Bedrooms inside this barn conversion extension in the English countryside are defined by the peaks of a sawtooth roof, which Blee Halligan Architects added during the building's renovation.

The Five Acre Barn is home to a bed and breakfast, and is set between the Suffolk seaside towns of Aldeburgh and Thropness in the East Anglia area of England.

The owners of the property previously lived in Peckham, south-east London, but sold their house to start a life in the countryside.

After finding the old barn, the pair commissioned Blee Halligan Architects to transform it into a property that could become their home as well as serving as guest accommodation.

"The client brief was for internal refurbishment of the existing barn, which would be converted to house a communal living space, open-plan kitchen and owner's accommodation," said the practice, which is based in London and the Caribbean island of Providenciales.

"The end result elevates the collection of buildings into a simple piece of contemporary architecture, which sits comfortably in the mature landscape garden setting. This project has been a labour of love for our clients, who did much of the construction work themselves."

During the 1970s, the property had been extended with an annex something the owners were keen to get rid of as it had fallen into a state of disrepair.

The architects replaced this section of the building with a new wing, which contains five en-suite guest bedrooms.

Each of these bedrooms is contained beneath separate peaks of a sawtooth roof, and features double-height living spaces to accommodate mezzanine levels for the sleeping quarters.

Mezzanines are reached by custom-made birch plywood staircases, which incorporate a desk, shelving and storage to make the most of the living space.

A fifth bedroom sits separate from the rest of the annex, and is accessed through a black-stained, weatherboard-clad passage. A dressing room and bathroom are also located off this passage.

This last bedroom is the largest out of the five, and boasts six-metre-high ceilings. Grounds are visible through windows and glass doors on each facade, while a skylight allows natural light to flood the space throughout the day.

The exterior of the entire building has been clad in cedar shingles, which will silver over time to make the structure blend into its surroundings.

"The new building sits comfortably in the wild garden landscape and over time will weather down to a silver-grey to match the guttering, which will further emphasise the pared-down form," said the architects.

To get to the old barn building, guests cross through a passageway clad in black-stained timber.

The barn, which provides the permanent living area for the owners, has been reconfigured to incorporate an open-plan kitchen, dining and living space.

The architects were keen to "enhance" the existing structure, and simply repaired old brickwork and roof tiling using found materials.

Blee Halligan Architects was co-founded by architects Greg Blee and Lee Halligan. Previously the studioextended a bungalow in Manchester, England, to include three pitched roofs that capture sunlight at different times of day andupdated a north London house with a lantern-like extension.

Photography is by Sarah Blee.

View original post here:
Old Suffolk barn transformed into countryside bed and breakfast by Blee Halligan Architects - Dezeen

The old warehouse building at 211 Main St. in North Tonawanda was not built to last.

According to Joy Kuebler, one of two women with plans to bring new life to the building, the structure was made with cheap materials when it was built nearly 90 years ago. The fact that its still standing, she said, is unusual.

Were looking at a substantial reconstruction, but we want to maintain the historic integrity, Kuebler said, adding that theyd like to create a 21st century building that lasts another 100 years.

Kuebler, owner of Joy Kuebler Landscape Architect, P.C., has teamed up with Kelley Culp-Burton, owner of KCB Architecture, P.C., to convert the building into new office spaces for their growing businesses. They plan to move their businesses to the space and expect to have 10,000 square feet left over which can be rented out to other tenants. They plan to use movable walls to allow the space to be reconfigured, as needed, over time.

Under the name Enterprise Lumber and Silo, the two have applied for assistance through the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency. Theyve been approved by the NCIDA for a 10-year tax abatement, a sales tax abatement and a mortgage recording tax abatement to help bring the $3.1 million project to fruition.

Thats just one piece of a handful of things we need to get in place to make this project happen, Culp-Burton said.

She added that theres also the possibility of additional funding from the state Department of Environmental Conservation if they get approved to be part of the brownfield program. Theyve also received a $300,000 Restore New York grant and Culp-Burton said there are programs through both National Grid and National Fuel that help with the restoration of abandoned buildings. She said theyve also received support from state Sen. Robert Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, and state Assemblyman Robin Schimminger, D-Kenmore.

The project is expected to transfer 11 jobs to the new facility, with Kuebler saying they expect to add four to five employees each over the next 10 years. The project summary issued by the NCIDA says they plan to create seven new jobs.

As with any building as old as 211 Main St., there is substantial repair work to be done before theyre ready to open for business. The big issue is the roof, which needs to be replaced, along with the windows and the exterior walls of the structure. Whats still in good shape, Culp-Burton said, is the timber frame. She said thats part of the historical feel to the building that theyd like to preserve.

In addition to enhancing their businesses and providing space for new businesses, they also plan to utilize the space in ways that benefit the community. They plan to use a portion of the building to create a space that can be rented out for community events and theyre also working with students in North Tonawanda High Schools Academy of Engineering and Architecture, who will use their project as a learning opportunity.

The project is expected to enter the construction phase during the spring of 2018 and, if all goes according to plan, open for business by late 2018 or early 2019.

Originally posted here:
NT architects seek to revive old warehouse - Niagara Gazette

Architects show designs for new...

COLUMBIA, Mo. - A new middle school is Columbia should hold 700 students for classes, according to the architects who designed it.

PWArchitects showed off its work on a southwest middle school Monday night. Firm president Chris Davis said the school should hold 700 students for daily classes, but could fit 800 students in total.

CPS moved up the opening date of the middle school to 2020 as overcrowding continues to be an issue at its one middle school south of Stadium Boulevard. The district is targeting land on Sinclair Road for the new school.

The half of the building nearest the parking lot will feature the gym and performing arts center. Two stories of classrooms are further back, and staff will have the ability to close off that half after hours. Superintendent Peter Stiepleman said that allowed for a more accessible feel to the public, allowing easy access to the popular facilities, while also protecting the class space.

Davis said a "flex room" near the gym will serve as one of the building's two storm shelters. Columbia city rules require schools to have them. The school's classroom for students with physical and mental disabilities will also double as a storm shelter. Davis said that stops students who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices to get across the entire building in case of an emergency.

"Columbia Public Schools probably isn't too unique from other school districts," Davis told ABC 17 News. "They started taking into account electronic cameras and surveillance, as well as lockdowns, and control of the door systems, so we incorporate those things, too."

Matt Pitzer, a Columbia City Council member, said he enjoyed the simplicity of the school's design. The three main hallways make it seem easy to navigate, and allow for safer navigation of the school, Pitzer said. The city councilman said that he still wanted to accelerate improvements to Sinclair Road ahead of the school's scheduled opening, including sidewalks and bicycle lanes.

"We don't want everybody in their cars, we want to get people out of their cars and be able to bike and walk, and right now, Sinclair is basically an unimproved road," Pitzer said.

Read more from the original source:
Architects show designs for new Columbia middle school - ABC17News.com

The fruitful partnership between Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) and office developer SOHO China will soon bring another remarkable structure to the countrys design landscape. Their latest collaboration, Leeza SOHO, is set to top out at its full height of 679 feet next month. While that may seem diminutive compared with other towers under construction around the world, the Beijing property is breaking records in another way. The mixed-use building will contain the worlds largest central atrium, an expansive 623 feet high, which will be open to the public.

A look at the ongoing construction within Leeza SOHO.

Leeza SOHO is the fourth building ZHA has designed for SOHO China, and the latest images reveal that the architectural firm has created something that will rival its previous collaborations, which total 15 million square feet and include Galaxy SOHO, Sky SOHO, and Wangjing SOHO. The dizzying photos offer a look at the progress of the 1.86-million-square-foot building and a glimpse at the construction process, which is being done with an eye toward sustainability and LEED Gold certification.

Once Leeza SOHO is completed, Beijing will have yet another skyscraper designed by one of the leading firms in the world.

Set to be completed in 2018, the building is composed of two sides twisting around the atrium and connected by a series of sky bridges. The clever design allows the halves to shade the central space, while the double-insulated glazing maintains the views as well as comfortable interior temperatures. The atrium also connects with the subway station below the site, meaning that future occupants could have one of the worlds most beautiful commutes.

See more here:
Zaha Hadid Architects Reveal New Images of the World's Tallest Atrium in Beijing - Architectural Digest

Kelly Thompson has plans for downtown Sun Prairie. The owner of Kontext Architects LLC is leasing the empty space at 240 E. Main St. and renovating the upper level, which sat vacant for years.

We just gutted everything and cleared it all out, and weve got some big ideas for the entire building, Thompson said, adding that his team will relocate its offices to an updated 1,500-square-foot second-story space next March.

An additional 1,000 square feet of space on the second level remains available for lease.

Meanwhile, a new front facade is in the works that will restore the corner location, adjacent to Cannery Wine & Spirits, to its original early-1900s storefront appearance.

Inventure Realty Group will occupy the Main Street level, and Thompson envisions the basement, which still retains woodwork and fabric from a bygone era, as the perfect home for a commercial wine cellar and tasting room.

Thompson, a Sun Prairie resident who began Kontext Architects in 2008 at 425 W. Main St., relocated his firm to downtown Madison on East Dayton Street after Kontext merged with Architecture Network in 2014.

But he wanted to return to downtown Sun Prairie, where he sees a vibrant scene evolving thanks in large part to new housing developments in the area.

You have people walking all over the place, he said. And it gets more exciting at night and during the weekend. This downtown is considerably more accessible than downtown Madison, and for Kontext being in downtown Sun Prairie is all about presence and name recognition.

For now, though, Thompson and his staff are temporarily operating out of 1110 N. Bristol St., a small space formerly occupied by The Ammo Box and sharing a building with Georges Chicken & Fish and Good Spirits liquor store.

We were sort of homeless, said Thompson, whose downtown Madison lease expired in June.

He was able to sign a short-term lease while renovations take place at the East Main Street building.

Proximity to the Highway 151 corridor, which provides easy access to the Fox Valley where several Kontext clients are located as well as to and from other regions, also attracted Thompson. Its very common for us to go where our clients are, and this is a very practical move for us, he said, explaining that Sun Prairies location makes traveling to visit clients much more convenient for his team.

Kontext offers pre-design and schematic design services, creates design development and construction documents, and provides construction administration services. The firm built much of its business on designing public buildings for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, as well as multiple school districts and various municipal entities in Wisconsin and Illinois. The firm also has been involved in several design studies for Sun Prairie-based projects.

Will the move to Sun Prairie help Kontext garner more local work? It remains to be seen how much of an advantage that will be, Thompson said, but hes excited about returning to where he started his business although he doesnt regret the Architecture Network merger and the subsequent relocation to the heart of Madison.

Architecture Network was owned and operated by Arlen Kay a renowned architect whose last name rhymes with eye and who helped restore buildings that now house Quiveys Grove restaurant and the Great Dane Downtown.

He also offered Thompson, who attended the University of Southern Illinois-Carbondale, his first crack at working in Wisconsins architectural design market back in 1997.

Following the 2014 merger, Architecture Network was folded into the Kontext Architects name, as Thompson eventually took charge of all operations.

The partnership has helped Thompson expand Kontexts capabilities to include more design work in the private sector, especially with multifamily residential projects.

Kay, despite being of retirement age, remains a part-time Kontext employee and brings in new work for the firm.

Today, three years on from the merger and only months away from beginning a new chapter in the firms history, Thompson claims Kontexts greatest strength is its ability to connect with clients.

We want to build sustained, trusting relationships, he says. We want to know about their kids or if theyre in a bowling league. We sincerely are interested in them as people. That definitely fosters trust, and we are very intentional about it.

KONTEXT ARCHITECTS LLC

1110 N. Bristol St.

Phone: 608-825-0094

Web:

http://www.kontextarchitects.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kontextarchitects

Hours: Monday-Friday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

See more here:
Kontext Architects planning move to downtown Sun Prairie - hngnews.com

located along the popular sigmund freud path in the alpine woods of bolzano, messnerarchitectschurch in stella is an appreciated spiritual spacefor people from far and wide. the conversion and renovation of the building, dating back to the fifties, is aimed at reevaluating the existing structure and making it more appealing to visitors.the fleeting glimpse inside the chapel encouragesvisitors to enter the place of worship.

the prevailing genius loci, latin for the spirit of the place, is strikingly expressed through the catchphrasechurch in the woodsall images davide perbellini

the largerectangular opening behind the presbytery bathes the interior in light and underlines the pursuit of linking the interiorto the exterior. the prevailing genius loci, latin for the spirit of the place, is strikingly expressed throughmessnerarchitectscatchphrase church in the woods. the framed view is characterized by a continuously changing landscape throughoutthe year. inside the church, the previously existing height difference between presbytery and nave is reduced and replaced by a ramp with an incised canyon. the configuration as a ramp dissolves the separation of the space, and creates the impression of a shaped landscape. the dark incisions in the wooden ceiling reflect the joints in the floor.

meditation room

afreestanding panel of translucent glass opposite to the front door works as a protective and informative shield.the stained-glass windows originate from artist peter fellin. the figurative arched windows with the pictures of saint stephen and saint notburga were moved from the east to the west faade where they brighten the entrance. since its renovation, the abstract and precious stained-glass windows receive more attention and appreciation. the altar is located on the central axis of the presbytery, while the ambo and the priests chair are situated in front of the main liturgical object. solid monoliths of a local variety of gneissic rock rest on the translucent glass bases. the light breaks through the fragile bases and makes the heavy masses hover above ground.

the view onto presbytery

the weightlessness of the structurestrongly expresses the aspiration for the divine and the closeness to heaven.the new staircase starts with a loop, hovers above the registry and leads to the attic floor along the east faade. the previously unused attic floor was restructured and recovered as a place for meditation, silence and retreat. the attic consists ofan entrance area with a cloakroom, a restroom, a storage room and a spacious event room. the entire timber-framed supporting structure was demolished and substituted by a three-hinged arch. the subsequently unsupported tent-like space was improved in its physical properties by insulating the wood-shingled roof.

view towardsthe rear end of the chapel

the brickwork of the western gable was demolished to further provide the meditation space with daylight.astair shielded by a wall element leads down to the meditation space wrapped in its lower part in carpet like a nest and dissolving in its upper part in wooden boarding. the entire surface of the gable wall is closed by a glass faade which opens up the view to the piazza. astepped terrace enlarges the meditation space with an attractive openspace, connecting the innerto the outer space both visually and mentally.ultimately, only two architectural interventions determine the conversion of the church in the wood: on one hand, it is the breakthrough of the sacred space to the landscape, on the other hand it is the opening of the gable to the piazza.

attic floor details

the registry

altar base detail

stairway to attic floor

west faade at dawn

east faade at dawn

details of the eastern faade

outer view into the presbytery

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lynn chaya | designboom

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messner architects situates its newly renovated saint joseph chapel in the alpine woods - Designboom

Pompidou Center to Open Gallery in Shanghai, Designed by David Chipperfield Architects

David Chipperfield Architects has revealed the design of the newest homeof the Centre Pompidou, the West Bund Art Museum in Shanghai. The Parisian institution revealed the details with the announcement of a 5-year deal with the West Bund Group to stage exhibitions in the museum beginning in 2019. Approximately 20 exhibitions including a focus on contemporary Chinese art will be included in the deal, described by the Centre Pompidou as "the most important long-term cultural exchange project between France and China.

+29

Description provided by the architects.

The new West Bund Art Museum is a prominent building of the masterplan for the West Bund of Shanghai. The aim of the design is to create a special place at the riverside where visitors can visit a museum and also enjoy the riverside and the views to downtown Shanghai. Due to its situation as a solitaire at the north most point where the road and the river diverge to form a generous green park, the museum will be the prime cultural entity that visitors encounter when coming to the Xuhui Riverside District via the Shanghai Corniche. The building will have a strong relationship to its surroundings.

Three exhibition gallery volumes approximately 18m tall define the building massing on the North, West and South sides of the site. The exhibition galleries are stacked and the heights are configured to provide clerestory lighting to the lower level galleries, while the upper level galleries are mainly top lit. In addition, each upper level gallery contains an expansive view window providing views to downtown Shanghai, the local Huangpu river bank, and the park to the south.

The museum is positioned on the outer edges of the site on these three sides to create a unique space at the riverside. This central area of the building contains 3 main space defining elements; a three storey lobby with a central triple-height atrium, a single storey long caf pavilion located along the rivers edge with a rooftop viewing terrace connecting the upper lobby with the riverside, and a landscaped sunken courtyard connecting the underground museum level with the riverside terrace and promenade.

Project start: 2013Completion due: 2019Gross floor area: 24000 m2Client:Shanghai West Bund Development Group Co., Ltd.Architect:David Chipperfield Architects Berlin, ShanghaiPartners:Alexander Schwarz, Mark Randel, Martin Reichert, Libin ChenProject Architects:Diana Schaffrannek, Chuxiao Li, Haishan LiContact architect:Shanghai Urban Architectural Design Co., Ltd.Landscape architect:Levin Monsigny Gesellschaft von LandschaftsarchitektenStructure consultant:ArupStructure engineer:Shanghai Urban Architectural Design Co., Ltd.Facade consultant:Drees & Sommer Engineering Consulating (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.Services consultant:WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff Engineering ServicesServices engineer:Shanghai Urban Architectural Design Co., Ltd.

News via David Chipperfield Architects Berlin, Shanghai

See the article here:
Pompidou Center to Open Gallery in Shanghai, Designed by David Chipperfield Architects - ArchDaily

Archi5, Paris office. In present location since: 2006. Staff: 4 partners, 30 employees. Former use of building: Printer of vinyl record sleeves. Size: 900 m. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres + Mathieu Fiol.

For many architecture practices, the office is their second home a reflection of who they collectively are as a firm. Depicting the atmosphere of a firm's office space is an ideal subject for architectural photographer Marc Goodwin of Archmospheres, who previously shared his work approach with Archinect. Since acquiring a Ph.D. in architectural photography, Goodwin has embarked on a global tour to capture the assortment of architecture studio offices that are out there, including those of MAD Architects, Foster +Partners, Snhetta, and Renzo Piano.

Frozen in time through Goodwin's camera lens and with his keen attention to the lighting of the space, snapshots of these everyday office scenes become atmospheric, personalized portraits of each firm that are fascinating to peruse. Mundane details become a significant part in telling the story, whether it's a sign written in the local language, shelves of architectural models, potted plants, snow-covered streets outside a window in Scandinavia, or the brick details in a London office.

Peering through shelves or from the opposite side of the building, Goodwin's photos take on an observant and sometimes almost voyeuristic perspective. Employees appear unaware of the photographer's presence as they hunch over their desks and stare into computer screens, share a meal with their colleagues, or are in the middle of a meeting in a closed conference room. This sense of intimate observation is present even in large, established offices that accommodate hundreds of employees, such as an empty windowed room in Foster + Partners' Riverside office, which has approximately 1,200 employees.

It's also a treat to know the previous lives of the firms' offices, and how much they have grown into the space since moving in. The firms work in former schools and breweries, a printer of vinyl record sleeves, or in a space tucked inside a building that used to house diplomats.

Altogether, Goodwin's photos showcase the diversity of each firm's workspace just as they are in that point in time. As Goodwin continues to travel around the world, have a look at some of his office photos of architecture practices inLondon, Scandinavia,Beijing,Paris, and Seoul.

M. In present location for: 6 years. Staff: 40. Former use of building/studio: School. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres.

Foster + Partners. In present location since: 1990. Number of employees: 1,200 at Riverside, 1,450 globally. Use: Designed by the firm as a mixed-use. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres.

Erect Architecture. In present location since: 2010. Staff: 6. Former use of building / studio: workshops. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres.

IMAGINATION. In present location since: 1989. Staff: 360. Former use of building: school. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres.

Zaha Hadid Architects. Staff: 400 globally. In present location since: 2013. Former use of building/studio: Zaha Hadid Design Gallery was previously home to a pop-up hair salon designed by Hadid. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres.

Grimshaw. In present location since: January 2007. Staff: 130 (in office), 180 total in London (co-located teams). Former use of building: Headquarters of The Big Issue. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres.

BDP (Building Design Partnership). In present location since: 2003. Staff: London: approx. 300 / total approx. 903. Former use of building / studio: Brewery. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres.

Henning Larsen Architects. In present location since: 2001. Staff: 170 in Copenhagen. Former use of building: Department store completed in 1939 by H. Ortmann and V. Berner Nielsen. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres.

Studio Puisto. In current location since: 2014. Staff: 6. Former use of building: Fabric store, supermarket. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres.

Jgneflt Milton. Staff: 7. Former use of building/studio: Stables. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres.

Snhetta. Staff: 119. Former use of building: Storage area for harbor deliveries. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres.

Elding Oscarson Arkitekter. In present location since: 2014. Staff: 8. Former use of building: Brewery. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres.

C.F. Mller Architects. In present location since: 1981. Staff: 80 in Copenhagen. Building's former use: Part of the School of Architecture. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres.

3xn. In present location since: 2014. Staff: 85. Former use of building: Boat houses from 1813 used to store naval ships. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres.

MAD Architects. Staff: 105. In present location for: 9 years. Previous use of building: printing works. Size of office: 660m2. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres.

Crossboundaries. Staff: 20-25. In present location for: 2 years. Former use of building: auditorium, bar, showroom. Size of office: 350 m2. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres.

anySCALE (Beijing) Architecture Design Consultants Co., Ltd. Staff: 25. Time spent in current space: 3 years. Previous use of building: Apartments for diplomats. Size of office: 250. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres.

LISPACE Design Limited. Staff: 10 people. Time spent in current space: 3.7 years. Previous use of building: boiler room in factory. Size: showroom downstairs 100m2, office upstairs 80m2. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres.

WAY Studio and PU Architects. Staff: 8 each. In present location since: 2015. Previous use of building: Arsenal, RenMin University student dormitories, Library & reading room. Size: 220 m2. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres.

ZAO/standardarchitecture. Staff: 25-30. Time spent in current space: less than 2 years. Previous use of building: warehouse. Size: 580. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres.

LAN. Staff: 27. In present location since: 2009. Former use of building: Clothing workshop. Size: 150 m2. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres + Mathieu Fiol.

Renzo Piano Building Workshop. Staff: 95. In present location since: 1992. Former use of building: art gallery. Size: 1,500m2. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres + Mathieu Fiol.

Architecture-Studio. In present location since: 1973. Staff: 150. Former use of building: Herbalist. Size: 2650 m. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres + Mathieu Fiol.

Martinez Barat Lafore architectes. In present location since: 2014. Staff: 2. Former use of building: private dwelling. Size: 100m2. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres + Mathieu Fiol.

Philippe Rizzotti Architecte. Staff: 6. In present location since: April 2016. Former use: CIAT (Centre International des Arts de la Table) Showroom. Size: 110 m2. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres + Mathieu Fiol.

OFFICE ARCHITEKTON. In present location since: 2012. Staff: 6. Building's former use: Industrial Wire Mesh Store. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres + Felix Nybergh.

IROJE architects & planners. In present location since: March 2002. Staff: 29. Building's use: Designed by and built for the firm's own use. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres + Felix Nybergh.

KYWC Architects. In present location since: June 2014. Staff: 8. Building's use: Designed by the firm for their own use. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres + Felix Nybergh.

Moonbalsso. In present location since: 2011. Staff: 5. Building's former use: Commercial Facility. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres + Felix Nybergh.

UnSangDong Architects. In present location since: 2014. Staff: 15. Building's former use: Private residence. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres + Felix Nybergh.

WGNB. In present location since: 2014. Staff: 12. Building's former use: Private residence. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres + Felix Nybergh.

studio_GAON. In present location since: 2009. Staff: 8. Building's former use: Trading company. Photo credit: Marc Goodwin/Archmospheres + Felix Nybergh.

Excerpt from:
Office Still Life: From Renzo Piano to MAD Architects, Marc Goodwin captures the inner worlds of architecture firms - Archinect

PUP Architects has installed a "subversive" duct-shapedpavilionon the roof of a canal-side warehouse in east London, to provoke local planning authorities to reconsider the area's development.

The London studio run by Theo Molloy, Chloe Leen and Steve Wilkinsondrew up the design for the Architecture Foundation's new Antepavilion programme, an annual commission sponsored by the property developerShiva.

The structure joins a collectionof other pavilions commissioned by Shiva in recent years for the roof of its Columbia Wharf studios.

These buildings have all been designed asprototypes for alternative ways to live in the city. They aim to challenge decisionsby the local planning department to allowa spate of luxuryhousing blocks to be built along Regent's Canal while other types of projects are very difficult to win approval for.

For instance, Shiva was denied planning permission to builda simple"beach house" on the roofback in 2016 although it went ahead and built it anyway.

PUP Architects decided to model the pavilion on a duct after finding a loop-hole in local planning laws that allowed for a two-storey service structure to be affixed to the top of the roof.

"We wanted to provoke a conversation aboutwhy, if you can build this type of strange plant equipment on the rooftop, why can we not use it in a more positive way, to inhabit and liberate all these hundreds of thousands of square metres of rooftop space?" the architectsexplainedduring a press preview of the pavilion.

"It's a sort of hypocrisythat rooftop plants or things which support buildings that end up on or around them are not subject to the same stringent scrutiny of design even if it's a huge ugly thing, it's seen as a practical thing, you can just put it there, no one cares," they continued. "But to say, I'd love to build a little fun summer house on my roof, you're not allowed to do that."

"The project is meant to provoke conversation around these issues. For that reason it will be interesting if Hackney [council] come back to us and try to challenge the idea because, what is it? Is it inhabitable, is it servicing the building?"

"Hackney [council] don't really take the planning process too seriously,"added the trio.

"[Shiva]is quite provocative, they're opposite a building the 19th-century Haggerston Baths which is now out of use and has fallen into disrepair, and I think their mindset is that perhaps council attention could be better used on that than challenging these prototype buildings on the rooftop."

The timber-framed pavilion is covered in a skin of silvery shingles made from recycledTetra Pak,a material more typicallyused for drinks cartons.

Molloy discovered the laminated paper, metal and plastic materialcould be used as arainscreen while leading a student building project at a Latvian brewery.

Pieces of the Tetra Pak material are folded into squares to conceal raw edges and overlapped like scales to coverthe outer walls.

The lower corner of each shingle is left loose, allowing the breeze and natural light into the pavilion. The inner walls may later be insulated and a kitchenette installed to make the space habitable for longer periods of time.

A hung staircase leads up a second-floor artist's studio through a snaking corridor to a viewpoint at the top of the pavilion, where "jumbo proportioned" louvres open to allow visitors to take in views of the canal and theapartment blocks that are replacing smaller houses and pubs along its banks.

"Although it was a practical aspect to enter from below, it really added to our concept of the structure being something a little bit subverting what a roof duct is, and this idea of covertness and secrecy," said the architects.

"It means that you can use it without ever going on the roof, which is obviously not made to be accessible."

"It's provoking local authorities in general about how open-minded they are to good ideas," the Architecture Foundations'sdeputy director Phineas Harper told Dezeen.

"It's a legal project, but it's pointing out all these problems with the planning system in a hopefully quite a fun and friendly way. But you can't get away from those problems."

"We thought if you're going to build a pavilion you might as well give it a political slant. Hopefully another impact of the Antepavilion project will be that other pavilion projects will start to take on a bit of a platitude," he added.

"The Serpentine Pavilion programme has been an amazing programme for a long time but it does feel like it's run its course or run out of a steam a little bit, and people are looking for something a bit more vigorous in its political outlook."

Antepavilion is open to the public at 55 Hoxton Docks on 6-7 August and again on 16-17 September during Open House London.

London-based think-tankThe Architecture Foundationand Shiva plan to continue theAntepavilion Commissionannually, to give emerging architects, artists and designers the chance to create further experimental rooftop structures.

Photography is byJim Stephenson. Drone footage is byTapio Snellman.

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PUP Architects builds rooftop pavilion disguised as warehouse air duct - Dezeen

A state commission has made a fitting choice in naming architect Thomas Rogers Kimball (1862-1934) as the next addition to the Nebraska Hall of Fame. Its a fitting choice, in that Kimball contributed to Nebraskas progress in major ways over the course of his career.

Consider Kimballs first significant architectural commission, in the early 1890s the original Omaha public library building at 1823 Harney St.

With its ambitious Renaissance revival style and bas-relief depictions of philosophical and literary figures, the library was hailed at its dedication as a symbol of Omahas determination to be a stronger, more ambitious city moving into the 20th century.

Kimballs subsequent architectural works included major structures that stand out for their creative vision and continue to do Nebraska proud.

Two examples are St. Cecilia Cathedral, in which Kimball pioneered the use of the Spanish Renaissance style in the United States, and the powerful design of the Hall County Courthouse in Grand Island.

The capstone for Kimballs contributions to Nebraska came in the selection process he established in the 1920s to select a designer for the Nebraska State Capitol. The double-blind competition process eliminated the possibility of favoritism and enticed nationally respected architects to submit proposals.

The winning design, by Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, resulted in one of the most lauded state capitol concepts in the nation, a source of Nebraska pride to this day.

President Theodore Roosevelt named Kimball in 1909 to serve on a national commission overseeing design ideas for public monuments. Kimball was president of the American Institute of Architects during 1918-20.

Kimball whose postsecondary education included studies in Boston and Paris was an adviser for projects such as the state capitol in Missouri and a state war memorial in Indiana. His commissions included designs for 167 residential buildings and 162 nonresidential structures.

The Nebraska Hall of Fame Commission had a set of 12 impressive finalists to consider. Given his laudable contributions to the development of the state, Kimball is unquestionably a worthy addition.

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Editorial: Architect Kimball a good choice Nebraska Hall of Fame - Omaha World-Herald