Architecture and design news
Renzo Piano's Paddington Cube wins reprieve from communities secretary Sajid Javid
by Kim Megson | 17 Mar 2017
Renzo Piano’s controversial ‘Paddington Cube’ development in London looks set to go ahead, with the British communities secretary Sajid Javid deciding not to block the mixed-use scheme. The £775m (US$958.3m, €892m) project has already won the backing of the local Westminster City Council, but Javid blocked their decision last month while he reviewed Piano’s plans, which have been strongly criticised by local heritage groups. However, it is now reported he
James Corner chosen to masterplan one-mile stretch of historic Washington DC park
by Kim Megson | 17 Mar 2017
Landscape architecture studio James Corner Field Operations have been appointed to “restore, reimagine and revitalise” a one-mile stretch of Washington D.C’s historic Chesapeake and Ohio National Historical Park. The practice will work with local group Georgetown Heritage and the National Park Service to masterplan a section of the park focused around a canal network. The park’s locks, towpath, plazas, stones, landscaped areas and street crossings will be improved to “maximise
Abandoned gas station and rest stop to become vintage park in heart of France
by Alice Davis | 17 Mar 2017
Plans are underway to create a vintage-themed recreational complex as an ode to the golden days of automobile travel, at a disused gas station on one of France’s most iconic routes. The Bel Air service station on the former N6 route (now renamed the D973) was once a popular – and necessary – stop on the journey from Paris to the French Riviera. However, when the A6 connecting Paris and
David Chipperfield Architects revive plans to expand historic Russian opera house
by Kim Megson | 16 Mar 2017
David Chipperfield Architects have been invited to develop design proposals for an extension to Russia’s historic Perm Opera and Ballet Theatre, seven years after they won an international competition to refurbish and extend the building. Following a meeting on 3 March with Maxim Reshetnikov, the acting governor of Perm City, the studio have been asked to visualise a new freestanding building for the opera house on the southern bank of
Oscar Niemeyer's Hotel Nacional in Rio reborn as Gran Melia flagship
by Rebecca Barnes | 16 Mar 2017
Situated in an iconic building originally designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer and recognised as a national heritage site, the flagship Gran Melia Nacional Rio De Janeiro is now open. The tubular skyscraper property which is located on the beachfront in Sao Conrado bay, has been extensively renovated to create 413 hotel rooms, including two presidential and 10 executive suites set over 34 floors, and features the only Clarins spa
OMA kickstart 'architectural evolution' with vast Dubai arts hub Concrete
by Kim Megson | 16 Mar 2017
Concrete – a multi-functional cultural space designed by OMA for Dubai’s Alserkal Avenue – officially opened to the public yesterday (15 March). Located in the Al Qouz industrial area, Alserkal Avenue was founded in 2007, with the aim of promoting cultural initiatives in the region. In the intervening years it has become the emirate’s most important arts hub, with twenty-five galleries and art spaces. OMA were commissioned to address the
Visitors set to fly at Abu Dhabi’s futuristic skydiving and climbing centre
by Alice Davis | 16 Mar 2017
The drive to make Abu Dhabi's Yas Island one of the world’s top leisure and entertainment destination continues with the under-construction CLYMB, a futuristic building that will hold a supersized flight chamber and climbing wall. Miral, the developers and management company behind Yas Island, has said the 9.75m (32ft) flight chamber will be the widest in the world and the 43m (141ft) indoor climbing wall will be the tallest. “CLYMB
Sumptuous shortlist revealed for 2017 Restaurant Design Awards
by Kim Megson | 15 Mar 2017
The James Beard Foundation has released the list of nominees who may taste glory at its 2017 Restaurant Design Awards on 25 April. The organisation – which celebrates America's culinary heritage – will hand out awards in three categories: restaurants with 75 seats and under, those with 76 seats and over, and an honourary Design Icon Award – which will be presented to The Grand Central Oyster Bar and Restaurant
Robots use recycled bricks to build sinuous and striking Shanghai art studio
by Kim Megson | 15 Mar 2017
A crack team of robots have comprehensively renovated a community art gallery in Shanghai, predominantly using recycled bricks. The innovative project is the work of Chinese design studio Archi-Union Architects, who programmed the robots to build a new exterior facade for the West Bund Art Exhibition Area in the city’s Xuhui district. Grey-green bricks were taken from the existing gallery building, which had been deemed unfit for purpose, and carefully
World's most exciting future projects celebrated at MIPIM 2017 awards ceremony
by Kim Megson | 15 Mar 2017
The winners of the 2017 Architectural Review MIPIM Future Projects Awards have been announced, with this year’s prizes going to projects from eight countries across 11 categories. The competition recognises projects that are under construction or currently in planning, through to competition entries and conceptual designs. The jury awards architects based on their response to the brief and their consideration of the full impact their building will make on the
Winter garden, park and outdoor theatre proposed to transform Bognor Regis into 'Garden by the Sea'
by Kim Megson | 15 Mar 2017
The British seaside town of Bognor Regis looks set for a major leisure-led regeneration, with members of the district council throwing their weight behind a mixed-use scheme worth hundreds of millions of pounds. Initial concepts developed by regeneration consultancy Urban Delivery, architect Kay Elliott and multidisciplinary practice Arup visualise an expansive linear park connecting a car park near the train station to Regis Centre. The focal point of the development,
Six Senses to take over management of Canyon Ranch Kaplankaya
by Jane Kitchen | 14 Mar 2017
It has been open less than a year, but Canyon Ranch’s first location outside of the US will soon change hands, with Six Senses taking over management of the property in May 2017. The Canyon Ranch Kaplankaya opened in July 2016 on the Turkish Riviera near Bodrum, and includes 141 bedrooms and a 107,000sq ft (9,941sqm) spa, fitness and Health & Healing Centre with 38 treatment rooms. Canyon Ranch Kaplankaya
Opening of shimmering lakeside Fontenay hotel set to cement Hamburg's leisure destination status
by Kim Megson | 15 Mar 2017
The wealthy owner of one of the world’s largest logistics companies is preparing to open a luxurious new Hamburg hotel, designed to promote the city’s image and capitalise on the popularity of Herzog and de Meuron’s recently-opened Elbphilharmonie. Set to open in the final quarter of 2017, The Fontenay will be the first five-star hotel to open in Hamburg for almost two decades. The 131-bedroom property will be located close
Shanghai officials reveal ambitious plans for cultural museum complex
by Kim Megson | 14 Mar 2017
Construction on a number of major new attractions in Shanghai will begin before the year is out, according to city officials. Dozens of museums and art galleries are to be built across a 67,000sq m (721,000sq ft) area in Jiading District – forming the Haishang Cultural Museum Complex. According to the Shanghai Daily newspaper, the local government is concerned that too many of Shanghai’s museums and theatres are located an
MIPIM 2017 kicks off in Cannes, with spotlight on the world's most exciting real estate developments
by Kim Megson | 14 Mar 2017
Architects, designers, investors, developers and politicians from across the world have descended on Cannes for MIPIM – the world’s largest property market. Over 20,000 attendees are expected to at the four-day exhibition, conference and networking event, which begins today (14 March) on the French Riviera. Major international real estate projects – from residential to commercial, hotel, tourism and logistical – are being showcased by representatives from 23 nations. These include
Cale Heit to take reins from Forrec CEO Gordon Dorrett
by Alice Davis | 14 Mar 2017
After 30 years, Gordon Dorrett is stepping down as CEO and president of Forrec, with Cale Heit taking over from October 2017. Heit, who serves as executive vice president of operations at the experience design and architecture firm, started with Forrec as a landscape architect 25 years ago. He worked his way up through the ranks to lead the theme parks business before taking his current role. Dorrett, who joined
New drone video reveals Bjarke Ingels' LEGO House as it nears completion
by Kim Megson | 13 Mar 2017
Danish toymaker the LEGO Group has revealed new photographs, renderings and an aerial drone video of its forthcoming Bjarke Ingels-designed brand museum in the city of Billund, where the company was founded 85 years ago. The visitor attraction – built to resemble a giant stack of Lego bricks – is rapidly taking shape, and an opening date of 28 September has been announced. Consisting of 21 huge multi-coloured blocks built
Oscar Niemeyer's long lost São Paulo palace reimagined as luxury Oetker Collection hotel
by Kim Megson | 13 Mar 2017
An abandoned Brazilian palace designed by iconic late architect Oscar Niemeyer is to finally see the light of day, with hotel group Oetker Collection opening the building as their first property in the Americas. Palácio Tangará will open in São Paulo in June 2017. The building was first constructed in the 1940s as Tangará Ranch, when wealthy Brazilian businessman Francisco ‘Baby’ Pignatari commissioned it as a gift to his fiance.
Winners revealed in design competition to create Seoul's newest leisure district
by Kim Megson | 13 Mar 2017
International design studio KCAP Architects & Planners have won an international competition to redevelop Seoul’s Sewoon District 4. The scheme, which has been approved by the city’s government, will transform the 280,000sq m (3 million sq ft) area into a mixed-use zone featuring offices, shops, hotels, entertainment facilities and schools. According to the practice, they will develop a “people-oriented urban design that preserves the site’s historic and cultural values, and
Fiorentina sets out plan for 40,000-capacity stadium designed by Arup and Alberto Rolla
by Matthew Campelli | 13 Mar 2017
Alberto Rolla, one of the architects behind the recently-constructed Juventus Stadium, has designed a 40,000-capacity venue for Serie A rival Fiorentina. The ground will be located in Florence and cost around €420m (£367.2m, US$448m) to build. Stadium seating will be tight, with fans in the front row seven metres from the pitch. The surrounding 48 hectare area will be developed to include a hotel, a shopping mall, public realm, 700
Asia's most beautiful and exciting hotels celebrated at AHEAD design awards
by Kim Megson | 13 Mar 2017
Asia’s best designed hotels have been celebrated at an awards ceremony held in Singapore. Winning design practices at the inaugural AHEAD Asia awards include Blu Water Studio, LTW Designworks and Tony Chi. Entries were assessed on aesthetics, guest experience and commercial viability by a panel of industry and design leaders. AHEAD – which stands for The Awards for Hospitality Experience and Design – is a new platform that has consolidated
Week's top news: The world's longest 'cycle skyway', Gehry's Berlin concert hall and the 2017 Women in Architecture Awards
by Kim Megson | 11 Mar 2017
Here are some of the stories that appeared on CLAD this week, from two Frank Gehry projects to the prestigious Women in Architecture Awards. Monday • Gabriela Carrillo has been named as Woman Architect of the Year 2017 at the Women in Architecture awards, with Rozana Montiel winning the Moira Gemmill Prize for Emerging Architecture. Read here. • The Delta Development Group has signed an initial agreement to drive forward
Bjarke Ingels Group launch in-house engineering division
by Kim Megson | 10 Mar 2017
Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) have formed their own specialised BIG Engineering unit, which will be dedicated to “ensuring the structural, mechanical integrity and resilience of BIG buildings globally.” Duncan Horswill, the former chief operating officer of Copenhagen company Søren Jensen Engineers, has been hired to lead the new team. Studio founder Bjarke Ingels said the move would allow the practice to “stretch the boundaries of the physical, financial, regulatory and
Frank Gehry and billionaire businessman Bernard Arnault collaborate for new Paris museum
by Kim Megson | 10 Mar 2017
A new museum celebrating French art, aesthetics and urbanity is set to be built in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, with a design by Pritzker-winning architect Frank Gehry. The building, described as “a major new cultural institution with international influence”, will be part-funded by the luxury goods billionaire Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH, who launched the project at a press conference on Wednesday (8 March) alongside Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo
Serie A football club moves closer to new stadium ‘dream’
by Matthew Campelli | 10 Mar 2017
Italian Serie A football team Cagliari Calcio has inched closer to realising its ambition to build a new stadium after receiving a loan for its construction. The club has been provided the money by the local government and Sardinian financial institution Sfirs to build the 21,000-capacity stadium, which is being designed by Polish architect JSK Architekci. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Cagliari Calcio president Tommaso Giulini, the city’s
Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Dubai debuts luxury destination spa
by Rebecca Barnes | 10 Mar 2017
Located on the beachfront, the five star Nikki Beach Resort & Spa in Dubai has opened its doors, with the 1,650sq m (17,760sq ft) Nikki Spa opening in April 2017. Offering "the best of wellbeing" in a contemporary setting for guests and visitors, facilities will include seven separate spa suites for men and women, one couples suite, a hammam chamber, sauna, steam, ice fountain, mixed vitality pool and indoor and
Niall McLaughlin: Design competitions and awards put 'extraordinary pressure' on architects
by Kim Megson | 09 Mar 2017
Acclaimed Irish architect Niall McLaughlin has claimed that award wins and nominations can be a poisoned chalice, as practices become pigeonholed as designers of a certain type of building. Speaking at the 2017 Ecobuild conference in London, McLaughlin said the influence of award shortlists and the “conservative stance in architectural procurement” means that “everybody wants something like you’ve done before.” The practice he leads, Niall McLaughlin Architects, have twice been
Bristol bank transformed into hotel, with a spa in the vaults
by Rebecca Barnes | 09 Mar 2017
The historic Lloyds Bank building in Bristol is one of two former banks that have been merged together to form the newly-opened Bristol Harbour Hotel & Spa. The building, designed by William Bruce Gingell in the early 20th century, has been carefully merged with the Midland Bank site next door, and converted by DO Design Studio to house a hotel with 42 restaurants, a restaurant and cocktail bar. The underground
Miami's SkyRise complex will have rotating observation pods at 1,000ft
by Tom Anstey | 09 Mar 2017
The team behind Miami’s upcoming US$430m (€407m, £354m) SkyRise entertainment complex has released new plans for the building’s main attraction – rotating observation pods at the tower’s 1,000ft (304m) peak. Dubbed “Skyway”, cabins will be similar to Merlin’s ‘Eye’ giant wheel attractions, with the 20 pods revolving around a track starting at the 18th floor and ascending to the top of the tower’s north face. According to the planning application,
Montage to develop double-branded resort in La Quinta with architects Gensler
by Jane Kitchen | 09 Mar 2017
Montage International is developing two hotels at the SilverRock Resort in La Quinta, California, set to open in late 2019. Developed in partnership with The Robert Green Company, the resort will include Montage La Quinta with branded Montage Residences; Pendry La Quinta with branded Pendry Residences, and a Spa Montage. This is the first project that incorporates both of Montage’s hotel brands, Montage and Pendry. Architecture and design firm Gensler
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