One of the New York City’s most forgettable buildings has been transformed into a model of modern technology. The Port Authority Bus Terminal (PABT), located in midtown Manhattan between 40th and 42nd street, now boasts the world’s largest transparent media façade completed by GKD Metal Fabrics which effectively covers the building’s outdated steel façade. More images and project description after the break.
Young architecture office, MACA Estudio, based in Madrid, Spain, shared with us their proposal for the Serlachius Museum Gösta Extension design competition. Their proposal plans to solve all the functional requirements of a museum, making the most of the circulations, the sustainability and integration of the building in its environment and at the same time creating a recognizable icon, a representative building worthy of the importance of this museum located in Mäntäa, Finland. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The Yademan tower in Ardebil, Iran is a residential building which was designed by Iranian based, Architecture Atelier as an entry for the Ofogh Tarh and Andishe architecture competition and is currently a candidate for construction. They combined the role of the Iranian central courtyard buildings with the formal structure of irregular skyscrapers to reach an innovative concept. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Young German design team, studioBÄNG, shared with us their wooden piled up proposal for the Serlachius Museum Gösta extension competition in Finland on a small island adjacent to the site. More images and architects‘ description after the break.
The FGMF architects office, under the command of the young architects Fernando Forte, Lourenço Gimenes and Rodrigo Marcondes Ferraz and placed in São Paulo, Brazil, has just won one more international award: “The international award Dedalo Minosse”-“Prêmio Internazionale Dedalo Minosse”, delivered in Vicenza, Italy, on June 24th 2011, at CISA (Andrea Palladio Centro Internacional de Estudos de Arquitetura – Andrea Palladio International Center for architecture studies). This is one of many awards received by FGMF, being the most awarded architecture Office in Brazil in the year of 2010. More information on their award after the break.
Young Swedish architects, HULTMANMAGNUSSON, won the competition to design a new mining museum in Jøssingfjord, Norway, a city famous for its long history of mining and excavation of Titanium powder, used for white color pigment. Located in the valley of the beautiful fjord, the 2000 m2 museum will exhibit the history, geology and technology of the area, together with temporary exhibitions. Their proposal was called Varde, meaning a manmade pile of stones common in this area of Norway. By using natures own material and arranging it a new shape, an important place is marked in the landscape.More images and architects’ description after the break.
African architect Diébédo Francis Kéré, founder of Kéré Architecture in Berlin, Germany, has been awarded the Marcus Prize for Architecture. The prize, which recognizes emerging global talents, is administered by the School of Architecture and Urban Planning (SARUP) at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM). Kéré will visit SARUP in the spring 2012 semester and lead a graduate studio on specific architectural challenges in Milwaukee. He also will participate in public workshops and lectures. More award description and a brief synopsis of the architect and his work after the break.
Tomasz Ostafin, Krzysztof Pydo-Bytom and Stalowa Wola, with Silesian University of Technology, Poland, shared with us their Frosty Chimney Urban Park and Installation Project, which won the first prize for ‘Creating Space with Membrane’ competition.
The purpose of the contest was to give a concept that shows a search for new uses for diaphragms in urban public spaces. Participants were to find new and interesting ways of membranes and showing the diversity that one can establish with its aid.
A diaphragm is synthetic, subtle but flexible and heavy material, which is considered as the lightest material which allows us the evolution of space. Membrane structures are very specific. The nature of their work is directly linked to their form.
More images and architects’ description after the break.
Barnabas Laris and Adam Vesztergom, in collaboration with Borbala Gyure, Csenge Csontos, Nora Kohalmy and Mark Antal, recently won the first prize in the Main Square of Ujpalota competition for their project, ‘Urban Meadow.’ The forum or main square of Újpalota, which is the second largest micro district of Budapest, is situated exactly in the center of this residential area, at the junction of the main roads. Most inhabitants of this housing estate cross this square day after day. This town square, however, does not have a view which is framed by public buildings. Therefore, a new community building can achieve a remarkable public function as well as a space-forming effect, simultaneously placed moderately as its volume is more solid than the ones of the commercial buildings. More images and their description after the break.
Brothers Daniel and Maximilian Zielinski shared with us their winning proposal for the modernization of Paris in the Living City Design Competition. Organized by the International Living Future Institute, in partnership with The National Trust for Historic Preservation, Daniel and Max were given the challenge to visualize the transformation of existing towns in cities of the future by translating the highest standards of ecological fund included in the Living Building Challenge 2.0. Desired solutions were possible with existing technologies that could be applied in the near future. As a competition open to all, more than 80 teams addressing 69 cities from 21 countries submitted their ideas for the contest. More images and project description after the break.
International architecture, urbanism and design practice Broadway Malyan has completed the design of a new super marina complex, following an international design competition staged by client Lusort, with the project forming a major part of the wider redevelopment of the outer harbor of the award-winning Marina de Vilamoura in Algarve, Portugal. More images and architects’ description after the break.
By courageously connecting the design of the building with the territory, in constant dialogue with the urban texture, nature and its limits, Architetto Matteo Ascani (AMA) enhances the position of the new Beton Hala Waterfront Center within the city of Belgrade. Through their concept, the building becomes a mixed use area that blends culture, shopping and outdoor activities. Thanks to its strategic location served by the tram line, the Passenger river port and the main road Vojvode Bojovica Boulevard and Karadjordjeva a network of connections is created where the Beton Hala Waterfront Center is turned into an intermodal hub. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Young, promising architects Cebra(more projects here), Various Architects(more projects here), and Østengen & Bergo(more projects here) shared with us their competition proposal where they won the first prize. Their “relativity” concept for the Mesterfjellet School creates a unique experience for Larvik, Norway, designed around the user’s room program, site conditions and functional specifications to cultivate a positive learning environment. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Recently completed as part of a digital fabrication course at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, the Visual Permeability Pavilion was designed and built as part of their end of the year show and graduation ceremonies. The purpose of the pavilion is to provide multiple spaces for relaxation, contemplation, and social interaction. The group members included Luis Alarcon, Aaron Berman, Michael Georgopoulos, Eun Ki Kang, Dayeon Kim, Nicole Kotsis, Jeeun Grace Lee, Aaron Mark, Hylee Oh, and Steven Sanchez. More images and their description after the break.
Directed with respect for all views and spatial elements of the incredible energized given space, the concept for the Beton Hala Waterfront by Pero Vukovic, in collaboration with Branka Vukovic, becomes a zone of overlap of the two natural barriers, park/forest (Kalemegdan) and the rivers Sava and Danube, where a huge value of the area belongs to their confluence. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The University of Paris-Descartes wishes to replace its two IUT amphitheaters that stand in the interior courtyard of 143, avenue de Versailles, in the 16th arrondissement. The physical location of the two buildings, constructed in the heart of an urban islet, and resting atop the university parking lots, confronted Atelier Zündel & Cristea with a complex exercise in conceiving and planning their operation. They decided the new edifice should faithfully superimpose itself over the layout of the existing parking lot, while clearing around itself a smooth space, manageable and comprehensible by its users. More images and architects’ description after the break.