19 March 2019

The new panoramic ”Pyramidenkogel” tower in the town of Keutschach am See in Carinthia, Austria, is the world’s tallest observation tower built of wood. This tower will become a new and positive symbol of development and of building innovation using local timber and will help to renew and revive the image of this tourist destination. The wooden tower has a height of almost a hundred metres, and was designed by Architects Klaura, Kaden + Partners in Klagenfurt. The structure has an elliptical layout with sixteen powerful columns forming a basket structure that spirals into the sky above the landscape as an immense and spectacular piece of sculpture. The structure has ten levels spaced at 6.4 metres, and two observation platforms of height 3.2 metres each, with a 360° view. The structure is supported by sixteen glulam columns reinforced by ten elliptical rings and eighty diagonal struts. At a height of sixty metres there is a windowed “Skybox” for visitors, offering an all-round view, which can be reached either by lift or via the stairs. The "Skybox" can also be used for temporary events and happenings. Visitors can then go down the same way… or use the spectacular slide that from a height of fifty metres will take them directly back to ground level: the longest slide in Europe. Rubner Holzbau in Ober-Grafendorf is producing the materials needed for the structure: 500 m³ of glulam timber, 1.000 square metres of cross-laminated timber and (in collaboration with the Zeman Company) 300 tons of steel, and will deliver all components to site according to the "just in time" schedule. The structure will be erected by Rubner personnel and this will be done very quickly thanks to the high level of prefabrication by Rubner Holzbau, thus completing the project in a short time (with the financial benefits that speedy delivery offers), optimising the amount of work being done at any time during construction and allowing coordination of all operations. Work began in February 2013 and is on track for the opening ceremony in June this year. (Fabiana Cambiaso, Università La Sapienza)   www.klaura-kaden.at, www.rubner.com Klaura+Kaden+Partners Pyramidenkogel, Carinthia, Austria Materials: Lamellar wood, steel Applications: Envelope, structure Opening: June 2013 Photo: © DI Heimo Kramer; © Graf Holztechnik.

Edoardo Croci

02 October 2018

L'Istituto per Design Informatico (ICD) e l'Istituto di Strutture edilizie e Progettazione Strutturale (ITKE) dell’Università di Stoccarda hanno realizzato un padiglione che ricorda visivamente e materialmente un insetto, o meglio un coleottero. Il gruppo di lavoro non è certo nuovo a questi progetti: recente è infatti un altro padiglione basato sull'esoscheletro di un'aragosta e una struttura progettata e costruita invece sul modello dello scheletro di un riccio di mare. Il progetto è basato sullo sviluppo robotizzato per moduli delle doppie strutture composte da strati di fibra di carbonio: in questo modo l’intera architettura rimane minima e leggera, permettendo un elevato grado di libertà geometrica. Si estende su una superficie di 50 metri quadrati, ma pesa solo 593 chilogrammi.

Il team di ricercatori e studenti ha utilizzato modelli 3D ad alta risoluzione di vari gusci di scarabeo - noti come elitre – per condurre un'analisi delle strutture interne complesse, lavorando a stretto contatto con biologi e paleontologi dell'Università di Tuebingen.

Queste strutture sono state poi convertite in una serie di principi di progettazione, realizzati con vetro e fibra di carbonio polimeri rinforzati per dare il padiglione un rapporto resistenza-peso ottimale. "Il progetto presenta un nuovo approccio alle strutture in fibra composita in architettura", ha spiegato ICD ricercatore e membro del team Marshall Prado.  

Edoardo Croci

16 January 2019

The proposed concept for the site was to transform a single-use office building into a genuinely mixed use development incorporating office, retail, restaurant and residential use; seeking to create a new destination integrated within the local area. The architects chose to situate the buildings around a new courtyard in the center of the site, which is connected by a publicly accessible route and ground floor public uses to the surrounding streets and spaces. The key elements of the scheme were to introduce activity into the area, provide a mix of uses particularly retail, restaurants and housing introducing daytime and night time surveillance, and creating a properly managed and controlled environment which is reflected in the urban design approach to the layout of retail units, spaces and pedestrian routes. Located in Camden, the project is part of a complex urban patchwork of medieval streets, modern buildings and traditional urban blocks. This environment had a dramatic impact on the design of the project. The scheme is composed of complex volumes, which are characterically chiselled fragmented and reduced in scale to match the surrounding buildings. These chiselled volumes mad St-G an impressive architectural sculpture characterized by a combination of shimmering facets. Each facet is unique, differing in height, orientation, color, and relationship to natural light. Glass, steel and ceramic are the primary elements of the skin. In each fact the ceramic is used in different shade and colors that respond to the surrounding building, thus helping to integrate the scheme in the immediate urban environment. At the core of the scheme there is a large courtyard, where the public activity is concentrated with its cafes and restaurants this piazza will generate social life, thus enhancing the urban identity of the site. A six-meter full height glass facade provides a maximum of transparency, five passages through this courtyard allow a permeable scheme and invite passers-by to this piazza shaded by a 20m high tree. (Fabiana Cambiaso) www.centralsaintgiles.com Figures: © RPBW; © L&G and MEC; © Michel Denance; © Hufton & Crow; © Joost Moolhuijzen; © Maurits van der Staay   Central Saint Giles, London, England Renzo Piano Building Workshop Architectsin collaboration with Fletcher Priest Architects Completed: 2010 Material:  Glass, Ceramics, Steel Applications: Envelope.

Marco Mignatti

15 March 2019

The stems of banana plants, which were traditionally destined to be discarded, become a new natural material today. Green Blade is the quality and eco-friendly semi-finished product presented at Made by French company FIBandCo, the result of a process carried out on these plants. The result is a natural plating, ethical and sustainable coating. Green Blade has the look of wood and it comes in four hot colors obtained through a manufacturing process, without the use of water or chemicals. This material is born in the wild and is treated with ECHO and responsible processing. In the hands of architects, designers and planners it becomes versatile material. It is used mainly in the form of plating, for cladding and architectural panels, but also to decorate kitchens, furniture and design objects thanks to its flexibility, thin thicknesses and translucent effect. An added value is that FIBandCo is a company committed to sustainable development. The bosses of the company are two young French engineers former students of ESIEE Paris, l'École de l'Innovation Technologique, who developed this particular innovative process to enhance the stems of banana plants in small units installed in the heart of banana plantations. The company was founded in Martinique, in the heart of the plantations: a choice that makes it possible to optimize resources and reduce carbon emissions. The fiber manufacturing process does not require the use of any chemical agent and the company produces its energy through solar panels. A green-oriented style, for sure!   www.fibandco.fr

Marco Mignatti

20 January 2019

A perforated and folded steel sheet characterizes the new façade of the Edogawa Garage Club in Tokyo. The exterior is inspired by the movement of the waves, a second skin that iridescent wraps entirely the old building and makes it current. The new metal screen exterior is composed of a series of modular perforated metal plates that allow natural light to filter through the ventilation panels. Colour variations are marked by changes in brightness that produce an unexpected play of colours, gold and silver that enrich the versatile nature of the façade. No demolition of the old buildings, but a work of makeover that gets old and renews it. Designed by Japan Jun’ichi Ito Architect & Associates firm, this is an innovative and green project, because it does not generate waste due to decommissioning.   www.ito-jun.com

Edoardo Croci