Send us a drawing. Tell us a story. Win $2,500! Register for the One Drawing Challenge today.

Axonometric drawings are a powerful tool for visually communicating complex spatial arrangements. Their unique viewpoint allows for highly descriptive drawings that represent three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface. With parallel projections, the usual laws of perspective don’t quite apply: There is no shift in scale as there would be through a camera lens or through our own eyes. While these drawings often feature perfect proportions and dimensions, they are particularly compelling as they hover between reality and impossibility: The human eye can never see space in this way.

We want to see your best parallel projection, and the story it tells about your architectural project. Submit a drawing in the One Drawing Challenge for a chance to win $2,500 and — thanks to the makers of digital illustration app Procreate — an iPad Pro and Apple Pencil! Further prizes include luxury drawing tools from COPIC and Sakura, and Procreate software to kickstart your next architectural drawing. Make sure to enter before midnight on August 9th:

Enter the 2019 One Drawing Challenge

Now for some inspiration. This collection takes a look at several applications of the parallel projection technique, each time utilized by artists and architects to convey big ideas. As you prepare your entry for the One Drawing Challenge, explore these fascinating architectural representations and visualize your own…

Image via Pinterest

Orange County Government Center by Paul Rudolph, Goshen, N.Y.

Rudolph’s masterful hand drawings are a testament to the power of combing representational techniques to communicate multiple aspects of a building. An axonometric view and a section perspective work in tandem to communicate the exterior façade’s protruding rectilinear volumes as well as the interior space within them. The axonometric drawing is quite unusual in that it rotates the entire drawing in space to provide a ground-up view, which presents the building from a believable human viewpoint.

ALBUM “Bff016” by SET Architects, Milan, Italy

This pair of drawings shows a space together and pulled apart. The use of axonometric projection illustrates not only how the space appears and might be inhabited but also the sheer simplicity of the design. The drawing explodes the installation into its four core components: floor, content, structure and roof, revealing the design’s modularity and replicability.

Images via Høyblokka Revisited

Høyblokka Revisited by Kolab Arkitekten + Kollaboratoriet, Oslo, Norway

In an entry to a design competition inviting designers to reimagine a culturally significant building in Norway, Kollaboratoriet came up with a solution that it communicated through these simple yet poignant drawings. Through the use of axonometric drawing, the viewer gets a clear sense of how individual units function within the whole housing complex.

Images via ArchEyes

Neofuturistic Drawings by Jan Kaplický, London, UK

These visionary and imaginative drawings are the work of Kaplický’s independent practice, Future Systems, from the 1970s to the 1990s. He was famous for saying“It’s not a sign of creativity to have 65 ideas for one problem. It’s just a waste of energy.” These detailed drawings illustrate Kaplický’s interest in streamlining ideas into singular, highly legible drawings. The unique viewpoint of the drawings allows the viewer to understand the form and function of each expertly executed project.

Social/cultural center by fala atelier, Reinosa, Spain

Fala atelier, which playfully describes itself as a “naïve architecture practice,” produces drawings that have a uniquely joyful quality. This character permeates the firm’s projects from drawing to implemented design. These drawings communicate the project’s core concept through clean lines and thoughtful splashes of color. The axonometric representation of this complex space provides a sense of the project’s wholeness, representing each of the 49 rooms as part of a larger ecosystem.

House on a Stream and The Riparian House by Architecture BRIO, India

The river is integral to both of these houses’ identities. Architecture BRIO utilizes exploded axonometric projection to show each house with relation to its surroundings. While the detailed projection of the house floats above the ground, the inclusion of a black silhouette directly below it indicates the house’s position within the landscape. Through the use of an exploded axonometric, the drawing successfully provides information about the house itself and its position in the landscape, without compromising either.

Images via Socks

Early Collages (1967–1970) by Daniel Libeskind

It’s hard to imagine any of Daniel Libeskind’s jagged, highly sculptural architecture ever existing on a two-dimensional plane. Yet, while Libeskind was a student at the Cooper Union in the 1960s, his professors encouraged him to explore the overlapping of visual art and architecture through collage and other drawings.

30-degree rotated grids provide the anchor for Libeskind’s complex geometries, which delight in spatial ambiguity and challenge the usual measured logic we expect from axonometric projections. The blending of the two creates unusual and highly compelling works that masterfully blur the line between art and architecture.

Tuan Jie Hu by Drawing Architecture Studio, Beijing, China

This set of drawings by DAS demonstrates that axonometric projections are not necessarily all about representing spaces in an orderly, logical way. These semi-fantastical drawings of a Beijing neighborhood use the representational technique as a tool to suggest the city’s urban dynamism.

The drawing follows the conventions of parallel projection yet applies it to the city from multiple viewpoints, creating an illogical spatial arrangement. The colorful buildings extruded from the grid in hectic splendor succeed in conveying not only the reality of the built environment, but also something beyond: capturing the phenomenology of urban life.

Now show us what you can do: Register for the One Drawing Challenge and submit your best drawings for a chance to win some amazing prizes:

Enter the 2019 One Drawing Challenge

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The post Architectural Drawings: 8 Masterful Parallel Projections appeared first on Journal.

Architects: Showcase your work and find inspiration for your next project through Architizer, or enter the One Drawing Challenge for a chance to win $2,500!

The Japanese design giant Muji has long pioneered a simple, modern aesthetic. Their home goods have become synonymous with a kind of generic, anti-brand philosophy, the unassuming and yet delightful tools of everyday. Muji products often take on an archetypal quality, parsed down to their most functional elements, and yet never divorced from the delight and elegance found in simple solutions.

In recent years, Muji and its lead designers began applying this philosophy to architecture. Much like its products, Muji’s buildings are simple, unadorned vessels for human activity. Using low-cost materials and construction methods, these homes are accessible and adaptable, made with open-floor plans that each resident can adapt to their different needs. And yet there is an undeniable rigor to Muji’s approach to architecture, taking seriously the project of making buildings accessible, sustainable and most importantly feel like home.

Below, we showcase eight of the company’s most elegant design solutions, each of which possess a balance between the practicalities of prefabrication and the refined aesthetic language of Japanese Minimalism:

Window House by Muji, Japan

Window House is a prefabricated house that has been sold in Japan for many years now. It gets its name from the fact that customers can choose where the windows are put on the house, acknowledging the vital importance of the site-specific relationship between interior and exterior.

Rice Field Office by Muji and Atelier Bow-wow, House Vision 2016 Tokyo, Japan

This structure is a collaboration between Muji and Atelier Bow-wow for the House Vision 2016 exhibition in Tokyo. It encourages visitors to connect with the geography and history of rice cultivation, acting as a “rural office” for city dwellers.

Muji Village by Muji and Mitsubishi Estate, Chiba Prefecture, Japan

Muji Village is a housing development done in collaboration with one of the largest developers in Japan, Mitsubishi Estate. It seeks to rethink housing in Japan, proposing an alternative model based on the principles of “Green, Plain, and Community.” Each apartment is elegantly simple, designed to be both flexible and efficient, embedding storage into the walls and seating, allowing each resident to adapt the space to their changing needs.

Prefab Vertical House by Muji, Tokyo, Japan

Designed for the dense urbanism of Tokyo, the Vertical House pushes the boundaries of the open floor plan by forgoing any interior walls or doors, with a central staircase dividing each floor. Muji’s subtle minimalism can be seen at play in the combination of raw wood and clean white interiors.

Grcic’s Muji Hut by Muji and Konstantin Grcic, Tokyo Design Week 2015, Tokyo, Japan

Konstantin Grcic’s hut for Muji is intended as a retreat cabin, designed to the exact specifications to not require a building permit in Japan. The rugged aluminum exterior makes it an ideal prefabricated structure for any terrain or environment.

Morrison’s Muji Hut by Muji and Jasper Morrison, Tokyo Design Week 2015, Tokyo, Japan

A rural refuge for escaping the city, Jasper Morrison’s cabin is a simple “weekend retreat” that intends to alleviate the difficulty of building a home from scratch. Morrison reflects, “Whenever I think about going to the country for the weekend, I start imagining a small house with everything needed for a short stay: a place to cook, a place to eat, a place to wash, and a place to sleep.”

Fukasawa’s Muji Hut by Muji and Naoto Fukasawa, Tokyo Design Week 2015, Tokyo, Japan

Fukasawa’s hut has a refined simplicity to it. Fukasawa reflects, “There is a certain charm when you hear the word ‘hut’… Not quite a holiday house, yet not as simple as going camping. If there is a small hut, there is a feeling that one could slip into nature any time. I thought that living small in the smallest of structures is a Muji kind of living.”

Muji Hut by Muji

The design of the newest Muji Hut features a full-height façade of sliding glass doors and a small window in the back of the house that brings ample natural light inside the living space. The interior walls are made of untreated cypress plywood, while the mortar floor finish is strong and easy to clean. Each client can personalize the living space to their liking thanks to the flexibility of the tiny home.

Architects: Showcase your work and find inspiration for your next project through Architizer, or enter the One Drawing Challenge for a chance to win $2,500!

The post How Muji Smashed the Preconceived Limits of Prefabricated Architecture appeared first on Journal.

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Developing a rendering for a project is a daunting task given the complexities of the numerous architectural software. Prominent programs, such as Revit, 3ds Max and Rhino can help designers develop beautiful visualizations. However, obtaining the skillset to deliver quality drawing sets and renderings requires extensive amounts of time and practice.

The countless tools, shortcuts and techniques required to efficiently use these software can be overwhelming for beginners. Thankfully, there are tons of helpful guides offering comprehensive overviews of specific applications that can be useful to both novice and experienced users. The following 10 software guides for architects cover the most prominent design software, each serving as helpful resources for all modeling and visualization preferences:

Design Integration Using Autodesk Revit 2019  by Daniel John Stine
Best Revit Guide for Architects

Design Integration Using Autodesk Revit 2019 provides a comprehensive guide to Autodesk Revit tools and techniques covering all three disciplines of the Revit platform. It provides a broad overview of the Building Information Modeling (BIM) process.

The topics cover the design integration of most of the building disciplines including: Architectural, Interior Design, Structural, Mechanical, Plumbing, and Electrical. Throughout the book you develop a two story law office starting from floor plans and ending with photo-realistic renderings. The book also includes access to nearly 100 video tutorials to help you achieve mastery.

See more info and buy>

Mastering AutoCAD 2019 and AutoCAD LT 2019 by George Omura and Brian C. Benton
Best Revit Guide for Architects

This book is the ultimate guide to AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT for professional designers, students, and hobbyists, alike. This new edition has been fully updated to align with the software’s 2019 update offering step-by-step walkthroughs, concise explanations, examples, and many hands-on projects.

You will learn essential AutoCAD skills by working directly with the necessary tools and will be provided a deeper exploration of more complex capabilities. This book is the gold-standard certification preparation material, and it will have you producing work at the highest levels of technical proficiency.

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The SketchUp Workflow for Architecture (2nd Edition) by Michael Brightman
Best SketchUp Guide for Architects

The SketchUp Workflow for Architecture will help you go beyond the basics of the SketchUp 3D modeling software through a flexible and in-depth workflow. Ranging from preliminary schematics to construction documentation, this book delivers helpful techniques, smart tips and best practices that will make the design process easier, whether you’re an architect, designer, or engineer. It also provides special coverage of the lightly documented Layout tool, accompanied by video tutorials on more advanced methods and components.

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ArchiCAD 19 – The Definitive Guide by Scott H. MacKenzie and Adam Rendek
Best ArchiCAD Guide for Architects

This definitive guide ensures that readers are well equipped with the knowledge and skill set required to undergo any construction project. The book guides users through the creation of two complete projects from scratch, which includes a residential and a healthcare building.

Readers will go through the design of the buildings, the output of all drawings, and associated construction documents. The step-by-step tutorials cover all of the basic modeling and drafting tools, which leads into an overview of more advanced tools and features of ArchiCAD. No previous ArchiCAD experience is required making this the perfect resource for anyone yearning to develop their rendering skills. 

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Vectorworks Essentials Tutorial Manual, Seventh Edition by Jonathan Pickup
Best Vectorworks Guide for Architects

The Vectorworks Essentials Tutorial Manual is a quality resource for all designers regardless of experience level. Written by expert Vectorworks trainer Jonathan Pickup, this guide is structured to provide readers with a comprehensive overview of the software from when you first launch the application to when you generate worksheets from your model. This hard copy workbook comes with a companion DVD containing exercise files and the entire manual in PDF format.

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Digital Media Series: Rhinoceros by Jinmo Rhee and Eddy Man Kim
Best Rhino Guide for Architects

This book functions to alleviate the challenges beginners face when learning how to use Rhinoceros 3D. Through an overview of best practices in modeling habits, rationales, and tips this guide strives to help users build skills in critically analyzing the modeling process, determining the best possible method for a given task, and realizing desired 3D models.

This book is not necessarily intended to provide a complete, comprehensive overview of Rhino, but rather it is designed to help users use Rhino as efficiently as possible.

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AAD Algorithms-Aided Design: Parametric Strategies using Grasshopper by Arturo Tedeschi
Best Grasshopper Guide for Architects

Algorithms-Aided Design presents design methods based on the use of Grasshopper 3D. The book provides computational techniques to develop and control complex geometries and covers parametric modeling, digital fabrication techniques, form-finding strategies, environmental analysis, and structural optimization. It also includes case studies and contributions by researchers and designers from the world’s most influential universities and leading architecture firms.

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Photography & Rendering with V-Ray by Ciro Sanmino
Best V-Ray Guide for Architects

While a few years old now, Photography & Rendering with V-Ray remains a vital book for any V-Ray user. It is based on an educational format comprised of five simple steps for creating photorealistic renderings in the field of previsualization for architecture, mechanics, and design. The phases of Framing, Light Balance, Materials, Final Settings and Post-production come together to form a simple and schematic guide for the creation of any kind of rendering. The focus of this book is to get the reader familiar with the process of designing through V-Ray. Various exercises and videos accompanying the book are provided to help achieve this.

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3ds Max 2020 Complete Reference Guide by Kelly L. Murdock
Best 3ds Max Guide for Architects

Kelly L. Murdock’s 3ds Max guides are extremely popular due to their simple and detailed explanations coupled with over tutorials that focus on specific topics and practical applications. This combination allows for readers to effectively grasp difficult concepts across all aspects of the software.

The brand new 2020 edition is a great resource for all 3ds Max experience levels, in which beginners can jump in through the getting started section and experienced users can examine the advanced coverage of features, such as crowd simulation, particle systems, radiosity, MAXScript and more.

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Adobe Photoshop CC Classroom in a Book (2019 Release) by Andrew Faulkner and Conrad Chavez
Best Photoshop Guide for Architects

This guide provides a quick, simple, and comprehensive way to learn and master the latest version of Adobe Photoshop CC. 15 project-based lessons show key step-by-step techniques, including how to correct, enhance, and distort digital images, create image composites, and prepare images for print and the web.

This new edition also covers new features, such as the new Frame tool, designing reflected and radial art with Paint Symmetry, and more simplified editing and transformation techniques, to name a few. All buyers of the book get full access to the web edition, which is enhanced with video and multiple choice quizzes.

See more info and buy>

Architects: Showcase your work and find inspiration for your next project through Architizer, or enter the One Drawing Challenge for a chance to win $2,500!

The post The 10 Best Software Guides for Architects (NEW for 2019) appeared first on Journal.

Architects: Showcase your work and find inspiration for your next project through Architizer, or enter the One Drawing Challenge for a chance to win $2,500!

Traditional farmhouses have a certain timeless charm about them, reminding us of a simple, quiet country lifestyle that revolves around nature and the surrounding bucolic landscape. From the old pastoral estates of the English countryside to the hills of New Zealand, architects continue to develop and reinterpret the farmhouse archetype.

Some expand on existing structures, adding new extensions that blend in with — or loudly contrast — older rural homes. Newer farmhouses often pull from the traditional vernacular while satisfying a taste for more modern designs. Large porches and open views, pointed roofs, and designated space for animals are found in even the most progressive farmhouse designs.

Set in idyllic locations, the homes below strike an impressive balance between the charm of the countryside and a dynamic, modern style. These rural farmhouses are anything but rustic:

The Floating Farmhouse by givonehome, Eldret, New York, USA

Sitting on the edge of a creek and waterfall, this 1820 manor home has received a modern upgrade. The cantilevered porch adds space to the home and an immersive waterfront view. The curtain wall of skyscraper glass adds a contemporary edge to the traditional farmhouse archetype.

Farm House in Dutch Betuwe by reSET Architecture, Betuwe, Netherlands

Like the Floating Farmhouse, this Dutch rural home is a study in contrasts between modern aesthetics and the traditional farmhouse. Set in an idyllic apple orchard, this updated farmhouse is made up of two distinct parts in conversation with one another. The new extension’s large windows and loft-like open living plan give residents a wide view of the surrounding landscape, a far cry from the old house’s tiny peepholes.

Chapman Farm by PLANT Architect Inc, Creemore, Canada

The newly added two-story glass tower reveals a wide view of the surrounding Canadian countryside. The façade material is an extension of the original house, blending the two structures together. A large porch and floor-to-ceiling windows give the occupants plenty of opportunity to enjoy views of the rural landscape and nearby pond.

Badgers View Farm by Lewis & Hickey, The Chilterns, United Kingdom

Drastically different from the typical English farmhouse, the architects behind this rural home definitely achieved the intended wow-factor. Inspired by the White Cliffs of Dover, this farmhouse design takes a cue from the geology of the local landscape, with large windows providing open views of the stunning surrounding greenery.

New Farm House by Vibe Design Group, Brisbane, Australia

This Australian farmhouse successfully integrates the old and the new. The modern addition envelops the older design, creating a kind of harmony between the two styles.

Farmhouse by RTA Studio, Waikato, New Zealand

Situated in the hills of New Zealand, this rural retreat is the perfect escape from busy city life. The design evokes the local architectural vernacular in establishing three distinct pavilions, each with its own function. One houses the family’s sleeping quarters, another includes living rooms and communal spaces, and the third is for guests.

New House at Walk Barn Farm by Charles Barclay Architects, Suffolk, United Kingdom

Sitting on a pig farm in England’s Suffolk Coast, this modern home has three wings that protrude into the landscape. A stained black façade, polished concrete floors, and an unconventional roof silhouette give this farmhouse a contemporary edge.

Home Farm by De Matos Ryan Architects, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom

This 16th-century country house estate, after many years of neglect, has received a major 21st-century update. A glass pavilion links together two parts of the estate, and adds an additional kitchen to the home. The original exposed stonework has been restored, its rural aesthetic mirrored in the pavilion’s timber facade.

Architects: Showcase your work and find inspiration for your next project through Architizer, or enter the One Drawing Challenge for a chance to win $2,500!

The post Country Living: 8 Idyllic Farmhouses With a Modern Edge appeared first on Journal.

Architects: Showcase your work and find inspiration for your next project through Architizer, or enter the One Drawing Challenge for a chance to win $2,500!

Historically, religious architecture across Japan has often possessed imported styles from other East Asian countries such as China and South Korea. However, the temples of Japan have rarely been a direct translation of their Asian counterparts due to large variations in climate, leading architects to incorporate many different materials. With no strong roots in a historical context, the aesthetic language of Japanese temples has continually evolved over the centuries.

Today, many architects designing temples in the country are beginning to focus on the future. When conceiving temples for both rural and urban settings, architects acknowledge the Japanese culture of innovation and experimentation, all the while embracing the age-old values of peaceful introspection and simplicity. This is executed by finding a nuanced balance between contrasting elements: modern materials and natural materials, light and darkness, and open and enclosed spaces.

The following seven projects showcase a truly diverse range of architectural styles for the same programming and intentions. These structures illustrate that temple architecture in Japan continues to evolve, but continues to evoke an atmosphere that chimes with the timeless values of the country.

Ekoin Nenbutsudo by Yutaka Kawahara Design Studio, Tokyo, Japan

Modern frames and materials take into consideration the temple’s urban context, while a green terrace shrouds the building on all sides to incorporate a natural element.

White Temple by Takashi Yamaguchi & Associates, Kyoto, Japan

A single rectangular volume contrasts with the more traditional architecture of its surroundings, representing the value of looking to the future.

Koenji Temple by Schri Kakinuma, Fukuoka, Japan

Wood is the main material used for both the exterior and interior of this temple, but a wide range of types and shades of wood create different moods in different places.

Shinkoji Temple by MAMIYA SHINICHI DESIGN SUTUDIO, Aichi Prefecture, Japan

While the mass of the concrete exterior creates enclosed spaces for introspection, strategically placed glass openings throughout give this temple beautiful moments of light and openness.

Temple Harajuku by Ciel Rouge Creation, Tokyo, Japan

The repetition of six softly curved arches were not just designed for acoustics but also as a symbol of the sky.

Glass Temple by Takashi Yamaguchi & Associates, Kyoto, Japan

A truly abstract modern design, an exposed ground space composed of glass allows light to flood into the underground temple.

Myoenji Columbarium by Furumori Koichi architectural design studio, Fukuoka, Japan

Sunlight comes down from the skylight through a multiple-piled lattice timber roof, illuminating a room where randomly placed timber columns create a unique and impressive atmosphere.

Architects: Showcase your work and find inspiration for your next project through Architizer, or enter the One Drawing Challenge for a chance to win $2,500!

The post Modern Temples: How Religious Architecture Is Being Transformed Across Japan appeared first on Journal.

It’s this summer’s biggest architectural ideas competition, and it is heading towards an exciting conclusion The First Annual One Drawing Challenge is inviting entries until midnight on August 9th, and we invite anyone with a eye for architectural drawing to get involved.

The brief is a simple one: Tell a powerful story about architecture with a single drawing.

Enter the 2019 One Drawing Challenge

Entrants are challenged to create one drawing that powerfully communicates your architectural proposal and the experience of those that would inhabit it. It can be located anywhere in the world and be at any scale. It can take the form of a plan, section, elevation, perspective or sketch. As long as it portrays part or all of a building or group of buildings, it is eligible. This should be accompanied by a short description of your proposal, no more than 150 words.

Now you know the task at hand, the next question is likely to be — how do I win? The answers lies in the criteria by which the Finalist drawings will be judged by our expert panel of architects and influencers.

Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre by OMA / REX

The judging process for the One Drawing Challenge is designed to reflect the multi-faceted qualities of architectural drawings. Our outstanding cast of jurors will be asked to select winning entries based on their communicative and aesthetic qualities, as well as their impact and ability to “go viral” on social media. Entries that stand out in one or more of the following categories stand a great chance of being a Winner.

The Jury will evaluate drawings based on the following criteria:

Communication

Unlike a piece of pure art, the most important quality of an architectural drawing is its ability to communicate the design intent behind an architectural proposal. Further to this, a good drawing can tell the story of a building and those that might inhabit it in a single snapshot. The image can communicate many different things and focus on one or more of the following aspects: Spatial layout, technical details, materials, connections between architectural elements, relationship to context, the transition between spaces, and more.

Aesthetics

A beautiful drawing is undeniably appealing, but at their best, the aesthetics of a drawing are about more than just beauty. They convey the essence of the architecture they are portraying, and the atmosphere of a space. A well considered drawing can portray a specific architectural language that speaks to the author’s wider design philosophy. Aesthetics may also concern the portrayal of an untidy, chaotic or even “ugly” brand of architecture to paint a powerful picture of certain environments.

Impact

When communication and aesthetics are perfectly combined, they can produce an impactful image that is eagerly shared among a huge design-oriented community. Virality is not an exact science, but Instagram experts understand the bold qualities that make an image memorable and shareable. The ingredients of an impactful architectural drawing include but are not limited to: Bold geometry, unusual angles, rich color combinations, sharp contrasts, rhythmic patterns and strong legibility.

Architectural drawings via Horia Creanga on Behance

So, there you have it: The 3 key ingredients to a winning entry in the One Drawing Challenge. Now, it’s your time to shine: Submit your best architectural drawing(s) before midnight on August 9th and show us what you can do.

Check out the FAQ section for common questions about the competition. If you don’t find the answer to your question there, please email us at competitions@architizer.com and we’ll be glad to help.

We can’t wait to see your drawing and read your story. Good luck from the whole team at Architizer!

Enter the 2019 One Drawing Challenge

In partnership with

The post How to Win the One Drawing Challenge: 3 Key Ingredients to Consider appeared first on Journal.

Send us a drawing. Tell us a story. Win $2,500! Sign up for the One Drawing Challenge today.

It only takes a few ingredients to produce hand drawn illustrations: a drawing utensil, a surface, and of course time. Whatever one’s preferred medium, the barriers to entry for drawing are very low, meaning just about anyone with the desire to create original work can do so. That said, with advancements in architectural software technology, detailed hand drawings and sketches have become something of a rarity within the field of architecture.

However, if you look in the right places, you can find ingenious artists who create powerful drawings on a daily basis. Their drawings tell visual stories about buildings and cities that make them amazing inspiration for the One Drawing Challenge, Architizer’s big summer ideas competition.

Submit a drawing yourself before August 9th for a chance to win the following prizes:

• $2,500
• 12.9-inch iPad Pro
• Apple Pencil 2
• Procreate digital illustration software
• Luxury COPIC and Sakura drawing sets

While both analog and digital drawings are eligible for the competition, today’s inspiration comes in the form of hand-crafted illustration. As it becomes less present within professional practice, hand drawings are increasingly valued for their more artistic qualities, and, as a result, artists can inject greater imaginative and fantastical elements to their work. Below is an assemblage of some of the most prominent artists on Instagram whose hand drawn work has distinct architectural qualities. Let this group of talented creatives and their work inspire you as you develop your drawings for this year’s One Drawing Challenge competition:

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Snippets from Hong Kong, with ❤️ Working with @architizer on the #OneDrawingChallenge! Tell a story with a single architectural drawing — two top winners will receive $2,500, an iPad Pro and Apple Pencil 2, Procreate digital illustration software, Sakura Micron pens and Copic Markers. . To submit a drawing for the competition, head to onedrawingchallenge.com or click the link at @architizer bio. Do it quick – the Early Entry Deadline falls at midnight on June 28th!

A post shared by Dan Hogman (@danhogman) on Jun 21, 2019 at 7:53am PDT

Dan Hogman

San Francisco-based architect, photographer and artist, Dan Hogman, boasts an immense collection of ink sketches depicting buildings and streetscapes. For many of his illustrations he only spends 15-20 minutes, in which he focuses more on essential properties, such as light and shadow, to achieve greater impacts. Hogman mainly sketches with just one pen, and in his view this simpler approach to presenting ideas leaves greater lasting impressions. It actually mirrors the way he presented his work while in architecture graduate school. Hogman also features process videos on his Instagram offering glimpses into his entire sketching process.

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So Melbourne is taking fine shape with some lovely skyscrapers such as the Rialto and the Eureka rising high! Also, tucked in their is the Canberra Parliament House, representing the capital of Australia! Well … something had to go there!!!🇦🇺🖋 🎨#Jeff_Murray_Art #Art #Arts #Artist #Artists #Artisan #Drawing #Sketch #Illustration #Painting #Pen #PenAndInk #Ink #City #Architecture #instagram #ArtCollective #ContemporaryArt #ModernArt #StreetArt #UrbanArt #CityArt #Copic #Australian #Capital #Victoria #Straya #skyscraper #Melbourne #Australia

A post shared by Jeff Murray (@jeff_murray_art) on Jul 17, 2018 at 1:12pm PDT

Jeff Murray

UK-based artist, Jeff Murray, creates incredibly intricate works inspired by exploration and travel all with a pen and canvas. After graduating in 2007 with a BA in Graphic Design, Murray traveled throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, embracing their cultures and landscapes. These experiences fueled the inspiration behind his artworks depicting vast cityscapes from across the world, which merge time periods and are fashioned in very whimsical and romantic forms and perspectives. His most recent work is a whopping illustration of a globed New York City so detailed it seems to account for every street and building within The Big Apple.

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ทำช้าแต่ตั้งใจมากนะคะอาจารย์ 🙇‍♀️

A post shared by Emi Nakajima (@emi_nkjm) on Feb 11, 2019 at 3:15am PST

Emi Nakajima

Self-described “dream traveler”, Emi Nakajima, ensures that no detail is overlooked within her finely crafted illustrations. With the use of a pen she recreates some of the most iconic structures in the world from the Sagrada Família in Spain to Wat Rong Khun in Thailand. Each piece conveys Nakajima’s skill of reproducing an array of architectural elements. She experiments with varying scales and mediums, which comes together to develop a portfolio full of beautiful renderings.

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Finishing touches! ✍🏻

A post shared by Minty Sainsbury (@minty_sainsbury) on Jan 5, 2018 at 6:29am PST

Minty Sainsbury

The work of Scotland-based artist, Minty Sainsbury, creates uniquely personal experiences within the urban settings she illustrates. Her work is primarily comprised of meticulously drawn buildings that are sheathed by the silhouettes of other structures. The perspectives of the pieces are at a human scale, which works to envelop viewers within her rendered city streets. This coupled with the photorealistic quality of the environments produces such beautiful experiences on Sainsbury’s canvases.

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Final push for @galeria.oitavo group show this Saturday! – #wip #exhibit #porto #artwork #drawonstone #stone #marble #mistermourao #drawing

A post shared by vasco mourão (@vascomourao) on Jan 30, 2019 at 6:29am PST

Vasco Mourão

With a simple black pen at his disposal, Vasco Mourão draws urban landscapes and detailed architectural assemblages. The surfaces he uses span paper, wood, brass, stone and wall, which often take unique shapes and forms. Mourão’s work is incredibly imaginative providing fascinating journeys both within and outside his illustrations.

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A post shared by Jae Cheol Park Paperblue (@paperbluenet) on Jun 6, 2019 at 3:16am PDT

Jae Cheol Park

It’s easy to get lost in the breathtaking work of Jae Cheol Park or “Paperblue”. He creates worlds, both old and new ranging from the real to the imaginary, which possess a very dreamlike and fantastical allure. Park’s work depicts environments at varying scales with an underlying architectural draft style. This pairing brings greater meaning to his structures as their vivid surroundings embed a very felt narrative and character.

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Order/Disorder: Drawing with Mozart Edwardian Baroque Architecture #archisketcher #arqsketch #arch_more #arch_arts #architecture #archilovers #architettura #arquitetapage #arquisemteta #arch_cad #arch_grap #sketch_daily #sketch_dailies #sketch_arq #sketch_dailydose #superarchitects

A post shared by Giuliana Flavia Cangelosi (@giulianaflavia_cangelosi) on Feb 24, 2019 at 4:51am PST

Giuliana Flavia Cangelosi

The portfolio of Giuliana Flavia Cangelosi ranges from simple sketches to precise designs wholly inspired by Italy. Collections of historic buildings and monuments found across the country are featured embellished with a very expressive character. Her pen and architectural drafting techniques allow for remarkably thorough renderings of Italy’s built environment.

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. This time a year ago! 🏰⛰

A post shared by Olivia Kemp (@livvykemp) on Mar 18, 2019 at 7:07am PDT

Olivia Kemp

British artist, Olivia Kemp, injects her own mythical and illusory twist to her detailed, large-scale pen illustrations of real world environments. Her work simultaneously recreates landscapes and remodels them. They’re inspired by her travels and her imaginative interpretations of these places. It’s clear that the natural environment plays a poignant role in her work as it is often greatly infused within the built environments she depicts. From a minute cacti to a towering castle, Kemp accounts for every single detail creating a very layered and textured aesthetic.

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LiberCity, AMRAE 2019 | On the left part you can see a mixed city made of #Deauville and #Boston | This is my last day of work @cid_deauville with #LibertySpecialtyMarkets | This is gonna be a looong day of work ✍️✍️✍️ to get this one done! Keep your 👀 open for the final piece! #drawing #decktwo #boston #deauville #liberty

A post shared by Thomas Dartigues aka Decktwo (@deck_two) on Feb 7, 2019 at 1:24am PST

Thomas Dartigues

The work by Paris-based artist, Thomas Dartigues, is probably larger than you. His illustrations of different cityscapes around the world are produced at massive scales taking up large sheets of paper and walls. A former street artist, Dartigues depicts some of the world’s most famous landmarks and often combines elements from different regions within singular environments. One of his most notable projects is his incorporation of the iconic 574 New Balance sneaker into the cityscape of Boston, which was commissioned by the sports fashion brand.

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Saint Basil's Cathedral⛪️ Moscow, Russia. / Собор Василия Блаженного в Москве. Perspective. June/15

A post shared by Adelina Gareeva (@adelina.gareeva) on Sep 1, 2015 at 1:07pm PDT

Adelina Gareeva

Architecture student, Adelina Gareeva, uses pencil to produce her detailed freehand architectural sketches. Her work shifts from imagined architectural sketches to recreations of famous monuments. Her conceptual work is clad with irregular shapes and curves, yet retains a very clear design-oriented ethic. Gareeva’s journey as a burgeoning architect and artist is showcased on her Instagram that also features her digital renderings and physical models.

Now show us what you can do: Register for the One Drawing Challenge and submit your best drawings for a chance to win $2,500 and more amazing prizes:

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The post 10 Artists Creating Extraordinary Architectural Drawings on Instagram appeared first on Journal.

Architects: Showcase your work and find inspiration for your next project through Architizer, and enter the One Drawing Challenge for a chance to win $2,500!

The potential for digital technology to atomize the way people work is increasingly being realized, driving an expansion of individually contracted labor against the use of full-time employees. As single-point coordinators for large, complex projects, architects are in a unique position to benefit from this change because emerging productivity technology can increase their effectiveness in a way that allows a single creative vision to be carried out far more thoroughly than before. When the use of this technology is considered holistically, a vision for how the 21^st-century architect might work comes sharply into focus.

The use of remote, freelance workers by established businesses is growing as online platforms that facilitate such arrangements proliferate. A 2018 study of 6,500 executives found that over a third of them expected their business to increase the use of on-demand freelancers sourced from online platforms in the next four years. Architecture is not immune to this shift, as the same study showed the percentage of web-based freelancers operating in construction and real estate tracking almost perfectly with the average across all major industries.

The eventual result of this trend is an economic structure fragmented around the individual to an extent that the concept of a business as a single, hierarchical organization is no longer applicable. While this trend is frequently bemoaned as bad for workers because it allows businesses to hire freelancers without providing benefits like health insurance, the widespread nature of this change suggests such concerns are too narrowly focused on details that will necessarily adjust if it were to become the reigning form of working organization.

Even if gaps in worker protections aren’t corrected, the technology that led to those problems can’t be un-invented, so it makes sense to look for new opportunities when inevitable change is at hand. For architects facing this change, there’s a distinct upside: their inherent position as the linchpin of design projects means the increased efficiency brought on by decentralized, digital working methods allows the creative vision of single person to be leveraged across projects far more completely than before.

Fiverr Pro Online Freelance Marketplace

So if these changes in working structure come to pass, how can the 21^st-century architect thrive as an independent contractor among widely distributed networks of independent contractors? To answer this question, consider how an architect might already operate using current productivity technology.

Today’s tech-savvy architect can use a freelance marketplace such as Fiverr Pro to organize project-oriented tasks, paying a system of freelancers for individual work products rather than someone’s hours, days or years. This setup drastically reduces operating costs that favor place-based businesses for anything more complex than a very small building or renovation project.

Services already available from on-demand platforms include many of the daily tasks carried out in architecture firms: 3D modeling and rendering, as well as the production of diagrams and other digital assets made to explain design iterations. If the use of online freelancers expands as much as expected, then the capacity of the services on offer to complete the sort of work done in architecture firms can be expected to expand as well.

Coordinating architectural services in a purely digital environment also poses challenges place-based organizations avoid by housing project participants in the same space. Discussing a design at someone’s desk, making live edits to a digital file while multiple staff watch someone’s monitor is a common occurrence in design firms that’s currently difficult to replicate online.

Autodesk Open Source Director Guy Martin on Slack Virtual Workspace

The rise of virtual workspaces such as Slack, however, are quickly chipping away at that difficulty. Poised to replace email as the default form of business communications, virtual workspaces host sophisticated messaging, organized by topic. Increasingly integrated with software architects use, this can expedite the back-and-forth of reviews and approvals in design projects. Because projects often require various configurations of staff and consultants to complete different tasks, a virtual workspace can mirror this structure, significantly reducing the effort put into logistics.

In addition to day-to-day tasks, the 21^st-century architect’s reliance on digital technology requires a robust digital infrastructure. For place-based offices, this means servers and IT staff, but the last several years have seen significant advances in cloud computing, bringing the cost of services like Google’s G-Suite within the reach of a single person.

Because an architect’s job involves synchronizing the efforts of many professionals in groups that expand and contact based on the needs of a specific project, the universal accessibility and easy scaling of cloud computing amplifies the capacity of a single practitioner. Working exclusively in the cloud, the 21^st-century architect can run a firm with exceptionally low overhead costs, saving significant time coordinating documents across a team while shrinking the distance between themselves and a job site.

Even with fantastic advancements in digital productivity, however, the value of face-to-face contact in a working environment is still very high. Commercial leases, often signed in 5-year increments, are typically one of the most expensive aspects of running a business, although shared workspaces, organized by companies like WeWork, have been fragmenting that practice with great success.

WeWork Weihai Lu by Linehouse, Shanghai, China

Traditional commercial leases, combined with the natural expansion and contraction of project teams, has dictated that architecture firms and the specialized subconsultants they intermittently rely upon must occupy and maintain their own spaces as separate businesses. Now, the widespread availability of month-to-month office leases combined with the latest digital productivity tools means a single architect can run a business built around the structure of their projects, assembling and disbanding teams in both physical and digital spaces as needed.

In concert, the tools described here can provide a more efficient process for building projects, ideally resulting in better buildings, although this has other implications for the profession. Because they can significantly expand the capacity of a single architect over a design team, these tools offer the 21^st-century architect a level of direction over their work that was previously impossible. Used strategically, they can enhance the effectiveness of an individual architect enough to offer independence over projects that are currently too complicated or specialized to be within the reach of single practitioners, allowing adherence to a creative vision like never before.

This is not a trivial issue for architects. Taught to nurture individual creativity against design by committee, an architect’s discretion over their work can be regarded as near sanctity – an inclination that’s weathered poorly under an expansion of hyper-focused specialists over the last century or so. Digital productivity technology presents a way to harness the best of both a strong, comprehensive vision and the coordination needed to carry it out.

Embracing the nascent digital technologies outlined here is a way for the 21^st-century architect to reconcile the profession’s tendency toward individualism with the reality of ever-larger groups of people needed to design increasingly complex buildings. Adopting such technologies is an opportunity to shift the dynamics of building projects back towards an understanding of architects as master builders, emphasizing their role at the center of design.

Architects: Showcase your work and find inspiration for your next project through Architizer, and enter the One Drawing Challenge for a chance to win $2,500!

The post The Gig Economy Will Save Architecture. Here’s How appeared first on Journal.

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Architects rely on an array of tools to make the design process as productive and efficient as possible. Communicating ideas in clear, detailed, and vivid ways is, today, most effectively done through digital illustration software. These applications often have meticulous functionalities that can easily overwhelm users depending on the hardware being used.

Aside from a well functioning computer, mice and trackpads can serve as incredibly useful tools that can make your life navigating complex design software a lot easier. Below is an assemblage of some of the top computer mice and trackpads for architects that are sure to meet your tastes and preferences:

Logitech MX Vertical Wireless Mouse

Best computer mouse for architects

The MX Vertical is an advanced ergonomic mouse with a natural handshake position designed to reduce wrist pressure and forearm strain. The mouse is positioned at a unique 57 degrees vertical angle to foster this comfortable hand posture. It features an adjustable 4000 DPI high-precision sensor, resulting in 4x less hand movement reducing fatigue. The MX Vertical stays powered for up to four months on a full charge and will give you three hours of use from just a quick, one-minute charge.

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Logitech MX Master 2S Wireless Mouse

Best wireless mouse for architects

The most prominent feature on the MX Master 2S is the control it provides across devices. It will allow you to work with multiple computers simultaneously giving you the ability to seamlessly move content between devices. Its speed-adaptive scroll wheel allows for faster and simpler navigation. The MX Master’s sculpted, handcrafted shape ensures comfortable hand and wrist support. In just three minutes this mouse powers up for an entire day allowing for unobtrusive and convenient usage.

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Logitech M570 Wireless Trackball Mouse

Best trackball mouse for architects

The trackball feature of the Logitech M570 allows for incredible comfort requiring little effort to operate the device. Its shape is designed to make the mouse stay in one place, which relieves the amount of physical action normally required while providing ample hand support. A tiny wireless receiver that fits into the bottom of the mouse offers wireless connectivity with up to six computers. It also comes with one AA battery that will power the M570 for up to 18 months without having to charge it once.

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3Dconnexion 3DX-700066 Spacemouse Wireless

Best 3D mouse for architects

This wireless 3D mouse provides a 6-degrees-of-freedom sensor combined with advanced 2.4 GHz wireless technology that delivers the reliability of a wired device minus the clutter of cords. The device is stylist and compact making its functions very easy to understand with its two conveniently positioned buttons and intuitive 3D navigation features. Its wireless button opens its own radial menu providing a clear layout of the four application commands. The Spacemouse Wireless will operate for up to one month between charges using the supplied Micro-USB cable.

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3Dconnexion CadMouse for CAD Professionals

Best computer mouse for CAD

This mouse is designed directly with CAD users in mind. Its stylish matte black and steel ergonomic design will support your hand placing it in a comfortable and natural position. The mouse’s QuickZoom feature will allow you to effortlessly zoom in and out of your projects with a single click. The Smart Scroll wheel delivers precise click-to-click zooming in CAD applications and speedy scrolling. It also contains a gesture button that opens an environment-specific radial menu giving access to preferred commands. The 3Dconnexion CadMouse essentially helps users produce the best CAD work possible in a more efficient, comfortable, and quick way.

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Razer Naga Trinity Gaming Mouse

Best gaming mouse for architects

The Razer Naga Trinity is a great tool for CAD users because of its three interchangeable side plates for thumb buttons and its ergonomic design. Its scroll wheel has great tactile feedback and is very robust. There are also two middle buttons for added functionality. One of the side plates has twelve fully programmable buttons, which can be assigned to any shortcut or button process. This mouse has a high-precision 16000 DPI optical sensor making it incredibly accurate and responsive.

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Apple Magic Trackpad 2

Best trackpad for architects

The Magic Trackpad 2 includes a built-in battery and brings Force Touch to the desktop for the first time. Four force sensors beneath the trackpad allow you to click anywhere and detect subtle differences in the amount of applied pressure. This brings you increased functionality and more control over the device and its functions. This trackpad also features an edge-to-edge glass surface area that, along with its lower profile, makes scrolling and swiping through content very productive and comfortable.

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Jelly Comb Multi-Touch Wired Trackpad

Best wired trackpad for architects

The Jelly Comb Multi-Touch Wired Touchpad is made with an ultra-smooth and comfortable touch surface allowing for high precision control. It’s a low profile touchpad featuring an ergonomic tilt design, which makes scrolling and swiping more productive and comfortable. The USB cable plugs straight into your computer’s USB C port, and with that the touchpad is ready to work; no additional driver is needed.

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Perixx PERIPAD-501 Professional Wired USB Touchpad

Best trackpad for architects under $20

The Perixx PERIPAD-501 has a multi-gesture design that supports pointing, two-finger zooming, sliding, tapping and scrolling. The two buttons used for these functions are inconspicuous fitting naturally into the design of the device. Its lightweight and compact design fits comfortably for both right and left-handed users as the primary and secondary buttons can be switched. Though the PERIPAD-501 is somewhat limited in its array of functions, it is still an incredibly reliable device offering a lot of value for a much lower price compared to other trackpads.

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VOGEK Rechargeable Trackpad

Best non-Apple wireless trackpad for architects

The Vogek Wireless Touchpad has an intuitive multi-touch navigation allowing users to point, scroll and swipe with simple gesture-based controlling. It has a high quality, nano glass touch-surface with plenty of room fostering smooth and sensitive movement of the cursor. The touchpad has a wireless range of up to 30 feet providing flexibility for its users. Its built-in rechargeable battery allows for uninterrupted work time for up to 40 hours and stays powered for approximately 90 days.

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The post 10 Top Computer Mice and Trackpads for Architects and Designers appeared first on Journal.

From the recent completion of South Street Seaport’s Pier 17 and the exciting progress of Domino Park to the repurposed beauty that is Empire Stores, new developments are changing the architectural narrative of New York City’s waterfront.

Until the mid 20th century, the piers surrounding lower Manhattan were vital organs in a complex and fragile system. Spreading uninterrupted from the tip of Manhattan, the piers extended outwards like fingers ­— receiving the world in the form of break bulk cargo vessels and passenger liners.

The future of Manhattan’s docks was left as a big question mark with the rise of large container shipping and shifting economic conditions post 1950. Over a span of more than half a century, the question mark unraveled into a reality of its own — a reality that only recently has provided a hotbed for thoughtful architectural plans which serve to diversify New York’s valuable coastline.

Domino Sugar Refinery Development | Images via Shop Architects

The repurposing of the Domino Sugar Factory property which includes the newly completed park along the East River revamped a plot of Brooklyn which sat idle in an otherwise thriving neighborhood underneath the Williamsburg Bridge. The project, a collaborative effort by James Corner Field Operations (also responsible for the design of The High Line, Domino Park and the public realm at Manhattan West) and SHoP Architects (Domino Park, Pier 17, 15, 35, 42 and Hunter’s Point South) demonstrated a new wave of enthusiasm towards the development of the East River.

The architectural plan includes four new buildings in addition to a repurposing of the historic Domino Sugar Refinery into office spaces. Originally built in 1856, the structure will undergo a series of changes, the most dramatic being a large glass roof which sits in contrast to the original red brick structure.

The abandoned waterfront properties that dot the shoreline of the Hudson and East River sit as humbling reminders of the swift decline in maritime trade around the turn of the century. These derelict buildings were not only an eye-sore, but physically separated the interior from its shoreline — the city’s raison d’être.

Domino Sugar Refinery Development | Image via Shop Architects

In 1986 the New York Times printed an article documenting a shift in the economics of the NYC harbor. The awareness of the opportunity to develop ports, outlined in the article titled “New York Port Changes with Shifting Economy”, seemed at odds with the lack of action and initiative taken to develop the waterfront in the decade following.

However, until the 2000s, the large plots of land once dictated by maritime trading served as more of a challenge than an opportunity. Developers attempting to maximize public and private use of the properties consistently ran into hurdles: state and federal regulations, community opposition, environmental concerns and zoning rules were just a few.

Despite the obstacles, large architectural firms have drawn on an expansive network of professionals to seize a window of opportunity. Through creative collaborations, they are slowly forging a path for the future of a comprehensive, repurposed urban waterfront.

The increase in urgency to repurpose unused areas is reflective of the healthy profit margin that is expected of waterfront developments after completion. However, the large-scale designs must provide a healthy balance between commercial and public interests. The Domino Sugar development achieved this through the incorporation of an impressive five-acre public park. Similarly, the 500,000 square foot restored Empire Stores warehouse built in 1869 now boasts a public courtyard which cuts through the building, reconnecting the neighborhood with the waterfront in addition to a public rooftop park.

The repurposed interior of Empire Stores | Image via STUDIO V Architecture

In the historic South Street Seaport, Pier 17 has been rebuilt to accommodate a multi-use 400,000 square foot site where culture, arts, shopping, dining and events run the show. Overlooking the East River with grand views of the Brooklyn Bridge to the north, Pier 17 previously drew in tourists, rather than resident New Yorkers. The reclaimed space has given the waterfront a face-lift, but more importantly, it has given new purpose back to this historic area.

Pier 17 under construction | Image via SHoP Architects

In the wake of decades where logistical obstacles had a firm grasp on waterfront progress, residents, developers and city officials now have no shortage of examples that demonstrate how healthy compromise can transform the shores of New York City into a space for everyone to enjoy. The take-away from the long, winding road to re-develop this vital portion of New York City is that, while there are no shortage of challenges, the process can yield a result that gives the waterfront a comeback it deserves.

The post Finally: A Waterfront Worthy of New York City appeared first on Journal.

Innovative architectural app maker Morpholio has revealed an enticing new augmented reality tool, created in collaboration with renowned furniture manufacturers Knoll and top AR visualization studio Theia Interactive. Morpholio Board is an iPad App that lets architects and interior designers place stunning models of classic furniture into real rooms, allowing them to envision precisely how a space could look for their clients.

3D models of well-known masterpieces can now be viewed in intricate detail, bringing designer furniture to life on the screen. Studying Mies van der Rohe’s iconic Barcelona chair in AR, says Morpholio, “you can feel the soft tufts of the leather in contrast to the sharp polish of the chrome.”

The collection also includes products by architects such as Eero Saarinen, Warren Platner and Marcel Breuer, as well as relative new comers like David Adjaye and design influencers such as Florence Knoll, Richard Schultz and Harry Bertoia.

Morpholio Board aims to place augmented reality at the heart of a designer’s workflow. For the past few years, AR technology has been viewed by many as a cool but ultimately unnecessary gimmick, more suited to entertainment than professional practice.

Morpholio hopes the Board app can make augmented reality part of a larger and more meaningful process. “This isn’t about hitting the buy button on a single piece of furniture,” said Mark Collins, Morpholio Co-Founder. “This is powerful visualization technology that needed to be plugged into the entire interior design workflow, helping homeowners and designers alike to imagine and curate spaces holistically.”

Morpholio is working with a number of other brands, including Porcelanosa, Dyson, Hansgrohe, Phase and Davis, to bring more high-end furniture to the platform. They are also working on a version of Board for iPhone, set to be released soon.

Download Morpholio Board, click here.

For more on Morpholio’s range of architectural tools, check out the following articles:

Morpholio Launches Trace App For The iPad

Turn Your iPad Into a Digital Drafting Board With Morpholio Trace 2.0

17 Awesome Apps for Architects and Designers

The post Morpholio Unveils AR Furniture So Real, You Might Just Trip Over It appeared first on Journal.

As we all already know, architecture students have a lot on their plates. Balancing countless studio hours, lecture time, reading and coursework can be overwhelming. The grind is rite of passage that should — in theory — help to establish complete, prepared and highly skilled architects. Everyday is spent refining one’s craft, and one of the primary practices is through drawing. Hand drawing is a pillar within any aspiring architect’s curriculum, and Architizer’s One Drawing Challenge is a competition designed to recognize the best of the best in this field.

Your task is simple: Send us one, singular drawing that tells a powerful story about architecture. It’s likely you already have one you are proud of in your latest thesis or portfolio. Submit it here before August 9th for a chance to win the following prizes:

• $2,500
• iPad Pro (12.9-inch, 256GB)
• Apple Pencil (2nd Generation)
• Procreate software package
• COPIC marker set worth $500
• Sakura hand-drawing supplies worth $200

There is a wealth of drawing talent on the drawing boards of architecture schools around the world. Below is a group of eight incredible drawings by architecture students that communicate ideas in compelling ways, while giving professionals a run for their money. Let this group of brilliant students inspire you as you develop your drawings for this year’s One Drawing Challenge competition:

“Nave Section” by Anna Nasonova

This piece was illustrated by Yale School of Architecture student, Anna Nasonova, as part of an intensive five-week summer workshop in Rome designed to provide a broad overview of the city’s major architectural sites, topography, and systems of urban organization. This work is a freehand drawing of the Santa Maria in Campitelli done in pencil and watercolor. The proportions and details of the High Baroque interior by Rainaldi were studied to reveal the structure’s phases in construction.

“American Dream or American Nightmare” by Yue (Maria) Ma

Cornell Masters of Architecture student, Yue (Maria) Ma’s project, American Dream or American Nightmare: 2020, 2050, 2070, features a steel ark that circumvents a border wall to establish fair trade between separated people. In a broader context the project refers to segregation and discrimination in today’s society. The project is part of an intercollegiate collaboration project examining Mexican-American topics in architecture.

“Capital for the Collective: The Labour Miracle” by Erik Bean

For his master’s thesis, Aarhus School of Architecture graduate, Erik Bean, produced “Capital for the Collective: The Labour Miracle”. The project explores how the impacts of climate change can be used to positively influence the formation and critical engagement of public urban space in sea level rise-impacted London. “The Labour Miracle” explores how individuals can participate in refreshed ways when it comes to the construction and sustainability of their communities. It promotes social cohesion, public altruism, civic philanthropy, and enhanced participation.

“The Tower of Memory: The Tower and the Landscape” by Juan Alberto Arjona Belmonte

This illustration by Juan Alberto Arjona Belmonte from the Superior Technical School of Architecture of Madrid was highly commended in the 2018 Architecture Drawing Prize competition hosted by the World Architecture Festival. The concept of the project seeks to create a space for memory and reflection.

Freehand Stadium Drawings by Mohammad Pirdavari

For his B.A. final project, Pirdavari, illustrated his modernist stadium concept through a series of freehand airbrush drawings. This medium allowed him to create intricate graphics that accentuated the stadiums’ raw materials and the relationships between the primary exposed structures and their covered underbellies.

“Penang 2095” by Tianjing Lim

Under the theme, “Shaping new Realities”, this piece by Tianjing Lim was awarded first prize by the Aarhus School of Architecture’s drawing competition. From afar the structure appears to be a tall, densely packed factory, but up close active urban life is revealed. It’s a vertical city that builds upon its pre-existing organization and layout. The structure expresses a continually adaptive growth that is physically based on its past.

“Pastel-coloured Hillside” by Felicity Barbur

Out of The Bartlett School of Architecture, Felicity Barbur developed a vivid, artificial mountain-scape depicting the setting for a new river festival in Chicago. It’s an ethnographic perspective on the architecture of city life, simplifying and mapping Chicago’s urbanism through spatially engaging events. The “Pastel-coloured hillside” features a scalable piece of the Great Wall of China for the lunar new year along with water towers, common across the city of Chicago.

Drawing by Aysylu Zaripova

Russian architectural student Aysylu Zaripova was a finalist of the Dallas-based Ken Roberts Memorial Delineation Competition. This illustration provides a birds-eye-view, three dimensional perspective of a globed cityscape. It showcases an almost exoskeleton-like depiction of a city with infrastructures and building frames laid bare.

Now show us what you can do: Register for the One Drawing Challenge and submit your best drawings before August 9th, 2019 for a chance to win amazing prizes:

Enter the 2019 One Drawing Challenge

In partnership with

The post The All-Nighters: 8 Mind-Blowing Architecture School Drawings appeared first on Journal.

The results for the 7th Annual A+Awards are in, with both Jury and Popular Choice Winners across a myriad of categories now being celebrated around the globe. This year’s residential finalists were particularly notable for their diversity in location, form and use of materials, but all shared one thing in common: They employed ingenious architectural ideas and stunning details to provide comfort, serenity and inspiration throughout each home.

The Private Residential categories offered an incredible collection of innovative and unique homes at all scales, and gave a glimpse of key design trends in contemporary residential architecture. Multiple winning homes incorporate courtyards with a contemporary twist, while the use of natural materials inside is an ongoing theme among A+Award recipients. Meanwhile, framed views are ever-present, demonstrating the architects’ ability to place the beauty of the surrounding context at the heart of their designs. 

Below, we round up all the winners in the Private Residential categories, showcasing this year’s most cleverly detailed and beautifully constructed houses. This is what great residential architecture looks like today: 

Cloister House by Formwerkz Architects, Johor, Malaysia
2019 A+ Awards Jury Vote Winner in the Residential-Private House (XL >5000 sq ft) category

The Cloister House provides a large, communal space that simultaneously prioritizes privacy and security. Fortified concrete walls enclose the compound, and the spaces for communal living and entertaining are compacted to a third of the plot size. This leaves plenty of space for the back garden, pool, and an annex block which houses the private bedrooms. Courtyards are interspersed the house’s grid-like layout allowing free and organic living.

Quadrant House by KWK Promes, Poland
2019 A+ Awards Popular Vote Winner in the Residential-Private House (XL >5000 sq ft) category

The design of the Quadrant House was based on the desire for a home that reacts to the movement of the sun. Therefore, its coolest feature is a terrace that was designed to react to the sun and follow it. Depending on the season it regulates the amount of sunlight in the spaces it adjoins giving the desired shadow in the summer and allows for more sunlight during the winter.

Casa La Quinta by PPAA , San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
2019 A+ Awards Jury Vote Winner in the Residential-Private House (L 3000-5000 sq ft) category

Casa La Quinta is a weekend house in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuanto. Functioning along the preexisting built context, there are no divisions or boundaries within the social space and the outdoor area. To work around its insular structure, three voids were repurposed in the form of patios, each with a different character and use.

Stone House in Cáceres by Tuñón Architects, Cáceres, Spain
2019 A+ Awards Popular Vote Winner in the Residential-Private House (L 3000-5000 sq ft) category

Tuñón Architects were A+ Popular Choice Winners for this boxy, stone coated home. It has a simple, square floor plan of 17 meter sides, in which each of the four facades is perforated by three windows that provide views of the exterior landscape. Nine cubic spaces of 4.2 meter sides divide the interior space each serving different domestic uses. The central square houses a gorgeous staircase, and we can’t forget the adjacent pool that lies right outside.

St Andrews Beach House by Austin Maynard Architects, Victoria, Australia
2019 A+ Awards Jury Vote Winner in the Residential-Private House (M 1000-3000 sq ft) category

Akin to a club house, the St. Andrew’s Beach House expresses freedom and fun through its unique and playful design. Nestled in a remote, wild bushland within Victoria, Australia, this circular, two-bedroom beach shack is shaped in response to the encompassing views and the simplification of the interior spaces. Adhering to the space’s form, there are no corridors and, thus, no wasted space. A spiral staircase at its central core allows for greater amounts of light and air creating an altogether open and relaxed atmosphere.

Pátio do Meco by Fábio Ferreira Neves, Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal
2019 A+ Awards Popular Vote Winner in the Residential-Private House (M 1000-3000 sq ft) category

Keeping the original identity of a preexisting mid-twentieth century house and barn, Pátio do Meco is defined by a new rebuilt house and an extension composed of minimal and abstract structures. The complex presents a combination of old and new elements that are reflective of the surrounding region, such as the well, roof tiles, shading reeds, and original stonework. New constructions are located where old ones were promoting a linkage to the area’s original character.

Shell House/The language of forest by Tono Mirai architects, Japan
2019 A+ Awards Jury Vote Winner in the Residential-Private House (S <1000 sq ft) category

Jury winner, Shell House/The Language of forest blends seamlessly into its environment having been made with local wood, clay, and traditional techniques. It is a small villa with an organic, circular shape; one side featuring a large opening to take in sunlight and heat and an earth wall on the opposite, curved side. Through its material make up and form, the Shell House effectively integrates with the outside forest.

Private House “Can Canyís” by Caballero+Colon, Balearic Islands, PM, Spain
2019 A+ Awards Popular Vote Winner in the Residential-Private House (S <1000 sq ft) category

Located on a steep and rocky hillside, Can Canyís looks like a pile of LEGO bricks, but a lot bigger. Every interior space in the house features magnificent views on the local bay. The design is based on the principles of maintaining the four stacked volumes while accommodating the internal spaces and their needed uses. Therefore, no space is compromised and the aesthetic exterior form can be free and dynamic.

Oculi House by O’Neill Rose Architects, New York City, NY, United States
2019 A+ Awards Jury Vote Winner in the Residential-Residential Interiors category

Responding to the troubles brownstones face in providing dispersed daylight the ineffective, standard methods used to remedy this, the Oculi House brings daylight into and through the heart of the home. Two elliptical oculi fill the attic space, allowing light to flood down the stairs where it combines with light provided by the foyer and rear openings. The oculi reflect an intersection between digital and handmade, a relationship that is also evident in the stone wall at the kitchen.

Y/A/O Residence by Octane architect & design, Bangkok, Thailand
2019 A+ Awards Popular Vote Winner in the Residential-Residential Interiors category

Given complete freedom over the house’s design, Octane architect and design pursued a style of personal interest, where external walls and their ceilings converge into oblique angles. Rather than simply serving a decorative purpose, this architectural style was pushed further to impact the interior form and function of the space. It, thus, has been used to serve different functions in the three main parts of the buildings allowing unique experiences and perspectives within the house’s varying spaces.

Hit the button below to see every A+Award winner and finalist in this year’s incredible competition:

See the 2019 A+Award-Winning Projects

The post A+ Architecture: These Are the World’s Most Beautiful Modern Residences appeared first on Journal.

“Drawings are architecture’s ultimate storytellers.”

The words of Marc Kushner lie at the heart Architizer’s inaugural ideas competition, the One Drawing Challenge. The competition, with a final deadline of August 9th this year (submit your entries here!) poses a simple question: Can you tell a powerful story about architecture through a single drawing?

One of the jurors for the One Drawing Challenge is Bob Borson, architect at Malone Maxwell Borson Architects and founder of one of the most popular architecture blogs on the internet, “Life of an Architect“. Bob has been writing for years about drawings as powerful tools for communicating ideas, from conceptual sketches to detailed construction documents. Borson sat down with Architizer to talk about the art of drawing, including some hints about what entrants should aim for when creating their submissions for the One Drawing competition:

Paul Keskeys: You still draw by hand a lot, a process that increasingly seems to be skipped by young architects these days. What do you gain from hand sketching, and what advice would you give to designers who tend to avoid it?

Bob Borson: There are a few things that I feel are beneficial when you draw by hand. The main benefit is probably the simplest thing imaginable … speed. When I bring up the idea of speed most people instantly assume this means that I can sketch through my ideas faster than someone who has to interface through some sort of technology, but that’s not what I mean at all (there are some people out there that are pretty darn fast using current technology!) When I sketch, I think it slows my thought process down and forces me to think through my idea a bit more completely in my effort to actually be able to draw it out in a manner that allows someone else to understand what I am trying to convey.

Borson sketches out plans during the early stages of a project; image via Life of an Architect

Your drawings encompass architecture at every scale, from broad conceptual ideas to the tiniest details. How do you decide when to “zoom in” to small areas of a project, and what do you gain from drawing at this scale?

It really depends on the problem that I am trying to solve, and what stage of the project I am working in. When the scale of the project is “broad” I am not trying to talk about the details; everything is far more diagrammatic in the beginning. It isn’t until I am trying to work through the assembly of the project that I start drilling down and enlarging the scale of the sketches I am creating.

Which of your drawing-related articles on Life of an Architect is most popular, and why do you think it is?

It’s got to be “Architectural Sketching or How to Sketch like Me“. Since I have so many different posts on sketching, I’m not sure why this one is the most trafficked post covering sketching on my site. It probably has to do with the fact that I don’t think sketching is a gift but rather a skill that can be learned and this is the posts where I walk through the 5 tips and techniques that I think anybody can incorporate in just a few minutes and their sketches will look better. Unfortunately, I feel like a lot of architects don’t sketch because they think they are bad at it and feel some sort of embarrassment about their attempts — this is the post that I think can change that for many people.

Borson’s travel sketches created during college; images via Life of an Architect

In your opinion, what are the three worst habits of architects when it comes to drawing?

The worst is probably not sketching at all. I think most people would agree that the more they sketch, the better they become. Other bad habits are fairly user-specific but when I talk with people in my office about sketching, the things I try to get them to quit doing is drawing over their lines (i.e. instead of one single line, theirs will be five or six little lines put together) and the other is to not bend your wrist when trying to draw straight lines. It’s rather amazing how much better a sketch will look when your lines are relatively straight.

Which architect’s drawings inspire you the most? Is there a specific drawing that has blown you away the moment you’ve laid eyes on it?

There’s not really any one person or drawing that inspires me – it tends to be a collection of sketches that someone has created over time that tends to blow me away. Actually, as I sit here trying to answer this question, the name that comes to mind is a friend of mine who left the field of architecture to help out with the family drywalling business. He was the person who initially inspired me to work on my sketching and gave me some of the tips that I mentioned in answer #3 that changed everything for me.

Borson places emphasis on line weight and hatching style to communicate design intention; image via Life of an Architect

What qualities will you be looking for when judging the entries in this year’s One Drawing Challenge?

First and foremost it will be pen weight and hatching techniques. There are levels of skill that become more prominent as the people become more and more comfortable with how they sketch. Sketches should be easy to read and pen weight and hatching are what separate the great from the amazing.

Now show us what you can do: Register for the One Drawing Challenge and submit your best drawings before August 9th, 2019 for a chance to win amazing prizes:

Enter the 2019 One Drawing Challenge

In partnership with

Top image via Studio MM

The post The Art of Drawing: Bob Borson on Architecture’s Most Powerful Creative Weapon appeared first on Journal.

Situated in the coastal metropolis of Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan, Mecanoo’s latest exhibition in place-making might be the firm’s most ambitious yet. Unfurling like a huge blanket across one of the city’s largest parks, the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts (Wei-Wu-Ying) provides a stunning a new home for thousands of locals and visitors alike to pursue cultural activities, uniting exhibition halls, theaters and public plazas under a single roof.

The Center’s iconic canopy — a billowing plane of architectural fabric akin to a tectonic plate — forms the conceptual foundation of the project. This undulating roof is a marvel of structural engineering, with one side scooped out to form a beautifully landscaped amphitheater for a plethora of outdoor performances. Inside, curving walls expand and contract like the branches of a banyan tree, creating organic spaces for playing, making, viewing art and taking in performances. The scale of the project is virtually unprecedented, yet the character of each space remains welcoming and accessible to its inhabitants.

Image © Iwan Baan

These qualities that make the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts a deserved winner of a Special Honoree Project of the Year Award as part of the 2019 A+Awards program. Architizer sat down with Mecanoo’s Eliano Felicio to discuss the project, the challenges in bringing it to reality, and what it means to the firm to be a Special Honoree for this year’s global celebration of great architecture and design:

Paul Keskeys: In what ways did the environment and cultural context of Kaohsiung, Taiwan inform and inspire the project?

Eliano Felicio: The architectonic concept explored in the design could only be applied in the tropical climate, where outdoor activities can happen all year-round. There is a strong street culture in Kaohsiung, where businesses and leisure activities take over the urban fabric. These observations lead us to the main concept of the building — creating a covered public square that would function as a social stage.

Architectural surface diagram

Site plan

One of the most notable aspects of the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts is its huge programmatic scale. How did the massive requirement for floor space impact the design, and what unique challenges did the team face when designing at such a scale?

The scale of the building created several challenges, but also gave us some opportunities. Keeping in mind the advantages of the climate and a strong outdoor culture, we connected all the programmatic volumes under one single roof. The resulting space of this gesture — the Banyan Plaza — is the main feature of the building.

It not only delivers a huge space where formal and informal activities meet, but is also open 24/7 to the public. How many performing arts centre are so open and welcoming to its population? The organic gesture of the Banyan Plaza acts as an urban connector between the city and the Wei-Wu-Ying metropolitan park.

Image © Sytze Boonstra

The immense roof of the project is an extraordinary multi-functional structure. Can you expand on the creative process behind the design of this element and how Mecanoo worked with engineers to bring it to reality?

Inspired by the form and interlocking structure of the local Banyan trees found in the surrounding park, we worked with top Taiwan structural engineers to create the undulating roof. The underside of the canopy is clad in 2,320 steel plates, each 6mm thick and individually curved. The total surface area of the steel skin is 23,000 square meters and the total weight is 1,520 tonnes.

The welds between the plates were kept visible so the building would resemble a cargo ship. There are markings that imitate the waterline, indicating the height above sea level at various points in the plaza.

This was a long 12-year journey. There were ups and downs, but we couldn’t be happier with the building.  By 2016 the structure was up, and a big portion of the façade was being installed. By then we could see the massive scale of the design and how well it would respond to its location.

What has the public reaction to the project been like?

Located in the Wei-Wu-Ying metropolitan park, where many go and join group activities, it was impossible to avoid the dimension of this project. From the very early stages, it became a must-see attraction. The official opening in October 2018 had a full week of celebrations. On its opening day, with a big group from Mecanoo gathered, we saw this building being flooded with people from all sides, from the city, from the park.

Image © Shawn Liu Studio

Later that day, 50,000 people gathered to see the opening show in the outdoor auditoria. During its inaugural season from October-December 2018, the centre received over 1 million visitors and sold over 100,000 tickets, achieving 80% of the ticket box.

It was an emotional journey, that I can say. We are all very proud to be part of it and to be able to deliver such a high-quality performing arts center to Kaohsiung and Taiwan. We couldn’t have done it without the support of all the engineers, technicians, consultants and so on. So many people from many different disciplines came together to deliver this project.

Image © Iwan Baan

What does winning an A+Awards Building of the Year Award mean to you?

We’ve known Architizer for many years. The brand has grown on many of us, not only for sharing the best architecture produced around the globe, but by constantly innovating and developing new tools to expand and make the brand stronger and more recognizable. In the landscape of architectural media, Architizer is at the top of their league.

The program of the A+Awards, which has run for several years, celebrates the architecture and products that have shown the most impact and social relevance. This celebration, and the recognition of the work developed by architects and designers, helps to connect the industry and hopefully to create new and exciting collaborations.

The post 2019 A+Awards Project of the Year: Mecanoo’s National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts appeared first on Journal.

Architects: Showcase your work and find inspiration for your next project through Architizer, and enter the One Drawing Challenge for a chance to win $2,500!

Peru is defined by its landscapes. Located on the western coast of South America facing the Pacific Ocean, the country’s geographry follows the Andes mountains as they run parallel to the ocean. With the coastal plain to the west, the Andes highlands, and the Amazon rainforest to the east, these three regions shape the country’s architecture and design culture. In turn, modern building and structures are shaped by their larger context and become a reflection of the landscape.

Peru is described as a megadiverse region, and this has its roots in the country’s long history and development. Peruvian territory was home to several ancient cultures. From the oldest civilization in the Americas and one of the five cradles of civilization, to the Inca Empire, the country holds some of the longest histories of civilization in the world. Today, a mixture of cultural traditions has resulted in a wide diversity of architecture and spatial expressions. The following projects showcase a small handful of the new developments emerging across the country.

House Casa Paracas by Riofrio Arquitectos, Paracas, Peru

Located on the desert coast of the Paracas Bay, the design of this house is a closed volume that extends along the total length of the plot. The main objective was to create a strong element of protection against the winds distinctive of this location. Through its path the volume expands, turns, and embraces a wide space in the open where all pathways are united around the swimming pool, terraces, and landscape. Protected by a huge exposed concrete mass, these spaces enjoy sunlight throughout the whole year. The building’s aesthetics come as a result of the special concern with its relation to the environment where it is located. Shapes, materials, and colors seek to interact with the textures and tones of the desert.

Nursery School in Los Ángeles de Eden by Semillas, Pangoa, Peru

This nursery school is located in Los Angeles of Eden, in the Selva Central region of Peru. The school consists of two classrooms, a small kitchen, and a covered multipurpose patio. On the south side of the lot a playground was built using recycled materials, such as used tires and rods left over from construction. Handmade clay bricks were used to construct the walls and the structure is made of reinforced concrete. There is one covered eave made from of wooden beams, a ceiling of crushed cane (made by children and parents). The construction of the school was carried out with master builders and the local citizens, while the playground and stairway of tires was completed by volunteers and neighbors during a workshop.

Casa Ronda by Marina Vella Arquitecta, Peru

The Ronda House is built on a rectangular lot that measures 12 meters wide and 22 meters deep on a site facing the Pacific Ocean. The landscape includes a lateral view of white sands and dunes and backed by a red hill, thus the name of the place: Cerro Colorado (Red Hill). The project encourages a continuous connection with its surroundings through an outdoor space with open partitions to the seafront, expanding the interiors while the lives of the occupants rotate around the central patio, marked by a large, semi-circular wall in red stone sourced from the nearby hill. Circulation areas, stairs and corridors to the bedrooms are organized around the semicircular stone wall. Skylights and small patios open to daylight and natural ventilation where bedrooms and surrounding areas infuse the home with the ambiance of a seaside holiday retreat.

Veronica Beach House by Longhi Architects, Lima, Peru

Veronica House was designed as an opportunity to explore the relationship between Peruvian architecture and international styles. The intervention was also seen as the meeting between the artificial and the natural. The nearly 40 meters long pool and a multi-level staircase allowed integration with the landscape. The swimming pool is on a raised platform, carved into the hill, with a glass enclosure based on a rail system. Intimate areas are accommodated in a volume of two levels that “floats” above the terrace. The materiality of the house is articulated with the balanced use of five main materials: Cast stone concrete, with colors derived from natural rock sources.

Lima Convention Centre (LCC) by IDOM, Lima District, Peru

The construction of the Lima Convention Centre (LCC) is contextualized by the agreement between the Peruvian State and the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to hold in Lima the 2015 Board of Governors. The Peruvian State saw this event as an opportunity to extend and improve the congressional infrastructure available in the capital of Peru. Strategically located in the Cultural Centre of the Nation (CCN) – next to the National Museum, the Ministry of Education, the new headquarters of the National Bank or the Huaca San Borja – the design of the LCC was made  to satisfy four strategic objectives: being a cultural and economic motor for the country, representing a meeting place at the heart of the city enrooted in the collective Peruvian culture, turning into a unique, flexible and technologically advanced architectonic landmark and finally, triggering the urban transformation of the Cultural Centre of the Nation and its surroundings.

University Campus UTEC Lima by Grafton Architects and GCAQ ingenieros civiles, Peru

The unique condition of Lima and its relationship to the Pacific, with cliffs defining the boundary between the city and the sea, was a starting point in the conception of this project. A green valley connects the site with the sea. The UTEC campus project is conceived as a ‘new cliff’, continuing the sea edge, clearly stating and defining the University on its new ground. The northern boundary of the site contains a busy road network. Grafton saw this northern boundary as the main façade of the project, visible from passing traffic and it is the register of the new campus in the public mind. The team positioned the special rooms of the University: the auditorium, the conference rooms, the theatre / movie venue, at the base of the ‘cliff ’ face, marking the northern boundary to the highway, encouraging cultural interaction with the wider public.

Casa Topo by Martin Dulanto Arquitecto, Cieneguilla, Peru

Casa Topo was conceived with the premise of minimizing its impact on the environment. For this, the lower level of the house (which contains the social and service areas) is semi-buried, and it is given a rustic and organic treatment. In contrast, the upper level that contains the bedrooms is considered as a pure block (completely covered in wood). The first level is presented as a large wooden box resting on the ground. Taking advantage of the height from this level, the bedrooms become a sort of viewpoint from which you can see both the lagoon and the stream. The lower level contains the areas, social indoor, social terrace and service, while the sleeping area is on the first floor.

Ani Nii Shobo by Samuel Bravo, Peru

Ani Nii Shobo, big house of the forest in Shipibo language, is a healing center and nature reserve based on the traditional medicine of the Shipibo people. The project is located on the banks of a lagoon near the native community of San Francisco de Yarinacocha in the Ucayali region in the Peruvian Amazon. The Ucayali river’s seasonal floods determine this landscape and its ecosystems with fluctuations of up to 8m that inundate and connect vast riverside areas. The project consists of a series of programs that are located along this variable edge between forest and water. The program consists of rooms for visitors a volunteer house, a house of ceremonies (longhouse), a dining room and service spaces.

Lapa House by Martin Dulanto Arquitecto, Lima District, Peru

The Lapa House has three main elements: the main platform that serves as a base that places the project in the ground, he block the sits directly on the platform and contains the main parts of the house, and the sculptural staircase that formally binds and releases the other two elements. The rocky tract of land was cut before the project was designed. The proposal was created having it in mind and adapting itself to the space and lightly embedding it to the setting. At this level is the main platform, with the entrance and service areas, and on top of it sits the main areas of the house (the white box) which in itself has several different levels and is oriented to the ocean.

Architects: Showcase your work and find inspiration for your next project through Architizer, and enter the One Drawing Challenge for a chance to win $2,500!

The post Living Landscapes: New Architecture Across Peru appeared first on Journal.

Architects: Showcase your work and find inspiration for your next project through Architizer, and enter the One Drawing Challenge for a chance to win $2,500!

Drawings are intrinsically tied to scale. The relationship between linework, program and detail directly relates to what we’re trying to represent. As architectural projects become larger and more information needs to be conveyed, sometimes the best move can be to show more with less. This is especially the case in skyscraper drawings, where the scale of a building requires careful consideration of what you choose to show in technical and conceptual drawings, as well as what you choose to leave out.

Often, depictions of skyscrapers are through photographs. Whether capturing the building in its entirety through an urban or aerial shot, or simply framing a piece of the whole, rarely do we see drawings. Sections tell you about the human scale of a work, how things come together and how a building is made. Skyscraper sections are exercises in revealing specific types of information. Examining the relationships between drawing and monumentality, the following collection of skyscraper sections explore representation across scales.

VIA 57 West by Bjarke Ingels Group, Manhattan, New York

VIA 57 West defies convention. Challenging the status-quo, the iconic skyscraper was designed by Bjarke Ingels Group as a new landmark in the skyline of lower Manhattan. Named the best skyscraper of the year by Emporis, the project’s “courtscraper” form combines the best qualities of a European perimeter block and a classic American skyscraper. By keeping three corners of the block low and lifting the north-east corner up towards its 450 ft peak, the courtyard opens views towards the Hudson River, bringing low western sun deep into the block and graciously preserving the adjacent Helena Tower’s views of the river.

De Rotterdam by OMA, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Standing as the largest building in the Netherlands, OMA’s De Rotterdam project explored urban diversity and density through three monumental towers joined by a shared plinth. Made with subtly irregular stacks, the design organizes program into distinct blocks that embrace a wide variety of uses. The building envelope was designed with floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the River Maas. De Rotterdam’s external faces have been clad with an aluminum post-and-beam construction, making for a filigree appearance which changes depending on the viewer’s position.

Aqua Tower by Studio Gang, Chicago, IL, United States

Aqua Tower is one of few tall buildings to create a community on its facade. Combining a hotel, offices, rental apartments, condominiums, and parking, along with one of Chicago’s largest green roofs, Aqua facilitates strong connections between people and to the city. The design for Aqua uses architecture to capture and reinterpret the human and outdoor connections that occur more naturally when living closer to the ground. Its distinctive form is achieved by varying the floor slabs across the height the tower, based on criteria such as views, sunlight, and use.

Grove at Grand Bay by BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group, Miami, FL, United States

The two towers of the Grove at Grand Bay respond to the surroundings and to each other, to give optimum views at every level. The towers take off from the ground to capture the full breadth of panoramic views from sailboat bays and the marina to the Miami skyline. Along the façade you can see the horizontal component of the gravity load in the columns that’s resolved in the slabs by transferring it to the interior core shear walls, which are the only consistently vertical structural elements in the building.

Paris Courthouse by Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Paris, France

This 525-foot-tall building is a series of stacked glass volumes sitting on an L-shaped site on the northern edge of central Paris. The key idea behind the design of the courthouse was twofold: to reunite all of the judicial institutions, law courts and offices that had been dispersed around the capital, and to provide a cornerstone piece of architecture that would mark the redevelopment of the Porte de Clichy neighborhood. The rectangular glass volumes are narrow and they reduce in size as the tower rises. Plenty of natural light reaches the interior through the long sides of the building and the double-skin facade.

345 Roche Building by Herzog & de Meuron, Basel, Switzerland

For the design of this 178m tower, Herzog & de Meuron focused on developing a high-rise typology that visualizes and fosters the internal organization and communication within various departments. The tower houses workstations relating to various departments previously scattered throughout the city. These have been brought together in one place in a process of “office re-entry”. This allowed the team to create a smooth flow of communication between various departments. Office re-entry involves synergies enabled not only by the convergence of staff from different fields but also by the overall sense of corporate identity which is enhanced by the integration of staff on the site.

CCTV Headquarters by OMA, Beijing, China

The new headquarters for China Central Television combines the entire process of TV-making – administration, production, broadcasting – into a single loop of interconnected activity. Rising from a common platform accommodating production facilities, two towers – one dedicated to broadcasting, one to services, research, and education – lean towards each other and eventually merge in a dramatic, seemingly impossible cantilever. CCTV’s distinctive loop aims to offer an alternative to the exhausted typology of the skyscraper. CCTV proposes a truly three-dimensional experience, culminating in a canopy that symbolically embraces the entire city. CCTV consolidates all its operations in a continuous flow, allowing each worker to be permanently aware of their colleagues.

Burj Khalifa by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP ( SOM ), Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The design and engineering of Burj Khalifa redefines the supertall building.  By combining new technologies and cultural influences, the design firm created a global icon that is a focus of a model for future urban centers and speaks to the global movement towards compact, livable urban areas. The Tower and its surrounding neighborhood are more centralized than any other new development in Dubai. At the centerpiece of the new downtown, Burj Khalifa’s mixed-use program focuses the area’s development density and provides direct connections to mass transit systems. Burj Khalifa’s architecture has embodied references to Islamic architecture and reflects the modern global community it is designed to serve.

Discover More Architectural Drawings

Architects: Showcase your work and find inspiration for your next project through Architizer, and enter the One Drawing Challenge for a chance to win $2,500!

All drawings and photographs courtesy of the architects.

The post Architectural Drawings: 8 Jaw-Dropping Sections Through Skyscrapers appeared first on Journal.

We can’t get enough of brick. It’s a timeless material that adds texture, color, and character to cityscapes that are often dominated by monochromatic, glass and metal façades. Across the winners of the 7th Annual A+Awards, there a number of beautiful brick infused gems from both concepts to fully realized structures. They showcase the innovative ways brick can be used at all scales. 

Below is a collection of Jury and Popular Choice Winners that appreciate brick just as much as we do:

Arc by KOICHI TAKADA ARCHITECTS, Sydney, Australia
2019 A+ Awards Jury and Popular Vote Winner in the Residential-Multi Unit Housing – High Rise (16+ Floors) category

Arc is a 26-storey, mixed-use residential tower located in central Sydney. It combines old and new featuring a handcrafted brick podium and an organic roof feature designed to add more character to the city. The building has a heavy masonry character at its base and the tower above it has a finer, lighter materiality. The concept of the design is inspired by the proportions of arches and materiality historically used in Sydney; an element that is greatly appreciated by Sydney residents.

Dreaming Someone by WAY Studio, Beijing, China
2019 A+ Awards Jury Vote Winner in the Hospitality-Restaurants category

The vision of WAY Studio for the “Aye by Meeting Someone” restaurant in Beijing was to design a spatial performance that provided a surreal experience to visitors. The black hole-like spherical entrance functions as a stiff divide between the outside, real world and the fantastical unknowns within the space. The building’s most intriguing exterior display are the ripples that permeate from the “rabbit hole” further reinforcing the structure’s dream-like essence.

The Interlock by bureau de change, London, United Kingdom
2019 A+ Awards Jury Vote Winner in the Details – Plus-Architecture +Brick category

Situated on a block of brickwork façades and road surfaces, The Interlock fits harmoniously within London’s Fitzrovia district. The five-storey, mixed-use development  fuses tradition and modernity by taking the proportions of the neighboring 19th Century terrace and recasting its brick façade. It abandons the traditional dimensions of London brick featuring a collection of 44 misshapen and seemingly un-stackable clay blocks. The bricks, thus, appear to morph and twist providing a lively pattern across the surface. 

Organicare Showroom by TROPICAL SPACE, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
2019 A+ Awards Popular Vote Winner in the Commercial-Showrooms category

Tropical Space scooped up another Architizer A+ Award for Organicare Showroom; a space for traditional Vietnamese fish sauce and organic products. The project is reformed from an old house that was built prior to 1975. It honors the value of traditional clay brick, which is an essential element within the space. They designed a consistent frame system combining brick and metal for the façade and the interior, which is used for shelving and product display. The frame system is flexible as it can be altered and removed.

Cultural Center at Centro Educativo de Morelia by doho constructivo
2019 A+ Awards Popular Vote Winner in the Details – Plus-Architecture +Brick category

Developed at the site of a school’s old library, this cultural center functions to improve the overall performance of both students and teachers. The project recycles two metal containers, the foundations, floors, and perimeter walls, and the roof was entirely rebuilt. A popular material in the surrounding area, mud brick was used as the only enveloping material. The central courtyard, lattices, and blind walls foster natural lighting. The simplicity of its shape and materials allows the building to fit humbly with its surroundings.

THE BRIDGE by Sanjay Puri Architets, Ras, India
2019 A+ Awards Popular Vote Winner in the Transportation-Unbuilt Transportation category

This is a concept for a bridge and water reservoir envisaged to serve as a community space. The bridge will mirror the surrounding water catchment area representing the architectural characteristics of traditional stepped wells. The bridge along with the retaining walls and stepped seating of the reservoir will be comprised of local chittor sandstone. The plan for the bridge’s façade is a collection of cuboid stone volumes that will create sheltered spaces to sit on the upper portion of the structure.

PRESTIGE UNIVERSITY by Sanjay Puri Architets, Indore, India
2019 A+ Awards Popular Vote Winner in the Institutional-Unbuilt Institutional category

This concept will house the main administration offices, auditorium, seminar halls, library, and cafeteria of Prestige University. The building gradually ascends through a pattern of step-like volumes that are interspersed at varying positions and heights. This roofing is accessible to students and faculty transforming it into an open, public space. Naturally lit landscaped courtyards make use of the open spaces between the stepped platforms. The varied nature of the structure allows for a series of different experiences in each part of the building.

The post A+ Architecture: 7 Brilliant Brick Projects That Reinvigorate an Age-Old Material appeared first on Journal.

Winner of the 2019 Popular Choice A+Award in the Religious Buildings category, Bosjes Chapel is a modern architectural landmark for South Africa. Masterminded by the talented, London-based firm Steyn Studio, the chapel is defined by its dramatic silhouette, poetically intertwined with the spectacular mountainous backdrop of Breederiver Valley in the Witzenberg Municipality. As a standout winner from this year’s competition, Bosjes Chapel is the recipient of an additional, extra special honor this year: It is one of five buildings to take home the title of 2019 A+Awards Project of the Year.

Steyn Studio’s design possesses all the ingredients found within the world’s most beloved architecture. On the outside, its symmetry and curvaceous nature provides instant appeal in the vein of Fariborz Sahba (architect of the Lotus Temple in New Delhi, India) or Felix Candela, the Spanish and Mexican architect famed for his elegant thin-shell concrete structures. However, it is on the inside that the qualities of this building really shine through: considered detailing allows contrasting materials to meet harmoniously at beautiful junctions.

While its architecture is extraordinary, Bosjes Chapel’s most magical elements are those that you can’t see — it is the atmosphere, full of emotion and serenity, that sets this building apart. Architizer spoke with Firm Principal Coetzee Steyn about the project, the challenge involved in bringing it to fruition, and the impact of the Special Honoree award for his studio.

Paul Keskeys: Bosjes Chapel is instantly recognizable thanks to its flowing form and striking silhouette. Was it always your intention to create an “iconic” structure, or did this emerge during the creative process?

Coetzee Steyn: The context of the chapel is quite sensitive, so with that in mind “iconic” was never a starting point. Beauty however was. The original intension was minimalist; we aimed to levitate a thick concrete slab. It had to make people ask “But how…?”, almost as if being held in suspension by some divine power.

In the end, gravity won for the better. Not only physical gravity, but also the visual gravity exuded by the majestic mountainous landscape and the Baroque-influenced gables, which typify the colonial Cape Dutch architecture on the estate. It gave the chapel its personality.

The thin concrete roof structure is reminiscent of some of Felix Candela’s famous pavilions. Was Candela an inspiration for you and did you find any other historic precedents for the project?

Indeed there are similarities, but originally I was more influenced by Gaudi. As mentioned above, the roof and supporting structure became one sinuous and unified element. The sinuous nature of some of Gaudi’s work, and the presence of hyperbolic structures within it, resonated with what I wanted to achieve.

It was our engineer Henry Fagan who, through his investigations, exposed me to the great works of Candela, which instilled further confidence in the structure.

Bojes Chapel roof under construction; images courtesy PERI Formwork Scaffolding Engineering

What other construction details in Bosjes Chapel are you particularly proud of and why?

If I had to choose two, then it would be how it meets the water and how it sounds. The first was very carefully calculated using 3D visual and structural analysis, finding the right moment for the roof curvature to come down and almost touch the water before leaving it again. It took team effort to achieve this from start to final execution, and for me this is an example of what can be achieved through good team symbiosis.

The second was by chance. Contrary to the first, by which everything can be simulated digitally these days, nothing really prepares you for the real experience. Deciding not to acoustically treat the interior of the chapel was a big risk, not knowing what it would sound like.

The final result was very surprising and emotional in some ways. The acoustic ambience resembles that of much larger European cathedrals, complementing one’s experience of the building and nature beyond. Choirs that have performed in the chapel have applauded its acoustics and I have received impromptu recordings of individuals singing inside. Beautiful — ‘divine intervention’, perhaps.

What has the public reaction to the project been like?

The chapel has, in one way or another, externalized itself into its own ‘being’ — being ‘adopted’ by the public, putting their own thoughts, interpretation and experiences onto it. I’ve received quite a few emails from people telling me about their moving experiences inside the chapel, which to me is very rewarding.

Also, whenever we post something concerning the chapel on our social media platforms, we get a sudden reaction spike, which is sometimes just a little annoying as I think our other projects are not too bad either. Saying that though, please don’t stop liking …

What does winning an A+Awards Project of the Year Award mean to you?

We were very excited about winning the Popular Choice Award in our category. Winning this Special Honoree award, however, is still unbelievable and it is a tremendous honor to be named alongside Heatherwick Studio and Mecanoo, firms who we look up to. This recognition of our work will undoubtedly open new doors for us, and will help steer and motivate us to continue producing work of the same calibre.

All photos by Adam Letch unless otherwise stated; drawings by Steyn Studio

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Perhaps the greatest quality of the A+Awards is its ability to spotlight incredible design and creativity in places where it might otherwise be missed. One such place is Shangcun, a remote village surrounded by mist-laden mountains in eastern China. When the designers at Beijing-based firm SUP Atelier were asked to create a new public gathering place for this small community, they turned to that which they know best — local materials and vernacular construction techniques.

The resulting structure — a beautifully detailed bamboo pavilion supporting a series of vaulted roofs — is a new hub for the local community, which utilizes it for a wide array of activities. The project’s role as a social catalyst earned it an A+Award in the Architecture +Community category, but the ingenuity of its structure was deserving of more — Village Lounge of Shangcun is one of five recipients of a 2019 Special Honoree Project of the Year award.

By day, the Lounge is an airy yet sheltered space populated by locals serving meals, selling crafts, rehearsing music and attending outdoor movie screenings. At twilight, the structure becomes a beacon, emanating a warm light in a manner akin to a fireplace within a mountainside cabin. Activities can continue into the night, with people of all ages feeling safe and welcome in the proverbial heart of the village.

Architizer spoke with Professor Yehao Song, Founder and Principal Architect of SUP Atelier, about the project, the challenges involved in bringing it to life, and what the Special Honoree award means to his firm.

Paul Keskeys: Village Lounge of Shangcun stands out from its surroundings with its innovative vaulted form and use of materials. What key features of the site inspired the design?

Prof. Yehao Song: Shangcun is just one of the common traditional villages in the Yangtze River Delta, rich in history yet with no so-called historical buildings in the village. In fact, what touched me so deeply was the status quo of the house on the site.

The ruined house was right in the center of the village, where the villagers live, yet it was left abandoned with broken walls and collapsing structures. This scene pricked me, together with the desire of the villagers to have some kind of public space regardless its size.

Your use of bamboo for the project continues your work with this distinctive material. What draws you to bamboo and what are the challenges in using it for construction?

Seeking appropriate, sustainable design solutions in China and around the world is the mission of SUP Atelier. From our point of view, we believe that materials like timber, bamboo and rattan are excellent materials in terms of sustainability for the future.

That is why bamboo is so attractive to us. In this case, bamboo can meet the demands of fast construction, bending freely according to design. Shangcun belongs to one of the regions in China with the richest resource of bamboo. The main challenge comes from the maintenance of the pavilion, not from design and construction.

What other construction details of the project are you particularly proud of?

In addition to the techniques of bamboo tying and joining, I think there are two impressive connections that are designed by non-architects. First is the concrete framework that reinforces the broken brick walls. The concrete is cast in a not-very-professional way, yet the expression of the surface of the concrete is so amazing that it blends in with the existing molded white wall.

Second is the tile laying on the concrete beam, following the local traditional in that region without architects’ involvement. These two are a natural manifestation and contribute to the perfect combination of new construction and existing ones. What we were trying to deliver is something that the architects did not deliberately pursue, and so it became an uncontrolled, beautiful piece of work.

How has the Village Lounge impacted the residents of Shangcun?

In terms of residents’ living, the building provides a space for them to gather, holding various activities including the village banquet, outdoor movies and folk music rehearsals. It becomes a recreational space for them to spend their leisure time here. On top of that, the villagers manage the lounge as restaurant & native products store to generate more income and thus boast the economy of the village.

The income generated is partly used to maintain the building. The building creates a value to the villagers not only in terms of economy and living; it also helps in connecting them to the society outside the village, as after the building is renovated, carnivals and academic visits are held there.

What does winning an A+Awards Building of the Year Award mean to you?

It is a great honor to me and my colleagues. We admire the goals of A+Awards, which encourage cultural diversity and concentrate on quality of design and the potential of design for living.

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