Park associati: the cube temporary restaurant, milan

'the cube by electrolux' by park associati, milan, italy
all images courtesy park associati
image © andrea martiradonna

in its second installment during the european tour, 'the cube' by electrolux designed by milanese practice park associati currently 
overlooks the piazza del duomo in milan, italy. delicately perched upon via ugo foscolo 1, the pavilion contains a temporary restaurant 
which will accommodate 18 individuals at one time and offer spectacular panoramas of the adjacent cathedral's spires, palazzo reale and 
museo del novecento.  a large single table fills the open dining space, with clear views into the food preparation area. 

performing live for guests, star italian chefs will prepare special lunch and dinner menus in the high efficiency, 
energy saving kitchen furnished by electrolux. after the meal is complete, the table rises into the ceiling, transforming the internal program 
into a lounge. the 140 square meters of occupiable area includes a 50 square meter outdoor terrace overlooking the bustling plaza below.


side elevation
image © andrea martiradonna

easily assembled and disassembled, the modular construct is prepared for a wide range of climates, even extreme conditions, 
providing visitors with a comfortable experience. the white appearance produces a visual lightness to the structure and has been additionally 
elevated from the roof to emphasize the visual lightness. the exterior's aluminum panels create a sense of movement with a laser-cut 
geometric pattern which transitions in transparency to opaque to conceal the necessary components of the food preparation area. 
all selected materials are innovative addressing technology and eco-sustainability as well as reusability.
the venue is taking reservations through april 26th, coinciding with the milan design week 2012. 
availability and booking information may be found here.


outward view from the cube
image © andrea martiradonna

'it is one of those projects that open things up: in fact too often solutions resolve but do not leave space for the imagination,
for innovation, for evolution. this ‘cube’ that is not actually a cube, has a great proactive force and immediately presents itself
for what it is: defying the paralysis of thinking and the imagination.' -michele de lucchi, co-founding architect of park associati


terrace overlooking the duomo
image © andrea martiradonna


table seats 18 guests at one time
image © andrea martiradonna


view of the structure from the piazza del duomo
image © andrea martiradonna


installation of the structure
image © andrea martiradonna


installation of the structure
image © andrea martiradonna


floor plan / level 0
1. dinner configuration
2. kitchen
3. storage
4. toilet
5. technical room
6. terrace

floor plan / level 0
1. living room
2. kitchen
3. storage
4. toilet
5. technical room
6. terrace


roof plan


section


elevation

elevation


unfolded skin


wall section detail
1. roof cover
2. roof of prefabricated steel elements
3. under facade of aluminum panels
4. main steel construction
5. ceiling of acoustic wooden panels
6. aluminum panel facade
7. floor of wengè boards
8. facade air screening
9. basement wooden beams


wall section detail
1. roof cover + prefabricated steel elements
2. ceiling of acoustic wooden panels
3. aluminum panel facade
4. floor of wengè boards
5. basement wooden beams 


wall section detail
1. roof cover + prefabricated steel elements
2. main steel construction
3. ceiling of acoustic wooden panels
4. aluminum panel facade
5. floor of wengè boards
6. facade air screening
7. basement wooden beams 


roof detail
1. roof cover
2. roof of prefabricated steel elements
3. under facade of aluminum panels
4. main steel construction
5. ceiling of acoustic wooden panels
6. aluminum panel facade
7. floor of wengè boards
8. facade air screening
9. terrace floor of wengè boards
10. basement wooden beams


summer efficiency diagram


winter efficiency diagram


aluminum panels diagram

project info:

client: electrolux home appliances emea n.v
period: 19 dicembre 2011 – 26 aprile 2012
architecture and interior design: park associati, milano – filippo pagliani, michele rossi
design team: lorenzo merloni (project leader), alessandro rossi, alexia caccavella, alice cuteri. fabio calciati_rendering
event concept and project management: absolute blue, bruxelles
graphic consulting and texture design: studio fm, milano, cristiano bottino, barbara forni, sergio menichelli, con libero corti
general contractor: zh, campo tures, (bz)
general coordination and structural engineering: general planning, milano; ing. giovanni bonini, project direction; francesco prennushi, site supervision
contractor: nüssli ag, hüttwilen, ch, frieder braun, maurizio ledda, maik rauch
mechanical and electrical engineering: greenville, milano; ing. fabrizio onofri
floor coverings: fmg spa, fiorano modenese, (mo), greenwood srl, salzano (ve)
external lighting: i guzzini, milano
interior lighting: zumtobel spa, milano
appliances: electrolux home appliance, electrolux professional appliance, stoccolma
hood: max fire spa, villotta di chions (pn)
furniture: driade spa, milano
carpets: kasthall italy, milano
area: 140 sq/m.

10 Design: Dalian Museum

'dalian museum' by 10 design, dalian, china
all images courtesy 10 design


hong kong and shanghai-based international firm 10 design has proposed the 'dalian museum', for urban planning topics positioned
within the heart of the government district in dalian, china. the building's external appearance responds to the established sculptures 
and parks scattered throughout the city, becoming a focal element in itself. the form opens towards an adjacent park to the west, 
visually incorporating the current urban planning elements and green spaces of the encompassing context into the museum.



aerial view


the zinc rainscreen facade is surfaced with a photocatalytic nano-coating of titanic dioxide to neutralize any air pollution 
and remove dirt. at night, UV lights powered by photovoltaic cells maintain the cleansing reaction which takes place while
incorporating the imagery of a blooming flower, an important symbol to dalian. an inner layer of aluminum lined with a polymer
acts as an insulation, adding 10-20 percent to the material's R-values with marine and fungal resistance. the simple paint-like layers
dramatically increase performance for minimal costs, while general orientation of entrances and internal spaces minimize
western facing elevations. entries are placed to reduce the effects of northern winds to encourage passive solar techniques.



lobby



cafe



street view



at night



site plan



floor plans



section



elevation



elevation



elevation



elevation



section perspective



structure diagram



facade structure diagram



exploded axon



solar study



flow diagram



concept sketch


project info:


architects: 10 design

location: dalian, china

year: 2011

design team: ted givens, peby pratama, adrian yau, audrey ma, laura rusconi clerici, shane dale
landscape design: ewa koter 

client: dalian planning bureau

Private Villa / doxiadis+

Courtesy of doxiadis+

Wanting to preserve what was found by minimizing the building’s visual impact on the surroundings, but also to exploit the precious sea views, the house by doxiadis+ is nestled into the slope of the hill and most of its volume hidden underneath the earth like a snail. Only two small volumes protrude, framing the views and signalling their presence, giving it the scale of the nearby traditional volumes and a very simple, almost poetic dimension. More images and architects’ description after the break.

Courtesy of doxiadis+

The untouched landscape of the plot is dominated by a small hillock, where due to plot lines the house must be located. The client brief demanded unusual working and storing spaces for an artist and emphasized the need for a central copula at its core. Approaching the building through a slit in the landscape, one enters on the lower level into a vaulted, solemn double height space. A wide, spiralled ramp leads up to the ground floor inside the space’s circular outline, pouring into the living room which is one of the two protruding volumes, and revealing the sea view at its end. The neighboring volume shelters the bedroom of the house.

Courtesy of doxiadis+

The building will be built from the stone excavated to accommodate it and will harness the water of its terrace and surroundings. Being built into the hill it will be perfectly insulated in summer and winter and cross ventilation will be allowed through the small hole at the top of its dome.

Architects: doxiadis+
Location: Triades, Island of Milos, Greece
Scope: Architecture, Landscape Architecture
Project: Private Villa
Area: 250 m² built area, 0.5 h plot area
Date: 2010-2011