Located on the border of Cypress Park and Glassell Park just north of downtown Los Angeles, the historic former rail yard was identified as an ideal opportunity for both river restoration and new public green space. It’s the largest undeveloped parcel on the river and also happens to be a strategic location where the riverbank could be naturalized, even with the rest of the concrete channel remaining as it is today. The parcel is part of the larger 250-acre Taylor Yard, currently owned by Union Pacific Railroad.

Mayor Eric Garcetti oversaw the purchase of the property for $60 million after the project was unanimously approved by the Los Angeles City Council. Plans for the parcel include one mile of direct riverfront access with views of the Griffith Observatory, downtown, and the iconic Hollywood sign. It will also unite the surrounding Rio de Los Angeles State Park and the state-owned G1 parcel, forming 100 acres of open space along the LA River.

“We’ve always considered G2 to be the crown jewel in our vision to revitalize the L.A. River, and that’s why I have been committed to fighting for the resources to finally return this land to the people of Los Angeles and the wildlife that call it home,” Mayor Garcetti said in a press release. “We got it done, and now this vast site can transform how Angelenos connect with the natural world — because it will allow for habitat restoration, and open more than a mile of direct access to the river for local communities that have been cut off from it for too long.”

The massive cost increase of the Taylor Yard G2 River Project mostly comes down to a single word: contamination. An updated study by the Bureau of Engineering found that cleaning and removing contaminated soil will cost about $231 million alone, in addition to the cost of the parcel itself, the infrastructure, and the expected operating costs of at least $6 million per year. The city will have to work with California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control to remediate the site. The good news for locals looking forward to the park’s completion is that it’s almost certainly still moving forward, despite the price tag.

Last month, a major milestone in the plan was achieved as the Taylor Yard Pedestrian Bridge was completed. Designed by SPF:architects, the bright orange bridge connects an area north of Dodger Stadium known as Elysian Valley to the neighboring Cypress Park district. It features a 400-foot box-trussed span referencing the area’s industrial heritage. Two cantilevered central viewing platforms form a “handshake” meant to symbolize peace between two neighborhoods once known for public fights and gang violence.

The post The Cost of LA’s “Crown Jewel” River Park Skyrockets to $1 Billion first appeared on Dornob.

During their first visits to the site, the architects were struck by the look of the large orange gantry cranes, which reminded them of “living alien creatures with a sense of surrealism.” That led them to a vivid color scheme and a sci-fi-flavored vision for elevated buildings that feel like a futuristic, free-walking city, “seemingly arriving here from elsewhere, and perhaps traveling elsewhere once again someday,” says lead architect Ma Yansong.

Working with the China Academy of Building Research (CASR), MAD Architects plans to transform the current cargo terminal in Chongqing’s Liangjiang New Area into a new city complex and tourist attraction. The most visually striking part is called the Yangtze River Skywalk, a 1400-foot-long complex made up of six separate but interconnected buildings that seem to rise and fall in an organic line when viewed from a distance. This mimics the rhythm of the industrial freight terminal cranes in both form and color, while their elevated positions preserve open views of the river.

An aluminum curtain wall lends a surreal feel to the building, which also hosts mixed-use retail spaces, restaurants, and other commercial areas. Beneath the “floating” skywalk is a new Cruise Ship Landscape Park and Cruise Ship Hall that extends the Cuntan Central Golden Axis Pier to form a new link between the adjacent Pier Park and Century Cuntan Park. Together, they’ll create a massive new urban green space offering scenic views of the river and city from a place that’s currently unpleasantly industrial.

“Chongqing has mountains and waters,” says Yansong. “However, the Yangtze River is more than just a natural landscape in Chongqing. Because of human activities such as shipping traffic and industrial transport, this mountain city is also full of energy and movement. We want to transform this energy in Chongqing from traces of industry into an energy that stimulates the imagination. People can feel the kinetic energy of the city here, but also imagine the public spaces of the future.”

MAD says the scheme will create a new urban landmark while shifting the feel from industrial to a greener, more attractive vision of urban life. The Chongqing Cuntan International Cruise Center is part of a larger effort by local officials to transform the area for tourists and residents alike. In fact, they imagine that this stretch of the Yangtze will become “the world’s preeminent river cruise port” with an unusual mix of ship, port, city, tourism, shopping, and entertainment attractions. Construction is expected to begin in November 2022, with completion by 2027.

The post MAD Architects’ Cruise Ship Terminal Brings Futuristic Alien Vibes to Chongqing, China first appeared on Dornob.

Petr Janda of Brainwork Studio is the principal architect of the three-phase project, which starts with the renovation of 20 vaults set into the Rašín and Hořejší embankments in the area known as Náplavka. These hollowed-out spaces are referred to by the Czech government as “dungeons,” and in the past likely served as storage spaces for ice and goods arriving and departing in ships along the river. Now, they’ve been converted into shops, galleries, cafés, workshops, and public restroom facilities with curving walls and ceilings made of sandblasted concrete.

Six of the vaults have the stunning 5.5-meter (18-foot) pivoting windows in place of doors, which open at an offset angle and allow customers to step within their plastered minimalist interiors. Stepped stone details at the base of each arched doorway disguise elements like air conditioning ducts and flood prevention features. The rest of the vaults on the Hořejší embankment boast sculptural blackened steel doors. Each one has a multipurpose freestanding furniture unit that can function as a reception desk or bar counter, and the individual businesses occupying them are free to customize them as they like. At night, when the glass-fronted vaults are aglow, they draw in curious passersby who come to the area for farmers’ markets, exhibitions, concerts, and theater performances.

The next two phases of the restoration project, also spearheaded by Brainwork Studio, will include a floating pool (echoing the historical placement of swimming pools along the Vltava embankment) and a terminal for cruise ships. The floating pool facility is supported by a structural system of steel ribs, and the deck “appears boundless, thanks to its infinite water surface,” with a variety of depths suitable for different users and types of swimming. Floating restroom facilities that visually complement the pool will also be included in the design, accessible directly from the riverbank promenade.

The terminal will function as an amphibious intersection between the bank and the river, its appearance drawing from the visual character and traditional shapes of shipbuilding.

“Its predominant feature is the balance between the (in)visibility of the terminal and its strong architectural design derived from the nautical morphology, as well as the visual mimicry connecting the terminal with its native environment,” says Janda. “Thanks to the optical effect created by the deck edges tapering into cutting edges, it dematerializes more on both sides, which is emphasized by the reflection of the water and sky on both surfaces of the terminal wings. The basic shape is based on the spatial rotation of three propeller blades, which was further shaped with regard to the functional arrangement of the building.”

The post Prague’s Vltava River Vaults Feature Giant Pivoting Hobbit Doors first appeared on Dornob.

Bourgnon of all people understands how crucial such designs are for the health of the planet’s waterways. With 20 years of experience setting world-records in solo expeditions and transatlantic competitions, the Franco-Swiss ocean adventurer has observed a dramatic rise in ocean waste. In fact, Bourgnon had to quit the Trans Jaques Vabre yacht race in 2015 when his ship was assaulted by floating rubbish.

“During my racing career, I’ve missed out on records and broken my boat 12 times from hitting ocean debris,” he said in an interview with the Robb Report. “I’ve circumnavigated the world twice in my life, once at the age of 12 with my parents, and another 30 years later. The difference in the amount of plastic pollution was alarming. I knew something had to be done.”

“To fold your arms and say ‘No, we’ll do nothing, we’ll leave it, we’ll focus on dry land, we’ll leave the waste in the ocean,’ is totally irresponsible,” he added.

His solution? A185-foot sea-cleaning catamaran that will be partially powered by the garbage it eats.

Called the Manta – once its solar “wings” are extended, it resembles the swimming ray fish – the concept was developed in collaboration with an NGO thinktank of 58 engineers, technicians, and researchers that Bourgnon assembled in 2016.

The sailing vessel is designed to be traverse the seas removing plastics and other garbage with its large nets that can span 151 feet across and three feet deep. It’s estimated that the Manta will be able to collect up to three tons of waste each hour. With a crew of 22 rotating in two 12-hour shifts, each haul will be pulled in (larger debris will get help from two onboard cranes) and immediately sorted: organic matter back in the ocean, glass and metal sent ashore to recycling facilities, and plastic turned into energy for the ship. The boat’s Waste-to-Electricity Conversion Unit (WECU) will melt the plastic, creating gas to power an electricity-generating turbine.

Additionally, the Manta will incorporate two wind turbines at the stern, 500 square meters of solar panels at the bow, and two hydro-generators under the ship, enabling it to be roughly 70 percent self-sustaining while creating enough power for sailing speeds between two and three knots.

With a goal of operating his sea-cleaner 300 days a year, Bourgnon says it could eliminate up to 10,000 tons of ocean trash every year. If 400 such boats were set to the task, he and his team guess they could clear one-third of the world’s floating garbage. And even though it is fully capable of negotiating ocean waters, the Manta’s focus will be on clearing the estuaries of the planet’s major rivers. Two smaller, more nimble cleaning boats, the Mobula 8 and 10, will be stored on the catamaran to navigate more shallow and narrow inlets.

“The 20 largest rivers in southeast Asia account for 60 percent of ocean plastic, so that’s where we’re concentrating our effort,” Bourgnon says. “We’ll be collecting dense areas of macro-plastic pollution before it sinks or disintegrates into micro-plastics. Hurricanes and tsunamis cause massive inflows of pollution into the ocean, and it’s imperative that this pollution is dealt with quickly before it drifts, sinks, and becomes irrecoverable.”

Bourgnon expects the first model to be finished in two years, with the Manta’s initial sea trials occurring in Europe before it begins its work in southeast Asia in 2025.

He also hopes the concept will encourage more innovation and similar fabrications. “I’m not in competition with other boat builders to be the only one with a Manta,” Bourgnon explains. “Our hope is that hundreds of Mantas will be built around the world to help with the great ocean cleanup.”

The post This New Yacht Eats Ocean Trash for Breakfast first appeared on Dornob.

The nearly 100-foot-long portraits were carried by the subjects themselves, including Badger Bates, a senior Baakandji elder and spokesperson on the Back River, orchardists Rachel Strachan and Alan Whyte, and Wayne Smith, a sixth-generation farmer. All have been impacted by the decline of the Darling/Baaka River caused by climate change, inadequate irrigation, and drought.

The river is a major tributary to the Murray-Darling River system, the largest on the Australian continent, and its health is directly tied to the health of the Baakandji culture, offering food, fiber, and shelter, among other precious resources. The portrait subjects are among those calling for a new river management system based on indigenous land management practices, including the sustainable irrigation of farms and orchards.

“Baaka is the name of our beautiful river, and it is who Baakandji people are, people of the river,” says Badger Bates. “Baakandji never left our land, we are still here, we love our land and it loves us. We have stories that explain its creation and how everything works, so we know how to look after it.”

Commissioned by the National Gallery of Victoria for the NGV Triennial, “Homily to Country” also consists of an open-air chapel inlayed with stained glass windows featuring the same portraits in the NGV garden and an accompanying film, which itself includes footage of the procession.

“Through this ambitious project, JR explores one of the most significant ecological issues facing Australia today,” says Tony Ellwood, Director of NGV, adding that “the procession in the Menindee Lakes district as part of JR’s thought-provoking ‘Homily to Country’ works in the NGV Triennial, highlighting important local voices and giving global attention to the environmental concerns of the Murray-Darling River.”

“Homily to Country” began as a continuation of JR’s “Omelia Contadina” project, which shines a light Italian farmers facing many of the same issues. JR traveled to Australia in early 2020, before the pandemic began, to meet with the orchardists who were forced to remove and burn their families’ formerly successful commercial orchards due to lack of irrigation flows.

“I started this project in Italy, very far from Australia, yet farmers have similar issues: protect their environment and live decently from their work,” JR says. “Like many people this past year who were not able to participate in important life moments, I will follow the procession remotely but will surely feel the presence of all the people gathered.”

JR’s signature black-and-white portraiture never fails to start conversations about important topics, like the homogenization of architecture, the plight of undocumented young people in the United States, and the well-being of incarcerated people. Previous projects include a massive Brooklyn mural of 1,000 New Yorkers in “Chronicles,” a thought-provoking temporary billboard along the US-Mexico border in “Giants,” a visualization of the immigrants who passed through Ellis Island in “Unframed,” and photos of local elderly people splashed across the facades of urban buildings in “The Wrinkles of the City.”

The post Monumental Portraits Call Attention to Australian River’s Decline in JR’s “Homily to Country” first appeared on Dornob.

This year, for the first time ever, the city offered a free boat-in movie theater with a screen erected along the banks of the Bassin de la Villette. As you can imagine, these narrow waterways can only handle so much traffic, and demand was inevitably high. To earn a spot, hopeful movie watchers entered a raffle to reserve one of 38 electric boats operated by Freshwater Sailor. 150 deck chairs were also placed on the opposite bank for those who didn’t win.

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The 2018 French film Le Grand Bain, a comedy/drama about a men’s synchronized swimming team, was selected as the first movie for the “Cinema on the Water” event, which took place on July 18th to overwheling success. The organizers partnered with MK2 Cinemas to pull off the event, with the company’s CEO Elisha Karmitz saying, “after a few months of confinement, we thought we needed a way to tell the people and to tell the world that cinemas are open in Paris, [and] that Paris is one of the worldwide capitals of cinema.”

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Movie theaters have reopened in Paris at this time, but so far attendance has been low as concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus remains. COVID-19 has killed more than 30,000 people in France so far, and some European countries fear an oncoming second wave of infections. Outdoor activities are considered fairly safe, however, so open air theaters — like the rare remaining drive-in theaters in the United States — are thriving.

In fact, Cinema Sur l’Eau is such a great idea, it would be a shame if it didn’t catch on all over the world (as weather permits), adding to other socially distanced outdoor moviegoing options that might be available right now. Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo hasn’t revealed whether or not there will be additional movies or showings on the Bassin this summer, but she did say that Paris Plages is a great way to entertain locals who currently aren’t traveling.

“Many Parisians will not go on holidays. Many visitors might come to Paris, especially visitors from other French regions rather than abroad, and we really want to welcome them and keep this festive spirit up in Paris.”

The Bassin de la Villette is the largest artificial stretch of water in the city at 800 meters (2,625 feet) long and 70 meters (230 feet) wide, and it’s not unusual to see all sorts of concerts, theater productions, and other shows there all throughout the year. Officials weren’t sure whether demand would still be high this year due to coronavirus, but it’s as popular as ever, it seems, with measures like distancing stickers on the ground and plentiful free hand sanitizer helping everyone stay safe.

Images courtesy of Sortira Paris

The post Boat-In Movie Theater Opens on the Seine River in Paris first appeared on Dornob.

It’s sound advice if you know you’ll want to move sooner rather than later, or if you’re perfectly content with colors, designs, and decor that’s fairly mainstream. But not everyone wants to live that way. Some creative people just have to express themselves through their living environments, property value be damned.

And who knows? Maybe there is someone else out there who’s looking for exactly what you’re selling. One homeowner in Hood River, Oregon decided to take that risk, putting an unusually rainbow-hued home on the market for $1.45 million. Known locally as the “rainbow house,” the six-bedroom, four-bath home offers views of nearby Mt. Hood and the Columbia River valley.

Architecturally, it’s pretty standard for the area. Before its colorful paint job, the 1917 home probably blended in with all of its neighbors on the hillside. But the current owner eschewed shades of gray and beige, opting instead for a vivid blue roof that’s actually pretty on trend (looking a lot like Pantone’s “Classic Blue” Color of the Year). Almost everything else in the house, from the stairs leading up to the terrace to the panels on the garage doors, has gotten a similarly cheerful paint job.

Inside, you’ll find cobalt floors and neon furniture set against white walls to keep the bold color palette from getting too overwhelming. All 5,340 square feet of the house display the same happy-go-lucky vibe, but it’s easy to see how an interior transformation to something more neutral would be fairly easy to pull off.

Still, it’s fun to get a peek at the belongings of the type of person who’d paint a house like this in the first place. Just check out all the blown glass light fixtures, sculptures, paintings, faux flowers, and accents that complement the color scheme and give the home a charmingly kooky personality. But above all else, the best part of the house might just be the double-height glass solarium complete with a classic chandelier.

Here’s some information from realtor Michael Frost P.C. of Windermere Real Estate:

“The most iconic home in downtown Hood River. Perfectly situated on a half acre with amazing Columbia River views, plus [those of] Mt. Adams & White Salmon river. Incredible landscaping, terraced walks, and patios, oversized four-car garage with rooftop deck and gazebo plus sleeping area with full bath. A true classic!”

Some might find the overall effect of “Rainbow House” a little garish, but it probably still brings smiles to their faces as they pass by. With any luck, it’ll find a new owner that sees it for the unique place it is and chooses to keep it that way.

Looking for some more colorful and creative home inspiration? Check out a Piet Mondrian-inspired tiny house, some wild custom exterior paint jobs, and an incredible sculptural home shaped like a spiraling shell.

The post Riverside Rainbow-Hued House in Oregon Selling for $1.45M first appeared on Dornob.

Why, for example, would the same basic gabled house that works in a suburban neighborhood also be considered appropriate for the beach? Not only is the feel of the area quite different, but so are conditions like exposure to sun, wind, and humidity. Purpose-built designs that engage with the setting in a more intentional way are a lot more energy-efficient and comfortable to inhabit.

“Refugio Matanzas” by Cerda Pe Arquitectos demonstrates one way to pull this off. Placed on a sandy bank adjacent to the Rapel River and South Pacific Ocean in Navidad, Chile, this wooden beach cabin gives its owners everything they could desire: spectacular views in multiple directions, plenty of natural light, a direct dialogue with the outdoors, and protection from the elements.

The client for this project is a big fan of kite surfing, a sport that harnesses the power of the wind to ride the waves. Matanzas is the perfect place for it, so as you can imagine, it’s quite windy around it. The architects explain that “With this as a priority, we worked on a simple scheme that referred to his hobby. A roof that changes in width with respect to the base [and] a simple geometric frame that gives movement to the house and that makes the house perceived differently depending on the point of view, generating a dynamic architecture. The site is at the top of a hill, [so] we chose to place the house a few meters below the top, taking advantage of the hill as a natural protector of the south wind. In addition, a closed terrace was developed that protected from the sun and setting wind — a location that also directs the view towards the main landscape, the Rapel River.”

“The material chosen was impregnated pinewood, both for the structure and for the cladding. Pine wood is an abundant material in the area and often used among local workers. [The cabin] was thought from the beginning to have large windows with north orientation (privileging view of the landscape and abundance of sun) plus a facade with small openings to the south, thus reducing thermal losses.”

Inside, Refugio Matanzas enjoys a large common space surrounded by windows that can be opened wide to create a virtually seamless transition to the deck. Bedrooms and a bathroom are tucked into the back of the cabin, toward the hillside. The architects also left open the possibility of future expansion, just in case the client decides to grow his family and needs more room.

The result feels cocooned without being closed off. It’s especially cool that even its outdoor space is contained within the sloped roof, so you can enjoy the sights and sounds of the location without being fully exposed. All of that pine wood complements the natural setting, too, and both the shape and materials of the house fit right in with other structures in the area without feeling conformist.

The post Cocooned Beach Cabin is Protected from the Sun and Wind first appeared on Dornob.

There’s a lot to love in Hoi An, one of Vietnam’s most beautiful traditional towns. For starters, there are its glorious white sand beaches dotted with tropical palm trees. Then there’s the ancient trading port of Old Town Hoi An, which dates back to the 15th century. Even better, this area’s historic architecture is among some of the best-preserved in the entire nation.

Showing influences from countries all around it, including China and Japan, the Old Town is often packed with tourists coming to admire its many charms and multitude of canals. Outside the town, much of the land is still wild and minimally developed.

But to really enjoy Hoi An, you have to be prepared for a bit of extreme weather. The dry season runs from May through September, with temperatures commonly hitting 100°F. The rest of the year is wet, with torrential rains frequently causing floods. So when architecture firm D1 was commissioned to create a duplex villa along the Hoi An River, they knew they’d have to place a high priority on working with the regional climate.

The Vietnam-based studio founded in 2017 by architect Tan Nguyen has quickly gained a reputation for blending modern elements with the local vernacular, employing plenty of organic materials in the process. They believe in creating “responsibly-designed buildings” that are custom-tailored to each site. The key to injecting “soul” into each structure lies in taking cues from the things the surrounding buildings are made from — and of course, from paying local artisans to do much of the work.

M VILLA is the latest hospitality project from the firm to be made with materials like coconut leaves and local stone, wood, and bamboo, taking advantage of the skills and craftsmanship associated with each of those items in the area. But because the duplex is set along the river, it’s especially prone to storms and floods, so it needed a little extra creative thinking to ensure its full protection.

D1 created a large overhanging roof made of layered and overlapped coconut leaves to create a sort of tent over the living areas, simultaneously cooling them and giving them additional protection from the rain. These common spaces are also set along the exterior of each unit to take advantage of the surrounding views, natural daylight, and fresh air. Private spaces like bedrooms and bathrooms are set into the core of the structure, and are decidedly more “reserved for resting.”

The architects add: “At the same time, both spaces are seamlessly connected to the surrounding nature. To effectively take advantage of the beautiful surrounding landscape, the design minimizes walls to the max in order to maximize wide angles. All functions are arranged vertically, leaving the ground floor open, flexible, and easy to move in case [the] water level rises during [the] heavy rainy season.”

“Local materials and skilled craftsmanship are greatly employed [in this project]. This helps create a harmonic integration between the project and its surrounding scenes and landscape. More importantly, this allows for the preservation and promotion of traditional crafting villages amid today’s mass production age in Vietnam.”

A lush “coconut forest” of palm trees along the edge of the river acts as a transitional zone, helping to further alleviate flooding concerns. Elsewhere, high stone walls topped with wooden privacy panels help create backyard oases despite the two tenants living so close to one another. The back side of the duplex meets the street, too, ensuring that the lot is primarily used for respite and recreation.

The post M VILLA: A Tropical Vietnamese Duplex by D1 Architects first appeared on Dornob.

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In addition to its impressive collection of amenities and services, the UNStudio-designed marina also functions as a work of art. From its alluring bronze exterior to its unique funnel system and meticulously conceived framed views, this is truly a site you’ll never forget.

First Impressions of the Marina

As you approach the clubhouse, the feeling of boarding an opulent yacht envelops you. The bronze tones of its aluminum panels glint in the sunlight before fading into shimmering highlights that accent the gentle lines of the architecture. The resulting atmosphere is both tranquil and stimulating.

The waterfront facade is glazed and comprised of balconies, glass fins, and shiny panels that reflect light as well as the smooth surface of the water.

The trip from the main entrance over the bridge is accompanied by images of water, boats, decks, and stunning horizons.

The landscape that borders the building has various plateaus that provide clear views of the Xi and the rolling Shenwan countryside. Smart architectural planning protects the privacy of residents from curious visitors.

As you delve deeper into the interior, the space starts to spread out in a natural flow of fan shapes that appear to emanate from the bridge. This creates an environment that feels alive, accents the marina views, and subtly guides visitors to various destinations.

Fantastic Funnels and Voluminous Views

Staircases wind through the buildings, forming open “funnels” that make exploration inviting and simple. The smooth lines create the illusion of seamless transitions between the body of each building and the surrounding water. Spaces are separate and defined more by activity than rigid walls or dividers, making all the interior rooms feel connected despite their being dedicated to different tasks.

A big skylight lets natural illumination from the east and west create a welcoming atmosphere full of ever-changing shadows and lights. The marina’s rich wood paneling pays homage to the luxurious ambiance of the yachts moored just outside.

These ingenious funnel spaces guarantee clear views wherever you are in the complex. Gaze in one direction to savor the picturesque lines of the yachts aglow in the harbor. Look another way and marvel at the hills and valleys just northeast of the complex. No matter which way you turn, there’s something incredible to see. These funnels also create an idyllic natural breeze that keeps the whole place at a comfortable temperature during warmer seasons.

UNStudio co-founder Ben van Berkel explains: “The way the wind is guided through the building in order to cool down the interior is also metaphorically articulated in the design. Within the internal wind funnels, it is almost as though you can see the wind swirling around within the architecture that surrounds you.”

The post Keppel Cove Marina: A Marvelous Mingling of Light and Shadow first appeared on Dornob.

This will manifest itself in the long, narrow site via the construction of a terraced landscape, which will take up over 300,000 square meters of space. Here, the building’s concrete structure will be expressed in the form of approximately 1000 columns that not only have tree-like shapes but are also designed to have trees and plants emerging from their funnel-shaped crowns.

Staggered Artificial Mountains

The project, entitled “Moganshan,” was unveiled in 2015, and drone footage of the construction reveals that its progress is now well and truly underway. Although the development is far from being finished, the video shows that there are already trees planted on top of the columns, lending a green air to the otherwise industrial building site. According to the architects, the site is formed from two “tree-covered mountains,” both of which consist of terraced columns that rise to different heights and create an undulating landform that will undoubtedly become one of the area’s more popular architectural attractions.

These columns become the defining feature of the newly constructed landscape and juxtapose nature with the manmade reality of Shanghai’s urban fabric. The complex will provide the city with new residences, a school, commercial office accommodations, a hotel, and retail spaces. At this stage of the construction process, it already looks like Moganshan will provide an attractive visual counterpoint to the area’s other, more generic-looking towers.

Designed for Social Interactions

Two of the project’s main goals are to encourage social interaction and promote engagement with the outdoors. This is particularly evident in the over 400 terraces created by the columns, many of which will serve as office spaces suitable for outdoor meetings and away-from-desk gathering spots for colleagues.

The complex fronts onto the river, essentially turning its back on the dense urban sprawl to its rear. This should also encourage residents and building-users to take advantage of the river views and contact with nature that they will have right through the planted trees and along the strip of neighboring parkland.

The fair-faced concrete development looks both futuristic and timeless (something which the Heatherwick Studio has always managed to do effortlessly) and feels appropriate for the dynamic Chinese hub of Shanghai. It can be read in many different ways depending on your perspective, and sidelong views give a depth and mass to the complex that is obscured by the sunlight when viewed straight on.

The Shanghai skyline in this area will surely be changed by Moganshan, and its presence will be a lesson in how to break the monotony of the world’s megacities, many of which are springing up all over China. Check back with Dornob for more updates.

The post 1000 Trees: A Strange New Building in Shanghai by Heatherwick Studios first appeared on Dornob.

Margeza is a Belgian Design Studio that was founded by Margit and Geza Harmori, a happily married and well-established creative couple. Largely inspired by the contemporary arts, the duo has fused their passions and talents to bring a range of captivating apartments to the European continent for both domestic and temporary use. A recent project for a fun apartment in Budapest shows just how good they are at their jobs.

In the true spirit of DIY, Margeza has personally designed, built, and furnished each one of their projects, setting every one of their units apart from standard rentals. The couple literally makes the apartments they work on their own, inhabiting each one for an extended period of time and pouring their souls into its nooks and crannies to create the ultimate homey atmosphere. Once they’re ready for a new adventure, they sell the place and move on to the next one, leaving a trail of stunning properties in their wake. The company website reads, “Many ask us: isn’t it hard to give up our home, with all the carefully chosen, often specifically designed and made, objects away? The only reason why it is not so, is because we know: someone else will find happiness in them.”

Szabo Ilonka Utca

Margeza have recently unveiled their latest project: Szabo Ilonka Utca in downtown Budapest. Located in the heart of the city’s metropolitan area, this apartment boasts incredible views of the Danube River and the Hungarian Parliament Building, which are probably best enjoyed from the unit’s spacious brick balcony. Inside, the home’s white, modern interiors provide tenants with a wonderful blank canvas for them to customize should they feel like redecorating later on. Of course, the apartment has already been adorned with a striking selection of colorful vases and accessories that no minimalist could refuse.

Equipped with an open-plan living area, an exposed staircase, and nonrepresentational wall features, Szabo Ilonka Utca is the ideal apartment for anyone who wants to move into an energy-filled environment without having to go through the hassle of decorating. The furniture’s extensive use of primary colors makes for a visually pleasing aesthetic and keeps the surrounding white walls from seeming too overbearing. On the living room floor, you’ll find an initially abstract-looking blue and white carpet with a single red dot near its center. As it turns out, this “abstract shape” is actually Budapest itself. The blue, in turn, is the Danube, and the dot represents the site of the apartment. On the back wall of the same room, tenants and visitors alike will be able to marvel in the unit’s living green wall, which — thanks to Margeza — is already teeming with lush plant life.

Szabo Ilonka Utca’s convenient location provides easy access to all of Budapest’s finest landmarks and tourist attractions. The apartment is in close proximity to Fisherman’s Bastion, the Houses of Parliament, and, you guessed it, the Danube. Imagine hopping on a moonlit dinner cruise just a few blocks away from your home!

The apartment is currently for sale, but no mention of its price is available on the couple’s website. Any prospective renters must contact Margeza directly.

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A new proposal by London’s Curl la Tourelle Head Architecture aims to prove what tidal power can really do. The Thames Tidal School is to be placed on the Thames River’s wharf side, extending out over the waterway on a series of large underwater turbines. The architects say that the energy generated by these turbines would be enough to power the entire five-story building.

“The school will be a recognized center of excellence at a European level, providing world-class facilities through its sustainable design and use of materials,” reads the Curl la Tourelle Head website. “The site is located directly at the narrowest section of the Thames – meaning that the velocity of the tidal flow at this point will be the highest in the river. The plan is to capture this four-times daily energy through submerged tidal turbines as the primary means to supply the building with carbon neutral power.”

Currently, the proposed site of the Thames Tidal School is being used as a place to store trash before it’s picked up by ferries and floated down to a dump in Essex. This location is also purported to have been the spot where the Romans first landed in London. However, the city is already planning to relocate the waste storage facility to free the spot up for a new purpose. The area seems particularly well-suited to a sustainable cause, as it’s proximity to the Thames gives it cleaner air and naturally cooler temperatures than other parts of London.

The architects hope that their design will go on to become London’s greenest public building thanks to its low embodied energy and its use of natural, bio-renewable construction materials — all of which have been sourced from local supply chains. It’s designed to meet both the Passivhaus standard and BREEAM’s “Outstanding” rating, two globally recognized measurements of sustainability in architecture. To keep an eye on its carbon footprint, The Thames Tidal School will also be equipped with a set of carbon monitoring systems.

The UK is already home to the world’s first marine energy test facility, based in Orkney, Scotland, which assesses turbines and other green technology in real sea conditions. A 2011 energy test conducted in the Thames determined that a tidal energy farm could potentially generate enough electricity to power 35,000 homes.

If it were built, the Thames Tidal School would certainly stand as a beautiful and inspirational example of creative thinking in the field of renewable energy. With any luck, it might even inspire its students to create groundbreaking products of their own that will help propel the world into a sustainable future.

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Along the banks of the River Thames, the views are fantastic but flooding is a constant worry. Baca Architects solved this worry for one lucky couple who have a home in the flood zone. The Formosa is said to be the first amphibious house in the UK.

The fix is a simple one in theory: the house itself is built on a below-ground concrete dock. If the site floods, the dock fills up and the water actually causes the house to rise up. It can rise up to 2.7 meters in a flood, reducing or preventing property damage.

The architects tried to keep the mechanisms as simple as possible because the fewer moving parts you incorporate, the smaller the chance of something breaking down. Still, the dock will be filled with water every five years to test its floating capabilities and ensure that everything is operating smoothly.

An Elevating Design

If this type of home can prevent excessive flood damage, it could be implemented in riverside and coastal areas around the world. We have to imagine, though, that the underground concrete dock might be a little more expensive than the time tested method of just building flood-prone homes on stilts.

Via Archello: “The truly unique 225sqm house is located just 10m from the river’s edge. Designed by Baca Architects, specialists in waterfront architecture and floodresilient aquatecture, the house is located on a small island along a picturesque stretch of the Thames in Buckinghamshire, a site designated as Flood Zone 3b and a Conservation Area.”

“While the house is a modern, highly insulated, low-energy building, including large high-performance windows, the architects have ensured that it is also sympathetic to the locality; a scenic spot with very strict planning guidelines. The property has a pitched roof to complement the irregular roofline of neighbouring homes and an overall footprint that is no larger than the old demolished property.”

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