) and the rivers Sava and Danube, where a huge value of the area belongs to their confluence. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The University of Paris-Descartes wishes to replace its two IUT amphitheaters that stand in the interior courtyard of 143, avenue de Versailles, in the 16th arrondissement. The physical location of the two buildings, constructed in the heart of an urban islet, and resting atop the university parking lots, confronted Atelier Zündel & Cristea with a complex exercise in conceiving and planning their operation. They decided the new edifice should faithfully superimpose itself over the layout of the existing parking lot, while clearing around itself a smooth space, manageable and comprehensible by its users. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Located in a new area of expansion in Orio, just north of the Cantabrian motorway that connected San Sebastian to Bilbao, the Auditorium and Cultural Facilities Proposal by SOMOS Arquitectos won the first prize in an open competition. Taking advantage of the freedom regarding the position of the building according to the open regulations, they wanted to develop and fix their proposal based on three key decisions: built volume integration, the connection between urban plaza and marina, and an open independent structure. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Istanbul based architecture office Suyabatmaz Demirel designed the Walk-in Cinema inside the SALT Beyoglu building which is almost a cul-de-sac attached to Istiklal Street, one of the most important pedestrian zones of Istanbul. The 19th century apartment located here was refurbished to be the home of SALT, a non-profit cultural institution which opened just last month and in a very short time became one of the most active cultural institutions in the city. This open platform is designed to host the events, screenings and impromptu public projects that SALT will program and encourage. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Architect Djordje Alfirevic shared with us his proposal for the Beton Hala Waterfront Center in Belgrade, Serbia which promotes an idea of visual and functional merging of the newly designed part with the existing Beton Hala building. The design team consisted in Djordje Alfirevic, M.Phil., Dusan Trifunovic, M.Arch, Petar Tufegdzic, M.Arch, Djordje Nikolic, M.Arch, Milica Vujosevic,M.Arch, Bojana Stankovic, M.Arch. In addition, this design aims to create a unique center for exhibition and commercial use in the city which also communicates, in a mimetic way, with the Kalemegdan fortress and Sava river’s waterfront. More images and architect’s description after the break.
With the general aim to create an integrated urban infrastructure, the proposal for the Beton Hala Waterfront competition by office ReduX creates a way to produce a provocative architectural vision. As programs, spaces and typologies are interwoven, this center is a vision of the future progression of Belgrade as a hub for business and culture. As a result, this allows residents and visitors to experience an ultimate experience of the past, present, and future. More images and architects’ description after the break.
As the first prize winner in the Hangzhou Gateway Competition, JDS Architects shared with us their building concept, which is to create a gateway that is neither closing-off or dividing the city. The 15-story tower features offices, restaurants, post office, a terraced roof garden and a sunken passage that leads through a shopping center. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Winning the third prize in the national architectural design competition, iki shared with us their proposal for the Troy Museum located in the village of Canakkale, Turkey and to be exhibited for the protection of historical monuments from the area to be established. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Built in 1968 for second and third cycle students who are between 10 and 15 years of age, the intention of the rehabilitation of the EB23 Luis Verney António (LAV) school was understood as a chance to renew the presence and importance of the school as a reference not only for its users but to the whole community. Consequently, doing so would turn it into a center for meeting and learning.
The winning proposal, designed by LGLS Arquitectos, takes the existing school in the Madredeus area of Lisbon, Portugal to create a reference building in which old and new merge into a single entity. More images and architects’ description after the break.
A conceptual proposal for the retrofit of an old grain silo in Center City Philadelphia, Interface Studio Architects aims to integrate an existing, vacant structure into an urban, mixed-use project. Additionally, it raises interesting questions about old building reuse and innovative tactics for sustainability. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Located in a national landmark, the proposal for the Interpretation Center of Andalusian Prehistory by Luis Machuca Associates strengthens and takes care of this feature by its presence on the existing territory. The object of their design was that the other landmark, the museum and the park, could be distinguished from their immediate environment, both during the day and at night. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Situated at 587-589 Elizabeth Street in Melbourne, Australia, E589 is the latest residential development helping to transform the northern part of Elizabeth Street. E589 will burst into the vibrant and energetic 3000 postcode, offering residents a cosmopolitan lifestyle just north of the city’s buzzing epicenter.
Architecturally unique, Architects EAT have created a geometric facade to the building; contemporary in design, yet stylishly understated so as not to weary over time. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The “Haugen” project is a proposal by Control New Arkitektur (ctrl+n) in order to start a discussion on how to make better use of the public spaces in Oslo, Norway all year round. So they are here to pose two questions. Firstly, how can we maintain such use throughout the rest of the year? Secondly, how can we offer some much needed rehearsal and performance space back to the city? This proposal will engage and evoke through taking us back to our parks all year round. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The design proposal for the extension to the National Library of Austria by Prechteck is to be seen as an extension of the bordering park and takes off at its northwest end to cross over the drop-off lane on 4.5m with a twist. The design then arches back to the ground level to blend into the landscape. More images and description after the break.
