Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Villa SK by Atelier Thomas Pucher | Last Architecture

Austrian architects Atelier Thomas Pucher built a glass box and courtyard onto this house in Graz to bring the family’s living space outdoors.

Two steel beams mark out the concrete roof structure, which can be accessed from the first floor of the house and used as a terrace.
Villa SK by Atelier Thomas Pucher
The glass box provides a new living area, which is screened on one side by an internal brick wall.
Villa SK by Atelier Thomas Pucher
Outside, a concrete floor wraps around the glass box and leads to the square courtyard, which wraps around a walnut tree.
Villa SK by Atelier Thomas Pucher
At the far end, a rough stone wall provides shelter to the courtyard.
Villa SK by Atelier Thomas Pucher

Villa SK by Atelier Thomas Pucher
Photographs are by Lukas Schaller.
Here’s some more information from the architects:

The initial assignment for the Villa SK was to rebuild with a rather limited budget an existing single family house and adjust it to the needs of its future inhabitants. Instead of redeveloping the old structure, the decision was made to add a contrasting annexe that would extend the living area of the house into the garden.
Villa SK by Atelier Thomas Pucher
This choice allowed us to keep intact the main structure of the existing construction and reserve it for private functions, such as bathrooms and rooms for the children. On the other hand, the most public function of the house – the living room – is now surrounded by nature and becomes the central element of the house.
Villa SK by Atelier Thomas Pucher
The first floor of the existing house is a more reserved area for the owners and the roof of the annexe serves as an exterior terrace.
Villa SK by Atelier Thomas Pucher
The extension volume consists of three materials — large glass panes, rough brick and red coloured concrete. The concrete structure that forms the roof is composed by two major beams, which extent almost to the limit of the plot.
Villa SK by Atelier Thomas Pucher
Although supported by thin metal elements, the roof structure appears to hover over the rough stone wall, creating a clear but delicate contrast between these elements and materials. In this gesture, the building embraces the existing walnut tree, forming a calm and reserved courtyard.
Villa SK by Atelier Thomas Pucher
The wide glass panes provide an intimate connection from the interior space with the outside scene, from spring’s lush greenery to winter’s bright snow. In this way, nature and architecture are interwoven to create a welcoming and harmonious backdrop for family life.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Galaxy Soho by Zaha Hadid Architects | Last Architecture



London firm Zaha Hadid Architects has completed a 330,000-square-metre retail, office and entertainment complex in Beijing.
Galaxy Soho by Zaha Hadid Architects
The Galaxy Soho building comprises four main domed structures, fused together by bridges and platforms between curving floor plates to create a fluid environment that surrounds a series of public courtyards and a larger central “canyon”.
Galaxy Soho by Zaha Hadid Architects
“The design responds to the varied contextual relationships and dynamic conditions of Beijing,” says Zaha Hadid. “We have created a variety of public spaces that directly engage with the city, reinterpreting the traditional urban fabric and contemporary living patterns into a seamless urban landscape inspired by nature.”
Galaxy Soho by Zaha Hadid Architects
There are 18 floors in total, including three below ground, with retail units surrounding the courtyards on the lower levels, offices from floors four to 15, and restaurants and bars at the upper reaches.
Galaxy Soho by Zaha Hadid Architects
The exterior of the building is clad in aluminium and stone while the interior features glass, terrazzo, stainless steel and glass reinforced gypsum.
Galaxy Soho by Zaha Hadid Architects
The firm is currently working on two more developments for the same client, Soho China.
Galaxy Soho by Zaha Hadid Architects
The Sky Soho office and retail centre in Shanghai will also make use of large public courtyards and is scheduled for completion next year, while the 115,393-square-metre Wangjing Soho commercial complex, scheduled for completion in 2014, will comprise three pebble-shaped towers midway between Beijing Capital Airport and the city.
Galaxy Soho by Zaha Hadid Architects

Galaxy Soho by Zaha Hadid Architects
Photographs are by Iwan Baan.
Here’s some more information from Zaha Hadid Architects:

Zaha Hadid joined Soho China’s Zhang Xin and Pan Shiyi, with 15,000 guests from China and around the world, to celebrate the completion of Galaxy Soho, Beijing
The Galaxy SOHO project in central Beijing for SOHO China is a 330 000m2 office, retail and entertainment complex that will become an integral part of the living city, inspired by the grand scale of Beijing. Its architecture is a composition of four continuous, flowing volumes that are set apart, fused or linked by stretched bridges. These volumes adapt to each other in all directions, generating a panoramic architecture without corners or abrupt transitions that break the fluidity of its formal composition.
Galaxy Soho by Zaha Hadid Architects
The great interior courts of the project are a reflection of traditional Chinese architecture where courtyards create an internal world of continuous open spaces. Here, the architecture is no longer composed of rigid blocks, but instead comprised of volumes which coalesce to create a world of continuous mutual adaptation and fluid movement between each building. Shifting plateaus within the design impact upon each other to generate a deep sense of immersion and envelopment. As users enter deeper into the building, they discover intimate spaces that follow the same coherent formal logic of continuous curvelinearity.
Galaxy Soho by Zaha Hadid Architects
The lower three levels of Galaxy SOHO house public facilities for retail and entertainment. The levels immediately above provide work spaces for clusters of innovative businesses. The top of the building is dedicated to bars, restaurants and cafés that offer views along one of the greatest avenues of the city. These different functions are interconnected through intimate interiors that are always linked with the city, helping to establish Galaxy SOHO as a major urban landmark for Beijing.
Galaxy Soho by Zaha Hadid Architects
Design: Zaha Hadid with Patrik Schumacher
Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects
Project Director: Satoshi Ohashi
Associate: Cristiano Ceccato
Project Architect: Yoshi Uchiyama
Galaxy Soho by Zaha Hadid Architects
Project Team: Stephan Wurster, Michael Hill, Samer Chamoun, Eugene Leung, Rita Lee, Lillie Liu Rolando Rodriguez-Leal, Wen Tao, Tom Wuenschmann, Seung-ho Yeo, Shuojiong Zhang, Michael Grau, Shu Hashimoto Shao-Wei Huang, Chikara Inamura, Lydia Kim, Yasuko Kobayashi, Wang Lin, Yereem Park
Galaxy Soho by Zaha Hadid Architects
Local Design Institute: BIAD Beijing Institute of Architecture & Design
Plot area: 46,965 m2
Total Floor Area: 332,857 m2
Above Ground: 4 Towers 15 Floors (12 Office Floors and 3 Retail Floors)
Max Height: 67 meters
Below Ground: B1 Floor Retail and B2, B3 Parking (1275 cars), MEP
Retail Floors: B1F,1F,2F,3F (90,000 m2)
Galaxy Soho by Zaha Hadid Architects
Materials Skin: 3mm Aluminium Exterior Cladding, Insulated Glass, Stone
Materials Interiors: Glass, Terrazzo, GRG, Stainless Steel, Gypsum Board Painted
Structure: Standard Concrete Structure (8.4m spans)
Floor to Floor Heights: Retail floors 5.4m, office floors 3.5m

The Culture Yard by AART Architects | Last Architecture

Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
A faceted glass shroud cloaks these former shipbuilding warehouses in Elsinore, Denmark, which architects AART have converted into a cultural centre.
Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
The seafront shipyard buildings of The Culture Yard now contain concert halls, a public library, exhibition rooms, conference rooms and a dockyard museum.
Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
The concrete structure and bricks walls of the existing buildings are left exposed inside the centre, whilst original wrought-iron staircases and balconies are retained behind the glass.
Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
After dark, the lights behind the transparent facade brightly illuminate the sea-facing side of the building.
Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects

Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
Photography is by Adam Mørk.
Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
The following text is from AART:

The Culture Yard
1st prize in open international architecture competition // 17.000m2 cultural centre in Elsinore in Denmark
In many years the attention has been aimed at the site adjacent, where the UNESCO World Heritage site, Kronborg Castle, which is famous for its role in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, exerts its magnetic pull on both tourists and local citizens of Elsinore – but now Elsinore’s old shipbuilding yard has been transformed into a 17.000m2 cultural and knowledge centre, including concert halls, showrooms, conference rooms, a dockyard museum and a public library.
Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
The Culture Yard symbolizes Elsinore’s transformation from an old industrial town to a modern cultural hub. In this way, the yard is designed as a hinge between the past and present, reinforcing the identity of the local community, but at the same time expressing an international attitude, reinforcing the relation between the local and global community.
Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
The contrast between past and present permeates the Culture Yard. For instance, the original concrete skeleton with armoured steel has been reinforced, but left exposed as a reference to the area’s industrial past.
Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
The historic context has thus been the main structural idea in the design process, ensuring the keen observer will discover a chapter of history in every corner of the yard and every peeling of the wall.
Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
In other words, if you want to understand what Elsinore really is, what the intangible blur between past and present feels like, this is the place to visit.
Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
Thanks to architectural features such as wrought iron stairs and concrete elements, interacting with modern glass structures and interior designs, the contrast between the days of yore and the present becomes evident.
Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
It is the Culture Yard’s way of playing with the field of tension between old and new, making the notion of past versus present, the industrial society versus the information society, constantly present.
Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
Particularly striking, when viewed from the seafront and Kronborg Castle, is the multifaceted façade.
Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
Like a fragmented, yet strongly coherent structure, the enormous glass and steel façade challenges the historic site and stares unflinchingly across the Sound – the strait that separates Denmark and Sweden.
Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
The transparent façade also reinforces the relation between inside and outside, as you can peak in from street level and enjoy the magnificent sea view and view of Kronborg Castle from every floor of the building, especially from the glass cave which in a dramatic gesture protrudes out of the building above the main entrance.
Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
In this way, the façade encloses the yard in a distinctive atmosphere, as the dazzling and dramatic play of lines generates a sense of spaciousness.
Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
Although the façade is made of hundreds of lines and triangles it appears as one big volume, generating a sense of place and time.
Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
The volume also takes the environment into account, since the façade not only functions as an aesthetic and spatial architectural feature, but also as a climate shield, reducing the energy demand for cooling and heating of the building.
Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
Project: 1st prize in open international architecture competition 17.000m2 cultural centre in Elsinore in Denmark
Client: Elsinore municipality
Architect: AART architects A/S
Landscape architect: AART architects A/S
Engineer: Søren Jensen Consulting Engineer
Address: Allégade 2, 3000 Elsinore, Denmark
Year: 2006 – 2010
Size: Approx. 17.000m2
Construction costs: DKR 315 million
Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
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Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
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Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
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Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
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Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
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Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
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Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
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Culture Yard in Elsinore by AART Architects
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