Architecture and design news
JTP's Ecopolis eco-district approaches construction in Kazan
by Stu Robarts | 08 Nov 2019
Construction work is due to begin on the 760 ha (1,878ac) JTP -designed "Ecopolis" eco-district in Kazan, Russia, which is aimed at promoting a lifestyle of health and wellbeing. Sited on a former artillery base in the city's Kirov district, the masterplan takes advantage of its forest setting and proximity to the River Volga. It is laid out as a landscaped ring with a series of clustered developments around which
Best Practice Architecture's design touches create a progressive gym
by Stu Robarts | 08 Nov 2019
Seattle-based studio Best Practice Architecture has created a new gym with innovative design touches and thoughtful use of materials and colour. The 7,750sq ft (720m) WorkOut by EXOS gym, which is owned by Gaw Capital USA and managed by Urban Renaissance Group, is housed in several former retail units at Seattle's Columbia Center. A full-length glazed façade unites the spaces and provides views into the venue, giving a sense of
Cansult Maunsell-designed Clymb attraction, with biggest climbing wall in the world, will open in Abu Dhabi this month
by Andy Knaggs | 08 Nov 2019
Clymb Abu Dhabi, a climbing and sky diving attraction on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island, is to open on 29 November 2019, according to owner Miral. The building was designed by Cansult Maunsell, an operating company based in Dubai and part of global consulting firm Aecom. The US$100m (€89.8m, £77.3m) project will deliver the world's tallest indoor climbing wall at 140ft (43 metres) tall, and its widest skydiving flight chamber, spanning
Dorte Mandrup's whale observatory will breach from the rugged Arctic landscape
by Stu Robarts | 08 Nov 2019
Dorte Mandrup and her studio have won a competition to design an attraction dedicated to whales that will rise organically out of the ground and merge with the surrounding landscape. Called The Whale, it will be located 300km (186mi) north of the Arctic Circle on the northernmost part of Andøya island in Andenes, Norway. The area is regarded as one of the best places in the world for whale-watching and
Allies and Morrison design green and urban lakefront neighbourhood in Toronto
by Stu Robarts | 07 Nov 2019
Allies and Morrison has designed the masterplan for a new urban lakefront neighbourhood in Toronto with areas with greenery and water, public spaces and mixed-use promenades. The Humber Bay Shores site is located to the west of Toronto city centre and the Humber River and is intended to form part of a new high-density centre in the city. Currently empty, the triangular, 11.5ha (28ac) site is positioned between one of
OMA's Kube pins a mixed-use public space outside K11 Musea
by Stu Robarts | 07 Nov 2019
A mixed-use public space comprising a golden cube-shaped kiosk and a giant floating balloon, designed by David Gianotten and Rem Koolhaas of OMA, has been unveiled outside Hong Kong's recently opened K11 Musea. Kube is at once a place to buy coffee, a place to sit and a place to hold events. The anodised aluminium kiosk, which changes colours as the light changes, opens up as a small retail unit.
Boutique hotel in former button and ribbon factory channels old New York
by Stu Robarts | 07 Nov 2019
New York-based real estate investors Bridgeton have converted a former button and ribbon factory in Tribeca into a boutique hotel that harnesses the building's Gilded Age architecture to recall the city's past. Although responsible for the overall design of the Walker Hotel Tribeca, Bridgeton brought in a number of specialists to collaborate on elements like its restaurant and its cocktail bar. Constructed in 1899, the Renaissance Revival style building stretches
Effekt's stormwater plan reconnects town with water and green spaces
by Stu Robarts | 07 Nov 2019
Copenhagen-based studio Effekt has used the need for a climate adaptation plan by a town in Southern Jutland, Denmark, as an opportunity to enhance its identity, public spaces and connection to nature. Tønder had been in need of a plan to manage frequent stormwaters due to its coastal location. Effekt recognised that this could be achieved by remodelling and reorganising public spaces in a way that would improve connections between
Stock-a-Studio's installation reimagines the gym as temporary, reconfigurable and low-budget
by Stu Robarts | 06 Nov 2019
A multidisciplinary design studio called Stock-a-Studio has created a temporary gym in a shopfront that can be easily assembled, disassembled, customised and reassembled using a variety of low budget materials. The installation, called [ a kit of these some parts ] x budget gym ], is aimed at encouraging assembly rather than construction and refinishing rather than remanufacturing. Hosted at LA's Materials & Applications – a non-profit organisation that seeks
Lead8 eco-living masterplan to transform Kuala Lumpur township
by Stu Robarts | 06 Nov 2019
Design studio Lead8 has unveiled a masterplan for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, that would see one of the city's earliest townships transformed into an eco-living destination. Created for UEM Sunrise and Melati Ehsan Group, the Kiara Bay development would cover 73ac (30ha) and is aimed at creating a balance between the city, leisure and nature. There are three planned areas – the Waters, the Walk and the Village – which are
Doone Silver Kerr's 20-room shipping container hotel makes efficient use of space
by Stu Robarts | 06 Nov 2019
Doone Silver Kerr (DSK) have used 25 shipping containers, each 30ft (9m) in length, to create a 20-room aparthotel with design elements that optimise the use of space. Designed for Stow Projects and Ciel Capital, the Stow-Away hotel comprises five levels each made up of five containers. A reception area and restaurant are housed on the ground floor, with the guest rooms making up the upper four floors. In order
Wolfgang Tschapeller suspends inverted ziggurat of 100,000 books in vast library space
by Stu Robarts | 06 Nov 2019
Wolfgang Tschapeller has suspended four levels of library stacks containing around 100,000 volumes in an inverted ziggurat at the Unversity of Cornell 's Mui Ho Fine Arts Library. Tschapeller's goal was to create "a 21st-century interpretation of the grand reading rooms associated with great research collections." To achieve this, he removed the third floor of the Rand Hall building, in which the library is housed, to create a double-height space
Copenhagen Zoo's giant pandas have settled into their BIG-designed enclosure
by Stu Robarts | 05 Nov 2019
Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) have released images of Copenhagen Zoo's giant pandas settling into its completed yin-yang-shaped enclosure. Construction of the Panda House began in 2017 and earlier this year it became home to Mao Sun and Xing Er, who are being loaned from China to Denmark. BIG designed the 2,450sq m (26,400sq ft) enclosure with the wellbeing of the pandas and with the potential for their mating in mind.
Archstudio revitalise gallery with metal façade and disrupted routes
by Stu Robarts | 05 Nov 2019
Chinese architects Archstudio have transformed a gallery in Beijing from one that is uninspiring to look at and walk around to being visually eye-catching and interesting to tour. The Ioma art centre was housed in a functional but unremarkable building and was lacking in space for certain uses. In addition to extending the building upwards and along the street, Archstudio added a new façade to capture the imagination of visitors
Work begins on Paris 2024 Olympic Village, master-planned by Dominique Perrault
by Tom Walker | 05 Nov 2019
Construction work has begun on the Athletes Village for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The 51-hectare site in the Seinte-Saint-Denis district in north Paris will accommodate up to 17,000 athletes and team officials during the Games. The Village will be built close to the Olympic Stadium and the Aquatics Centre – two venues in which an estimated 30 per cent of the total number of athletes will compete.
Aecom's San Francisco waterfront park incorporates colours and materials of port heritage
by Stu Robarts | 05 Nov 2019
Aecom are creating a new waterfront public park in San Francisco that will incorporate elements of the site's former life as a port, including its cranes, the slipway and former cribbing and keel blocks. Crane Cove Park is part of the wider regeneration of the Pier 70 shipyard, which was San Francisco's largest shipbuilding facility before it closed down and was turned over to the Port of San Francisco in
Shim-Sutcliffe and Kengo Kuma are designing Ace Hotels in Toronto and Kyoto
by Stu Robarts | 04 Nov 2019
Ace Hotel has partnered with Shim-Sutcliffe Architects and Kengo Kuma & Associates for two 2020 openings in Toronto and Kyoto, respectively. Founded in 1999, Ace has eight locations across North America and one in London. The boutique operator seeks to embrace local culture with each of its hotels, which can result in strikingly different designs from place to place. Ace Hotel Toronto, which is slated to open in mid-to-late 2020,
Snøhetta's monolithic, organic Arctic visitor centre houses temperature-controlled exhibition vault
by Stu Robarts | 04 Nov 2019
Snøhetta have designed a visitor centre for Arctic preservation storage called The Arc with an exhibition building that is towering and monolithic, but also curved and organic. The facility was commissioned by Arctic Memory AS to showcase content from the Svalbard Global Seed Vault and the Arctic World Archive, as well as to educate visitors and inspire innovative preservation solutions for the world's food and digital resources. Located 78° north
HOK and Snow Kreilich's MLS stadium to bring mixed-use regen to St Louis
by Stu Robarts | 04 Nov 2019
The HOK and Snow Kreilich Architects designs for the planned St Louis MLS team stadium will not only fit in with the surrounding area, but will help to drive regeneration with mixed-use elements too. The development, initial plans for which were revealed earlier this year, will sit on a site of approximately 30ac (12ha) in the Downtown West area of St Louis. Updated plans show that it will incorporate the
Milan stadium plans in doubt after city council's San Siro decision
by Tom Walker | 04 Nov 2019
Milan's famous footballing rivals – Internazionale Milano and AC Milan – will have to reconsider their joint plans for a new stadium. In September, the clubs announced that two teams of architects – Populous and Manica/Sportium – had been shortlisted to design a new 60,000-seat stadium at the San Siro that they would share. The proposals are based on demolishing the current venue and replacing it with an entirely new
The Manser Practice reimagines road bridge with green space and traffic-free
by Stu Robarts | 01 Nov 2019
The Manser Practice has created a concept design for a road bridge that is temporarily closed to traffic, reimagining it with green public space for use by pedestrians, cyclists and riverboat users. London's Hammersmith Bridge has been closed to vehicles since April this year due to concerns about its structural integrity. People have responded to the closure by making use of its full width as pedestrians and cyclists and enjoying
Coldefy & Associés-led team to design National Pulse Memorial & Museum
by Stu Robarts | 01 Nov 2019
A team led by Coldefy & Associés has been selected to design the National Pulse Memorial & Museum in memory of the 49 victims of Orlando's Pulse nightclub shooting in 2016. The memorial comprises the preserved nightclub building with an adjacent open space that has been transformed as a place for gathering and celebration. There will also be a peaceful garden planted with 49 trees. A pool of water that
Aidia Studio's low-rise fortress wins Barjeel Museum For Modern Arab Art design competition
by Stu Robarts | 01 Nov 2019
Aidia Studio has won the Rifat Chadirji Prize 2019, which sought design proposals for a new Barjeel Museum For Modern Arab Art in Sharjah, UAE. Established in 2017, the Rifat Chadirji Prize is one competition run by the Tamayouz Excellence Award and seeks ideas that respond to local challenges, as well as to celebrate architecture in the Near East and North Africa. Aidia's proposal for a building to house Barjeel's
Radisson adds revamped cultural icon to luxury Radisson Collection hotels portfolio
by Stu Robarts | 01 Nov 2019
Radisson has added the Edwardian Manchester to its luxury Radisson Collection hotels portfolio following a £12m (US$16m, €14m) renovation of its Grade II-listed Free Trade Hall venue. The hotel's revamp combines modern design with elements referencing and incorporating the palazzo heritage of the building, which was constructed between 1853 and 1856 to host cultural and public events. There are 263 rooms and suites, ranging in size from 28sq m (301sq
SODA's hi-tech rotating theatre recalls the past in its aesthetic
by Stu Robarts | 31 Oct 2019
The Studio of Design and Architecture (SODA) has created a new theatre with a revolving auditorium, a quickly adaptable configuration for a diverse range of events and a striking glass, brickwork and Art Deco aesthetic. The Boulevard Theatre is part of a wider and ongoing 55,000sq ft (5,100sq m) mixed-use development in London also designed by Soda for Soho Estates. The theatre is split into two volumes – with the
Robert A.M. Stern's Eleven residential tower brings luxury amenities to the Minneapolis riverside
by Stu Robarts | 31 Oct 2019
Ground has been broken on the Eleven tower, designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, which will feature a variety of luxury amenities for its residents. The US$190m (€171m, £147m) development in the US city of Minneapolis will cover 146,000sq ft (14,000sq m) and spread 41 storeys across a height of 550ft (168m). It has been conceived to gradually taper as it rises, with floorplates of 12,500sq ft (1,200sq m) near
Carmody Groarke to extend Design Museum Gent with "third place"
by Stu Robarts | 31 Oct 2019
Carmody Groarke, Trans Architectuur Stedenbouw and RE-ST Architectenvennootschap have won a design competition to extend Design Museum Gent with a new "third place" that will link the museum and the city. The new wing will also link together the museum's two existing buildings, as well as provide additional spaces for exhibitions, debate, reflection, public activities, retail and catering. It is designed to be a welcoming meeting place with free access
HKS Architects wrap adaptable arena in Art Deco and Moderne exterior
by Stu Robarts | 30 Oct 2019
The newly opened Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, has been designed by HKS Architects to not only be very adaptable depending on what events it is hosting but to pay homage to a neighbouring entertainment, sports and livestock complex. The $540m (€486m, £420m) centre sports an Art Deco and Moderne architectural style in keeping with the nearby Will Rogers Memorial Center, with two towers anchoring its north façade, rendered
Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia opening marks completion of Foster + Partners' Comcast Technology Center
by Stu Robarts | 30 Oct 2019
The Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia has opened after delays, marking the completion of Foster + Partners' mixed-use Comcast Technology Center. Rising 1,121ft (341m) and 60 storeys, the tower is aimed at engaging the community. Shops, bars, restaurants and a 32,000sq ft (3,000sq m) fitness centre are mixed in with workspaces for Comcast and NBC10, as well as the Four Seasons hotel in the building's top 12 levels. Nigel Dancey, head
ZHA and Cox win Western Sydney Airport competition with leisure destination element
by Stu Robarts | 30 Oct 2019
Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) and Cox Architecture have won an international competition to design the new Western Sydney Airport in Australia, proposing both a passenger-focused experience and a leisure destination for locals. The new AU$5.3b (US$3.6b, €3.3b, £2.8b) greenfield airport is aimed at helping to drive the growth of Sydney and its greater metropolitan area over the coming decades. In addition to a design for the airport, ZHA and Cox
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