When designing myhive Flexi Offices’ new office space, architects from atelier SAD not only took into account the investor’s requirements for timeless and maximally functional design, but also focused on the economy of the solution and, last but not least, environmental friendliness.
During the reconstruction of similar premises as were these offices in building built 25 years ago, a large amount of materials is usually thrown away. The authors tried to avoid this. The project therefore counted on the use of original constructions and technologies and at the same time, the newly created interior was enriched with natural materials so that over the years it would not lose anything in terms of function and appearance, that it still feels pleasant and unused.
During the 1950s, architect Roland Roessner was teaching at the University of Texas and designing some of Austin’s most daring modern structures. One of his more memorable houses, located on Balcones Drive, is notable for its prominently cantilevered concrete balcony perched above a long, sloping hillside, with Camp Mabry as its backyard. Though previously unacquainted with the period, new owners delved into all things mid-century modern and hired Clayton & Little to assist with a deliberate and sensitive renovation of this Austin treasure.
Located right next to the railway line in Rüschlikon, the two precisely placed struc-tures echo the linearity of the site and, at the same time, fit into the neighbour-hood’s open building pattern. The buildings’ positioning creates two generous exterior spaces that satisfy with their differing but high level of amenity. On the ground floor, the site borders on the railway line via a greened pergola establish-ing the important link to Lake Zurich. In contrast to the public lakeside area from where the building is accessed, the courtyard is a place of calm and togetherness. Herbaceous borders, richly flowering shrubs and geophytes have been loosely planted, lest the privacy of ground-floor flats be invaded by the other occupants. The remarkable arrangement and combination of plants lends this garden space a special touch – rich in structure, seasonal blooming sequence, and homogenous patches as well as single accents here and there. To someone looking down from the upper floors, the garden presents itself as a soothing oasis.
With a facade extended to the full width of the plot, the AA House was organized according to an essential set of overlapping volumes that, through the structural plans highlight, sought to light the composition.
The parti was based on the inversion of the traditional flow of middle of the block lots, bringing the leisure to the frontal façade, allowing the direct access to it and emphasizing the social interaction of the family, raising it as a highlight element that integrates the other areas of the house.
The original topography of the land allowed the building to be constructed on the upper part of the lot, letting the ground floor to be almost one floor above the street level and the pool to have an infinity edge; below, on the subsoil, it was sited a leisure floor with cellar and sauna. On the first floor, there are the private rooms of the house.
KUAD*, formally known as Kyoto College of Art, was founded in 1977.
The old “Boutenkan”** was the original headquarters in the main campus of the old College, and this new architecture is, in fact, situated in the same location. The old alumni remember clearly, the impressive three-storied building with brown brick exterior that once stood there.
When the College was first opened, the old “Boutenkan” was used as the headquarters mainly by the administration body. But they moved to another building of classrooms as time went on, to be among classrooms. Now, this new building was aimed to be the core center of the current University: first to rebuild “Boutenkan” as the headquarters facility: and second, its well-planned plaza on the rooftop to serve as a focal place for the students to enjoy.
To remove the excess decoration in design, we leave the depth of field of lacquer texture and color blocks in the residential space. Owners in the technology industry focus on the precision and practicality of spatial measurement, so we reduce artificial design and enhance the intuitive function. With the texture of paints on various materials to replace the decorative masonry, we arrange pieces of meticulous organic blocks for this elegant off-white space and increase the visual senses with the tone. You can image it as a vivid and interesting space with depth of field as the theme.
Strathcona Village is a mixed-use industrial and residential development that occupies an entire city block on East Hastings Street in Strathcona, one of Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhoods. The $112M mixed-use development, the first of its kind in North America, opened in July 2018 on time and on budget. The 300,000 square foot building accommodates market housing with much-needed affordable housing and job spaces for light industry.
The development stands as a model of revitalization without displacement in a neighbourhood that strives for meaningful development policies that enable economic inclusion coupled with safe and adequate housing. This model for mixed-use projects that retain light industrial businesses is scalable to other urban centres across the country.
Architect Team Members: Daniel Eisenberg (MRAIC), Stu Lyon (FRAIC), Eric Stacey (MRAIC), Theresa Wong, Rod Forbes, Barry Hyde, Emily Milford, Rodrigo Cepeda, Jonathan Toronchuck.
In Luxembourg, the French architect duo PETITDIDIERPRIOUX are currently developing several ambitious projects. The first to be delivered, the 99 units of Domaine du Kiem, situated on the Kitchberg plateau, is a true testament to Cédric Petitdidier and Vincent Prioux’s meticulous approach. Particular attention was paid to the relationships between inside and out, function and appearance, private and public.
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