LAVA: green climate fund headquarters, bonn

'green climate fund headquarters' by LAVA, bonn, germany
all images courtesy of LAVA

sydney, stuttgart, berlin, riyadh and shanghai-based practice LAVA has designed a proposal for the 'green climate fund headquarters' in bonn, germany. the structure is an 'ecological model project' that demonstrates the motto: 'green is the new black' in the government's bid to host the secretariat for the green climate fund (GCF). the future structure will be situated along the rhine river within walking distance of several system departments, including the federal ministry for the environment, nature conservation and nuclear safety and economic cooperation and development. 

the three level structure will comply with the latest efficiency and building ecology standards meeting the highest demands in terms of sustainability (german gold certificate) and net zero energy. the facade takes on a curvilinear form that hosts nature light wells, roof top gardens and large sunken terrace for the restaurant. the interior planning includes an access and logistics area with security controls, a visitor reception zone, state-of-the-art office technology, an auditorium, a conference room, a canteen/cafeteria and an underground car park. 

interior perspective

'LAVA has worked closely with the advanced research facilities and experts at the world renowned fraunhofer IAO to generate intelligent systems, 

materials and skins that respond to external influences such as air pressure, temperature, humidity, solar-radiation and pollution'. 

- LAVA director alexander rieck 


library


site location


night view
site plan


diagram of program

project info:

client: the federal government of germany 
location: bonn, germany 
status: feasibility study 2012 
size: 13 000 sq.m
project team: lava - tobias wallisser, alexander rieck, chris bosse with stephan markus albrecht, marvin bratke, stefanie pesel and christian tschersich
general advisor: fraunhofer iao 
building advisor: fraunhofer allianz bau 
photobioreactor-facade / microalgae cultivation advisor: fraunhofer igb 
visualisation: mir

NH architecture: saltwater coast

'saltwater coast' by NH architecture, point cook, australia
north-south wing of the building with view down long south east facadeimage © dianna snape

within the ocean-side town of point cook, australia, 'saltwater coast' is a lifestyle and recreational facility for local residents 
by melbourne-based practice NH architecture. in close vicinity to port phillip bay, the building is carefully integrated into a
reinterpreted beach context to support bird migratory patterns within the encompassing cheetham wetlands, a delicate ecological area.
attempting to counteract suburban development, this landscape solution is an investment in public infrastructure within the community
driven center.

a lap pool, spa, gymnasium, multi-functional space, tennis courts and cafe provide a venue to focus on health of the body while 
strengthening neighborly relationships. clad with timber staves, the gently angling external form opens towards adjacent parks 
and the horizon. a partially covered outdoor promenade protects the pool area, opening to the landscape. cuts and manipulations to 
the facade reveal glass and dark-bronze framed windows.


overall view looking south
image © dianna snape


overall view looking south west
image © dianna snape


lap pool looking south east
image © dianna snape


lap pool looking north west
image © dianna snape


view to lap pool
image © dianna snape


north-south wing of the building with cafe below
image © dianna snape


northern facade of north-south wing with outdoor cafe seating below
image © dianna snape


north-south wing of the building and poolside seating
image © dianna snape


south western facade looking into gymnasium
image © dianna snape


south western facade and main entry
image © dianna snape


entry foyer
image © dianna snape


south eastern facade
image © dianna snape


site plan


floor plan /  level 0


floor plan / level 1


elevation


elevation


elevation


elevation

project info:

title: saltwater coast lifestyle centre 
location: saltwater coast, point cook, vic 
date of completion: november 2011
project cost: 6.1 million AUS
gross floor area: 1,410m2
type of building contract: design & construct with consultant team novated to the builder
owner / client: fkp property group
photographer: dianna snape
NH architecture design team: peter dredge (project principal), hamish lyon (design principal), andy gentry (project director), fiona collie (project architect) emily kilvington (project architect), astrid jenkin    architect), mitch mctaggart (architect), 
chris reddaway (architect), silvia tasani( architect),jan vastestaeger (architect), chad harrison (architectural draftsperson), 
ramiro marroquin (architectural illustrator & model maker)
builder: masbuild
developer / project manager: FKP property group
structural & civil: cardno ltd
mechanical, electrical & hydraulic: murchie consulting
building surveyor: mckenzie group consulting
acoustic: acoustic logic consultancy
traffic: gta consultants
cost consultant: donald cant watts corke
pool consultant: david powick & associates
landscape: tract

Stairs, Second Edition-----Direct Download

Publication Date: July 23, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0750648465 | ISBN-13: 978-0750648462 | Edition: 2

Stairs are a fundamental and universal feature of buildings. The late Alan Blanc had a lifetime's obsession with stairs and steps and provided a definitive reference source that bridges the aesthetic and practical aspects of staircase design. His wife Sylvia, who worked with him on the first edition, presents this updated, abridged version alongside a complimentary web site where the historical elements of the subjects are described and discussed in pictures and diagrams.

The book is a practical guide to designing circulation spaces. It is extensively detailed with working drawings and photographs. Construction methods using a variety of materials are discussed as well as the influence of new technology on vertical circulation. The guidance on codes and regulations covers the UK and US. The latest high profile international case studies inspire and inform the reader. 

*Well established author team

*Fully revised to take account of current building regulations

*International case studies featuring up-to-date examples

Download Link below

Stairs, 2nd Edition (BBS)

REX architecture: project R6 - yongsan international business district

'project R6' by REX architecture, yongsan international business district, seoul, korea
image © luxigon

new york-based REX architecture has developed 'project R6' an urban boutique residence for short-term business people, young urban professionals and foreign tenants located in the dream hub yongsan international business district (YIBD), seoul, korea. due to the transience of its target users and the brief duration for which they are home, the unit sizes are small, measuring 40 m2, 50 m2, and 60 m2.

the tower is situated in a narrow parcel bounded by the mountain park which includes a children’s interactive spray park, rail road museum, outdoor amphitheater, yongsan station esplanade and the central park which is adjacent to hangang-ro area. by placing the building to the south of this block, all units command great views and the structural forms a gateway to the YIBD.


view across courtyard
image © luxigon

by pulling layers of the typical housing tower in opposing directions, the small units maintain their size, but are stretched into favorable proportions that provide views and daylight from both sides, cross-ventilation, and creates a sense of community through the development of a central courtyard, roof terraces andconversation/reading/play pods. 

the stretched layers are strategically positioned to develop adequate continuity of the building’s primary structure: 
a concrete-encased steel mega-brace that encircles the courtyard. the support reinforces a shelf-like matrix of walls and floor slabs that define each dwelling. each ledge is inserted a wooden shell containing a bathroom on one side and a kitchen on the other.

a movable wall, using standard compact shelving technology, shifts within the unit to define a bedroom which is adjacent to the bathroom or a living room  which adjoins the kitchen. the partition includes a bed, nightstands, a couch, a television mount, task lighting and storage.


floor to ceiling interior facade
image © REX

a high-performance exterior and interior facade which is composed of frameless IGUs (insulated glass units) emphasizes the remarkable views while black-out and shade roller blinds control sunlight and glare, providing spatial relief and maintaining privacy.


facade is composed of frameless IGUs equipped with black-out and shade roller blinds
image © REX


high-performance facade 
image © REX


interior black-out and shade roller blinds control sunlight and glare
image © REX


moveable wall in bedroom position, looking out to seoul
image © REX


moveable wall in living room position, looking into courtyard
image © REX


exterior view
image © luxigon


view from hangang-ro area
image © luxigon


size of typical unitsimage © REX


typical treatment of unit views, sun and ventilation image © REX
standard housing tower
image © REX


tower concept pulls layers in opposing directions maintaining unit sizes
image © REX


form creates more views, access to daylight and cross ventilation
image © REX


sense of community is created through a central courtyard, roof terraces and conversation/reading/play pods
image © REX


stretched layers are positioned to maximize daylight
image © REX


concrete-encased steel mega-brace enriches courtyard space
image © REX


mega-brace supports a shelf-like matrix of walls and floor slabs that defines each unit
image © REX


into each shelf is a wooden shell containing a bathroom on one side and a kitchen on the other
image © REX


moveable wall
image © REX


partition includes a bed, nightstands, couch, television mount, task lights and storage
image © REX


unit A2 bedroom floor plan 
image © REX


unit A2 living room floor plan 
image © REX


unit B2 bedroom floor plan 
image © REX


unit B2 living room floor plan 
image © REX

unit C2 bedroom floor plan 
image © REX


unit C2 living room floor plan 
image © REX


residential 'brace plan' 
image © REX


residential 'brace plan' with terrace
image © REX


residential 'horseshoe plan' 
image © REX


residential 'horseshoe plan' with terrace
image © REX


residential 'loop plan'image © REX


amenities plan
image © REX


section
image © REX


site plan
image © REX


community and spatial reliefs
image © REX



detail of cross-ventilation
image © REX


project info:


client: dreamhub project financing vehicle co., ltd.
program: 47,800 m2 luxury housing for short-term residents, 27,000 m2 of retail and 929 parking stalls
area: 115,500 m2
construction budget: confidential
status commenced: 2011 
completed schematic design: 2012
completion: expected 2016
design architect: rex 
key personnel: tiago barros, adam chizmar, danny duong, luis gil, gabriel jewell-vitale, seokhun kim, armen menendian, romea muryń, roberto otero,
se yoon park, joshua prince-ramus, lena reeh rasmussen and yuan tiauriman
executive architect: mooyoung
consultants: barker mohandas, buro happold, front, level acoustics, magnusson klemencic, scape, shen milsom wilke and tillotson design