Design in a Nutshell - The Open University Series

An interesting short giving an overview of the Bauhaus movement. This film is part of a series by the Open University exploring several design movements.

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Saratoga Creek House - WA design

An interesting design from California based studio WA design. This contemporary family home is defined by a series of inter-connected vaulted roof structures.

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What Will the Homes of the Future Look Like??

The answer?? Pretty cool looking

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London Assembly - The impact of planned change-of-use classes

This week the London Assembly heard from planning representatives on the potential impact of government plans to allow offices to be converted to residential use without planning permission. This planned action is an obvious attempt to simultaneously ease housing pressures, while increasing urban densities, regenerate failing areas, and converting under-used space. However, the scheme has been criticised with Richard Pestell of the RTPI warning of the "huge unintended consequences" of the changes. 

It is estimated that around 4 million square metres of office space will be at risk from changes in central London alone, accounting for nearly a quarter of that area's total office space. The buildings typically likely to be affected will be older, cheaper, and often not in prime commercial location. Not only have such spaces traditionally been home to the burgeoning and creative industries, but by reducing commercial space the effect will be to push up rents, leading to potential job loses. 

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Old Photographs of Mexico (1952 - 1973)

Via Vintag.es a collection of photographs from Mexico documenting urban life from 1952 to 1973.

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Big Sur Glass Yurt - 1976

With an increasing trend towards tiny houses, smaller scales, and more sustainable living, it is interesting to look back at the designs which where forerunners in these fields. In the 1970's Mickey Muennig built a brick, wood and glass yurt in Big Sur. This structure features a round floor plan favoured by our ancestors, which through its simplicity remains timeless. 

via Inthralld.com

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The More You Know: 3D Printing

Much attention has been paid to 3D Printing recently, but with these advances heralded as a revolutionary and disruptive technology questions must be asked on how these printers will truly affect us. PBS have released a short to explain this technology and its potential impact on issues of consumption, creation, and copy-write.

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Designing for the Flood Plain - Baca Architects

Baca Architects have gained planning consent for a flood-resilient house in the village of Sutton Courtenay in Oxfordshire. Sitting alongside a small brook the design was developed to be contemporary, simple in form and profile, while preserving the character of the conservation area and finding a sage solution to flooding. 

The timber-framed house is conceived as a series of interlocking buildings, clad in a mixture of timber, glass, and steel to reflect the appearance of nearby converted barns. The structure is designed around a wooden-decked outdoor space, which raises the building above the flood level allowing water to flow underneath it during times of heavy rainfall. The surrounding landscaping is sculpted to accept encroaching flood water while both gauging and diverting rising water levels.

 

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Tiny Houses

TheCoolist have published a list of their ten favourite tiny houses. Not only is this collection great to look at, it also makes us ask 'how much space do we really comfortably need?' with various economic and urban pressures pushing the boundaries of our private living spaces. These examples show how small living can breed innovation, simplicity, and creativity.Below is our favourite pick from the list, however the other nine projects can be viewed here.

D3 Architects have built the 'Drop House' to sit in slithers of unoccupied or undeveloped urban space. The narrow structure is covered with a wooden fascias, with the goal of providing an elegant space for living in busy environments:

Via Thecoolist.com

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Convent de Sant Francesc - David Closes

I'm a few months late on this one, but of the latest projects I have been looking through this week the conversion of The Convent de Sant Francesc by David Closes stands out. The phases of development have allowed the conversion of the building into a cultural facility. The convent which includes the renovated Church, was built between 1721 and 1729. However by 2000 the convent (by then in ruins) was demolished by the state while alternative uses for the church were looked at. By cleverly integrating old façades and walls the building is an example of how to integrate original elements into new construction and preserve aspects of a building's past.

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Our Picks from 'The MIPIM Architectural Review Future Project Award'

The MIPIM Architectural Review Future Project Awards uniquely celebrate un-built or incomplete design projects. As such the awards judge fine architectural creativity and practices responses to client development briefs. Below is a pick of the best winners of this years contest.

Project: Footbridge in the Tasos Papadopoulos Avenue, Cyprus 

Architect: Elina Pattichi

Judges comments: "This connective project reinterprets the nature of the cantilever for social benefit."

Project: AF Floating Cinema, UK 

Architect: Joe Morris

Judges comments: "The floating cinema crated in a canal boat is simultaneously a social idea internally, and a proposition about animating public space"

Project: Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) 

Architect: Rice+Lipka Architects 

Judges comments: "An inspirational project that combines past and present in a well resolved and convincing manner. It creates new spaces for creativity in a post-industrial city"

Project: C3 House, New Zealand 

Architect: Richard Naish 

Judges comments: "Lightly touching architecture: wall and roof are of the same material, embodied energy is massively reduced through local sourcing. 

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'Finding Vivian Maier' - Trailer

John Maloof and Charlie Siskel have just released the trailer for their forthcoming documentary exploring the life of one of America's most mysterious street photographers, Vivian Maier.

In 2007 John Maloof walked into an auction house across from his home and placed a $380 bid on a box of 30,00 prints and photographs from an unknown photographer. Impressed by his discovery, Maloof went on to purchase another lot of the photographers including hundreds of rolls of undeveloped film, home movies, interview tapes, and an additional 70,000 negatives.

The work was the product of nanny Vivian Maier and documented the streets of both New York and her native Chicago over nearly forty years. Vivian however had never shared either her passion or work with friends, acquaintances or family.  

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ECOntainer Bridge - Ariel Sharon Park, Israel

The recycling of shipping containers as building materials in a practice very much in vogue. For this reason I have tended to steer away from including many projects which use this process, however one of the latest project from Israeli architect Yoav Messer takes such an innovative approach it undoubtedly deserves a mention. 

Intended as a centrepiece of sustainable and eco-conscious construction the bridge will sit within the Ariel Sharon Park. Cantilevered look out decks provide points of observation along the path, while the structure itself provides a colourful and eye catching addition to the park. 

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The Innovator - Mike Friton

An interesting short about designer and innovator Mike Friton. As a freelance shoemaker, weaver, paper sculptor and innovator with over thirty years of experience at Nike, Friton's innovations are responsible for many elements of athletic footwear worn today.

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Maracana House - Terra e Tuma Arquitetos

Sao Paulo is a city of urban contrasts. On one hand this leads to the creation of 'messy' street scapes, while on the other (for those inclined to look) each new glimpse down a street, glance through a window, or view from a rooftop offers a unique aspect of both the city and those who live in it. In response to this the architecture practice 'Terra e Tuma Arquitetos' have created the Maracana House, which seeks to avoid the common experience of disconnection between entering a house and leaving the city. Instead interior spaces are intended to connect with the vibrancy of the street outside.

 

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