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Architects: Unknown Works
- Year: 2022
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Professionals: Martin Redston Associates, John Building Services Ltd, Theo Games Petrohilos
London: The Latest Architecture and News
Oasis House / Unknown Works
https://www.archdaily.com/1016657/oasis-house-unknown-worksAndreas Luco
Minsuk Cho of Mass Studies Reveals New Details for the 23rd Serpentine Pavilion
Seoul-based Korean architect Minsuk Cho and his firm Mass Studies have been selected to design the 23rd Serpentine Pavilion, to open on June 5, 2024, in London’s Kensington Gardens. Titled “Archipelagic Void,” this iteration of the iconic commission will consist of five ‘islands’ displayed around an open space, breaking down the structure into a series of smaller elements intertwined with the park’s natural ecology. The pavilion will be open to the public from June 7, until October 27, 2024, with a press preview two days before the opening.
https://www.archdaily.com/1012496/serpentine-announces-korean-office-mass-studies-as-the-designer-of-the-23rd-pavilionMaria-Cristina Florian
A Serene Spa in the South of France and a Music Theater Expansion in Norway: 10 Unbuilt Projects by Established Firms
Delving into the realm of unbuilt architectural projects by renowned offices offers a peak into the design principles and ethos of the studios. The curated list of unbuilt projects submitted by established architecture practices has the potential to reveal new perspectives on the socio-cultural and environmental factors shaping contemporary architecture. These designs often respond to complex challenges such as sustainability, urbanization, and cultural preservation, reflecting architects' efforts to navigate and contribute meaningfully to the built environment.
Within this curated selection, one standout project is Rafael Viñoly Architects' Médano El Pinar, marking the late architect's last contribution to the architectural landscape. Other projects such as Aedas' Ellinikon Commercial Hub explore the opportunities of new developments, such as the disused airport transformed into Europe's largest coastal park in the periphery of Athens, while others are highlighting natural landscapes or offering spaces for creative and innovative programs. Featuring internationally recognized offices like SOM, Kohn Pedersen Fox, Gensler, or GAD Architecture, the selection showcases the unrealized concepts and architectural experimentations of renowned offices.
https://www.archdaily.com/1016637/a-serene-spa-in-the-south-of-france-and-a-music-theater-expansion-in-norway-10-unbuilt-projects-by-established-firmsMaria-Cristina Florian
Market Mews House / Ampuero Yutronic
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Architects: Ampuero Yutronic
- Area: 240 m²
- Year: 2023
https://www.archdaily.com/1015436/market-mews-house-ampuero-yutronicClara Ott
Dalston Lane / DROO Architects
https://www.archdaily.com/1015664/dalston-lane-droo-architectsPaula Pintos
Foster + Partners Unveils Net-Zero, Mixed-Use Development in London, UK
Foster + Partners’ development in Bankside, London, has just been granted planning approval. Designed in collaboration with Lipton Rogers and real estate developer Hines, the Southwark Council has just agreed to proceed with the development. Titled “18 Blackfriars Road”, the project aims to revitalize a neglected two-acre brownfield site that has sat vacant for two decades.
https://www.archdaily.com/1016129/foster-plus-partners-unveils-net-zero-mixed-use-development-in-london-ukNour Fakharany
Layers Restaurant & Bakery / Common Ground Workshop
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Architects: Common Ground Workshop
- Area: 175 m²
- Year: 2024
https://www.archdaily.com/1015911/layers-restaurant-and-bakery-common-ground-workshopPaula Pintos
15 Landscaped Offices With Garden Space For Free-Range Employees to Roam
Representing 32% of the global population, Generation Z (those born between 1995 – 2010) accounts for a healthy chunk of the workforce (27% by 2025 and rising every year). These are the fresh young minds employers are fighting to attract. With prospective employers’ impact on society (93%) and a healthy work/life balance (77%) the two biggest motivators in deciding where Gen Z’ers want to work, a large part of any new office building’s design brief is green space.
While hybrid working and flexible hours represent the most obvious ways to improve work/life balance for many, because of the missed social interactions and the lack of space or functionality at unproductive home workspaces, the majority of 16-24-year-olds are the only age group who prefer to work from the office.
https://www.archdaily.com/1015599/15-landscaped-offices-with-garden-space-for-free-range-employees-to-roamJames Wormald
Stour House / Facit Homes
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Architects: Facit Homes
- Area: 420 m²
- Year: 2019
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Manufacturers: Velfac, WISA, western red cedar
https://www.archdaily.com/1013919/stour-house-facit-homesAndreas Luco
Revitalizing London's Urban Fabric: AHMM Transforms Office Space into Vibrant Co-Living Community
Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM)’s architectural studio has revealed the plans to convert a 1950s London office building into a co-living residential scheme. Initiated by developer HUB and Bridges Fund Management, “Cornerstone” is nestled on the fringes of the iconic Barbican estate, hoping to seamlessly transform the original office building to integrate 174 co-living residences.
https://www.archdaily.com/1013870/revitalizing-londons-urban-fabric-ahmm-transforms-office-space-into-vibrant-co-living-communityNour Fakharany
Reimagining London's Iconic BT Tower: Heatherwick Studios' Vision for a Hotel Transformation
On February 21st, 2024, American Hotelier MCR Hotels acquired the renowned BT Tower in London. The tower, a Grade II listed marvel, is nestled within London’s Fitzrovia, standing as a testament to the city’s heritage. Initially used as the British Telecommunications Tower and was known as the Post Office Tower, the BT Tower will be repurposed by Heatherwick Studio, with plans underway to breathe new life into this iconic structure.
https://www.archdaily.com/1013767/reimagining-londons-iconic-bt-tower-heatherwick-studios-vision-for-a-hotel-transformationNour Fakharany
Defrosted Home / Julius Taminiau Architects
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Architects: Julius Taminiau Architects
- Area: 80 m²
- Year: 2024
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Professionals: Carpentry by Bo
https://www.archdaily.com/1013528/defrosted-home-julius-taminiau-architectsAndreas Luco
The Nest Nursery / Delve
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Architects: Delve
- Year: 2023
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Manufacturers: Bushboard, Corian, Forbo, Nordlux, Weber Industries
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Professionals: BB Contracts Limited, Bridges Pound, Seneca/ BB Contracts Limited, Barking Shopfronts
https://www.archdaily.com/1013466/the-nest-nursery-delvePaula Pintos
Urban Waterways Reborn: European Cities Leading the Change in River Restoration and Revitalization
In 1988, Jacques Chirac made a never-fulfilled promise to make swimming accessible in the Seine River within 5 years. With swimming in the Seine officially banned by the French government in 1923, the river has been neglected for decades, flooded with high levels of bacteria and pollution resulting from industrialization and urbanization. With the XXXIII Olympic Games happening in Paris, Mayor Anne Hidalgo has drafted a “Swimming Plan,” aiming to finally transform the Seine River into a swimmable urban waterway. The billion-dollar effort outlines the river as a venue for this summer’s aquatic Olympic events.
Throughout history, rivers played a crucial role in the social structures of cities. Along riverbanks, communities often congregated for socializing, swimming, and fishing. Swimming in rivers was a popular summertime activity enjoyed by people of all ages. Whether it was the Thames in London or the Seine in Paris, rivers were bustling with swimmers; integrated into urban lifestyles.
https://www.archdaily.com/1013255/urban-waterways-reborn-european-cities-leading-the-charge-in-river-restoration-and-revitalizationNour Fakharany
Transforming Vacant Offices Into Dynamic Mixed-Use Hubs: Solutions for Unoccupied Buildings in U.S. Downtowns
Unoccupied office buildings in major US cities are sending their downtowns into a so-called “urban doom loop.” With the widespread adoption of hybrid work, the influx of office-goers to central business districts has drastically dwindled. As a result, retail and restaurant businesses in these areas are struggling, urban transit systems are losing ridership, and city governments are grappling with the loss of tax revenue necessary to maintain public safety and sanitation. So, how can cities bring people back into their central business districts? While discussions on transforming offices into housing have given fruition significant city and federal incentives across the United States, what solutions exist for offices that aren't viable for such conversions?
https://www.archdaily.com/1013151/transforming-vacant-offices-into-dynamic-mixed-use-hubs-solutions-for-unoccupied-spaces-in-us-citiesCarla Bonilla Huaroc
Unlocking Urban Potential: Street Vending Integration Strategies in Informal Settings
Usually defined by their open-air settings, diverse offerings, local and independent sellers, temporary nature, and acting as social hubs, street markets have been around for thousands of years. From the days of the Roman Forum to the Silk Road and the markets of ancient Greece, they are undoubtedly essential parts of urban life, or “the center of all that is unofficial.” Mostly categorized under the informal economy due to lack of regulations and authorization, street markets in the global south have often been seen as a threat to urban development. However, these erratic and adaptive urban spaces serve core functions in any developing city, acting as pillars of community in many different facets of society.
Policymakers and city officials have long struggled with informality, considering it the “antithesis of modernity.” Conventionally, the informal economy consists of activities with market value but are not formally registered, often unregulated, undocumented, and operating outside the incentive system offered by the state. Street vendors, specifically in the global south, constitute a substantial portion of the informal economy. Moreover, as cities grow and approach development, public spaces become more contested and privatized, leading to an overall mission to remove street markets or push them into formalization.
https://www.archdaily.com/1012173/unlocking-urban-potential-street-vending-integration-strategies-in-informal-settingsNour Fakharany
Interspecies Design: Developing Materials That Allow the Growth and Inhabitation of Non-human Species
In architectural design, our interactions with non-human organisms have predominantly involved creating barriers to exclude them from the human realm. What if we were to adopt a different approach? Interspecies design is a movement that puts non-human organisms—fungi, insects, and various animals—on an equal footing with humans. This design philosophy provides frameworks that foster non-hierarchical relationships with other species. By doing so, it cultivates empathy for other life forms and shifts our perspective on the world around us. It aims not only for a net-zero approach but also seeks collaboration with non-human organisms to develop environments beneficial to all. Below, explore some emerging material technologies designed to benefit both humans and other life forms.
https://www.archdaily.com/1012323/interspecies-design-developing-materials-that-allow-the-growth-and-inhabitation-of-non-human-speciesCarla Bonilla Huaroc
MSG Developer Officially Withdraws Plans for Sphere in London
Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSG), the developer behind the recently opened The Sphere at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, has announced that plans for a similar project in London have been withdrawn for lack of support from London’s planning officials, as reported by The Guardian. The plans were initially announced in 2018, with planning permission filed in March 2019. The 300ft-tall structure, having a capacity of 21,000 seats, was to be located in Stratford, east London. In November 2023, following a combination of unfavorable comments in planning officer reports and opposition from residents, London’s mayor Sadiq Khan withdrew his initial support.
https://www.archdaily.com/1012106/msg-developer-officially-withdraws-plans-for-sphere-in-londonMaria-Cristina Florian