Our friends at the ja+u have shared with us a video tour of House in Komazawa, designed by Go Hasegawa & Associates. This rustic, Tokyo home is fully clad a variety of eucalyptus wood. Inside, a permeable second floor visually connects to the spaces throughout the entire house and allows for the passage of natural light from the library skylight above to the main living room below.

Organized by Hong Kong Institute of Architects and Hong Kong Arts Development Council as a collateral event at the Venice Biennale 2012, the “Inter Cities / Intra Cities: GHOSTWRITING THE FUTURE” exhibition focus upon the vital urban, architectural, and cultural regeneration of Kowloon East in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong based architectural practice, Oval Partnership, has been appointed as curator of the Hong Kong exhibition which takes the 320 hectare Kowloon East regeneration area as its subject; one of the largest urban regeneration projects in Asia, and a district based around the ghost of a former airport. The opening ceremony will be held on Monday, August 27, 2012 (Arsenale, Campo della Tana, Castello 2126 in Venice, Italy). If you are interested in participating, please let me know. I will inform you as soon as possible of the opening time and I will reserve an invitation for you. The exhibition will be open to the public until November 25, 2012.

Our overall planning concept by K/R Architects is composed of three interrelated parts. First, their intention is to create exhibits that define the Urban Constellation Museum of Contemporary Architecture (UC-MoCA) as an institution that consistently reflects and promotes contemporary urban culture. Second, architectural exhibits should educate through experience which is the most effective and memorable way to reach multiple audiences. Thirdly, their goal is to develop our planning concept in such a way that it harmoniously respects the importance of the historic industrial shed, the requirements of the definitive program and the architect’s concept design documents. More images and architects’ description after the break.

Since Meinhard von Gerkan and Volkwin Marg founded their architectural practice von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (gmp) in Hamburg in 1965, they have carried out projects in almost all large cities in Germany and on four continents. The Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Niterói (MAC) presents an overview of gmp’s work with the international touring exhibition “Designing in Dialogue – Architectural Answers”, which is on now until to August 5. Sketches and drawings provide an idea of the initial conceptual thoughts, models present designs in their three dimensions and photos by well known architectural photographers document the completed buildings. More architects’ description after the break.

Designed by idcode, the Science and Technology Park, located in Opole, Poland, is a combination of the horizontal character of the building with the existing landscape of suburban fields. By creating a landscape project in which the field and discussion form a functional space of fields, the modules arranged on site create a space of integration and communication between office modules. The objective and main goal of the strategy is to create a typology of offices to promote human interaction and communication to promote creative work. More images and architects’ description after the break.

As the first step of an urban acupuncture strategy, the Barrio Capital: A Public Skyscraper in the heart of Mexico City taps into some of the city’s most pressing problems. Designed by Molcajete. Urban Think Tank, the project responds to several urban problems, such as the lack of public space per inhabitant, insufficient parking space, and, above all, the scarce interaction between people from different socio-economical levels who share a defined territory within the city. More images and architects’ description after the break.

In collaboration with Space Furniture, BVN Architecture designed this unique installation for the 2012 Bisbane Indesign. ‘The Project’ was inspired by the theme, Exploring the Common Thread, and resulted in a spectrum of color expressed through cotton yarn poised in a frozen geometric form. Drawn under tension the geometry is justified to fit within the constraints of the existing spatial condition.

Continue after the break for more.

One of the “best-kept secrets” of the opening ceremony was the Thomas Heatherwick-designed 2012 Olympic cauldron that dazzled viewers world-wide last night as it was ignited by seven young British athletes in a very unique lighting ceremony.

Representing each nation competing in the London Olympics, 204 “very small humble” copper petals were carried out alongside national flags and competitors – each inscribed with the name of the country and the words “XX Olympiad London 2012”. The petals were then attached to long, stainless steel stems that formed ten rings that appeared as an open flower. Once ignited, the flames quickly spread to each petal and then gently rose up to unite as a single flame.

Continue after the break for more on the design.

Produced by Jorrit Spoelstra and Sven Prince, Genre de Vie is a documentary film about bicycles, cities and personal awareness. Shown in the video above, they document urban life empowered by the simplicity of the bicycle by looking at desired spaces and our own impact to the process of it. At a time when we are facing environmental issues more than ever before, this film creatively explores how the bicycle contributes to the future livability of cities and brings more awareness to the public.

Leo A Daly, the well-known international architecture, planning, engineering, interior design and program management firm, was chosen by the SAC Federal Credit Union, Nebraska’s largest credit union, to provide design and engineering services for its new corporate headquarters campus in Papillion, Nebraska. Their design for the headquarters reflects SAC’s close culture, collaborative work environment and its commitment to the community. The headquarters will rest on a strong brick foundation, a metaphorical representation of SAC’s member-owner base. More images and architects’ description after the break.

Designed by Studio Kalamar, the proposal for the National and University Library in Ljubljana, Slovenia connects itself to the urban fabric of the square in a clear, but quiet fashion. As the dynamic volume mimics the dynamic surrounding environment, an atrium is created between, thus introverting the urban energies into a peaceful atmosphere appropriate for studying, which is surrounded by a cloister, vertically repeated four times. The program is comprised of four program units: free access library, storage and archive facilities, work units – expert library services, and the archaeological heritage of Roman Emona. Emona lies beneath the surface level, so the three remaining units are used as the base for volume composition. More images and architects’ description after the break.

The latest issue of 2G magazine has just arrived to ArchDaily from our friends from Editorial Gustavo Gili. This new publication is edited in Spanish and English and comprises a series of monographs from renowned architects like Sou Fujimoto, Lacaton & Vassal and Eduardo Arroyo, among others. It also includes the writings from masterminds such as Mies van der Rohe and Lina Bo Bardi. The current issue, N.62, features the works of Stefano Boeri, known by projects like the Vertical Forest in Milan and La Maddalena Arsenal.

More information + full index after the break.

Although Olympic officials have been forced to offer ticket refunds to seats with obscured views in the London Aquatics Centre, Zaha Hadid Architects denies that this issue is a result of bad design. During last few days, critics have been accusing Zaha’s curvaceous roof as a design blunder that has blocked many of the top rows from viewing the 10m diving board – the highest diving board that will host eight events and Beijing Olympics hero Tom Daley.

As reported on bdonline, a spokesman for Zaha Hadid has insisted this is the result of a ticking issue, as the ticket holders were not informed about the restricted views upon purchase. He stated, “The brief for the building from Locog was to provide 5,000 spectator seats with uninterrupted views of the 10m diving platform events.”

“The centre actually provides over 8,000 seats with uninterrupted views of the 10m platform events. This is more than 3,000 additional seats than the brief required.”

He further explained, “Locog approved the sightline studies and seating layouts over two years ago.”

Continue after the break for more images and a revealing cross section.

Japanese architect Tadao Ando and the Japan Sport Council (JSC) has launched the an international design competition for the new National Stadium of Japan. The stadium will become the new symbol of Japan and feature world-class events with the world’s largest spectator capacity and the world’s finest hospitality.

The new venue is slated for competition in 2018 and is already committed to hosting the 2019 Rugby World Cup. It will also be offered to host the FIFA World Cup, the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, concerts by world-renowned entertainers, and a wide range of other significant cultural and artistic events. And, if Japan is selected to host the 2020 Olympic Games, it will be used as the primary venue.

Continue reading for more details and a video message from Tadao Ando.

The London 2012 Olympics start today, and once again architecture is on the spotlight. With a big focus on reusable and adaptable structures, the lineup includes renowned architecture firms such as Wilkinson Eyre Architects, Hopkins Architects, Populous and Zaha Hadid Architects.

On this infographic we introduce you the iconic buildings of the Olympics since 776 B.C. until today! Follow our London 2012 Olympics coverage in its dedicated page.

In just a few hours, the world will be watching the opening ceremony of London’s third Summer Olympic Games. For 17 high intensity days, more than 10,000 athletes from over 200 countries will battle for the most prestigious awards in the athletic world. However, what will remain hidden in the shadows during the excitement and energy of the opening ceremony will be the story behind the Games – the larger implications of hosting the world’s biggest sporting event, and its stresses at the financial, societal, and environmental level. This story – which lasts long beyond the 17 days – remains unwritten as the after effects of hosting the London Olympics Games will not be felt for years to come.

In this three-part series, we will delve into the effects of hosting the Olympic Games.  Our first segment will share background about London’s hope for “legacy” during and after the Games, plus, a look into the financial challenges incurred from hosting such massive festitivies.

Stay tuned for our second and third segments which will address London’s Games with regard to social issues and sustainability.

More after the break.

Apple has released the latest version of their operating system: Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion. Over 200 new features have been integrated into Lion with the intent to streamline your work and life. Some of the highlighted features include the built in iCloud that keeps all your content updated and in-sync with your Apple products, a unified notification center to help you stay updated on everything, and ready-to-go dictation that makes typing optional.

Although this all sounds great, what about software we architects use on a daily basis?

A word of advice before you upgrade:

The second prize winning design by Perspektywa for the Kwidzyn Old Town Housing Units in Poland answers to the competition challenge with their modern architecture with classic elements. Doing so provides a dialogue between the historical surroundings and creating a new image of Kwidzyn city. They achieved that aim by analyzing the existing and historical urban grid of the city, archival documentation, using proper scale, proportions and characteristic triple axis facades. More images and architects’ description after the break.

Opening September 12, the Design Exchange in Downtown Toronto will be the site of the newest exhibit titled “Considering the Quake | Seismic Design on the Edge,” curated by Dr. Effie Bouras, postdoctoral fellow and Professor Ghyslaine McClure, P.Eng of the McGill University Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics. The exhibit, which runs through to November 9, will feature recent cutting edge building projects from some of the most innovative architects and engineers, as seen through the lens of earthquake engineering. More information on the exhibition after the break.

Celebrating Australia’s best residential architecture, excellence has been rewarded by ‘House Awards’, an annual program, in eight categories, with the best architecturally designed house receiving the premier award of ‘Australian House of the Year’. Set within a historic farming property in Tasmania, Shearer’s Quarters by John Wardle Architects, won the house of the year award which is both a working farm and a place of retreat. ‘This deft touch has created a house that is an exemplar for contemporary residential architecture, simultaneously functional and beautiful. This apparently simple house has an effortless relationship to the built, cultivated and natural landscape.’ (House Awards Jury) More information on the awards after the break.

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is inviting developers to submit proposals for a new construction project in Kips Bay, Manhattan. Developing housing that meets the needs of how New Yorkers live today is critical to the City’s future economic success. Currently, the City’s housing stock is misaligned with the changing demographics of its population. There are 1.8 million one- and two-person households (more than 60 percent of New York City households) and only one million studios and one-bedrooms to meet this housing demand. According to the 2010 Census, the growth rates of the one- and two-person household populations exceed the growth rate of households with three or more people. adAPT NYC seeks to create additional choice within New York City’s housing market. Submissions are due no later than September 14 with a pre-submission conference to be held on July 31. To register and for more information, please visit here.

Alfonso Architects, along with The Beck Group, have been awarded $17 million to design-build the expansion of the Tampa International Airport in Florida. The existing complex will be expanded with an additional 30,000 square feet and will include the renovation of 40,000 sq ft of existing space at Airside F. Project. The terminal, which originally opened in 1987, handles most of the international flights including daily non-stop service to London and four weekly flights to Cuba. The first phase will begin this month and be completed by the end of 2012 with an ultimate completion date of August 2013.

Follow us after the break for more.

After practicing for over fifty years as one of the world’s most preeminent architects, Robert Venturi, FAIA, has retired. The Philadelphia-based, American architect became known as the father of postmodernism and, together with his wife and partner, Denise Scott Brown, FAIA, he changed how the world perceives architecture with his maxim, “Less is a bore.”

Now, Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates, which Venturi co-founded with his wife, has relaunched as VSBA under the new leadership of president and principal Daniel K. McCoubrey, AIA. Together with principal Nancy Rogo Trainer, FAIA, McCoubrey will continue to build under the founders’ values – “bringing creative design, thoughtful analysis, and responsive service” to each client. Meanwhile, Scott Brown will continue publishing and presenting her work.

Continue after the break for more details.