Archinect - News

Designer and developer Abigail Coover reinterprets 'the formula for the typical Brooklyn condo' with House Offset

2021-12-07T13:02:00-05:00

Located in South Slope, Brooklyn, House Offset is a residential remodel that underwent a recent renovation with a focus on enhancing both interior and exterior architectural details as well as "preserving much of the exterior as a nod to adjacent residences and the traditional New York City townhouse typology." Beyond this, what makes the project stand out, however, is the designer responsible for the renovation is also its developer.

Abigail Coover, founder and principal of Overlay Office, started her practice in 2019. With over 18 years of experience as an architectural designer and project manager, she has helped lead projects in major cities such as New York and San Francisco. We connected with Coover to learn more about the project and her experience as both designer and developer.

House Offset model. Image courtesy of Overlay Office

Being both developer and designer allowed us to reinterpret the formula for the typical Brooklyn condo conversion project through the creative u...

Moscow design team transforms former movie house into a technological hub for business and innovation

2020-02-18T03:30:00-05:00

In 1977, the movie house, Novorossiysk, was constructed. During the 80's cinema clubs, lectures, and film festivals used the site to meet and showcase film. Here Muscovites (Moscow residents) had the opportunity to watch the films of Takeshi Kitano, Michael Haneke, Lars von Trier, and other foreign directors for the first time. Eventually, in the 1990s, the area became a platform for business development, business communication, training, and work.

Novorossiysk movie house before rennovation. Image courtesy of DBH, Moscow Agency of Innovations

After a significant renovation in 2017, the building turned into the Digital Business Space. The site's facade, interiors, and technical equipment were updated to reflect the area. The space was divided into different zones (foyers, classrooms, offices, digital workshops) where exhibitions, presentations, and lectures could be held. With the entire reconstruction cost close to $15 million the space became a new place for Moscow's business and ...

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum gets an upgrade

2019-08-16T15:52:00-04:00

Giving the 96-year-old building a modern twist necessitated much more than a quick polish. The $315 million renovations required architects, building engineers, and sound engineers to revamp the modernity of the stadium while creating a brand-new, seven-story premium tower without losing a single piece of the venue’s historic stone façade.

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a city gem. Standing next to the University of Southern California campus, the Coliseum is home to the USC football team as well as the temporary home to the Los Angeles Rams. Having hosted several historic and iconic sports events, including the 1932 and 1984 Olympic games, the venue was due for a much needed revamp.

In addition to these upgrades, the refurbishment includes the construction of a new "Scholarship Tower" that will house 3,000 students. Renovations on the stadium were recently completed, while work on the tower is well underway in order to accomplish the project's fall competition date. Popular Mechanics provides a detailed description of the Coliseum's construction process and delves into the construction of the new Scholarship Tower.

Remarking on the historic nature of the stadium to Popular Mechanics, Don Barnum, DLR Group principal and lead of the firm’s Sports Studio shares, "What makes it a National Historic Landmark is not...

WeCompany confirms its purchase of Manhattan's Lord and Taylor building

2019-02-15T18:21:00-05:00

The completion of this transaction, which will see us bring new life to the iconic Lord & Taylor building, reflects the evolution of the We Company, the diversification of our real estate strategy and the company’s ongoing transition from an occupier to an operator of space

WeCompany, formerly known as WeWork made significant company transitions earlier this year. Now venturing beyond the shared workspace and leasing office business model, the WeCompany closed and confirmed its purchase of the historic Lord and Taylor flagship in January. News of the building purchase was announced in October 2017. Since then, the global enterprise has made moves that have public watching.

Built by Starrett and Van Vleck Architects in 1914, the 11-floor building is considered one of New York's iconic structures. The firm is heavily responsible for New York department store design during the early 20th century. The Lord and Taylor Building was the firm's first major department store project and in 2007 was cited as a historic New York City landmark. Upon the building's purchase, the WeCompany stated on their company blog that the renovation will "build new life while honoring the past."

Lord and Taylor building historic photo, courtesy of WeCompany

Earlier this month th...

HENN's winning design gives the largest cultural center in Europe a makeover

2018-10-29T19:43:00-04:00

The Gasteig, the largest cultural center in Europe, will undergo an intensive renovation and remodeling. After 30 years of use, the Gasteig will be redesigned by the team at HENN. Opening in 1984/85, the centre welcomes an estimated two million visitors annually. Originally designed by the architecture partnership of Raue, Rollenhagen, Grossmann and Lindemann, its red brick design may not have been a visual showstopper. However, the building's role as Munich's cultural hub is what it's revered for.

Image © HENN

Having been chosen to renovate a structural icon within the community, HENN focused on redesigning the center by introducing a new architectural element to the building. Highlighting the role of the center's interior, HENN's design proposal features a glazed bridge that focuses on uniting existing areas of the building. The transparency of the bridge creates a new visual perspective enabling the the Gasteig to open up to the city and create a welcoming feel.

Interior space I...

ENOTA turns an outdated wellness center into a soothing vacation escape

2018-10-24T17:32:00-04:00

ENOTA architects turns a classic health center into a relaxing modern spa fit for adults and kids. The main focus of the renovation was to create a space that would satisfy the current needs of the visitors. Its construction was gradual, tackling pieces of the structure instead of renovating all at once. The developers and architectural team from ENOTA strived to create a space that focused on how the building design would interact with its surrounding environment as well as its guests.

The Termalija Family Wellness facility was built in the former outdoor pool area. Previously, the outdoor space had a covering that enabled guests to enjoy the pool during both summer and winter months. However, this outdoor covering proved to pose a visual and functional issue. To resolve this, a new roofing design was developed to allow for the pool space to be fully covered without obtrusive support beams or a flat appearance.

The geometric roof floats abo...

London's Walthamstow Central Parade converted into a creative hub by Gort Scott

2016-08-26T11:18:00-04:00

Gort Scott Architects has transformed London’s Walthamstow Central Parade into a bustling social enterprise hub. The 1960s former council building now accommodates up to 50 independent makers and creative businesses, as well as providing an exhibition and flexible event space, which is open to the public.

Foster + Partners' get the go-ahead on controversial Whiteleys renovation

2016-04-01T04:31:00-04:00

Foster + Partners’ plans for the overhaul of London’s Grade II-listed Whiteleys shopping centre have got the go-ahead – despite opposition from locals. Westminster City Council approved the contentious scheme last night, but will now look into setting conditions concerning the scale of two residential towers that form part of the proposal, alongside a gym, hotel, cinema and new shops.

For more on listed projects, take a look at previous coverage here: