Interior Architecture Lecture Series 2017 _ Dr Frances Bradshaw from AtA

Enric Ruiz-Geli (Cloud 9) Lecture 20th October

Enric Ruiz-Geli (Cloud 9)
Media ICT and El Bulli
Thursday 20th October, 6pm
Robin Evans Room (M416)
University of Westminster
Department of Architecture




Enric Ruiz-Geli is an architect based in Barcelona who works with a group of collaborators and researcher’s as Cloud 9. Enric works at the interface between architecture and art, digital processes and technological material development. The architects’ multifaceted projects include stage designs and buildings, installations and technical patents. In 2011 he was awarded the prize for best building by the World Architecture Festival (WAF) for his groundbreaking net zero-energy building project ‘Media-ICT’ in Barcelona, which featured bioluminescent fireproof paint and an interactive smoke filled ETFE wall.



Key projects of Enric Ruiz Geli / Cloud 9 include the Villa Nurbs in Empuriabrava, an organically formed, ecological and futuristic house; Media-ICT building in Barcelona and the elBulliFoundation for the chef Ferran Adrià. Designed as a living laboratory in Cap de Creus on the Spanish/French border, the elBulliFoundation (culinary institute) is designed to sustainably regenerate its site within a national park using a mixture of ancient and contemporary environmental design strategies and is being developed in partnership with the national parks authority.



For details contact Will McLean - w.f.mclean@westminster.ac.uk

Technical Studies website - www.technicalstudies.tumblr.com

Aerocene metallic orbs by Tomás Saraceno in Paris' Grand Palais

"By releasing hot air from inside the Aerocene globes, pressure can be regulated and the altitude of the orbs can be controlled. They could also float along natural jet streams, using these as a way of changing direction."

from dezeen.

Michael Sorkin Inaugural Lecture at University of Westminster: 26 November

Competition for Wuhan Qingtan Lake Ecological Park Urban Design Competition 2014, First Place.

MICHAEL SORKIN
VISITING PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
INAUGURAL LECTURE

26 November 2015, 18.30 – 20.00

University of Westminster
Room MG14
25 Marylebone Road
London NW1 5LS

City States

In his inaugural lecture as a Visiting Professor in the Department of Architecture at the University of Westminster, Michael Sorkin will speak about the relationship between equity and sustainability in cities and advocate for a radical assumption of responsibility by cities. He will argue for the necessity of creating both new kinds of urban relations as well as new kinds of cities. The talk will be illustrated by a series of examples of work by the Michael Sorkin Studio and Terreform.

Michael Sorkin is an architect and urbanist whose practice spans design, criticism, and teaching. He is the principal of Michael Sorkin Studio in New York, a global design practice focused on urbanism and green architecture, and Terreform, an independent urban research and advocacy centre whose mission is to investigate the forms, policies, technologies, and practices that will yield equitable, sustainable, and beautiful cities for our urbanizing planet

David Rockwell's temporary bespoke theater for TED 2014

"TED, the nonprofit enthusiastic to ‘ideas worth spreading’, has invited the rockwell group to build the stage for the 30th anniversary of the conference, in vancouver. set in the vancouver convention centre, the portable and temporary theater is constructed with 600 pieces and assembled onsite for the five day festival. the intimacy of the space is realized by instilling a sense of community while having singularity in form. the individual and the collective are showcased in unison as the arena becomes a manifestation of the organization’s core principles. in addition to david rockwell’s observations, from being an attendee over the years, further inspiration for the theater was gathered from historic organizational spaces such as campfires and other non permanent commons. comprised mostly from locally harvested douglas fir wood sourced from the pacific northwest, the seating ‘bowl’ also includes a walkway along the perimeter with lattice-like platforms and handrails. 16 different seating options are present, and vary from lounge groupings, rows of benches, and beanbags. a standing room area in the back allows viewers to access personal electronic devices, without disturbing the rest of the audience. aided by an electronic cutting machine, the event construction company, nussli, fashioned the structure (along with the custom furniture and steelcase fabrication) to be easily disassembled back into 8’ x 10’ x 12’ boxes, and possibly reused for upcoming events."

from designboom

Françoise Bollack's 5 Adaptive Reuse Strategies

In her book Old Buildings, New Forms, Françoise Bollack divides adaptive reuse projects into five categories, and illustrates each with a diagram (from left to right): wraps, weavings, juxtapositions, parasites, and insertions.

Insertion for instance, is exemplified by a 2004 project by FNP Architekten.  A crane dropped a new shell of weather-resistant plywood inside a 200-year-old abandoned pigsty in Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. The “house within a house” is now used as an occasional showroom and meeting place.

To see examples of the other strategies see the article in ARCHITECT.

Or buy the book.

Image Credits: Monacelli Press

'Second Nature'

Second Nature is a 20-minute documentary on skater and budding landscape architect, Janne Saario of Finland. The short film allows a glimpse of Saario’s thoughts and dreams, which float between design, art and skateboarding. Though it also reveals the important concurrence of post-industrial areas, sustainable concepts and natural environments, and unfolds the demanding obligation, towards today’s generation and those to come, to create positive and inspiring, local communities.

Dwell says: "Saario started skating when he was six, eventually got sponsored, and through his experience riding around the world he developed an interest in designing landscapes. He's got his own firm now, with a specialty in skate parks."

King's Cross Filling Station by Carmody and Groarke

Architects Carmody Groarke have transformed an abandoned canal-side petrol station in north London into a temporary restaurant and events space with fluted walls.

More at dezeen.

Elena Garro Cultural Center by Fernanda Canales + arquitectura 911sc

The project, located in Coyoacán, is an adaptation of an existing house, a listed building from early-20th century- which was transformed into a cultural center on Fernández Leal street. The need to preserve the existing property led to the decision that the project would highlight the new uses and, at the same time, respect the original shell. Thus, the project consists of several elements that define the intervention: a first part which marks the entrance, a kind of frame, linking the building with the street and highlighting the existing house; secondly, a series of gardens and courtyards surrounding the project and inserted inside; and, finally, a rectangular volume at the back of the site, developed on three levels, consisting of a multi-purpose room, storerooms, and parking lots on ground floor. These pieces mark the different paths and manage to bind all the parts of the project.

more at archdaily.

Refurbishment of Deusto University by ACXT

The University of Duesto decided to renew its Central Building, known as “La Literaria” (The Literary). The main objective of the architectural design was to respect and enhance the spatial, aesthetical and functional qualities of the original building.

More at archdaily.

New Issue of a + t: RECLAIM

It publishes a+t magazine - whose issues are edited in thematic series - and books on collective housing and public space.  With this start to the Reclaim series, a+t interprets the works analysed and organizes its discourse on the basis of Re- actions, using these actions to create a body of knowledge applicable to any project.

Reclaim has the environmental sense to reclaim the territory, the objects, the infrastructures and the materials yet it also is a call to reclaim dignity and citizen rights. It is a wake-up call to morally reclaim society using theRe- processes as atonement.

Remediate Reuse Recycle interprets and compares actions extracted from the projects and classifies them into three Re-processes:

Remediate: acting on the territory
Reuse: acting on the building
Recycle: acting on the material

more info at a+t

God’s Loftstory / LKSVDD

© Vincent van den Hoven

© Vincent van den Hoven

The  former  Dutch  Reformed  Evangelism  Building  in  Haarlo  has  been  transformed  into  a  unique  loft. The starting point for the design were the retained  (mostly with a need for restoration)  qualities of the 1928 dating monument,  the façade,  the bell tower with clock,  the volume,  the iconic location on the outskirts of the village  and nice details like  the wooden roof construction,  the old panel doors  and arch windows  with stained glass.

It was a conscious choice, not to fill the volume of 1100 m3 completely with as many rooms as possible, but to minimize the demands, in order to retain the spaciousness of the building. The only architectural additions are the mezzanine for the relaxation room  ( couch, bed and bath )  and the multifunctional “Stairway to have fun” ( stairs,  room divider,  closet,  build-in-kitchen,  acoustic element and exhibition wall ).

from archdaily.

WOHA 'Breathing Architecture' Lecture: Room 421 Tuesday October 23, 2012

Cassia Coop Training Centre by TYIN Tegnestue Architects

Located in Sungai Penuh, Kerinchi, Sumatra, Indonesia, the main idea behind the project is the classic consept of a light wooden construction on a base of heavy brick and concrete. The wooden construction gives a feeling of being within a cinnamon forest. Cassia Coop Training Centre is built around a pair of mighty durian trees, with a scenic view of the beautiful Kerinci-lake in the front and with its back towards lush cinnamon forest. A major challenge has been to create a naturally ventilated climate beneath a roof surface of no less than 600 square meters. Knowledge and experience gained in former projects have greatly aided us in achieving this, through the use of thermal mass, reduction of sunrays and maximized eaves.

from archdaily.