Archinect - News

LACMA shares custom-built glass facade details in new spring construction update

2024-04-16T13:39:00-04:00

New updates have been shared recently by the Los Angeles Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), charting progress on the $750 million new David Geffen Galleries from Peter Zumthor that is expected to finish construction by the end of this year.

According to the museum's most recent April 5th update, interior walls and exterior glazing are being installed on the site’s western side, facing north to Wilshire Boulevard. Work on the building’s MEPs is now underway, and the concrete pour for the roof decks has been completed to the east side of the site. Formwork, rebar installation, and concrete pours for the roof decks are also advancing on the Spaulding Lot.

This follows the March 8th update that detailed the removal of the site’s prominent tower crane. LACMA has yet to release a public opening date. (A recent look inside the project with its contractor Clark Construction can be found here.)

Image courtesy LACMA

Also of interest are the 243 individual custom-made glass facade components...

JR debuts latest Italian commission 'La Nascita' for Milan Design Week

2024-04-11T13:03:00-04:00

French street art pioneer JR has debuted his latest piece, a massive illusory trompe l’oeil piece animating the facade of Milan’s Stazione Centrale railway station, in advance of the start of Milan Design Week in the Italian cultural nexus.

His latest commission is titled La Nascita (Italian for “the birth”) and will run until May 1st, following two previous Italian projects at the Palazzo Strozzi in Florence and Palazzo Farnese in Rome that were completed in 2021.

“In spaces that have social issues, my work is about bringing people together. In a place like this, a huge range of people come to catch the train. When they find themselves in front of an exhibition, they will suddenly have a different kind of interaction,” he told The Art Newspaper at its unveiling.

More of our coverage of Milan Design Week can be found here.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by JR (@jr)

10 examples of color in architecture we liked this week

2023-12-09T08:00:00-05:00

In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.

Today's top images (in no particular order) are from the board Color.

Tip: Use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles.

↑ BBT Hilltop in Sharq, Kuwait, by TAEP/AAP; Photo: Fernando Guerra | FG+SG

↑ Briarcliff Residence in Franklin, MI, by Iannuzzi Studio; Interiors: Elizabeth Fields Design; Photo: Rafael Gamo

↑ The Axolotl in Los Angeles, CA, by Yu2e, Inc.

↑ Wientalterrassen Residential Quarter in Vienna, Austria, by ARGE KDG / Architekt Christoph Lechner & Partner ZT GmbH and Berger+Parkkinen Architects ZT Ltd.; Photo: Daniel Hawelka | ARGE KDG

↑ Blue Cube in Tehran, Iran, by Darkefaza Design Studio; Photo: Mohammad Hossein Hamzehlouei

↑ Troquer Offices in Mexico City, Mexico, by ASHO MX; Photo: Aldo Gracia

↑ Dream Glow Pavilion in Shenzhen, C...

A 3D printed ceramic facade by Studio RAP in Amsterdam is inspired by weaving textiles

2023-12-04T11:54:00-05:00

Rotterdam-based Studio RAP has transformed a boutique facade in Amsterdam with 3D printed ceramic tiles. The Ceramic House sits along the city’s famous P.C. Hooftstraat shopping street, and according to the firm, “reshapes architectural expression by seamlessly blending tradition and innovation, reintroducing bespoke details to the realm of architecture.”

Image credit: Riccardo De Vecchi

For the project’s design, the firm developed in-house algorithms to reinterpret the existing qualities and language of glazed ceramics in Amsterdam. The resulting facade features intricate layers inspired by textiles, including creases, interloping yarns, and stitch patterns.

Image credit: Riccardo De Vecchi

“Its organic, wave-like quality changes as viewers approach the design from different angles,” the team explains. “Gradually, as the line of vision moves, new elements within the custom ceramic tiles are unveiled, resulting in a luxur...

MVRDV begins construction on 'urban oasis' mixed-use concept for Paris

2023-11-29T12:44:00-05:00

MVRDV is behind a newly commenced mixed-use housing tract called La Serre, to be located in the Paris region’s ZAC Léon Blum eco-district at Issy-les-Moulineaux.

The firm’s project announcement details an 18-story development defined by its open facade with a landscaped vertical village provided by landscape architect Alice Tricon.

MVRDV says a total of 390 trees will be planted throughout the structure, helping to defy “traditional housing norms” in order to present a refreshed take on urban dwelling that’s in tune with Paris’ need for biodiversity and constructed using a host of low-carbon materials.

Image: © ENGRAM

The city’s Mayor, André Santini, said: “The project prioritizes nature, placing it at the forefront while the building recedes into the background. This urban oasis is not just a residential space; it's a genuine village square.”

Image: © ENGRAM

An open steel rack superstructure hosts the carefully selected slate of 150 different (mostly native) plant species while provi...

10 architectural facades we liked this week

2023-11-04T08:00:00-04:00

In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.

Today's top images (in no particular order) are from the board Fancy Facades.

Tip: Use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles.

↑ LAND Community Center in Xi'an, China by Atelier Ping Jiang | EID Arch; Facade Consultant: CCBH

↑ The Colour Palace in London, UK by Yinka Ilori and Pricegore; Main Contractor/Design Partner: Raskl; Photo: Adam Scott

↑ The Copper Coil - E-Technology Centre of the University of Rostock in Rostock, Germany by Sehw Architektur; Photo: Helin Bereket

↑ Pinghe Bibliotheater in Shanghai, China by OPEN Architecture; Curtain Wall Consultant: CABR Technology Co., Ltd.

↑ The Broadway in Westminster, UK by Squire and Partners; Photo: Jack Hobhouse

↑ 20 Hudson Yards in New York, NY by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF); West Faça...

10 architectural details we liked this week

2023-10-14T08:00:00-04:00

In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.

Today's top images (in no particular order) are from the board Details.

Tip: use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles.

↑ Keki Shop in Toronto, Canada, by Kilogram Studio; Photo: Scott Norsworthy

↑ Mariposa Land Port of Entry in Nogales, AZ, by Jones Studio

↑ Museum Paleis Het Loo in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, by KAAN Architecten; Photo: Sebastian van Damme

↑ Te Pakeke House in Wanaka, New Zealand, by Fearon Hay Architects

↑ ANNA Collection in Werkendam, the Netherlands, by Caspar Schols

↑ Glaze in Toronto, Canada, by Kilogram Studio; Photo: Scott Norsworthy

↑ Girl Scout Camp Lakota in Frazier Park, CA, by Perkins&Will; Photo: Here and Now Agency

↑ Fargo House in Louisville, CO, by DAJ Design

↑ Oceanfront Residence in Southampton, NY, by B...

Undulating balconies define Pininfarina’s 45-story tower in Fort Lauderdale

2023-10-13T11:19:00-04:00

Pininfarina has designed a 45-story oceanside tower in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Developed by Related Group with CFE Architects as the architect of record, the Andare Residences condominium tower contains 163 residential units.

Image credit: Related Group / Pininfarina

The 540-foot-tall tower was inspired by the area’s maritime context, with a flowing, wave-like facade characterized by undulating wraparound balconies. At the base of the tower, meanwhile, a 36-foot arch marks the entrance to the scheme of the pedestrian thoroughfare.

Image credit: Related Group / Pininfarina

At ground level, the tower’s double-height lobby contains floor-to-ceiling windows and displays both artistic and biophilic elements. Above, the residences range from 1,800 to 4,300 square feet, designed with open-concept living areas, floor-to-ceiling glazing, and wraparound balconies.

Image credit: Related Group / Pininfarina

"The unparalleled location of this property, in ...

In UCLA's 'Fit for the Future' research studio, Julia Koerner and AUD students navigate the intersection of 3D printing, architecture, and climate change

2023-09-22T08:00:00-04:00

This post is brought to you by UCLA Architecture and Urban Design, an Archinect Partner School

Our infrastructure is aging, and as it does, we face dilemmas around what to do with it. Renovate? Replace? Eliminate?

Today, these age-old questions are complicated by the climate crisis: threats like rising, warming seas, and–evidenced vividly this summer–wildfires and extreme heat call for innovation in how we treat our aging buildings and cities. While architects mull these questions, they are also considering their field's contributions to the climate crisis–emissions and carbon footprints, material waste, and environmental displacement.

Dilemmas abound, but Julia Koerner sees immense opportunity around 3D printing at the scale of buildings and houses. It’s an area she has been investigating for years as a professor, architect, researcher, and designer. Koerner teaches at UCLA AUD as an Associate Adjunct Professor and directs AUD's Summer Programs; through her personal practice, JK De...

ODA completes New York residential building with a glass box facade

2023-09-12T12:10:00-04:00

ODA Architecture has completed a residential scheme at 101 West 14th Street in New York City defined by a glass box facade. The 13-story condominium holds 44 units between one and four bedrooms alongside 10,000 square feet of amenities, with interior design by Whitehall Interiors.

Image credit: Michael Young

The building’s exterior features a glass box facade with fractal geometry to create a “sense of lightness, airiness, and depth,” according to ODA. Drawing inspiration from nature, the team says it arranged the glass boxes with gentle pattern recognition for a “natural soothing effect on our brains.”

Image credit: Scott Frances

Inside, the glass box facade translates as 18-foot-tall floor-to-ceiling glass walls, triple-paned to reduce noise interference from the surrounding city. Most units also include outdoor terraces “uniquely recessed in the geometric facade of the building,” creating fully covered outdoor private spaces.

Im...

Meet New York City's window-washing robot

2023-08-18T13:47:00-04:00

Skyline Robotics is disrupting the century-old practice of window washing with new technology that the startup hopes will redefine a risky industry. Its window-washing robot, Ozmo, is now operational in Tel Aviv and New York, and has worked on major Manhattan buildings such as 10 Hudson Yards, 383 Madison, 825 3rd Avenue and 7 World Trade Center [...]

Automation has entered the building maintenance field with AI-powered window-washing robots appearing on Manhattan's high-rise facades.

The technology could signal a shift in the workforce traditionally assigned to this task, from human teams to lone robots controlled remotely, potentially from anywhere in the world.

The struggle between green design and architectural history hangs over the renovation of one Bangkok icon

2023-08-11T18:40:00-04:00

A Bangkok landmark known as the “robot building” has been stripped of its identity, heritage campaigners have said, as they called for the city’s distinctive architecture to preserved. [...] Campaigners have urged the bank to find a way to improve energy efficiency while maintaining the facade’s unique design. They say the lack of legal protection for the building underlines the broader need for changes to how sites of special importance are identified and preserved.

The Guardian tells the story of the Sumet Jumsai-designed near-iconic "Robot Building" at the heart of Bangok’s bustling commercial district. The 37-year-old structure has been undergoing renovations at the hands of Singapore’s United Overseas Bank (UOB), irking fans and preservationists who feel its character is being taken away with the wholesale removal of its original facade and, possibly, other key architectural elements which have made it so distinctively part of the capital's visual landscape.

The bank contends its work is necessary for the well-being of employees and to reduce energy consumption. What could result from the fray is a possible change in the structure of preservation, which mostly favors ancient monuments in the country. Air rights can still be sold to developers, which are in part the target of reform efforts. The saga also touches on the need for greater architectural education for the public, an issue which aided in the demise of Tokyo's Nakagin Capsule Towe...

Minneapolis’ attempt to curtail EIFS cladding is causing pushback from architects and builders

2023-07-24T18:37:00-04:00

These kinds of guidelines cite “sustainability,” but miss a larger point about housing in Minneapolis. While it’s true that some types of texture and massing look “cheaper” than others, there are legitimate questions about whether or not newer types of building materials — EIFS, metal cladding, and the like — are more climate friendly and affordable than other materials that seem more traditional.

EIFS (aka “synthetic stucco” or “Exterior Insulation Finishing Systems”) are but one material in the proposed bans put forth by city planning officials in Minneapolis recently in an attempt to formalize a set of 2014 guidelines.

EIFS capabilities have advanced beyond a widely-known early design flaw, namely their proneness to water infiltration, and could now be an inexpensive but vital weapon for builders in the effort to deliver housing rapidly to the city’s beleaguered market.

CupaClad's natural slate rainscreen cladding system aims to improve facade design for the elements

2023-07-03T12:00:00-04:00

This post is brought to you by CupaPizarras.

CupaClad, a leading provider of innovative and sustainable building solutions, has launched a new product that promises to improve the world of architectural cladding with its Natural Slate Rainscreen Cladding System.

A system that offers provides a durable and sustainable option for design projects while creating a unique combination of aesthetic appeal and superior performance, the natural slate material provides an ideal material facade and cladding solution for architects and design professionals.

CupaClad's system is designed to provide superior thermal and acoustic insulation while also protecting the building from environmental elements such as moisture and water damage. Their Natural slate system is also made from non-combustible materials that are impact resistance and earthquake resistant. According to CupaClad, their systems have been "specially designed to resist structural movements without cracking, providing stability and s...

Adjaye Associates' 130 William debuts in Lower Manhattan

2023-06-30T19:15:00-04:00

David Adjaye’s statement-making first skyscraper design for the New York City market has debuted in Lower Manhattan, marking the culmination of a project that will stand as a testament to his attention to historical context and the elevation of craft in architecture.

The design for the 66-story 130 William residential tower in the heart of the Financial District includes a total of 242 units whose careful, well-appointed interiors are complemented by another 20,000 square feet of ground-floor retail and curated amenities apiece.

Image © Ivane Katamashvili

Photos of the newly-completed project reveal a range of built-in luxury options, including a small IMAX theater, two lounges, a golf simulator, basketball court, full-scale health club, infinity-edge spa pool, dry sauna, and yoga studio. The ten uppermost floors of the building are lined by loggia terraces, with a rooftop observation deck located on top that offers residents privileged views of the city’s skyline and harbor beyond....

New Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance building is completed behind a playful stone facade

2023-06-01T11:43:00-04:00

Construction has been completed on the new Ari Kushner Building at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. Designed by Tel Aviv-based HQ Architects and New York's HWKN Architecture, the scheme is housed in what the team calls an “elegant, playful, stone facade” to bring a “sense of unity and a contemporary, welcoming identity” to the academy’s campus.

Image credit: Dor Kedmi

The 27,000-square-foot cultural building houses new choreography, jazz studios, vocal and opera studios as well as a 115-seat music recital hall, equipping the campus with a central performance venue that it previously lacked. Externally, the development is defined by a “curiosity-generating” facade that extends in front of both the existing building and the new addition, constructed of unfinished Jerusalem stone blocks turned 45 degrees on their side.

Image credit: Dor Kedmi

“It balances the geometric order, natural materiality, and intentional imperfection all in a...

10 examples of glass in architecture that stood out this week

2023-04-15T08:00:00-04:00

In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.

Today's top images (in no particular order) are from the board Glass.

Tip: Use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles.

↑ Shijiangzhuang Poly·City Gather in Shijiazhuang, China by JLa (JAMES LIANG & ASSOCIATES LIMITED); Photo: One Thousand Degree Vision

↑ CAMPout in Lake Tahoe, CA by Faulkner Architects; Interior Design: NICOLEHOLLIS; Photo: Joe Fletcher

↑ Etoffes de Tolbiac in Paris, France by Atelier Architecture Vincent Parreira - AAVP; Photo: Luc Boegly

↑ The Wizard of Oz | KINCANG Modern Pre-School in Shaoxing, China by LYCS Architecture

↑ Marinha Grande House in Amieira, Portugal by Contaminar Arquitetos; Photo: FG+SG - Fernando Guerra

↑ Oberfeld Residence in West Hollywood, CA by SPF:architects

↑ Jule Pond II in Watermill, NY by BMA ...

The Met announces Nairy Baghramian for its Fall 2023 Facade Commission

2023-04-11T13:57:00-04:00

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced Iranian-born German artist Nairy Baghramian as the next participant in its Fall 2023 Facade Commission series.

Baghramian follows Carol Bove, Wangechi Mutu, and last year’s Hew Locke for the fourth installment of the series, which first began in 2019 under the auspices of museum Director Max Hollein.

The museum says: “These projects are the latest in The Met’s series of contemporary commissions in which the Museum invites artists to create new works of art, establishing a dialogue between the artist's practice, The Met collection, the physical Museum, and The Met's audiences.”

Baghramian, also the winner of the 2022 Nasher Prize, will install four abstract polychromatic sculptures as part of the commission. Working in the blank niches left behind after Richard Hunt Morris was unable to complete his work on the museum in 1902, the sculptures are said to have components that evoke images of flotsam and will be titled Scratching the Back.

R...

Five terracotta and stone facades by BKSK: Your Next Employer?

2023-02-21T08:48:00-05:00

Following last week’s visit to New York City-based Andrew Franz, we are keeping our Meet Your Next Employer series in New York City this week to explore the work of BKSK Architects who are currently hiring for a Project Architect.

Founded in 1985, and directed by six partners, BKSK describes their work as “socially, contextually, and ecologically engaged.” Based in New York City, the 45+ person firm has amassed a portfolio of over 200 projects across cultural, civic, educational, institutional, and residential sectors. The firm is also responsible for the design of the Queens Botanical Garden Visitor Center, the first New York City civic building to be awarded LEED Platinum certification.

Over on Archinect Jobs, the firm is currently hiring for a Project Architect to join their office located in New York City’s Garment District. For candidates interested in applying for the position, or those interested in learning more about the firm’s work, we have rounded up five distinctive New ...

BIG's pixelated Telus Sky Tower in Calgary stands 'like a lady in a cluster of cowboys'

2022-11-21T12:04:00-05:00

Bjarke Ingels Group has released newly-commissioned photographs of their Telus Sky Tower in Calgary, Canada. First unveiled in 2013, the mixed-use 60-story residential and commercial project broke ground in 2015 and was completed in 2020. Situated in downtown Calgary among a cluster of corporate office towers, BIG’s scheme incorporates residential units on its upper levels in an effort to create urban activity after the workday finishes.

Photograph © Ema Peter

While the tower’s ground floor adopts the same orientation as surrounding buildings, the scheme undergoes a diagonal shift as it rises, creating terraces and balconies for residents while offering the building its distinctive “pixelated” façade. Above the main entrance, the façade pixels extend beyond the site limits to create a series of canopies and terraces, while at night, a 160,000 sqft art installation, Northern Lights by Douglas Coupland, lights up the north and south façades, creating the largest public art piece in Cal...

10 architectural facades that stood out this week

2022-11-05T08:00:00-04:00

In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.

Today's top images (in no particular order) are from the board Fancy Facades.

Tip: Use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles.

↑ Tolbiac housing project in Paris, France by Atelier Architecture Vincent Parreira - AAVP; Photo: Luc Boegly

↑ Audrey Irmas Pavilion at Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles, CA by OMA; Executive Architect: Gruen Associates; Wayfinding and Signage: Spaceagency Design

↑ Siji Minfu Roast Duck Restaurant in Beijing, China by IN.X Design; Photo: Yan Zheng

↑ Minneapolis Public Service Building in Minneapolis, MN by Henning Larsen; Architect of Record: Meyer Scherer & Rockcastle (MS&R); Photo: Corey Gaffer, Gaffer Photography

↑ Heungkuk Tower in Busan, South Korea by Mecanoo; Photo: Kyungsub Shin

↑ Puro Homes in Aveiro...

10 examples of wood in architecture we enjoyed this week

2022-10-30T08:00:00-04:00

In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.

Today's top images (in no particular order) are from the board Wood.

Tip: Use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles.

↑ Han Space & Silk Story (Jinke Hanwang Tingquan Xiaozhen Lifestyle and Arts Lounge) in Xuzhou, China by YI+MU Design Office; Photo: Sun Xiangyu

↑ San Remo Residence in Pacific Palisades, CA by ShubinDonaldson; Photo: Manolo Langis

↑ Lotte World Tower in Seoul, South Korea by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF); Associate Architect: Baum Architects; Photo: Tim Griffith

↑ Beach House in Te Arai, New Zealand by Fearon Hay Architects

↑ Forest House in Truckee, CA by Faulkner Architects; Photo: Joe Fletcher

↑ WK Residence in Manhattan Beach, CA by Laney LA; Interior Designer: IMI Design; Photo: Eric Staudenmaier

↑ Floating Cornic...

Pulling influence from Oscar Niemeyer, Brazilian firm designs residential building with distinct v-shaped pillar and aluminum facade

2022-08-01T18:38:00-04:00

A unique hexagonal residential building equipped with a distinctive aluminum “second skin” by Gisele Borges Arquitetura has risen in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Influenced by Brazilian architect, Oscar Niemeyer, the architects created a V-shaped pillar in order to place the geometric structure atop a single point on the ground.

Completed in 2021, the Caramirador Savassi residential building features 14 lofts and 24 studios across nine floors atop a narrow lot roughly 42 feet wide. As stated by the firm: “The challenge of its volumetric mathematics, to respect distances, was one of the factors that influenced non-obvious decisions resulting in architecture created with its own identity.”

Photo by Juliana Berzoini

The building’s most identifiable feature is its aluminum façade, painted in an "earthly reddish" sepia tone that references the abundance of raw ore in Minas Giras. In order to obtain lightness and transparency, the aluminum sheets received perforations in varying ...

BIG and Barcode complete cantilevering residential building on Amsterdam waterfront

2022-07-15T11:39:00-04:00

Work has been completed on Sluishuis, a residential project in Amsterdam by Bjarke Ingels Group and Barcode Architects. The scheme, which comprises 442 homes, a public green roof garden, and maritime jetties, is defined by a cantilevered form meeting at a high corner.

The architects describe the project as a “remarkable building with a unique volume that seems to float on the water thanks to the double cantilever.” Towards the water, the building’s untreated aluminum facade rises to meet at the cantilever, creating a gateway to the inner harbor at the building’s core. On the opposite side, the stepped form contains a stairway to the rooftop garden and private residential terraces.

The 442 energy-neutral homes, which vary between owner-occupied and rental units, are designed for a variety of income levels and age categories. Typologies include compact studios, water sports apartments, and duplex penthouses. The steppe...

10 architectural details we enjoyed this week

2022-07-09T09:00:00-04:00

In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.

Today's top images (in no particular order) are from the board Details.

Tip: use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles.

↑ Kohala Coast Residence on the Big Island, HI by de Reus Architects; Interior Designer: Philpotts Interiors; Photo: Matthew Millman

↑ 137 West 13th Street in New York, NY by k—da; Interior Design: Helena Clunies Ross; Photo: Christian Harder

↑ High Desert Residence in Bend, OR by Hacker Architects; Photo: Jeremy Bittermann

↑ Audrey Irmas Pavilion at Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles, CA by OMA; Executive Architect: Gruen Associates; Wayfinding and Signage: Spaceagency Design

↑ Restaurante 34 in Guimarães, Portugal by REM'A; Photo: Ivo Tavares Studio

↑ Han Space & Silk Story (Jinke Hanwang Tingquan Xiaozhen Lifest...

KPF renovation of Roche-Dinkeloo's 60 Wall Street comes under landmarks preservation review

2022-06-27T17:47:00-04:00

A key building feature on one of Kevin Roche’s most ingenious New York City designs is under threat of being erased, according to the preservation group Docomomo US.

The late Pritzker winner’s 60 Wall Street building is undergoing renovation by Kohn Pedersen Fox this summer, and the group says it includes the removal of the facade’s characteristic chamfered design elements and changes to the atrium that will alter its unique lobby space “beyond recognition.”

The atrium of 60 Wall Street. Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons user Matthew G. Bisanz (CC BY 3.0)

A rendering of the proposed changes to the atrium. Image courtesy Paramount Group

Completed in 1989, the postmodern office design was included in Docomomo’s list of 11 endangered historical places earlier this year and is, per the air rights transfer agreement that was signed when the property was sold a few years ago, legally required to be redeveloped in “harmonious relationship” to the Greek revival former National City Bank Buildi...

New first-of-its-kind office tower in Melbourne sports an integrated solar façade

2022-06-07T17:55:00-04:00

Australia’s first office tower with a “solar skin” is expected to be built next year in a landmark moment for the construction industry and decarbonisation efforts. The eight-storey building at 550-558 Spencer Street in West Melbourne will cost $40m and has been designed by the architecture firm Kennon on behalf of Dr Bella Freeman.

The first-of-its-kind structure for Australia will be covered by 1,182 solar panels with the equivalent thickness of a conventional glass façade. The cladding is called Skala, developed by German solar energy technology company Avancis. The system utilizes a thin-film PV module that sits atop a network that channels the generated electricity into the building’s power supply. As reported by The Guardian, it has the ability to produce 50 times the energy of an average rooftop photovoltaic array used in residential housing.

When the building is completed, the solar skin will reportedly provide nearly all its energy needs. The addition of extra roof panels will cut almost all ongoing power costs, and after a few years, the site is expected to be carbon-neutral. While involved in projects in Europe, the technology is a first for Australia, given its strict building codes. It is currently undergoing a final round of testing before it can be approved, which would make Skala available to u...

SHoP’s Uber headquarters 'breathes' with smart accordion-style windows

2022-05-26T11:47:00-04:00

New York-based SHoP has completed work on the Uber Headquarters in San Francisco. The 423,000-square-foot project is divided into two buildings ranging between six and eleven stories, linked by two suspended walkways.

The scheme’s star attraction is its active “breathing” façade composed of full-height windows. The computer-controlled system sees windows open and close in an accordion shape, with operable windows strategically placed at specific locations on the façade in response to wind and sun patterns. In addition to satisfying the building’s ventilation needs, the moving façade offers an ever-changing street scene throughout the day.

Inside, the building’s perimeter is lined by a series of circulation and gathering spaces known as the Commons. The zones form a buffer area between the unconditioned atmosphere on the exterior and the controlled temperatures in the core workspaces, while “bringing the ...

Facade of new Manhattan residential building comprised of bricks made from waste materials

2022-05-05T17:54:00-04:00

Let’s play Spot The Difference, urban edition. You’re on West 47th Street in Hell’s Kitchen, a Manhattan neighborhood known for its industrial vibe. Like much of the area, the street is lined with brick buildings; despite some color variations, the facades mostly look the same. There is, however, one striking difference.

The difference lies within the gray brick facade of The West, a new residential building that is made up of nearly 580,000 pounds of demolition and industrial waste.

The architects, Dutch firm Concrete, teamed up with Amsterdam-based company StoneCycling to use their recycled bricks patented under the name WasteBasedBricks. This is the first time the companies have worked together and the first time the bricks have been used in the United States.

StoneCycling works to reduce waste streams in the construction industry through sustainable materials while also meeting the aesthetic requirements of designers. The bricks are made of at least 60% waste from sources including ceramic toilet bowls, roof tiles, and steel. In fact, the waste streams themselves, determine the hues and textures of the bricks, with tones ranging from Pistachio to Radish.

For The West, Concrete chose the Truffle WasteBasedBrick for the sake of blending the building with its industrial surroundings. The archit...

Exterior finishes of Gehry's Warner Bros. Second Century expansion nearly complete

2022-04-18T14:08:00-04:00

Just north of the SR-134 Freeway in Burbank, vertical construction is all but finished for the Warner Bros. Second Century expansion, and exterior finishes are climbing the hulking concrete buildings.

In August of last year, it was reported that the concrete frames of the Frank Gehry-designed project had risen. Now, as seen through new photos, the exterior finishes of the Warner Bros. Second Century expansion, which resembles staggered blocks, look to be reaching completion. The project is set to be complete in 2023 and will consist of two office towers, one seven stories high and the other nine, spanning 800,000 square feet atop a large underground parking structure.

Previously on Archinect: Concrete frames of Frank Gehry-designed Second Century Project have risen