Big Wins Competition to Design 300-Meter-Tall Residential Tower and A 250-Meter-Tall Office Tower in Shenzhen

 

In Shenzhen, China, BIG has won a competition to create a pair of skyscrapers that form gently sloping volumes tapering towards the sky.

The tower complex, known as Qianhai Prisma Towers, will finish the new Qianhai Bay development in Shenzhen and is made up of two high-rise buildings: a 300-meter-tall residential tower and a 250-meter-tall office tower.

The Shenzhen Hong Kong Plaza, also known as the "green belt," which serves as the neighborhood's entry, will be flanked on each side by the Qianhai Prisma Towers, which are situated in the Guiwan District of the metropolitan city of Qianhai.

The addition of additional offices, homes and more than 20,000 square meters of multi-level public space in each tower will put them close to a regional transportation hub and Qianhai Bay.

The tower design language is characterized by gently sloping volumes that taper upward. Along with adding a modest nod to the structural economy, this also makes room for lush openings between the volumes and a sizable ground-floor public area.

The glass facades of the buildings are contrasted by lush biophilia on the balconies and ledges, and as the day progresses, the façades gradually shimmer.

The well-known Shenzhen-Hong Kong Plaza, sometimes referred to as the Green Belt, serves as the project's backdrop. The ground level can be completely opened up to make an urban living space. The buildings are gesturally connected to the well-known sky bridge "green belt" and an adjacent shopping center via the ground plane. This develops a network of pedestrian crossings that eventually leads to the Qianhai Bay Waterfront. The ground floor's public areas, which are completely tucked away beneath the building's overhangs and tree canopy, feature an amphitheater, social areas covered by trees, and an underground bar.

Photovoltaic cells have been included on the East and West faces of the office tower in response to environmental and sustainability concerns. In response to the climate in the area, the office tower is also built with a double-skinned closed-cavity facade. The ventilation inlets in each apartment in the plan are moveable through the individual window frames, promoting and enabling effective natural ventilation. The slanted curtain walls also catch rainwater, which is then used to maintain the public areas.

Terraces that cascade down from the project's ground floor to its rooftop are covered in lush vegetation. Locals and building occupants can take in a panoramic view of the entire Qianhai Bay from the rooftop. The slight shimmer that varies with the time of day is most visibly displayed by the contrast of the ever-expanding greenery and the smooth glass.

Contextually, the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Intercity Railway is to the east of the site, and the proposed Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Express Railway will be on the west side, placing the towers between the two largest intercity trains. Through the nearby retail and commercial strip's basement hall, the tower also provides access to the main transportation hub.

The overall goal of the Qianhai Bay development project is to solidify the city's position as the regional center for business, finance, and culture. In this vein, Big anticipates starting work on the project in 2025.

The BIG has recently unveiled ‘Telus Sky’ Tower in Calgary. TELUS has commissioned BIG to design a mixed-use skyscraper in the heart of the Canadian city. Known as TELUS Sky, the 750,000-square-foot tower is designed to “seamlessly accommodate the transformation from working to living as the tower takes off from the ground to reach the sky.”

How Does Green Building Help Preserve the Environment?

 

What is a green building?

The technique of "green building," also referred to as "green construction," aims to be more resource- and environmentally conscious than a conventional building.

The construction and building sector have the potential to take the lead in the sustainability movement. This industry is currently one of the major consumers of natural resources and causes of global warming.

When designing a green building, architects work to construct a structure that minimizes or eliminates harmful effects on the local environment and the climate while attempting to have the opposite effect. The major goal is to protect natural resources, reduce negative environmental effects, and enhance the quality of life for those who live there throughout the whole structure's history, from planning and development to use and final demolition.

A sustainable or green building is one that can:

• Maintain or improve its surrounding natural environment.
• Conserve energy and resources.
• Reduce exposure to hazardous substances for humans and wildlife.
• Contribute to the quality of life for its occupants and the community.

Process of designing Green Building

The idea of "green building" has recently exploded on the real estate construction scene. The goal of this approach is to control and sustain energy usage while giving the next generation a greener, healthier lifestyle. Let's comprehend the essential procedures for green building so that we may protect our natural resources and meet our requirements at the same time:

•  Step 1- Recognize the goals and requirements of the program and create a strong plan that includes an estimated budget for the complete construction, the materials required, a site assessment, the provision of minimal facilities, and the adherence to necessary energy consumption.
• Step 2- choosing and assembling a team of qualified designers, architects, builders, and artisans. Create designing strategies for the intended site by analyzing all the climatic and ecological factors.
• Step 4- Develop and configure buildings in a way that effectively regulates temperature and thermal mass.
•  Step 5- Construct structures with efficient support systems for environmentally friendly water use, waste disposal, ventilation, and other arrangements.
• Step 6- Interiors that are effectively built to promote high-efficiency energy preservation and conservation through waste product recycling.
•  Step 7- Building construction and authorization are inspected to see if they adhere to the required green building criteria.
• Step 8- After completion of construction, maintenance verification is a must for safety and security.

An energy-efficient building is one that is built with the help of as much recycled waste as possible together with other building components, like geothermal heating and energy-efficient appliances.

Environmental goals can be maintained by using green building materials and technology to create energy- and environmentally-friendly housing.

Green Building Materials

To create a climate-controlled internal environment, utilize green wood, such as bamboo, cork, etc., for the flooring and cabinets, and precast concrete slabs for the flooring, roofs, walls, facades, etc. By combining straw bales with cement, lime, clay, and gypsum, you can build a mud house, use them for framing, and more. You can also utilize recycled plastics to produce planters, create DIY projects for interior decorating, and use reclaimed or recycled wood to stop deforestation. Wood can be replaced with recycled steel to strengthen the structure's resistance to natural disasters.

Green Building Technologies

The use of Porotherm Bricks and other environmentally friendly thermal insulation materials, the Net Zero Concept for efficient energy consumption and carbon emissions, the installation of the right HVAC system to reduce electricity consumption, the use of solar power while maintaining the proper conditions and system size, the use of smart grid appliances like refrigerators, washing machines, mixer grinders, and others for saving energy, and the construction of sustainable buildings.

Santiago Calatrava Reveals Design for Calatrava Boulevard in Düsseldorf, Germany

 

Santiago Calatrava, a Spanish architect and engineer, has unveiled the concept for Düsseldorf, Germany's Calatrava Boulevard, a complex that includes upscale dining options, shops, and office space. The new complex, which is situated on a prominent position between Königsallee Boulevard, Königstrasse, and Steinstrasse, has a 135-foot-tall roof that is curvy and vaulted and a flowing interior roadway that gives the impression of a sculptured, light-filled canyon. By 2028, the project, which is being worked on in conjunction with Uwe Reppegather, the founder and managing director of the CENTRUM Group, should be finished.

The purpose of Calatrava Boulevard is to modernise the area next to Königsallee Boulevard and develop a desirable new location. The building's height, which is lower than the average height of buildings in the state capital of North Rhine-Westphalia, enables the development of an accented entry point underneath the curved roof. Integrated solar panels are also found on landscaped roof terraces, in keeping with the city's environmental objectives.

The design incorporates the pre-existing structures fronting Königsallee and connects them to the Calatrava Boulevard in a seamless manner. The new intervention's first two levels provide about 160,000 square feet of upscale retail and dining space. Office space of 236,000 square feet is located on the top floors. The layout of these areas maintains the conventional form of the "Kö" façades.

Sinusoidal waveforms that are directed in the direction of the Königstrasse and Steinstrasse exterior facades define the inside façade. The building’s reclusive nature guarantees that modern shop spaces are seamlessly incorporated with the area’s ancient urban fabric and architectural styles. To minimize the impact on company operations along the commercial boulevard, the project is intended to be developed gradually. With the construction of the Kö36 building, the first phase of the project has already started.

The Benefits of Outsourcing Millwork Drafting Services

 

Architectural millwork is a rapidly developing industry where the latest innovations in interior design and technology are developing swiftly. Architectural millwork is the process of making different woodwork for functional and aesthetic usage in interior architectural projects. Millwork can or mechanically be tailored to whatever that a customer desire or (more on this below). The full process is covered by architectural millwork from raw wood to final products.

Millwork drafting services can help architects and designers complete their projects on time. The majority of residential and business organisations require specialised interior woodwork development where prefabricated cabinets are neither accessible nor practical.

By contracting with a millwork drafting service, you can design the cabinet wood to your specifications and designs. You can spend less on specialised materials and cutting-edge technologies by outsourcing your millwork drawing needs without compromising quality or turnaround time. Here are the top benefits of outsourcing Millwork drafting services.

5 Benefits of outsourcing millwork drafting services

 

1.       Access to Expertise

You can connect with millwork shop drawing experts like designers and drafters by outsourcing architectural millwork drafting services. The specialised materials can explain the architect's vision and give woodworkers and carpenters comprehensive guidance. It is possible to entirely redesign existing cabinetry.

2.       Custom Services

Any project, including hotels, restaurants, commercial buildings, health clubs, private homes, airports, and institutions, can benefit from millwork drafting. Your final millwork drawing is available to you in any format you desire, including.jpeg,.pdf,.tiff,.dxf, and.dwg.

A team of professionals with in-depth understanding in a range of millwork services, such as commercial cabinets, retail fixtures, casework, and furniture, can be yours through outsourcing. The outsourced crew will also be knowledgeable about millwork drawings and AWI architectural woodworking specifications.

3.       Increased Productivity

You may fulfil project deadlines without stress if you outsource millwork drawings because doing so ensures accurate results in the lowest amount of time. Even without an internal design team, you may increase productivity and efficiency. Using precise and unambiguous elevation views, dimensional plan views, detail views, and section views as a starting point will increase productivity.

4.       Cost-Efficiency

The reduction in labour and material costs is the main advantage of outsourcing millwork requirements. The outsourcing partner will be in charge of providing the finished woodwork design on schedule, relieving you of a considerable amount of anxiety while you concentrate on your primary operational goals and plans.

5.       Flexible and Efficient

When you outsource architectural millwork drafting, all you need to do is provide the service provider with the specifics of your millwork project; they will take care of the rest. From drafting the template to producing the final drawing and all that goes with it, every aspect of millwork is handled. You will receive more accurate results more quickly and with better efficiency by outsourcing architectural millwork drafting.

Snøhetta and WERK Arkitekter’s New Maritime Center in Esbjerg, Denmark, Opens to the Public

 

The newly constructed marine centre in Esbjerg, Denmark, was created by WERK Arkitekter and Snøhetta. The wooden building is intended to serve as a gathering place for watersports organisations and other harbour visitors, giving the coastal community a marine social hub. The huge windows and amphitheatre stairs provide views of the sea while the circular structure shields guests from inclement weather. The proposal, dubbed "The Lantern," is the winning entry in a 2019 design contest.

The building has spaces for various clubs, boat storage, training areas, and workshop areas in addition to other social and educational features that are intended to encourage people to participate, engage, and learn. The building's bulk is intended to protect its occupants from high winds. The concrete base takes into account the likelihood of high water in the event that the water overflows the nearby dam, while the wooden façade is built to survive severe weather conditions.

The building, which is about 2,800 square metres in size and pays homage to the maritime heritage of the port of Esbjerg, is inspired by the geometry and craftsmanship of boats. The rippling effect of light reflected by the river serves as an inspiration for the rhythm of the façade and the repetition of the vertical wooden pieces. On the roof, where solar panels are built into a belt around the top edge, the same beat is maintained.

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Snøhetta has also recently unveiled the design for a new Public Library in New York City

MVRDV wins competition to design Hoowave Water Factory

 

The Hoowave Water Factory, a sizable redevelopment of Huwei's Beigang and Anqingzhen canals, will be designed by the international office MVRDV, according to the decision of the Taiwan Ministry of Economic Affairs. In an effort to move beyond the mono-functional approach to regulating and distributing water, the project blends a strategic master plan with the landscape design. By including bike pathways, cultural amenities, and ecological systems, the idea not only stores and captures water but also expands access to the river and the surrounding habitat. A thorough plan for flood resilience is also included in the master plan, along with recommendations for increasing both the quantity and quality of the water supply. In 2026, the project is anticipated to be finished.

Around 70,000 people live in Huwei, a town on the Baigang River in the interior of Taiwan. Water pollution in the town is a result of expanding agriculture and urban areas. The town is shielded from flooding by a dike built on the site of a former alcohol factory, although it separates the Huwei from the river. The plan intends to reestablish a connection between the town and the river. Localized naturally cleansed water buffers are also included. It also works to clean up the irrigation canal in Anqingzhen. The factory's abandoned areas might be turned into a bustling park and a hub for recreational activities thanks to its re-naturalization.

According to the company, Huwei and the Beigang River are currently separated significantly by the manufacturing grounds and a dike constructed to safeguard the town from floods caused by the river.

The town is unprepared for the increasingly severe floods and droughts that will come as a result of climate change, and it suffers from water contamination brought on by its urban and agricultural growth.

MVRDV's design focuses on five goals: the new Huwei water system is conceived as resilient, ecological, connected, cultural, and feasible, given the fact that its completion is expected in early 2026.

Urban areas and connections to the waterscape are also created by transforming the dike to the south of the town. Sports fields and viewing areas are two more proposed uses for the space between the dike and the river. The new Beigang River Park, which is divided into several sections, alters its personality to fit in with the nearby town districts while taking into account the projected frequency of floods at various distances from the river.

In addition to the Beigang River Park, the plan describes two other areas of particular emphasis. In a former industrial location, The Anqingzhen Waterland incorporates the naturalised canal into a forest park. The city-wide flood-control system and the season will both affect how much water is in the waterway. In the meantime, the Pinghe Lake design turns the existing flood detention pond into an environmental hotspot and a destination for walkers and bikers on the outskirts of the city.

One of the most effective interventions in a city is the construction of water infrastructure. The connection between the river and the urban setting frequently determines access to resources like clean water, open green spaces for sports and recreation, and frequent transit options.

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MRDV Wins Competition to Design the Oasis Towers

How Real-Time Rendering with Enscape Provides a Quick and Simple Design Process

 

Real-time visualisation turns a 3D architectural model into a tool for communicating with those who are less technically savvy. You can make decisions more quickly since it is simple to understand your vision and design intent.

Architectural visualisation technology has made this procedure accessible, although several programmes on the market assert to provide the same features, such as real-time updates, an intuitive design process, and excellent, industry-standard renderings. So how do you decide which to pick?

Many tools give comparable results; what differentiates them is how your task is done

 

A plugin simplifies real-time visualisation. It renders quickly, generates high-quality visualisations, and is easy to use. Nothing blends more naturally into your design workflow than a plugin.

By integrating, you may build and visualise using a single model as your single source of truth. Any CAD or BIM modifications you make are immediately reflected in the rendering window. As a result, you can continue working in your project file without having to import or export any files.

Along your design journey, a real-time visualisation plugin is a continuous companion

The quickest and simplest approach to render in top quality is with a real-time visualisation plugin. Like other tools, Enscape is a plugin that offers real-time updates, a fluid design process, and excellent renderings.

But in contrast to other tools, it is compact, completely integrated, and not a stand-alone programme. It plugs seamlessly into your CAD or BIM programme, so it will be by your side the entire design process. Your design and visualisation tracks are combined rather of being distinct and parallel to one another.

Key benefits of rendering with a real-time visualization plugin

1. Begin rendering immediately

It takes little time to set up Enscape. It only takes a few clicks from installation to producing your first rendering after you link it into your CAD or BIM tool to get going.

 

2. Quicker feedback exchange

Better design development will result from more effective feedback loops. Together with your team or client, walk or fly through your project to quickly come to better design decisions. By walking or flying through sceneries in real-time, you can explore every part of your design and quickly spot and fix problems.

 

3. Use simply one clicks to access VR

By giving your client a virtual reality experience, you may help them understand the project's full scope. With just one click, immerse them in an immersive environment and help them better comprehend the final design of the area. Make yourself stand out from the crowd to land more work.

 

4. Switch from real-time to photorealistic renderings

The Enscape to V-Ray interoperability enables you to combine the ultra-photorealistic rendering capabilities of V-Ray with the real-time design approach in Enscape. You can import an Enscape scene into V-Ray and make adjustments there for more graphical realism. available for SketchUp, Rhino, and Revit with V-Ray 6.

5. Utilize it on a Mac.

Enscape for Mac allows Mac users to quickly and easily incorporate a real-time visualisation plugin into their creative process. Currently compatible with SketchUp 2021 and 2022, further compatibility is on the way.

Select a quick and simple process using Enscape

Enscape is an add-on for Archicad, Revit, Rhino, SketchUp, and Vectorworks that allows for real-time visualisation. You can express your vision more effectively by using Enscape to render in minutes and save hours while immersing customers, coworkers, and other project stakeholders in 3D settings.

Join the over 500k monthly active users that have made Enscape their go-to real-time visualisation tool by signing up for the free 14-day trial and getting started.