The ArchDaily archives this week provided a number of buildings utilizing a variety of different materials. From a bamboo enveloped house to a mixed-use building with a facade system of aluminium carbonated drink cans these projects, also including a 350 meter free-spanning steel rib structured mall, are all worth a second look. Follow the break for these buildings and many more.
Mediacite
The 350 meter long free-spanning steel rib structured mall weaves through the fabric of a refurbished old market centre and through a new two storey building connecting to the Belgian national television centre. The design of the roof unites these elements with a complex network of steel roof ribs that undulate through the mall.
To minimise loadings, the complex three dimensional structure is clad in transparent lightweight ETFE – pneumatic Texlon cushions which allow light to penetrate the roof while moulding themselves to the irregular structure. As the roof gradually transforms into façade, the ETFE cladding merges into curved aluminium rain-screen panels and glass.
Situated in Liege, once the world’s foremost centre for steel production and since in economic decline, Mediacite stands out as a symbol of the city’s revitalisation and strives to spearhead the city’s regeneration.
Natural Science Center
The Danish cylinder shaped building situated in Bjerringbro and nominated for the Mies van der Rohe Award, has attracted a lot of attention worldwide. The Natural Science center is a building out of the ordinary with large open spaces that have views spanning several floors. The building itself is shaped as a cylinder with terraces, openings and cuts to explore and get lost in.
Passive House
The Passive House was labeled the best performance low consumption house in France and the first house in the parisian region to receive the european labeled certification PHI “Passiv Haus Institut”. An openworked second skin in non-treated bamboo envelops the skeleton made of massive wood panels. This coating, that becomes grey with time, has been inspired from the typical barns in this region.
Can Cube
Archi Union’s sustainable mixed-use can cube design is an innovative residential and office building, located in Shanghai. By utilizing several ecological and renewable systems the building is highly efficient and sustainable.
The Can Cube’s facade is a system of aluminium carbonated drink cans which are enclosed in an aluminium frame. The façade saves the energy wasted during recycling processes by reusing the cans in their current form, without the need for recycling or further processes. For more about this sustainable mixed-use design, photographs and drawings, following the break.
Frog Queen
The cube shaped building is wrapped on all four elevations with a pixilated pattern of square panels. From a distance, these panels appear to be painted in a range of ten values of grey tone, together dematerializing the volume of the building against both the trees of the surrounding site and the clouds and sky.
Emergency Terminal
Measuring up to the high criteria of contemporary architecture, the emergency terminal can serve 2 million citizens. The steel skeletal construction with supported ceiling plates meets the architectural demands of lightness and spatial variability. An effective and rational solution for the large surface of the façade is the membrane net structure.
Through a synthesis of architectural genres (hospital, clinic, garage, administrative, and educational buildings) the emergency terminal emerges as a new urban sign of safety, competence and speed.
BTEK – Technology Interpretation Center
The interpretation centre for new technologies, provides flexible and varied exhibition space that is welcoming to students and is highly energy efficient. The building-integrated photovoltaic system, was the ArchDaily Building of the Year 2009 in the cultural category.
Stair House
The unique site coupled with the clients requested resulted in this stair shaped house. The home entertains the concepts of privacy and protection, warm and bright space, and a home that could also encourage the gathering of people as the clients are teachers and enjoy students visiting them.
To allow sunlight into the house, there are a number of glass slits in between the steps on the south side. The glass slits provide a dual purpose of vision connection and natural light along with privacy. The material used for the stair shaped wall are porcelain tiles and require low maintenance.
The windows are designed and situated to allow in as much sunlight as possible, whilst retaining privacy. Additionally, the Stair House allowed both daylight and ventilation to penetrate into its interior. The slit windows eliminate direct sunshine, however provides indirect reflected light into the house.
