Architectural firm

The Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec (OIIQ) traded its Westmount offices for a building that is better suited to their needs in Montréal’s Angus Technopôle. The architectural firm Lemay aimed for a design that is completely suited to the OIIQ’s activities, values and contribution to the health sector. This project, with its innovative building materials, follows the principles of sustainable development. An Innovative Ceramic Building Envelope The new offices of the organization are wearing, just like its nurses, an immaculate white tunic. The exterior is covered with ceramic ventilated cladding, a German product distributed in Canada by Ceragres. Named “light and air cladding”, it owes its astonishing properties to a p... More

In the case of the Kompassen shopping centre the architectural firm Ågren Arkitekter had so to speak been issued with a license to transcend boundaries by the investor Vasakronan. The facade in particular should become a hallmark that is visible from afar of the new mall. However, there was one condition attached to the carte blanche: only tried and tested and demonstrably durable materials may be used for the construction work as obviously when constructing a shopping centre the balancing act between aesthetics, functionality and economy is the thing that must be pulled off first and foremost. Architect Magnus Åhs knew what effect he wanted to achieve with his design, but his vision of sunlight reflected and refracted in the facade was onl... More

A building included inside the town The facade on the boulevard represents a major turning point although it remains integrated in the existing templates. The facility exposes itself as a symbol of renewal, at the same time respecting the balance of the urban context that surrounds it A building opened over the town. The copper woven mesh opens like a curtain over the city. It unfolds like a filter in front of a fully glazed façade. It shows off the facility while protecting it. The underlying play of transparency and light varies depending on the timeof day and school schedules. The life of the building reflects and is integrated in the lively downtown. A full light building Artistic activities require natural high-quality light.... More

Manila-based architectural firm ASYA Design has completed an 11-storey mixed-use building in MOA Complex, a reclaimed developing town located south of Manila. Fittingly described as The Scape, after its inception from the landscape and seascape ripple forms – an ode to the natural setting before the project was realized. Built on a reclaimed area, the inspiration for the building’s façade was drawn from the ripples of water entrenched on the sandy shores of Manila Bay. The undulating patterns found on the building’s skin mimic the shape of the sea as it slowly drifts off. In a sense, Scape also aspires to produce a ripple effect on its neighboring structures as it sets the standard for building green BPO offices that are environmen... More

The former Philips Lighting head office now houses more than 600 lofts and apartments. The building’s structure and the concrete staircases were preserved. For the façades we designed a special new solution of large, vertically sliding lower fronts in an eye-catching golden colour. Small-scale housing in a spacious wayThe building measures 43,000 square metres. The residents of the 616 apartments are mostly single starters and expats. A completely new layer with 49 penthouses and spacious terraces has been built on the roof, from which one can enjoy a magnificent view of the city. The floor height of the lofts is a spacious 4 metres and the fully open façades allow plenty of natural light into the lofts, which measure... More

The design for the Strasbourg Palais de la Musique et des Congrès by Austrian architectural firm Dietrich | Untertrifaller and French firm Rey-Lucquet & Associés combines the two existing music halls from the 1970s and 80s with new buildings to create a harmonious ensemble with a distinctive architectural identity. The expansion and general renovation of the convention center involves the construction of a 3,000 m² multifunctional hall, a conference hall for 450 people, and a 520-seat auditorium, the expansion and conversion of two existing concert halls, plus a new rehearsal hall for the Strasbourg Philharmonic orchestra. In December 2016, the recently completed project was nominated for the European Prize for Contemporary Architecture – M... More

Dutch architectural firm, HofmanDujardin, introduces a revolutionary, life-enhancing urban strategy for the city of Amsterdam. “We live in Amsterdam and we love Amsterdam. It is a fabulous city, and we want to make it more fabulous,” says Michiel Hofman. Oamsterdam offers an innovative plan to connect the northern district to the rest of the city. Mirroring the form of the exiting half-circle of the north, we will create a circular path through the city, thus restoring Amsterdam’s historic connection to the water and opening up the Ij waterfront. The inner ring will be a vital new connection uniting areas of the city, bringing space and air to the historic, crowded centre. Amsterdam needs to be innovative in its urban strategy today, jus... More

DIESEL opens its doors in Manhattan, with a new concept store at 625 Madison Avenue, prestigious location for the well-known Italian fashion brand. Design by architect Masamichi Katayama of Wonderwall, Japanese architectural firm in Tokyo. The concrete cladding of the facade captures the light to accelerate the natural atmospheric oxidation, decomposing the polluting elements through a process called photocatalysis. Concrete precast elements made by Archiform of Trescore Balneario (Italy). Moldmaking materials delivered by COPLAN: two-component, shrinking free elastomer type Reckli Formenmasse PU-48. More

The new research and development centre for Hankook Tire was unveiled in Daejeon on Tuesday, 18 October. The new facility forms an integral part of Hankook Tire’s new vision for a corporate culture and brand, and the 96,328-square-metre R+D centre aims to attract the industry’s top talent, providing an inspirational place to work, with light filled offices, advanced laboratories and dynamic social spaces to nurture a culture of openness and innovation. Located in the heart of Asia’s ‘Silicon Valley’, the building is an expression Hankook Tire’s commitment to technology, quality and rigorous research. It lays emphasis on communication within the workplace, with central meeting pods for spontaneous team meetings. The centrepiece of the sta... More

A design that creates unity Architects Vyvey & Partners won a design competition for an apartment complex in the Belgian town of Ypres with their striking submission for social housing company, Ons Onderdak. The project uses a restrained palette of three tones of grey brick, together with white, partially curved, ROCKPANEL boards. Despite the ultra modern look, the building fits well amongst the existing neighbouring houses. According to Jan Vyvey, that was also the starting point for the designers: “We wanted a compact building that fitted in with the mixture of buildings along this arterial road. Our building shape anticipates the surrounding house fronts. To the left it links to a block along the building line, to the right we integr... More

After a successful collaboration for Andronikos hotel in Mykonos, KLab architecture and Andronikos hotels joined forces again for a new hotel in Santorini. A large house from the 70’s, located in Imerovigli Santorini, of three floors was rethought as 6 suites hotel. Above the volcano caldera and the famous rock “skaros” KLab architecture changed throughout the existing building to accommodate the needs of the new hotel. 6 large suites and a sky bar on the terrace were conceived as a modern interpretation of the cave like vernacular houses of Santorini. New vaults and arches and curvaceous edges recreate the unique aura of traditional houses. More

The IBC Innovation Factory is designed to support new ways of learning. The 12,800 square metres educational building is the result of a refurbishment project of the paint manufacturer GORI’s factory from 1978, which set new standards for factories at the time. In the spirit of the original factory, schmidt hammer lassen architects, in collaboration with International Business College (IBC) Kolding, has created the settings for a ground-breaking and creative learning environment, aiming to become the world’s best. The ambition is to be a training camp for future innovators. With the acquisition of the GORI factory in the summer of 2010, the IBC gained access to a unique physical environment characterized by an impressive pioneering spir... More

The project, assigned to OneWorks after winning a competition in 2006, concerns the transformation of a former industrial site sitting on Lake Maggiore's shores, one of the most beautiful bodies of water in northern Italy. The masterplan reveals the property to the town of Laveno; an open space network is the means to reconcile the brownfield with the historical center. Availing to Gustafson-Porter as landscape consultants, the proposal for the former ceramic plant involved residential complexes and tourist accommodations. Foreseen are also retail facilities, a hotel, spa, and public services. The masterplan sought contemporary interpretations of historical landscapes and architectures comparing them not only with the issues of current... More

The Cloud is a site specific work created by the architectural firm Shjworks. The project introduces stay, light and placemaking in a recreational space belonging to a social housing estate in Copenhagen. One sculptural shape which is illuminated at night is the main element of the project. The aim ofShjworks is to show that one organic, complex and site specific shape can create a strong relation between people and place. Themain elementconsists of pieces of white polycarbonate sewn together with stainless steel wire. This element iselevated and supported by nine legs of stainless steel. The nine legs are fixed and grounded to three concrete feet. The sewing technique of Shjworks has been developed from their previous work into a mo... More