* Architecture: DUO skyscrapers by Buro Ole Scheeren

Architecture:  DUO skyscrapers by Buro Ole Scheeren: “..Buro Ole Scheeren has unveiled a pair of skyscrapers with concave walls for Singapore’s historic Kampong Glam district..Buro Ole Scheeren has designed the twin DUO towers to have heights of 186 and 170 metres, with the former to contain over 600 apartments, while the latter will accommodate offices and a hotel..The building will sit between the city’s commercial district and the Kampong Glam area, which was once home to the Malaysian aristocracy and today contains a mix of Malay and Muslim communities..A hexagonal pattern of windows will cover the facades of the towers and floors will step back and forth using a system of cantilevers..Both towers will feature concave walls, which will frame the outlines of public spaces and gardens at ground level..Shops will line the base of these elevations, while pedestrian routes will link up with the metro station nearby..The architect’s proposals also include a rooftop restaurant and a public observation deck..Construction is scheduled to start in 2013, with completion penciled in for 2017..”

See our post on another project by Buro Ole Scheeren, formerly of OMA, with Rem Koolhaas: Architecture: Landmark Tower by Buro Ole Scheeren.

image: Courtesy of Buro Ole Scheeren; article: Dezeen

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* Architecture: V on Shenton by UNStudio

Architecture: V on Shenton by UNStudio: “..UNStudio have shared the firm’s latest urban regenerative project, a new UIC building which will help rejuvenate the area of Shenton Way in the heart of Singapore’s Central Business District.   Entitled ‘V on Shenton’, the part-residential part-office tower maintains a strong 15+ meter wide view corridor as the programmatic elements split and respond to their seperate demands.  ”V on Shenton will have an incredible presence within the whole organization of the city and is in that respect a very public project. But we see it also as a sculptural object, where the continuous line of the chamfer highlights the form and where the different textures are not purely related to program, but also ‘dress’ the building”, explained van Berkel..As is typical of UNStudio’s work, the project offers sleek massing and an intricate cladding.  Although the building breaks to create a lower scale office section – which responds to the contextual heights of similar buildings – while the residential tower rises above to distinguish itself from the neighboring buildings, the two are unified with their soft edges and textured glass facades.  The massing is lined by chamfers which give a definite edge and frame the building;  this line, which appears smooth in contrast to the textured surfaces of the towers, illuminates in the evening..The hexagon pattern which the facade module is based from is used to create patterns that increase the performance of the facades with angles and shading devices that are responsive to the climatic conditions of Singapore..Ben van Berkel explained, “The pattern of the façade comprises four to five different textures, each varying depending on the program. At times the glass of the façade creates texture through the relief effect and the coloured side lighting, whilst the volumetric balconies of the residences create a deep texture in the total volume of the building.”..An important feature of the building is its sky lobbies and sky garden.  Such areas provide amazing views over the city and the landscape features offer a welcoming space for occupants.   Along with the facades, the sky gardens are an integral part of developing the sustainable lifestyle of ‘V on Shenton’. These lush green spaces provide a refuge from the city with the climate and vegetation naturally providing fresher, cleaner air..”

See our posts on three other projects by UNStudio:

• Architecture: Centre for Virtual Engineering by UNStudio
• Architecture: VI Palazzo ENI by UNStudio
• Architecture: Los Angeles Union Station Master Plan by UNStudio + EE&K

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image: © UNStudio; article: ”V on Shenton / UNStudio” 03 Aug 2012. ArchDaily. <http://www.archdaily.com/260192&gt;

* Architecture: D38 Zona Franca Office Barcelona by Arata Isozaki

Architecture: D38 Zona Franca Office Barcelona by Arata Isozaki: “..’D38 zona franca office’ by japanese architect arata isozaki is situated at the foot of montjuic hill, and positioned to the west of barcelona, spain between the airport and seaport. part of a developing office district, this structure is part of a masterplan developed in collaboration with UK-based FOA. the  three phase project produced 70,000 square meters of rentable space upon a 35,000 square meter plot..a flexible interior allows future tenants to retrofit their working environments. a square footprint of 52.5 by 52.5 meters is deconstructed by removing volumes from the mid-section forming an open-air terrace. a double-storey glass-enclosed volume is retain within the building’s void, appearing to hang from the underside of the first level. two different interior configurations within an L and C shape can be used for one, two or three units..”  Flexibility, open air terrace..

image: © filippo poli; article: Designboom

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* Architecture: Kaffee Partner Headquarters by 3deluxe

Architecture: Kaffee Partner Headquarters by 3deluxe: “..stacked layers of ribbon cantilevers create an aesthetic centerpiece to a U-shaped building, doubling to define the main functional offices. the flowing contours derive from the brands values of vitality and lightness while the predominantly white color is accented with natural hues found in their product, coffee. spanning 100 meters in length, the tripartite arrangement forms a 9,800 square meter structure. strips within the facade branch from the focal element, connecting the adjacent wings with support services for customers and employees. the undulating profiles become a relief of linear strips which border copper-pigmented metallic window frames..”  Wonderful, distinctive curvilinear form, cantilevers, prefabrication, copper, interiors which reflect the exterior form..

image: © emanuel raab, courtesy of 3deluxe; article: Designboom

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