ZA11 Pavilion

© Daniel Bondas

Designers: Dimitrie Stefanescu, Patrick Bedarf, Bogdan Hambasan
Location: Cluj, Romania
Project Year: 2011
Workshop Team: Ciprian Colda, Anamaria Androne, Razvan Sencu, Madalin Gheorghe
Assembly Team: Bogdan Badila, Vlad Pop, Georgiana Hlihor, Denisa Lula, Robert Veber, Zoltan Vaida, Imre Vekove, Ciprian Colda, Mihai Pascalau, Calin Negret, Bogdan Borbei, Iustin Nechiti, Dan Ioanici, Razvan Luca, Stefan Grosariu, Ioana Suceava, Alexandra Man, Andreea Darac, Irina Mates, Oana Bogatan, Andrei Varga, Radu Badila, Elza Sandor, Alex Greceniuc, Oana Matei, Alex Vladovici, Marcel Oprean, Ioan Pop, Vlad Rusu, Ioana Tomoioaga
Photographs: Patrick Bedarf, Georgiana Hlihor, Daniel Bondas, Georgeta Macovei

 

Intro

The project started out as an ambitious student-powered endeavor to design and fabricate at a 1:1 scale the flagship pavilion for the ZA11 Speaking Architecture event in Cluj, Romania. While at the same time integrating into its historically-charged context, the design boasts a strong representational power which was much needed in order to fulfill its main goal: attracting passers-by to the event. The object tries to make legible the new ontology which is slowly defined by computational architecture and is a showcase for the processes empowered by it. At the same time, the pavilion offers a sheltered space for the unfolding of different social events pertaining to the corresponding architecture festival.

© Patrick Bedarf

Process

The design was elaborated during a parametric design workshop specifically geared towards its production. We were faced with the harsh requirements of creating an actually working design with the material and tools available from sponsors (Graphtec, Holver) while at the same time fitting inside a budget dwarfed by its expectations. Therefore we constrained the creative exploration agenda to a relatively limited approach which, most importantly, was scalable in terms of materials and fabrication techniques. The final design consists of 746 unique pieces, which, once assembled, create a free-form ring which is subdivided into deep hexagons. This particular geometrical configuration allowed for the sheltering of the different planned events while at the same time inciting curiosity through its unusual, spectacular form. The realization of the design was made possible by advanced use of parametric design techniques, with the help of which the whole process was controlled from exact geometry generation to piece labeling, assembly logic and actual fabrication (CNC milling).

© Patrick Bedarf

The actual assembly process wouldn’t have been possible without the team of students which volunteered to help. As an educational exercise it completed the design phase and proved to be invaluable in terms of actually understanding and working with the constraints encountered in real-life. Varying material thickness (and subsequent extra flexibility and less joint stiffness), rain and wind posed many challenges which had to be resolved on-site as quickly as possible so as to meet the assembly deadline.

© Courtesy of Dimitrie Stefanescu, Patrick Bedarf, Bogdan Hambasan atrick Bedarf

Conclusions

The ZA11 Pavilion emerged as a powerful urban attractor which managed to engage the local society on all levels. Interest was aroused in both young and senior citizens, both professionals and non-architects by the completed pavilion as well as during the act of its construction, thus proving to be more than an indifferent temporary shelter. Furthermore, it successfully provided a flexible and comfortable space for the different events pertaining to the event (temporary bookshop, open-air cinema, tea party, jam sessions and a small concert + sleeping in the sun) to unfold. The first of its kind in Romania, the ZA11 Pavilion can be definitively called a successful architectural experiment. Designed and assembled only by students (with little preliminary outside help), it successfully met all expectations and proved to be an invaluable experience in blending avant-garde design techniques with a low budget and a skeptical professional context.

Loaded Objects

via coolmaterial.com

Unlike Wayne Campbell who didn’t even own a gun, let alone so many guns to necessitate an entire rack, you don’t need to have a house chock-full of firearms to want one of these pieces of house decor. The hand-made slip-ceramic lights and lamps from Loaded Objects add a flair of danger to any family room or entrance way (though you might not want to make it the first thing a potential date sees). Whether you need some 9mm’s for reading light or something a bit more powerful like an AK-47 Standing Lamp to illuminate a room, we’d pretty much say Loaded Objects is the only place to turn. If you happen to have your home fully lit already, the cast porcelain Pawn Grenades alert future chess opponents you mean business or are at least a nice decorative touch and may be more useful than an ADT sticker. $35-445

De Beers Ginza Building

© Naoomi Kurozumi

Architects: Jun Mitsui & Associates Architects
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Design Team: Jun Mitsui, Jim Lambiasi, Kazumasa Toku
Project area: 4,022 sqm
Project year: 2005 – 2008
Photographs: Naoomi Kurozumi

 

© Naoomi Kurozumi

Ginza is one of the most famous commercial districts even in the world. Marronnier Street is a gracious, active street lined with creatively designed buildings. The DE BEERS Ginza Building design is intended to reflect the sophisticated Ginza streetscape and fit appropriately into this dynamic context.

elevation

In the process of the design, the first image that came to mind was a twisting form of light in motion. A ribbon of light coming out of the earth sparkles in the atmosphere as an aurora with ever-changing color and form. The DE BEERS Ginza building representing gracious light like aurora was felt most appropriate for the site.

© Naoomi Kurozumi

The fluid and flexible form of the building was also inspired by the beauty of the female outline. The sparkling light on the surface of the gently curved form of the building subtly suggests the shimmering reflection of diamond.　This was the aesthetic essence of the DE BEERS Ginza building design.

© Naoomi Kurozumi

The expression of the curtain wall varies continuously as it ascends and as it reflects the ever-changing appearance of the sky. The exterior surface of the building reflects the sunlight and Ginza city lights in a subtle way and the impression of the façade as time passes. On the exterior of the building, specially-finished stainless steel pipes are horizontally laid-out creating sparkles of light throughout the surface of the building.

© Naoomi Kurozumi

Throughout history, the Ginza district has been an incubator for design trends reflecting the changing times. I hope that the DE BEERS Ginza building becomes an integral part of Ginza history. Its design is intended to reflect the excitement and importance of Ginza’s ever-changing appearance.

Salop Gelman Residence

© Kenneth M. Wyner

Architects: Travis Price Architects – Travis Price, Patrick Swift
Location: Oakland, CA, USA
Project Manager: Diego Balagna
Project year: 2010
Photographs: Kenneth M. Wyner

 

 

© Kenneth M. Wyner

The Salop/Gelman residence is a new home on a lot overlooking the Potomac River above a large spillway with a placid manmade lake to one side and the harsh rippling rapids to the other. The essential design parti was a garden path that literally bifurcated the home creating an endless path outward to experience the parted waters as the main entry. Nature as front door was the key.

© Kenneth M. Wyner

To one side is a large living, dining, kitchen and master bedroom suites. The path to the other side continues down through a long tunnel through media room to the other side containing 3 more bedrooms and an office. The entire house is also a reflection of silver clouds and rolling hills.

lower level plan

The large roof canopy is a direct function of full winter passive solar gain and full summer shading. Functional green design is celebrated by the metaphors of waters and nature in view. It is highly insulated, passively heated and cooled, as well as equipped with a solar domestic hot water system. The entire skin uses low embodied energy with brushed aluminum, indigenous stone and glass. The interior is all select cut lumber and engineered wood.