Archinect - News

Mushrooms hold the key for this year’s winning proposal at the Tallinn Architecture Biennale in Estonia

2021-10-12T14:18:00-04:00

A trippy trend in building technology has taken top billing at the 6th annual Tallinn Architecture Biennale in the Baltic nation of Estonia.

Using 3D-printing technology, the Australian team of Simulaa and Natalie Alima has taken a timber-frame formwork imbued with mycelial fibers that grow to envelop the structure, allowing it to decay along an algorithmic process that, in fitting with the competition’s mandate, biologically expresses the slow passage of time.

The installation contained within ‘incubation bag’ to create ideal conditions for mycelial growth © Simulaa

With the Biennale’s theme being “Edible; Or, The Architecture of Metabolism,” the concept offers a very wavy way of considering how materials and methods can be better used to help buildings adapt to local environments through projects that “take a long, romantic and human-centric view towards construction technology.”

Section illustrating the ‘forest’-like qualities of the installation © Simulaa

“This project curates an ...

Back to basics: building primitive architecture using only primitive tools

2016-10-12T13:33:00-04:00

Of the countless DIY YouTube channels out there, Primitive Technology has to be one of the most impressive. Starring an unidentified Australian protagonist—known as "Prim" by some within the channel's millions of followers—the videos document our primitive hero building huts, spears, a forge, and all kinds of other tools for survival using only what he finds in the bush of Northern Queensland.

Perhaps one of the most impressive projects, for the labor, time and complexity involved, is the tiled roof hut, complete with in-floor heating and an oven. How's that for design/build?

Despite always appearing shirtless in his videos, Prim still has a t-shirt tan, backing up the channel's origin story as a free-time hobby within a dude's otherwise modern life (although he'd like to pursue it full-time). All of his videos have millions of views, presenting one kind of project each episode, with no narration or introduction—only occasional subtitles—making them remarkable pedagogical resources fo...

Need another idea for the Bigger than a Breadbox competition? Check out "La Cabane" by Julien Franc Wahlgreen

2015-02-14T12:00:00-05:00

Inspired by the vintage French Citroën Type H cargo van, "La Cabane" designed by independent creative director Julien Franc Wahlgreen functions as a room within a room that can enhance the increasingly common working-from-home experience. Plus, the structure's beach shack or quaint treehouse resemblance creates a fairly inviting environment to get in the zone.

Built in a Copenhagen duplex apartment, La Cabane (which translates to "hut" or "shack" in English) can be placed at the top of a staircase so the user can walk right into their workspace. Constructed by cabinet maker Gustav Sandegård, La Cabane's wooden flaps can be opened widely to create an extra 2.4 square meters of workspace, letting in natural light and providing enough wiggle room to comfortably house one person.

According to Wahlgreen, opening and closing the flaps becomes a daily ritual that can help the user mentally switch from "work mode" to "family life"/non-work mode. La Cabane's pared down plywood exterior looks l...

Winners of Warming Huts v.2015

2014-11-26T18:51:00-05:00

The Warming Huts competition is back with its 2015 edition! The blind jury sifted through over 100 submissions from around the world for this season's most creative warming huts. The top three winning designs will be constructed at the Red River Mutual Rivertrail in Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada. This year's competition awarded two Shelter category winners and one Installation winner.

(Above) SHELTER WINNER: This Big by Tina Soli & Luca Roncoroni from Dorebak Akershus, NORWAY

SHELTER WINNER: "The Hole Idea by Weiss Architecture & Urbanism Limited from Toronto, CANADA

INSTALLATION WINNER: Recycling Words by KANVA, from Montreal, CANADA

For more project details and other noted submissions, head over to Bustler.

"Stalactite" by APTUM Architecture - Warming Huts v. 2014 competition entry

2013-12-06T15:41:00-05:00

Here's a pretty cool Warming Huts v. 2014 submission we received from APTUM Architecture, based in the U.S. and Switzerland. As its name states, APTUM's warming hut proposal was inspired by stalactite formations that hang from the ceilings of caves.

Head over to Bustler to learn more.

Images courtesy of APTUM.

Warming Huts Competition v. 2014 winners

2013-12-05T15:07:00-05:00

It's that time of year again — when the Warming Huts Competition winners are announced, that is. Every year, the competition invites architects around the globe to develop their most innovative warming-hut designs. With no theme for v. 2014, the competition was met with a variety of submissions.

The international jury chose three winners out of 190 entries. As for the other three: one hut was selected for a separate University of Manitoba competition; one from an invited local architect (Étienne Gaboury); another hut — soon to be determined — will become a class project for Kelvin High School’s drafting program.

NUZZLES by RAW DESIGN INC. - Toronto
Red Blanket by Workshop Architecture Inc. - Toronto
Windshield by Kate Busby & Bella Totino - Vancouver
University of Manitoba winner: SKYBOX - Winnipeg
Étienne Gaboury's winner - Voyageur Hut
Kelvin High School - TBA