PIXEL

PIXEL in Beijing by SAKO Architects.

This complex is composed of 10,000 units of commercial units, residential units, and office units placed on an area of about 210,000 square meters. 19 residential towers are placed uniquely on the site in order to meet the demand for its privacy and hours of sunlight as the residential units.
Twelve numbers of plate-shaped buildings are placed along the outline of the site. The other eight numbers of plate-shaped buildings are placed along the lines in which were led by a slant line running along Chaoyang North Road and the two right-angled lines of the slant line. Therefore, each building has a certain distance to the others by virtue of its “windmill-shaped master plan”.
The elevation design of the buildings is another unique part of this project. Each tower is composed of piled-up units with eight different tones of color of gray. This strategy gives one continuous flowing pattern for the facade of the twelve buildings along the outline of the site. In addition, different tones of one additional color for each building create ten different gradient colors for the buildings, and this gives the sense of coherence to the whole site.

(Source: europaconcorsi.com)

Under Pohutukawa Beach House

Under Pohutukawa Beach House by Herbst Architects

The site with which we were presented was extremely challenging in that it was 90% covered in mature pohutukawa trees, the site being a part of a continuous belt of forest that edges the road along the beach front.

The circumstances not so much allowed, but dictated a sensitive poetic response to a building that, in order to exist would require the destruction of a large number of mature trees. To do this we looked to the trees themselves to give us the cues that we needed.

We separated the brief loosely into private and “public” components, giving us smaller individual masses with which to articulate the forms. The private functions of bedrooms and garage are housed in two towers which are construed as freshly sawn stumps of the trees that were removed.

To allude to the bark of the stumps the skins of the towers are clad in black/brown stained rough sawn irregular battens. The interior spaces are then seen as carved out of the freshly cut wood, achieved by detailing all the wall / ceiling and cabinetry elements in the same light timber.

The public space connects the two towers and attempts to engage with the surrounding pohutukawa forest by defining a crossover space between the powerful natural environment and the built form. The plane of the roof form pins off the towers to engage with the continuous tree canopy, disintegrating from a rigid plane to a frayed edge which filters light in a similar way to the leaf canopy.

The primary structure holding up the roof is a series of treeelements which allude to the trunks and branches of trees but are detailed in a rigorous geometric arrangement which suggests an ordering of nature as it enters and forms the building.

The height of the public space with its light glass division responds to the height of the surrounding trees, the roof planeis partially glass to allow the full extent of the trees to be felt as they lean over the building. A walkway links the towers at the upper level allowing engagement with both the natural and man made canopies.

Hawthorn Residence

Hawthorn Residence by Canny

The initial client brief was to create a home that would allow independent living zones for the needs of the growing family. With three teenage boys the home allows ample breakout spaces for the children to be active and yet still enjoy the togetherness of combined family areas. The clients required a new home with a traditional façade to the compliment the streetscape, yet a more contemporary feel as one moved through to the rear of the home. The front rooms took on a traditional feel, whilst the rear presented more modern attributes.

The rear of the home showcases a distinctive curved pool house with expansive pool outlook. Dual outdoor entertaining areas with canopy skylights and recessed alfresco heaters allow for continuous enjoyment throughout all seasons. All of these elements were carefully integrated and designed with the landscape.

The highly detailed cellar is perhaps the standout feature of this residence. Complete with 2,000 unit wine storage, Vintec wine fridge, tasting bench, sink and luxe wooden joinery, the room carries an understated opulence and serves as a unique entertaining area for intimate dinner parties and tastings.

Source canny.com.au

Armandale House

Armandale House by Jackson Clements Burrows

Armandale House by Jackson Clements Burrows:

“This project involved alterations and additions to an existing Victorian house in Armadale that had been renovated in the late 1980s.

The scope of work included a complete refurbishment of the existing Victorian House and a new upper level extension separated into two private zones for parents and children.”

Armandale House by RT Edgar:

“The house features high ceilings, floor to ceiling glass windows, pool, separate self-contained accommodation/gym and sits on a 2,032m2 (21,872 sq ft) lot.

Comprising: formal lounge, separate dining, kitchen/meals and informal sitting room, games room, 2nd informal sitting room, twin study, 6 generous bedrooms (all with ensuites), off street parking for 6 cars, security, air conditioning and heating.”

Source: homedsgn.com

Casa el Pangue

Casa el Pangue | Elton + Leniz Arquitectos | Chile

Architects: Elton+Leniz Arquitectos Asociados
Location: El Pangue, Chile
Associated Architects: Mirene Elton, Mauricio Leniz
Colaborator Architect: Germán Rodríguez Olivo
Builder: Beranda
Area: 437 sqm
Year: 2009
Photographs: Natalia Vial

El Pangue House stands on a steep slope facing the ocean. The house is organized with a central vertical circulation, connecting the 4 levels and 3 terraces, in order to get as much of the view of the pacific ocean as possible, taking advantage of the height offered by the natural slope of the site.

Each level contains a different part of the program; access is through the lower level, where you find parking, storage and an open shower. The next level houses the public zones of the house, such as the kitchen, play room, dining room and living room. The third level features bedrooms and the family room, and the fourth the main bedroom.

The constructive system is generated upon sustaining concrete walls that terraces the site in three levels. The fourth level was designed as a lightweight structure with wood siding. The living room level appears as a great terrace surrounded by planters, which replace the railings.

Source: archdaily.com

The New Gerngross

The New Gerngross by LOVE architecture and urbanism, Vienna, Austria.

Architects: LOVE architecture and urbanism
Location: Vienna, Austria
Project team: DI Andreas Perchinig, DI Sigrid Derler, DI Dr. Uwe Unterberger, DI Sabine Sternbach
Client: DEKA Immobilien Invest GmbH
General planner: Delta Projektconsult GmbH
Electrical Planner: energieeffizienz gmbh
Structural engineering: KS Ingenieure
Lightning design: Bartenbach Lichtlabor
General contractor: Leyrer & Graf
Photographs: LOVE architecture and urbanism

Restructuring the Existing Centre

The layout of the store was not intuitive. Walkways were complex and confusing, and it was difficult to navigate. To improve this, the layout of the indoor levels (G, 1st, 2nd, and 5th) has been entirely re-designed and smaller retail spaces have been added. The key to designing the individual levels was to think “empty” in order to enable the future implementation of an improved orientation system.

The preconditions for this complex undertaking were: – For each rental space, a newer space of equal size but higher quality had to be provided. – Each tenant had to be relocated twice during the construction time. – The ongoing daily shopping activity should be only minimally disturbed.

Create a new Centre!

To this end, the atrium, with its escalator network, took centre stage. The atrium serves as the nucleus and has become the store’s central orientation point.

Source: archdaily.com

Villa 3S

Villa 3S by LOVE architecture and urbanism, Austria, 2010.

Villa 3S is located on a picturesque property on the fringes of Graz Geidorf.  One of the fundamental ideas was to incorporate the relatively large property into the living space.  Therefore, the design blurred the boundaries between house and garden creating fluid transitions and an extended exterior living space.  The relatively strict land-use plan, which stipulated a saddle roof with a designated inclination, presented a further challenge. The roof form begins by folding on the southern terrace continues up and over the building structure and thereby forms an abstract saddle roof.  This folding spatially differentiates the individual areas providing excitement.  This also creates unique views from every angle of the home.

Architects: LOVE architecture and urbanism
Location: Graz Geidorf, Austria
Construction Calculation: Hartmth Petschnigg
Building Physics: Roland Müller
Project Area: 145 sqm
Project Year: 2010
Photographs: Jasmin Schuller

The architects describe the house as, “Simple yet complex; clear but also playful; light and optimistic; small yet also big.  A place that is architecturally distinct, yet eminently livable; unconventional and unique, and still functional for everyday living.”

The interior of the house is centered around one main room for cooking, eating and living. When open, large sliding doors between the individual rooms connect a fluid, complete spatial structure. With the sliding doors closed, each room maintains its intimacy and distinctiveness and also extends to its own outdoor area or access. For example, the bathroom has its own opaque terrace with an outdoor shower, which can be converted to an interior room with the use of broad folding doors. Weather permitting, the bathroom space can be doubled in this way.

The building is a massive brick construction with concrete walls and a reinforced concrete roof. This roof also serves as a thermal storage mass to provide a pleasant indoor climate and is covered with wood outside. This shades the planking and visually blends the terrace and roof into a unified whole.

Villa P.

Villa P by LOVE architecture and urbanism, Austria, 2010.

Architects: LOVE architecture and urbanism
Location: Waltendorf Graz, Austria
Design Team: Sigrid Derler, Sabine Sternbach
Area: 180.7 sqm
Year: 2010
Photographs: Jasmin Schuller

The site – a relatively steep hill – offers a stunning view over Graz. This panorama also provided the main guiding principle for the design. One additional goal was to provide direct access to the garden. Due to the very steep slope, this goal actually worked contrary to the aim of maximizing the panoramic view.

The upper level, which is oriented completely towards the fantastic view, contains all of the living space, while the lower level houses the doctor’s office and adjoining rooms. This layout provides a clear separation of living and working spaces, including separate entrances.

The upper level features two spacious terraces – one facing south and west, which provides an extension of the living room and the children’s rooms, and one facing north and east, which is an extension of the bedroom and bathroom and affords somewhat more privacy. A very broad external staircase with sitting steps connects the upper level and the garden, thereby joining the living space and the garden into an organic whole.

A pool is located in front of the building and connects to the carport. The pool and carport together provide a clear border between the property and the street, thereby increasing the privacy of the property.

Thus, a harmonious ensemble is created – a play of extrovert and introvert, of proximity and distance, which maximizes the strengths of the property, while simultaneously offering privacy.

Leisure House

Leisure House, in Mill Valley, California

14 Official Proteccion Housing

14 Official Proteccion Housing in Ibiza by Castell-Pons Arquitectes