tamu aias

Parisian architects LAN Architecture have completed the company headquarters for packaging manufacturer Marchesini France in Paris, France. The building is composed of two main volumes, designed to separate the office space from the workshops. The entrance is located at the intersection of the volumes. It is constructed from concrete and painted black.

The primary intention of the programme is to explore the relationship between the building and its surroundings and between the building users and the landscape. One of the main design concerns was the building’s environmental adaptation and appropriation. The site slopes down three metres towards the west, offering attractive views over the neighbouring hills. Our solution was to create two hierarchically related volumes placed perpendicular to one another along a north-south axis and follow the slope of the site. One of the volumes contains flexible workspaces while the other encloses a workshop, exhibition space and storage areas. The offices occupy the upper area of the site and are raised above ground level to provide an impression of lightness. The idea was also to erase distinctions between the different kinds of work by avoiding the use of corridors. The result is that the transition areas also act as settings where people can meet one another or as waiting spaces with pleasant views looking out over the countryside. The workshop volume is located at a lower level and gives the appearance of being solidly anchored to the ground. The intersection of the two volumes serves as the entrance, with a sloped ramp rising up into the building. The elevations and roof are completely constructed from black painted concrete. The roof finish allow it be read as the building’s fifth elevation.

PROGRAMME: Design and construction of a company headquarters
CLIENT: Marchesini France
LOCATION: rue Royale, Saint Mesmes, France
NET PLAN AREA: 1250 m²
COMPLETION: 2008

From Dezeen

Visit the Texas A&M College of Architecture website at Archone.tamu.edu

Sophie Berthelier, a designer at the French architecture firm Berthelier Fichet Triboullet, will kick off the exhibit Dec. 5 with a 3:30 p.m. public lecture on contemporary architecture. - come and see – or read about it at archone first. An excerpt from the archone article:

The exhibition, specifically tailored for international presentation, focuses on architecture in tune with current urban situations, territorial or program-related issues that are relevant throughout the world.

Through a critical mass effect, the 40 projects presented show that “good” architecture is not as rare as it seems, and that if we do not see it, it is because it is not where we expect it, or because it’s simpler, more modest or simply less preoccupied with its durability than we might imagine.

 

Honestly, when I first saw this I got really excited because I thought that OMA devised a way for these huge towers to float by using magnets for stabilization. This whole exciting thought process happened in like .1 second when I saw the rendering. I’m a huge fan of magnets. You can quote me on that. Seriously, how kool would that be if the units that are attached to the side of the core here (sadly, the magnets are nowhere to be found) and could rise and fall as desired? I suppose that may detract from the intentional placement of the towers for views… And imagine it. If the side units were completely autonomous from the core ( with respect to their position vertically ) then this core could be raised to twice the height, the already present units move on up, and construct a few more around the base! this is a good one to think about… imagine a whole slew of these together all corbu “radiant city” style … 

The design strategically maneuvers within the highly regulated building environment to maximize the full potential of the site: Four individual apartment towers are vertically offset from one another and suspended from a central core. The skyline of floating towers directly relates to the surrounding building volumes and explores the most attractive views towards the city center and an extensive green zone to the north. The lifted apartment towers reduce the building’s footprint to a minimum; the liberated ground level provides communal leisure activities embedded in the tropical landscape. 

via world architecture news

A tour denoting a resurgence of Modern-style homes in Dallas includes a residence designed by Bentley Tibbs, who earned his graduate and undergraduate degrees from the Department of Architecture at Texas A&M.

Tibbs told the Dallas Morning News that he refers to his work as Southern modernism and described the home he designed as a “very, very casual house with a formal shape. It still reads modern in its sensibilities, but it’s not necessarily using the modern vocabulary.”

story via archone.update

more pictures here

Dallas morning news article here

Just kidding. But it is very desirable. The sleekness set in the middle of an ancient church has a nice feel to it. 

Salisbury Cathedral’s new font is cruciform in shape, with a three metre span to allow total immersion baptism > see more pictures here

I would also love to see the fonts first ripples when someone dips their finger in it. And when it spills on someone unsuspecting passerby’s shoes!

Bentley Systems develops Generative Components and systems and resources all therein. Here, you’ll find tons of great stuff on scripting, truss work, BIM integration, etc.

Here and here, and here are a few case studies with the products. Browse the site and enjoy the stuff. there’s way too much to even attempt to summarize what its all about so go see for yourself.