The world Islands. Dubai.

The World Islands, are a collection of man-made islands shaped into the continents of the world, located off the coast of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.


It will consist of 300 small private artificial islands divided into four categories - private homes, estate homes, dream resorts, and community islands.

--> Read more...

MAGNA MUSEUM. Duran Blazquez Architects.

The design is based on the development of organic morphology for a failed international competition .

The interest lay in the possibility of a spatially rich and morphologically building daring.



The program developed nearly 5,000 m2 exhibition space devoted primarily related to fixed and mobile reception and administrative areas, space for storage ... etc.

The use of forms as part of the development of the museum building and not as the realization of a nondescript container with some technological framework, gave rise to the realization of a building with a strong imagination and personality.
The initial conditions of the project were mainly the program and developing a new architecture that would serve as a point of attraction to the area that is developing the project. The initial idea was so nondescript containers away from betting on a shocking image.

The proposal is made ​​by the Spanish architecture firm Duran Blazquez Architects.

--> Read more...

Design Office. House in the mountains of Osaka.

Design Office has constructed an unusual residential house with a direct view of the Osaka plain located in an exclusif residential area of Takarazuke city of Hyogo prefecture in Japan. The house is locaiduces a feeling of warmth and security and an idea of flying and liberty as birds have. That is the reason why the house is divided into two parts that have the difference in height of 8 meters, so that the ground floor part is invisible from the street side view. The shape of the house replicates the landscape and create an corrugated profile reminding a dragon - traditional japanese myth animal. An extraordinary 18 meter-long terrace is a key element of this building. The terrace offers a splendid view, mountains and the sea 60 km away can be observed. The framework of the house seems to be similar to the deck of a boat floating on a heavy sea. ted on a hill with an elevation of 330 meters, the site has a difference in height of 8 meters.

--> Read more...

UNStudio Tower by UNStudio

Dutch architects UNStudio have completed a 21-storey office tower in their hometown of Amsterdam with colourfully glazed recesses in the facade spanning multiple floors.



Above photo by Christian Richters
The tower’s voids allow light to penetrate deeper into the communal areas of the interior and are intended to make a greater connection between the interior spaces and the external facade.


Above photo by Christian Richters
Bands of faceted aluminium cladding of various widths circle the building, controlling light penetration and sun screening to each floor.

Above photo by Inga Powilleit
The tower is one of six towers that comprise the Mahler 4 urban complex, each tower taking the name of the firm responsible for its design.

Above photo by Inga Powilleit
Here are more details from UNStudio:

---

UNStudio Tower, Amsterdam, Netherlands 2004 – 2009
The recently completed 21 storey UNStudio Tower forms part of the Mahler 4 urban complex, a cluster of six buildings located in the heart of the South Axis in Amsterdam. The South Axis connects Schiphol Airport to the major business areas of Amsterdam South.

The Mahler 4 urban complex houses 38.000 m2 of residential spaces, 162.000 m2 of office space and 30.000 m2 of street level retail, cafes, restaurants and a sports centre. The six towers in the Mahler 4 complex range in height from 85 to 100 meters, with each building carrying the name of its designing firm. The Mahler 4 complex has been nominated for the FGH Real Estate Prize 2010.

At a height of 82.5 meters, the UNStudio Tower contains 20 floors of office space and a ground floor with mezzanine. The Royal Bank of Scotland currently occupies 9 floors of the building and the South entrance with commercial space on the Gustav Mahlerlaan.

Above photo by Inga Powilleit
UNStudio Tower
The façade of the UNStudio Tower plays with the juxtaposition of a horizontal and vertical articulation, conceptually relating to the principles upon which the moiré effect is based.
The horizontal articulation is provided by white, aluminium bands which wrap the tower, whilst their varying size, depth and transparency ensure the correct balance of sun screening and light penetration to the interiors on all levels of the building.
Vertical accents are formed by voids, recessed into each face of the building and spanning differing numbers of floors. These voids serve to create an inside-outside relationship which extends the façade envelope and turns the surface of the tower into an active medium with a profound effect on the quality of the interior user space.

Click for larger image
Ben van Berkel: “In the design for the tower it was important for us to create a connection between the façade and the interior spaces; to see the building as whole, almost like a piece of furniture.”
Custom coloured glass panes are incorporated into the vertical voids, offering different identities and light qualities to the communal spaces which surround each void in the interior. These voids further facilitate daylight penetration deep into the extensive 40m x 40m floors.
Voids are often placed at the center of a building, but here they are placed at the perimeters. This has three major advantages:
The voids are easily transformed into (internal and external) balconies
The usable floor space is larger and can be planned more flexibly. The depth of the floors further ensures a high façade to gross floor ratio, whilst the building as whole has a 90% net to gross ratio.
The quality of the void spaces is affected by their location. Instead of public circulation space, these voids offer space for small meetings or personal reflection.

User experience

Whereas conventional office buildings with their strict separation of inside and outside can be experienced as somewhat confining by contemporary office workers, the transparency of the primarily glass façade, in combination with the vertical voids, offers the user a gradient experience of the inside-outside condition, as well as the perception of an open and light interior. The outdoor spaces which are incorporated into the recessed voids in the form of roofed balconies allow for transition from inside to outside during free time or breaks. In addition, a roof terrace with a sky view towards Amsterdam Old South can be accessed for larger outdoor gatherings.

Attaining sustainability

UNStudio sees sustainable design as an integral aspect of contemporary architecture. Sustainable solutions are not treated as add-ons, but related to each and every building element.
In the design for the UNStudio Tower integrated sustainable solutions include:
Materials: the reduction of replacement frequency through the use of high quality durable materials and equipment throughout the building, along with the incorporation of a lightweight frame (resulting is less construction material usage in the foundations).

Climate: the façade design incorporates sustainable considerations with respect to orientation, with lamellas of differing heights, widths and depths controlling both direct sunlight penetration and noise pollution to each face and level of the building.

Thermal glazing allows for sufficient daylight, whilst reducing direct sunlight.
Energy saving installations: an underground energy storage system reduces energy usage by 30 to 35.7%. Energy efficient fixtures with motion sensors further control lighting level differentiation and thermal comfort. Sanitary installations include water saving cisterns and grey water usage.
Incorporating flexibility

Flexibility with respect to future change of use with an ambition towards minimum alteration was paramount in the design of the UNStudio Tower. Extensive research was carried out in collaboration with the client in order to determine where maximum flexibility could be incorporated into the design from the outset. As a result, the floor plans of the UNStudio Tower incorporate the potential for future residential use with no structural alteration required.

The vertical voids recessed into the façade of the building also offer the potential to be transformed into individual balconies on each floor for residential use in the future. The façade design further incorporates a system whereby the glass panes can be replaced with minimum intervention should a change of use become desirable.

Ben van Berkel: “A grid system was introduced into the UNStudio Tower which creates flexibility with a view to potential change of use in the future. There are currently many empty office buildings in Europe which cannot so easily be transformed, but the UNStudio Tower is designed in such a way that it could also one day be turned into housing. This provides an essential sustainable flexibility to the building.”

--> Read more...

Rehabilitation of canalejas Parking. Duran Blazquez Architects.

The work involves the rehabilitation, renovation of the facade of public parking Canalejas located in the center of Alicante. (Alacant) Spain.

The rehabilitation project has been developed by the Spanish architectural Modena Architecture - Duran Blazquez Architects  in the city of Alicante in southern Spain.

The facade was severely damaged by erosion due to the ambient environment gas under very high traffic due to its location in a shopping area and downtown Alicante.

The graffiti in the lower areas of the building were making an improper image degradation of a building like this.

The intervention strengthened the front and has provided a current picture.

--> Read more...

House on the Flight of Birds by Bernardo Rodrigues

This house on S. Michael Island in the Azores by Portuguese architect Bernardo Rodrigues comprises a jumble of curved and rectilinear volumes, creating little sheltered patios in-between them.



A large red square wall screens the house from the strong winds of the North Atlantic ocean.

An undulating roof terrace is sheltered behind this screen.

The ground floor spaces are open-plan and enclosed bedrooms are located on the first floor.



Photography is by Iwan Baan.








Here is a little bit of text from the architect:

---

House on the flight of birds.
The house is located in the north side of S. Michael Island in the Azores.

The microclimate of this farmland offers frequent wind and showers so the first design strategy was to block with a wall those winds, offer diverse patios and covered courtyards on the ground floor protected from rain and open all living space to the natural green around by glass walls receded from the exterior.

On the upper-floor there’s the private rooms more enclosed and protected.




The typology follows almost classical Palladian and scamozzi central plan design with double height on living room and then two lateral wings enclosing one the kitchen, also quotes the high chimneys from popular residential architecture and a covered interior patio, and the other wing has the circulations for the first floor and to the roof terrace.


These two wings end in light entrances from the south. The roof offers possibilities of flight of views over all the island north shore.

--> Read more...

RAK Gateway Project by Snøhetta

Here are some new images of a hotel, conference and exhibition complex by Norwegian architects Snøhetta, in the emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.








Snøhetta has been commissioned by the Ras Al Khaimah investment Authority and RAKEEN to undertake the architectural design for the Gateway project in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.

 Situated in the desert 150 km to the east of Dubai this landmark project will mark the gateway to the emirate and form the entrance to the new planned capital city of Ras Al Khaimah.



The urban master plan for the city is currently being under taken by the Netherlands based architectural practice OMA. The Gateway project is situated at the entrance to the city and will form a landmark for the city entrance.



The architectural expression for the proposal is inspired by the surrounding desert and mountain landscape.

 This concept provides for an infinite variety of naturally shaded, intimate and protected spaces, around which the multiple uses associated with the development are woven.

The undulating architectural landscape is resolved in a dramatic landmark tower marking the main gateway plaza.

This 200 m high tower will be the setting for a 5 star plus hotel affording panoramic views across the emirate, to the gulf and mountains beyond.

The programme calls for a mixed-use development comprising a conference centre, exhibition centre, hotels and retail space.

In total it is expected to be 270 000m2 of build area. In addition there will be substantial areas of associated garden and landscape.

 Externally the building will be clad in ceramic panels, this will be developed together with Ras Al Khaimah ceramics, one of the world leading producers of ceramic products.

Ras Al Khaimah has been the site of human habitation for several millennia and there are many historical and archaeological sites throughout the emirate dating from different time periods, including remnants of the Umm Al Nar Civilisation (3rd Millennium BC).

The city was historically known as Julfar. Archaeological evidence has demonstrated that the settlement known as Julfar shifted location over time as harbour channels silted up.

Excavations of a sizable tell, which revealed remnants of a Sassanid Era fortification indicate that early Julfar was located in the Shamal area, not far from other sites of historical/archaeological interest such as Sheba's Palace and the largest Umm Al Nar tombs found on the Arabian Peninsula.

Sources say that Julfar was inhabited by the Azd (They were a branch of the Kahlan tribe, which was one of the two branches of Qahtan (the aboriginal Arabs), the other being Himyar.) during the eighth and ninth centuries AD, and that the houses of the Azd were built of wood.

In the early 18th century the Qawasim clan established itself in Ras al-Khaimah.

In the early 19th century a British naval force attacked and occupied Ras al Khaimah to put a stop to the powerful hold of the maritime powerful Quwasem tribe.

The Quwasem served as a threat to the British imperialism, and endangered the ships in the Indian Ocean.

After British occupation (18 December 1819 - July 1821), Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr al-Qasimi signed in 1822 the General Maritime Treaty with Britain, accepting a protectorate to keep the Ottoman Turks out. Like Ajman, Dubai, Umm al-Qaiwain and Sharjah, its position on the route to India made it important enough to be recognized as a salute state.

In 1869 Ras al-Khaimah became fully independent from neighbouring Sharjah. However from September 1900 to 7 July 1921 it was re-incorporated into Sharjah; the last governor became its next independent ruler.

On 11 February 1972, Ras Al Khaimah, under the leadership of Sheikh Saqr bin Muhammad al-Qasimi, joined the United Arab Emirates.
Ras al-Khaimah is not a major oil producer, so it has focussed on developing its industrial sector.

It opened the UAE's first cement company in the early 1970s and is now the UAE's largest producer of cement. In the 1980s, the emirate formed Ras al-Khaimah Ceramics, which has become the world's largest ceramics producer, and Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries (Julphar), the Persian Gulf region's first pharmaceuticals company. It is trying to emerge as an investment destination par excellence.

However it suffers from great electricity shortages, which has caused some residential buildings to be abandoned.

The annual Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, first held in 2007, has called the attention of the world's sporting media to the region.

 The organisers invest much in the IAAF-label race in order to attract the world's top athletes, resulting in a world record from Samuel Wanjiru in 2007 and the second fastest run of all-time from Patrick Makau Musyoki in 2009

--> Read more...