Month: July 2021

Nestled on the remote mountains of Palmichal de Acosta, Costa Rica, and surrounded by cloud forest, lies Casa Salvaje, a brutalist tropical haven. The house is 100% OFF-the-grid and relies on solar energy for power and on spring water captured uphill on the property. The architect’s intent for this project was to frame the surrounding nature and capture the cosmic energies of such a privileged site. The materials for the house were carefully chosen to age well in the grueling elements of the tropics, but also to blend with the landscape. However, the pure geometrical shapes of the design, create the desired contrast between the architecture and the natural surroundings. 

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that Adjaye Associates and Studio Zewde‘s proposals have been selected to redevelop the unoccupied part of the Kingsboro Psychiatric Center campus in the East Flatbush section of Brooklyn. The $400 million project is part of the $1.4 Billion Vital Brooklyn Initiative, and will transform 7.2 abandoned acres in central Brooklyn into an ecological development with residential and commercial facilities.

The project takes place in Vilnius city, in formerly abandoned buildings that are now in use for The cultural complex established by the Lithuanian Interdisciplinary Art Union, operating on the principles of community and self-government. The particular space is designated for the “Architecture Foundation” which works in the field of architectural and cultural education. The room is used as an office workplace, a meeting place, and a gallery.

Accompanying the ongoing Olympics, Pavilion Tokyo 2021 invited Japanese architects and artists, including Kazuyo Sejima, Sou Fujimoto, Junya Ishigami and Yayoi Kusama, to envision nine temporary structures to be placed in various locations around the National Stadium designed by Kengo Kuma. The initiative showcases experimental interventions within the urban landscape that illustrate a playful take on public space. Also participating in the project are Terunobu Fujimori, Akihisa Hirata, Teppei Fujiwara, as well as artists Makoto Aida and Daito Manabe + Rhizomatiks.

By defining sexuality as one of several sexual technologies, Michel Foucault has expanded our understanding of sex. This way, the relationship between architecture and the body is shaped not only by the built object, with its various spatial mechanisms for the production of bodies, but also by thinking, in the form of academic discourse. And vice versa, since gender and sexuality also impact architectural theory. One way or another, these relationships are very rich and capable of expanding our knowledge about architecture and the creation of generic sexed bodies.

Archdaily had the chance to speak to SOM regarding the Transit-oriented development (TOD) projects. SOM has extensive engagement in planning, design and engineering on various means of conveyance, and TOD is definitely one of the speciality the SOM team has to offer. Through the interview, we will walk through the design strategies and their changes over the years of TOD Development, the challenges and new area of focus of TOD development, and most importantly, the interview will focus on the design strategy in developing TOD in China, where SOM has participated in many TOD projects, including the South Gateway of Guangzhou Central Axis, Guangzhou Nansha Pearl Bay and Xiong’an District Planing.

This week’s reprint from Metropolis explores the ongoing renovation and transformation of an iconic site in Buffalo, Silo City, in order to create ambitious residential and public projects.

Valle Santana is a project with a careful insertion on the site and its surroundings, its initial design guidelines were to take advantage of the proportion of the lot and a free zone on the property. Using one of the existing trees as the center of the access courtyard, the social area of the house is generated, as well as the connection with the bedrooms and service areas, providing open views of the forest that surrounds the house from all living spaces.