Architecture and design news
West 8 to transform Dutch royal palace into leisure and innovation hub
by Kim Megson | 09 Jun 2017
Dutch landscape architects West 8 are to develop a 17th century Dutch country estate and royal residence in Soestdijk, it has been announced today (9 June). The Netherlands’ minister of the interior, Roland Plasterk, has revealed that business consortium Made in Holland have succeeded in the bidding war to purchase and redevelop the palace and gardens of Soestdijk Palace. The group wants to transform the historic site into “a platform
MCC members to review potential Lord’s redevelopment
by Matthew Campelli | 09 Jun 2017
Members of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) – the owner of Lord’s Cricket Ground – will be asked if they would be content for a “large-scale” residential development to be built within the venue to fund redevelopment projects. The question will be posed as part of a review carried out by MCC to see if there is appetite for the ground’s Nursery End to be revamped. Two development options have
Pierre-Yves Rochon and Gensler design 'soon-to-be-iconic' Waldorf Astoria for Beverly Hills
by Kim Megson | 09 Jun 2017
Hospitality group Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts has opened a “soon-to-be-iconic” hotel at the gateway to Beverly Hills, with interiors designed by the studio of architect and designer Pierre-Yves Rochon (PYR). The 12-storey Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills features 170 guestrooms and suites, designed by PYR to interpret Hollywood glamour and the Streamline Moderne style of the 1930s and 40s. Design features range from a triple-height lobby with a contemporary Art
Star architects enter race to design Brussels' own Pompidou Centre
by Kim Megson | 09 Jun 2017
A host of the world’s most high-profile architecture practices have entered the race to design a new branch of the Pompidou Centre art museum in Brussels, Belgium. The studio of Richard Rogers – who designed the landmark Pompidou in Paris in 1977 alongside Renzo Piano – are in contention for the €125m (US$136m, £104m) project, along with 91 other design teams. Among those to make the star-studded longlist are Bjarke
Oval lays out plan to become largest cricket ground in the UK
by Matthew Campelli | 09 Jun 2017
London’s Oval is set to become the largest cricket ground in the UK as a result of an ambitious redevelopment plan. Surrey County Cricket Club, the occupier of the venue, is submitting plans that would see the ground’s capacity increase to 40,000 – larger than the 30,000-seat Lord’s Cricket Ground. The club already has planning permission for a large development next to the Pavilion, named 1 Oval Square, which will
HOK recruit rugby stars to visualise stadiums of tomorrow
by Kim Megson | 08 Jun 2017
Global sports architects HOK have collaborated with four international rugby players to discuss what is needed in the rugby stadiums of the future. John Rhodes, a director of the practice’s Sports + Recreation + Entertainment division, met with Jamie Roberts of Wales, Tim Visser of Scotland, James Horwill of Australia and Danny Care of England to learn from their experiences as players and fans. HOK has released the conversation and
Could Hyperloop One be coming to Europe?
by Kim Megson | 08 Jun 2017
Over 75 million people in 44 cities across Europe could one day be connected by a high-speed Hyperloop network spanning 5,000 kilometres – with nine prospective routes being considered by for the continent. Executives from Hyperloop One – one of the companies attempting to make Canadian-American entrepreneur Elon Musk’s ambition for superfast travel a reality – have met dignitaries and policymakers at its Vision for Europe summit in Amsterdam to
Kengo Kuma's V&A Dundee: New drone footage reveals £80m building taking shape on River Tay
by Kim Megson | 08 Jun 2017
New drone footage has today (8 June) been released showing huge cast stone panels being hung on the curving walls of Kengo Kuma’s V&A Dundee; Scotland's first design museum. In total 2,466 pieces – each weighing between 1.5 and 2.5 tonnes – are being individually fixed into place, secured by two specially designed brackets secured to the building’s reinforced concrete walls. The video shows an engineer inspecting panels fixed to
Modular Resense spa to debut at upcoming Kempinski Muscat
by Jane Kitchen | 07 Jun 2017
Global spa management company Resense will manage a 1,540sq m (16,576sq ft) Kempinski Wave Spa, which is designed to envelop guests in natural elements through fresh colours and organic textures. Set to open in October 2017, the 310-bedroom Kempinski Muscat will be nestled within the community of Al Mouj, and encompass six kilometers of coastline. McNally Design International is using earthy woods, weather-worn stone and glass, smooth copper, trickling waters
Countdown begins for Astana architecture expo devoted to 'future energy'
by Kim Megson | 07 Jun 2017
The countdown has begun in earnest for the 2017 international architecture exposition in Astana, Kazakhstan. On 10 June, visitors will be able to explore the city’s futuristic new Expo City, which includes 28 buildings themed around the concept of ‘Future Energy’. Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG) masterplanned the site and have designed several of the buildings. The 174 ha site features exhibition and cultural pavilions (118,620sq m); service
‘Sauna on stilts’ opens on Swedish coast
by Tom Walker | 07 Jun 2017
A timber-clad sauna and bathhouse built on stilts has opened to the public in the town of Karlshamn on the southern coast of Sweden. The 200sq m (2,152sq ft) Kallbadhus – Swedish for “the cold bath house” – is located along a wooden beach promenade and sits at a height of three metres above sea level. Designed by Gothenburg-based architects White Arkitekten, the SEK8m (US$925,000, £716,000, €821,000) bath house is
Battersea Power Station's iconic chimneys rebuilt from scratch for site's regeneration
by Kim Megson | 06 Jun 2017
Work has been completed on the rebuilding of Battersea Power Station’s iconic chimneys; the architectural centrepiece of the ongoing 42 acre regeneration of southwest London. The two pairs of original chimneys – built in the 1930s and the 1950s respectively – are very familiar in popular culture, having made appearances in Doctor Who, 1984, Sherlock and Children of Men among other films and television shows. They also featured on the
AU$28.5m masterplan revealed for home of Australian artist Arthur Boyd
by Tom Anstey | 06 Jun 2017
The masterplan for the AU$28.5m (US$21.4m, €19m, £16.5m) redevelopment of the home of Australian artist Arthur Boyd has been unveiled by Bundanon Trust – the charity managing the property – with the plans expected to more than double visitation to the attraction. Created by Kerstin Thompson Architects (KTA), who won a competition in November from a shortlist of six Australian firms, the masterplan details a new gallery, visitors centre and
Steven Holl's cloud-inspired Houston art gallery breaks ground
by Kim Megson | 05 Jun 2017
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston has broken ground on a new building dedicated to modern and contemporary art, designed by Steven Holl Architects. The 165,000sq ft (15,300sq m) Nancy and Rich Kinder Building is the centrepiece of the museum’s wider US$450m (€400m, £348m) expansion, and will house 54,000sq ft (5,000sq m) of gallery space for exhibitions showcasing its collection. The building will be clad in a translucent-glass exterior, which
Building begins on Mecanoo's 'timeless' Tainan Library
by Kim Megson | 05 Jun 2017
Ground has broken on the new Tainan Public Library in Taiwan, designed by Dutch architects Mecanoo. The 37,000sq m (398,200sq ft) building – which will feature a transparent stepped facade and below-grade courtyards – will have a 290-seat auditorium, a large conference hall, reading rooms, study spaces, a children’s play area, a café, a conference hall and public meeting spaces. The entrance hall will rise three levels up to show
Dusit to make Nepal debut with mountaintop resort
by Tom Walker | 05 Jun 2017
Thailand-based hospitality company Dusit International has signed a management agreement with property investor Omstone Asia Capital Nepal to operate its first property in Nepal. The Dusit Thani Himalayan Resort & Spa – which will house 44 bedrooms and 20 exclusive villas – is scheduled to open in 2020. While the exact wellness facilities are yet to be confirmed, a spokesperson confirmed the property will have a Devarana-branded spa, providing personalised
SLA win design competition to transform Danish national park into 'outdoor cultural house'
by Kim Megson | 05 Jun 2017
Danish landscape architects SLA have won a design competition to develop a national park near the city of Roskilde into a 1,500 ha cultural landscape called The New Hedeland. The design concept is centred around the idea of bringing leisure and culture into the outdoors – creating an experience destination that will be a hotbed of voluntary work and human creativity. Flat fields will be transformed into mountains, new trails
MVRDV complete cascading mixed-use complex in Poznan
by Kim Megson | 02 Jun 2017
Work has been completed on MVRDV’s latest eye-catching mixed-use building; an irregular tower block in the heart of Poznan, Poland. Baltyk is a 16-storey linear structure with a concrete, entirely glass-fronted façade and clearly exposed aggregate grain. The unusual form means it changes its shape depending on the side it is approached from. The majority of the 25,000sq m (270,000sq ft) building is dedicated to office space, but there is
Fine dining meets football: Roux family chefs and Spurs serve up White Hart Lane restaurant concept
by Kim Megson | 02 Jun 2017
World-renowned chefs the Roux family will create fine dining experiences for spectators at Tottenham Hotspur’s new-look White Hart Lane stadium when it opens next year. While football fans in Britain are accustomed to enjoying a pie and a pint of beer during a game, Tottenham wants to offer a rather more high-end alternative for those with deep pockets and an appetite for the finer things in life. For 12 matches
Luxury boutique hotel La Speranzina opens on Lake Garda
by Tom Walker | 02 Jun 2017
A small boutique wellness retreat has opened on the shores of Lake Garda in Italy. The Speranzina Relais and Restaurant is privately owned and operated by the Giordano family and is located at the end of the Sirmione peninsula. Designed as an “über-luxury” retreat, the property has just three guest bedrooms – two of which are fitted with private spa areas. The 101sq m (1,000sq ft) Royal Suite Maria Luisa
Lionel Messi theme park to open in China in 2019
by Kim Megson | 02 Jun 2017
Footballer Lionel Messi has inspired a new theme park in China, which will have over 20 multimedia attractions dedicated to the FC Barcelona star. A consortium of developers, including China’s Phoenix Group and Spanish conglomerate Mediapro, are backing the Messi Experience Park in Nanjing – described as “a unique global experience” that will allow visitors “to immerse themselves in all things Messi”. The park will utilise virtual and augmented reality
Snøhetta unveil dramatic riverwalk design for North America's second largest waterfall
by Kim Megson | 02 Jun 2017
International architecture firm Snøhetta have unveiled new details of the riverwalk they are creating for North America’s second largest waterfall. For over a century, the 42ft high Willamette Falls has been cut off from public access by industrial infrastructure built along the water’s edge. Now, new public spaces are planned to offer observation points that do justice to the height and drama of the site. The design, which has taken
Google reveals BIG and Heatherwick's leisure-filled design for King's Cross HQ
by Kim Megson | 01 Jun 2017
Google has today (1 June) submitted an application for planning permission to Camden Council for its proposed King’s Cross HQ and revealed brand new images showcasing the design of the scheme by Heatherwick Studio and Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). Leisure lies at the heart of the dramatic ‘landscraper’ proposal, which features a vast rooftop garden across multiple storeys; a sports hall; a 200m-long running track for employees; a promenade looking
MoMA unveils completed renovation and reveals plans for Diller Scofidio + Renfro expansion
by Kim Megson | 01 Jun 2017
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York has completed the first phase of its major renovation programme, and unveiled its final plans for a multi-year expansion designed by architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro, alongside Gensler. The renovation of the museum’s east section, which began in February 2016, is now finished. Galleries and public spaces have been enhanced on three floors with the reconfiguration of 15,000sq ft of space
OMA design 'grand architectural gesture' for Boston Seaport leisure district
by Kim Megson | 01 Jun 2017
International architecture studio OMA are designing a major mixed-use building in Boston, which will be seemingly sliced in two by cascading exterior terraces. Massachusetts property firm WS Development is overseeing the project in Boston Seaport; one of the fastest-growing leisure districts in the US. The project, called 88 Seaport Boulevard, will include nearly 425,000sq ft (39,500sq m) of office space, 60,000sq ft (5,570sq m) of retail and 5,000sq ft (465sq
US$30m training facility for Will Ferrell’s MLS franchise
by Matthew Campelli | 31 May 2017
Los Angeles FC, the Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise co-owned by Hollywood actor Will Ferrell, has unveiled plans to spend US$30m (£23.5m, €26.8m) on a new training facility. The facility will be built on the campus of California State University, and will be the third most expensive in MLS history following the US$60m (£46.9m, €53.6m) investments made my Atlanta United and Real Salt Lake in their respective training centres. Designed
Ukrainian architects win competition for remote Stone Barn Meditation Camp in rural Latvia
by Kim Megson | 30 May 2017
Architecture competition organiser Bee Breeders have revealed the winners of its latest challenge: a task to design a meditation and wellness camp in one of Latvia’s most remote regions. The Stone Barn Meditation Camp competition sought to create a refuge for individuals amid “the pristine natural beauty” of Vidzeme, eastern Latvia – which is surrounded by forests, lakes and grasslands. Entries were received from across the work. Ultimately, Ukrainian practice
Preparations begin for vast Marina Park in Cork
by Kim Megson | 30 May 2017
Work is underway on a vast new riverside sports park in Cork, Ireland, which will surround the city’s regenerated Páirc Uí Chaoimh Gaelic games stadium. Demolition has begun to clear space for phase one of Marina Park – a €20m development created around the stadium and the adjoining agricultural Munster Showgrounds. The phase one masterplan published by the city council is focused on the area to the west of the
Architects Levitt Bernstein to transform abandoned Manchester fire station into boutique hotel complex
by Kim Megson | 30 May 2017
Developer Allied London and architecture studio Levitt Bernstein have submitted design proposals to reinvigorate Manchester’s abandoned London Road Fire Station as a new leisure destination for the city. The Grade II* listed Edwardian Baroque style building had fallen into disrepair when it was bought by Allied London in 2015. Now the company wishes to refurbish and expanded the site to house a boutique hotel, bars, restaurants, workspace and apartments. The
AART Architects win design competition for timber-clad new Denmark Rowing Stadium
by Kim Megson | 30 May 2017
Danish practice AART Architects have won an international design competition to create Denmark’s Rowing Stadium; a new venue for both the public and elite athletes that will be situated on Bagsværd Lake, outside of Copenhagen. The concept behind the studio’s winning design – which will be surrounded by water and forest on all sides – is that the “classical disciplines of rowing intersect with other forms of leisure.” “It is
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