Architecture and design news:
arts & culture
V&A Museum of Childhood to close for two-year AOC redevelopment
by Andy Knaggs | 21 Feb 2020
Creating an "unforgettable first museum experience for children" is the aim of the V&A Museum of Childhood in London, which has announced it will close in May 2020 for a two-year, £13m (US$16.9m, €15.7m) transformation by AOC. The museum said the "reimagination" of its collections, galleries, building and public programme will turn it into a "world-leading centre of creativity for children". Creativity is a major theme for the planned renovation,
Edwardian swimming baths restored for use as arts venue
by Stu Robarts | 18 Feb 2020
Donald Insall Associates have completed restoration work of Edwardian architecture at Grade II listed heritage swimming baths that are being converted for use as an arts and culture venue. Moseley Road Baths are said to be the only baths in the UK built before 1914 to have continuously hosted swimming since they opened, which was in 1907. They are architecturally significant due to the quality and completeness of their interior,
Rothko Chapel to reopen after Architecture Research Office renovation
by Stu Robarts | 14 Feb 2020
The Rothko Chapel will reopen in Houston this June after a 14-month restoration project by Architecture Research Office that is part of a wider $30m (€28m, £23m) masterplan project the studio is carrying out. Opened in 1971, the chapel was created as a place for interfaith worship and contemplation by its founders – artist Mark Rothko and John and Dominique de Menil – and has 14 huge Rothko canvases on
Counterspace's Serpentine Pavilion will be both one and many places for gathering
by Stu Robarts | 13 Feb 2020
Counterspace have been chosen to design the Serpentine Pavilion for 2020 with a design based on gathering spaces and community places around London that will be accompanied by a public programme across the city. Now in its 20th year, the annual pavilion commission is described by the Serpentine as "a global platform for experimental projects by some of the world's greatest architects." This year's architects from the Johannesburg-based practice –
£67m Eden Project attraction to open in Northern Ireland
by Andy Knaggs | 13 Feb 2020
A new £67m (US$86.9m, €79.8m) cultural and environmental Eden Project tourist attraction, designed by Grimshaw Architects, is to be built in Northern Ireland and is expected to open in 2023. Eden Project Foyle will cover a 100-hectare (250-acre) site along the banks of the River Foyle near Derry-Londonderry, brining previously inaccessible land, three historic walled gardens and an 18th-century icehouse back into use. The destination will feature a range of
Glazed wooden Tchaikovsky Academic Opera and Ballet Theater will be a monument to the arts
by Stu Robarts | 12 Feb 2020
wHY Architecture are to build a monolithic but welcoming glazed, wooden theatre in a new park on the Kama River as a beacon for the emerging arts district in Perm, Russia. The firm began working on the Tchaikovsky Academic Opera and Ballet Theater in September 2019 and their design was given the go-ahead in January 2020 by a vote of approval from the City Council of Perm, the planning commission
Steven Holl Architects create "social condenser" community centre in Shanghai
by Stu Robarts | 12 Feb 2020
Steven Holl Architects have topped out the Shanghai Cofco Cultural and Health Center, which is aimed at being "a social condenser" for residents of the dense surrounding housing. Designed in 2016 and expected to be completed mid-to-late 2020, the 7,520sq m (81,000sq ft) development comprises a mix of public realm, a canalside park, space for recreational and cultural programs, amenities and health facilities. An open, spacious design contrasts that of
Asif Khan unveils huge woven gateways for Expo 2020 Dubai
by Stu Robarts | 10 Feb 2020
Three huge entry gateways for Expo 2020 Dubai, designed by Asif Khan, will welcome visitors onto the site from 20 October, with a futuristic exploration of the traditional mashrabiya. Mashrabiyas are a type of decorative, projecting window often used to control light and airflow that typically found on Arabic residences. Khan's Expo Entry Portals, which are part of his wider work on the expo's public realm, are said to be
Niall McLaughlin Architects to design Somerset House auditorium and public space
by Stu Robarts | 07 Feb 2020
Niall McLaughlin Architects have been chosen to design a new, multi-purpose auditorium and public space for London's Somerset House arts centre. Designed and built by Sir William Chambers during the mid-to-late 1770s, the current neoclassical building has a rich history and courtyards that are described as being among the most beautiful in Europe. With the building already home to a creative community and a variety of different exhibition and events
Huge V-shaped "light cone" intersects Wuhan bookstore
by Stu Robarts | 06 Feb 2020
A bookstore in Wuhan, China, has reopened after a two-year design and renovation project by Wutopia Lab that has seen a huge "light cone" inserted into the building, drawing natural light from the roof down to all floors. The 10,000sq m (107,600sq ft) Hubei Foreign Language Bookstore was established 40 years ago and has undergone a number of alterations and renovations over the years. Wutopia Lab were keen to re-establish
ARM Architecture begin AU$150m upgrade of Sydney Opera House
by Stu Robarts | 04 Feb 2020
ARM Architecture have begun work on a AU$150m (US$101m, €91m, £77m), two-year renovation of the Sydney Opera House that will better equip it for performances, enhance its acoustics, improve accessibility and create a safer working environment. The project is part of the 10-year Decade of Renewal capital works programme, via which AU$275m (US$185m, €167m, £142m) of investment will transform the Opera House ahead of its 50th anniversary in 2023. The
Tadao Ando-designed HE Art Museum delays opening due to coronavirus
by Andy Knaggs | 03 Feb 2020
China's HE Art Museum has postponed its planned opening in March due to ongoing concerns regarding the coronavirus outbreak in the country. The museum, in Shunde, Guangdong Province, is a private, non-profit art institution, devoted to collecting and exhibiting Chinese and global contemporary art. The 16,000sq m (52,500sq ft) facility was designed by Tadao Ando, and was due to hold a ceremony to mark its opening on 21 March 2020.
Seattle Asian Art Museum to reopen after LMN Architects revamp
by Stu Robarts | 03 Feb 2020
The Seattle Asian Art Museum will reopen this weekend after a $56m (€51m, £43m) renovation and expansion of its historic 1933 Art Deco building by LMN Architects. The project, which has taken 12 years from planning through design and construction, was the first major renovation of the 64,250sq ft (6,000sq m) facility since it was constructed. Most notably, preservation work has been carried out on the building and its Art
Diamond Schmitt design joint library and archives building for Ottawa
by Stu Robarts | 31 Jan 2020
Diamond Schmitt Architects, working with KWC Architects, have designed a joint facility for Ottawa Public Library and Library and Archives Canada (OPL-LAC) aimed at creating an inspiring place for gathering, learning and discovery. The CAD$193m (US$146m, €132m, £111m) building is scheduled to open in 2024, will cover 216,000sq ft (20,000sq m) and be split across five floors. It will house shared resources for the organisations including exhibitions and collections space,
Contemporary Calgary opens doors following CA$25m transformation
by Lauren Heath-Jones | 30 Jan 2020
Calgary's Centennial Planetarium has reopened as a contemporary art gallery following a major CA$25m (US$18.9m, €17.2m) renovation carried out by the City of Calgary and Lemay + Toker. Called Contemporary Calgary, the planetarium – which is known for its brutalist architecture and imposing concrete dome – had been vacant since 2011, following the opening of Calgary's TELUS Spark Science Centre. It was put out for expression of interest by the
OF Studio design undulating desert landscape to explore at Dubai Creek Harbour
by Stu Robarts | 29 Jan 2020
OF Studio have won a competition run by Emaar to create a new "landmark structure" on a 6,300sq m (67,800sq ft) plot within the 5.6 million sq m (60.3 million sq ft) Dubai Creek Harbour waterfront development. Participants were briefed to submit proposals that would respect the culture and climate of Dubai, but also expose children and families to new worldviews. OF Studio's LAND-MARK proposal was conceived to be a
Geometric, inclusive temple chosen for Burning Man 2020
by Stu Robarts | 29 Jan 2020
Burning Man Arts have chosen a design by Laurence "Renzo" Verbeck and Sylvia Adrienne Lisse that is rooted in geometry and inclusivity for this year's Temple installation. The design is named after Empyrean, which is said to be the region just beyond the physical realm that is the highest point of wisdom, where humanity can interact with the divine and the birthplace of fire. The Empyrean Temple takes the form
Denver Art Museum to unveil new OMA-designed galleries
by Stu Robarts | 28 Jan 2020
Around 10,000sq ft (930sq m) of new galleries, designed by OMA, will be unveiled on 6th June as part of a phased reopening of the Denver Art Museum 's newly renovated, Gio Ponti -designed Martin Building. The work is part of a project led by Machado Silvetti and Fentress Architects to update elements of the museum and to reunify its campus. By horizontally bisecting the museum’s original Stanton Gallery, OMA
Geelong Arts Centre dons new skin and old church after Hassell redevelopment
by Stu Robarts | 24 Jan 2020
Geelong Arts Centre has reopened after a AU$38.5m (US$26,3m, €23.9m, £20.1m) redevelopment by Hassell, with a new translucent skin and a newly revealed heritage church building. The centre is located in the Australian state of Victoria, where it is the only state-owned arts centre outside of Melbourne. Following Geelong's designation as a UNESCO Creative City in 2017, it was felt that the centre needed upgrading to serve the city's "growing
Schmidt Hammer Lassen design hybrid library-theatre for Skien
by Stu Robarts | 23 Jan 2020
A team led by Schmidt Hammer Lassen (SHL) is one of two left in the running to create a new library in Skien, Norway, with a hybrid design that will allow visitors to experience the work and influence of Henrik Ibsen. The Ibsen Library is being established to drive increased social involvement and democratic participation in the region, to become a visitor attraction and to honour the legacy of the
NL Architects create "cultural department store" in Groningen
by Stu Robarts | 21 Jan 2020
NL Architects and ABT have created what they describe as a "new type of public space" in Groningen, Netherlands, filled with books, images, exhibition spaces, movie halls, assembly rooms and restaurants. The design for Forum Groningen was first developed for a competition run by the local municipality in 2006, running out the winner. It has now finally been brought to fruition, with a form that is at once monolithic, carefully
Reiulf Ramstad Architects create steel installations along former railway
by Stu Robarts | 20 Jan 2020
Reiulf Ramstad Architects have created a series of steel installations along a trail that follows the former Rosheim-St Nabor railway in Alsace, France. The Chemin des Carrières – literally the Quarries Path – stretches for 11km (7mi), joining a number of formerly industrial quarry sites. The installations have been created at five sites along the route, with each conceived to tell its own story. At Rosheim, intertwined sculptural circles of
RMJM Shanghai's Xiangjiang Gate elegantly mixes heritage with a modern aesthetic
by Stu Robarts | 17 Jan 2020
RMJM Shanghai has won a competition to design a monument for the Hengyang in Hunan Province, China, with a design aimed at reflecting the city's status as a fast-evolving tech hub as well as its cultural heritage. The Xiangjiang Gate will comprise two bipedal towers that curve up from their feet and rise gracefully together to 177m (581ft), joining and torquing at their midriffs, before separating again at the top.
Aurelien Chen pavilion reimagines the mountains, forest, clouds and water of Chinese landscape
by Stu Robarts | 16 Jan 2020
Aurelien Chen has created a pavilion in China that reimagines the traditional Chinese landscape of mountains, forest, clouds and water. The 350sq m (3,770sq ft) Dragon Mountain Landmark Pavilion, so-called because of its location in Zhulongshan – literally Dragon Mountain, was created to draw the attention to the entrance of the Dragon Mountain Natural site. Described by Chen as "an ethereal and abstract version of a traditional Chinese landscape", the
Jora Vision to design Alexander Pushkin literary theme park in Russia
by Andy Knaggs | 14 Jan 2020
Jora Vision have created a masterplan and concept designs for a new Russian theme park inspired by the literary poems and fairy tales of Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin. Pushkin is considered by many to be the greatest Russian poet and the founder of modern Russian literature. His fairy tales, which centre around an imaginary land called "Lukomorye", have entertained children for hundreds of years. Now, Svetoch LLC, a company based in
Gad Line+ Studio create "floating cloud" reading room in the mountains
by Stu Robarts | 13 Jan 2020
Gad Line+ Studio have created a reading space in China that resembles a cloud floating in its rocky mountain surroundings. Jiunvfeng Study is situated on Mount Tai in Daiyue District, Tai’an City, and has a footprint of 287sq m (3,100sq ft). The building is constructed on a stone plinth, curving with the shape of the mountain to create two bulbous ends joined by a more sinuous midriff. Flowing floor-to-ceiling windows
Heneghan Peng Architects-designed Grand Egyptian Museum to open at end of 2020
by Andy Knaggs | 13 Jan 2020
The Grand Egyptian Museum, designed by Heneghan Peng Architects, has finally been given an opening date, with one of the year's biggest cultural openings now scheduled to open in the final quarter of 2020. Construction of the museum began in 2006 but was delayed by the 2011 revolution in Egypt. Around 90 per cent of construction work is now complete, though, and all of the planned artefact transfers to the
SHoP Architects urban farm doubles as a cultural hub
by Stu Robarts | 10 Jan 2020
SHoP Architects has designed an urban farm and cultural hub for Washington, DC, that is aimed at providing an economic driver, a community resource and a space for events. The Well at Oxon Run is being created for local food justice organisation DC Greens, which sourced a new location following the closure of another urban farm it was running in 2018. It will see the transformation of an underutilised 50,000sq
Sun, kaleidoscope and noodle installations win Winter Stations 2020
by Stu Robarts | 08 Jan 2020
Installations inspired by the sun, a kaleidoscope and noodles have won Toronto's sixth annual Winter Stations design competition, via which the city's lifeguard stations are transformed into thought-provoking pieces of pop-up art. Winter Stations was conceived by RAW Design, Ferris + Associates and Curio as a way to encourage Toronto residents and visitors to visit the city's beaches during the winter, to experience artworks and to make new connections with
Atelier Tao+C create stunning capsule hotel and library in old Chinese building
by Stu Robarts | 07 Jan 2020
Atelier Tao+C have renovated an old building in the Chinese town of Tonglu to create a capsule hotel and library with floating floors, bamboo bookshelves and a fully glazed gable end that provides views of the surrounding forest. The original floors and partition walls were removed from the 232sq m (2,500sq ft) structure and three staggered floating levels installed and linked with zigzagging metal staircases. On two of the levels
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