Paperhouse by Heatherwick Studio

Designer Thomas Heatherwick of Heatherwick Studio has completed a series of brass newspaper kiosks in London.

Photographs are by Cristobal Palma.

via Dezeen

House in Saijo by Suppose Design Office

Architects: Suppose Design Office
Location: Saijo,Higashihiroshima,Hiroshima,Japan
Program: Personal house
Site area: 246 sqm
Building area: 50.41m
Total floor area: 115.51 sqm
Photographs: Toshiyuki Yano from Nacasa&Partners Inc.




via archdaily

PLATOON KUNSTHALLE Seoul

Concept Design: Platoon Cultural Development
Location: 97-22, Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu,Seoul, Korea
Architectural Consultancy: Graft Architects + Baik Jiwon
Executive Architect: U-il Architects & Engineers
Prefab Engineering: Ace Special Container, Korea
Structural Engineering: MIDAS IT, Korea
Interior Design: URBANTAINER, Korea
Main Contractor: Hyojung Construction & Development, Korea
Structure: M. Cabestany
Footprint Area: 415 square meters
Main hall Area: 272 square meters
Project year: 2008-2009

The Platoon Cultural Development building is an excellent execution of shipping container architecture by Graft Lab.

The representation of the 28 ISO cargo containers is one of flexible architecture in a globalized culture. The stacked ISO containers form a unique construction that can be rebuilt anywhere else at any time; giving off a sense of mobility. PLATOON KUNSTHALLE is located in Cheongdam an upscale district of Seoul, creating a tension and interaction between the design houses, the luxury brand shops, and the commercial galleries which are near by. PLATOON’s location creates a contradiction between the world of subculture and the world of “culture” and luxury. The interiors give a sense of a revolutionary, urban design with many industrial influences. Perhaps, that is what is intended of the interior and exterior design of the building.

PLATOON aspires at providing a communication platform for street artists, graphic designers, fashion designers, video artists, programmers, musicians, cultural clubbers, political activists and merely anyone who is interested in subculture creative fields. PLATOON KUNSTHALLE isn’t about entertainment; it’s about providing showcases of underground artists, studio residencies and a fine selection of cutting-edge stage performances aiming at introducing the vigorous possibilities of subculture in Korea and Asia.

Exhibitions, movie nights, concerts, multimedia performances, workshops and discussion panels are presented in various formats aiming to present subculture through these special events. While PLATOON KNUSTHALLE gives the young artists from Korea and abroad a unique opportunity of four scholarship programs if they develop creative projects (for more information log on to http://www.kunsthalle.com/). The four showcases are presented in a monthly basis where striking work from the subculture and street art including leading artists of the international urban art scene are viewed.

Mini Capsule Hotel by Atelier Van Lieshout

Mini Capsule Hotel by Atelier Van Lieshout

Conde Lumiares Pharmacy by Mobil M

Architects: Mobil M
Location: Alicante, Spain
Architect in Charge and interior design project: Daniel Ferrer (YTRASD) for Mobil M
Graphic identity and furniture: Mobil M
Photographs: Pelut i Pelat

Smart Structures - What Is Intelligent Architecture Like?

“Building intelligently” is one of today´s leading questions worldwide, as design, architecture, and urban planning have to urgently find answers to changing global circumstances. The laboratory-talk “Smart Structures - What Is Intelligent Architecture Like?” will investigate new approaches and ideas such as drastic weight reduction, functional integration, and the development of sustainable combinations of materials to support minimization of environmental damage - towards an intelligent and flexible architecture. How can architecture free itself from established styles?

There is no such thing as a final state of a romantically perfect eco-balance. In a continuous flow of evolving cycles, design, architecture, and urban planning have to deal with facilitation of intelligent adaptation to changing circumstances. Knowledge and experience are increasing, but stereotyping, rhetoric and misunderstanding between professionals with different backgrounds and affinities hamper development of a new design dynamic. More than in other trades in building and construction improvements depend on integration of design disciplines and cooperation between industrial sectors that are not accustomed to combined thinking. The first challenge is to make disciplines and industries understand each other.

This is even more important, since progress depends on seemingly contradictory propositions. Dogmatic belief in various levels of recycling ignores the industrial energy consumption it may require, plus its implications for the greenhouse effect. The consequential principle of design for disassembly is certainly valid, but as a by-product it feeds prejudice against any kind of chemical bonding, thereby raising suspicion about any innovation and improvement of gluing and of composite structures, whereas this has the potential to develop into the realm of sophisticated renewability. Composite structures are generally mistaken for a limited range of high range materials, typically Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers, whereas composite thinking offers opportunities to increase added value by combining minimum amounts of all kinds of different materials in smart product elements based upon optimum use of their properties.

Architects choose materials by what they express rather than how they can be processed and what they can do. They tend to think that weight reduction, which most of them favour, is a matter of choice of materials, whereas it can have much more impact if it involves rethinking both structure and style. It appears difficult for architects to critically reconsider their rather traditional views on architectural identity on all levels from detail, via building to ever changing urban networks. Opportunities for developmental strategies of cooperation will be discussed by curator Ed van Hinte together with his Dutch and German controversial partners to boost mutual learning and inspiration as well as information exchange for fruitful cooperation in the future. “Building intelligently” is one of the today’s leading questions worldwide and will generate revolutionary approaches for the audience as well as for experts and producers of building materials. Pioneers in this field are invited to reinvestigate the issues of sustainability and responsibility of architects as to evoke radical changes in architecture and design.
Via (ArtDaily)

Sinus House in Denmark by Cebra Architects

An unusual 1,735-sq.-ft. country home located in Denmark, the Sinus House is a great mix of pastoral settings and modern architecture. Designed by Cebra Architects

Vyta Boulangerie by Colli+Galliano Architects

The project developed from one of the most simple and antique components on our dining table – bread. This bakery was created inside a railway station, the modern symbol of speed and progress. The precise desire for integration and dialogue with the architectonic context is obvious from the very beginning. It shows that Vyta is totally projected towards the outside, and separated from it by a simple black portal. This was the theme of the interior design for the bakery, which starts from the traditional image of the bread shop; this is then reduced progressively to its essential features, in the quest for immediate and universal language, that can guarantee the maximum usability in this place of transition. The familiar colors of oak wood harmonize with the pale colors of the flooring and the ceiling, leaving space for monolithic furnishing accessories in black Corian that catalyze the attention through their symbolic purity. The polyfunctional counter is the heartbeat of every busy shop and in this case is used as an essential exhibition structure. There is a large decorative wall consisting of a paste creation symbolizing the surface and the fragrance of a bread crust. This element has strong aesthetic and metaphoric connections and is used as the backdrop to a series of elongated tables and benches, where the consumption of a hasty meal is mixed with the ancient ritual of conviviality thanks to the intelligent use of lighting , enhanced by spherical suspension lamps in chrome-plated metal that invite and beckon while amplifying the space. In a delicate combination of prospects, the counter and the wall behind it curve towards the more intimate portion of the room, animated by tables and chairs submerged in a welcoming atmosphere and display alcoves similar to compact black boxes. These offer wines and oils originating from various regions in Italy. There is maximum design uniformity that slides unobtrusively into the busy station, while allocating ample room for the people waiting to depart, creating a relaxing ambience closely linked to the traditions that are hidden behind the minimalist lines-making Vyta a valid alternative to the world of fast food, and promoting good food culture.

VYTA – BOULANGERIE ITALIANA – ROME
LOCATION: Termini Station – Rome
SURFACE AREA: 150 square meters
ARCHITECTS: COLLI+GALLIANO ARCHITETTI – Rome
ARCHITECTURAL TEAM: Marco Lombardini, Marco Capponi
PHOTOS: Matteo Piazza

Retail Trend: Louis Vuitton Tokyo Underground

Louis Vuitton goes with a raw and industrial look for its latest temporary space in Tokyo (Seibu Ikebukuro)

Photos by LOUIS VUITTON / DAICI ANO

Priests Retreat

Photos by Miguel de Guzmán

Miguel de Guzmán, Andres Jaque Arquitectos & Enrique Krahe renovated an abondoned seminary in Plasencia, Spain, into a residential house for retired priests.

They transformed a 15th century building with an 19th century extension into a gorgeous and frisky place where debate and participation within and without the religious community can take place.

The residential house is colorful, has an undeniable sense of humor and is downright iconoclast under several aspects: old washing machine doors are used as windows in the laundry space, some of the corridor floors are made of rubber, counter screens from a bank are recycled and used in the “self-service chapel”, the benches have wheels to make them mobile, light comes from every corners and is reflected in bright green, pink or yellow, etc.

via Coolboom