ELS architects: east oakland sports center

'east oakland sports center' by ELS architecture and urban design, oakland, california, USA
image © david wakely


berkeley-based ELS architecture and urban design has completed the 'east oakland sports center', a recreation facility for the
residents of oakland, california. the continuous transparent facade allows an uninterrupted connection with the wooded grounds,
while metal louvers and fins retain an industrial character consistent with the established urban fabric. the 25,000 square foot
building features a natatorium with a pool, dance studio, fitness center, locker rooms and lobby. learning and media areas are
geared towards a younger audience while multipurpose spaces host community gatherings for seniors.



entrance elevation
image © david wakely


flat corrugated metal panels and concrete masonry surfaces the exterior, directing visitors views outwards through strategic
glass windows, a stark contrast to the existing community center which has minimal fenestrations. recycled building materials,
thermal solar panels to heat the pools, a bioswale for stormwater runoff and high efficiency systems support sustainability practices.
three hues of low-e glass maximize natural daylight while blocking the sun's harmful heating rays. at night, the natatorium softly
glows serving as a beacon of pride along with increasing security of the site.



industrial character of the louvered facade responds to the established urban fabric
image © david wakely



entrance
image © david wakely



metal fins shade the interior atrium from direct sunlight
image © david wakely



(left) translucent metal screens
(right) fins
images © david wakely



atrium stair overlooking the grounds
image © david wakely



double story atrium and stair
image © david wakely


natatorium
image © david wakely


at night
image © david wakely


project info:


architect: els architecture and urban design
project team: clarence d. mamuyac, jr., aia, leed® ap, ncarb
principal in charge: christopher jung, leed® ap, project designer and manager
design and production team: william gordon, leed® ap, sims key, gerald navarro, rick wang
location: oakland, california
client: city of oakland
date of occupancy: july 1, 2011
gross square footage: 25,000 phase i (50,000 sf total when phase ii is completed)
site area: 11 acre site
construction cost: 20 m USD
contractor: turner construction
consultants: telamon engineering consultants, inc., civil engineers
soha engineers, structural engineers
f.w. associates inc., electrical engineers
h&m mechanical group, mechanical engineers
aquatic design group, aquatics consultants
keller mitchell & co., landscape architects
michael heacock architects, leed consultant
rick unvarsky consulting services, inc., leed
commissioning agent: timmons design group, shading and thermal comfort analysis: farber energy design, title 24 analysis
key materials (type/brand): metal sidings - centria
glass – oldcastle glass
polished cement masonry units – trenwyth industries
curtainwall and storefront systems – kawneer north america
sports flooring – connor sports flooring, mondo u.s.a. wood ceilings – rulon international
awards/certifications: leed® silver

Studio MK27: cobogo house

'cobogó house' by studio MK27, brazil
image © nelson kon


the 'cobogó house', a single family residence designed by são paulo-based architect marcio kogan of studio MK27 has been
nominated for an award in the house category for this year's world architecture festival. at entry level, a series of perimeter
glass doors can be opened to provide a permeable boundary to access the adjacent enclosed courtyard garden. an outdoor
veranda with elevated views of the sculpted lake and trees wraps around a facade formed with a continuous and modular
interwoven brise-soleil. the organic loops of the high-gloss white material generates a series of penetrations allowing a dappled
lighting quality to filter into and naturally illuminate the second floor corridor.



view of main facade from garden
image © nelson kon


the crisp plaster exterior is contrasted with rectangular bands of vertical wooden planks which visually continue to the ground
plane to form the surrounding garden fence. a pervious mesh screen parallel the structure's outer wall may be slid along a track
and closed to protect the interior spaces from the strong afternoon sunlight. at night, the patterned elevation creates the effect
of a glowing jewel box when illuminated by the inner bedroom's ambient lighting.



view of facade from lake
image © nelson kon



elevated view of courtyard
image © nelson kon



upper level veranda overlooking courtyard garden and lake
image © nelson kon



repetitive weaving pattern creates a textured brise-soleil
image © nelson kon



upper level corridor illuminated with dappled daylight
image © nelson kon



perimeter glass doors may be moved to eliminate a sense of enclosure
image © nelson kon



boundary between interior and exterior has been removed
image © nelson kon



interior light quality with wooden screen closed
image © nelson kon



framed outward view of courtyard garden and lake
image © nelson kon



uplighting along perimeter fence
image © nelson kon



reflection in the lake
image © nelson kon



garden lighting at night
image © nelson kon



brise-soleil illuminated at night
image © nelson kon



upper level veranda at night
image © nelson kon



floor plan / level 0
image © world architecture festival



floor plan / level 1
image © world architecture festival



section
image © world architecture festival

Atelier 11: china national tennis center - now complete

'china national tennis center' by atelier 11 in beijing, china
all images courtesy atelier 11


following up on our previous coverage of the project, chinese architects atelier 11
has sent us images of the competed 'china national tennis center' in beijing, china.
otherwise known as the 'diamond arena', the project features 16 sets of v-shaped
columns that are used to form the overall structure and motif of the center.



exterior view


seeking to eliminate unneeded ornamentation, the design extracts visual elements
out of the structure to create a simplistic triangular pattern. the concrete body lends
the architecture a solid volume that maintains a strong sense of identity on the site.
able to seat 15,000 audience with its state-of-art facilities, the grandstand sits under
a collapsible steel roof which can open up to a span of 60m by 70m. in addition to
the seating rows spread around the stadium, two floors of glass boxes are situated
around the bottom part of the grandstand. the seventh floor features an open space
that wraps around the whole perimeter of the stadium, providing a 360 degree view of
the adjacent olympic park.

for photographs of the stadium under construction, and to see physical models and
technical drawings, click here for our previous coverage of the project.



outdoor circulation



view of collapsible roof



from grandstand



aerial view of court






view of seats



glass boxes



interior view 






concrete structure



facade



overall view



at night


project info:

site area: 170,020 m2
construction area: 51,199 m2
client: beijing shi ao co., ltd.

design director: xu lei
design team: ding liqun, gao qinglei, lie heng, an peng
construction drawing: xu lei, an peng, gao qinglei, ding liqun, li lei, liu heng, zhu yin, jin ding
photographer: zhang guangyun, gao qinglei

Foster + partners: kuwait international airport

'kuwait international airport' by foster + partners, kuwait
image © foster + partners


internationally practicing london-based firm foster + partners has revealed the design for the 'kuwait international airport',
an air hub for the gulf region located in kuwait. the trefoil plan will accommodate the projected increased influx of
transient visitors, growing from an initial 13 million individuals to over 25 million per year with future development
and eventually accommodating 50 million annual travelers. the state-of-the-art terminal building intends to provide
ultimate comfort despite its positioning within the arid desert amidst one of the hottest habitable climates on earth.
gates extend from a 25 meter high central atrium and are distributed between three symmetrical wings which reach
a span of 1.2 kilometers. the linear arrangement contains three levels programmed for arrivals, departures and baggage
claim with minimal vertical changes produces a user friendly organization.



aerial view of the airport masterplan
image © foster + partners


the generated entry sequence is aligned with the hospitality practices of the culture providing an elegant arrival
bordered with cascading pools of water. a surrounding oasis landscape provides a refreshing micro environment
while native plants acclimated to the dry weather were chosen to encompass the complex. a continuous singular
roof is punctured with glazed openings to introduce natural daylight while blocking excessive solar radiation and
encouraging simplified wayfinding. reminiscent of the organic form of the area's traditional dhow sailing boats,
tapering concrete columns support the projecting perimeter canopy to shade a spacious outdoor entrance plaza.
the material pervades the building's structure to serve as an insulating thermal mass while large expanses of
photovoltaic panels will harvest energy.



spacious entry atrium with vaulted ceilings
image © foster + partners


'the scale of the airport shows kuwait’s great foresight in recognising the benefits of strategic investment in
future infrastructure. the environmental ambitions driving the project are equally impressive. we are pleased
to have this opportunity to reveal our designs. the emblematic three-winged form will be as memorable
from the air as from the ground – a new symbol of contemporary kuwait, which resonates with its rich
culture and history.' - mouzhan majidi, chief executive of foster + partners



security point
image © foster + partners



moving walkways within terminals are guided by the overhead skylights
image © foster + partners



upper level corridor
image © foster + partners



escalators descend to the lower level with views of the tarmac
image © foster + partners



lower level corridor along grand bay windows
image © foster + partners


boarding gates
image © foster + partners



baggage claim
image © foster + partners



vehicular access
image © foster + partners



view of the three wings from the tarmac
image © foster + partners



airport at night
image © foster + partners