Big Dig House by SsD Architects

"SsD Architects designed the Big Dig house in Lexington, Massachusetts.

As a prototype building that demonstrates how infrastructural refuse can be salvaged and reused, the structural system for this house is comprised of steel and concrete discarded from Boston’s Big Dig utilizing over 600,000 lbs of salvaged materials from elevated portions of the dismantled I-93 highway. Planning the reassembly of the materials in as if it were a pre-fab system, subtle spatial arrangements are created. These materials however are capable of carrying much higher loads than standard structure, easily allowing the integration of large scale roof gardens. Most importantly, the project demonstrates an untapped potential for the public realm: with strategic front-end planning, much needed community programs including schools, libraries, and housing could be constructed whenever infrastructure is deconstructed, saving valuable resources, embodied energy, and taxpayer dollars."

Source: Contemporist

The Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Crossing, Dubai

"The Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Crossing is a new 1.7 kilometer bridge, which will be the largest and tallest spanning arch bridge in the world. The bridge’s form, a simple arch, is the most basic of structural solutions for spanning great distances. This particular application of the arch, however, is informed by the culture, topography, light, and script of the region. The structure visually connects to the earth, and then takes a bold leap. As it descends, the bridge touches down to embrace and frame the opera house. The structure again rises up and makes a lighter arch before ending in a gesture reaching skyward. The bridge also incorporates two metro lines."

Source: flylyf

Treehouse / RPA

Located on a high eastern-facing ridge with views downtown Los Angeles in the distance, the Banyan Treehouse is a diminutive art studio and sanctuary. Rockefeller Partners was originally commissioned by this client to design a house that was ultimately never realized. Working together once again on this project, architect and client were able to revisit some of the design elements that they had originally explored in a different context, such as the striking butterfly roofline.

Perched atop steel pylons that abstractly emulate natural branches, the project is not literally a tree house but rather a modern interpretation of one. The design pays the ultimate respect to the pre-existing tree, literally shaping itself around the contours of the trunk. Inside, a single glass cut out in the floor reconnects the tree house inhabitant to the tree itself, a respectful and subtle nod to Mother Nature.

Every surface of the tree house is appointed with wood, creating an unparalleled level of warmth. The exterior is clad with high-grade cedar while the underside of the eaves and the structure itself are clad with rich palope. Inside, the walnut floors are complemented by walnut paneled walls.

Serving both as a studio and as guest accommodation, the tree house is completely self-sufficient with a water closet, fireplace, refrigerator, daybed, and television. Outside, a quick walk down the stairs leads to a protected and private outdoor shower.

Source: Arch Daily

Ferrari World Prepares for Grand Opening in Abu Dhabi Next Year

"If you had the occasion to watch the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which capped the end of the 2009 Formula One World Championship, you may have gotten a glimpse of a giant red structure with a huge Ferrari emblem on the roof. What you're looking at is Ferrari World, the first Ferrari theme park, being built on the man-made Yas Island resort in Abu Dhabi.

The complex stands as the largest indoor park in the world, encompassing some 2 million square feet under a giant 150-foot-high red steel roof sporting the largest Ferrari logo in the world. Out of the top protrudes a 200-foot g-force drop tower, accompanying the world's fastest roller coaster, a flume ride simulating a Ferrari engine and kart tracks among its 20+ attractions. Of course there'll be plenty of restaurants and shopping opportunities that go along with any theme park as well. This one is set to open its doors some time next year as part of an ongoing initiative to turn the United Arab Emirates into a leading tourist destination."

Source: Luxist

Glass House by Nico Van Der Meulen Architects

"Nico Van Der Meulen Architects designed the Glass House in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Glass House by Nico Van Der Meulen Architects

The house is situated on a 4000 sq.m site, with a total floor area of 2500sq.m. The owner requested a modern, glamorous, open plan, light-filled house with views from all rooms into the garden.

The shape on the south side is a half circle, forming a horseshoe on the north side. Approaching the house form the gate the driveway is elevated to allow glimpses thru’ the house to the garden and raised water feature on the other side of the house.

The porte cochere is a suspended glass and stainless steel structure, with view into the house and a stainless steel and glass staircase, suspended over a heated pond, (which in summer acts as a temperature stabilizer, and in winter as a giant heater) with a circular, raised glass water feature in the background, framed by a beam two storeys high.

To the right is a small sunken formal lounge, and to the left a timber-clad lift tower. The dining room is raised a couple of steps above the family room. The window to the dining room is a 6m high curved glass enclosure, where each sheet of glass leans over further than the previous sheet, with glass fins holding it in position.

The frameless glass folding doors starts at the dining room, and stretches for nearly 70m around the dining room, family room, lanai, indoor pool and gym.

The family room is partially double volume, flowing seamlessly into the lanai and heated indoor pool, with a bar, pizza oven, gas and wood braai.

The kitchen leads off the family room and dining room, with a pair of automatic, frameless sandblasted doors leading from the dining room to the kitchen. A breakfast area and playroom are adjacent to the kitchen, allowing the younger kids to be supervised from the kitchen and family room, and allowing direct access to the bar and barbeque area from the kitchen.

An atrium between the family room and the kitchen allows the family to ventilate and cool the house naturally, without compromising their security, while a roller shutter door drops down automatically when the alarm is activated, cutting the top floor off from the ground floor.

The walls to the family room and bar is clad with marble strips, with glass inlays and LED strip lights.

You can jump from the main bedroom into the pool, swim to the gym, swim back and use the steel spiral staircase to go back to the main bedroom , or tip a tipsy friend into the pool from his barstool!

The lanai opens up totally to the outdoor pool with a deck, spilling into a kid’s splash pool at the bottom.
A basement under the house have parking for about 12 cars, with a view into the pool, and a top-lit art gallery which forms the passage between the garages and the lift.

A feature wall opposite the living areas is clad in stone from Jerusalem, with a tree aloe growing in front of it. The stone comes from buildings hundreds of years old, being demolished in Israel to make space for development. The same stone is used in the dining room, flowing thru’ the glass wall to the outside.

The study is a glass box at the top of the staircase, with a view over the pools at the bottom. A large playroom is situated next to it, with an intimate home theater and kitchenette, leading to a large balcony with a shaded porch. The main bedroom on the other side of the hall is reached via a gallery looking down into the dining room and out to the garden.

The main suite has a small lounge and built-in kitchenette, with a drop-down screen and projector built into the bulkhead.

The main bathroom is a study in glass and transparency: The North and east walls are glass and slides open, even if privacy is required, the doors can be left open and the automatic blinds can be lowered, still allowing views and ventilation, but looking translucent from outside.

A large balcony off the main bedroom is partially covered, granting respite from the summer sun, or allowing all fresco early morning coffee or late afternoon drinks, while a staircase to the roof allows views over the surrounding suburb and towards Midrand.

The double volume glass enclosure over the pool can be opened from the balcony outside the children’s bedrooms, allowing a cooling updraft over the pool.

From another balcony the door overlooking the double volume in the family room can be opened, again resulting in a cooling chimney effect to the living areas.

Visit the website of Nico Van Der Meulen Architects – here."

Source: Contemporist

Marrom House / Isay Weinfeld

Architect: Isay Weinfeld
Location: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Built area: 635sqm
Year: 2004
Photographs: Leonardo Finotti

"This is a 4-level house built for a family of 4 – a couple and 2 teenage kids. Very informal people, they wanted a warm, comfortable house where they could all host friends and have fun together.

From the street a few steps up, one enters the house on ground level. Wide living areas – sitting, dining and TV rooms – were designed all in succession and open onto the garden, the patio and even the pool so as to allow for full integration between spaces, and interaction between guests.

Privacy is yet possible to get in this house, as large doors may slide out from recesses in the walls and separate rooms as necessary.

Family bedrooms and a private sitting room were placed on the first floor, while roof top was turned into a large terrace for overview of the surroundings."

Source: Arch Daily

Atlantic Yards - Next Home of the New Jersey Nets

"Bruce Ratner originally looked to Frank Gehry to design the Atlantic Yards’ basketball arena, a 22 acre development project in Brooklyn. Gehry’s scheme looked promising as the arena and surrounding buildings were carefully categorized in different zones and then reassembled to create “startling urban moments.” When Gehry was fired early in the summer and replaced by Kansas-based firm Ellerbe Becket, many were worried that the project would not be realized with the care Gehry had given it. When Becket’s original design seemed below par, Ratner quickly hired SHoP Architects to get the design back on track.

This past week, Becket and SHoP unveiled the third version of the 675,000 sft arena. This design incorporates some of Gehry’s original ideas, like opening views from the sidewalk into the arena. SHoP’s new façade, a rust-colored skin woven out of weathered steel panels, has a certain sense of toughness that helps it fit into its surroundings. Perforated holes will make the building appear to glow at night.

The latest design consists of three separate but woven bands. The first engages the ground as the steel exterior rises and lowers to create a sense of visual transparency. The second band is made of glass that permits views from inside and outside. A third band floats around the roof varying in transparency.

In the beginning, the project, although many parts, was thought of as one big scheme. Yet to defer additional costs, Mr. Ratner divided up the design. This has worried many who feel that once the arena is built, it may be years before the rest of the project is any where near completion. Yet according to Ratner, once the arena is finished, the foundations for the residential and commercial buildings will be dug, once he is ready to start the next stage of construction. It is important for the whole design to keep progressing, for the sum is greater than the individual arena.

As seen in The New York Times reported by Nicolai Ouroussoff"

Source: Arch Daily

Villa O in Cap Ferrat

"Villa O is a contemporary rental home located in Cap Ferrat in southeastern France.

Villa O in Cap Ferrat:

Palms and pines line the winding route down into St Jean. Pass the pretty bars and restaurants, the beret clad artists, Jean Cocteau street sculpture, the port filled with sleek yachts and families on the sandy beach. The chauffeur turns up the private road to Villa O. And there it is – tiers of terraces, shields of glass, a tricolor of white walls, cobalt sky and pine green trees.

The light and space are overwhelming. A champagne cork pops and canapés are served on the vast semi circular balcony. Below, a whirl of activity sees your cases brought inside to be carefully unpacked. The villa is beautifully set up to make you feel totally relaxed and totally at home.

There are over 4,500 square meters of gardens. Lavender lined pathways provide panoramic views over the peninsula. A cornucopia of flowers bursts through rockery walls. Olive, Cyprus and eucalyptus trees give shape and shade; jasmine, rosemary and jacaranda perfume the entire estate. Soft, manicured lawns undulate to an aquamarine pool. A wooden footbridge leads to our two bedroom, magic garden, Tent house Suite.

A Balinese style pool house provides shade in which to read, dine or snooze away a hot summer afternoon. Step into the infinity pool that curves around the garden. Cocktail in hand, gaze out over the bay filled with yachts. Breakfast, lunch and dinner can be served in your suite, on the terrace, in the dining room, on the lawn or by the pool (either pool of course). Dinner at 8 or a midnight feast with lanterns. Attention to detail is phenomenal because that’s how we like it.

Visit the Villa O website – here."

Source: Contemporist