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© Halkin Photography LLC

Architects: SMP Architects and SRK Architects
Location: Philadelphia, PA, USA
Developer: AP/BSI, a joint venture
Project Team: SMP Architects: Jane Rath, Jennifer Grafton, Scott Ritchie, Keith Simon; SRK Architects: Vincent Rivera, Craig Slater and Jovanny Ramos
Client: School District of Philadelphia
Project Area: 88,500 SF
Project Date: 2010
Photographs: Halkin Photography LLC.

© Halkin Photography LLC

The Kensington Creative and Performing Arts High School is the first LEED Platinum public high school in the United States. This new public high school for the School District of Philadelphia transformed a brownfield into a green school. The project teaches about living sustainably to students, teachers, staff and community. Perhaps the biggest lesson is that even deteriorated urban landscapes can be revitalized to become sources of hope for the future. While Kensington is one of the most down-trodden and dangerous areas in the City, there is movement to establish a sustainable community there. This new school is viewed by many as the symbol of that long term goal.

© Halkin Photography LLC

Since the site is located between two very different neighborhoods of Fishtown (rapidly gentrifying) and South Kensington (blue collar industrial), one goal of the project was to create a school to help bring these communities together. It was critical that the school be a welcoming, and transparent structure, engaging the exterior space around it. In addition, the site and building were designed to encourage community use, while demonstrating green design principles relevant to this particular neighborhood.

© Halkin Photography LLC

Site challenges included extensive site contamination and the property’s reputation as a major drug dealing spot in the city. The EL was another obstacle, as the elevated track and station create a formidable visual presence. The school design developed spatial, acoustical and daylighting concepts to function well in spite of the EL. The U-shaped academic “building” allows daylight to reach far into each classroom, decreasing lighting and air conditioning loads. Acoustic needs of classrooms are met by placing them away from noise sources. The building’s central spine creates a compact, easy to navigate school building, offering views to landscaped courtyards, green roofs and site amenities. The U-shape also surrounds a small, protected garden area for classes and horticulture projects.

Main stair

The plan organization supports maximum community use. The gymnasium, cafeteria and the auditorium can be accessed directly from the outside and have independent mechanical systems, bathroom facilities, and lobbies, allowing independent after hours use. Students have been instructed by the Design Team on green features of the project in order to give tours to parents and community members.

Lowel Level Plan

The building’s low maintenance and energy efficient geothermal water source heat pump system, controlled by an energy management system, is a first for the District and should save as much as 30% in energy. Low flow plumbing fixtures use roof water run-off collected in cisterns. High efficiency electrical lighting is controlled by occupancy sensors. Interior and exterior materials were selected for environmental as well as aesthetic criteria.

Upper Level Plan

The site revitalization plan incorporates many strategies to eliminate storm water runoff: green roofs, porous paving, grass pavers, rain gardens and cisterns. This is critical as the Water Department recently instituted monetary penalties for storm water run-off. Landscaping utilizes native plants requiring no additional watering. The practice field’s low maintenance grass requires no water or mowing and is able to stand up to heavy use. At the front entry plaza a dramatic “recycled landscape” utilizing low maintenance plantings and recycled materials (pavers, concrete slabs and stone) from the original site has established a community focal point and favorite gathering spot.

Habitat 67 © cuttlefish via flickr – http://www.flickr.com/photos/cuttlefish/

Help choose which architectural masterpiece will become the next LEGO® Architecture model. The top nominees include Moshe Safdie’s prefabricated Montreal residential complex Habitat 67, London’s second tallest building known as ‘The Gherkin‘ by Foster & Partners and the famous Taiwanese high-rise Taipei 101. Cast your votes HERE and tell us which building is your favorite!

© Brice Desrez

Architects: atelier alassoeur architecture(s) / Emmanuel Alassoeur
Location: Indre, France
Client: Privé
Electrical Consultant: Etelec Potron
Mechanical Consultant: BETh Taupin
Project Year: 2009
Project Area: 326 sqm
Photographs: Brice Desrez

This project is located within a traditional residential area. It has a contemporary flair combined with the objectives of sustainable development. The building is set away from the public area, on the edge of the construction zone to allow a large view to the south.

Floor Plan

At some distance from the public area, the building branches out on the land and the various units capture the different lights of the day. These volumes also provide various open spaces adapted to the seasonal changes. The whole structure provides a single inner space open in all directions. It creates a shelter and the boundaries with the outside become blurred.

© Brice Desrez

The maconery base supports a wooden box covered with red cedar. This monolithic volume overhangs to provide a terrace and a sun shade.

Elevations & Sections

Elsewhere, galvanized steel accessories enliven the facades and protect from the sun. The flat terraced roofs accentuate the volumes and will soon be planted with vegetation. The whole house is controlled by home automation.

© Brice Desrez

Text provided by atelier alassoeur architecture

Courtesy of James Ramsey and Dan Barasch

As the Highline has everyone looking up, James Ramsey and Dan Barasch are asking people to start looking down. James Ramsey’s vision to transform the abandoned Williamsburg Bridge Trolley Terminal into a subterranean park filled with sunlight and lush vegetation is gaining international attention and support. The satellite engineer turned architect has developed a skylight using fiber-optic technology that will naturally light and bring life to this forgotten, graffiti-covered cavity below the streets of New York City.

Continue reading for more information, video and exclusive statements from Ramsey and Barasch.

Courtesy of James Ramsey and Dan Barasch

Controlled by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, this 1.5 acre SPURA (Seward Park Urban Renewal Area) plot has been vacant since 1948. The site runs about three blocks under Delancey Street between Essex Street and the entrance to the Williamsburg Bridge, just around the corner of RAAD (Ramsey Architecture And Design) studio.

Courtesy of James Ramsey and Dan Barasch

Delancey Underground, also referred as “The Low Line”, will be New York Cities first underground park. The project aims to become a safe and beautiful gathering space for local residents and an attraction for the Lower East Side.

ArchDaily had the opportunity to ask the project masterminds a couple questions.

Why are you doing this project? What motivates you?

James Ramsey: “The Delancey Underground project has many layers for me. From a design perspective, the idea that I might use this technological solution to completely and radically transform a historic space in a sci-fi and green way is incredibly compelling. From the perspective of someone whose architecture office is just down the street, it’s exciting that we might be able to revitalize our community by completely rethinking how public spaces are created.”

Daniel Barasch: “I am personally excited about the potential of reclaiming abandoned urban spaces to showcase new design and new technologies. I’m also motivated about the very real need to promote innovative cleaner energy sources to power humanity’s demands– and especially excited to be at the forefront of solar power. And as a resident of the Lower East Side with several generations of New Yorkers on both sides of my family, I’m proud to be part of an effort that could potentially enhance and positively transform one of America’s most historic neighborhoods.”

Which are the main challenges to get this project moving forward?

James Ramsey: “There are of course myriad technical issues involved in making this project a reality, but I am confident that we will be able to design solutions to all of these. Given the numerous overlapping layers of political and community interests in such a dense location, we will also need to work very closely with local organizations to build this together.”

Daniel Barasch: “Funding and political will. Right now our focus is on creating a sense of inevitability on both fronts: raising the capital required to explore the idea further and also to sustain and increase interest among political leaders and the community.”

Courtesy of James Ramsey and Dan Barasch

To ensure the success of the project, Ramsey and Barasch plan to conduct a formal feasibility study that will assess cost, impact and strategy. They hope to acquire enough funding for construction and maintenance costs through donations, grant money, public money and revenue. Increased political and community support will help the project immensely. A fundraiser event is planned for March and a large-scale technology demonstration will take place in May. The initial fundraising target is $450,000.

Peter Hine of MTA Real Estate gives an in-depth tour of the existing site.

Go to Delancey Underground for more information or to make a donation.

Reference: Delancey Underground, The New York Times, New York Observer

© Michael McLaughlin, McLaughlin Studios

Architect: Cox Power Architects
Location: Moyna, Kilmeena, Westport, County Mayo, Ireland
Project Team: John Cox, Sal Gallagher, Paul Janas, David Power, Finola Reilly, Martin Rybar
Client: Mayo County Council
Project Area: 1,180 sqm
Photographs: Michael McLaughlin, McLaughlin Studios

© Michael McLaughlin, McLaughlin Studios

This project by Cox Power Architects was recently awarded the 2011 RIAI Awards “Best Housing”. The site is located in the centre of Kilmeena Parish- a large geographical area spreading over many townlands between Westport and Newport County Mayo. The site is in close proximity to the local church, primary school, football pitch, golf course and local aquaculture industries. The client for the project was Mayo County Council and the brief was for a new community centre together with 14 new houses and a child care facility.

© Michael McLaughlin, McLaughlin Studios

Early discussions with the Architect’s department of the Local Authority centred on the need to create a new village centre which would become the focal point for the whole community and the wider Kilmeena Parish. The new buildings would also become the nucleus for future expansion of the village as the need arose.

Community Centre Plans

Different types of village settlement were considered from more formal planned estates with geometric street patterns to the more informal urban patterns of the clachan, island village or grouped farm buildings. The latter typologies were considered more appropriate given that many of the future residents would come from the surrounding rural hinterland.

Site Plan

The clachan model afforded the opportunity to create reasonably high densities on the site. (The built part of the site contains 14 dwellings, a community centre and a childcare facility on a foot print of just over 1 acre of ground.) Other advantages were that while some provision is made for terraced units people used to living in detached dwellings could continue to do so.

House B plan

Cranked street lines and set-backs were used to create sheltered communal spaces and neighbourhood meeting points including a street, village green, courtyard, square, and laneway.

House D plan

The laneway, located at the centre of the building group, has narrow “gateways” at each end enclosing a meandering green space with native planting. Passive surveillance is provided by overlooking from windows in the gables of adjacent dwellings. The gables are slightly tilted in plan to improve actual and perceived surveillance.

House E plan

The community centre provides multi-purpose community, arts and sport facilities. The mass of this typically large bulky building was re-modelled and the building lowered into the site to reduce its impact on the nearby houses.

Location

The project comprises a mixture of house types, sizes, tenures and designs. House depths are narrow to allow living spaces to have sunlight on all sides in an area of high rainfall. The shallow plan also allows a compact roof volume in keeping with the scale of surrounding (traditional) buildings. Repetition is avoided and all houses differ slightly in design. Where possible the volume of the roof space incorporates living space to further reduce the bulk of the built form on the site.

Clachan

Materials are traditional; painted render, stone, concrete galvanised steel and slate. To retain a rural identity, individual houses are identified by ‘names’ rather than numbers, the ‘names’ are spelt in the Gaelic form of numbers (e.g. áon, dó, trí, ceathar, etc.).

Concept Sketch

Landscape elements have been detailed to provide screening, shelter, visual interest, and enclosure. A public green space and play area is incorporated between the community centre and the childcare facility along with a fallow area (for future housing) planted with native wildflowers. Existing trees were retained.

elevations

A novel aspect of the finished project is the construction of a managed wetland using a Willow Plantation to provide tertiary treatment of effluent from the waste water treatment system. This produces an exceptionally high quality of effluent treatment to protect the landscape, streams, shoreline and environment around the village. The willow crop is fertilised by the nutrients contained in the organic waste and is then managed and harvested for wood fuel bio-energy. The willow plantation also provides a windbreak and shelter from the prevailing wind.

Glass Exterior Entrance © Shigeru Ban Architects

With ever-expanding traveling exhibitions attracting over 35,000 yearly visitors from around the globe, the Aspen Art Museum (AAM) has outgrown their cozy 9,000 square foot facility that has been their home since the museum was established in 1979. Japanese architect Shigeru Ban has been commissioned to design the new museum, being the first museum he has constructed in the U.S.

Continue reading for more project information.

Reception Area © Shigeru Ban Architects

Shigeru Ban strives for a “unified relationship between the structure and its surroundings.” Transparency and natural light are the two main goals the guide the museums design. This past summer, the AAM purchased the land for the new 30,000 square foot building near the historic mountain town’s center. The program will include a 12,500 square foot exhibition space, an exterior roof deck sculpture garden, an education classroom, bookstore, museum shop, café, office space and art storage.

"Versatile" Stairway – configured to display art © Shigeru Ban Architects

Five key design elements are highlighted within the wood and glass structure. The first being a grand staircase that gives visitors direct access to the roof deck sculpture garden, located on the third level. The grand staircase eases the transition from the outdoors to the formal gallery, while providing unconventional exhibition space throughout.

Glass Elevator – views of Aspen and of the interior © Shigeru Ban Architects

The second key design element highlighted is the “moving room”, also known as the glass reception elevator. The 8 by 12 foot, transparent elevator animates the northeast corner of the building on the corner of South Spring Street and Hyman Avenue.

Interior/Exterior Stairway – access to roof deck sculpture garden © Shigeru Ban Architects

A woven exterior wooden screen is the third element that seems to attract the most attention. As critics are skeptical that the screen will be compatible with the harsh weather conditions of Aspen, Colorado, the architect emphasizes the screens ability to provide a passerby with views of the interior structure and gallery spaces.

Roof Deck – shaded and full-sun viewing available © Shigeru Ban Architects

The fourth element emulates the exterior screen and covers 50 percent of the top floor. This being a woven roof structure that provides shaded views of the Aspens and sculpture garden.

View of Aspen Mountain from Roof Deck Sculpture Garden © Shigeru Ban Architects

“Walkable” skylights make up the fifth and final element highlighted by the AAM, flooding the second floor main gallery with natural light.

The AAM is currently soliciting donations as the project is supported completely through private funding. So far, $35,000,000 of the $50,000,000 campaign goal has been collected.

Reference: Aspen Art Museum, The New York Times

© Christiaan de Bruijne

Architect: 123DV
Location: Hattem, The Netherlands
Design Team: Berry van Empel, Andrea Sollazzo, Robin Rook
Contractor: Building company Felix
Description: Abstract villa in forest
Status: completed 2011
Surface: 475 sqm floor surface, 6000 sqm land
Photographs: Christiaan de Bruijne

© Christiaan de Bruijne

Between forest and meadows lies a varied landscape. High, dry, sandy dunes interspersed with heather, willow bushes and grasslands. An ideal setting if you like the outdoors, like the inhabitants of this villa in Hattem.

© Christiaan de Bruijne

The living area of this bungalow with woodland is orientated to the south. So lovely, that sun out on the terrace. The glass wall of the living area towards the spacious patio is designed transparent to minimize the boundary between inside and outside. From the inside of the house this provides a maximum experience of the garden and the rest of the surroundings. Because of the large canopy and floor heating, it is also nice to be onthe terrace on autumn days.

© Christiaan de Bruijne

From the entrance side the carport of the bungalow appears to be hovering. It is a simple architectural approach with a great visual effect. The house looks sleek and abstract on the outside, but has a warm and cozy interior. The furniture in the living room is all custom designed. The kitchen, storage space, fireplace, piano and audio equipment form an integral part of the wall unit.

© Antonio Ceruelo

Architects: ACXT Arquitectos / Antonio Lorén Collado, Ricardo Uson, Eduardo Aragüés Rioja
Location: Zaragoza, Spain
Project Director: Antonio Lorén Collado
Assistants: Olatz Maestre, Jose Angel Ruiz, Raimundo Bambo
Project Management: Antonio Lorén Collado
Civil Engineer: Fernando Lopez, Cristina Salavera
Project Year: 2009
Project Area: 44.000 sqm
Photographs: Antonio Ceruelo

This renovation and enlargement project makes no attempt to conceal its architectural additions and respects the style of the original building. The new sections are designed to blend in with the old and seek to create a fluid dialogue between the renovated area and the enlargements.

© Antonio Ceruelo

The original building featured the long corridors typical of cloisters, unsuitable for the quick, direct traffic required in a major admin centre. Our project overcame this problem by converting the cloisters – attractive, calm places to work – into offices, eliminating the enormous corridors as much as possible and creating two-fronted admin areas.

Floor Plan

The proposal concentrates movements and common areas in the inner crossing areas, where the most important functions are to be located, reserving the perimeter wings for the building´s admin functions. The main north-south crossing areas is the core of the building whilst the east-west crossing area is a hub leading to the different departments. The proposal envisages a natural filter between public and restricted areas running south-north along the main axis and from the ground floor to the top floor.

© Antonio Ceruelo

The large lobby acts as the building´s new cloister, linking the building´s two crossing areas and organizing the general public´s movements around the assembly room and the other main rooms. The resulting functional layout is simple, straightforward and immediately clear to users. This lobby becomes the building´s representative public area and reception hall for all users.

© Antonio Ceruelo

The project is clearly designed from the outset to control daylight. The new frames on the renovated façades ensure good ventilation and air- and water-tightness. These low-key frames convey an image of a compact building, accentuating the original windows and traceries. By night, artificial light will outline each window. By day natural daylight will flood the offices, with wooden slats to filter and control it in the corridors. A large, new oculus in the south façade will echo the block with the rose window and become the new icon of the seminary plaza.

Elevations

Text provided by ACXT Arquitectos