Sky Garden House

Here’s a house with gardens on all three levels designed by Singaporean studio Guz Architects on Santosa Island, Singapore. The Sky Garden House includes a large stone-lined swimming pool that can be viewed from inside the building at basement level through a large glazed window. A staircase with a glass balustrade and wooden steps snakes across the stairwell. The curved roof at the top is also covered in grass and affords views of the bay beyond. Photographs are by Patrick Bingham Hall. The information below is from the architects: sky garden house this house is located on a new housing estate on the island of Sentosa adjacent to singapore. The plots are not large and neighboring buildings are built close to the sides of each house. Thus our strategy was to build a solid wall to each side neighbor to provide privacy where possible, while creating a central light and stair well which would funnel the sea breeze through the center of the building. The front and rear of the building meanwhile, terrace back allowing each storey to have visual or actual access to greenery. The intention was to try to allow each roof garden provided a base for the storey above allowing the layered effect to make each storey feel like it was a single storey dwelling sitting in a garden.as much as we could do in the close confines of Sentosa island and with such a large building! l ocation Sentosa Island, Singapore area 852 sq. meters gross floor area 654 sq. meters design architect guz wilkinson

Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park

The first LEED Platinum Comercial High-Rise sits among the giants of #NYC

The Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park in midtown New York, designed by Cook + Fox Architects, is the first commercial high-rise to achieve LEED Platinum certification.

The 55-story, 2.2 million square foot project is a new addition to the towering blocks around Bryant Park in midtown and its dense context already challenges the role of the architecture. Cook+Fox establish a highly transparent corner entry, blending the public street with the private office building.

The form of the building deviates from its footprint, increasing the level of surface area exposed to day light and giving oriented views onto Bryant Park. Sustainable measures keep the building well insulated and protected from excess heat gain.

The design and high performance of this building is intended to set a new standard for commercial construction and for the office-work environment. By focusing on ways to emphasize daylight, fresh air and a connection to the outdoors, the architects redefine the parameters of the skyscraper as more than a glass box.

Kumutoto Toilets

These public toilets are located at the Synergy Plaza in the Kumutoto precinct on Wellington’s waterfront

As well as taking into account practical considerations such as security, hygiene and vandalism, the brief was to create a structure with a sculptural form, something iconic, highly visible and unusual that was also well integrated into the visual and historical context ofthe surrounding precinct.

To be seen in the round, the design comprises two elongated, irregularly curved forms, instantly recognisable from all key pedestrian approaches and terminating a sequence of spaces and elements along the laneway.

These organic forms, eye-catching and instantly memorable, are suggestive of crustaceans or sea creatures, as if the structure was a kind of fossilised husk that had been discovered and inhabited.

Recalling the waterfront’s shipping past, they cling to the surface of the precinct like barnacles to the underside of a boat.

Musée de la Romanité in Nîmes

 Franco-Brazilian architect Elizabeth de Portzamparc has won a competition to design a museum of Roman history in Nîmes with this building dressed in a pleated glass toga.

 

The museum will be situated on the edge of the French city’s ancient Roman wall, opposite the famous Roman arenas and amphitheatre.

 It will comprise a square volume with a glass mosaic facade that appears to fall in horizontal pleats.

The geometry and lightness of the glass building have been designed to contrast with the rounded stone of the amphitheatre across the square.

The project specifications include the display of the museum’s collection, the landscaping of an archaeological garden and a feasibility study of a congress centre and hotel.

An interior street positioned between the entrance hall and the cafe will lead visitors through to the archaeological garden and will remain accessible even when the museum is closed.

 In the middle of the passage a 17-metre-high atrium will provide an introduction to the collection, which numbers over 25,000 items including mosaics from archaeological digs still unseen by the public.

  The archaeological garden has been designed by landscaper Régis Guignard from Méristème, with plants corresponding to the pre-Roman, Roman and post-Roman periods to match the museum’s themes.

From the main hall, visitors will climb a winding staircase, arriving on the rooftop terrace with views over the garden and the arenas.

Construction is planned to begin in autumn 2013 and the museum is set to open in early 2017.

Can a Wildlife Bridge Fix America’s $8 Billion Roadkill Problem?

We all know that roadkill is a tragic corollary of car culture. What you might not know is that it’s also mega-expensive. Vehicle-animal collisions cost Americans a whopping $8 billion a year.Design can help. Balmori Associates, a New York City landscape design firm, proposes building simple, inexpensive wooden bridges over highways, then covering them in native vegetation to create a sort of wildlife crosswalk. Each bridge would be so wide and the greenery so diverse, it’d appear like an extension of the forest, and animals, the thinking goes, would be less inclined to go galloping across roads helter skelter, resulting in fewer accidents (and a slimmer cleaning bill).Balmori came up with the idea for the ARC International Wildlife Crossing Infrastructure Design Competition, which bills itself as the “first-ever international design competition… intended to solve the problem of ensuring safe travel for humans and wildlife.” The contest ends in January, when one of five design teams is selected to build a bridge over West Vail Pass in Colorado. ARC expects the winning design to serve as a model for other parts of the country (clearly, the only way to make a dent in that $8 billion figure is to repeat the idea elsewhere). To that end, Balmori’s bridge isn’t specific to Vail. “It is a kit of parts,” the press materials say, “that can be applied and adapted to various conditions and sites.”

New Delhi Railway Station, India

The New Delhi railway station is getting a sleek new look. From new infrastructure to technological enhancements, the station is on track to reach world-class status by 2010.Other than completion of the mammoth Route Relay Interlocking System (RRI), that came after circuiting an area of about 3.5km using 700km of cables, the station plans to offer a lot more to its passengers by the year-end. A sprawling new building with enhanced passenger amenities, international graphic signs, disabled-friendly platforms, shopping arcade, food court and the list goes on.The completion of the first part of the renovation came at a cost of Rs 71 crore. Apart from the route relay interlocking system that costed Indian Railways Rs 27 crore, the maintenance facility of the station has also been upgraded by the addition of a track. A new track has also been added to remove the bottleneck from the Sadar Bazaar side.‘‘The completion of RRI has made sure that there was no conflicting movement on the tracks. Not just that, the RRI will also drastically reduce the chances of rail traffic congestion,’’ said a Northern railway spokesperson.The entire RRI system is controlled from power cabin where the operators have a layout in front of them indicating the occupied and unoccupied tracks. With RRI capable of handling 1,278 routes, the station has also entered the Guiness Book of World Records. According to a railway official, the transformation of New Delhi Railway Station is not just because of the Commonwealth Games but also to handle 8-12% growth in passenger traffic in last 2-3 years. Northern Railways chief spokesperson, Rajiv Saxena said, “With the increase in passenger rush, its not just the rail traffic that has to be smoothened but facilities for passengers comfort are also to be added. To meet this demand, railways is carrying out the required changes.’’ The station has also added four platforms (two of which are to be completed shortly), which will ease out the problem of trains getting held up because of the unavailability of platforms. Saxena added, ‘‘Going by the fact that the during the peak seasons the station handles more than 4 lakh passengers, the additional platforms will also offer greater passenger space.” The new 80,000-square foot station building at the Ajmeri gate entrance will only make things better. According to a railway official, it will be a state-of-the-art building. Expected to be ready by December-end, it will have a touch-screen enquiry system, plasma TV but also an AC ticketing area. The building will also house both AC and non-AC waiting rooms and dormitories.

iQuarter / Cartwright Pickard Architects

This riverside high-rise in Sheffield contrasts beautifully with its 19th century neighbors

The brownfield site, which faces the River Don, was previously used for retail and warehousing.

This mixed use scheme provides residential, retail and office accommodation, revitalising a key riverside site in Sheffield

The scheme, is housed in a landmark 16-storey tower, two five-storey apartment buildings and the converted Grade II listed Castle House. The scheme also includes a new riverside walkway, landscaped public space at the centre of the site, and the restoration of the ‘crucible stack’ – a historically significant listed monument.

The materials palette of high quality brick, glass and zinc claddings was selected for ease of maintenance, longevity, and to contrast with the rich colours of the adjacent nineteenth century listed buildings.

Curating Restlessness: Regulating Landscapes of Change

The research Proposal by Michael Ippolito from the California College of the Arts proposes a radical rethinking of architecture and landslides. The Marin Headlands is home to over twenty landslides. The most notable and fastest acting landslide in the Headlands is located on the Oceanside of the park between rodeo cove and Tennessee Valley. It is known as place that has been left behind and rendered a volatile wasteland. This wasteland has consumed many man-made structures including eight abandoned military buildings, and two roadways.

The DISPENS(FILTRATOR) proposal renders the existing landslide to be inhabited by an architecture that filtrates the landscape for scientist, students, and recreationist. There are three major components of the DISPENS[FILTRATOR] ; one: the harvesting zone that filtrates boulders, rocks, soil, and water into four different levels, two: the recreational zone that dispenses recreational mechanisms such as the stargazer, climbing cage, and nature watcher, and three: the collection zone (after life) where the mechanisms are collected and jumbled into an artificial habitat where plant and animal life can thrive.

The DISPENSFILTRATOR is an architecture that curates the environment and blurs the distinction between BUILDING, LANDSCAPE, and WASTELAND. This radical rethinking of architecture and landslides allows the populations that visit these kinds of sites to experience a heightened awareness of savvy inhabitance for increasingly dynamic landscapes.

Colombo Mixed-Use Development

Safdie Architects was recently selected to design a new mixed-use development in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The 69-storey mixed-use project will be the first for Moshe Safdie in Sri Lanka, and is expected to be the tallest residential building in Colombo when it is completed. The design includes expansive family and community space amenities such as community gardens, shared outdoor spaces within the upper levels of the building, and individual roof gardens or terraces for every residence, a hallmark of Safdie’s design philosophy to provide access to outdoor spaces in high density urban housing. More images and architects’ description after the break.

The 69-storey mixed-use development is in the city center and will face Beira Lake, with pedestrian accessible retail outlets at the ground level. The Colombo project draws on Safdie’s groundbreaking Habitat ’67 in Montreal. Since that time, Safdie Architects has continued to explore and build projects incorporating fractal-geometry surface patterns, dramatic stepping of the structure that results in a network of gardens open to the sky, and streets that interconnect and bridge community gardens in the air.
Colombo’s building form consists of two tower blocks, with one block leaning into the other vertical tower, which supports it. The overall form tapers towards the sky, so that even though it is quite a large building, it maintains a delicacy on the skyline. The structure is highly rationalized, affording cross-ventilation and multiple exposures in every residential unit. The towers are oriented to the movement of the sun and to maximize air flow in the tropical climate, as well as take advantage of 270-degree views of Beira Lake and the Indian Ocean.

At the ground level, an arcade of retail outlets on the west side facing Beira Lake sets the standard for future lakefront development along the planned pedestrian promenade. Restaurants on a mezzanine level overlook the promenade onto the Lake.

Pradeep Sureka, Director of Indocean Developers (Pvt) Ltd., whose company will build the towers, said “We are pleased to be working with Moshe Safdie on this project. It was of paramount importance to us that that architect we chose be an iconic, global figure with a list of commendable projects in his/her portfolio. We had no hesitation in deciding on Moshe Safdie. In particular, Safdie’s design for Marina Bay Sands integrated resort has become an immediately recognizable symbol of Singapore, and we are confident that he will do justice to the beautiful Beira Lake site.”

Architects: Safdie Architects

Location: Beira Lake, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Developer: Indocean Developers (Pvt) Ltd, a venture of Indian property group South City Projects (Kolkata) Pvt. Ltd

Project: High end, luxurious 69-storey residential tower with shopping, F&B outlets and entertainment

Land/Built-up Area: Two acres/close to 1.5 million sqft

Expected Starting Date: 2012

Expected Date of Completion: 2017

Anara Tower

Anara Tower was a proposed supertall skyscraper located in Dubai. It would have been 600 m (1,968 ft) tall with 135 floors. It was designed to look like a massive wind turbine. If it was ever built the tower was supposed to be a mixed use tower with offices, retail spaces, apartments, and an art gallery. Anara Tower would have incorporated sky gardens every 27 floors and would have contained a luxury restaurant. It was to have been constructed as an energy efficient tower by installing renewable sources of energy and incorporating water efficiency strategies.
The building was cancelled in 2009.

MyZeil Shopping Mall

MyZeil Shopping Mall is a project designed by Studio Fuksas in Frankfurt, Germany in 2009.

The structure is inspired by the historical context of the site. The fluid shape comes from the connection of the Zeil, the shopping boulevard in the heart of Frankfurt, and the Thurn and Taxis palace. The two facades on opposite ends of the building are designed to evoke the two distinct senses of the city.

The design is inspired by geography and topography. The facade is conceived as a river that has different depths reaching into the Earth.

 

The sculptural glass facade creates impressive and dynamic spaces within the public atriums, creating a unique environment for a common activity. The 77,000 square meter structure includes shops, leisure spaces, kids areas, restaurants, fitness center and parking.

Cybertecture International

Cybertecture is the ultimate expression of innovative art married with functional needs in consideration of the environment and humanity. the new commercial complex located in Mumbai, India ”the Capital” deliberately reveals her calmness, gracefulness and elegance. It is an extremely challenging work to develop a revolutionary design concept for an office with AAA- grading and achieving over 80% efficiency simultaneously. It integrated the sustainable concept, form and functionality that inspire the office building design and urban context in India like never before.

Architects: James Law Cybertecture International
Project: The Capital
Location: Kurla Complex, Bandra, Mumbai India
Expected Completion Date : 2nd qtr 2011(estimated)
Use: Office
total GFA: ~ 66347 sq.m.
Bldg. Scale: G+ 17 Levels
Parking Lot: ~ 700 Lots
Software used: AutoCAD, Sketchup and 3DSMax




Environmental

Amidst constant contest with design criteria and constrains, James Law Cybertecture international limited always positioned the environmental issues in the top priority. At the podium level, diffusers installed at the ceiling level reflected natural light into the atrium which significantly reduces the lighting energy demand. Spot cooling system is also adopted in the atrium to avoid unnecessary cooling load. Openable windows in office floors allow natural and cross ventilation in daily operation.


For the building enclosure, there are three major features in the building. An incredible stepped-in glazed valley façade is created at the West elevation of the building. the facade is stepped while each floor supported by feature columns and cantilevered in a way that the building itself act as a shading device. A masterpiece egg shape structure inscribed inside the wonderful sky lobby at the East elevation. there are natural waterfalls and vegetations situated on both sides of the sky lobby. they enhance the cooling effect of the atrium. People can also enjoy the beautiful scenery in this communal space. the sparkling LED stripes protruded on the facade of “the capital” do not only act as an urban information display device, but also play the role of sun shading devices. the interior and exterior cladding system are adopted PVDF coating which are easily maintain and UV resisting.


Smart parking

One of the innovation designs of “the Capital” is the intellectual parking system. By means of using internet and smart card system, occupants can log in and command the system in their office in prior to picking up their cars. Therefore, the lap time can be shortened.


James Bio

Widely respected as a modern visionary, James Law has won numerous international awards on architectural design and leadership, highlighted by the achievements of Young Global Leaders 2010 in World Economic Forum and CNBC International Architecture Awards during 2009. Accredited by coining the notion of Cybertecture, James leads the charge in blending new materials and technologies within architecture, to pave the way for innovating the fabric of mankind.

James Law is the visionary founder and Chief Cybertect at James Law Cybertecture International, formed on the first day of the new century in 2001. Dedicated to blend cyber technology within modern architecture, James is paving the way for people to live the future in a seamless and enjoyable manner.


Graduated with a degree in architecture from University College London in 1992, James consolidated his knowledge in architecture, buildings, design, and technology at prestigious Japanese architect firm Itsuko Hasegawa in 1994 and became Director at world renowned design firm Gensler International in 1997.

In reward for James’s passion and contribution, James has won numerous international awards on architectural design and leadership, highlighted by the achievements of Young Global Leaders 2010 in World Economic Forum and CNBC International Architecture Awards during 2009.


Within the architecture spectrum, he achieved the Royal Institute of Architects Award in 2003, which also earned him to become a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects. James achievements are further highlighted with Asian Innovation Awards 2004, CNBC International Property Awards 2007, and CNBC Asia Pacific Commercial Property Awards 2009.


to enlighten fellow futuristic thinkers of his time, James is an adjacent professor at Korean Advanced Institute of Science and technology, a board member of the Hong Kong Design Center and author of his book “Cybertecture Now: James Law Cybertecture” to be published in 2010. Anticipating the health and wellness revolution, especially surrounding telemedicine, James is launching the Cybertecture Health System to address the growing needs of globalized citizens.

Strata Blobitecture Tower in Abu Dhabi

the strata tower, a forty-story, luxury residential building is now under construction in abu dhabi and scheduled for completion in 2011. At a height of 160 meters, the strata Tower will be the tallest building in the al dana precinct, the centerpiece of aldar properties pjsc’s prestigious al raha beach development recently unveiled at mipm in cannes, france. the strata Tower is designed to be a powerful landmark on the al dana precinct’s skyline, signifying the future of Abu Dhabi as a vital city in the uae rising alongside dubai.