Design News

Calatrava`s museum of tomorrow

Rio de Janeiro is about to host a number of important events. That is why the municipal corporation decided to renew the city, not only public area will be rebuild but new iconic buildings will be constructed as well. One of the new icons could become the Museum of tomorrow designed by one of the most famous architects of the century – Santiago Calatrava. Pier Maua is the location where several buildings, places, gardens and pools should be build. This sustainable complex should represent the new direction for architecture and show the future in eco-friendly buildings. In the words of architect Calatrava, it is supposed to be a live museum that will serve for pedagogic activities. Young people will have the opportunity to see how the ecology functions in reality. Rectangular concrete buildings with a series of photovoltaic panels protruding from a steel roof will be probably the most outstanding element of this complex. Already mentioned pools serve to capture rainwater that is naturally filtered. As for the intent of the museum, it will host exhibitions about the future of the earth.

House in Shanghai

           The newest interior by architects OOBIQ has been recently finished in Shanghai. Drop Shanghai is considered to be one of the most visited night clubs in Shanghai, China. The design reminds a classic European interior. The client required that the design would not be similar to international trends, but singular. As the result, an interesting interior with original decorations on the ceiling and walls was created. The decorations create a unique character of this space. The club is furnished with classic leather sofas, so called Chesterfield sofas, that contrast with modern elements. Particular 3D decorations create warm and pleasant areas reflecting different shades of light. The space is organised on three levels that are divided into a number of platforms. The purpose was to create a cosy space providing a private area with a feeling of luxury, sophistication and sublimity. The Drop Shanghai night club has definitely a timeless design.

The Waterfall House

            The idea of a waterfall house got a young businessman, he bought a lot in a closed neighbourhood. He asked Andres Remy Architects to realize his idea. His dream became reality, the waterfall house was built in Buenos Aires, Brazil. Dominating element of the design is a pool that influenced the process layout of the house and broadened limits of the house, limits dividing natural of artificial, inside of outside. In the lower floor the water falls over the swimming pool, as a waterfall, providing a natural glare shield and refreshes the air at same time. The house was named after its icon – the waterfall. Public area is located on the first floor and provides a beautiful panoramic view. Spaces of the house are flexible, so it is possible to adapt them to the individual needs of the owner; single man life at the moment or a family in the future. The building and its volume is decomposed into a number of smaller blocks that lock together as a set of blocks.

Hilton Garden Inn

              A Polish architect group Krysiak Jagiello Architekci created Gilton Garden Inn located in the centre of Katowice, the capital of the industrial south of Poland – Upper Silesia. The location and shape of the building are limited from the east by a river and from the north and east by a high tension network and local existing and planned infrastructure. A steel mesh used on the facade gives an illusion of a sloping roof and accentuate the dynamic of the shapes. With the height of 40 meters, this building dominates the neighbourhood, the other dominant building is in distance of 450 meters. The exterior was inspired by surrounding area. Exterior openings represent an idea of gaps in a brick that served as an inspiration for the designers. Size of the windows increases with each floor level and creates the vertical growth in the upper, residential part of the building, while in the bottom levels that houses some offices, the windows represents the horizontal growth and its size increases more in-depth.

House Santo Amaro in Piracicaba

    This recreational house by Brazilian architect Isay Wienfeld was built on hill Piracicaba in Brazil. The design takes into account not only downhill contour of the landscape and and relief, but also orientation of the lot to the north. The right location and shape of the house could provide rooms with much more sunlight. A garage and a storage area are half-submerged into the earth. The basement area is divided by a series of concrete pillars. An L-shaped ground-floor is designated for living-room area and a dining-room in one wing and a kitchen and service room in the other. Living and dining space is separated from the exterior by a large glazing wall that provides a beautiful view on the pool and garden. That contrasts with the kitchen space, which is surrounded by vertical concrete slabs. First floor serves the owners as relaxing zone; one part houses the bedroom and the other a large terrace.