Landscape Architecture – Emerging Landscapes

 The flexible mixed use design of KLab architecture’s Emerging Landscapes allows the project’s function to change as the seasons progress.  The project is a small convention center for the winter months, and switches to become a summer camp for children during the second half of the year.

 Located in Karpenisi, a small city in the Pintos central mountain range of mainland Greece, the project is situated in a mountainous area that has a strong traditional architectural typology of stone walled and roofed buildings constructed with minimal footprints.  Keeping this architectural typology in mind, KLab Architecture’s project has a minimal impact on the landscape, while implementing ecological friendly strategies.

 By analyzing the existing landscape, the new building seems to “emerge from that land and become the new landscape.”  Two volumes, (one that houses offices and the small convention center that can be changed to house the indoor activity spaces for the camp, while the other volume houses a restaurant and bar), are separated by a curved sloping element that forms the roof of the passage from one building to the another.  The structure is made from exposed concrete in order to promote biodiversity on the roof.

 “The main building is interconnected with smaller satellite buildings constructed from wood with stone base elevated from the ground that function as dormitories,” explained the architects.  Pathways run above the ground on pilotis minimizing their impact on the site in an effort to keep nature “as unspoiled as possible.”

 The project also includes a pool that is situated both outside and inside the building, “celebrating the junction between the building and nature.”  An outdoor deck area surrounds the pool, connecting it to the rest of the building while also providing necessary room for summer camp activities.

Resorts World Miami – Genting Group

 The enormous Resort World Miami, which will overlook Miami’s prized waterfront, is set to open next year in between Miami International Airport and Miami Beach, Malaysian developer Genting confirmed.

A 3 Billions Project of Genting Group at Miami. The development will stretch three miles along the bayfront, filling a total of 13.9 acres and containing multiple skyscrapers with a futuristic ocean-inspired design.

With approximately 10 million feet of space, it will be one of the largest development projects in the history of Miami, one of the U.S. most popular holiday destinations.

A total of four hotels will call Resorts World Miami home, offering a total of 5,200 rooms, alongside which a series of residential towers will also be built.

Underneath the skyscrapers is an eight-story base building, which will hold a 250,000 square foot retail centre, over 50 restaurants, lounges bars and nightclubs and the largest ball room in the United States.

Genting also confirmed that it plans to include a casino, subject to approval from Florida’s lawmakers.

On top of the base podium’s rooftop will be a 3.6 acre lagoon with beaches, allowing guests to swim over 1,000 feet from one end to the other — or walk the length of the building on a new Baywalk, which stretches for three miles

Genting is the name behind the enormous Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore, which, along with Marina Bay Sands, was among the world’s first truly ‘integrated resort’ and has significantly boosted Singapore’s tourism income.

With the announcement of Resorts World Miami, it looks like Florida could also be in for a touch of the Genting magic.

Layout Plan

Lagoon View

Miami Museum Park View

- Resorts World Miami – end -

Asymptote Architecture, Penang Global City Center – Penang, Malaysia

Sited on Penang Hill the Penang Global City Center (PGCC) is a key component of the 256 acre development site that was formally the Penang Turf Club.

 

The design is centered on the idea of creating a new and powerful image for the city of Penang and the new initiatives associated with the development of the Northern Corridor of Malaysia.

 

The complex includes two iconic, sixty-story towers housing luxury residential units and five-star hotels, the Penang Performing Arts Center (PenPAC), a high-end retail and entertainment complex, an observatory, a world-class convention center and a vast public arena in the form of a plinth that serves as an entrance to the PGCC and connects it to the city beyond.

The design of the iconic towers in particular draws inspiration from not only the lushness and drama of the surrounding mountains and seascapes, but also from the rich and diverse cultural heritage that makes up the Malaysian nation and Penang in particular.

 

The forms of the two towers are comprised of both horizontal and vertical elements. Sculpted horizontal components move across the plinth, rise up and transform into articulated vertical structures.

The vast, cascading plinth, which functions as a public plaza with multiple gathering spaces, are venues for the performing arts center, convention center and various facilities for residential, office and urban life.

Set against the backdrop of the nature reserve of Penang Hill, the twisting, glass facades of the towers “perform” various surface effects – reflecting, refracting and distorting views of Penang, the surrounding landscape and the seascape beyond.

The design incorporates the latest in sustainable design and engineering technologies.

Site Plan

Construction start for Phase 1 is scheduled for late 2008.

Total Area: 1.000.000 square meters
Retail Complex: 400,000 square meters
Convention Center: 100,000 square meters
Performing Arts Center (PenPAC): 75,000 square meters
Condominiums: 70,000 square meters
Hotel and Service Apartments: 50,000 square meters
Offices: 25,000 square meters
Observatory: 1,500 square meters
Parking: 190,000 square meters

- Penang Global City Center -

 

 

 

 

 

The Mysterious Abandoned Pod City – Taiwan

This Project is called ”Mystery Pod City”. It is on the very northernmost of Taiwan and it’s famous as an abandoned Project housing.It Might be built in the early 80′s .They have been built by government ” in an attempt to position this as a Luxurious holding location for the rich of Taipei”.The project is included 17 block and each block has 4 circular pods.The Concept behind this design might have been that they could expand the buildings vertically as required,simply by adding more pods on top.The site is included housing and amusement park one side Ocean and the other side hills.These Strange habitats have been completely abandoned for a number of years.One story says that the project had to be abandoned after several fatal accidents occurred during construction, and according to local rumors, this ghost city is now haunted by those who died building it.Unfortunately, the project may never be restarted and architect is unknown.

- Abandoned Pod City – Taiwan -

The Dynamic Tower – Dubai 2011

Italian architect David Fisher is building his first skyscraper, the Dynamic Tower, and it happens to be one of the most ambitious construction plans since the Pyramid of Khufu. Every floor of the 80-story self-powered building rotates according to voice command, and nearly the entire structure of the $700 million building is pre-fabbed. I caught up with the architect in New York, and he blew my mind again and again.

The Dynamic Tower is environmentally friendly, with the ability to generate electricity for itself as well as other buildings nearby making it the first building designed to be self-powered, it achieves this feat with wind turbines fitted between each rotating floor. An 80-story building will have up to 79 wind turbines, making it a true green power plant.

The Dynamic Tower is also the first skyscraper to be built entirely from prefabricated parts that are custom made in a workshop, resulting of fast construction and of substantial cost savings . this approach known as the Fisher Method, also requires far less workers on construction site while each floor of the building can be completed in only seven days, units can also be customized according to the owners needs and styles.

Dr. Fisher states, “Today’s life is dynamic, so the space we are living in should be dynamic as well, adjustable to our needs that change continuously, to our concept of design and to our mood, buildings will follow the rhythms of nature, they will change direction and shape from spring to summer, from sunrise to sunset, and adjust themselves to the weather, buildings will be alive.

“From now on, buildings will have four dimensions, the fourth dimension is ‘Time’ to become part of architecture,” Dr. Fisher added. “Buildings in motion will shape the sky line of our cities.

By combining motion, green energy and efficient construction, the Dynamic Tower will change architecture as we know it, and will start a new era of Dynamic Living.

Take a look at more Pictures and Details.

- Dynamic Tower, David Fisher – Dubai 2011 -

The world’s first leaning skyscraper – Abu Dhabi 2010

 The 160-metre, 35-storey Capital Gate tower has been built to lean 18 degrees westwards. When fully complete by end of this year, the tower will house the 5 Star ‘Hyatt Capital Gate’, as well as 20,000sqm of the most exclusive office space in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

Capital Gate, owned and developed by ADNEC (Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company), has been certified as the ‘World’s Furthest Leaning Manmade Tower,’ by Guinness World Records.

- leaning skyscraper – Abu Dhabi 2010 -