Contemporaryarchitecture

Olen resort unfolds across a seaside, amphitheatrical plot, characterized by a steep southward slope and an uninterrupted view of the Aegean Sea. The primary challenge of the project was to satisfy complex functional requirements while respecting the morphology of the terrain. Olen is a composition of three morphological units — a Point, a Line, and a Plane. A residential complex arranged on three levels, combining submerged and above-ground structures. Yiorgis Yerolymbos At the highest point unfolds the Plane: a common space for all residents. The alignment of an arched retaining wall creates an embrace, simultaneously serving as a conduit for vertical circulation —ramps and stairs— and as an element that incorpora... More

Program Hospitality Credit: H.G. Esch Credit: H.G. Esch Reinforcing and reimagining one of the world’s most iconic hospitality brands, Dubai’s Atlantis The Royal offers unprecedented spaces that elevate the experience of guests in bold new ways. Credit: H.G. Esch Credit: H.G. Esch Building on the success of the current resort, Atlantis The Royal is a striking new icon for Dubai. The stepped form naturally separates the residential and hotel program, while still providing a sense of community through the shared views. Maximizing exposure to the Gulf and the unparalleled Dubai skyline, landscaped courts and terraces ensure that a substantial portion of the hotel rooms and residences have outdoor space, priva... More

Nestled on the sloping topography of Kekliktepe, Urla, S House is a luxury residence that was presented to Ofisvesaire with the building envelope and foundational systems already constructed. In an effort to maximize the potentials that were observed in the initial scenario of the existing conditions of the main house, the structural system was revised, providing the opportunity to rework the overall plan and mass of the house. This revision included the reinforced concrete structure evolving into a composite system along with the addition of a pergola with a mobile glass façade as the architectural element that redefines the identity of the building and seeks to blur the boundaries between inside and outside living while providing a... More

In the open polder landscape of dikes and small islands near Rotterdam, the Terphouse is situated as a solid volume on a mound in the landscape. The means used to make the house sustainable and ready for more extreme climate conditions became the main elements of the design, most apparent in the characteristic canopy and underground level with the protruding patios. Caption The house is dug in the artificial mound on the island, situating the living spaces on the first level and the bedrooms and secondary rooms underground. This makes that from the living spaces the open landscape is perceived over the dikes. By folding the landscape around the house, a connection with the garden is made possible and the house is perceived as a modest... More

This penthouse overlooks Lincoln Park. The owner obtained 4,500 sf of raw space atop a luxury high-rise and wanted an open-plan contemporary residence that maximizes expansive city and lake views.   The French-inspired building has a mansard roof with arched windows and vaulted ceilings. Influenced by these unalterable elements, the interior architecture expresses the vault detail in ceilings and doorways throughout. Arches offer dramatic space for the owner’s art collection and temper the impact of 14-foot ceilings. ​ We combined contemporary details with traditional materials. A minimalist reveal is used in place of baseboards. Oversized oak flooring provides a modern reinterpretation of herringbone and compliments the larg... More

The Suzhou Cultural Center is part of a series of emblematic projects initiated by the city through the Wujiang Lakefront Masterplan. On the shores of Lake Tai, Christian de Portzamparc discovered the deserted plain in 2013, while appreciating the plan of the future city. It was then built so quickly, we were he was amazed at each visit. It is already alive like a real Manhattan of towers ordered according to a grid of streets and avenues bordering a central pedestrian axis heading towards the lake. It was clear that the meeting of this pedestrian axis and the great lake would be an exceptional place, and it was on this site, on either side of the axis, that the cultural center was to be implanted during the architecture competition.  ... More