Great (Bamboo) Wall by Kengo Kuma & Associates
The Great (Bamboo) Wall House is a handsome and successful exploration of the possibilities that lie ahead for new forms of dwellings on the Chinese mainland. Kengo Kuma chose to leave the original geographical features intact and use locally produced materials as much as possible.
Departing from the 20th century suburban practice of building on flattened land and instead celebrating the site’s “intricate undulation,” the architect decided to build a different kind of wall. This main feature, made of bamboo, serves as a filter for the surroundings. In sharp contrast to the Great Wall’s brick and stone, a material manifestation of severing ties with outside civilizations, bamboo’s charm lies in its weakness. Exploiting this aspect, the wall allows light and wind to pass through. Historically imported to Japan from China, bamboo is also a symbol of cultural exchange, and perfectly suits the work of a Japanese architect in China.
Indoors, the material encloses the stairwell and living spaces to great effect. Positioned side by side at varying intervals, bamboo shoots seem to hover above the floor, creating breezy, floating partitions. The Eastern simplicity of the décor creates an ethereal, meditative atmosphere informed by subtle changes in the weather and landscape.
The Earth-Scraper
Architects have designed an incredible 65-storey ‘earth-scraper’ which plunges 300 metres below ground. The stunning upside down pyramid in the middle of Mexico City is designed to get around height limits on new buildings in the capital. The subterranean building will have 10-storey each for homes, shops and a museum, as well as 35 storeys for offices.
Deep: The 65-storey ‘earth-scraper’ is set to plunge 300m into the ground beneath Mexico City
Epic scale: The enormous complex is intended to get round the city’s planning laws, which state that buildings can be no more than eight storeys high
Landmark: The earth-scraper would be located in the city’s main square, and topped with an enormous Mexican flag
A glass floor covers the massive 240m x 240m hole in the city’s main square to filter in natural light from the world above. The design has been crowned with a Mexican flag. Esteban Suarez, from architecture firm BNKR Arquitectura, said the building would also house a new cultural centre.
Scary: The core is all made of glass to ensure that all parts of the building receive natural sunlight from the world outside
Relaxing: Designers expect the public areas of the building to become a popular destination for those wishing to escape the bustle of the city
Heritage: The earth-scraper is expected to contain a museum and cultural centre which will explore the history of Mexico and its pyramids
He said: ‘New infrastructure, office, retail and living space are required in the city but no empty plots are available. ’Federal and local laws prohibit demolishing historic buildings and even if this was so, height regulations limit new structures to eight storeys. ’The city’s historic centre is in desperate need of a makeover but we have nowhere to put it, this means the only way to go is down.’ He added: ‘The Earthscraper preserves the iconic presence of the city square and the existing hierarchy of the buildings that surround it. ’It is an inverted pyramid with a central void to allow all habitable spaces to enjoy natural lighting and ventilation. ’It will also allow the numerous activities that take place on the city square year round such as concerts, open-air exhibitions and military parades to go ahead.’
Unobtrusive: One advantage of the unusual structure is that it would create space in the centre of Mexico City, which is full of historic buildings which cannot be demolished
Green: The interior of the building is supposed to look natural and welcoming
Efficient: The creative use of space would allow the plaza to be used for events such as concerts and military parades
Massive: The space covering the earth-scraper will take up 240 square metres in the heart of Mexico’s capital
Pyramids play a large part in the architectural history of Mexico, as the country’s anicent civilisations have often build huge pyramid structures. When the Aztecs first came into the Valley of Mexico they built their pyramids on the lake they found there. As the Aztec Empire grew in size and power they conceived a new and bigger pyramid, but instead of looking for a new site they just built it on and around the existing one. The traditional pyramids are therefore composed of different layers of historical periods.
Modern: Much of the building is expected to be devoted to office space
Shopping: The earth-scraper would almost certainly become one of the city’s top retail destinations as soon as it opened
Connected: This picture shows the proposed metro station which would pass through the earth-scraper just below ground level
When the Spanish arrived in America and ultimately conquered the Aztecs, they erected Christian churches on top of the pyramids. Eventually their whole colonial city was built over the Aztec one. In the 20th century, many colonial buildings were demolished and modern structures raised on the existing historic foundations. Esteban added: ‘The Earthscraper digs down through the layers of cities to uncover our roots.
Novelty: No other public building extends so far beneath the ground
Technical: The building would be an extraordinary feat of engineering
Today: The plaza, shown as it looks currently, would be transformed by the radical plan
Hotel – Sleepbox 01 by Arch Group
Russian architects Arch Group have completed the first of their tiny hotel rooms for napping at airports.
The Sleepbox unit at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport contains two beds and can be rented for between 30 minutes and several hours.
The pod is equipped with LED reading lamps as well as sockets for charging laptops and mobile phones.
This booth is constructed from ash-veneered MDF, although future units could instead be made from metal or glass-reinforced plastic.
Here’s some more information from Arch Group:
Sleepbox
Imagine the situation where you are in a modern city, you are not a local resident, and you have not booked a hotel. It is not a comfortable situation because modern aggressive cities give you no opportunity to rest and relax. If you want to sleep while waiting for your plane or train, you face many security and hygiene problems.
We believe that urban infrastructure should be more comfortable. For this purpose we have developed Sleepbox. It provides moments of quiet sleep and rest without wasting time in search for a hotel.
Possible locations for Sleepbox include:
- Railroad stations
- Airports
- Exhibition centers
- Public and shopping centers
- Accommodation facilities
In countries with a warm climate, Sleepbox can be used outdoors.
Sleepbox allows everybody in unforeseen circumstances to spend a night safely and inexpensively or simply to kill a few hours without leaving the luggage.
Sleepbox is a small mobile compartment (box) with a 2.5×1.6m base and 2.5-3m height. One of its main advantages is its ability to be installed in the airport “clean” zone, just in front of the gates. This is precisely the area where travelers have to spend hours waiting for their delayed flights or transfer
Currently we offer one-, two-, or three-bed Sleepboxes, which can be made of MDF (wood), metal, and glass-reinforced plastic. Sleepbox allows from 30 min to several hours of paid use. The price varies depending on the number of hours in use: the more the user pays for, the less it costs per hour.
Sleepbox base features include ventilation and sockets for notebook and mobile phone chargers. Space for luggage is under the bed, and each bed has a nightstand. In addition to general lighting, Sleepbox has built-un LED reading lamps. Windows are equipped with electric-drive blinds for privacy
Sleepbox’s main function is to afford a restful sleep. However, depending on location, it can be equipped with additional features.
Available options include:
- Matted film on windows with changing transparency
- Mood lighting – LED lamps with changing light colors
- Built-in media block (TV, touch-screen monitor)
- Wi-Fi router
- Alarm, intercom
- Safe deposit box
- Built-in payment station with magnetic keys
In mid-August 2011, the first Sleepbox was installed at the Aeroexpress terminal of Sheremetyevo International Airport, Moscow, Russia. It represents the base version made of MDF with a natural ash-tree veneer. This Sleepbox attracted such a great deal of interest from passengers and big companies that chances are first commercially operated boxes will be installed at airports and in the city by the end of this year.Area: 4 m2
Architectural bureau: Arch group
Architects: M. Krymov, A.Goryainov
Design: 2009
Realization: 2011
Barud House by Paritzki & Liani Architects
Barud House by Paritzki & Liani Architects
Barud – a warning call shouted by construction workers before exploding the rock mountain in Jerusalem.
It is superfluous to emphasize that, from our very first visit to the site, impressed by a pink Cyclamen growing out of the rocky face, we decided to allow ourselves to be guided by the raw state of the terrain.
A bare cliff face is visible through the abutting glass walls of a Jerusalem house.
The two-storey house was recently completed by architects Paritzki & Liani, who are based in Tel Aviv.
The L-shaped ground floor of the house is positioned beside the rock face whilst the top floor tunnels into it.
The building has a chequered white facade of Jerusalem stone that is exposed on both the exterior and interior walls.
The residence is named Barud House, after the traditional Israeli warning call for an imminent mountain explosion.
Our treatment of the site emerged from this stabilitas loci, which we subdivided into three main themes: Jerusalem, a city of rock and stone; wide aerial views; and the sacred architecture of multiple religions intersecting in the skyline. These images composed the texture and backdrop for the project.
The house is positioned accordant to the mountain by constructing its first floor as an L-shape juxtaposed to an exposed rock wall. The living space, screened by glass mediates between a view of the minimal and pure geometric form of the rock on one side, and the landscape panorama on the other.
The two upper volumes, in contrast, project from the landscape, they converge with the rock forming a tunnel. The passageway leads from +6 metres at the top of the site, down to a subterranean room at +3 metres, descending further, to a sequestered subsidiary entrance.
Whether from the road, or a path which curls between the drywalls and cypress trees of a nearby property, the house appears a woven surface, even a bas-relief. The effect is composed by alternating 2cm projections of 53 x 25 cm modules of Jerusalem stone. The patterned surface establishes a powerful relationship between the building and the variations in light conditions throughout the day, and the passing seasons.
The composition of natural contours, the mountain, and the house draws out a near serigraphic effect between the constructed and natural landscapes.
If on the outside the chiaroscuro pattern seems screen-printed, the building’s interior allows light to penetrate its volumes, accentuating depth. Daily life in the house runs parallel to the exposed rock, separated by only a slender gap, or wadi: a tribute to the winter rain and snow.
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