One Tree House By DNA

One Tree House Designed by DNA

Nostalgic for the village lifestyle he grew up with- our client bought a kampong plot to build his family house. He wanted to return to the casual living style with generosity of space, close interaction with nature and water and enough grass for his 4 kids to run on.

The site had a mature tree on it, so we decided to plan the house around it – with two wings; one for the kids and one for mum and dad. During construction, the client’s wife worried about the size of the tree, wanted it cut down. (going against their desire to embrace nature).

Happily, Mother Nature intervened and struck down half the tree in a thunderstorm.

The L-shaped plan meant that most of the house is one room thick; with ample cross ventilation and views of the garden. In the children’s wing, the gallery walls are angled to catch breezes, and glimpses of the street while the dining room gallery is fully glazed to capture garden views.

We designed this house as a series of experiences – from crossing the pond under a low canopy to the heightened volume of the entry hall; from the compressed ‘pentas’ under the stairs to the tall ‘kenduri’ terrace and from the open-sided living rooms to the self contained pods that are the children’s domain complete with their own secret staircase. All spaces with strong links to nature and the elements.

Perhaps these series of experiences may evoke in the owner a sense of familiarity with a time past; free spirited and open to suggestion, carefree yet self-assured. Most definitely, his children would benefit from this experience; and in time, yearn to return to this.

Gold School of Architecture, Penn State by WTW Architect

As students return to campuses across the country for the start of another semester, colleges are starting to showcase some serious strides in sustainability. Some are investing in wind power and other alternative energies to help lower their carbon footprint, while others are endeavoring to green their facilities. Penn State is leading the charge with its gorgeous LEED Gold Stuckeman School of Architecture.

It seems only appropriate that an architecture school should express its dedication to the field with a stunning sustainable structure. The Stuckeman Family Building for the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA) was designed by Pittsburgh-based WTW architects to incorporate a variety of environmental initiatives, earning it an impressive LEED Gold rating.

The four-story, 111,000-square-foot building boasts a beautiful exterior constructed from recycled copper and brick. Rainwater recycling systems capture water in cisterns for landscape irrigation, and an integrated storm water management system helps mitigate flooding.

As for the interior, the building has taken advantage of daylighting in addition to automated lighting controls and smart sensors that recognizes when people are inside - good for those caffeine-fueled all-nighters. The energy-efficient windows are motorized and can open up to utilize natural ventilation for the brisk morning breezes to wake you after you have fallen asleep at the drafting board. All in all it is an excellent example of sustainable architecture and stands as a fitting inspiration for the architects of tomorrow.

TRAVELODGE HOTEL MADE FROM SHIPPING CONTAINERS

EUROPE'S FIRST MODIFIED SHIPPING CONTAINER HOTEL OPENS IN LONDON

The first hotel in Europe to be constructed from modified steel shipping containers is to officially open today (August 15th) in Uxbridge, London.

The 120 room Travelodge has been built from 86 high strength steel containers which were constructed and fitted with the hotel room's fixture and fittings in Shenzen, China.

Transported to England by boat, on arrival they were then put on a lorry and fitted together like giant Lego blocks on the site in Uxbridge.

Paul Harvey, Managing Director, International and Development at Travelodge, said:

"The opening of Europe's first hotel to be constructed from modified shipping containers shows Travelodge's commitment to innovation and cost effectiveness. Customers will notice no difference in their room to a traditionally constructed hotel, yet they will benefit from the low prices we charge due to our desire to cut the cost of doing business".

The advantage of using this modular build technique, pioneered by Verbus Systems in the UK, is the affordability and efficiency gains in the speed of construction.

Without this new technique, it is unlikely to have been possible to construct a hotel on the site. It is land locked and on a busy road, meaning access was limited. The placing together of the 86 containers took a mere 20 days, ensuring the absolute minimum disruption to the local community.

Two different sizes of container were used to build the hotel, creating double rooms which measure 5m x 3m and family rooms which measure 3.5m x 6m. Disabled rooms are also available, as they are at all Travelodge hotels.

Travelodge is also constructing a new 307 room hotel at Heathrow using the modular build technique.

Paul Harvey continued:

"The modular build technique pioneered by Verbus Systems could herald a new dawn for hotel development. Where it is sensible to use, this technique will cut costs and speed up construction times significantly".

Verbus Systems a joint business venture between consulting engineers, Buro Happold and constructor, George & Harding - has developed its unique modular construction system over the last four years. The manufacture of the modules has been outsourced to the global market leaders in the production of shipping containers, China International Marine Containers (Group) Ltd.
Mark Allies, Managing Director of G&H Group Ltd said:

"In successfully completing the Uxbridge Travelodge project, the G&H Group have clearly demonstrated that multi-storey schemes constructed using the Verbus System adds value for all involved no matter the logistical restrictions.

With reduced build costs and programmes, the use of the Verbus System drives enhanced cost effectiveness and hence earlier openings and revenue return. This really is the future of construction".

British Embassy in Jakarta

HOK has released the first images of its dynamic design for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s new British Embassy building in Jakarta.

The 3,800 sq m scheme is designed over three levels and is located on a 1.5 hectare site in central Jakarta.

The design, expressed in a spiralling form, folds around a central protected courtyard and twists up and outwards to form the Embassy’s public entrance invoking a sense of calm assurance. Sustainability is a key design consideration and challenge: Jakarta is in a highly seismic zone with excessive humidity levels; rain falls for eight months a year. Currently the design has been assessed as Excellent under the BREEAM rating. Site security has also influenced the scheme and is the logic to the centrally located building footprint.

The public and private functions within the building are separated with public services located on the ground floor and private Embassy functions located above. The public courtyard brings the tropical landscape into the heart of the building with a contained and controlled environment, very different in character to the lush landscape around the building.

Water recycling is important: all rain water falling on the structure will be collected, stored and used for irrigation and grey water purposes; this will also reduce the burden on the City’s water systems. To help eliminate solar gain, the Embassy is designed on an east-west axis.

HOK’s project director, Andrew Barraclough comments: “This is a fantastic project in a truly challenging climate. We’re giving considerable thought to the use of locally sourced materials to give an excellent life cycle. We want the building to appear as if it’s been hewn from a single piece of stone to provide a sense of solidity and security.”

The FCO’s project sponsor added: “HOK’s challenge is to balance the design to realise both security and accessibility. This is being achieved with considerable thought being given to the environment.”

HOK is collaborating with MACE the FCO’s Strategic Partner, Ramboll Whitby Bird as structural, facade and MEP engineers; and TPS as security advisors. The project is due to complete in 2011.

Eric Owen Moss - Redefine what is been defined

The man who redefines and creates in building arts.

Eric Owen Moss (b. 1943 in Los Angeles, California) is a widely recognized Los Angeles based architect.

Eric Owen Moss was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1965. Moss continued his education, earning his Masters of Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley, College of Environmental Design in 1968 and a second Masters of Architecture from Harvard University Graduate School of Design in 1972.

Through the years Eric Owen Moss has worked extensively to revitalize a once defunct industrial tract in Culver City, California. The introduction of vibrant designs that challenge the boundaries of technology and foster creativity have successfully created jobs and community morale through the development of the project known as Conjunctive Points. His efforts have gained recognition locally, nationally and internationally. In 2003 Eric Owen Moss was awarded the Business Week/Architectural Record Award for the design and construction of the Stealth. This award applauds uniting excellence in business as well as design. Eric Owen Moss designs have consistently gained recognition for innovative building techniques, community development and job creation, as well as excellence in design.

Eric Owen Moss received the AIA/LA Medal in 1998 for the achievement of an outstanding body of architectural works. He is a Fellow of theAmerican Institute of Architects and was a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for the University of California at Berkeley in 2003. He is director of theSouthern California Institute of Architecture.

What Wall? What a window!

Lawson Westen Hous...
a little bit of machine-like and a lot of brutal face~

and the stair, the light the space~


The Queens Meseum of Art..Renovation in a way that is evolution!!!

The Magic Roundabout

The Magic Roundabout consists of five clockwise mini roundabouts in a ring.
There is also an outer clockwise roundabout and an inner anticlockwise roundabout,
perhaps one of the only places in UK where such a structure will be found.

As you approach the roundabout it becomes apparent that there are a number
of ways of getting to your destination:

You can take the first exit at the first mini roundabout and join the middle
lane towards the second mini roundabout, whereupon you take the second exit.
Repeat this until you are approaching the desired exit mini roundabout,
join the left hand lane and take the first exit. In effect you are orbiting the
outer clockwise roundabout.

Alternatively you can counter-revolve the inner roundabout by taking the
second exit at the first roundabout, and continue taking the first exit in
the left hand lane. To leave you need to get into the right hand lane and
take the second exit.

You can stay on the magic roundabout indefinitely with careful use of the
third exit - treating pairs of roundabouts and their conjoining traffic
islands as roundabouts in themselves.

Hearst Tower - Norman Foster

Foster and Partners 2006

The Hearst Tower is Foster's first building in New York. It is also New York's first 'green' building built to the Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standard of the U.S. Green Buildings Council. But this is no obviously 'eco' building; the New York Times said it "may be the most muscular symbol of corporate self-confidence to rise in New York since the 1960s."

The new Hearst tower is built on top of the original Hearst headquarters building from 1928, in unapologetic, glaring contrast with its eclectic, Art-Deco-inspired original. The based building was originally reinforced to hold a tower above, but in fact the whole building behind the facade has been gutted to create the new tower, as is clear from the soaring atrium within.

The Hearst Tower is the first office tower in North America to use a diagonal grid ("diagrid") construction rather than vertical steel beams. This configuration reduces the total steel required by around 20%, contributing to the buidling's sustainability credentials. Other design features focus on low energy requirements and water conservation in use. About 85% of the original 6-story structure was re-used or recycled.