Estudi Lacy by Sauquet Architects. Sabadell, Spain
Svalbard Global Secure Seed Bank on the Norwegien Island of Spitsbergen
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is a safe storage for the seeds of literary all the plants in our planet. It can withstand a nuclear strike, and aims to preserve crops in the face of climate change, war and natural disasters. The facility is managed by the Nordic Genetic Resource Center and protects crop diversity by safeguarding spare seeds that belong to the other 1400 seed banks found worldwide.
When full, the vault will hold 4.5m samples – an estimated two billion seeds – from all known varieties of the planet’s main food crops, making it possible to re-establish plants if they disappear from their natural environment or are obliterated by major disasters. That’s why the facility is also called the “Biodiversity Doomsday Vault”.
The seedbank is 120 metres (390 ft) inside a sandstone mountain on Spitsbergen Island,and employs robust security systems. Seeds are packaged in special four-ply packets and heat sealed to exclude moisture. The facility is managed by the Nordic Genetic Resource Center, though there are no permanent staff on-site.
via croptrust.org
San Jeronimo Atelier by CUAC Arquitectura. Granada, Spain
Saint Jerome 17 is a workspace, an office that brings together concepts and materials displaced within a local situated in the historic center of Granada.
Marked by the presence of a strong structure made of brick walls 60 cm. wide and wooden floors from the late nineteenth century, this place is a palimpsest of successive interventions to which we adhere us with recycled elements: a series of shuttering wood pieces is used for the creation of a channeling-cabinet infrastructure for network cabling and storage of books or models; six wooden doors, some metal shutters and pieces of glass saved from its demolition with several metal profiles from the refurbishment of a house in Granada are assembled for the formation of new holes.
Container Park by Atolye Labs In Izmir, Turkey
Recognizing that the 21st Century promises new productive relationships between education, research, and industry, iDEEGE Technopark approached Atolye Labs about a facility to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and anchor the emerging technopark in the heart of Izmir, a bustling cosmopolis in Western Turkey. The resulting project repurposes 35 second hand shipping containers to form the centerpiece of a new, vibrant research community on the campus as well as to function as a creative magnet for talent in Ege University, Izmir and Aegean region at large.
The 1000m2 technopark facility will house independent R & D facilities of large Turkish and International companies focusing on biotechnology, energy, materials and software research. This program is coupled with strategically situated “catalysts” to increase interaction and collaboration potential among all members of this community.
The project was unique not only in terms of its fast-paced research, design and construction process (all in all in a tight 9-month schedule), but also because the project’s brief, site and program was developed and refined by the design team itself. Furthermore, key design principles of site-specificity, ecology and future proofing helped create a role model for similar institutions in Turkey and beyond.
The project started with the discovery of a dormant site with the rubble of a demolished building amidst the large university campus. By re purposing locally acquired second hand shipping containers located 12km away in Izmir port, the design team was able to upcycle an underused site with underused construction materials.
via atolyelabs.com
One Workplace by Design Blitz. California, US
The One Workplace Headquarters project was a unique opportunity for both One Workplace and for Design Blitz. One Workplace is the largest furniture dealer in Northern California and the single source for Steelcase furniture in the San Francisco Bay Area. The ambitious directive was to re-define the architectural standard not only of the company, but also of the showroom experience itself and create a bleeding edge, world-class workplace that serves both employees and customers alike.
One Workplace had already shifted the industry paradigm of sales and showrooms away from a transactional experience to one of collaboration and partnership. This leadership position makes One Workplace a formidable client partner, and the next iteration of their corporate headquarters needed to embody this innovation and progression. No longer a static showroom, the working showroom needed to demonstrate what is possible when great minds come together within the context of a multi-disciplinary design lab. Blitz was a natural design partner for One Workplace. As a young firm who is redefining the architectural service model through their use of client-friendly technology and open platform, they had already established a track record for creating innovative workplaces for several of Silicon Valley’s most successful technology companies. Working in partnership with One Workplace, Design Blitz realized the transformation inbuilt form, creating a working showroom representative of One Workplace’s evolution. A collaborative process, the project brought together Design Blitz’s expertise in workplace architecture and One Workplace’s special knowledge of furniture to create a layered environment.
via designblitzsf.com
Office Greenhouse by OpenAD Riga Latvia
The Latvian firm produced an interior design project for an office which makes greenery its focal point in the creation of a serene and healthy working environment.It is a well-known fact that the architectural quality of the working environment influences the psychological and physical well-being of the workers. Office Greenhouse in Riga, Latvia, is an example of how to design a pleasant open-plan space for professional use. In the open-plan area, multipurpose furniture has been specially designed to allow the integration of both the workstations (desks) and the dining area surrounded by the presence of large potted trees. The whiteness of the furniture complements the natural wood colour of the floor and overhead beams. White painted walls alternate with bare brick walls as a tribute to the original appearance of the building materials where the office is located. Not surprisingly, the office designed by Open AD is called “Greenhouse” because it is extremely bright, like a greenhouse, thanks to large windows looking out onto a view of the city which also adds to the comfort of the working area.
via livegreenblog.com
