ArChiTecTure: 咖菲论阿柒: 2009

introduce my other blog Architecture 咖菲论阿柒-In Nanjing

Monday, September 14, 2009

hi everyone, I am currently in Nanjing and I am not able to access my blogspot account here, therefore i created another blog to substitute while I am here.

For awhile this will be my replacement blog, do have a visit: Architecture 咖菲论阿柒-In Nanjing

Award winning project: CoCoon Exclusive Office Headquaters by Camenzind Evolution

Saturday, August 29, 2009

All above images from and for clearer explanation of the projects: Camenzind Evolution

House in Highgate Cemetery, London by Eldridge Smerin architects

Thursday, August 27, 2009

The new house designed by Eldridge Smerin architects replacing an existing house on the same site designed by well-known Architect John Winter in 1970s. Situated next to the Highgate Cemetery, London greatest Victorian cemetery, it offers great views over the cemetery, waterlow park and the city skyline beyond. The new house with large glazed openings allow maximum sunlights during winter months.

"To the street a sheer façade of honed black granite, translucent glass and black steel panels set flush to one another echoes the massiveness of the cemetery wall. This gives the house an air of mystery and intrigue whilst also making reference to the monumental masonry of the cemetery."

Eldridge Smerin architects

London Bridge 800 Ideas Competition by RIBA

"Organised on behalf of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects (WCCA), a Livery Company of the City of London, the competition marks the 800th anniversary of the opening of the first London Bridge in 1209AD.

The competition invited today's designers to imagine a new version of the inhabited bridge. The competition received an exceptional response with a total of 73 entries received from architects and students of architecture from all over the world.

Submissions came from the UK, Europe and as far afield as the USA, Argentina, China, Hong Kong and South Africa. The judging panel, which included Richard Saxon CBE, journalist Peter Murray, Colette O'Shea of Land Securities, and Ian Head, Master of the WCCA, described Laurie Chetwood's scheme as 'beautifully presented, wildly imaginative and a unanimous first choice'. "

London Bridge 800: Design an Inhabited Bridge Competition

First prize: Laurie Chetwood, Chetwoods, London

Second prize: Lawrence Friesen, GenGeo, Ilona Hay, London

Third prize: Ryszard Rychlicki, student, Poznan, Poland

All above text and images from: RIBA

TackleBox Newyork and their projects

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Speculations: Embed

This project study on a new relationship between tourists (foreigner) and the city (host). Hotel is always located on a specific location with all amenities included. The architect found that this type of hotel typology results a non-interaction between tourist and the city.

By using the idea of fragmentation, hotel is broken apart and all programs in a hotel are expanded into the whole city. Tourist become guest and city hosts the tourists.

Interesting fragmentation

Speculations: Tacklebox
Tacklebox is a project looking into 4 spatially constrained site with different chosen fly. Fly-tying is the process of producing an artificial fly to be used by anglers to catch fish via means of fly fishing. (wikipedia)

Installations: Timber
A round hewn timber is suspended purely by mono-filament.

Tacklebox is an architecture firm collaborated by architects, designers and client in the investigations of material, light and space. (for more info: go to tacklebox website)

All above images and info from: tacklebox

"Ghost Adventure " TV Show

Friday, August 21, 2009

"Are you ready for the lockdown? The "Ghost Adventures" crew -- Zak Bagans, Nick Groff and Aaron Goodwin -- is back to investigate the scariest, most notorious, haunted places in the world.
The trio will interview eyewitnesses and historians at each location, arming themselves with the stories of the ghosts they will later provoke and confront during their dusk-to-dawn lockdowns. (Note: They don't always come out unscathed!) Then they'll review and analyze their findings with some the most respected experts and specialists in the paranormal field. " (from: travel channel)

I personally like this show not because I like ghost stories, but because this tv show brings the audience to different old buildings (of course, they are haunted) in the world, and before they get locked inside the building for the whole night, they will interview some historians and residents or people who get contact with the building. Directly, audience will understand the background of the building and initial tour was made by the crew around the building explaning different spaces usage and what happened during the past time.

This is the part which I liking a lot is that we will get exposed to buildings that might not be the world great architecture , but to buildings that actually means a lot to the local community life and history.

Below are some of the youtube video:

This is an interesting underground vault in Edinburgh. Enjoy....

Introduce METRE CUBIC DESIGN (M3D) in Malaysia

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Meter Cubic Design is a design company providing expertise services in graphic visualization including 2D and 3D graphic images, animations, rennovations design services, and design services for offices, residential and commercial spaces.

People behind the scene: Alex Tan, Tim Sia, Wk Lim

"In Metre Cubic Design, we focus on giving quality design solutions in association with realistic graphic visualization which simulate the realization of the end product, bringing the gap closer between the concept and the finalization. We are keen in doing design and visualization works which show the sense of time with constant research and development on trends, stylish expressions, according to market direction"

Meter Cubic Design website
Meter Cubic Design blog

Waterstudio working on, at and in water

"Waterstudio.NL combines architecture, urbanism and innovation for building in, on and at the water: buildings, functions, living-spaces on rivers, canals, lakes or half at sea.

The firm tries to develop the existing water-architecture and building-methods further to a new level. Waterstudio is working on this development in several areas of expertise. In urbanism Waterstudio goes beyond the well-known pier with a boat; water in the neighbourhood is exceptionally attractive as a living-quality, but by not only utilizing open water, but also pursuing higher densities, Waterstudio designs neighbourhood that are very much similar to the exisiting ones; the only difference is that the foundations are different, to give water a place. In the architectural field Waterstudio tries to modernize the typology of the dwelling-ark; modern houses and villas in and around the water that rival their counterparts on land in space and experience. " (From: Waterstudio)

Floating Mosque, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

For the UAE , Waterstudio designed a floating Mosque. A modern and daring design for a traditional function. The interior is characterized by giant funnel-shaped transparant colums that do not only support the roof, but also allow filtered light to illuminate the inner space.

The Citadel

First project in the area of ‘The New Water’ is the Citadel, the first floating apartment complex. With the design of the Citadel the level of ambition is set high. The building will consist of 60 luxury apartments with enough parking spaces and large terraces. The fluent shaped design of the Citadel clearly shows the endless possibilities of building on water.

Future information will be published on the website: http://www.citadelhetnieuwewater.nl/

All above images and text from Waterstudio

2009 Prix Pictet Environmental Photography Shortlist

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Prix Pictet (for more info of individual artist) is a prestigious photography competition on a different sustainability theme each year. Using the power of Images to convey strong messages about protecting our environment before they are being destroyed.
This year the theme is Earth and the following photos are part of the shortlisted photographs: