Architecture and design news
HOK agrees deal to purchase design firm 360 Architecture
by Chris Dodd | 21 Aug 2014
Prominent architectural design firm 360 Architecture is to be acquired by fellow practice HOK, with the US-based group looking to expand its footprint in the sports sector. Founded in Kansas City, US, 360 Architecture is known for its award-winning designs of stadiums, ballparks, arenas, recreation and wellness centres, plus mixed-use entertainment districts. The firm has also won competitions to design corporate facilities, commercial office spaces and government-led projects. “As a
Architecture firm RMJM reveals designs for progressive fish-like tower in China
by Chris Dodd | 21 Aug 2014
China’s burgeoning architectural landscape could soon be home to a new standout piece, after architecture firm RMJM won a competition to design a 93-metre tower in the coastal city of Zhuhai. The Doumen Observation Tower, featuring leisure facilities, shops, housing and a viewing platform, would be built as three rising sections and decorated with 1,400 bent panels made from perforated aluminum to represent the scales of a fish. Lead architect
Giant turtle invades Sydney harbour as part of underwater art installation
by Tom Anstey | 19 Aug 2014
A giant inflatable turtle the size of a house has been installed in Australia's Sydney Harbour to mark the launch of an underwater art exhibition at the city’s aquarium. The 15m (49ft) long turtle is covered in a black and white coral reef pattern, with organisers looking to raise awareness of the Great Barrier Reef, which is deteriorating at a rapid rate thanks to a combination of pollution and seabed
Bruntwood and University of Manchester, UK, submit plans for £50m mixed-use redevelopment
by Jak Phillips | 19 Aug 2014
Developer Bruntwood and The University of Manchester, UK, have submitted plans for a mixed-use precinct regeneration, which forms phase two of the £50m (US$83.25m, €62.4m) redevelopment of Manchester Business School (MBS). The phase two plans focus on the redevelopment of the existing precinct centre to create a 40,500sq ft (3,763sq m) retail and leisure offering, with architects BDP and Leach Rhodes Walker responsible for the designs. The proposals reconfigure the
Croatian Hotel Bellevue relaunches SPA Clinic after €50m property refurb
by Helen Andrews | 19 Aug 2014
The Hotel Bellevue has relaunched as a five-star property on the Croatian island of Lošinj, in Cikat Bay, in the coming months, after a €50m (US$67m, £40m) refurbishment by owners Jadranka Group. As the first five-star hotel in Lošinj, this property completes Jadranka’s portfolio of tourism developments on the island. The hotel is the flagship property for Jadranka – which was founded in 1947 by the National Cres-Lošinj County to
Picasso Museum in Paris to relaunch on artist's birthday
by Alice Davis | 19 Aug 2014
Three years behind schedule, significantly over budget and with no lack of controversy, the Picasso Museum in Paris finally looks set to open. The French culture ministry announced the long-awaited unveiling would take place on 25 October, exactly 133 years since Pablo Picasso was born. Musée Picasso closed to the public in 2009 for the renovation of the 17th-century building and an ambitious expansion that would double the exhibition area.
Indian government offers US$1m grant towards Afghanistan cricket stadium
by Tom Walker | 18 Aug 2014
The Indian government has awarded Afghanistan's cricket board a US$1m grant toward the creation of a new cricket stadium in Aino Mena, Kandahar – a southern province of the country. Exact facility details or the final cost of the stadium are yet to be decided and the project is still in its “fund-raising phase”. It is understood that the venue – to be named Kandahar Cricket Stadium will act as
House of Vans skate and culture hub goes underground in London
by Katie Buckley | 15 Aug 2014
Designed by Tim Greatrex, the new House of Vans Park entertainment hub has opened to the public after over a year of work. Located in the tunnels under London's Waterloo Station, the 30,000sq ft (9,144sq m) venue will showcase an art gallery, a VansLab artist incubator space, cinema, live music venue, café and bars, gifting suite, plus a skater built and designed concrete bowl, mini ramp and street course. Two
Rotterdam canal being converted into artificial river
by Tom Anstey | 15 Aug 2014
Plans have been announced to convert a section of canal in the heart of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, into a wave simulator to be home to surfing, kayaking, scuba diving and a host of other aquatic sports and activities. The artificial river RiF010 – being built by Waveloch at a cost of €3.3m (US$4.4m, £2.6m) will be able to generate a 1.5m (4.9ft) wave while creating naturally-purified water inside the canal
Striking House of Music opens in Denmark
by Jak Phillips | 15 Aug 2014
After four years of construction, the House of Music, in Aalberg, Denmark, was opened this spring by the Danish Queen, Margrethe II. The centre, which was designed by Viennese architectural practice Coop Himmelb(l)au, is a combined concert hall and school. It features a 1,300 seat concert hall with rehearsal and training rooms arranged around it and a five storey-high foyer which acts as a meeting place for students, teachers and
Nike creates the world's first full-size LED basketball court
by Katie Buckley | 15 Aug 2014
Nike has unveiled the world's first LED basketball court in Shanghai, China, a facility that has been created for basketball star Kobe Bryant to help train young players in Shanghai as part of Nike’s RISE campaign. The court – dubbed the ‘House of Mamba’ – features all over LED flooring; bringing graphics, video and real-time player tracking to training. Using motion sensors to enable tracking and interactive visualisations, players will
Architectural institute being set up in China's Forbidden City
by Tom Anstey | 15 Aug 2014
The Palace Museum – housed in Beijing’s, Forbidden City – is to set up an architectural institute equipped for research, training and restoration on China’s ancient architecture. The new unit will operate as a scientific base and will be devoted to multiple fields, with training including the inheritance and development of traditional architectural skills, the adoption of modern technologies in relation to ancient architecture and the training of professionals for
Emin, Ishigami add sparkle to Sydney public art plan
by Alice Davis | 15 Aug 2014
Sydney, Australia, is seeing returns on the commitment it’s made to public art in recent years, announcing details of three prestigious works to launch the City Centre Public Art Plan. The works will be produced by Japanese architect Junya Ishigami, British artist Tracey Emin and Australian artist Hany Armanious. The AU$9m ($8.4m, £5m, €6.3m) initiative tops off Sydney’s regeneration programme, central to which is the new light rail project and
Circuit of Wales plans given boost by deal to host MotoGP
by Chris Dodd | 14 Aug 2014
Long-held plans for the creation of the £315m (US$525m, €392m) Circuit of Wales racetrack have been boosted after its backers signed a five-year deal to host motorcycling’s British MotoGP event at the venue. The track, which is yet to be constructed, will become a purpose-built hub for the British motorsport industry, catering for major events, while also developing into a centre for motorsport-related industries. The deal with commercial rights owner
Design competition launched for UK's £90m Bristol Arena
by Katie Buckley | 13 Aug 2014
The RIBA and Bristol City Council have announced the launch of a competition to find an architect for ‘Bristol Arena’; a new 12,000 capacity, multi-use indoor entertainment space in the south west UK city. The site, located on a former diesel depot next to Temple Meads railway station, is currently owned by The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and is set to become part of a wider development, called Arena
Development continues in Birmingham, UK, as designs approved for first phase of £400m Arena Central
by Chris Dodd | 13 Aug 2014
Burgeoning development in Birmingham is to continue after the city’s council approved design plans for the first phase of the £400m (US$673m, €504m) Arena Central project. The wider-scale development has been in limbo for almost 15 years because of planning disputes and the onset of the recession, however the first phase will now see the creation of an office block with shops and a small park. As the project develops,
Opportunities for leisure in Glasgow, UK, as council seeks to push ahead with Buchanan Galleries expansion
by Chris Dodd | 12 Aug 2014
A number of leisure opportunities could be up for grabs after Glasgow City Council revealed that 93 separate areas of land around the Buchanan Galleries shopping district may have to be compulsorily purchased as part of a planned expansion. The list of compulsory purchase orders is now due to be sent to Scottish Ministers for approval, with the council stating that it requires the land to push ahead with significant
Exclusive: Forrec’s Gordon Grice tips Latin America for major attractions growth
by Jak Phillips | 11 Aug 2014
Latin America is poised to become a major market for the attractions industry in the coming decade, with recent football World Cup host Brazil a particularly promising market, according to Forrec senior creative Gordon Grice. During a wide-ranging briefing at Attractions Management headquarters, the industry veteran with over 25 years’ experience expressed excitement over the emerging market, which although still very young, has the potential to develop at pace. “Right
Tate Modern's extension project comes under scrutiny
by Alice Davis | 11 Aug 2014
With a budget of £215m ($361m, €270m), one might expect Tate Modern’s high-profile extension to be carried out to schedule and without incident. But a re-shuffle at the upper echelons of the project’s management, topped off with an admission that the budget will need to be revised, has raised questions from one of the UK’s Labour MPs. “There’s £50m ($84m, €63m) of taxpayers’ money in this project which is late
Birthplace of Country Music Museum tunes up for grand opening
by Tom Anstey | 08 Aug 2014
A new museum celebrating country music, built in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, has opened on the border between Tennessee and Virginia in the south of the US. Designed by Peyton Boyd Architects, the US$11m (€8.2m, £6.5m) Birthplace of Country Music Museum, which opens today (8 August) in Bristol, VA, has been in the pipeline for several years. The 24,000sq ft (2,229sq m) museum will feature several different
Birthplace of Country Music Museum tunes up for grand opening
by Tom Anstey | 08 Aug 2014
A new museum celebrating country music, built in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, has opened on the border between Tennessee and Virginia in the south of the US. Designed by Peyton Boyd Architects, the US$11m (€8.2m, £6.5m) Birthplace of Country Music Museum, which opens today (8 August) in Bristol, VA, has been in the pipeline for several years. The 24,000sq ft (2,229sq m) museum will feature several different
'Jenga' style skyscraper to be built in London
by Katie Buckley | 08 Aug 2014
Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) has won planning permission for a 50-storey mixed-use skyscraper in London. Nicknamed the ‘Jenga’ tower, the 170m (558ft) structure will have higher storeys that are stacked on top of each other in a cantilevered fashion; giving the illusion of a game of Jenga. KPF’s tower will contain 450 flats, office space, retail space, a gym, cinema, plus winter garden and will have approximately 60,400sq m
Ace Hotels launches in Los Angeles' famed United Artists film studio
by Jak Phillips | 08 Aug 2014
Hip boutique hotel chain Ace Hotels has launched its latest property in Los Angeles’ historic United Artists building. Originally designed by architect Howard Crane for the United Artists film studio, the 18-storey building opened in 1927 and was used as a movie theatre until 1974. Atelier Ace worked with Commune Design to restore the United Artists building and theatre. The exterior façade was stripped, cleaned and restored, ‘as it would
Shigeru Ban's new Aspen Art Museum to open on 9 August
by Katie Buckley | 07 Aug 2014
The new home for the Aspen Art Museum (AAM) is now complete, and ready to open to the public on Saturday 9 August. Designed by Pritzker Prize winning architect Shigeru Ban, the 33,000sq ft (10,058sq m) museum and gallery is the new home for the Aspen Art Museum, which had outgrown its old place of residence. As Ban’s first permanent museum in America, the backdrop of the building is the
€124m Tampere Central Arena plans awaiting final approval
by Tom Walker | 06 Aug 2014
A final approval is expected later this year for proposals to build a new 14,000-capacity multi-use arena in Tampere, Finland. The planned Tampere Central Arena will be the new home for the city’s two professional ice hockey teams – Ilves and Tappara – and the flexible design will also allow the venue to host other sporting events as well as concerts and exhibitions. It is expected that the €124m (US$166m,
€200m pledged to restore Paris's La Défense Grande Arche
by Katie Buckley | 06 Aug 2014
The French government has announced that it will pledge €200m ($267m, £160m) for urgent repairs and restoration to the iconic La Défense Grande Arche, located in Paris’s financial district. Inaugurated on Bastille Day in 1989, the 20th century answer to the Arc de Triomphe was mastermind by Danish architect Johann Otto von Spreckelsen and completed by French architect Paul Andreu. Standing at 110m (360.8 ft) high, 110m wide and 110m
Shortlist revealed for Sydney's AU$50m Green Square Aquatic Centre project
by Tom Walker | 06 Aug 2014
A shortlist of architects has now been established for the Green Square Aquatic Centre in Sydney, Australia. The centre will form part of the commercial, retail and cultural heart of the AU$8bn (US$7.5bn, €5.6bn, £4.4bn) greater Green Square redevelopment – one of the largest ever urban renewal project in Australian history. The five finalists are all from Sydney – Andrew Burns; Cullinan Ivanov Partnership; CHROFI & McGregor Coxall; Andrew Burges
London's Goldsmiths University announces winning architect for new art gallery design
by Katie Buckley | 06 Aug 2014
From a shortlist of six architectural practices, Goldsmiths College, London, has announced that Assemble - a London based architecture collective - will be designing their new £1.8m ($3.1m, €2.2m) gallery in South East London. Housed in Grade II listed swimming baths, Assemble’s design for the gallery will incorporate the original black steel water tanks as part of the new exhibition space, while creating new gallery spaces tacked onto the outside
Pillar of Light spirals into London's skyline to commemorate WW1
by Katie Buckley | 05 Aug 2014
To commemorate the centenary of the First World War, a monumental pillar of light was shot into the air last night, eerily hung amongst London’s famous skyline. Together with the nation's Lights Out initiative, which saw households and businesses across the UK extinguishing all but one of their lights at 10pm last night (4th August), acclaimed artist Ryoji Ikeda’s latest installation lit up a corner of Westminster and spread 15km
Snowflake shaped designs revealed for European floating hotel
by Katie Buckley | 05 Aug 2014
Nestled in the fjords near Tromsø, Norway, plans have been unveiled for a rare floating hotel – in the shape of a giant snowflake. The floating ice crystal, known as the Krystall Hotel, will be rooted to the ground by an underwater concrete pillar. The aim of the structure is to be as self-sustaining as possible and have minimal impact on the environment, whilst offering an experience of 5-star luxury.
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