Skyscrapers Double as Giant Brita Filters

By Adam Figman, Editorial Intern

As far as most people are concerned, skyscrapers serve two purposes: to hold offices and to make city skylines look nice. Well, we might be able to add sustainable design to that list. The latest emerging innovation encompasses skyscrapers being used to fix water problems to create sustainable environments around the world.

One concept is the Ciliwung Recovery Project (CRP), designed by Rezza Rahdian, Erwin Setiawan, Ayu Diah Shanti, and Leonardus Chrisnantyo for Jakarta, Indonesia, a city built on the intersection of 13 rivers. The Ciliwung River, the largest of the 13, cuts right across the center of the city, but it has unfortunately become a bit of a disaster, as surges of the river’s water flood the city, and the slums alongside the riverbanks have created terrible pollution—which is where the skyscraper comes into play.

The CRP hopes to purify the river and its surrounding environment back to its original state. It will do so by both purifying the water, and housing the people who occupy the area’s slums. Here’s how:

The purification process will take place through three lines. The first line will flow the polluted river water via pipes into the building’s filtration section. There the garage will be sorted out of the water and used as raw materials to fertilize the soil in the river basin.

Next, dangerous contaminants will be eliminated from the water, and good minerals will be added, making the water safe for CRP building residents (those who previously resided in the slums). Keeping these people safe in the building, and not alongside the river, will pen new space for green areas and keep the flood plane protected.

Household waste products – those that are safe, of course – will then be distributed back into the river. This may be done in two ways: through underground capillary pipes, and by spraying the processed water through the “skin” of the building. Doing this increases the humidity in the building’s lower section, which will pioneer plant growth and help construct a new ecosystem.

And, as if the entire project wasn’t sustainable enogh, the building is capable of creating its own energy, completely independently. The outer layer of the building’s skin will be used as a wind power generator. There is also a solar reactor on top of the structure, which will generate solar power. Even the elevator uses Archimedes’ Principle, moving up and down based on its specific gravity.

Next we look several thousand miles west of Indonesia to Almeria, Spain, where plans for another water-filtering skyscraper have been drawn up. Designed by French-based group Design Crew for Architecture (partners: Nicolas Chausson, Gael Desveaux, Jiso Yang Huang, Thomas Julien), the Freshwater Factory Skyscraper will function as its name insists. Although it might look like something out of a sci-fi flick (think District 9 or Independence Day), the Freshwater Factory may revolutionize farming’s relationship with freshwater.

The structure is composed of several round tanks, which are filled with brackish water (water with more salinity than freshwater but less than seawater). Located inside spherical greenhouses, the tanks bring in the water via tidal-powered pumps. Inside the tanks are mangroves, which feed on the brackish water and sweat out freshwater, which then evaporates in the greenhouse and condensates into dew on the plastic walls. The dew is collected and distributed through gravitational flow.

And it’s no small amount, either; one 10,000 sq.-ft tower can produce 30,000 liters of freshwater in a single day (enough water to irrigate, say, 10,000 sq.-ft. of land). 

The project, if successful in Spain, could be applied anywhere.

Maybe skyscrapers have more than two purposes, after all.  

Empire State Building: Retrofitting for Future Sustainability

By Stacy Straczynski, Associate Editor

Johnson Controls may have just announced its selection of Serious Materials to super-insulate the Empire State Building's over 6,500 dual-pane windows, but the building's retrofitting initiative, started last April, goes way beyond energy-efficient windows. Here's a video with more info, for those of you who have been touched by the green fairy (courtesy of YouTube).

Moderne Materials

By Stacy Straczynski, Associate Editor

 

Since Mokum Textiles recently launched their newest collection of textiles, Moderne, I took a trip uptown today to see the fabrics first-hand at the Holly Hunt showroom at the D&D building in NYC. And what a great assortment of patterns! Taking her cues from the 1920s Art Deco period, designer Stephanie Moffitt pulls patterns from architectural structures to create a wonderful array of eye-catching classic motifs that are luxurious and still modern.

   

The first couple of styles, which are best used for window treatments due to their lighter substance, really showcased an architectural flair. The high-arching patterns are woven through the entire fabric (rather than just being a surface pattern) and create a beautiful raised texture that intrigues the eye and also plays with the light.  Lexington (top left), which is based on the design of the Chrysler building, features a shimmering full-width pattern, while Rivioli (top right) also resembles the curvature in the iconic building’s roof in brilliant hues of gold cast upon backgrounds including Prussian Blue and Rosehip (the latter being my favorite color). While both of these fabrics are primarily for residential use, both can be interpreted to a commercial grade.

 

  

Next I browsed through a set of denser fabric and Châtelet (above) particularly intrigued me. A clientele favorite, the fabric is very thick and rich (about three yards of fabric are compressed to form one yard of the finished product) and resembles the velvety curtains of a theater stage. What’s particularly interesting is how the lighter shade options seem to glow with a natural luminescence, while the darker shades seem to breath a more subtle shadow. The velvet is pleated and woven in viscose, with the pronounced textures formed by heat application. This fabric is also available in commercial grade upon request and is suitable for both window treatments and upholstery.

Moderne, a commercial-grade upholstery, is by far the collection’s defining piece. Carrying the same name as the whole collection itself (as the original term for Art Deco), the simple, yet intricate hexagonal rayon yarn weavings upon varying background shades of nylon warp. The style invokes feelings of movement and is sure to be the center of conversation. The pattern can also be clearly viewed from the opposite side, since all of Mokum’s textiles are very high-quality and not mere surface prints, which adds additional design options.

 

Finally, I’ve saved the best for last. My absolute favorite is Coupole, which gets its name from a Parisian café. While seemingly less visually appealing upon first glance (the surface is fairly monotone compared to the rest of the Moderne Collection), Coupole reveals an intricate squiggle-shaped weave of varying similar hues (my personal pick is Quartz, which touts a mix of blues and greys) and an incredible pop of texture.

It's Great to be an Architect

By Adam Figman, Editorial Intern

Randy Deutsch, a blogger and currently out-of-work architect, has recently penned a post on his site mapping out 81 (yes, 81) reasons why there has never been a better time to be an architect. He lays out an almost-absurdly optimistic worldview, often focusing on the advantages of being alive in 2010 rather than focusing on the negative prospects of earning any money in the architecture field these days.

Some of my key picks: (Check the entire list):

1. Today, while architects may not ever again be so-called Master Builders, an individual architect working alone, if necessary, can virtually do the work of an entire firm.

4. Architects today have a rare opportunity to use the skills – transferable skills – that they have picked-up in their education to put to use not only in practicing architecture but in any number of related and even non-traditional fields.

6. Blogging – writing an online journal – especially on sites such as WordPress, has never been easier to learn and master. One more great creative and expressive outlet for the architect, especially in times when the opportunity to design and built is lessened, such as now.

53. Being an architect in itself is pretty amazing. But sometimes having a dog helps.

58. You can take your work with you and go mobile almost anywhere with all you need to be productive.

63. Being an architect is a thoroughly fulfilling experience. But not sharing a house with teens helps.

Sure, a dog or an iPhone may make life better, but for those of us with rents and bills and meals to pay for, a steady paycheck is pretty nice as well. Yoga class and touch screens won’t bring much stability in that department.

Also worth noting is that, while Deutsch’s reasons for why it’s great to be an architect are refreshing, the majority could apply to any profession—be it in architecture, design, journalism, or just about anything. Perhaps the lesson here isn’t that it’s a great time to be an architect, but rather that there’s no better time to throw out the script and pursue what really interests you. The Internet and all the life that’s come with it have created a vast world of opportunity, providing a chance to learn, read, write, and experience life as we never could’ve predicted a decade or two ago.

But yeah: Not sharing a house with teenagers does help.

Olympic Proportions: World’s Largest Glass Skis Designed by Architect

By Stacy Straczynski, Assocaite Editor

If anyone in Vancouver missed that the 2010 Winter Olympics were underway (Pretty hard to believe right!), they’ll get a huge artistic reminder when they see these 16-ft.-tall skis that were installed outside architectural glass artist Joel Berman’s Vancouver-based studio, Joel Berman Glass Studio. The pair of blue, white, and red skis were commissioned by K2 Sports, a Seattle-based snow ski and snowboard manufacturer, are the largest all glass skis in the world and features new glass-on-glass color printing technology on fused colored glass.

   

The skis will be on display in the downtown Vancouver entertainment epicenter through Feb. 28, after which they will be moved permanently to KI’s 3 00,000-sq.-ft. headquarters facilities.

Flame-Broiled Details

By Stacy Straczynski, Associate Editor

This past weekend, my significant other took me out to dinner for Valentine’s Day to a really nice restaurant in our area. (He’s so thoughtful!) I had been to Char Steakhouse, designed by Cahill Studio, once before, soon after it had opened last year, but this second time gave me the opportunity to really admire the details in the space’s design, all of which tie into creating an “on the grill” theme.

 
When we first walked in, we could see a beautiful display of candles encased in clear orange glass and aluminum boxes. The warm light served to illuminate a dimmer corner by the recetion desk and bring some additinal color to the mud colored walls and deep brown tiles. The orange glass also nicely played into the wallpaper behind the desk, matching the orange circular pattern that resembled the glow of candlelight.

 Since we had arrived early for our reservations, we decided to grab a cocktaila the bar, which lay directly in the middle of the restaurant and took up a majority of the space. The bar itself was surfaced by beautiful marble that had fine brown/black veins running diagonally acrss the top, creating a charred look of grill lines.

 
As I looked around, what instantly caught my attention--in a bad way--was a row of circular modern-styled lights that hung from dark tiled ceiling. (This is my only negative comment.) The lights, besides from looking humorously like an oversized Target logo, seemed to be out of place in this dark and more rustic feeling setting. I can see that the design of the lights is meant to be the grill of an electroc stove perhaps, with the warm red coils; however, the white was so contrasting that it really drew my attention away from some of the more beautiful and fitting elements of the room.

  
 
We were seated in a corner of the room that faced the bar with our backs to the side walls. The seating was absolutely intriguing. A coarse but comfortable fabric covered the back of the booth, and when you looked closely you could actually see that the pattern was made up of intersecting burnt matchsticks! I thought it was genius. Additinally, overhead was a glass column that housed a beautiful gas-powered flame which flicked and casted beautiful dancing shadows across the table. 

 
I think my favorite element overall was the intricate lighting fixture that hung on the wall above my head and on the opposite wall int he room as well. The wall hanging, which served more as illuminated art than an actual source of light, glowed gold in between the curved and delicately shaped pieces of what appeared to be bronze metal. I loved how these fixtures made me think of the glowing coals on a very high-end barbeque.

Is Beauty Only Skin Deep?

By Stacy Straczynski, Associate Editor

Customized skins seem to be all the rage these days for iPods, iPhones, laptops, and any other tech gadget you can name. But Inhabit yesterday posted an item about a new photovoltaic skin concept, designed by the Laboratory for Visionary Architects (LAVA), would serve more of a purpose then simply adding a touch of personalization: the eco-friendly Enviro Skin would solve the aesthetic failure of the University of Technology Sydney Tower, which has been dubbed by Sydney as the its ugliest building.

Video via Architecture + Design

The concept calls for a composite, light-weight mesh textile to envelope the 1960s building in a cocoon that will help to reduce the structure’s carbon footprint by collecting rainwater, generating electricity, and helping to ventilate the building. At night, the skin would serve as a media surface to communicate information to students, much like a billboard in times square.

To Designers, With Love

By Stacy Straczynski, Associate Editor

With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, it’s a perfect time to revisit some of the top romance-inspiring designs from around the world. Whether you’re looking to take your sweetheart to a sexy resort for a weekend getaway or enjoy a quiet dinner for two—or even if you’re single and on the prowl—these top destination designs are sure to get your libido pumping.

The in Poznan, Poland centers itself on the suave inspirations of jazz music--literally. The jazz club and restaurant, designed by designed by Ewelina Jankowska, features a bright red piano at the heart of its interior that gives life to the seductively smoky room, outfitted with natural stone walls, copper tones, and plush sofa seating that creates the perfect space to snuggle up with your date and enjoy the sounds of passionate improvisation.

Nothing speaks to romance more than a blatant sexual innuendo. Ultra, a Toronto restaurant hotspot that recently received a redesign by 2010 Interiors Awards winner Munge Leung Design Associates, boasts walls adorned with cocks (roosters, that is—get your minds out of the gutter!), which Munge Leung managing partner Alessandro Munge told Contract can be interpreted in many ways. Overall the space screams provacative luxury, perfect for the man looking to really strut his stuff on the dating scene. 

There’s nothing like a trip to the great “indoors” to inspire love. Guests at the Four Seasons, Jackson Hole, with interior design by Brayton Hughes, can experience all the natural beauty found outdoors through the casual, yet elegant design detail metaphors. High-trussed ceilings and large-framed widows take advantage of the natural mountain views, while zigzag patterns and natural elements incorporate river scenery into every corner. The hotel was rated by Travel + Leisure readers as one of the top romantic destinations--probably due to its status as the perfect cuddle zone.

  

While many people have experimented with interplays between sex and food, Toronto’s Mildred Temple Kitchen, designed by Brian Brownlie of du Toit Architects,  is taking this naturally-found relationship a bound beyond oysters and chocolate by encouraging its diners to “get it on” in one of its modernly-styled bathrooms. So once you’ve finished entrees in the chic dining room, featuring classic ivory-colored seating and large floor-to-ceiling windows, be sure to leave room for “dessert.” 

 
What better place to walk on the wild side of romance than in Sin City? The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, designed by Mark Zeff of Zeff Designs, boast trendsetting towers that feature a rock n’ roll atmosphere with dark purple, black and brown interiors for lavishly sexy sophistication. Add in the room service menu that includes selections of lingerie and other adult items for late night fun and its no wonder guests will want to skip the craps table in exchange for a night in.

What designs and destinations have insired romance for you? Share them with us by commenting below.

On the Cutting Edge of Spanish Architecture

By Adam Figman, Editorial Intern
 
Earlier today I attended “Architecture From Spain,” a look at the state and plans for evolution of Spanish architecture, specifically in the Castilla y León region of Northern Spain. The event took place in Tafel Hall at the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, a large white room filled with natural light that poured in through the street-side windows.
 
AIA Executive Director Rick Bell kicked the day off with an introduction, during which he outlined the goal of the day’s seminars: to contribute to an understanding of the world via a knowledge of the materials we have and the way people construct things. Bell explained that research done on the computer or design done in a studio is not sufficient to fully comprehend the ways architects build the things they do. 
 
Bell went on to praise the work that’s been done in the Castilla y León region, and then had a moment of pride when he talked about the sustainability and green-ness of the building we were all sitting in.  Apparently, the New York AIA chapter is one of only a few buildings in the city powered by geothermal wells--two provide the institute’s energy in this case. This set forth the beginning of a trend on green architecture and sustainable development that consistently reappeared all day.
 
The first speaker was Mr. Juan I. Barroso, the head of the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Castilla y León government.  Barroso provided a plethora of information about the region of Spain for which he works, setting up the context for those who followed him.  Castilla y León, I learned, is spread over 36,600 square miles and contains 2,500,000 inhabitants. This leads to a very low population density, with only 70 people per square mile (the European average is 260).  These people are concentrated mostly in small towns, leaving vast countryside wide open throughout the area.
 
He also touched on the history of the vicinity. Interestingly, Castilla y León was subject to stints of Roman and Muslim rule in centuries past, the latter of which led to some pretty cool cultural integration.  Twelve Gothic cathedrals can be found in the region, and lots of movable works of art and contemporary architecture can be found, as well.
 
After Mr. Barroso’s history and cultural lesson, Mr. David Camara, president of Unex – Area Contract, took the stage. Camara’s position puts him charge of hospitality equipment, interior design, and home equipment, and he stressed the forward progress of the habitat industry in retail, which includes manufacturing fabrics, lighting, flooring decoration, and more.
 
Camara says restaurants are working to assist people with handicaps.  He also laid out all of the details that his work includes, such as “styles” (contemporary, modern, classical), “range” (high and medium-high products), and the ecological materials used (words, glass, ceramics, aluminum).  Quality service is key, says Camara, and he finds it important that the habitat and contract market in Castilla y León specializes itself so it can continue to increase in importance.  He stood behind the notion that the materials manufactured are qualified to meet the American demand, and that they offer a unique value option for architectural interior design projects throughout Europe.
 
Following Mr. Camara was Mrs. Sonia Para, who taught me everything I learned and then forgot in Introduction to Environmental Studies. Mrs. Para, a fourth generation stone business family member, sped through slides overflowing with science terms and descriptions of the different rock types offered in Northern Spain, which include sandstone, limestone, quartzite, marble and granite. She ended her seminar with a focus on (not surprisingly) sustainability, providing a scientific definition of the term and explaining that both a Life Cycle Assessment and Environmental Audit are now requirements for building in Castilla y León.
 
A pair of Spanish architects wrapped up the day, as they discussed a few projects they were completing. Mr. Miguel A. Alonso led off, and talked about the National Museum of Energy that he was working on in Ponferrada, Spain. The museum will celebrate the mining heritage or the area, while using the area’s natural elements as a thematic park. Solar power and biomass were used as energy sources, and a green covering and a solar skylight will also minimize the need for a powerful heating system. “The building is not trying to be a building with an exhibition inside, but a building that is an exhibition in itself,” he says. Mr. Rufino J. Hernandez concluded the day by talking about some projects he was working on, with pictures to accompany his explanations.

Overall, it was definitely an interesting event, even if the thick Spanish accents made it difficult for me to understand more than a sentence or two at a time. 

March of the Mannequins

By Stacy Straczynski, Associate Editor

I saw on the evening news yesterday a crazy story about how one NY commuter devised quite an ingenious way to slip into the carpool-only lane so he could bypass the morning rush hour traffic. The woman dressed up a store mannequin, complete with sunglasses, and placed "her" in the passenger seat to serve as her plus-one. While her ploy didn't work (the cop did a double take and subsequently pulled the her over, hitting the woman with a $135 fine), you have to give that lady a few kudos for creativity.

In light of this "mannequin caper," I want to take a moment and look at some innovative mannequin designs. One design that came to mind was the new MY department store, designed by London-based retail design and display company SFD. The store, which opened in September of last year, focused on visual merchandising and used mannequins as part of the up-scale look and feel of the store.

Below, find additional images (more at Contract magazine) from the new Tesco "MY" brand store. (Photos courtesy of SFD)

High-quality finishes compliment the store design and maximize the initial visual impact for the consumer.

The color theme continues in-store with key mannequins highlighted in eye-catching colors where appropriate.

Bespoke Lingerie mannequins provided an elegant and modern approach to lingerie display, with unique metallic finishes.

The continuation of the wedge theme across the key mannequins, including the childrens range, ensures a cohesive visual approach.

--Photos and captions, Nielsen Business Media