Steven Holl Architects,Tianjin, Ecology and Planning Museums, China

It was back in 2009 when we wrote a post about Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City Investment and Development Co., Ltd (SSTEC), developing the first eco-business park of its kind in Tianjin Eco-City, China.

Today we run into this almost poetic project by the renown New York and Beijing based practice Steven Holl Architects.

Steven Holl Architects, Tianjin, Ecology and Planning Museums, Chine - Images by Steven Holl 

Rudy Riccioti, MuCEM, Marceille

Set on an extraordinary site in Marseilles, the Museum of Civilizations in Europe and the Mediterranean, also known as the MuCem, is an emblematic structure, I just fell in love with.

Rudy Riccioti, MuCEM, Marceille - Photo by Lisa Ricciotti

An organic facade, out of this world shadows and panoramic views of the sea, are just a few of the unique qualities of this project.

Rudy Riccioti, MuCEM, Marceille - Photo by Lisa Ricciotti

Architect Rudy Ricciotti, says on his Europaconcorsi, project page:

Floating between the water and sky, at the entrance to the Old Port of Marseille, a national museum opens its doors.

Rudy Riccioti, MuCEM, Marceille - Photo by Lisa Ricciotti

Open to the sea, it draws a horizon where the two shores of the Mediterranean can meet. Never before has a museum been specifically dedicated to the cultures of the Mediterranean, despite their richness from the perspective of history and civilization.

Rudy Riccioti, MuCEM, Marceille - Photo by Lisa Ricciotti

Now a reality, the MuCEM will be inaugurated in 2013, at the very moment when Marseille will be the European Capital of Culture.

Rudy Riccioti, MuCEM, Marceille - Photo by Lisa Ricciotti

More than a museum, a cultural city, drawing on all the disciplines of the humanities and social sciences, mobilizing the artistic expressions of both shores of the Mediterranean.

Rudy Riccioti, MuCEM, Marceille - Photo by Lisa Ricciotti

Upon entering the Gallery of the Mediterranean, on the first floor of the J4 building, the public will discover, over 1,600 m², a presentation of the major events in the history of the civilisations of the Mediterranean basin.

The opening of the museum is scheduled for Spring 2013.

For more stunning photos of this project, visit Europaconcorsi.

L'Escaut, Olympic Ice Rink in Liege, Belgium

And just when I though this was going to be another uneventful Wednesday, this super fun and eco-friendly project, landed on my browser.

Ice Rink of Liège by L'Escaut Architecture, Belgium - Photos by Marc Detiffe

Pretty impressive right? The new Olympic Ice Rink, in Liege actually looks like a whale.

Designed by L'Escaut Architecture, the Liege Ice Rink, is energy efficient and fun to be around.

The Architects said:

The new ice rink of Liège is embedded into a crevice of the Médiacité, private real estate development project which came to redevelop a former industrial site on the right bank of the Meuse. It inherits several constraints that it clarifies in an autonomous and unitary form, until incorporating the access to the mall's car park in its climax: the whale’s head.

Ice Rink of Liège by L'Escaut Architecture, Belgium - Photos by Marc Detiffe

As the opacity of the building is essential to insulate it from the heat, it is its entire body, by its nature, its material and its shape that means the relational dimension it wants to maintain with its environment. 

Ice Rink of Liège by L'Escaut Architecture, Belgium - Photos by Marc Detiffe

Moreover, the composition of its outer shell (on the mass-spring-mass principle) achieves a noise attenuation of 50db and protects the residents of the adjacent street.  

Ice Rink of Liège by L'Escaut Architecture, Belgium

This « public mammal », stranded behind a scene dedicated to consumers, plays with the shimmering of its metal skin and the glare of its white interior to attract citizens and encourage them to skate.

For more stunning pictures, drawings and details, you can visit the Ice Rink of Liege page.

OFIS Architects, The Cultural Center Of European Space Technologies, Slovenia

Talking about future architecture, please, say hello to KSEVT, formally known as The Cultural Center of European Technologies in Slovenia. A place I had no idea even existed until I stumbled on this informative article on KNSTRT.

Would you ever guess that a tiny little Slovenia mountain village is the home to a ground breaking rocket engineer who pioneered theories on long-term human habitation of space? That’s right! Herman Potocnik Noordung, the first theoretician of space, was raised on the hillside of Vitanje. It is Potocnik’s theoretical work that brings the new Cultural Center of European Space Technologies (KSEVT) to the small town today.

OFIS Architects, The Cultural Center Of European Space Technologies, Slovenia

Soho Galaxy, Zaha Hadid Architecture, Urban Complex, Beijing

Our personal favorite Starchitect, Zaha Hadid, did it again!

This time one of her latest projects, the 330,000 square meter, Galaxy SOHO, urban complex, in Beijing, is nominated, for The Designs of the Year 2013 Awards, the so called "Oscars of the Design World". Way to go, Zaha!

Let's take a look at this one of a kind project, hot cup of coffee at hand and all...

One of the design concepts of the project is to create an internal world reflecting the theme of the Chinese courtyard.

Soho Galaxy, Zaha Hadid Architecture, Urban Complex, Beijing

IAMZ Design Studio, L'Oreal Office Building, Sweden

Spending most of my day working in an office building I find plain and boring, I was so happy to discover this imaginative office building design proposal, by IAMZ Design Studio, for the new L'Oreal offices in Stockholm Sweden. The article was short but the pictures, made my heart go Boom Boom and I just had to share it with you.

L'Oreal Office Building by IAMZ Design Studio, Stockholm, Sweden

Residential Project Line K, Pinnacle Peak Place

When it comes to residential projects, there is nothing that we love more than when exceptionally talented people get together and create high-end yet affordable homes.

Given a chance I would be in that pool enjoying a frozen margarita, any time!

Residential Project Line K, Pinnacle Peak Place