Villa Mecklin by Huttunen–Lipasti–Pakkanen

Villa Mecklin by Huttunen–Lipasti–Pakkanen Architects

Located in Velkua, Finland, this Villa Mecklin is a project by Huttunen–Lipasti–Pakkanen Architects which was designed to be different from the norm from the very start of its set-up. Built at a leisurely pace with on site construction details and development have made this unique villa a self-build project without contract documents or complete working drawings. Its construction was made easier by designing all parts, from the frame to the details, to be as simple as possible.

The main building was placed on a small depression of rock with its sheltered terrace extending over the summit of the rock. The building materials are uncontrived, basic ones suited for the archipelago. All wood surfaces have been left untreated, letting this modern villa to turn grey naturally.

 

Khan Shatyr entertainment centre opens

the 'khan shatyr entertainment centre', the world's tallest tensile structure, celebrated its
grand opening in astana, kazakhstan earlier this week. designed by foster + partners,
the 150m tall tent-like structure encloses an elliptical area of more than 100,000 m2.
the new centre hosts a wide variety of entertainment and leisure facilities, retail, cafes,
restaurants, cinemas, a water park, and a flexible space to accommodate a number
of different events and exhibitions.

to deal with astana's drastically polar climate (-35 degrees celsius in the winter and +35
in the summer) the tent is made up of a tri-layer ETFE envelope that shelters the interiors
while allowing daylight to wash in. to avoid the formation of ice on the inside of the envelope
during the winter, a system is in place to monitor the interior temperature while warm air currents
are directed up the inner surface of the fabric. during the summer, the vents at the top
of the tents can be opened to encourage stack-effect ventilation. low-level jets can also keep
the temperature down by directing cool air across the space.

Candela house

the starting point for 'candela house' by spanish firm zigzag arquitectura  was the need for a house large enough for the variable and regular meeting of a family composed of 6 families,  with a total of 10 adults and 8 children. the idea was to create a family shelter, with a low budget and the scarce construction resources available in a relatively isolated location.

 

the plot is located in an area surrounded by mountains, aballe dego, close to the river sella, spain. the place suggested the idea of a mountain, hollowed inside, with 'eyes' (windows) strategically
arranged to capture the surrounding landscape, introducing it into the rooms of the house and avoiding direct views into the homes of the nearest neighbours.

 

the volume interacts with the surrounding mountains. the folded roof is also a product of the enforcement of the local regulations and the hipped roof indicated by them.

 

the house has two exterior rooms, facing the north and the south, which highlight the value of the use of the traditional asturian porch as a space extension and a relationship with nature.

capturing the landscape is one of the main aims of the project. the intention is to absorb the surroundings in a precise and controlled way,  so that all the rooms benefit from the qualities of the surrounding landscape.

to achieve this, the hard casing of the house is perforated with holes of different sizes and positions, associating each one of them to the capturing of the surrounding landscape.

the programme is organized according to the dominant orientation of the plot. the night programme, bedrooms and bathrooms, is located in the northern area, leaving the southern orientation to the meeting spaces and the double height space: living room - dining room - kitchen.

the porch serves as a link between the day spaces of the ground floor, and at the same time is used to mark the difference with the kitchen-dining room-living room programme.

 

the north porch is linked to the main bedroom  downstairs and contains the outside staircase which communicates the upstairs rooms directly with nature.

the circulations inside the house are developed along the longitudinal axis of the house. a ramp serves as the starting point of a 'promenade' which joins the different bedrooms on both floors and ends in a mezzanine with a view to the double height, from which the entire house is visually dominated.

the main entrance to the house is from the entrance porch, located in the northern facade,next to the garage entrance. both accesses meet in the hall, from which  the promenade starts and connects all the rooms.

the construction system is adapted to the resources available in the area: reinforced concrete structure as well as double brick isolated walls.the facades of the house are made with a dark grey rendering coat and planks of iroko wood. the roof is built with flat concrete tiles, adapting to the material regulations of the area.

project info:
location: soto de dego, parres, principado de asturias, spain.
project year: 2007 - 2009
authors: zigzag arquitectura - david casino and bernardo angelini
structural engineering: jesús crespo
technical architect: salvador lópez
construction company: ricardo cerdeira y otro cb
constructed area: 297.98 sqm
photography: b .angelini and d. casino
awards: accesit xx premios asturias de arquitectura 2010
colegio oficial de arquitectos de asturias

 

Minimalist house

Minimalist house



'minimalist house' by japanese firm shinichi ogawa & associates is a 102 m2 single storey residence in itoman-shi, okinawa, japan. true to its name, the house is built and laid out using a simple grid system that divides the space in to three living quarters: one-third of the plot (18m x 3m) is dedicated to a courtyard, another third is reserved for the bedroom, living, and dining area, and the last third houses the study room, powder room, kitchen and entrance. each program is laid out in a single line arrangement to make use of the long and narrow plot. a functional wall unit which holds a variety of services such as a washroom, shower and closet is the only formal divider in the house. the intent of the design and layout is to minimize on the division of space as well as to create a lifestyle that is minimal and flexible.

Museum of contemporary art, cleveland

Museum of contemporary art, cleveland

 

located at the intersection of euclid avenue and mayfield road, the new MOCA is a flagship project of cleveland’s emerging uptown district, a major urban-revitalization project.the museum will serve as a catalyst for creativity and growth in the area -which is home to one of the country’s largest concentrations of cultural, educational, and medical institutions -with greatly expanded educational and public programs, as well as imaginative collaborations with neighboring organizations and cultural partners.

designed by foreign office architects (FOA), london, the nearly 34,000-square-foot, four-storey structure is FOA’s first major building in the united states, and its first museum.

positioned within university circle’s academic life, art school activity, and cultural offerings,MOCA will realize its dynamic potential. the building is designed to showcase a program of internationally emerging art in flexible gallery spaces. the lobby is designed as an urban living room, a place for visitors to mingle, eat, shop, attend events, over the course of hours, or for brief interludes in a busy day. there will be no admission charge to the first floor space.  it is a place to engage at no cost before proceeding on to view our exhibitions for a modest fee. evenings will be frequently animated by cultural events staged in a multi purpose room designed for maximum flexibility.