Last year 10 Design launched one of the most successful premium integrated developments in the heart of Kuala Lumpur total area of 290 thousand sq. m. This luxury multifunctional facility named KL Gateway is developed by Suez Domain (part of SUEZ CAPITAL SDN. BHD.)
One of the architectural research tendencies, which have been issued relatively recently, but already deeply seated into everyday life, became Bionic that translated from Greek means “living.” Today, there are allocated three categories: biological, which studies the processes in organic systems; theoretical, engaged in the creation of mathematical (computer) models of these processes; and technological – responsible for the use of bionic models created for the realization in engineering or machinery. And right there, at the junction of the theoretical and technical fields is rooted architectural trend of Bionic. It studies the course of the formation and structure of living tissues, analyzing the structural systems of living organisms in terms of economy of material, energy and reliability, aiming at the ultimate goal in the synthesis of nature and modern technologies.
Founded in Barcelona in 2010, JAPA – Javier Ponce Architects – aims to implement architecture projects, visions and develop consistent strategies and critical solutions which can impact in a positive way at both local and global levels. The architects are interested in different scales and sorts of projects, ranging from small objects to city masterplans and with diverse constraints, which they transform into opportunities.
In the past 15 years, around 10 billion sqm of built space has been created in the urban areas of China. Within 20 years period, another 200 to 400 new cities will be built. Until now, the results of this overwhelming urbanization have been defined by high-density, highspeed and low-quality duplication.
Continuation. Ending. Beginning see.: № 2, p. 74–79; № 3, p. 72–77.
In modern cities is quite difficult to find space for the construction of new residential and office buildings. Experts from the architectural bureau AMLGM Chad Kellogg (Chad Kellogg) and Matt Bowles (Matt Bowles) proposed for this space over major highways. They envisioned a new residential tower typology for New York that can connect and transform unused space surrounding various transportation hubs into a dense, mixed-use housing tower.
Chinese firm MAD recently has unveiled new images of Chaoyang Park Plaza – a complex of skyscrapers, office blocks and public spaces modelled on the mountains, hills and lakes depicted in Chinese landscape paintings – which is now under construction in Beijing. Located on the southern edge of Chaoyang Park in Beijing’s central business district, the 120,000-square-metre development will create a mix of commercial properties, office blocks and residential accommodation inspired by the landscapes depicted in traditional Chinese shanshui paintings.
UN Studio’s design has been selected as the winning entry in the competition for the remodeling of the Hanwha headquarters building in Seoul. The renovation of the office tower incorporates the remodeling of the facade, the interior of the common spaces, lobbies, meeting levels, auditoriums and executive areas, along with the redesign of the landscaping.
The architects started thinking about this project from the words they heard at the official competition meetings they attended in Shanghai: “The new project will be inside Yangpu District, the new Project will be inside Tongji University, the new project will have an innovative design”.
Skyscrapers, as well as any other buildings may age both morally and technically. And then the problem arises – either demolish such a construction or upgrade it. An interesting concept for retrofitting buildings was proposed by the Laboratory for Visionary Architecture (LAVA). This sustainable and cost effective innovative plan is known as “re-skinning” and can be widely applied to other aging icons around the world. At the heart of the concept named ‘Tower Skin’ is an application of easily installed membrane, which design is presented by LAVA at the Venice Architecture Biennale.
