There’s much to admire about our Scandinavian neighbours; whether it be the outstanding architecture of Stockholm, the minimalistic qualities of the region’s sought-after interior designs or, as suggested by the most recent Carlsberg advertisement, their love of natural environments. Steadily pushing the boundaries of interdisciplinary design, Scandinavia sets a precedence for architecture and design, and Oslo-based practice, Snøhetta, is indeed no exception.
Drainage has long been considered a purely functional element of any design. So much so that it’s often something landscape architects try to hide to ensure it doesn’t detract from the overall look and feel of the space.
AQATA has expanded its Design Solutions range for 2018 to include the new DS500 Quintet. The uniquely five-sided shower enclosure fits perfectly into corners providing a contemporary design as well as maximising the bathroom’s floor area - creating a feeling of more space.
The industrial concrete trend has been around for some years, featured on TV and in high-end architectural and interior design magazines. Poured concrete kitchen worktops, splashbacks and cladded walls are becoming highly fashionable, but there are shortcomings with the real thing, explains Jon Stanley, Vice President of Marketing at Caesarstone UK.
The Butterfly Pavilion is an iconic design element of Noor Island. Together with numerous installations, small structures, light, media objects, unusual plants and a musical soundscape, it gives rise to a holistic, multi-sensory experience.
British Architect Will Alsop’s practice, aLL Design, in collaboration with The Spadina Group Associates (TSGA) – a joint venture of IBI Group, LEA Consulting and WSP – has designed and completed two of six stations on the Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) new TYSSE (Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension).
When the Natural History Museum decided to replace its famous ‘Dippy’ the diplodocus exhibit with a new star exhibit – a real-life skeleton of a blue whale – design and engineering expertise from Lancashire provided a solution to balance all the elements.
As the demand for high-specification office washrooms has increased, so too has the specification of materials which are not traditionally associated with washrooms. While creating a unique design is important, it should not compromise on practicality. Trevor Bowers, Director at washroom designer and manufacturer, Washroom Washroom, explains how, by careful selection of materials and considered bespoke design features, it’s possible to create a washroom that delivers the perfect balance of form and function without compromise.
Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) is used as the foundation for concurrent engineering processes to simplify and fully optimise the structure wherever possible, to reduce manufacturing and assembly costs and to quantify improvements. This process helps to identify, calculate and eliminate waste or inefficiency in the building design. Kevin Riley, board member of the Structural Timber Association and Head of Business Line, LVL, for Stora Enso – discusses why DfMA is becoming an increasingly important consideration.
Road and rail tunnels are not often associated with inspirational design but this tunnel portal building in Austria, defined by perforated Nordic Brass copper alloy from Aurubis, heralds a new role in this typology for architects.
