History

Mei architects and planners developed a grand innovative plan to transform the site of the former Silk Factory in Naro-Fominsk, a city two hours driving from Moscow, into a lively area. The program of 50.000 m2 is mixed-use, a novelty in Russia, and will turn the abandoned industrial site into a vibrant small city full of new energy. Loft-style apartments in the characteristic old factory buildings will be combined with a mixture of shopping, culinary, cultural and sport facilities for the families of Naro-Fominsk and visitors from the Moscow region. With this unique and promising plan, commissioned by the Ostov Group who already developed many successful projects in Naro-Fominsk, the Silk Factory complex will become the new historical city... More

The Delft Kabeldistrict (cable district) is a distinctive contemporary urban expansion in which a business park is being transformed on a large scale into a vibrant living and working environment. The Kabeldistrict builds on existing qualities, activity and the industrial past of the existing large Cable Factory. The visible fusion of old and new creates its own identity that contributes to a strong cohesion and connection between future entrepreneurs and residents. With a high degree of circularity and a layered integration of greenery and water, Delft is at the forefront of productive and sustainable area development. The Delft Kabeldistrict is the start of new developments on the Schieoevers in Delft. The municipality has the ambition t... More

One of the last remaining 1930s indoor swimming pools in The Netherlands, the Spaardersbad, is located in Gouda. The pool owes its name (literally translated ‘Saving pool’) to the inhabitants of Gouda who collectively saved money during the crisis period (1933) to realize an indoor swimming pool. It is a unique building, created, preserved, and cherished with enthusiasm and cooperation. As one of the most visited swimming pools in the Netherlands in the last century, this pool retains personal memories of many generations of Gouda inhabitants. The transformation from swimming pool to residential building with six unique loft homes, is based on the beauty of the original design and the rich history of the building. The swimming p... More

The new layout of the Museum of Natura l History and Academy of Sciences, hosted in the former "della Rosa" monastery of the Camaldolese Order in Siena, is the result of an operation with attention to the pre-existent, without ignoring the interpretation of new requirements deriving from the functional and systemic upgrades, expressed in a contemporary, restrained and wel l-ca librated language. The inclusion of the compound in the museum system of Siena since 1996 made it necessary to reorganise and modernise the exposition space by augmenting the cultural, educational and expositional aspects of the museum as a whole. Developed and implemented by a series of successive functional lots beginning in 2000, the design was initially directed b... More

CDW is a leading technology solutions provider to business, government, education and healthcare customers in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. Digital technology and connectivity inspire the brand treatment throughout the 8-story campus, celebrating CDW’s history, innovative technical solutions and culture. More

The house is located in the heart of Suzdal town on the bank of Kamenka river. Ensemble should preserve the history of the estate that existed here as well as become an important part of the town’s panorama that opens from the Pokrovsky Monastery walls on the opposite bank. The point of renovation was to define the building’s merits as well find a place for artistic expression. This is how the concept of dense “original” building was created. Wooden houses are delicately united with a modern structure. The building is merged into the town’s skyline although it subtly stands out with its light contemporary forms. They shine through the gaps between “historic” facades either with the arrowslit-like w... More

New headquarters of marketing agency Brain One located in Bubeneč, Prague has very strong atmosphere of a neo-classicist villa. We didn’t try to hide historical features - on the contrary, they are placed in direct opposition to new modern interventions, thus making a creative environment. The ubiquitous geometry, where the shape of a regular octagon appears across the villa, is enhanced by the entry of new, even more expressive geometry of newly designed tables and lighting fixtures.   Brain One sees the business as a race and they want to have fun while working. The aim was to bring life of young and dynamic agency into traditional and historical interior to enhance their creativity and playfulness. Most of the new interior e... More

The Edward M. Dowd Art and Art History Building at Santa Clara University unites formerly scattered studio and academic programs within a new 45,000-square-foot facility designed by Form4 Architecture to promote innovation, creativity, and collaborative learning.  Tradition and innovation are blended into a confident scheme where art is produced, reflected upon, recorded, and narrated.  The new building is part of a major redesign of the northwest side of campus into a vibrant creative district, and positions the art and art history department near theater, music, and dance facilities.           The three floors of the building offer contemporary, technology-rich classrooms and studios, including the... More

About the exhibitionThe 100th anniversary of Czechoslovak Republic was used as an opportunity to look into the Memory of the Nation. We chose periods and events which had shaped the modern history of this nation. We work with subjective memories.Due to the contemporary disturbances of the principle of democracy and respect to human rights, we think it necessary to remind ourselves that the civil freedom is nothing that comes as a matter of course. This is the reason why we have decided to focus our exposition on the totality in Czechoslovakia in 1939 to 1989 and on the fight against this totality. The former monument of the dictator J. V. Stalin is a suitable venue for this. It symbolises humiliation and servitude at the time of communism a... More

History meets the modern world in this Amazing project designed by the world famous architect Gae Aulenti. Basaltina® contributes to the beauty of this magical place, enhancing the floors, staircases and functional elements like the statue bases and stone benches. Enjoy the precious asian art while sitting on the italian historical stone Basaltina®. More

The city of Nîmes needs a new museum for its roman artefacts. The archaeological museum has no more space for them and there is an entire collection of restored pieces waiting to be exposed. The strong presence of roman culture in the city guides the city towards the idea of building an entire “home” for it: a place where one can not only visit the museum but can also read about roman culture, study it and share with others about it. The selected plot is located next to the Arena of Nîmes, the biggest roman artefact in the city as well as one of the most well preserved roman arenas in the world. Like other roman buildings in the city its simple geometric shape disconnects it from the surrounding urban network. Those observations lead to the... More

Made in Italy ceramics by Ceramiche Caesar were chosen to pave the multi-functional hall and entrance of the library in the redevelopment of tremendous historical and cultural importance,completed and inaugurated on June 3, 2015. The Verse collection, one of the latest porcelain tile series of the Fiorano Modenese-based company, was chosen thanks to its ability to bestow a contemporary touch of 'blend design' to residential and commercial spaces. Chosen in Cloud colour and in 30x120, 25x75 and 37.5x75 cm sizes, the Verse series is characterised by the strong substantial appeal and a natural inspiration, creating a new contemporary concept via the perfect balance between different g... More

SEFAR LIGHTFRAME Illuminated Modular Fabric Ceiling System at the LWL-Museum of Art and Culture, Münster. By: Licht Kunst Licht AG After a perennial construction period, the LWL Museum of Art and Culture in Münster re-opened in September 2014. Designed by Staab Architekten, the newly-constructed building is connected to the existing building from 1908, allowing the museum to display its collection in 51 exhibition spaces. The spaces are flanked by a library, an auditorium, access and relaxation zones, a bookshop, and a restaurant Light integrated into architecture Interlinked with Münster‘s city center through a sequence of forecourts, traversed by a publically accessible path and organized in an 'architecture of courty... More