© Aleix Bagué

Architects: Coll-Barreu Arquitectos – Juan Coll-Barreu, Daniel Gutiérrez Zarza
Location: Vitoria, Spain
Project Area: 12,974 sqm
Completion: 2011
Photographs: Aleix Bagué

© Aleix Bagué

The E8 building is the result of a design competition called with the intention of highlight an ambitious expansion of Alava Technology Park, an institutional commitment to research whose validity and future should be represented by the building. The Park will rent or sell the full building by plants or by modules. The design should incorporate this uncertainty in use, which was taken as a positive requirement. The architecture must allow modify programs and adapt to uses, be transformable, such as the old buildings. Paradoxically, the building then gains in stability, in possibilities: we can say that the building wins time.

© Aleix Bagué

The extension determined by planning supposed to move forward land close to pastures and oak forests. We wanted that, despite the obligated transformations that the arrival of buildings produce, the history of the place remained, with their layers of time, with his memory, with the memory of its form. E8 Building rises, is crossed, flies and looks. So, natural landscape is present. We believe that this is important, that it is civilizing. But it seems even more important that, if in the future the landscape turns in one and another side of the building, if nature disappears, its memory can remain in the artificial improvisation of a few folds of glass. The building will then be a record, a register, a safeguard.

1st floor plan

The E8 Building develops a climate control strategy based on an internal very isolated waterproof shell and another envelope, exterior, ventilated, that works like a parasol. In winter, the intermediate chamber is a mattress that distances the building from the cold outside. On warm days, the system produces a natural shot which cools the interior façade by pressure differences. This results into significant savings in consumption and a huge reduction in emissions.

© Maxwell MacKenzie Architectural

Architects: Robert M. Gurney Architect
Location: Albemarle County, Virginia, USA
Project Architect: Claire L. Andreas
Completed: November 2011
Photographs: Maxwell MacKenzie Architectural

© Maxwell MacKenzie Architectural

Rolling pastures, bordered with dark, stained fences interspersed in woodlands define the Albemarle County, Virginia countryside where this project is located. The new house is sited at the edge of woodland on the crest of a hill, providing vantage view points of the pastures and distant treetops.

© Maxwell MacKenzie Architectural

The house is conceived of three gable-roofed pavilions that provide a threshold between the woodlands and the pastures, taking advantage of two very different scenic panoramas. The one room deep, central living pavilion contains large expanses of glass along two walls, affording views of both the woods and rolling horse pastures.

© Maxwell MacKenzie Architectural

This configuration insures the space will be flooded with light at all times of the day throughout the year. A screened porch and bluestone terrace, running the length of the house provides a stage to view sunsets over the pastures while a manicured lawn and dry-stacked slate wall provide an ordered transition from the house to the woods beyond.

axonometric

Gable roofs with black, standing seam metal, clapboard siding and the small scale of the separated pavilions evoke a familiar, comfortable rural vernacular. The large expanses of glass, cement board paneling and crisp, minimal detailing render the house decidedly modern.

Courtesy of Atelier Zündel Cristea

The competition winning proposal for the Terrace 9 Housing Complex in Nanterre, France by Atelier Zündel Cristea aims to restore the human scale and legibility necessary for creating large and enjoyable public spaces, capable of attracting people from beyond the city and the Hauts de Seine region. They do this by taking into account the urban project’s varying relief, both natural and artificial, with the coexistence of road and rail transportation networks and the structures of colossal scale such networks required. More images and architects’ description after the break.

Courtesy of Atelier Zündel Cristea

Extending out from the axis of La Défense, the site encompasses an exceptionally vast terrain, in which a train classification yard, railroad site, segment of highway, areas used for unregulated parking, all remain to be urbanized. The urban block making up the project is bounded to the north by an “uncommon walkway,” the artificial garden that covers the RER A suburban train tunnel, to the south by the 9th Terrace, to the east by a staircase with vegetation, and to the west by the Boulevard des Provinces Françaises. The block is comprised essentially of residential housing and premises for businesses and activities. At this precise spot, the RER A resurfaces from underground, strongly conditioning the future architectural project.

Courtesy of Atelier Zündel Cristea

The block is within Nanterre’s municipal 9th Terrace, measuring around 113 meters by 21m wide. With the intention of avoiding an effect of mass, the building specifications describe procedures for the cutting and sequencing of volumes. To these various rules of building positioning, we propose a simple response: an organization of three principal volumes stemming from a large common base structure (ground floor + 3). Their dimensions in design allow the development of the maximum quantity of residential housing and activity space, equipped with double orientation. The Nanterre Terraces is an urban project distinguished by its character at once monumental and scenic, its public space adapting to the city’s layout, in play with the surrounding landscape. We propose an architecture that adapts to this urban and programmatic context in better assuming and responding to the project’s multiple challenges.

Courtesy of Atelier Zündel Cristea

One of the principal challenges of the project is the creation of a new identity for the neighborhood. This involves a coherent architectural expression distinguishing itself clearly from neighboring La Défense. The architectural work that we propose takes into account the general criteria of pleasure and quality of life. The challenge is to devise efficient and desirable collective residential housing, producing the most generous, accessible, and comfortable amount of space around each structure.

Courtesy of Atelier Zündel Cristea

Our project entails two architectural sequences, clearly differentiated and recognizable: The first sequence is composed of “an urban building”, continuous with the multifunctional base. This building, designed in L volume, serves as the prow of the whole, expressing in this fact the project’s urban character. Sharply exposed to Boulevard des Provinces Françaises and to the noise of the RER, this urban building conveys a monolithic air, solid and reassuring. Its qualities and its reassuring aspect will be determined by the rigor of its bay window design, the choice of materials for its facades, the utilization of colors resistant to blackening and urban pollution. Viewed from the terraces below, the facades will play with the contrast between their clear, luminous frames and supporting brick lintel siding.

The second architectural sequence is composed of “two landscaped buildings” gently positioned on the base. In their unfolding, the two landscaped buildings will be in contrast to the first sequence. Entirely destined for the use of housing, the two towers will unfold in a series of stacked terraces, in direct relation with the gardens surrounding. The terraces of extended, double height will permit the planting of significant amounts of greenery, as well as creating a gradual transition from the exterior space of the city to the interior of the residences. In this architecture there is no notion of a principal or street or garden facade. The two buildings face gardens on all sides.

Our architectural project is not limited to volumes and facades. It takes into account the quality of life of its users, the questions and interests of management, and environmental quality. And as this last concern is often measured via the durability of buildings, by their flexibility in assuming new functions and usages, we have kept forefront in mind their capacity to evolve and adapt.

The Nanterre Terrace 9 block makes up a coherent whole, responding to its programmatic needs at each level. The facades present with clarity the project’s two primary concepts: the base with its continuous building expresses the urban element, while the two buildings express the more spontaneous element of the landscape.

Architects: Atelier Zündel Cristea
Location: Nanterre, France
Client: Bouygues Immobilier
Developer: EPADESA
Contractors: Bouygues Bâtiment/Cardonnel
Cost: 20 M€ (before tax)
Surface: 12,200 m²
Mission: Study + Construction
Project: 140 new residential housing units, cultural facility, business center
Environmental Approach: BEPAS/BEPOS Building

HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan © Architecture

AIA President Jeff Potter welcomed everyone this morning by restating his promise that the 2012 convention would inspire all who attend. With a consistent theme focusing on the architects commitment to service, President Potter welcomed Shaun Donovan – the 15th United States Secretary for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – as today’s keynote speaker. However, before Secretary Donovan took the stage, the 2012 AIA Vice President Mickey Jacob invited the crowd to come, stay and explore the mile-high city of Denver for the 2013 National Convention.

With “Leadership For Architecture…Leadership Beyond Architecture” as the theme, the AIA’s 2013 National Convention will focus on increasing connectivity with the public to expand awareness of architecture and tell the story of how our leadership affects the quality of life, the built environment, and the sustainable lifestyle that everyone deserves. Follow this link to learn more on how you can become involved.

VJAA © Architecture

Immediately following, President Potter awarded Mortimer Marshall, Jr., FAIA with the 2012 Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award and the collaborative practice VJAA with the 2012 AIA Architecture Firm Award, as both recipients have had a profound impact on the profession. Soon after, twenty-four former AIA presidents stormed the stage to honor this year’s Gold Medal to the legendary Steven Holl, FAIA.

Gold Medalist Steven Holl © Architecture

The Gold Medalist expressed his belief that “today, more than ever, the language of architecture is open”, encouraging practitioners to define their own path and partake in “architecture’s unspoken power to transform the quality of our day-to-day lives.”

Steven Holl © Architecture

Holl’s brisk, yet inspiring lecture was then followed an optimistic presentation by AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker on the past, present and future of the American economy. Although extreme business cycles are the norm in our profession, the audience cringed when Baker reported that 60,000 architectural jobs have been lost since the recession began. However, as ABI continues to improve, commercial and industrial activity is picking up momentum and architects across the country are gaining hope.

President Potter transition the conversation back to the keynote speaker and the fundamental idea of how to transcend the role of the architect and encourage the architectural community in the wake of the recession.

Since 2009, Secretary Donovan has made it his mission to ensure access to safe, decent and affordable housing to all and has continued that effort in the Obama Administration. He believes that America’s homes are the foundation for family, safe neighborhoods, good schools and job creation. Sworn in at a time when American families were devastated by the foreclosure crises, Secretary Donovan has worked tirelessly to help stabilize the housing market and keep responsible families in their homes. His work is is passion, and it shows.

Throughout the speech, Secretary Donovan reaffirmed HUD’s commitment to build strong, sustainable, inclusive neighborhoods that are connected to education and jobs, thus offering a fair shot to all Americans. However, in order for everyone to have a fair shot, everyone must also give their fair share. The question is, how will you give your fair share?

© FG+SG

Architects: Brullet-De Luna Arquitectes + Pinearq – Albert de Pineda Àlvarez (Pinearq), Manuel Brullet Tenas and Alfonso de Luna (Brullet-De Luna Arquitectes)
Location: Sant Joan Despí, Barcelona, Spain
Completion: 2010
Collaborators: Marcial Novo Mazuelos, Juan Sainz de los Terrenos
Area: 45,725 sqm
Photographs: FG+SG – Fernando Guerra, Sergio Guerra, Brullet-De Luna Arquitectes, Pinearq

© FG+SG

The Sant Joan Despí Doctor Moisès Broggi’s Hospital is a new construction that caters for a population of 300.000 people from the towns of Baix Llobregat country, Barcelona. The disposition and organization of the hospital inside the plot is determined by the access, the orientation and the topographic conditions of the land.

© FG+SG

The access conditions and the relationship with the surroundings explain the adopted solution. In fact, the land has a long limiting area located towards the north where the Baix Llobregat Avenue is. The main access is located along the South East of the plot, on the highest point, where one can access the outpatient area. The entrance is independent and is located on the North façade of the Baix Llobregat Avenue, where there is an easier access because of the public transport.

© FG+SG

Moreover, with the idea of differentiating the entrances according to the function, the emergency access is located on the extreme North East of the site. This access is located on the lowest point, one floor under the main entrance. Finally, the loading and unloading area is located in this part.

© FG+SG

A compact building has been created in order to solve the following technical and functional concepts:
1. Specialization of Circulation:
To achieve a healthcare corridor and a public corridor which have no interference between one and the other, and allow a clear orientation for public users with the constant relationship between exterior and interior of the building. From this point, the solution is to locate the Assistance care zones in the basement -1, to avoid having patient rooms on the entrance floor. An independent entrance for the outpatient services allows the access to external visitors from two different entrances.

© FG+SG

2. Hospitalization Units:
The wards are organized with all the patient rooms orientated towards the South and to the new park, with views onto a wooded area which is very quiet. No hospitalization unit has been left isolated from the rest, allowing the healthcare workers to interrelate and to stay in constant communication. This has been achieved locating four units on the first floor, three units on the second and another three units on the third floor.

© FG+SG

3. Outpatient Facilities
This area is distinguished from the rest of the hospital area, in order to improve its function. The built wards are wider in order to adapt to the different timetables and to maximize natural lighting through overhead lighting, no need of extra patios and building a compact premise to reduce the operating costs.

4. Building Volume
An extensive building together with an important green area has been achieved, as well as a reduction of the public internal corridors in order to give the hospital a more rational function. Besides it being a compact building and concentrating various spaces underground, patios also play an important part of the design, allowing the different spaces and rooms to have natural light. Despite being a large building, a discrete urban mark is intended.

second floor plan

5. Sustainability
Sustainability has been part of the design process since the beginning. Energy efficiency has been obtained thanks to the building’s orientation, closed towards the North and open towards the South, and façade design, with brise-soleils controlling the natural sunlight. Improvements has been achieved also through technical and mechanical equipments such as photovoltaic installations and rainwater re-use systems.