Architecture
ARCHITECTURE
Buildings Over 1,000 SqM
THE URBAN MONUMENT | QUJIANG MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS EXTENSION
Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
Firm: Neri&Hu Design and Research Office, China
Team: Lyndon Neri, Rossana Hu and Zhao Lei with Ivy Feng, Wenbo Da, Joy Han, Tian Hua and Bella Wu
Photo: Zhu Runzi
PEOPLE’S WINNER
An extension to the Qujiang Museum lithic structure in the shape of a lantern conceals a diverse and light-filled multi-use space, one boasting museum and retail areas, a restaurant and an outdoor amphitheatre. Neri&Hu Design and Research Office composed the massive red stone – clad monument in four parts, including a partially sunken concrete base, the airy “Sculptural Walk” and an elevated podium. Balancing the rigorous exterior, features like a triple-storey light well, glass curtain walls and a floating roof illuminate the interior and turn the perforated facade into a glowing beacon after dark.
ARCHITECTURE
Buildings Under 1,000 SqM
LA ESCONDIDA CHAPEL
La Garza, Chiapas, Mexico
Firms: Apaloosa Estudio de Arquitectura y Diseño and Walter Flores Arquitecto, Mexico
Team: Luis Armando Gómez Solorzano and Walter Flores; with Interceramic; Alfonso Cháirez; ALZ Concretos; Xóchitl Abigaíl López Trujillo; Carlos Berdejo Mandujano; and Lázaro Zárate Pozo
Photo: Carlos Berdejo Mandujano
PEOPLE’S WINNER
The chapel at the Villas La Escondida dates two distinct needs by providing an intimate enclosed space for wedding ceremonies and creating a sense of wonder in the divine. It forges a connection to its bucolic surroundings via an open, free-flowing design that seems to hover above a marble-clad pedestal. The modified A-frame draws the eye toward the altar, then upward to the sky through a flat roof composed of glass panels; delivering ample shade and airflow, this distinct architecture also offers protection from the elements — an important consideration in Chiapas’s hot, arid climate.
ARCHITECTURE
Houses
RECIPROCAL HOUSE
London, U.K.
Firm: Gianni Botsford Architects, U.K.
Team: Gianni Botsford, James Eagle, Hiroshi Takeyama, Anahi Copponex, Arslan Arkallayev and Stephanie Aue; with Integration; Tall Engineers; FFLO; HCUK; Barton Wilmore; New Wave; Measur; and Weber Industries
Photos: Schnepp Renou
Gianni Botsford has paid tribute to Norman Foster’s visionary use of steel, concrete and glass in this London residence. The site in question was originally home to an anonymous 19th-century cottage to which Foster added a striking extension in 1968 — one of the British icon’s first projects of note. A new owner, seeking to replace the house but maintain Foster’s building, hired Botsford to bridge past and present. In place of the old cottage, Botsford has created a gem. Maximizing the possibilities of a challenging location hemmed in on all sides by other structures, the firm used skylights, light wells and a set of sail-like perforated aluminum screens to provide natural light and privacy. Inside, the minimalist kitchen, outfitted in aluminum panels, and the sleek aluminum-clad spiral staircase extend Foster’s industrial palette; expanses of raw concrete and metal are made possible by concealing services (including underfloor heating) within floors and dedicated wall voids.
ARCHITECTURE
Houses
SHENANDOAH HOUSE
Lexington, Virginia, U.S.
Firm: Schaum/Shieh Architects, U.S.
Team: Troy Schaum and Rosalyne Shieh
Photos: Naho Kubota
PEOPLE’S WINNER
Inspired by the Allegheny Mountains retreat is characterized by an undulating roofline that evokes the Appalachians’ jagged peaks. Composed of pod-like bedrooms and communal spaces sprouting off a central 37-metre corridor, the home’s irregular layout mimics the contours of its steep hillside site while creating intimate outdoor spaces oriented to take advantage of the breathtaking mountain views. The nature-inspired aesthetic continues inside, where curving walls flow into smooth, uninterrupted ceilings (lighting is recessed in slots at the ceiling’s edge) to create a soothing, organic interior. Natural materials like bamboo floors and a fireplace partially clad in locally sourced soapstone further link the home to its surroundings.
ARCHITECTURE
Multi-Unit Residential Buildings
MERCADO GRONINGEN
Groningen, Netherlands
Firms: De Zwarte Hond and Loer Architecten, Netherlands
Team: Henk Stadens (De Zwarte Hond) and Frank Loer (Loer Architecten) with Jurjen van der Meer and Bas Frieling (DZH); Jesús Macias, Tijs Niessen, Jan Loerakker and Rianne Vossen (LA)
Photos: Sebastian van Damme
