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AD Classics: Interdesign Building / Khalil Khouri

September 5, 2024 Maria-Cristina Florian 0

In Beirut, a city marked by transformation, the Interdesign Building echoes the vision of an architect steadfast in his conviction. Designed by Lebanese architect Khalil Khouri in 1973 during a period of economic growth, the building took 23 years to build, a process halted by the onset of the Lebanese Civil War. By the time it was completed in 1996, the urban landscape that surrounded it had changed. The structure has stood largely unused since, as a relic of hopeful modernity. While its design is singular in its narrative and expression, this structure illustrates the tension between aspiration and struggle throughout its complex history.

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Beijing Performing Arts Centre / Schmidt Hammer Lassen + Perkins&Will

September 5, 2024 Hadir Al Koshta 0

China has opened a new performing arts complex in Tongzhou, a historic port on the Grand Canal and the eastern gateway to Beijing. Designed by Perkins&Will’s and Schmidt Hammer Lassen’s combined Shanghai studio with a landscape by SLA, the Beijing Performing Arts Centre anchors Tongzhou’s recently designated cultural district, a collection of major civic projects that also includes a museum, a library, and extensive parklands. Consisting of three world-class venues—an opera house, a theater, and a concert hall—as well as a multipurpose hall and an outdoor stage, the Beijing Performing Arts Centre will host hundreds of performances each year—everything from traditional Chinese and Western operas to orchestral performances, stage dramas, and dances.

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Foster + Partners Reveals Details of the Euro American Innovation City in Hangzhou, China

September 5, 2024 Maria-Cristina Florian 0

Situated in Hangzhou’s Central Business District, the Euro American Innovation City is a mixed-use development designed by Foster+Partners to become a dynamic addition to the city. The 346,450 square-meter project includes two 200-meter-high office towers and four high-rise apartment buildings, complemented by a public plaza, an IT incubator, and a retail mall on the lower levels. Construction is currently progressing in phases, with the first phase nearing completion next month and the second set to finish by year-end, while the entire project aims for completion in September 2025.

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Roofed Square and a Circle Single Family House / Curious About

September 5, 2024 Hadir Al Koshta 0

Architectural Concept –  “A roofed square and a circle” is a wooden house in the Southern Palatinate, which stands as a solitaire on a plot on the edge of a field with a panoramic view of the Kalmit. The title comes from the timber builder, who said: “It’s just a roofed square” – and ultimately that’s exactly what it is.

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KPF Designs 2045 Master Plan for the University of Birmingham Campus in United Kingdom

September 5, 2024 Nour Fakharany 0

Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) has just unveiled its 2045 Campus Vision for the University of Birmingham, a plan designed to shape the future of the institution. This framework evaluates the university’s portfolio of over 300 buildings, identifying areas for retention, refurbishment, transformation, or replacement to support its goal of becoming a net-zero, future-ready university. Developed in collaboration with Ayers Saint Gross, the 2045 Campus Vision leverages data on building conditions, operational costs, environmental performance, and space utilization. In fact, this data-driven approach aims to help the university achieve its long-term objectives while maintaining its historical legacy.

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Revitalizing Urban Ecosystems: 4 Projects Reconnecting Cities with Their Water Heritage

September 5, 2024 Moises Carrasco 0

Water architecture has always been important throughout human history. From the aqueducts in ancient Rome to the grand canals of Venice, water has not only sustained life but also played an important role in shaping the urban environment. It has facilitated trade, nourished agricultural lands, and provided a sense of place and identity to different communities. Despite water’s historical role, during the 20th century, many cities chose to bury their waterways underground, primarily for safety and hygiene reasons, as these channels often served as open sewers.

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AirBubble Restorative Space / ecoLogicStudio

September 5, 2024 Hadir Al Koshta 0

Marking a new development in their long-term research on urban wellbeing, London- and Turin-based design innovation firm, completes the third iteration of their AirBubble design concept. The restorative space conceived for a Swiss consumer healthcare company establishes a new symbiosis between nature and humans. The AirBubble restorative space is the world’s first biotechnological healthcare garden that combines air-purifying algae cultures with medicinal plants. The project pioneers a new spatial concept balancing work, mental and physical health, relaxation, and interaction among employees from diverse departments. Moreover, it offers a multi-sensory experience enhanced by the oxygen bubbling and the scents of fresh herbs and flowers.