30 May 2007

FIFA Unveils New World HQ

FIFA the governing body of world soccer(futbol) today unveiled its new headquarters as a prelude to its next congressional meeting. The design by Swiss architect Tilla Theus is estimated to have cost the organization around $196 million and includes: five underground levels, a fitness center, meditation room, conference facilities, geographically themed parks and a full-size international football pitch. The Zurich based design firm is not only known for its architecture but also its modern furniture designs as well.


FIFA Official Website
VOA News Article

29 May 2007

Hamburg Philharmonic Gets New Home

In a move reminiscent of Norman Foster's Hearst Building in New York City, Herzog and deMeuron are attempting to provide a new home for the Hamburg Philharmonic in Hamburg, Germany. The design is intended to sit atop a 1960's brick warehouse along the waterfront of the port of Hamburg. The complex dubbed the Elbphilharmonie will house 2 concert halls, a hotel, several private loft residences and shops. In conjunction with the International Maritime Museum Hamburg the cultural complex should provide both a new node to the city center as well as economic stimulation to the waterfront area.



Elbphilharmonie by the numbers:


Gross floor area: approx. 119,000 m2
Existing building: approx. 58,000 m2
New building: approx. 61,000 m2
Gross volume: approx. 475,110 m3

Large concert hall seats: approx. 2.150
Small concert hall seats: approx. 550

Highest point of structure: 107 m
Height of Interior Plaza: 37 m

Loft dwellings: approx. 50

Hotel rooms: approx. 210

Parking bays: approx. 570


Scheduled for completion in 2008

25 May 2007

19 May 2007

Linked Hybrid 2 - Steven Holl Architects



This is the second in a series of viral videos from Steven Holl Architects describing their Linked Hybrid project in Beijing, China. According to Holl, the project will incorporate many features of modern "green" thinking in terms of solar shading, gray water reuse, roof gardens and on-site geothermal energy use to name a few.

Arcspace on Linked Hybrid

18 May 2007

Intriguing Earth Architecture 11

Kendall Square Biotech LabKendall Square Biotech Lab, Cambridge, MA, USA - Steven Ehrlich


17 May 2007

Afro-American Cultural Center Charlotte, NC


The Freelon Group based out of Research Triangle Park, NC was recently awarded the 2007 AIA Triangle Award for Unbuilt Projects for its Afro-American Cultural Center project to be located in downtown Charlotte near Bank of America Stadium. Among many awards the firm also won the 2001 North Carolina Outstanding Firm Award.
According to information posted on their website regarding the project, "...The 50,000-square-foot headquarters will be located in the heart of Charlotte's central business district in the area once occupied by the historic Brooklyn neighborhood, the once-thriving center of the Black community which was raised in the 1960's."


Architectural Record Link
ArchNewsNow Article regarding Freelon

14 May 2007

Skyscraper Creates All Its Own Energy


Interesting news article from Metaefficient of a proposed project in Dubai, UAE called Burj al-Taqa. The high rise tower which translates as "Energy Tower" in English is to be a purely self-sufficient building in terms of energy usage. The design of the building minimizes its exposure to the sun while also employing a giant wind turbine and numerous solar panels to provide its sustainability within the local climate of the Persian Gulf.


Spiegel Article Link

12 May 2007

Linked Hybrid - Steven Holl Architects


This is the first in a series of viral videos from Steven Holl Architects describing their Linked Hybrid project in Beijing, China. According to Holl, the project will incorporate many features of modern "green" thinking in terms of solar shading, gray water reuse, roof gardens and on-site geothermal energy use to name a few.

Green Building Wiki


05 May 2007

01 May 2007

11th Annual Webby Winners Announced



Congratulations from ecAr2.0 to the nominees and winners of the 11th Annual Webby Awards. Among this year's winners are two design blogs that are featured in our sidebar under Allied Design Blogs. The Webby winner for the Blog-Culture/Person category was we make money not art while TreeHugger won the Peoples Voice Award. Design Observer was also a featured nominee in this category. Also of note were the winners of the Art Category. The Webby went to Electrolux Design Lab and the People's Design Award website won the Peoples Voice Award. For a full listing of all nominees and award recipients follow the link below.