* Residential Architecture: Martello Tower Y Residence by Piercy&Company

Residential Architecture: Martello Tower Y Residence by Piercy&Company: “..By restoring an 1802 Martello Tower and converting it to a family home, the principles of conservation were pushed beyond preservation, instead aiming to breathe new life into the ‘at risk’ structure..Strategically the intention was to clearly differentiate the old and the new, avoiding pastiche, with the contemporary insertions touching the original fabric as lightly as possible; allowing the heavily textured masonry to be the star.  Designed to be extremely sensitive to the monument and its setting, the new curving roof extension and re-sculpted interior seek to gain creative momentum from the tension between modern requirements and the need for heritage conservation..Converting a Napoleonic era defence tower built in 1808 into a 21st Century private residence was a demanding brief. As a Scheduled Monument on the At Risk register and located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the planning negotiations were matched in complexity by the on-site logistics. Ultimately however, the conversion won the support of English Heritage who heralded it as an exemplar of how to convert significant historical buildings..Materials and Construction: The tower’s fabric comprises 750,000 bricks but the quality of their construction was not immediately evident. As it was revealed, it set the standard for the design. The new roof is a 3D curved lightweight structure, constructed of steel and laminated plywood, tethered by five pairs of Macalloy bars. A detailed 3D model was used to create 2D cutting patterns for off-site manufacture.  A skirt of frameless curved glass below the roof expresses the distinction between old and new as well as providing 360 degree views. The roof, set back to minimize visual impact, is clad in a single ply membrane with three roof lights. The system is elemental as it had to be stored and installed from the gun platform..In order to bring light into the basement, six 450mm diameter holes were diamond-core drilled through 4.5m of fully bonded brickwork from just inside the window reveals into the magazine bedroom, utility, bunk room and bathrooms. The two other bedrooms have 60mm holes for ‘Camera Obscura’ views of the countryside to the southwest and northwest..200mm diameter holes were drilled from the top of the parapet to meet the passive ventilation system leading to the ground floor and basement. These brick ducts provide routes for water, electricity, gas for the kitchen and heating to the roof. They also accommodate the supply and exhaust ducts for the heat recovery ventilation system in the basement and ground floors..”  Extraordinary restoration and conversion of a defense tower in the UK; ample glazing, natural light, views; interesting fenestration including skylights; interesting materiality and interior volumes..

designalog : contact

image: © Edmund Sumner; article: “Martello Tower Y / Piercy&Company” 04 Dec 2012. ArchDaily. <http://www.archdaily.com/301773&gt;

* Architecture: Auditorium in the Church of Saint Francis’ Convent by David Closes

Architecture: Auditorium in the Church of Saint Francis’ Convent by David Closes: “..Jagged glazed stairwells climb the stone walls of this eighteenth century church in Catalonia that architect David Closes has converted into an auditorium..The church is all that remains of a Franciscan convent that spent over 150 years in ruin in the town of Santpedor..The external staircases wind up from the entrance through the walls of the building, overlooking the auditorium in the former nave..Two mezzanine floors are located in the wings of the church and will later become a historical archive..”  Sharp contemporary additions to an 18th century former convent; steel, glass, stone, concrete..

image: Jordi Surroca; article: Dezeen

designalog : contact

* Architecture: OostCampus by Carlos Arroyo Architects

Architecture: OostCampus by Carlos Arroyo Architects: “..opted for a radical re-use of the large industrial existing building, including foundations, floors, supporting structures, outer skin, insulation, waterproofing, and all recoverable services and equipment: power station, heating plant, water pipes, fire hoses, sewerage, and even parking area, fencing and access..The reuse of the existing is a basic criterion of sustainability. The “gray energy” (energy used for the production of something) is often discarded or simply ignored. If we demolish an existing structure and build again, we will use more energy and resources than the most efficient of buildings can of save in its life span..To transform the vast industrial hall – with minimal footprint but maximum spatial result – Arroyo designs a sheltered interior public space, wrapped in a “luminous landscape of white clouds”. Thin shells of GRG (gypsum and fibre) span the large space like huge soap bubbles. They are only 7 mm thick..Within this landscape, a set of modular clusters provides the administrative services and spaces, designed to facilitate the relationship between citizens and administration. Citizen participation in the process is one of the key issues. Also transparency: the chamber hall is in full sight in the middle of public space, the information is accessible, you can even you visualize the municipal website … and physically enter it and talk to the person who is behind!.”  Lively, whimsical, colourful, social..

image: Miguel de Guzmán; article: Contemporist

designalog : contact

* Residential Architecture: Private House by BoA Studio Architetti

Residential Architecture: Private House by BoA Studio Architetti: “..within a small industrial area now disused, where Sile river leaves the historical city together with the old water way called Restera. The loft is placed at the last storey of the tower, part of a former button firm of the 20-30ies, one of the first cast-concrete structures in Treviso, connected to main part of the building through an iron and glass walkway..Once demolished the old wall partitions, concrete structures emerge in their strength with 45° shaped beams, six rooflights, the five-meter open space marked by two big pilars and a unique 270° view over the city and the river. The design proposal splits in two the old industrial space..Linear and helical stairways going up to the decking roof emphatize the two columns verticality. A full-height greenhouse articulates the wide open space into living and dining area. Two new openings within thin floor slab also emphatize roof transparency effect, where the glazed volume is, at a time, vegetal wall and natural vent system..”  Interior garden, skylights, interesting interior volumes in this renovation and refurbishment of an old button factory; abundant glazing and natural light, roof terrace..

designalog: contact

image: © Marco Zanta; article: Ross , Kritiana . “Private House / BoA Studio Architetti” 23 May 2012. ArchDaily. <http://www.archdaily.com/236522&gt;