vongundlach.com

Photo by Janelle – http://www.flickr.com/photos/janelle/

The Alden B. Dow Home and Studio, design by architect Alden Dow himself, masterfully incorporates work and domestic life in an interwoven fabric with the natural world. Using patented “Unit Blocks” the structure is given a sense of organicism and scale. A winding circulation serves to both separate programs within the home and add organic interest to the plan.

Photo by Terry Johnston – http://www.flickr.com/photos/powerbooktrance/

Alden Dow’s style can be said to resemble that of Frank Lloyd Wright, and rightfully so as Dow served as apprentice to Wright in the summer of 1933. Dow’s concept of creating a home and studio was influenced greatly by Wright. The idea was also implemented at Taliesin East, Wright’s home, studio and educational facility, where Dow’s apprenticeship took place.

Photo by MI SHPO – http://www.flickr.com/photos/mishop/

Strategically placed alongside a stream, plum grove and garden, the Home and Studio’s connection to its natural surroundings is reinforced. This went along with Dow’s definition of organic architecture as the idea that “…gardens never end and buildings never begin.”

Photo by Terry Johnston – http://www.flickr.com/photos/powerbooktrance/

The elaborate and labyrinthine circulation allows for divergence from paths. Hidden views are revealed and deviating rooms beckon visitors to push further. These paths represent a mixture of form and function coming together seamlessly.

Photo by MI SHPO – http://www.flickr.com/photos/mishop/

The brightly colored interior spaces are warmly lit by a mixture of natural light from above and from walls of glazing. Low openings lead to bright open spaces. Sweeping roof lines allow for a description of studio spaces as “…an improbable ziggurat of glass, copper, and specialty shaped cinder blocks.”

Architect: Alden Dow
Location: Midland, Michigan, USA
Project Year: 1937-1940
References: Alden B. Dow Home and Studio
Photographs: MI SHPO, Janelle, Terry Johnston

© trint + kreuder d.n.a

Architects: trint + kreuder d.n.a
Location: Memmingen, Germany
Client: City of Memmingen
Project Year: 2011
Project Area: 15,726 sqm
Photographs: Wettbewerbe Aktuell, trint + kreuder d.n.a

Elsbethen Site

Following the recent historical renovation of the market place and wine market in the northern and central part of Memmingen’s historic district, the Elsbethen area has now been restored. Extensive redevelopment of this area in the south of the old town and its characteristic Schrannenplatz will furnish this space with the vibrancy that will once again provide the neighbourhood with the urban impetus it needs.

© Wettbewerbe Aktuell

Urban Repairs at Schrannenplatz

The Medieval Schrannenplatz, site of the historic corn exchange, used to be much smaller. It was bounded by the main winterer corn exchange (Winterschranne) and by the summer corn exchange/barley store (Sommerschranne/Gerstenstadl) and the grain store (Haberhaus). Since the demolition of the Winterschranne in the early 1950s all attempts to transform the square into a dynamic urban space have been unsuccessful – the resulting space’s physical dimensions were too vast, its edges too diverse and the area’s functions too unattractive.

Site Plan

The demolition works that saw off the problematic 1960s buildings on the north-eastern edge of the square as well as parts of Lindenstraße helped to define a clear eastern edge to the square, which now forms the counterpart to the historic blue house on the corner of Hirschgasse. The buildings forming the square’s new perimeter acknowledge the scale of the Medieval buildings. The two-storey double facades of the ‘Neue Schranne’ building, with its side-gabled composition of facades and roof elevations, tie in with the scale of their historical surroundings.

© trint + kreuder d.n.a

Gables Facing Lindentorstraße Add Drama

The gable-shaped rooflines of the new offices and commercial buildings along Lindentorstraße present themselves as a dramatic counterpart to the Medieval forward-facing gables. This is achieved with three different reinterpretations: a representative continuation of the square’s elevation, a steep double gable, and a sculptural metal plaque in the form of the ‘Neue Schmiede’, the new forge, above the entrance to the underground car park.

© trint + kreuder d.n.a

Elsbethenhof within the urban fabric

The convent of the Order of Saint Augustine to the north of Schrannenplatz was founded in the 13th century. After the convent’s closure in the 16th century, its courtyard became the hub of young life as it served as the Elsbethenschule’s schoolyard. Not until the school’s relocation some 15 years ago did it lose its significance as a characteristic urban space, and was subsequently neglected as a backyard to the surrounding commercial properties. This space, which once sheltered nuns and schoolchildren from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, has once again become a contemplative place for slowing down. A moderate provision of new functions – the theatre restaurant and a health food shop – offers ample reason to visit the courtyard. New access routes to Schrannenplatz and the theatre courtyard ensure its appealing integration into the urban fabric. Here most of all, at the interface of theatre courtyard and Schrannenplatz, the project’s indulgence in ‘luxury’ becomes evident. It is the luxury of building the kinds of streets and squares that have evolved from picturesque Medieval roots and which are no longer a feature of modern urban planning.

Section

© Forrest Jessee

Forrest Jessee has recently unveiled his Sleep Suit inspired by Buckminster Fuller’s practice of Dymaxion Sleeping – 30-minute naps over 24 hours – while simultaneously exploring the materiality requirements to accommodate such a function. Interaction between the human body and the suit is the form generator as well as the threshold medium between the internalized occupant and their immediate surroundings.

© Forrest Jessee

The suit is comprised of structural pleats that serve multiple purposes. The interrelation between the occupant and the surroundings are challenged through the reinterpretation of personal space, and offer opportunity for varying sensations of associated temporality.  The EVA foam pleats ensure the internal environment is breathable, while offering comfortable support for the body in numerous positions. Thus, the main emphasis is that you can take your 30-minute nap in virtually any location, while filtering the immediate surroundings without completely disconnecting the occupant.

© Forrest Jessee

Laser cut from a single sheet of material, this Sleep Suit is easily manufactured, with opportunities for other geometrical forms to be utilized in place of pleats such as honeycomb or corrugations. Currently trying to find an interested manufacturer, the Sleep Suit has applied for a patent.

© Forrest Jessee

This could be the answer to all those all-nighters that students of architecture endure prior to final studio presentations. Why waste time sleeping for 8 hours when you have the Sleep Suit!

Dymaxion Sleep Chart © Forrest Jessee

References: www.spectacular.com
Photographs: Forrest Jessee

This week, with the help of our readers, our Architecture City Guide is headed to Shanghai. Shanghai is noted for having more Art Deco buildings than any other city, including László Hudec’s Park Hotel, which is not on our list but will be added in a future guide. Like many cities in China, Shanghai’s rapid growth has meant a boon in contemporary architecture styles. We put together a list of 12 modern/contemporary buildings that we feel provides a good starting point. It is far from complete. There are dozens of other great buildings that are not our list, and we are looking to add to the list in the near future. Please add your favorites in the comment section below so we can add them on the second go around. Again thank you to all our readers who sent in their suggestions and photographs. The city guides would not be possible without your help.

To check out other cities visit our world map or our Architecture City Guide page.
The Architecture City Guide: Shanghai list and corresponding map after the break.

• Shanghai Oriental Sports Center / gmp architekten
• Shanghai Museum of Glass / Logon Architecture
• Shanghai Houtan Park / Turenscape
• SPSI Art Museum / Wang Yan
• Shanghai World Financial Centre / KPF
• The Oriental Pearl Tower / Shanghai Modern Architectural Design Co. Ltd.
• Shanghai Science and Technology Museum/ RTKL with Shanghai Modern Design Group
• Jin Mao Tower / SOM (Adrian Smith)
• Giant Interactive Group Corporate Headquarters / Morphosis Architects
• Apple Store / Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
• Quingpu Pedestrian Bridge / CA-DESIGN
• Shanghai Museum / Xing Tonghe

View Architecture City Guide: Shanghai in a larger map

Photographs:
Xiao C 
Jakub Hałun
SimonQ錫濛譙
Mätes II.

© LEGO®

On September 1st LEGO® Architecture series will now include Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House. The 10th addition to the popular series, which aslo includes Wright’s Fallingwater and the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, the Robie House was one of the first properties to be declared a National Historic Landmark because of its architectural merit. The American Institute of Architects also listed the Chicago home as one of the 10 most significant structures of the 20th century.

Stay tuned to ArchDaily as we are going to have an exclusive surprise about the LEGO® Architecture Robie House just for our readers.  More images of LEGO® Architecture’s Robie House, designed by architectural artist Adam Reed Tucker, following the break.

© LEGO®

© LEGO®

© LEGO®

© Stink Finger / Bob Driessen

Architect: Studio Elmo Vermijs
Location: St. Oedenrode, Noord Brabant, Netherlands
Client: Land Art / BKKC / Forest Green
Project Manager: Erik Luermans
Collaborators: Quentin Corbey, Pieter Paul Pothoven, Henk Wiersma
Engineering: Frans Schippers
Local Companies: Ahrend (residuals), A. van Liempd demolition company, BAM construction company
Project Area: 12.5 meters long, 5.5 meters wide, 3.5 meters high
Project Year: 2011
Photographs: Stink Finger / Bob Driessen

© Stink Finger / Bob Driessen

On June 23, 2011 the Greenhouse Pavilion was officially opened. A pavilion which is built around the theme of meeting. Studio Elmo Vermijs was commissioned by Landart 2011 (initiated by Groene Woud and BKKC) to create a meeting place nearby a farm in Sint Oedenrode, the Netherlands. The pavilion was built almost entirely of residuals from the local company’s and refers to the many greenhouses present in the surrounding. To date, many organized activities, from a spontaneous picnic to storytelling, from business meeting to educational projects. Until the end of September, the Greenhouse Pavilion” can be booked through www.landkunst.nl.

© Stink Finger / Bob Driessen

Courtesy of Canadian Architectural Archives at the University of Calgary and the Toronto Archives

The first modern building in Toronto, City Hall built in 1965 and designed by Viljo Revell, was just one of 500 proposals that enter the international design competition between 1957 and 1958. Ideas to expand the Old City Hall began in 1925, followed by an array of proposals for a new place to house the municipal government and courts.  Mark Osbaldeston’s Unbuilt Toronto: A History of the City that Might Have Been covers in detail the design proposals for Toronto, and in particular, those proposals not selected for the new city hall. In 1955, before an international design competition was announced, the Toronto city council allowed citizens to vote on proposals by the firms Marani & Morris, Mathers & Haldenby, and Shore & Moffat. The general attitude toward the proposal was that it was drab and boxy and the public refused to support it. In response to this criticism, the city opened up the design of the new city hall in 1957. By April of 1958, 500 entries were submitted, filling CNE’s Horticulture Building with numerous models. The number was widdled down to eight finalists and finally Revell’s design was selected to be built. Viljo Revell’s design was the first iconic modern building to be built in Toronto, preceding Mies Van der Rohe’s TD Centre by a few years.

Come back after the break to browse through the seven other finalists that almost became Toronto’s City Hall.

Initial proposal by Marani & Morris, Mathers & Haldenby, and Shore & Moffat.

Courtesy of Canadian Architectural Archives at the University of Calgary and the Toronto Archives

Finalist Frank Mikutowski with Rafferty & Rafferty

Courtesy of Canadian Architectural Archives at the University of Calgary and the Toronto Archives

Finalist Halldor Gunnlogsson and Jorn Nielsen

Courtesy of Canadian Architectural Archives at the University of Calgary and the Toronto Archives

Finalist William Hayward

Courtesy of Canadian Architectural Archives at the University of Calgary and the Toronto Archives

Finalist Perkins and Will

Courtesy of Canadian Architectural Archives at the University of Calgary and the Toronto Archives

Finalist John H. Andrews and Macy Du Bois

Courtesy of Canadian Architectural Archives at the University of Calgary and the Toronto Archives

Finalist IM Pei and Associates

Courtesy of Canadian Architectural Archives at the University of Calgary and the Toronto Archives

Finalist David E Horne

Courtesy of Canadian Architectural Archives at the University of Calgary and the Toronto Archives

Via Blogto 

© Metrobox Architekten

Architects: Metrobox Architekten
Location: Cologne, Germany
Client: City of Cologne
Project Year: 2011
Photographs: metrobox architekten

Case History

Cologne Cathedral was completed 130 years ago and for 25 of those years skaters have firmly taken possession of Roncalliplatz in front of the southern facade. During this time, a separate culture was formed and for many, the square became an area that they identified with.

© Metrobox Architekten

However, in recent years the scene has been increasingly viewed as a problem. Established interest groups exerted pressure, and some were of the opinion that skating should simply be banned. The city was full of good intentions and wanted to resolve the conflict in cooperation with the skaters. There was no point of contact among the skaters; therefore, they had to concede and made skating difficult around the cathedral.

© Metrobox Architekten

This forced the skaters to act to avoid giving up their sport, since there were no other comparable alternatives in Cologne. In response, they did something completely unusual for their scene; they formed a society which gained over 500 members within a short span of time.

© Metrobox Architekten

The city now had a contact person during the conflict with whom they could discuss alternatives and who could speak clearly on behalf of the skaters’ interests, which people had only been able to assume up to that point. This created the possibility of being able to plan specifically for the skaters instead of building a standard facility that wouldn’t meet their actual needs.

© Metrobox Architekten

Concept

The basic design concept was created by overlaying the images associated with the square, its use and its location. People flow through the built-up urban landscape, each like a water droplet in a river. The skaters have made this flow of people into a game. Quiet, long drawn-out stretches with large radiuses alternating with jumping at obstacles, like the flowing and spraying of water in a river. The location of the square on the Rhine places this image in an appropriate scenic context.

Concept Sketch

The implementation of this concept in reality is achieved by overlaying the area with a virtual grid which has uniform building areas at the cross-over points. The grid and building areas represent urban elements and are taken from the urban environment.

Plan

However, to turn this stark grouping on a grid into a spontaneous arrangement that is optimal for this sport, the area had to be reorganized using a particular algorithm. This turned the building areas into structures of different sizes; they rise out of the landscape or sink into it to intersperse the space with green elements, meadows and trees. The basic structures are skate objects made from concrete and stand like stones covered by water in a river of flagstones.

© Metrobox Architekten

Realization

Due to its special use and its location on the flood plain, the square has to cope with many often contradictory challenges. The small hard skateboard wheels require a surface that is as level and smooth as possible to avoid grazing in the event of falls while ensuring the non-slip quality of the public square when it rains.

© Metrobox Architekten

The incline of the area must ensure Rhine flood water and rain run off completely, while not being too steep for skating. Skaters’ jumps as well as hard winters and flooding must not affect the quality of the square over the long term, which is ensured by its construction and the selection of materials. Finally, the budgets and deadline had to be observed, which were successful in both cases.

© Metrobox Architekten