South Korea is about to get another architectural marvel in the form of Dancing Dragons, which will come enveloped in a very modern appeal but will still ooze traditional traits borrowed from Korean culture. The design will comprise of two towers (to be erected in Seoul) and was unveiled by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill, a design firm based in Chicago. These mixed use towers will bow down to a lot of needs, which includes spaces for office, retail as well as residential use.

The towers have a scale-like appearance from the outside just like the mythical dragons, from which it has fetched the name Dancing Dragons as it seems as if the towers are rhythmically dancing around the core. These towers will be planked around a common central nucleus and will have a lean appearance mixed with a sharp angled look, creating an attention grabbing appeal. The towers have a different size, which have a measurement of 390 meters and 450 meters. These are not mirror images of each other but do speak the same architectural language.

Living spaces has been dramatically created with the presence of massing cuts in the design and these float outside the basic frame of the structure. Korean tradition can be seen just everywhere in the design, right from the geometry and appearance of the outer skin to the canopies that project outwards, a reminiscent of roof space of traditional temples of Korea. The skin that looks like scales is perforated, which will keep the building well ventilated in a clean and green way because of the gaps that form as a result of overlapping panels.

Out of the two, the taller tower has 88 stories and has V shaped massing cuts both at the top and bottom. On the other hand, the smaller one is a 77 story tower in which the cuts stretch all across in a diagonal fashion sans any broken lines. The relationship between cuts of both the towers creates a fine impression as if they are dancing when seen, giving it a rhythmic expression. The towers come injected with sustainability, which is much needed in this polluted world. Heat loss will be kept down to a minimum because of the use of triple glazed window units that will be designed by PositivEnergy Practice. A shading effect will be beautifully created because of an overlapping exterior wall.

When it gets really hot outside the inside of these towers will still remain cool and bearable because of natural ventilation, killing the strong dependency on air conditioning hence saving a lot natural resources as well as electricity. The roofs will come caked with solar panels that will harness solar energy to be used in various ways. Apart from this, radiant heating, daylight linked lighting controls and electric centrifugal chillers for heat recovery add to its prettiness. Dancing Dragons will be spread over an area of 23,000 square meters and will also unfurl the magic of a retail podium and sunken garden among many other features.

Architectural forms are being given an overhaul, which envelops the construction with attention grabbing traits while spreading freshness in terms of designing. A glimpse at the Nardini Grappa Distillery or Bolle as it is fondly referred as, and one is bound to whiff wows in exhilaration and applaud for the design created by Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas. The distillery in Italy manages to leave a very strong first impression and is nothing less than a piece of art.

The basic design of Bolle comprises of two very large discs that give an impression as if inflated and are floating over a pool of water. But, these ellipsoid bubbles have been fashioned out of steel and have been enveloped with glass, which further gets the much required support from the stilts they stand on. These floating volumes will serve as research center laboratories. Intersecting paths are formed over the pool, which lets visitors leisurely walk all around and enjoy the views created. Water in this case will actually guide visitors and help them reach various spots in the complex, which is quite interesting.

It also comprise of an auditorium below, which can seat 100 people and can be accessed via a descending ramp. This design makes it look like natural canyon, adding to the distillery’s prettiness. Both the auditorium and laboratories have been fashioned out using different materials. While the submerged part or the auditorium uses solid and heavy materials, the laboratories have a transparent and airy feel attached to it. The surface of Nardini Grappa Distillery gets illuminated by the presence of underwater lights, which gives birth to a mesmerizing effect as the grounds sparkle in a magical way.

You must have seen the old age gadgets with a crank- the ones you power up by rotating the handle with your hands. They apply the fundamental concept of converting mechanical energy into power. New age technology has come so far off that people have forgotten the basics. Surely, a technology like this can be put to good use today when the fuel and energy prices are rising steeply. Also, the concept is promising for the future, when the energy crisis will reach an all time high.

It seems that the TGO Green Energy Gym has thought about applying this amazing idea. It has dubbed the phenomenon as Harnessing People Power. The energy you put in while working out at this gym is converted into electricity. Currently, this electricity is being used to light up the gym at night. But, if such a concept does succeed on a larger scale, then people will be able to power up their homes and work places by just toiling and moving around. Doesn’t this sound brilliant?

Also, the airy and suave gym openly flaunts its unique identity. All cardio machines and gym equipment have been placed out in the open. Bright neon hues and streamlined designs distinguish the structure. The lights embedded on the equipment and along the floor look absolutely terrific. The green color of the layout embodies what the gym stands for.

The phenomenal idea is being piloted in collaboration with the Hull City Council. Georgie Delaney, who is also the creative director at TGO, rants on about the Green Heart at Shaw Park in Hull. She envisions to open chains of the gym across the rest of UK also. The concept has tremendous potential to replace the traditional grid network people rely on for power supply. After all, who knew that there was a healthy way of generating clean and green energy?

via: designbuzz

The outer walls of the house are never exploited well. They just help mark the territory and prevent us from harsh sunrays, rainfall, winds, and cold weather. However, if you wish to extract much more out of plain walls of your house, then have a look at Solar Skin that will unfurl a multitude of functions for a better living.

Solar Skin is nothing but a modular panel that will bring down all the heating and cooling demands, while making sure that natural light gets used in the best way possible. This modular panelized system plays a variety of roles and it can be customized according to the place of installation and the solar conditions existing there. According to the above-mentioned circumstances, it can vary in aperture, material, and directionality.

Solar Skin will help save a lot of energy, which is required to bow down to all the heating and cooling demands, as the system needs minimum energy input for the same. Principles of passive cooling and heating have been used to the fullest while coming up with this brilliant design. Natural light will be able to penetrate through the skin, as the Solar Screen will work with double glazed window units. Such a set up will provide maximum light and minimum heat loss or gain.

A thermal buffer of warm air will be formed by the screen during summers that will aid in natural ventilation and will prevent heat loss in winters. The screen will lend the much needed security and privacy, while doubling as vertical landscape element. Solar Screen will be a great educational tool as well, which will educate children about various things and help them form a connection with plants.

Located in central China, Zhengzhou is experiencing rapid re-development. Part of a broad scale master plan labeled “The Rise of Central China”; Zhengzhou is implementing a two part initiative: ecological and infrastructural development. Ecological development prioritizes the surrounding natural resources; forest park, scenic areas, wetlands/reserves, rivers/lakes & urban green space. Infrastructural development addresses an emerging market identified as “Logistics Industry”.

Zhengzhou is to serve as an integrated hub for the import/export of goods and mass transportation which connects the east and the west. The project site is located in the historic city center which is the primary shopping district just north of the main train station and just south of the People’s Park (a large public park). The Erqi Monument resides to the south west corner of the site and is the primary tourist attraction in Zhengzhou. The monument is a 27 floor double pagoda dedicated to a worker strike that occurred February 7, 1923.

Challenging the conventions of this typology, the proposed design blends the hotel and live/work top with the retail base. In order to maximize and prioritize the corners of the site, the hotel and live/work program are rotated over the corners to frame the exterior/interior of the site. The green boulevards flow into and up the edges of the site to create a green urban space at the mezzanine level. Envisioned as an entertainment level, patrons can enjoy amenities and an elevated view of the city. The retail base steps down in plan and section for greater connectivity to the adjacent urban edges. The gradated triangulated façade reinforces the corners and programmatic relationships from floor to floor.

Principal Architect: Trey Trahan, FAIA
Senior Designer: Mark Hash
Project Team: Art Terry, Michael McCune and Kim Nguyen

The design house prechteck was invited to design a corporate headquater for s.deer, a chinese retail-clothing company based in Nanjing.

The main idea behind the design for the building was to create world of fashion underlining the lifestyles.deer stands for. As fashion is not just about clothing, the new s.deer headquater should not just be about administration. At fashion shows, photo shootings or previous store designs, cubes in different size and configurations are omnipresent and have been a key object and an unofficial logo for representing s.deer. Inspired by s.deer’s appearance design, rotated cubes were also the formal element for prechteck’s proposal.

The scheme divides the building into 2 structurally independant components interacting with each other on a certain height. 2 entities supporting each other and generating an working and lifestyle hybrid for s.deer. The larger cube contains a 25.000sqm administrative area with offices, conference and meeting rooms, workshops and creative areas for staff, including underground parking for 300 cars. Angled sky-gardens cut into the building getting natural lighting to the lower floors of the building. On the upper floors creative areas for rebooting and relaxing circumscribe the peremiter of those gardens. A 3.000sqm lifestyle area for fashion shows, parties and a small museum showing the history of the company should visitors strongly connect to the brand.

Prechteck’s scheme aimes to produce a natural and organic expression having a refined structure embraced by a textile facade pattern. Some sustainable aspects of the design include grey water treatment, photovoltaic panels on the outside of a double layerd facade, pipes for algae bio cltivation in between the two layers and a use of local materials during the construction of the project.

Team: Chris Precht, Fei Tang, Daniel Mayer

We read the importance of including vegetables and fruits in our diet almost every second day, but somehow don’t consume the recommended amount even after knowing the benefits. Emily Maskey’s Fresco will make sure that fresh fruits and vegetables become an important part of your diet and not left to rot in the refrigerator by making them all the more accessible.

The eye pleasing design has been created keeping easy accessibility in mind, which has a box like appearance. Fresco will act like a mini refrigerator, which can be kept anywhere and won’t consume a lot of space. The thermodynamically cooled design will control humidity, keeping fruits and vegetables fresh. Containers or jars of various sizes can be fitted in the frame that has a 30 degree viewing angle. Storage jars of two different sizes can be easily fitted in the design that has double walled clear sliding doors.

Transfer fresh fruits and vegetables into the Fresco storage jars and rinse them directly while they are placed inside the jar. The bottom of these jars has a mesh like structure that appears when the tab is rotated. This makes sure that all the water is drained out of the jar. The slide doors, crafted out of polyethylene, make it possible to access the fresh produce both through the lid as well as the window. Condensation and excess of UV light exposure will be kept under check by these double walled doors.

The design comprises of spritzers that individually control the humidity level inside each jar. Ethylene exposure can rot fresh produce, which will be prevented as the inside comes lined with ethylene filters. The cooling system is very effective and does not use gases or compressors. Fresco, with its ingenious designing, is bound to leave people impressed with its efficiency and easy accessibility.

This concept is called “2046 Personal Commuter in Paris” since it was imagined to be the future of public transportation in the city of fashion and design. In 2046, Paris will become an urban complex where public transport facilities should be enhanced to accommodate its urban dwellers. This Japanese automotive designer has introduced electric car sharing system using this personal futuristic vehicle design. It promotes clean energy, vernacular design (a design that promotes locally available resources and traditions to address local needs and circumstances) and save money.

There are two main objectives for this vehicle concept. First, organic style is meant to match organic building design of the future and the second objective is to offer the passengers a beautiful view through its large windows.

Designer : Daisuke Iguchi

Inspired by the protective instincts of animals who hide inside a cocoon when they have to guard themselves, architecture organization Planning Korea based at Seoul, came out with an extraordinary design. The layout that incorporates a cocoon at the center of the house also takes inspiration from the volcanic topography of Jeju island. The artsy eco structure of the round shaped cocoon is located inside a seaside condominium constructed at the self sustaining business resort known as UNESCO Heritage Jeju Island.

To mimic a live cocoon, the circular windows of the round shell, open and close depending on the temperature and humidity in the surroundings. The lines transcending from the floor to ceiling are kind of obscure, which gives a free flowing and mystic element to the space inside. The high point is the air pocket swimming pool which lets you enjoy your natural surroundings. The structure also has small library, roof garden and a landing space.

The deluxe amenities provided inside are mind blowing. The ground level has zones at three different heights. The zone with the highest floor height is the courtyard, which divides the living area and the round shaped kitchen. Just near the living room is a conference zone. The master bedroom is quite private as it is segregated from other rooms. The interiors are top notch and really plush. However, the 308 square meter house is still in construction and will be completed by 2015.

The hi-end condo is situated in Gotjawal Village in Jeju Airest City, which is a lavish and large resort development space. Gotjawal is actually a unique forest on the volcanic island of Jeju. The zone houses facilities like a casino, hotel, medical center and a shopping mall. The condominiums dubbed as the “Creative Business Leisure City” are a new concept and have a relaxing ambiance.

Flying cars are a common site in sci-fi movies. The floating auto has won hearts of many science fiction fanatics. Be it the glass bubble from “The Jetsons” or the cab from “The Fifth Element,” all these autos have mesmerized audiences for long now. Another runaway hit in this realm were the super duper flying cars from “Back to the Future II” that dash around on airborne roadways. Some designs show flying cars, also known as hovercars, soaring high up in the air while other models drift just a few inches above the ground. However, with claims that the car can be manufactured in actuality too, people are waiting eagerly for the concept to roll out.

So, Volkswagen thought of creating a prototype of this futuristic car model. Dubbed as the “The People’s Car Project”, the company invited people to design their car of the future. A young girl from Chengdu city, who is actually a student of gaming design and animation, came up with a brilliant concept. Her design bagged the contest and the prototype crafted was turned into a video. You can check it out below.

The car basically has a spherical shape with space for two people inside. It has no wheel and floats a few inches above the ground. The image of the car floating in the middle of the street, when other autos are running on the road, is absolutely amazing. Circular glass discs have been fitted on the two ends of the car and an elongated glass panel has been fixed at the front. The glass and metal bubble looks utterly stupendous.

The concept car utilizes magnetic force to float in middle of the air. A magnetic suspension system is used in most of these designs, but the mechanism is not very stable, and hence wide scale implementation of the cars is not possible. Some of the models also make use of repulsion technology, which is basically a type of short range anti-gravity principle, to whizz around smoothly in mid air.