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‘Tall Wood’ — World’s Tallest Wood Skyscraper Proposed by MGA

On March 23, 2012 in Architecture

Michael Green Architects (MGA) is a 14 person architecture and interior design firm based in Vancouver BC. The office is the latest design company to promote the use of wood in the construction of tall buildings.

Michael Green’s design calls for a 30-story tower, based on laminated composite wood. Mass timber products using layers of wood fused together at right angles are strong enough to handle load-bearing infrastructure, walls and floors, he told CNN.

“We think we can go higher than 30 stories,” Mr. Green told the network. “We stopped exploring wood around 100 years ago (with the advent of steel and concrete); now we’re looking at a whole new system using mass timber products.” Continue Reading →

Solar-Powered Shape-Shifting Bridge Also Purifies the Air

On August 18, 2011 in Architecture

In June 2011, judges of the Building to Building Pedestrian Bridge International Challenge awarded this mind-blowing, shape-shifting helix bridge by sanzpont [architectura] first place.

Featuring a tensile fabric that allows the bridge to move as visitors walk across it, it also captures energy from the sun. The bridge also lights up at night with linear LED technology, and purifies the air in its immediate environment. Continue Reading →

A Post Diluvian Future for Water: Curse or Blessing?!

On August 16, 2011 in Architecture

S+PBA is a Bangkok based Architecture firm founded in 2005 by 2 principal architects, Ponlawat Buasriand Songsuda Adhibai, after gamering international recognition as one of the top 20 finalists for the Grand Museum of Egypt in 2002 and top 5 finalists for the Irish World Performing Arts Village in 2004.

The office has grown in Bangkok, a hybrid city riddled with ever accumulating problems and challenges. “Our design objective in every project is to discover the best innovative architectural solution that will respond to the surrounding context in a manner that fosters a better quality of life for its inhabitants and achieves an aesthetically pragmatic architecture.” Continue Reading →

Herzog & de Meuron Unveil Plans for Solar Powered Stadium

On August 12, 2011 in Architecture

VINCI-FAYAT consortium has been selected as preferred bidder for the ‘Grand Stade de Bordeaux’ which includes designs by Herzog & de Meuron and landscape design by Michel Desvigne. Slated for completion in 2015 the ‘Grand Stade de Bordeaux’ will be located within the city’s existing green belt district.

The design provides a natural sense of fluidity, with easy approachability beginning with the multiple staircases at all points of the stadium. Never loosing site of the stadiums location a large focus of the concept incorporates the surrounding environment blending with the building, as reflected in the concave roof which is supported by a series of spindly white columns, appearing like a forest of birch trees.

Home field to the FC Girondins de Bordeaux, the ‘Grand Stade de Bordeaux’ will also host a variety of cultural events. Continue Reading →

Brooklyn’s ‘DeKalb Market’ by Urban Space and Young Woo & Associates

On August 4, 2011 in Architecture

DeKalb Market is a joint venture of Urban Space and Young Woo & Associates. In New York City, Urban Space started the trend toward design focused markets with the Grand Central Holiday Market in 1993 and continuing with markets from the South Street Seaport to Columbus Circle.  As the name implies, these markets are special places where residents, workers, and visitors come together in a public place and experience the delights of the city.  They create a special space within an urban area. Continue Reading →

‘BeeHive PV’ Solar Panels to Energize Building Facades

On July 29, 2011 in Architecture, Technology

Israeli start-up SolarOr is a technological leader in the development and industrialization of innovative Building Integrated Photo Voltaic (BIPV) solar panels, delivering both high efficient modules as well as improved transparency and insulation values.

Their idea is a brilliant new transparent solar panel that is modeled after the complex forms found in honeycomb. Called ‘BeeHive PV’, the solar panels are designed to integrate into building facades to serve as energy-generating windows. Each sheet is covered with hundreds of tiny prisms that focus sunlight to maximize energy generation. Continue Reading →

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