» Pritzker Architecture Prize

» Ateliers Jean Nouvel

© Nigel Young/Foster + Partners

Currently the world’s largest airport structure, the newest addition to Beijing International Airport is a technical and architectural marvel. Officially named BCIA Terminal 3, its first opening phase took place on the 29th of February. The new building will open, in entirety, on the 26th of this month. The project, from design, construction, to the hand-over, was done in an unprecedented 4 year period only. Headed by Foster + Partners, the design team took everything into consideration - cultural theme, visitor experience, efficiency in operation, environmental friendly and sustainability issues. Comprised a total of 1.3 million square metres floor space, the mammoth scale permits future scalability. Meanwhile, its extensive design process will minimized time between flight transfers. An advance inter-terminal transit system allows a 2-minute commute from the new terminal to the old Terminal 1.The new terminal is divided into 3 concourses, T3-C,D, and E. Each concourse is interconnected via underground passages to maximize jetliners’ intra-aitport maneuverability. A full integration with public transportation ensure quick turnover time for arrivals and departures.

Immersed in cultural references, the new building’s outline appears to be that of a dragon from the aerial vantage point. Curved canopy and thick columns mimic ancient imperial palaces and temples dotted across China. Interior colors change in gradients from red to yellow, 2 prominent colors in Chinese culture. Large skylights, with south-east orientation, permit heat gain from morning sunlight, in term reduce energy usage. Other passive environmental control system means this is one of the largest econ-friendly building in the world. Majority of building materials were selected base on local availability, along with labors and procurement. This leave a local sustainability plan in place long after the project is finish. It is estimated that by the year 2020, over 50 million visitors will pass thorough the new building annually.

» Foster + Partners
» Beijing Capital International Airport
» continuing reading on EN AVANT Features

A convenient locale amid National University and the downtown area, the project will occupy an expansive 8 hectare area with roughly 170,000 square meters of floor space, which translate to about 1,000+ apartments in various sizes. Taking cues from environmental and social factors, the apartments blocks will not be in the typical forms of isolated, vertical structures. Instead, 32 structures, each 6-stories high, will be stacked on top of each other, in a hexagon arrangement. The unique arrangement will create a “vertical village”, maximize communal spaces among each structures for social interactions between the residents. Cascading gardens and rooftop terraces will seamlessly blend the complex among surrounding green landscapes of Kent Ridge, Telok Blangah and Mount Faber Parks. The layout also create unobstructed views of the natural environment around from each apartment unit.

» OMA

» CapitaLand Residential

Short film maker and web site designer Hillman Curtis recently re-visit and re-create a new documentary on the firm Pentagram, the loosely affiliated collective of designers and architects that changed the way we see things visually. The new short features the sometime chaotic history of the firm, explanations from the partners themselves and highlight some of the works this influential firm created in the past.

» via: Core 77

» Hillman Curtis - Pentagram 2007

French fashion label Marithé+Francois Girbaud, along with Belgian architect Jeroen de Schrijver, recently devised the most recent addition to Marithé+Francois Girbaud’s CONSTRUKT exhibition series, which centered on the merging realms of fashion, architecture and design. Curated by Formavision, this fifth and newest installment, titled CONSTRUKT 5 - Moment of Impact, revisit some of the most violent natural events known to men: eruptions, crashes, and explosions. Long associated with destruction and finality, these occurrences are the catalysts to new beginnings many times, a statement De Schrijver attempted to convey through this installation.

The exhibition featured large scale sculptures, composed of honeycomb cardboards, measured over 7-foot in height and 10-foot in width. Along with these large scale artworks, smaller sculptures, created from stainless steel, marble, and cardboard are also on display. De Schrijver utilized methods better known in architectural modeling - laser and/or water jet cutting, to create each of the work. The sculptures also shared another commonality, the process of layering, which is a direct reference to Marithé+Francois Girbaud’s “Non Surgical Surgical Lift” technique, an unique multi-layering process which permits articles of clothing to be assembled in various ways. The patented technique was recently put to use for Marithé+Francois Girbaud Autumn/Winter 06/07 collection.

» Marithé+Francois Girbaud
» Jeroen de Schrijver
» Formavision

Created in 1984, the invitation-only event known as TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) gathers some of the world’s greatest thinkers and allows them to engage one another with their ideas. A search in the recently made public archive came up with another interesting video. Taped during March of this year, it feature John Maeda, the renown professor at the prestigious MIT Media Lab, in his forth appearance at the conference. Much of a modern day Renaissance man, Maeda first touched briefly on the subject in his most recent book, Laws of Simplicity, then went off into various observations he made over the years, not only on design and his own works, but on various element in ones life. Thus, making the video humorous, informational, and most of all, personal.

» TED

» John Maeda

Photo: Quinze & Milan

They go by different names: massage parlor, tea house, bagnio, bordello, cathouse, and etc… And whether legal or not, almost every cities in the world have them. All shared a common purpose - where the oldest profession, prostitution, could take place. Brothels, however, are traditionally known to be squalid and seedy. Where the dirty deed changed hands quickly and unceremoniously. That was the case until 2004 when Villa Tinto opened.

Located at the red-light district in Antwerp, Belgium. Villa Tinto, owned by Franky De Coninck and designed by famed designer Arne Quinze, is a complex of pleasure whose interiors rivaled any top boutique hotels in the world. Aside for the stylish look, safety was also a key factor. The 51 rooms in it are all wired to a biometric security system. It will only permits the designated clients to enter. Within each room, a “panic” button can be activated to alert the on-site police force, if anything went awry. Because of these and other factors, a recent report showed that crimes involved prostitution in Antwerp have decreased. Any example how good design can improve lives.

» Quinze & Milan