Architecture Magazine

Architecture Magazine

Architecture Magazine featuring great design, architecture, fashion, graphics and innovation from across the globe.

 

Unasur

Unasur is an institutional headquarters building located next to the Mitad del Mundo monument, north of Quito, Ecuador. About 75 percent of the program is placed underground, so the volume stays lower than the nearby monument. A solid reinforced concrete core supports two large metal trusses that form a habitable beam with a cantilever of 56 meters without support. Materials include concrete, steel, rock from an on-site quarry and double glazed dark glass. Water collection, cross ventilation and natural light reduce energy use. Open areas around the building are public.

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Hengqin International Financial Center

Hengqin International Financial Center is a mixed-use tower located on Hengqin CBD Island. The building combines office, conference, exhibition, apartment and retail functions in one whole. Inspired by an ancient Chinese painting known as the Kowloon map, the tower has a continuous spiral form that rises from the ground and splits into four crowns. The height reaches 339 meters, and the typical floor plan measures 44.8 meters in width and depth. Digital modeling and parametric design were used to rationalize the facade panels and control construction cost.

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Vanke Yanming Lake

Xi'an Vanke Yan Ming Lake is a showroom building located in Xi'an, China. The exterior form follows the lines of the nearby mountain and lake. A spiral structure on the second floor creates a viewing platform eighteen meters long. The curved outer walls act as blank surfaces, so light, shadow and nature complete the appearance. The facade combines fiber cement boards with weather-resistant steel plates, which reduce material waste and extend the life of the building. The transition space is open to the public for leisure and rest.

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Ruyi

Ruyi is an exhibition centre located in the Longhu Financial Centre in Zhengzhou, China. The form of the building is based on Ruyi, a ceremonial sceptre that is a traditional symbol of good fortune in China. A steel structure creates the curved shape of the building. The entire facade is covered with white aluminium plates. Each plate is shaped into a curve with a different arc through precise calculation. The plates are joined to form a streamlined surface. The building covers an area of 1800 square metres and acts as a landmark within the financial district.

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ShuiFa Info Town

Shuifa's four "stones" arrangement design is inspired by Wang Wei's verse of “Rain passes in the pristine mountain, refreshing autumn evening. Moon shines among the pine, clear spring flows on stones”. The main structure is assembled out of white perforated panels, the density of the perforation of the plate gradually changes from top to bottom according to the function of the building interior. More transparency is given to display area, and less for office space. In general, this subtle gradual change in transparancy creates a pure cultural motifs.

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White Mountain

White Mountain is a community clubhouse in Nanjing, China, with an area of 2000 square meters. The design combines a surface landscape with underground construction. The form is inspired by rolling hills, so the landscape flows down and links the surface with the underground spaces. The solid appearance of the building is reduced, which helps the clubhouse blend into the urban space and keeps the continuity of the urban landscape. GRC, a building material with strong plasticity, shapes the smooth curves of the facade and the landscape installation.

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