Archinect - News

Circular concrete office marks entrance to "health tech" research park in Chengdu

2020-06-25T12:15:00-04:00

As a certified National Economic and Technological Development Zone in China, the Chengdu Science and Technology Industry Incubation Park had a planning area of 330,000 square meters. The park is positioned as a platform to help foster the growth of "health-tech" companies. One of its strategies is the development and construction of a landmark building at the park entrance with goal of using architecture to inspire the continued growth and future of the industry.

Shanghai and Taipei-based architects CROX were commissioned back in 2014 to take on the landscape design and masterplanning for the park in addition to the design of the entry landmark building. The aim of the project is to transform the existing barren concrete site into a more sustainable and ecologically friendly environment.

The project's focal point rests on the circular general purpose building at the north entrance of the site. At ground level, visitors will find a series of conference rooms, a large lobby, some res...

Swiss architects construct a cylindrical modular structure for use as student housing

2020-06-05T18:16:00-04:00

Located on the outskirts of the University of Lausanne in Chavannes-près-Renens, Switzerland, the Vortex will house nearly 1,000 students and academic guests by the end of this summer. Designed by Swiss-based IttenBrechbühl, the building welcomed 1,800 athletes taking part in the Youth Olympic Games at Lausanne earlier this year.

The circular form of the architecture creates a vast inner courtyard that is more representative of a park or village square. A number of entrances provide access to this courtyard from the outside, creating an immediate connection to the outer countryside.

Each floor was constructed with modular "boxes," and are connected by a spiral ramp that moves throughout the building. The construction was completed quickly due to the prefabricated nature of the modular units. Each of the floors, except the ground floor, is identical in layout.

The result, is a monolithic mass built economically, sustainably, and timely, and one that will serve as a home for the stude...