Housing of Tomorrow – Building Performance and Social Interaction

The 2011 d3: Housing Tomorrow competition called for the design of “transformative solutions that advance sustainable thought, building performance, and social interaction”. David Zhai and Alexis Burson’s winning selection for the New York category was an innovative project that speculated on the future of the network society through the hybridization of data and living.
The design strategy called for a series of server farms established within a network of high and low-density housing. The servers interface with surrounding domestic spaces allowing informational feedback to occur between the inhabitants and a kinetic architectural system that responds to the various spatial needs of its community.
Revenue generated from the data servers help to subsidize the cost of living while the substantial heat created from the processing of data is used in a heat-exchange process to support domestic heating and hot water. Heat from the servers also support a network of vertical farming which provides sustenance for the community. An integrated biometric monitoring system allows residents to better improve on their health and lifestyle while increasing the effectiveness of health and emergency response services.
By re-conceptualizing new modes of informational collection and distribution on an urban scale, with consideration for health, privacy, economy, and the environment, this project tests but also begins to define the emergence of the post-computing society and the creation of a new urbanism and a new model of community.

Trabeculae: Re-imagining the Office Building

Trabeculae is the result of re-imagining the central atrium office tower. Replacing the traditional operation of repetitive extrusion, a heliotrope branching system actively seeks out those areas within the zoning envelope with greatest access to daylight. Forking and swelling in response to varying light conditions the atrium is thus conceived as a site-specific network that traverses intelligently and freely from one façade to another. The atrium becomes the defining element of differentiation within otherwise normative floor plates while maintaining efficient floor space ratios.
Within the atrium a second order proliferation of the same system at a finer scale develops a structural meshwork. The swellings and coagulations of this topologically free structural network-within-a-network accommodate meeting rooms and bridges.
The ambition of achieving inorganic speciation is part of Supermanoeuvre’s broader research into the capacity of generative architectural methodologies to negotiate novel spatial, formal and material organizations. Whereby, the performance and character of architecture is elaborated through both the internal systemic logics of the algorithm and its motivated response to external stimuli and latent conditions.
In the Trabeculae tower, the algorithm represents a potential for difference. A highly complex network of response and decision making mechanisms capable of engendering spatial and formal differentiation through multiple levels of internal and environmental feedback and negotiation. In this regard, the architectural project is no longer regarded as a passive entity, but rather a typologically-free machine of multiple possibilities more akin to the morphogenesis of an organism. Where within the system, the very construction of architecture; position, scale, displacement, density, thickness, and length are not only embedded, but more critically become discretely informed by local environmental sampling.
Designed by architects Dave Pigram, Iain Maxwell, Brad Rothenberg, and Ezio Blasetti

Vertical Theme Park

New York-based architect Ju-Hyun Kim envisions the theme parks of the future as vertical structures in large metropolises. His concept for a theme park skyscraper borrows the idea from Disneyland to create different worlds but bases the entire experience in height and the relationship with the existing city. Ju-Hyun proposes a park without automobiles, a sustainable building that harvest solar and green energy, recycles waste, and collects rainwater.
The classic rides, such as the Ferris Wheel, rollercoaster, and carousel are all re-imagined for a vertical experience. Ju-Hyun’s vertical theme park has five major areas: Vertigo World (carousel and observation deck), Fast Land (flume ride, rollercoaster), 360 World (Ferris Wheel, sky promenade), Abyss City (deep city diver), and the Elsewhere Universe (space exploration, science center).
We hope this concept becomes a reality to transform and inject new life to a century-old invention.

Self-Sufficient Vertical City

Czech architect Jiri Richter recently unveiled his proposal for a self-sufficient vertical city to be located in pristine landscapes. Richter’s project investigates the possibility of creating a building that will support an entire community without a nation’s help. The structure is designed as two 150-meter tall arches with hanging floors. The central core is an open space aligned to wind currents where two wind turbines, along with photovoltaic cells will generate the required energy for the community.
The program is distributed throughout the building with crops fields in the higher levels in direct contact with sunlight while residences, educational, cultural, and recreational areas will occupy the lower floors. An interesting aspect of the proposal is the retractable canopy between the two arches that will allow airflow during hot summer days and be closed in winter.

Fish Tower

Honorable Mention
2011 Skyscraper Competition
Hsing-O Chiang
Taiwan

The Fish Tower is a prototype for a vertical fish farm that could be up to 30 times more efficient than traditional farms. It was designed as a solution to the substantial decrease of wild fish which is estimated to peak by 2050.
This tower proposes an intensive, yet healthy aquaculture environment with three primary programmatic components. The first one is a fisherman’s market and visitors center at ground level. The second component is the fish farms that are designed based on the research and analysis of habitation and movement of specific fish species. Each tank has specific width, form, and shape that resemble natural habitats. Water temperature and flow are also controlled to mimic ocean conditions. The third program is dedicated to research labs, where new technologies would be tested to achieve a productivity of 600 traditional fish farms in 20 levels.

Brussels Airport Connector / UNStudio

Seeking to unite functions of the three existing buildings of Brussels Airport, architects at UNStudio introduced an elongated fibrous structure.  The insertion establishes its own identity while serving as a connection between contrasting entities of the terminal and Pier A. It is a fully integrated commercial zone which facilitates various operational processes, retail functions, etc. Once past the screening area, the passengers are introduced to a duty-free shopping area and led towards a double height central plaza with cafes. The elevated Cockpit occupies the highest area of the Connector, offering best views of the plaza below as well as the planes, landing and taking off.
The structural design principles for the Connector Building are based on a sustainable approach formed with consideration to site constraints, constructability and operational flexibility.The infrastructural element introduced to the existing configuration translates its visual identity into a recognizable imagery of fluent and undulating forms. This intervention is consistent with the ambition of management to transform the Brussels Airport into a future European hub. It provides a pleasant and memorable passenger experience and unifies the entire Airport into a striking landmark architecture.

Koseki architect office: OH residence

'OH residence' by koseki architect office in osaka, japan
all images courtesy koseki architect office
image © toshihide kajiwara


'OH residence' by japanese practice koseki architect office is a two-storey private dwelling
in a quiet residential neighbourhood of osaka, japan. simple and regular in volume,
the design inserts a garden space that is bound by a porous, mesh-like facade to dissolve
the physical border between the indoor and outdoor environments.



front elevation
image © toshihide kajiwara


characterized by a pixelated elevation from the street, the house utilizes a large steel mesh
with suspended stone tiles that serves as a multi-storey fence by the entrance. the treatment
allows for a permeable skin with partial views of the sheltered garden space within.
continuing the same language, the roof form that  extends over the outdoor zone features
multiple roof lights of various sizes that further provide a sense of open space.



interior view
image © toshihide kajiwara


seeking to establish a direct dialogue with the outdoor elements, the interior programs
which face onto the garden are lined by floor-to-ceiling glazing. the sliding windows allow
the dwelling to easily expand out into the outdoor terrace as well as to promote natural ventilation.
visual connections to the garden are continued to the second storey with a small balcony that
overlooks the private outdoor space below.



dining and kitchen space by the garden
image © toshihide kajiwara



view of atrium
images © toshihide kajiwara



small balcony on second level
image © toshihide kajiwara



access to roof
image © toshihide kajiwara



lighting effects at night
image © toshihide kajiwara

BIG architects: transitlager

'transitlager' by BIG architects, basel, switzerland
all images courtesy BIG architects
all images © BIG


copenhagen-based practice BIG architects have created 'transitlager', the winning competition proposal to renovate
and extend a warehouse in the industrial district of basel, switzerland. dating from the 1960s, the 18,000 square meter
concrete structure will receive an additional 7,000 square meters for residences and arts-related spaces to transform
the upcoming dreispitz neighborhood into a bustling arts district. visually separated into two stacked volumes,
the combination will become a hybrid of mixed-use program, rearranging the distribution within the existing floors
to merge activity from the art, commerce, work and living spaces.



view of transitlager from aan djacent building


encompassed by a network of intersecting railways, loading docks and turning radiuses, the zigzagged facade
and pointed corners become generated by the infrastructure. connections between existing public areas and nearby
botanical garden enforce the dynamic location of this new center. additional vibrant urban spaces and peaceful
gardens provide diverse atmospheres for various lifestyles and activities. the folded perimeter of the upper structure
optimizes interior daylight conditions and outward views from rooftop terraces placed within generated niches.
the exterior reflects the geometries of the surrounding context, creating a fresh appearance with a familiar character.



public green spaces


original walls have been removed to create flexible open plans while limited interventions and partitions feature
a minimal material palette of concrete surfaces to retain the sense of place and classic luxury. sparsely filled internal
arrangement increase feasibility for installations for businesses, ateliers and workshops.



zigzagged volume is set upon the existing warehouse


'the stacking of two complimentary structures – one on top of the other – has generated a new take on the typology
of the communal courtyard. where the typical residential courtyard finds itself incarcerated by walls of program,
the roofyards of the transitlager combine the tranquility and communal space of the courtyard with the sunlight
and panoramic views of the penthouse. a penthouse for the people.' - bjarke ingels, partner and founder of BIG



roof terraces and gardens overlooking the encompassing industrial district



artist studio



industrial character maintained within the residences



residences overlook the city at night



aerial view of model



zigzag motif is translated into the landscape



staggered facade creates a series of roof terraces



model



conceptual diagram



(left) initial stacked volumes
(right) upper volume sliced into five smaller volumes



(left) volumes rotated
(right) structural connections diagram



(left) volumes elongated
(right) daylight diagram



(left) daylight diagram
(right) rooftop green spaces



(left) facade study
(right) green diagram


project info:


partner in charge: bjarke ingels, andreas klok pedersen
project leader: jakob henke
team: gul ertekin, ioannis gio, ricardo palma, alexandra gustaffson, bara srpkova, marcelina kolasinska, ryohei koike