I love these, you’ll never be bored at work again..if you work in an office that is. Your co-workers will be annoyed as hell tho 
Category Archives: Design
Taiwan Tower
Coming soon (sometime in 2012) to Taiwan is this sci-fi inspired tower. At 390-meters, it is designed to serve as an observation deck, office tower, museum, and urban park.
Designed by Romanian firm Dorin Stefan Birou Arhitectura
The project was inspired by the leaf, the shape of the island of Taiwan, and other Taiwanese symbols. Eight zeppelin-like elevators serve as observation decks for the tower and run on a track positioned vertically in a strong electro‐magnetic field. Each deck can carry from 50 to 80 people up to the top for stunning views of the city.
The tower houses vertical axis wind turbines and a facade covered in photovoltaic powers for renewable energy generation. Geothermal heat pumps help reduce the energy needed to heat and cool the facility, while fiber optic cables bring natural light into the museum.
Denver Art Museum
Denver’s skyline just got a little more interesting with an impressive looking extension to the Art Museum. Called the FREDERIC C HAMILTON Building
This pointy building by architect Daniel Libeskindis like that hot chick with a bad attitude. The Frederic C. Hamilton Building is an extension of the already existing Denver Art Museum. Inspired by the vitality and growth of Denver, the addition currently houses the Modern and Contemporary art collections as well as the collection of Oceanic and African Art.
“The materials of the building closely relate to the existing context as well as innovative new materials (such as titanium) which together will form spaces that connect local Denver tradition to the 21st Century,” says Libeskind.
“The new building is not based on an idea of style or the rehashing of ready made ideas or external shape because its architecture does not separate the inside from the outside or provide a pretty facade behind which a typical experience exists; rather this architecture has an organic connection to the public at large and to those aspects of experience that are also intellectual, emotional, and sensual.”
For more on Daniel Libeskind, click on his name…
Buenos Aires Zoo
Having just been in Buenos Aires a few days ago, I can say it’s highly unlikely a place like this would see the light of day…BUT…I can always hope. Vertical Zoo concept.
Hila Davidpu, Tal Gazit, Eli Gotman, and Hofi Harari recently shared their “ECO-CLIFF” proposal for the Buenos Aires Vertical Zoo Competition. The “ECO-CLIFF” is a revolutionary tower that will serve as a nesting ground for thousands of migrating birds as well as an ecological habitat for the different animals and species of the “Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve Zoo”.
Wrapped around a rigid structure, a system of nets and steel cables of varying densities covers the different functions, while maintaining, from a distance, the tower’s image of an organic cliff.
The perforated skin of the tower will allow the controlled penetration of natural light and fresh air as well as rain water, in preferred areas, along with a system of green vegetation ingrained in the netting system, thus creating a small eco-system within the buildings boundary.
In order to minimize the damage to the reserve by motored vehicles and the reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions in the city, the Eco-Cliff’s main entrance is via a cable-way which connects to a public transportation system. As an option, we suggest to re-use the old mill silos at Puerto Madero as a possible gateway station, therefore connecting the Av. De Mayo urban axis and subway station to the Costanera Sur Reserve.
As one of its primary functions, the Eco-Cliff will accommodate a variety of migrating birds which pass the Costanera Sur Reserve each year. The migrating birds nesting areas would accompany the human visitors along their ascending path throughout the varied elements of the tower, including the different animal spaces and the observation decks.
The cliff- like tower seeks to be self-sustained with the help of photovoltaic cell system along with an ecological recycling and water treatment facilities.
By taking a unique eco-educational point of view, the Eco-Cliff would create an unforgettable educating experience to the visitor on board as well as a spectacular landmark for the Costanera Sur Reserve and the city of Buenos Aires skyline.
Marine Center – Bali
Great looking spot, plus it serves a good purpose.
Solus4 entered their concept into a design competition in Indonesia, where they stated that the marine research center (housed 150m from the popular Kuta beach) would focus on tsunamis—specifically, getting an earlier head’s up on them, in wake of the 2004 disaster.
Not only would the research center have laboratories for working in, but it’d also contain bedrooms for the workers and even a seawater pool. You have to wonder why they’d need a pool with all that glorious water surrounding the vessel, but I do like the sound of the proposed aquatic garden library, too. Only if I could keep one of Ringo’s octopi in the garden, in the shade, of course.
To find out more about this project, check out DesignBoom.com
Oh My….:Balancing Barn
The Balancing Barn, located in England is designed by Dutch architecture firm MRDV and Mole Architects. Be careful not to stack too much furniture on that side of the house. Or, avoid jumping around during parties.
Almost 50% of this structure is hanging in free space.
Health Dept. Building
Designed by Coll-Barreu Arquitectos, the Basque Health Department building is something to look at. Although I imagine, mental health being an issue here.
The striking façade is a shell of glass placed at irregular angles. The folds generate multiple reflections visible from the inside, changing its appearance depending on the point of view, the hour, and the season. The façade is also an energy efficient double skin that insulates heat, reduces noise, and lets in precious natural light.
The 99,000 sq ft (9,200 sq m) space is divided in seven floors for offices, two levels for institutional and representative uses, meeting rooms in the tower, an auditorium with 150 seats in the basement, and 3 underground levels for parking.
For more go to: COLL-BARREU ARQUITECTOS
A-Cero Architects II
About two months ago I posted a house Joaquin Torres and Rafael Llamazares designed near Madrid.
They’re at it again with this place in Pozuelo de Alarcon, a suburb of Madrid.
Description of the Dwelling in Pozuelo de Alarcón by A-cero Architects
A-cero architecture studio is presenting a house that A-cero recently finished in “La Finca” estate in the town Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid).
This project is smaller (1000m2) than the rest buildings of this housing development. Its smaller dimensions turn it into a comfortable and practical house that invites to enjoy it and offers the maximum life quality. Its modern design based on impossible angles, projecting and spectacular volumes do of this building one of the maximum exponents of the A-cero architecture. The façade of the house is made of travertine marble which is combined with dark grey granite in several areas, as in the vertical plane of the main façade. White has the main role in the building (in interiors and exteriors). Furthermore, it has numerous ample windows. Both elements give to the house a lot of light and vitality. The house plot has a rectangular shape and a surface of 4.500 m ². It has a direct access from a private road located in the north. In the south area is a wide garden which is joined with the urban development green spaces. It is a two storey building (ground floor and basement). Both levels are perfectly adapted to plot slope where the house takes place.
In the main entrance is a hall which communicates with an ample wide lounge and a dining room. Both stays overturn towards the back façade. They have plenty ample windows that are opened for a porch where other lounge and dining room are. In this exterior area is a barbecue and a spectacular bar designed by A-cero besides a exterior swimming pool (with jacuzzi). In this level also is the kitchen, cleaning room and service area (it includes a living room, two bedrooms and two baths) with an independent exterior access. In the opposite side of this level is located the principal bedroom. It is decorated in white and golden colours and has a large window. This room includes a dressing-room and a huge bathroom. By an interior stairs you can go down to the basement where three bedrooms are with their bathrooms and a games room. Furthermore, in this level is a gym, a cinema rooms, wine vault, the facilities quarters and the garage. House furniture has been designed by A-cero with top quality materials and finishes.
It is a clear sculptural inspiration work in which A-cero has looked for combining its architecture concept with the essential functionality thar every houses need.
For more pictures of the exterior, interior, and even blueprints on this house, visit the A-cero website – here.
Briefcase Bicycle
Now you can conveniently slide your briefcase into your bicycle’s frame on your ride to work. This is still not going to make me ride a bike but cool concept anyway.
It’s called BIKOFF, and designed by Marcos Madia from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
MacBookPro luxury case
Another ‘wooden’ accessory for Apple products. this time for the MacBookPro line, 13, 15 and 17 inch models. Admittedly, it looks great, if not also a little bulky. Just $350.
Available from Rainer Spehl.
