Amsterdam Iconic Pedestrian Bridge Competition Winners no comments
[AC-CA] recently announced the winning proposals for their Amsterdam Iconic Pedestrian Bridge competition. The aim the international competition was to design an iconic pedestrian bridge in the heart of Amsterdam. The architecture of this new structure would reflect contemporary design tendencies. The winning proposals not only attend to the specific function, but also take into consideration the urban insertion and impact geared towards creating a new architectural symbol for an European capital city. Images and concepts of the winners after the break.
The project proposes a central enclosed space, a water plaza. A space that is defined by its shape, where boats cross through and pedestrians and cyclists stroll along its perimeter. The act of framing a part of the river, brings a new value to it. The bridge has a simple, round shape and is formed by the most classic of structural types: the steel lattice shell. This intensifies the purity of the original idea and justifies the rationality of the chosen solution. Read the rest of this entry »
Cancer Counseling Center Proposal by EFFEKT no comments
The first prize winning proposal in the competition for a new cancer counseling center by EFFEKT, in collaboration with Hoffmann and Lyngkilde, is designed as a cluster of seven small houses around two green outdoor spaces. Each house has its own specific function and together they form a coherent sequence of different spaces and functions such as a library, kitchen, conversation rooms, lounge, shops, gym, and wellness facilities. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Located at Næstved hospital in Denmark, the house offers a wide range of different rooms for informal advice, therapy and interaction with a focus on the users’ comfort and wellbeing. A varying roof height and materials used means that the building will have its own unique architectural character that clearly distinguishes it from the surrounding hospital buildings. With the location of the cancer counseling centre close to the hospital’s cancer ward, it is set for a closer collaboration between hospital staff and the Danish Cancer Society.
Leif Vestergaard Pedersen, CEO of the Danish Cancer Society is excited about the new project, which architecturally has managed to strike a tone in which well-being and openness is at play. “The house will feel homely and comfortable and provide room for all forms of activities. The center will be located quite close to the hospital, this will make it easy for cancer patients and their relatives to come by for a cup of coffee and maybe a talk between treatments “says Leif Vestergaard Pedersen. Read the rest of this entry »
Can Architecture Change the World – Pt. 1 no comments
Part of the architectural profession, and also some non-architects, responded to Modernism and Postmodernism by going to what they considered the root of the problem. They felt that architecture was not a personal philosophical or aesthetic pursuit by individualists; rather it had to consider everyday needs of people and use technology to give a livable environment.
The Design Methodology Movement involving people such as Christopher Alexander started searching for more people-oriented designs. Extensive studies on areas such as behavioral, environmental, and social sciences were done and started informing the design process. As the complexity of buildings began to increase (in terms of structural systems, services, energy and technologies), architecture started becoming more multi-disciplinary. Architecture today usually requires a team of specialist professionals, with the architect being one of many, although usually the team leader. Read the rest of this entry »