This is a building complex for an architectural material company that mainly deals with import carpet and domestic acoustic absorption material. We renovate and expand the existing building which has basement floor and 3 floors above the ground. Because of the difference of ground level, basement floor has open space on its south side, but on its north side it can’t get daylight. We need to carefully design the expanded volume so as not to block the daylight into the existing space. We studied a lot of models, like hollow volumes around central court or several separated volumes,and finally decided upon a simple box. In consequence, on the one hand its volume is just a simple box with a lot of randomly openings on its walls and roof, on the other hand the 4 scattered small courts make the plan complex. Because the openings of the small courts are restrained so that we feel it “inside”, but inside we can see trees and receive enough daylight from toplights so we feel it “outside”, of course the existing area also receive enough daylight. That is to say, the inside and outside are reversed, or those are merged.
Located on a historic farmstead in Wabaunsee County, Kansas the Illinois Creek Ranch was designed for a family of five, their extended family, friends and guests. The goal was to forge an emotional bond between people and a unique landscape. Structures were purposefully straightforward in their vernacular appearance with a focus on innovative, nuanced detailing and contemporary material selection. The architect began by studying the site – history, topography, soil and hydrological conditions, seasonal wind and sun patterns. The positioning of the house was a response to these conditions. Parts of the home were positioned parallel to topography to accommodate single story program, other parts were turned perpendicular to allow multiple story programming. The structures strategically blocked wind to allow comfortable outdoor spaces while breezeway windows were positioned to allow passive cooling inside. The massing of the house was positioned to take full advantage of seasonal solar heat gain. Movement throughout the home was carefully choreographed to engage a range of landscape experiences.
A beautiful plot with endless views… but unfortunately next to a truckers company. How to make the most of these two contradictory influences? Our concept: we placed a narrow, long and tall house on the far right of the parcel. The property itself acts as a screen to cover up the unsightly, noisy neighbour on the right. The right side of the house has a blind facade, while the other side opens freely towards a large, sunny garden, where there is little evidence left of the fleet and accompanying roar. Or how everything falls into place by an atypical choice of implantation and volume.
The 25hours Hotel has found its new home in Munich, in the magnificent building at Bahnhofplatz 1. The listed structure was built in 1871 in the Renaissance Revival style. In the last century, it served as a building for the postal service and was the home of the royal telegraph station. During the war, the building was almost completely destroyed; however, it was rebuilt according to its original appearance.
The narrow house faces north and the front living area becomes flooded with sunlight, penetrating deep into the hallway.
The raised cathedral ceiling draws up much of the hot air during occasional hot summer periods, leaving the lower areas of the house cooler.
The existing house had good thermal properties to begin with. Most of both party walls are shared with a neighbour and there is good cross-flow ventilation to release heat when the front and rear doors are opened.
The large skylight over the dining area to the south saves hours of artificial lighting each day.
Recently the construction started of the block14 development in Antwerp’s new city quarter Nieuw Zuid. Block 14 is the central block situated at the new piazza Zuiderplein that will function as the civic centre for the new neighbourhood with several thousand inhabitants.
There are too many beautiful old shacks being demolished, and Austin Maynard Architects won’t be part of it.
In brief
A couple of years ago Kate and Grant showed us around their beautiful shack, in bushland near the ocean, which they loved and valued greatly. They asked ‘how could we add a clear and elevated view of the ocean without demolishing, damaging or dominating our beloved shack?’
Cabo de vila is a house for a young couple that wanted a house that doesn’t look like a regular house. When we first meet the place for the house, the approach to the location give us the central mote for the project. We wanted a shape that can fill the void left by the valley and at the same time we wanted this new shape to embrace and reflects the surrounding green areas giving its users a special perspective on the landscape.
It is difficult to deal with architectural elements such as stairs and handrails that don’t have direct relation to the main architectural composition.
It might be my prejudice, but architectural space gradually becomes static, when additive elements are reduced to be abstract. It also has an effect on various human activities and furniture to vividly come to front, but sometimes it appears as if they are being denied.
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