Archinect - News

Japan designs mobile mosques for upcoming 2020 Olympics hospitality

2018-08-29T15:07:00-04:00

The organizers of the upcoming 2020 Olympics in Japan want to ensure that visitors from around the world feel welcomed in their capital [...] Japanese event company, Yasu Project, developed a mobile mosque that will travel throughout the multiple Olympic stadiums. The mosque on wheels is located inside a 25-ton truck, with enough room to fit up to 50 people. It is also equipped with an outdoor rinse station, so that users can participate in a pre-worship cleanse.

In an effort to extend hospitality and cultural inclusion during the 2020 Olympics, Japanese event company Yasu Project has created mobile religious spaces for Muslim attendees. These pop up mosques attempt to solve the issue of limited public and religious infrastructure and the desire for religious spaces.

Mobile mosque designed by Yasu Project for the 2020 Olympics in Japan.

META-Project's triangular lookout offers breathtaking views of the Songhua Lake Resort

2018-02-28T19:24:00-05:00

Beijing-based practice META-Project designed this stage-like, triangular lookout built on a forest hillside at the Songhua Lake Resort in Ji Lin, China. Completed in 2017, the structure also functions as a flexible public space where exhibitions, meetings, workshops, and other events can take place.

Photo: Su Shengliang.

Adjacent to a Mongolian oak forest, the building is a “dark, free-floating monolith” that starkly contrasts against a snowy backdrop during the winter. In the summer, the building is surrounded by lush vegetation.

Photo: Su Shengliang.

META-Project came up with the lookout's triangular floating design to minimize its impact as much as possible to existing vegetation, while maximizing views of the beautiful landscape on the platform level. The structure shows off Shou-Sugi-Ban cladding (charred cedar shingles) that can appear silvery under certain angles of sunlight.

Photo: Su Shengliang.

Photo: Su Shengli...

OMA releases renderings of event + project space in Dubai

2016-03-16T14:09:00-04:00

Dubai's desire to become a (tasteful) global cultural center is gaining further traction with an OMA-designed events and project space for local art-scene hub Alserkal Avenue. The 1,000 square meter gallery features four movable walls which can either rotate or slide within a flexible floor plan, and a set of transparent sliding entry doors that are designed to erase the boundary between inside and out (and visually connect the space to the exterior, plant-laden public square). A customized concrete spray will cover the exterior walls.

This visual continuity echoes Alserkal Avenue Director Vilma Jurkute's hope that the space will "facilitate a closer dialogue between east and west while strengthening the infrastructure for the arts locally.”

A closer look at AR-MA’s “Trifolium” digital pre-fab pavilion in Sydney

2014-08-07T17:33:00-04:00

"Trifolium" by AR-MA (Architectural Research – Material Applications) from Australia recently won the commission to design a new event pavilion for the Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation (SCAF) in Sydney, Australia. Hosted annually by SCAF, the Fugitive Structures invite-only competition promotes emerging architects from Australia, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East. The 2014 edition had entrants explore the potential of digital pre-fabrication in their designs.

The pavilion dons a Corian shell and a vaulted reflective steel interior speckled with optic lights that glow at night. Trifolium will be exhibited at SCAF until December 13, 2014.

Find out more on Bustler.

The “world’s largest indoor arena” by Populous officially opens in Manila, Philippines

2014-07-21T21:02:00-04:00

Since construction began in 2011, Populous just announced the opening of the Philippine Arena in Manila, Philippines. Commissioned by Iglesia Ni Cristo (the Church of Christ), the structure is described to be the world's largest indoor arena and will be able to accommodate up to 50,000 people. The arena was also designed to host a variety of church gatherings and major entertainment events.

Temporary pavilion by J. MAYER H. as centerpiece for Karlsruhe’s 2015 City Jubilee

2014-03-03T16:03:00-05:00

It's party prep time for the City of Karlsruhe in Germany. Berlin-based architecture firm J. MAYER H. and Rubner Holzbau were recently commissioned by the city to design a temporary pavilion for its 300th anniversary in 2015. The wooden pavilion will be built in Schlosspark and serve as an event venue for the celebration. Construction will begin in March 2015.

Find out more on Bustler.

Three Finalists Announced for Van Alen Institute’s Ground/Work Competition

2013-07-25T17:03:00-04:00

Finalists have been announced today for Ground/Work: A Design Competition for Van Alen Institute’s New Street-Level Space. The challenge invited emerging designers, up to ten years out of school, to design Van Alen’s new street-level work space and public venue at 30 West 22nd Street in Manhattan. Three finalist teams were selected from a pool of over 120 teams answering the recent Call for Portfolios.

Previously: Ground/Work: A Design Competition for Van Alen Institute’s New Street-Level Space

UPDATE: Ground/Work finalist teams reveal their designs for Van Alen Institute’s new street-level space

UPDATE: Collective–LOK Wins Van Alen Institute’s Ground/Work Competition

Ground/Work: A Design Competition for Van Alen Institute’s New Street-Level Space

2013-05-17T19:02:00-04:00

Looking for a nice design competition to participate in this month? Our friends at New York's Van Alen Institute just announced the launch of Ground/Work, an international architecture competition seeking innovative designs for a new street-level venue to house the Institute’s work space and public programs. The competition started accepting entries earlier this week, submission deadline is June 13, 2013.

UPDATE: Three Finalists Announced for Van Alen Institute’s Ground/Work Competition

UPDATE: Collective–LOK Wins Van Alen Institute’s Ground/Work Competition