Mecanoo

Situated in the rolling countryside of Luxembourg on the edge of Mondorf-les-Bains, the new Velodrome and Sports Complex designed by Mecanoo and Metaform is set to reinforce the community, known for its thermal baths, as a destination for recreation. The facilities combine the new national velodrome with an aquatic centre, multisport hall and climbing wall, creating a sporting destination capable of hosting national and international cycling events while simultaneously creating a sporting hub for the community and future international school, proposed adjacent to the site.The prescribed re-naturalization of the sloping agricultural site combined with the restrictions of both the site and a limited budget informed the compact design app... More

In the city centre of Delft runs a railway viaduct that divides the city in two. The planned construction of a railway tunnel will remove this barrier. In its stead will be an expansion of the inner city including a park and a promenade. A station foyer in combination with offices for a thousand municipal employees will be built on top of an underground railway station. The inner city of Delft reflects its past. The campus of the Delft University of Technology on the edge of the inner city holds the promise of future development. The starting point for Mecanoo’s design is an interweaving of this history and the future. The result is a building where each elevation is designed in relationship to its context. The building is compact and it... More

Cultural home Located at First Street, HOME forms the cultural heart of one of the largest areas of development in Manchester city centre – a flagship building that acts as a catalyst for the surrounding area. As the base for the new organisation formed by the merger of Cornerhouse and The Library Theatre Company, HOME has been designed to allow for the commissioning, production and presentation of critically engaged and technically complex artistic projects, as well as the hosting of large scale cultural events. The overall budget for HOME was £25 million. Its striking exterior acts like beacon, while the welcoming public spaces and social areas within are designed to be inviting to all. HOME is like a second home, a cultural home: a plac... More

The Hilton Hotel Schiphol Airport is located near Amsterdam’s international airport. With its diagonal patterned facade, curved corners and strategic location, the building is a recognisable icon at the airport and is prominently visible from the motorway. From its spacious plinth, the cube-shaped hotel is rotated 45 degrees to establish a dynamic position. Rounded corners accentuate this dramatic effect so that the hotel contrasts strikingly with its neighbouring, rectilinear buildings. The entrance, reception and restaurant are located on the ground floor, while the conference centre on the first and second floors adjoins a passageway that leads to the airport. As the heart of the hotel, the impressive atrium has a clear identity fe... More

Positioned at the intersection of a series of important routes, the new Rabat Agdal train station will become the "gateway" of Rabat, creating a central icon that symbolizes the dynamic transformation of the city. By creating an elevated passageway that connects multiple access points, the project acts as a hinge, allowing residents and visitors to cross from one part of the city to another. The structure hangs over the train tracks in a unique network of "braided buildings", combining space for transport, recreation, culture and work. The passenger hall is located on the main axis of movement through the station, creating a strategic crossing point and an inviting meeting place.This central branch is the starting point for connecting a... More

As China’s first special economic zone, Shenzhen has brought miracles in urbanization, industrialization and modernization in the last 30 years. The overall competitive power of Shenzhen is second to Hong Kong, ranking first in mainland China. In this setting Mecanoo designed a 260,000 m² ecological urban building complex. Situated at the foot of the beautiful Tanglang Hills, Tanglang Towers are perfectly placed to capture the busy flows streaming along the number 5 Huan Zhong metro line and major new roads circling downtown Shenzhen. Programme: Eco urban building complex, with metro station feature. 4-star boutique business hotel of 25,000 m², medium class A offices of 49,000 m², One-stop experience-based thematic shopping mall of 52,... More

The Waterfront Museum is to become a new urban icon and cultural destination for Abu Dhabi, reflecting its rich cultural traditions. The design concept is that of a ‘Culture Pier’, a logical and flowing continuation of the popular and prestigious Corniche Boulevard. The urban route flows along the promenade, through the sculptural dune landscape, to the cultural plaza and the Waterfront Museum building beneath. To create a sense of freedom within the site, the gallery building has been lifted. Because the site is at the end of Corniche Boulevard, it is possible to generate quality public places which are intimate, shaded and designed for cultural activities and relaxation. The elevation of the building creates beautifully framed vie... More

‘Challenge the future’ is the motto of the Delft University of Technology, one of the most prominent universities in Europe. And that is exactly what the faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EWI) is working on. Here the future is challenged with numerous researches on finding alternative ways of generating energy. The EWICON (short for Electrostatic WIndenergy CONvertor) is a wind mill without moving parts, designed by Mecanoo. The technology is developed by the EWI faculty in a consortium with Wageningen UR and commercial companies in an economy-ecology-government partnership program. The breakthrough wind convertor transforms wind energy into electricity without the use of moving mechanical parts. The r... More

With such a beautiful mountain landscape surrounding the golf course, it was only natural that this be our design inspiration for the clubhouse, start house and tea houses. The clubhouse reflects a careful balance between a luxurious golf clubhouse with environmental consciousness and site sensitivity. With the existing ridge as a backdrop and the cultivated landscape beyond, the building sits gently on top of the junction between these two diverse landscapes. Formally in contrast with its undulating and lush surroundings, the rectilinear, white clubhouse appears as a beacon from across the golf course. The building concept consists of two strong white stone slabs floating above the surrounding landscape. A composition of internal and ex... More

Mecanoo Architecten, together with Code Arkitektur and Buro Happold, won the design competition for a Knowledge and Cultural Square in the center of Kongsberg, a former mining town about 75 kilometers southwest of Oslo, Norway. The project comprises of a design for a cultural and teaching building totaling approximately 24,000 m², and includes future expansion of other functions, such as student housing, sports facilities and businesses. More

Mecanoo designed the winning competition entry for a new 83,500 m2 cultural complex with a public art museum, science museum, youth centre and a bookshop, public square and parking in the Shenzhen district. The new cultural and commercial complex will provide the district with its own landmark and destination and transform the existing Longcheng Park into a lively destination point. It will form a dynamic link between the commercial business district, a formal park and gardens and one of the district’s main thoroughfares. The new museum complex will unify the evolving urban fabric and generate a vibrant downtown. Programme: Cultural complex of 83,500 m2 with public art museum (13,500 m2), science museum (16,000 m2), youth centre... More

Mecanoo has won the international competition to design the new campus of the National University of Science and Technology (MISiS), one of the leading technical universities of Russia. The 100-acre campus will be located in a new district of Moscow, where 300,000 new residents are expected over the next 20 years. The campus includes housing for 10,000 students and 3,000 academics, and is home to seven departments, several research institutes, a library, business center, hotel, sports park, cinema, cafes and shops. As a condition of the project’s financing by President Medvedev, construction must begin by year’s end. More images and architect’s description after the break. The National University of Science and Technology (MISiS) is o... More