Archinect - News

Notre Dame Cathedral completes spire reconstruction ahead of 2024 reopening

2023-12-11T17:30:00-05:00

France had previously reversed plans for the restoration’s completion before the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games prior to the death of project overseer General Jean-Louis Georgelin in August. The replacement of the original 19th-century spire was heavily debated before officials decided on a historically accurate timber and lead reconstruction, which was done without the adorning sculptural relics and a copper rooster figurine. Both outstanding elements are expected to be added later, along with contemporary stained glass windows.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rebâtir Notre-Dame de Paris (@rebatirnotredamedeparis)

Now, with interior clean-ups and ceiling vault reconstructions also completed, an army of 500 will turn to exterior renovations and the installation of a new fire protection system and roof coverings.

As reported by the NYT, the collapse of Notre Dame's spire during the tragic fire deeply affected both Parisians on-site and a glob...

U.S. Air Force Academy releases update on iconic Cadet Chapel refurbishment

2023-08-09T16:21:00-04:00

Earlier this year, the ongoing refurbishment of SOM’s Walter Netsch-designed United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel in Colorado reached a significant milestone when contractors for the $220 million project removed the final aluminum fin from its iconic exterior, culminating the renovation’s asbestos removal stage and clearing the way for the final reconstruction to begin.

The painstaking process, which began in 2019 and hit an impasse after two years due to “unforeseen” issues that added nearly $80 million to the project’s original budget of $158 million, is now on track for completion in 2027 and will result in the installation of an aluminum water barrier system the Air Force scrapped during construction in favor of cheaper caulking seals.

“Scraping the sealants off the building damaged the aluminum finish and as time went on and new resealant projects came in, the sealants were no longer adhering to the aluminum very well,” Academy architect Duane Boyle said in an Air Forc...

AECOM, Bechtel officially join reconstruction effort in Ukraine

2023-07-05T17:33:00-04:00

AECOM and Bechtel have both announced their involvement in the international effort to rebuild Ukraine following 15 months of a devastating war which had, by mid-spring, enacted more than $147.5 billion worth of damage to infrastructure across the country, according to estimates from the Kyiv School of Economics.

The moves were announced late last month in conjunction with the country’s Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development (AECOM) and the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (AECOM and Bechtel), and will include the delivery of a “wide range” of reconstruction projects along with supportive technical expertise to the government and other private contractors.

Important cost estimation and other kinds of engineering consultations will also be provided as part of the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure memorandum as the country transitions to an international model for procurements.

Related ...

Calatrava’s completed St Nicholas Church at 9/11 site features a translucent stone exterior that appears to ‘glow by the light of 10,000 candles’ at night

2022-12-07T10:39:00-05:00

Work has been completed on the Santiago Calatrava-designed St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine. The church is the second Calatrava-designed project to be completed at the World Trade Center Memorial site in New York City, following his World Trade Center Transportation Hub, which opened in 2016.

Image © Alan Karchmer for Santiago Calatrava

Calatrava’s church is steeped in symbolism, largely influenced by Byzantine architecture. The church’s dome features 40 windows and 40 ‘ribs’ to echo the 40 ribs of Saint Nicholas, visible from both the interior and exterior. Outside, the structure is constructed of Pentelic marble to reference the same marble used on the Parthenon in Athens, while the accentuated corner towers of the scheme are clad in bands of white and gray marble reminiscent of the Church of the Holy Savior in Chora, Turkey.

Image © Alan Karchmer for Santiago Calatrava

At night, the church’s dome is illuminated from within, creating what the design team calls ...

Tosin Oshinowo-designed village reconstruction completes first phase in conflict-torn northern Nigeria

2022-11-03T15:43:00-04:00

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has released images of its just-completed first phase of the Tosin Oshinowo-designed Ngarannam village reconstruction project in Northeast Nigeria.

The project to resettle villagers displaced by Boko Haram was begun last year as part of the UNDP’s Regional Stabilisation Facility Initiative, which will rebuild a total of six communities in three of the country’s northeastern states profoundly affected by conflicts with the insurgent group in order to "quickly mend trust between the people and government."

Image courtesy UNDP/Tolulope Sanusi

The new Ngarannam village includes a total of 564 units of housing, a primary school, police station, community health center, shaded market, security forces barracks, government offices, and 16 small shops. Additional defensive trenches were enacted around the perimeter of the site to provide extra security in the case of emergency, and another 240 housing units wil...

Skanska to lead $150 million Williamsburg Bridge overhaul

2022-10-17T11:53:00-04:00

The New York City Department of Transportation has selected Swedish construction concern Skanska to lead a $150 million rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Williamsburg Bridge, the city and firm announced last week.

According to Skanska, the project will include “structural steel repairs throughout the bridge superstructure, inclusive of floor beam repairs, a transit hanger retrofit and temporary jacking system, gusset plate repairs, truss bottom chord repairs, top and bottom lateral bracing strengthening, overhead truss diagonal replacements, intermediate towers repairs and transit stringer repairs.”

The 119-year-old span has been rehabilitated several times throughout its history, including most famously a miraculous $250 million effort in 1988. Skanska's work will be funded in part by the Biden Administration’s newly-announced first round of Bridge Investment ...

France’s Culture Ministry says Notre-Dame is still on track to reopen in time for the 2024 Paris Olympics

2022-08-02T15:57:00-04:00

French President Emmanuel Macron’s vow to reopen Notre-Dame in time for Paris’ turn as host of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games still appears to be on track after France’s Minister of Culture Rima Abdul-Malak said her office was “quite confident” in the reconstruction’s progress.

Abdul-Malak was on hand for a site inspection over the weekend alongside Phillipe Villeneuve, the chief architect of the country’s cultural monuments. The two were in Paris to inspect the recently-completed clean-up of the 859-year-old structure’s interior worship spaces, which they say represents a turning point towards the overall project’s accelerated completion.

The question is how much of the heavily-damaged cathedral will be restored and reopened to the public in time for the 2024 date set by Abdul-Malak. The controversial interior segment of the second phase of reconstruction finally began in September after lockdown-related delays and is to be followed by the replica spire’s reinstallati...

Calatrava-designed new St. Nicholas National Shrine lights up in ceremony honoring the lives lost during 9/11

2021-09-15T12:56:00-04:00

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church hasn't been open for two decades. The church was located steps way from the World Trade Center, and it was completely destroyed on September 11, 2001. But this week, just ahead of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church will be reborn.

The 80-year-old church has been rebuilt near the One World Trade Center, and last Friday, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11, it was lit up from within for the first time. The original church, located at 155 Cedar Street in Manhattan’s Financial District, was founded in 1916 by Greek immigrants who purchased a tavern as a community house. As noted on the church’s website, this location was one of the first stops for Greek immigrants in America after departing Ellis Island.

During the events of 9/11, the church was destroyed in the collapse of the south tower. In the years that followed, Ground Zero was transformed with the construction of One World Trade Center and a new transportation hub, and an agreement to rebuild St. Nicholas was made between the church and the Port Authority. The resulting decision was to construct the new church at 130 Liberty Street, a location nearby the original site and close to the 9/11 memorial.

Previously on Archinect: Santiago Calatrava's G...

A global competition to redesign the Port of Beirut has been announced

2021-05-20T14:12:00-04:00

The Beirut municipality and the Inspireli Awards have announced a competition calling on architecture students from around the world to submit entries for a new Port of Beirut, following the devastating 2020 explosion that completely destroyed the port and the adjacent part of the city.

The aim of the competition is to offer humanitarian aid to Beirut through the unique designs and innovations of students’ submissions. The subject of this massive renewal project will be implemented in the curriculum of many universities around the world throughout the upcoming winter and spring semesters, with a final submission date in February 2022.

Photo: Inspireli

The new Port of Beirut will be rebuilt and financed by Lebanon’s Finance, Design, Built, Operate, and Transfer Department (F.D.B.O.T). The Port administration and the Ministry of Public Work and Transportation are currently setting their requirements and conditions list, which will shape the approach of the entries and, subsequently, ...

Winners of UNESCO architecture competition to rebuild damaged Al-Nouri Mosque complex

2021-05-12T11:35:00-04:00

UNESCO has unveiled plans for the reconstruction of the Al-Nouri Mosque complex in Mosul, Iraq. The proposal, titled “Courtyards Dialogue”, was pieced together by Egyptian architects Salah El Din Samir Hareedy, Khaled Farid El-Deeb, Sherif Farag Ebrahim, Tarek Ali Mohamed, Noha Mansour Ryan, Hager Abdel Ghani Gad, Mahmoud Saad Gamal, and Yousra Muhamed El-Baha.

Selected from among 123 entries, Courtyards Dialogue was the winning entry of an international architectural competition held by UNESCO as part of its Revive the Spirit of Mosul project. The initiative is an attempt to rehabilitate the city of Mosul after it was badly damaged during its occupation by ISIS between 2014 and 2017.

Rendering by Salah El Din Samir Hareedy and team

"The reconstruction of Al-Nouri Mosque complex, a historical site that is part of Mosul's fabric and history, will be a landmark in the process of advancing the war-torn city's reconciliation and social cohesion," says UNESCO Director-General, Audrey Azo...

French-Lebanese architect Jean-Marc Bonfils among casualties in deadly Beirut blast

2020-08-11T14:43:00-04:00

Jean-Marc Bonfils, a noted French-Lebanese architect who helped lead the reconstruction of Beirut's war-torn downtown after the country's civil war, died August 4th, 2020 following the massive ammonium nitrate-fueled explosion that rocked the city and caused widespread damage.

Bonfils was among at least 158 casualties resulting from the blast, which has displaced over 300,000 people and prompted the country's prime minister to resign.

Bonfils, whose father was also a prominent architect, was born in 1963 and earned degrees from the Paris-Villemin School of Architecture, the École du Louvre, and the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London. His early career took root with some of the most daring French architects of the 1980s and 1990s, including Christian de Portzamparc, Alain Sarfati, Architecture Studio, ARTE-Jean Marie Charpentier, and Maurice Bonfils architectes.

In 1995, Bonfils and his father selected to lead the reconstruction of downtown Beirut, a content...

Tensions with Notre Dame cathedral's chief architect heat up over reconstruction plans

2019-11-24T09:00:00-05:00

A public dispute has arisen between the French officials in charge of the reconstruction of the fire-damaged Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. General Jean-Louis Georgelin, who is President Emmanuel Macron's special representative on the project, stunned MPs by insulting the chief architect in charge of the cathedral, telling him “to shut his big mouth” in front of the National Assembly’s cultural commission.

Plans to restore the damaged spire of the historic Notre Dame Cathedral are well underway months after a tragic fired ravaged the Cathedral. However, conflict is brewing between General Jean-Louis Georgelin and Philippe Villeneuve, the chief architect put in charge of the Cathedral.

The conflict stems over the issue of either removing the historic spire entirely or simply restoring it in place. According to Vincent Noce of The Art Newspaper, "Villeneuve, threatened to resign last month if the spire that was destroyed in April's fire were not reconstructed in its original form. 'I will restore it identically, and it will be me, or they will build a modern spire, and it won't be me,' Villeneuve said during a broadcast interview."

The debate over how the spire should be restored has caused many reactions from the public. Many seek to protect the Cathedral's historic structural integrity, while others are pushing for visible changes to symbolize the Cathedrals "rebirth" after the fire....

Is far-right ideology twisting the concept of 'heritage' in German architecture?

2018-10-06T14:02:00-04:00

Krier himself may not be fascist. Nor are most of the people involved in reconstructing the Garrison church or the new Old Town. But the defence of the political neutrality of architecture is wearing thin.

In 1991 Max Klaar, a retired German lieutenant-colonel, presented the municipality of Potsdam with a replica of a famous carillon, which from 1797 to 1945 had played themes by Bach and Mozart (Papageno’s Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen from The Magic Flute) from the tower of the city’s Garrison church. Both the tower and bells had been wrecked in an air raid – the ruins finally being removed by the East German government in 1968. The carillon, paid for by private donors, was a step in the hoped-for reconstruction of the church.

How very charming, you might think, except that Klaar had an agenda: he was a Nazi apologist. If you look on the internet (but please don’t), you will find him, for example, endorsing the thoroughly debunked lie that General Eisenhower had a million German prisoners of war killed in death camps."

According to Stephan Trüby, a professor of architecture at the University of Stuttgart, the Garrison church plan is an example of what he claims is now a disturbing patter...

Watch 7 ancient ruins get reconstructed

2018-03-23T18:06:00-04:00

It can be difficult to picture what ancient architecture would have looked back when it was first erected. Reconstructions by NeoMam and Thisisrender help you visualize what these ancient ruins looked like at the height of their glory. Take a look back in time and watch these historical structures get rebuilt.

The Parthenon, Athens, GR

Temple of Jupiter, Rome, IT

Milecastle 39 (part of Hadrian’s Wall), Northumberland, ENG

Luxor Temple, Luxor, EG

The Pyramid of the Sun, Teotihuacán, MX

Area Sacra di Largo Argentina (Temple B), Rome, IT

All images courtesy of viewfinder.

Demolished Tokyo apartment building, the "holy land of manga," to be rebuilt as a museum

2016-07-08T13:26:00-04:00

An apartment building known as the “holy land of manga” due to its famous former tenants is to be rebuilt and opened as a museum of manga and anime in Tokyo’s Toshima Ward. Tokiwaso, which was demolished more than 30 years ago, will be reconstructed in a park [...] Past occupants included “God of manga” Osamu Tezuka, the author of “Astro Boy,” who lived there in the 1950s; Fujiko Fujio of “Doraemon” fame; “Cyborg 009” creator Shotaro Ishinomori; and “Osomatsukun” artist Fujio Akatsuka.

Checking in on Nepal, one year later

2016-04-26T21:39:00-04:00

As the Nepalese government continues to face criticism for the slow pace of the country’s reconstruction, Nepal’s prime minister Khadga Prasad Oli announced today that the reconstruction of key heritage sites in Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur is to finally begin, the Associated Press reports.

A year after the devastating quake, there is some good news in Nepal. As this article notes,

The World Monuments Fund (WMF) also announced today that it, in collaboration with American Express, was financing the rebuilding of the 16th-century Char Narayan Temple, which was reduced to rubble by the quake. The project is to receive a share of $1m in grants earmarked for five major preservation projects across the globe.

For more on Nepal:

Will Mies van der Rohe’s Wolf House rise again?

2016-04-01T15:49:00-04:00

A group of German architects and planners has started a campaign to rebuild the Wolf House, widely seen as a link between van der Rohe’s early, more conventional designs and his later buildings, like the Barcelona Pavilion and the Farnsworth House, that would redefine modern architecture. [...] But the plan has run into resistance from other architects and scholars who say that the Wolf House would be too hard to reconstruct [...].

Will Rio's Olympic venues be ready in time for the 2016 Games?

2015-08-06T10:19:00-04:00

'When these [2007 Pan Am] venues were built the government told Brazilians that these would be Olympic-ready, and there would be a rather smooth and efficient transition to eventually hosting the Olympics,' explained Rio-based reporter Taylor Barnes...'But, these venues have instead had some pretty checkered after-lives.'

Despite a murky past of broken promises in addition to recent water-safety concerns and rampant economic turmoil, Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes claims construction of the venues are on schedule and will be delivered on time for the 2016 Olympics -- which will begin one year from now. Public Radio International interviews Rio-based reporter Taylor Barnes, who gives a glimpse into the reality of the situation.

More Olympic news on Archinect:

Boston backs out of 2024 Olympics bid

Toronto ventures into sixth bid to host Olympic Games

Zaha Hadid reportedly not giving up on Tokyo stadium plans

Zaha's Tokyo Olympic Stadium cancelled – Abe calls for a redesign from scratch

AIA group initiative for Nepal vies to overcome common obstacle of delayed rebuilding efforts

2015-07-23T16:34:00-04:00

By planning ahead now, while the humanitarian response is underway, this reconstruction program can bring additional resources to those efforts, overlapping the relief phase so as to rebuild communities that feel like home - but in an accelerated manner. This is what we don't see currently happening when disaster strikes, and so this effort presents a unique opportunity to standardize a model that can be followed by others - nationally and internationally - moving forward.

As Nepal continues to deal with the aftermath of the deadly April 25 earthquake, the American Institute of Architects Foundation — now known as the Architects Foundation — recently announced with relief group All Hands Volunteers a two-year $3 million initiative for the reconstruction of villages devastated by the quake. Architects Foundation Executive Director Sherry-Lea Bloodworth-Botop sums up the three-phase initiative, which plans to use an accelerated, community-driven approach in the design and realization of rebuilding the homes. Additionally, the initiative includes providing training in construction practices to local communities.

More about the Nepal earthquake on Archinect:

"The trauma of rebuilding": After Kathmandu's earthquake, what can architects do? We talk with a Nepalese architect on the ground for Archinect Sessions #27

How Architects Can Help Nepal (And Learn From Past Disastrous Mistakes/Successes)

Another powerful earthquake has hit Nepal

Shigeru Ban responds to th...

Oliver Wainwright takes a closer look at Beirut's downtown redevelopment

2015-01-22T15:43:00-05:00

Two decades after civil war blew the Lebanese capital to rubble, the city centre boasts immaculately rebuilt streets lined with Gucci and Prada stores – but the whole place is strangely deserted [...] the resulting place feels less souk than Duty Free airport lounge. It is a monotonous world of more swanky high street brands, from Burberry to Tag Heuer, staffed by idle shop assistants awaiting the promised customer footfall that has yet to arrive.

Back to the future: the fake relics of the 'old' Chinese city of Datong

2014-10-22T13:22:00-04:00

Six years ago the then-mayor launched an ambitious plan to reconstruct the lost walls, watchtowers and Ming-style homes of the city – resettling tens of thousands of residents and transforming Datong into a tourist site. Now few want to live here

Diplomacy by Design

2014-09-06T00:12:00-04:00

... post-conflict response often disregards the potential of shared spaces to foster reconciliation, the importance of urban plans in managing turbulent population dynamics, and the need for a public realm that enables normal life to continue. "The absence of any architect or planner or designer in the negotiating room is something that has to change,"...

Rebuilding Gaza

2014-08-20T14:32:00-04:00

The Palestinian Authority government has estimated that it could cost $6 billion to rebuild the territory: 50,000 homes have been totally or partially destroyed, roughly 250 factories have reportedly been rendered inoperable, and Gaza's sewage treatment facility and power plant have been damaged, shrinking the available supply of drinkable water and creating a potential health crisis for residents.

The recent (and ongoing) Israeli invasion of the Gaza strip has taken a massive toll on the densely-populated urban area's infrastructure. While the need to begin reconstruction is urgent and unquestionable, the mechanics are much trickier. In order to get cement into Gaza, Palestinians must either smuggle it in or wait for Israel to slacken the seven-year old embargo. Israel, on the other hand, remains opposed to easing restrictions on construction materials after Hamas used imported cement to construct its network of tunnels, although it has recently signaled that it will slacken some elements of the blockage. The process will begin with a donor conference with funds processed by the Palestinian Authority, which is supposed to lead reconstructive efforts.

LEESER transforms historic Strand Theatre into Brooklyn's newest cultural hub

2013-10-03T20:18:00-04:00

The BRIC House and UrbanGlass complex by LEESER Architecture opened its doors to the public on the morning of Oct. 2 in Downtown Brooklyn. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz were present to perform the ribboncutting at Brooklyn's newest creative space.

Back in 2008, Brooklyn-based LEESER won the chance to transform the historic Strand Theatre into what is now a 60,000 sq.foot venue for BRIC Arts | Media, a 35-year-old non-profit organization widely known for its interdisciplinary arts and media programs. The reconstruction project cost $35 million.

An emphasis on community outreach and participation is evident throughout LEESER's redesign of the 1919 building. The central public-gathering and presentation area (known as The Stoop), the white-walled interiors, and the facility's spaciousness create an overall open environment that will be suitable for the venue's various events and functions.

The House is also full of resources for B...

Arigato!

2011-06-24T14:32:00-04:00

DESIGN ASSOCIATION NPO, organizer of TOKYO DESIGNERS WEEK, has founded “ARIGATO” PROJECT

We’ve been receiving warm support from all over the world since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. People in many countries showed their warmth and support .This project is to show our thanks and, to make new connections and bonds across the world through kindness and warmth.

We are asking ARIGATO works from Designers, Artists, and Students.

The best works will be exhibited at TOKYO DESIGNERS WEEK 2011. (from 1st to 6th of November) at Meiji JinguGaien in central Tokyo, and will be given the prize.

We would like to ask you to inform about this project and send us ARIGATO works.

We are also going to disaster affected areas to hold special workshops, supported by companies, artists and designers, to care for children through art and design work shop.

All works that are created in workshops by designers, artists, and students. Will be collected and published world-wide in the offici...

Hillcott Barn by RRA

2011-05-26T09:15:30-04:00

Archinect's Building of the Day series is brought to you by our friends at OpenBuildings.com, the web's most comprehensive directory of buildings.

“Take an isolated Hilltop Barn, add some crispy edged modern steel and glass, and three hundred years of history and you have the rich ingredient in which to create a mouth watering contemporary barn conversion”
Kevin McCloud

RRA Architects was formed in 1986 and has developed a reputation as a highly innovative architectural practice. They bring three essential qualities: imagination, value for money and freedom from worry.

'Hillcott barn is a celebration of the fabric of an impressive historic structure within the Wye valley,' explain the architects. 'The need to keep costs down drove the desire for off site manufacture and the ability to phase construction. The lightness of the central spaces around the threshing doors of the barn were where the living accommodation was placed, and the darker more intimate spaces we...

Art=Relief: Benefit art auction for Japan

2011-04-21T02:07:14-04:00

Art=Relief is a benefit art auction to raise funds and awareness for earthquake relief efforts in Japan.

General Architecture Collaborative is organizing the event to bring together the community of emerging and established artists from the New York area and beyond, in service of another community a world apart.

100% of the proceeds from the Auction will be donated to relief organizations tirelessly working on the ground. For more information on the organizations receiving funds, please visit: www.japansociety.org/fund_recipients

Where:
Studio X
180 Varick St. Suite 1610, New York, 10014
Studio-X is a downtown studio for experimental research run by the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation of Columbia University.

When:
6 PM - 10PM
Saturday, April 30th 2011

For more about Art=Relief and the participating artists, please visit this website.
To register for the event and to browse the auction items, please visit this website.

On-line pre-bidding b...