Below we represent the TB magazine interview with our first guest - Keith Griffiths, the founder of AEDAS, one of the largest architectural firms in the world, who has kindly agreed to answer the questions of our edition.
In October 2015 in Melbourne commenced the construction of Australia 108, a highly sculptural residential tower, unlike any other in Australia. Its slender form is highlighted by a golden starburst expression which then morphs into a curvaceous profile against the sky. The Starburst, inspired by the Commonwealth Star on the Australian flag, is a celebration of the sense of community within the building.
Studio Libeskind has won planning permission to build a 105-metre-high pointed skyscraper in the centre of Jerusalem – set to become the city’s second-tallest building. Designed in conjunction with local architect Yigal Levi, the tower will contain 200 luxury apartments, a boutique hotel, and a rooftop restaurant and observatory that will offer sweeping views, overlooking the ancient city. With a height of 105 metres, it will be just 16 metres shorter than the city’s tallest building – the 121-metre-high Holyland Tower1.
Thornton Tomasetti Chairman & CEO Tom Scarangello has added another professional honor to his resume. He was inducted into the National Academy of Construction (NAC), which recognizes those who have made outstanding contributions to the engineering and construction professions, at its Oct. 23 annual meeting in Charleston, S.C. “I’m honored to be elected into the National Academy of Construction and to be recognized by my peers for my contributions to advancing this industry,” he said.
October 31 prominent British architect Zaha Hadid celebrated her anniversary. The editorial board of Tall Buildings magazine extends felicitations uponthe artist birthday and wishes her inspiration and creative energy, which allows her to make people wonder and embody fantastic images into reality of architectural form.
International design firm, Steinberg, teamed with Insight Realty Co., has been selected to develop a prime downtown San Jose spot 180 Park Ave., better known as Parkside Hall. The City of San Jose chose the team’s mixed-use tower proposal that combines residential, office, a hotel, and new expansion space for the Tech Museum of Innovation.
October 21 was held a grand ceremony of delivery of the imperial awards. The Japan Art Association (JAA) has named French architect Dominique Perrault winner of the 2015 Praemium Imperiale International Arts Award. Lauded for his "wildly imaginative [or] abstractly minimal" designs, Perrault is known for masterfully blending innovative works with their context.
New York-based practice, Richard Meier & Partners has just announced that the first of the two Harumi Residential Towers planned for Tokyo has been completed. Prominently positioned in Harumi Chuo-ku City in Tokyo and adjacent to the site of the 2020 Olympic Village, the development is the first residential project in Japan to be designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Richard Meier. Working alongside him has been design partner and colleague, Dukho Yeon.
Ventures and Rockspring Property Investment Managers LLP has been given planning permission from Birmingham City Council. 103 Colmore Row will be a distinctive 211,000 sqft structure, replacing the former 1970s NatWest Tower. At 26 storeys and 336ft/102.5m high, it will be the tallest building in Birmingham’s central business district.
Richard Meier & Partners is proud to unveil the new CDC “55 Timeless” Xin-Yi Residential Tower in Taipei, Taiwan. Commissioned as an urban landmark by Continental Development Corporation, the tower rises 127 meters and will set a precedent in Taiwan as a private building that dedicates its entire landscape to the public realm. The building is currently under construction and on target to complete the superstructure by the end of this year with an opening expected in 2017.
