Archinect - News

Louis Kahn's floating music barge is saved, finds home in Philadelphia

2020-12-07T12:27:00-05:00

The Point Counterpoint II, a boat designed by Louis Kahn for musical conductor and longtime friend Robert Boudreau, will dock permanently in Philadelphia after it was recently saved from the scrapyard. Yo-Yo Ma, the renowned cellist, made a plea in 2017 to save the vessel from destruction that resulted in a ripple of interest to preserve Kahn and Boudreau's creation.

Previously on Archinect: Louis Kahn's floating concert hall, Point Counterpoint II, is facing demolition, and Yo-Yo Ma wants it saved. Point Counterpoint II, Photo by josepha on Flickr

According to Architectural Record, a group including architect Lee Skolnick launched a successful effort late 2019 to salvage the ship. Due to open in 2022, the ship's interior will be refurbished before it serves as "the key musical component" of a new arts and culture hub in development at the abandoned Delaware Power Station in Philadelphia.

Two young architects convert a lifeboat for an Arctic adventure

2020-05-19T16:38:00-04:00

Their design featured two double cabins, bunk beds for guests, a sitting area, chart table, kitchen, composting toilet and a shower. A wood-burning stove would provide some Scandinavian hygge on those chilly arctic nights...Small wind turbines were fitted and the roof was covered with solar panels...The original tarpaulin was replaced with curved windows while the rear superstructure of the boat was cut away, making way for a new plywood and fibreglass cockpit.

Calum Watson profiles two young architects who bought a retired Scottish lifeboat, converted it and set off on a 5,000km (3,100 miles) journey to Norway and beyond.

Clansman Lifeboat No.1 after conversion and upgrade | photo by DavidSchnabel

h/t @ c.c. o'hanlon

The University of Maine sets three world records by 3D printing a 25-foot-long boat

2019-10-21T19:20:00-04:00

The possibilities of 3D printing and fabrication have propelled design by pushing the limitations of digital computation and construction. Earlier this month, the University of Maine's Advanced Structures and Composites Center used the world's largest 3D-printer to break a whopping three world records by producing a 25-foot-long, 5,000-pound ship. Named the 3Dirigo, the 3D printed dream boat won three Guinness World Records for the World's Largest Prototype Polymer 3D Printer, the Largest Solid 3D-Printed Object, and the Largest 3D-Printed Boat.

The success of the project was not only due to the size of the 3D print, but also because of the materials used to accomplish it, wood. Yes, wood. The pivotal detail within the project is the implementation of using bio-based materials like wood as an alternative building material for large scale constructions that use metal.

Besides the accolades and recognition, the project helped realize a design alternative for manufacturing infrastru...

Zaha Hadid Designs Superyachts For Blohm+Voss

2013-10-15T11:47:00-04:00

The striking exoskeleton structure of the upper section is an interwoven network of supports that vary in thickness and lend a natural aesthetic to the yacht’s external appearance; evoking the organic structural systems found in nature. This exoskeleton connects the various levels and decks seamlessly via expressive diagonals. Where traditional yacht design adheres to a strict horizontal order, Hadid has created an intense connectivity between the various decks and elements of the design.