Architecture Commons^™

Parasite Office, Za Bor Architects

Building Case Studies

The polygonal main facade solved in dynamical volumes, is made from light and durable cellular polycarbonate; the facade turned to the court yard is flat and completely glazed.

Soumaya Museum, Lar + Fernando Romero

Building Case Studies

Material of interest: Translucent concrete.

Properties of material: Translucent Concrete filters light and makes spaces feel light and open without sacrificing the material’s structural integrity.

Church Of Seed, O Studio Architects

Building Case Studies

Church of Seed has a raw, natural and non-decorative material language. The main structure is constructed by in-situ concrete with bamboo formworks. In-situ concrete construction is economically sound and practical for local builders. The bamboo texture left on the concrete surface reduces the massiveness of concrete wall and harmonizes with the surrounding trees and green landscape. Plus the transparent windows and doors, and the handmade bamboo furniture by local farmers, the presence of the church is humble and close to village life.

Chateau Cheval Blanc Winer, Christian De Portzamparc

Building Case Studies

Concrete has relatively high compression strength, but significantly lower tensile strength, and as such is usually reinforced with materials that are strong in tension (often steel). The elasticity of concrete is relatively constant at low stress levels but starts decreasing at higher stress levels as matrix cracking develops. Concrete has a very low coefficient of thermal expansion, and as it matures concrete shrinks. All concrete structures will crack to some extent, due to shrinkage and tension. Concrete which is subjected to long-duration forces is prone to creep.

Media-Tic, Cloud 9

Building Case Studies

ETFE cushions are used as a sun screen, inflated in the winter to gain solar energy, deflated in the summer to provide shade.

Starbucks Coffee Shop In Dazaifu, Kengo Kuma

Building Case Studies

The building is made of 2,000 stick-like parts in the sizes of 1.3m – 4m length and 6cm section.. Create a sense of Fluidity.

Liyuan Library, Li Xiadong

Building Case Studies

The choice of material is crucial in blending with the regional characteristics. After analyzing the local material characteristics in the village we found large amounts of locally sourced wooden sticks piled around each house. The villagers gather these sticks all year round to fuel their cooking stoves. Thus we decided to use this ordinary material in an extraordinary way, cladding the building in familiar textures in a way that is strikingly sensitive.

Zahner Factory Expansion, Crawford Architects

Building Case Studies

Encapsulating these values means understanding that Zahner has built their reputation on knowing the intricacies of metal, its chemical properties, and how they can be manipulated. Following this notion through intensive design research, the form for the façade was derived from metal oxidation patterns inspired by those found on Zahner’s campus. The final graphite concept sketch drew inspiration from multiple patterns to create a form that was specific to the proportions and context of the expansion.Articulation of the abstractly based model was closely developed with Zahner’s engineers and utilizes a variation of the ZEPP (Zahner Engineered Proprietary Panel) system. The …

Glass House For Diver, Naf Architect & Design

Building Case Studies

Overall composition of the building consists of roof and transparent glass to enclose interior space with the aforementioned concrete block structure. There is no roof over the concrete blocks. Therefore rays of the sun pour over the blocks, and the reflection of the light shines inside the house. Furthermore, vines of various flowers will be planted along the block, changing breakwater-like structure to a hill of flower and greenery in the future.

Aia Pavilion, Gernot Riether (Design Build Studio At Git)

Building Case Studies

Each template was cut from PETG (glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate) sheets, before being thermoformed into shape using a neatly designed adaptable mould. This material can either be produced from recycled plastic, or more pertinent to this location, from sugar cane: a plant that has been an integral part of the culture of Louisiana for over 200 years.

Bank Of Georgia Headquarters, Architectural Group & Partners, Tbilisi

Building Case Studies

No abstract provided.

Brick Pattern House In Tehran, Iran, Alireza Mashhadmirza

Building Case Studies

Material Used: Brick.

Material of Interest: Masonry.

Properties of Materials: Brick is laid in a simple manner that allows the owner to have privacy without having curtains or allowing a view to the interior. Brick laying method was simple enough for the owner and other low wage workers to do the work themselves. No outside contractor was used for the construction of the exterior skin.

Perry And Marty Granoff Center For The Creative Arts, Diller Scofidio + Renfro

Building Case Studies

No abstract provided.

Villa Dvt, Boetzker |Helder

Building Case Studies

Cut and folded metal sheets in horizontal lines offer patters on the façade

Cassia Coop Training Canter, Tyin Tegnestue Architects

Building Case Studies

Earthquake resistant with different oscillating frequency in each brick structure.

Concrete House, Simon Twose

Building Case Studies

These concrete screens are arranged in various dynamic ways; leaning, elevated or floating and form the outer carapace to the house. Within this, courtyards are separated off by glass, which threads between the concrete screens. This brings the house in active and equivalent relationship with the landscape.

Metal Shutter Houses, Shigeru Ban Architects, Dean Maltz Architects

Building Case Studies

Movable facade serve as light-modulating privacy screen.

Zahner Factory Expansion, Crawford Architects

Building Case Studies

The final graphite concept sketch drew inspiration from multiple patterns to create a form that was specific to the proportions and context of the expansion. Once the sketch was complete, a computer based algorithm converted the sketch’s tonal values into a 3-dimensional digital surface model of the façade. The resulting form grows out of the rigid, solid geometry of the existing building’s east façade with a single sweeping motion, and increases in complexity as it moves around the corner to the west, paying tribute to both Zahner’s past and future.

Nasa Sustainability Base - Building N232, William Mcdonough + Partners, Aecom

Building Case Studies

The steel and aluminium used were chosen because they had high recycled content and were regionally available, thereby reducing transportation energy.

El B Auditorium And Congress Hall, Selgas Cano

Building Case Studies

Material of interest: Polycarbonate tubes, backed by screen

Material used: Steel frame; Transparent methacrylate; Transparent + translucent polycarbonate; Polycarbonate tubes, backed by screen

Properties of material: All the material, both aluminium and plastic, is manufactured from a single extruded section, varied in placement and colour to give the appearance of multiple pieces.

Moet Marquee / Espace Lumiere, Ptw Architects

Building Case Studies

Material of interest: Tensioned lycra.

Material used: MakMax.

Properties of material: Lycra tent weighs 77 lbs and folds small enough to transport in a sports bag. Can be assembled in less than an hour and is fully reusable. Material can also transmit light.

Stockholm Waterfront, White Arkitekter

Building Case Studies

Material of interest and material used: duples stainless steel

Properties of material: Stockholm Waterfront is classified as a “green” building complex. The focus is on energy and sustainable materials. The façade needed to be in a material that is highly sustainable, durable and aesthetically pleasing. Stainless steel fits perfectly well into this profile: it is inherently sustainable owing to its maintenance-free longevity, it needs no coating, and it is fully recyclable. Stainless also offers architects a rich palette of design alternatives.