Sep 6, 2011 | Architecture, blog
Last March, Foster + Partners were awarded the design of the new Kuwait International Airport. An event everyone travelling through the current airport was desperately awaiting. Architecture of Kuwait, a website dedicated to all architectural projects and news in Kuwait, shared these beautiful photos on their blog. I can say I am impressed , the photos speak for themselves. For more details and info check AOK .
Project Name New Kuwait International Airport
Client Ministry of Public Works
Designer Foster+Partners
Local Consultant Dar Gulf Consults
Status Approved- Design development
Source: AOK
Update details from Foster + Partners: (October 3, 2011)
“Kuwait International Airport is planned to significantly increase capacity and establish a new regional air hub in the Gulf – the project’s strategic aims will be matched by a state-of-the-art terminal building, which will provide the highest levels of comfort for passengers and will set a new environmental benchmark for airport buildings. Its design is rooted in a sense of place, responsive to the climate of one of the hottest inhabited environments on earth and inspired by local forms and materials.
The terminal has a trefoil plan, comprising three symmetrical wings of departure gates. Each façade spans 1.2 kilometres and all extend from a dramatic 25-metre-high central space. The terminal balances the enclosure of this vast area with a design that is highly legible at a human scale – for simplicity and ease of use there are few level changes.
To further aid orientation, the building is planned under a single roof canopy, punctuated by glazed openings that filter daylight, while deflecting direct solar radiation. The Industrial canopy designs provide shade to a generous entrance plaza and is supported by tapering concrete columns – their fluid, organic forms draw inspiration from the contrast between the solidity of the stone and the shape and movement of Kuwait’s traditional dhow sailing boats.
The project targets LEED ‘gold’ – it aims to be the first passenger terminal in the world to attain this level of environmental accreditation. The concrete structure provides thermal mass and the roof incorporates a large expanse of photovoltaic panels to harvest solar energy.
Foster + Partners has designed a flexible masterplan for the site, with the terminal strategically located to anticipate and enable future expansion. The airport will initially accommodate 13 million passengers per year, with the flexibility to increase to 25 million passengers and to accommodate 50 million passengers with further development.
Mouzhan Majidi, Chief Executive of Foster + Partners, commented:
“The scale of the airport shows Kuwait’s great foresight in recognising the benefits of strategic investment in future infrastructure. The environmental ambitions driving the project are equally impressive. We are pleased to have this opportunity to reveal our designs. The emblematic three-winged form will be as memorable from the air as from the ground – a new symbol of contemporary Kuwait, which resonates with its rich culture and history.”
Nikolai Malsch, a partner at Foster + Partners, said:
“We look forward to continuing to work with the Ministry of Public Works and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation Kuwait on the planning and design of the new airport. We have established an excellent working relationship with our client – we have a shared goal to create a terminal that is an exemplar of sustainable design and will establish Kuwait as the region’s leading air hub.”
Notes to editors:
• The layout of the apron is generated by aviation forecasts and is highly adaptable, with 35 flexible contact stands in its first phase.
• Drawing on the region’s culture of hospitality and welcoming guests to Kuwait, the design establishes an elegant and memorable arrival sequence for passengers, which includes a baggage reclaim area surrounded by cooling cascades of water.
• The design also features a grand new landside access sequence from the south – close to the building, the landscaping is a lush oasis, with strands of drier planting and species native to the desert climate extending further away from the terminal.
• Inside, the different functions are arranged over three floors: departures, arrivals and baggage areas.”
Foster + Partners
Aug 26, 2011 | Architecture, blog, Restaurants
With 213 rooms and 169 residences, Dubai’s Culture Village will soon introduce the Palazzo Versace Hotel, a hotel by the fashion brand Versace. Rooms and residences will all be furnished with fabrics and furniture from Versace, with marble flooring and mosaics. The hotel will have a Versace boutique and several pools, a spa, bars, and a restaurant. The cost of the project is estimated at around AED 2.3 Billion. Check the renderings below.
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Aug 24, 2011 | Architecture, blog
This breathtaking feature is a residence for a Senegalese family. It’s located on a cliffside overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and was designed and completed during this year. The architects are Saota – Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects and the interior design by ANTONI ASSOCIATES.
Villa Dakar Sow is a very prominent architectural structure which incorporates historical elements, a beautiful open plan, amazing view, and a sculptural staircase. The majority of the furniture, as with most luxury modern houses, is by Minotti.
‘Whilst the cliffside site presented an extraordinary opportunity for a house on the edge of Dakar’s CBD, the slowly eroding nature of the cliff face required a very carefully considered structural solution.’ says Greg Truen, Project Partner, ‘resulting in a building design that seemed to float off the cliff’s edge’.
The Kitchen is an open kitchen with a separate traditional kitchen as well as the garage. From the Entrance one moves past the sculptural circular stair to the Entertainment Room and the double volume Family Lounge which connects up with a floating stair to the upper level Pajama Lounge. The Main and the two children’s bedrooms are placed on this upper level.
The Main Bedroom Suite opens up onto a large terrace which is the roof of the more formal living wing of the house and the element which projects over to the ocean. The Main Bathroom opens into a private garden and outdoor shower situated over the garages.
One of the features of the house is the Contemporary Metal Spiral Stairs. To add to the sense of continuity between the levels the 20mm in diameter stainless steel rods run from the first floor handrail to the lower ground floor, thus making the stairwell look like a sculptural steel cylinder. A skylight above the stairwell as well as floor to ceiling glazing in the lounges adds to the sense of transparency.
“Throughout the villa, modern works of art, many of which are from the client’s private collection, sit comfortably within this luxury residence, creating an intention that is decidedly sleek and contemporary” says Mark Rielly of ANTONI ASSOCIATES.
Source: Saota Blog
Aug 19, 2011 | Architecture, blog
Photos © McAteer Photograph/Alan McAteer
The building, open at opposite ends, has a tunnel-like configuration between the city and the Clyde. However, within this connection between the city and river, the building diverts to create a journey away from its external context into the world of the exhibits. Here, the internal path within the museum becomes a mediator between city and river, which can either be hermetic or porous depending on the exhibition layout. Thus, the museum positions itself symbolically and functionally as open and fluid, engaging its context and content to ensure it is profoundly interlinked with not only Glasgow’s history, but also its future. Visitors build up a gradual sense of the external context as they move through the museum from exhibit to exhibit.
The design is a sectional extrusion, open at opposing ends along a diverted linear path. This cross-sectional outline could be seen as a cityscape and is a responsive gesture to encapsulate a waves on water. The outer waves or ‘pleats’ are enclosed to accommodate support services and the ‘black box’ exhibits. This leaves the main central space column-free and open, offering greatest flexibility to exhibit the museum’s world-class collection.
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Glasgow, United Kingdom
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2004 – 2011
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Glasgow City Council
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Built
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11,000m2
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Exhibition Area: 7,000m²
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Site Area: 22,400m²
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Footprint Area: 7,800m²
The museum, a sectional extrusion open at both ends, its outline encapsulating a wave or pleat, flows from city to waterfront, symbolizing dynamic relationship between Glasgow and the ship-building, seafaring and industrial legacy of the river Clyde. Clear glass facades allow light to flood through the main exhibition space.
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Aug 13, 2011 | Architecture, blog, Exhibitions & Events
It was a thrill for women of our field when we heard of the new profession for Barbie, an architect. The announcement was made earlier this year and since, a competition to design her house was in the works. A “green” house is what was anticipated and its what the result was. The house has all forms of entertainment included, and conforming to the USGBC standards for green building. That’s probably a message to all architects out there to promote green building further. The 4 story building is very stylish meant to be overlooking the Pacific. It houses a large kitchen, open living room, office and library so she can work on her architectural projects. But since Architect Barbie is also very stylish and takes good care of her well being, the third floor is dedicated to her clothes, bedroom and bathroom. The fourth floor is mainly for meditation and exercise. The interesting part is that the rooftop deck has a landscaped green roof topped off with solar panels.
In addition to the green roof and solar panel, the windows have Clear View Secondary Glazing and operable shades to limit solar heat. Appliances that cut down electrical consumption, eco friendly materials,and a large garden are among its most interesting eco oriented features.
The Barbie dream house is designed by Ting Li and Maja Parklar, the announcement was made on August 2, 2011.
Images and info source: Inhabitat
Aug 2, 2011 | Architecture, blog
What an interesting concept is the Nestlé Chocolate Museum which is located in Brazil between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The large red glass structured building allows visitors to see the chocolate being produced inside. The designers of this project are Metro Brazilian architects.
The purpose of the design is to provide public viewing . The 1850 sq.m structure consists of two towers and an elevated runway, composed of steel and glass.
The Nestlé Chocolate Museum provides a roadmap for the visitors just like any museum, and allows them to experience the entire process of the manufacturing of Nestlé chocolates.
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