When Design Meets Functionality in Façades: High-Tech Aluminium Surfaces

The design of a facade defines its architectural identity. Besides being a barrier against diverse weather conditions, providing acoustic comfort, and regulating light penetration, the external skin of a building determines its character and perception. At first glance, a facade can make the building stand out or blend with its urban environment, or even convey different levels of brightness, translucency, and smoothness. Simultaneously, the structure and color of interior walls and ceilings can leave a lasting impression when entering a room.

Mecanoo Unveils the Design of the Future-Oriented Amstel Design District in Amsterdam

Designed by Mecanoo, Amstel Design District is a mixed-use development that includes social housing, mid-rent residential spaces, private sector homes, and collective facilities. The 80,000 square meters master plan also provides spaces for creative offices and retail, along with cultural institutions such as the 800 square meters design museum. Located between the highway and the metro line, the project responds to site constraints and concerns about noise pollution by creating a composition of stacked volumes with setbacks. This allows for the creation of comfortable public spaces in between the buildings as pocket parks and plazas.

Chessy Cultural Center / Opus 5 architectes

The site is an “in-between”, a bridge, a vestige of rural life in the jaws of urban sprawl. To the northwest is the town of Chessy and its peripheral housing developments nibbling away at what remains of Brie, and to the southwest, Disney’s perfectly delimited and defined entertainment and hospitality complex.

OPEN Architecture Wins Competition to Design the Yichang Grand Theatre in China

OPEN Architecture has won the competition to design the Yichang Grand Theatre in China. The project is situated where the Yangtze River and its tributary Huangbai River converge at the tip of the Pinghu Peninsula. There are about 70,000 square meters of building space overall. The performing arts center will feature a 1600-seat grand theater, a 1200-seat concert hall, a 400-seat black box, and two outdoor theatres — one on the rooftop and one by the water. It is housed within the fluid and partially floating building. The building also has rehearsal rooms, event and exhibition spaces, coffee shops, restaurants, and observation decks. The diverse lineup reflects efforts to keep the big theatre a welcoming and active gathering place for the public at all times.

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