Architecture and design news:
arts & culture
UNStudio reveal 'mammoth' theatre complex in Hong Kong
by Andrew Manns | 07 Dec 2018
Dutch architecture practice UNStudio have unveiled renderings for the Lyric Theatre Complex – an expansive cultural venue currently being constructed in Hong Kong's West Kowloon Cultural District. The mammoth complex, which will occupy roughly 41,000 sq m of the city’s waterfront, will include a 1,450-seat Lyric Theatre inspired by European "Baroque-era" extravagance; a 600-seat Medium Theatre for smaller-scale productions; and a 270-seat Studio Theatre for intimate performances. The arts facility
Studio Seilern-designed concert hall to open at alpine wellness resort
by Andrew Manns | 04 Dec 2018
A concert hall designed by architecture firm Studio Seilern is slated to debut next year in Andermatt, Switzerland. Erstwhile a wartime bunker, the 1,412 sq m auditorium – once complete – will be able to accommodate major orchestral ensembles and seat up to 700 guests. The hall is being built in the centre of the Andermatt resort village, a wellness destination which boasts attractions like the Chedi Andermatt, a retreat
Steven Chilton Architects reveal mind-bending Puzzle Ball Theatre
by Andrew Manns | 19 Nov 2018
Steven Chilton Architects (SCA) have unveiled the first set of renderings for their mesmerising Puzzle Ball Theatre in Guangzhou, China. The 2,000-seat conceptual structure, which – if constructed – would serve as a venue for performances by Belgian drama company Dragone, is inspired by Chinese puzzle balls. These objects, which often appeared in Victorian-era cabinets of curiosities, are made from a single block of ivory and feature intricate tracery and
MO Museum opens its doors in Vilnius
by Luke Cloherty | 08 Nov 2018
MO Museum, a new modern art museum, has opened in Vilnius, Lithuania showcasing the 4,000-strong private collection of local philanthropists Viktoras and Danguole Butkus. Viktoras Butkus sold his biotechnology firm, Fermentas, to Thermo Fisher Scientific in 2010, which gave the couple "the financial platform to bring the concept to life", he said. Describing their vision as being to create a "museum without walls", the couple has been advised by Lithuanian
PES-Architects scoop futuristic Turku revitalisation project
by Andrew Manns | 08 Nov 2018
Finnish studio PES-Architects have won a competition to design what’s been described as a "future-oriented" urban "archipelago" in Turku, Finland. Dubbed "Luoto" (skerry), the estimated €500m (US$571m, £435m) project will see the coastal city gain a 170,000 sq m experience centre, which will include a multipurpose sports arena, hotel, chapel, residences, and office space, as well a number of entertainment and retail facilities. The new destination, which PES says will
V&A plans two satellite sites at London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
by Tom Walker | 01 Nov 2018
The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) has unveiled plans to create two interconnected sites at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – a brand-new museum at Stratford Waterfront, and a new collection and research centre at Here East. Describing the move as "revolutionising how its collection of art is accessed and explored", the project has been named V&A East. The V&A's main site is located in Kensington, London and is the
Henn Architekten to lead redesign of Europe’s largest cultural centre
by Andrew Manns | 01 Nov 2018
German architectural firm Henn Architekten has been tapped to head up the redesign of the Gasteig, Europe’s largest cultural centre. Henn will spearhead the attraction's expansion, which will see the 30-year-old building gain a rooftop restaurant, multiple learning areas, and a 'cultural stage' atrium, which will feature as a multifunctional gathering and events space and accommodate up to 1,000 guests. The company nabbed the commission after beating out Stuttgart studios
Selldorf Architects-designed expansion will 'double the size' of San Diego art museum
by Luke Cloherty | 31 Oct 2018
Work has began on an expansion project which will more than double the size of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) in California. Designed by Selldorf Architects, the expansion will include the renovation of the existing 35,000-sq ft (3,252sq m) original complex, which was initially designed by renowned California architect Irving Gill. The museum’s entrance will also be reorientated, which has caused some controversy in architectural circles. The
Museum Fine Arts, Houston completes phase two of $450M redevelopment
by Luke Cloherty | 29 Oct 2018
The Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation Centre for Conservation at Museum Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) in Texas has reopened as part of the second phase of the institution's US$450m (€395.5m, £351.5m) redevelopment, designed by Lake|Flato Architects. The new centre sits across the road from MFAH’s curatorial offices and includes 23,796sq ft (2,211sq m) of conservation studios and support space and will now allow the museum to bring together various art conversation
Montréal collective to create public building out of refurbished subway cars
by Andrew Manns | 26 Oct 2018
A team led by Canadian brothers and entrepreneurs Etienne and Frédéric Morin-Bordeleau have unveiled plans to create a multifunctional arts and events space from eight MR-63 subway cars. The new three-storey structure, which has garnered the support of the Société de transport de Montréal (STM), will feature a cafe, microbrewery, restaurant, auditorium, and various gallery and exhibition spaces. According to the project team, the venue is expected to "enrich the
El Paso Children’s Museum to be designed by Snøhetta
by Luke Cloherty | 26 Oct 2019
The Arts District in El Paso, Texas is to welcome a new addition in the form of the El Paso Children’s Museum, which will sit between the El Paso Museum of History and the El Paso Museum of Art. Norway-based architectural practice Snøhetta have been selected to design the new museum, which will aim to engage children and families from El Paso, Ciudad Juarez, the American southwest, and the nearby
'Chimney lift' and large events space planned for Battersea Power Station
by Luke Cloherty | 22 Oct 2018
Battersea Power Station Development Company (BPSDC) has released details of three new attractions planned for the iconic London building, which is currently under renovation. The additions will include a large events venue, a 109 metre-high glass elevator which travels up one of the famous chimneys and a 250-person capacity immersive space in a former control room. All three spaces will open as part of the second phase of the building's
Mecanoo reveal historic mega-theatre in Taiwan
by Andrew Manns | 18 Oct 2018
The Mecanoo-designed National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts, hailed as the "largest performing arts centre in the world" has opened in Taiwan. Impressively, the massive steel structure – which takes visual cues from Banyan trees and the sinuous hulls of ships – is home to a 1,981-seat concert hall, a 2,236-seat opera house, 1,210-seat playhouse, and a 434-seat recital hall. The arts hub, which is located in the vicinity of
Hilltop Gallery with 'moonlight exteriors' completes in China’s Yanshan mountains
by Andrew Manns | 16 Oct 2018
A dramatic mountain-top arts centre has been built in the Yanshan mountains in China. The Hilltop Gallery – also known as the Phoenix Valley Summit Art Centre – was designed by the Chinese architecture studio, deep Architects (DA). The undulating structure follows the topography of the mountainside and has been built in concrete, bamboo, and terracotta. The 2,600 sq m building has a ballroom, theatre, open cooking area, lounge and
Steven Chilton Architects designs "bamboo forest" theatre in China
by Andrew Manns | 12 Oct 2018
Steven Chilton Architects (SCA) have revealed their design for the Wuxi Show Theatre in Wuxi, China. The firm, which has been shortlisted for this year’s World Architecture Festival Future Project Award, were inspired by the largest bamboo forest in China: the Sea of Bamboo Park in Yixing. The 2,000-person capacity theatre uses tightly packed white columns and a canopy made from gold anodised aluminium louvers to simulate the appearance of
Zaha Hadid reveals sonic wave-inspired design for Russian concert hall
by Andrew Manns | 11 Oct 2018
Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) has been selected to reimagine the Sverdlovsk Philharmonic Building in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The firm contended against 47 contestants from around the globe in a competition organised by the Sverdlovsk Region’s Ministry of Construction. Located in the midst of the Ural mountains, the proposed sonic wave-inspired concert hall–which, not surprisingly, has already drawn comparisons to a spaceship–will comprise a 1,600-seat auditorium as well as a 400-seat chamber
Frida Escobedo Serpentine Pavilion sold to Therme Group
by Andrew Manns | 11 Oct 2018
Frida Escobedo, the youngest person yet to design a temporary Pavilion for the Serpentine Gallery in London, has recently sold her creation to international spa and wellness company, Therme Group. According to Architects' Journal, Therme Group, which is perhaps most famous for operating Therme Bucharest–the largest thermal leisure facility ever developed in Europe on a greenfield site–made overtures to and later reached a deal with Escobedo’s Mexico-based firm in order
Revamped post-war art museum to reopen in Maryland next month
by Luke Cloherty | 20 Sep 2018
American billionaires Mitchell and Emily Wei Rales are to reopen the Glenstone Museum, showcasing their extensive collection of post-war art, in Maryland, US next month following renovations and an expansion. The museum, located on the grounds of a former hunt club near Washington DC in Potomac, has undergone a serious overhaul. The attraction now boasts additional exhibition space, two cafés, a bookstore and a total of 230 acres of landscaped
Serpentine Pavilion opens with Unzipped exhibition in Toronto
by Luke Cloherty | 19 Sep 2018
The 2016 Serpentine Pavilion installation, designed by renowned architectural practice Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), has now opened in Toronto having been rebuilt in the Canadian city. Originally designed for Kensington Gardens in London for the Serpentine Pavilion event – an annual architectural installation in the English capital commissioned by the Serpentine Galleries – the structure has been created out of 1,802 fibreglass 'blocks' that create a wall at the top,
V&A Dundee wows with new photography ahead of weekend launch
by Andrew Manns | 13 Sep 2018
Photographs of Scotland’s first design museum, the V&A Dundee, have been released ahead of its 15 September opening. The building was designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, who commented: “The big idea for V&A Dundee was bringing together nature and architecture, to create a new living room for the city. I’m truly in love with the Scottish landscape and nature.” “I was inspired by the rugged cliffs of the north
Gensler’s Gwyneth Paltrow-backed West Hollywood Arts Club receives planning approval
by Luke Cloherty | 13 Sep 2018
London-based private members’ haunt the Arts Club is set to open a third location in West Hollywood, California, US. The new branch of the historic club – founded in London in 1863 by luminaries such as novelists Charles Dickens and Anthony Trollope and artist Frederic Leighton – will sit in a 132,000sq ft mixed-use complex designed by Gensler. Backed by Hollywood actress and wellness champion Gwyneth Paltrow, facilities will include private dining
Work starts on Sou Fujimoto's House of Hungarian Music in Budapest
by Tom Anstey | 07 Sep 2018
The House of Hungarian Music by Sou Fujimoto – the architect behind such projects such as The Serpentine Gallery and the Musashino Art University Museum – is set to undergo construction on the shore of Városliget Lake in Budapest’s City Park. The building, part of an expansive national cultural initiative, will utilise transparent glass walls and a mushroom-shaped, perforated roof, to mimic the free-flowing, airy, and barrier-shattering attributes of music.
SHoP Architects and First Avenue set stage for Minneapolis venue and park
by Luke Cloherty | 29 Aug 2018
A 10,000 capacity amphitheatre-cum-public park is to provide a “year-round epicentre for live music and entertainment”, according to its architects. New York-based SHoP Architects have been chosen by First Avenue Productions – the developer and offshoot of the legendary Minneapolis music venue First Avenue – to design the Community Performing Arts Center (CPAC) on the Mississippi River waterfront in Minneapolis, Minnesota, US. “We focussed on creating an inclusive venue where
Strong National Museum of Play ready for 100,000sq ft expansion
by Luke Cloherty | 21 Aug 2018
A hotel, a new atrium, outdoor play and exhibit areas and a ‘Neighborhood of Play’ – a residential project with retail units, sculptures and street fixtures are all planned for US attraction the Strong National Museum of Play’s reinvention. The museum has entered the first phase of a 100,000q ft (2,290sq m) expansion, which has a total fundraising goal of fundraising goal of US$60m (€52.5M, £47m). US$20m (€17.5m, £15.7m) from
Kengo Kuma’s V&A Dundee: Drone footage shows finished building ahead of opening
by Luke Cloherty | 16 Aug 2018
The Kengo Kuma-designed V&A Museum of Design Dundee, Scotland’s first dedicated design museum, is set to open its doors in less than a month. Opening on 15 September 2018, the V&A Dundee will be the lauded Japanese architect’s first building in the UK. The structure is now complete and new stills from released drone footage, taken by Rapid Visual Media, show its contours and sculptured outline off to the wider
Cooper Robertson appoint new director of architecture
by Luke Cloherty | 15 Aug 2018
American architectural practice Cooper Robertson have made a swathe of in-house promotions, including the appointment of a new director of architecture. The architects, noted for their museum and cultural work, have name Erin Flynn as director of architecture. Flynn has an extensive 20-year background in cultural and museum architecture as a project leader on notable commissions such as the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Fowler Museum at UCLA Planning
First ever museum honouring American comedy opens in Jamestown
by Tom Walker | 06 Aug 2018
The first ever museum dedicated to telling the story of American comedy has opened in Jamestown, New York, US. JRA provided complete master planning, design, project management and art direction for the 37,000sq ft (3,400sq m) National Comedy Center, which took seven years to complete at a cost of around US$50m (€43.2m, £38.6m). As well as featuring 50 exhibits exploring comedy history – from vaudeville to viral memes – the
SPPARC’s London railway arches renovation to ‘weave historic fabric with contemporary architecture’
by Luke Cloherty | 31 Jul 2018
Construction work has now begun on the £300m (US$393m, €336m) renovation of Borough Yards in London – a series of Victorian-era railway arches that sit near to the River Thames, Tate Modern art gallery and world-famous foodie haunt Borough Market. Due for completion in 2020, Borough Yards will feature five mixed-use buildings that will house a workspace, retail units, gallery, restaurants, cinema and creative spaces. The brick-built railway viaducts will
Sam Jacob Studio appointed to design London Cartoon Museum's new home
by Luke Cloherty | 24 Jul 2018
Architecture and design practice Sam Jacob Studio will give London’s Cartoon Museum "greater flexibility" in displaying its collection, having been appointed to design its new home. The museum, which showcases a collection of cartoon and comic art dating back as far as the 18th century, was founded in 2006 and is "dedicated to preserving the best of British cartoons, caricatures, comics and animation". Following a 25-year lease deal agreed with
New Helsinki art museum by architects JKMM will open in August
by Luke Cloherty | 21 Jul 2018
Amos Rex, a new art museum in Helsinki, is set to open in August 2018, following the refurbishment of the Lasipalatsi Building in the centre of the Finnish capital. The €50m (US$58m, £44.7m) project, designed by Finnish architects JKMM, will house 2,200sq m (23,600sq ft) worth of gallery space created beneath the remodelled public Lasipalatsi Square. The new gallery’s roof, meanwhile, is formed of numerous domes, which contain angled rooflights
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