Millennium Waters, Greenest Neighborhood in the World!

As expected the Vancouver Winter Olympics, made every effort to ensure that the Olympic Village, Millennium Waters, was as eco-friendly as possible, but while doing so they have actually managed to develop the Greenest, most energy efficient and sustainable Neighborhood in the world!

Millennium Waters, is located on Southeast False Creek across from the BC Place Stadium and its close proximity to the city center was only one of the many factors that resulted in receiving both a LEED Platinum certification for the entire neighborhood and a LEED Gold status for all of the buildings included in the village.

The newly-constructed village, features the city’s first renewable energy heating system, net zero energy building (a structure that produces as much energy as it consumes), natural and non-toxic building materials, devices capable of measuring the energy and water used by occupants, solar panels and solar hot water systems generating power for the households and many- many more eco features. Wow!

2.600 athletes and coaches are the current occupants of the Village although once the Games are over, individuals will be able to buy the award winning condos and homes and live in this greener than green, true mixed-use complex.

MVRDV Expo Building

World expos are fantastic. In the literal meaning. They show many kinds fantasies. They allow for this great opportunity to express excitement and admiration. The past has given a series of true world wonders that express that rare combination of entertainment and education, of research and achievement, like the Eifel Tower in Paris, the Sphere at the NY expo, the Montreal Habitat building, Buckminsterfullers dome in Montreal. What to add to this history? Can the chosen theme lead to a new powerful object?
The world expo in Yeosu focuses on the power and beauty of the oceans. How to express that the best? Could it be done by – simply- making a pure visible block of water that obviously expresses the beauty and the power? A block that is extracted from the ocean. This block is hollowed out, to create a great water space, where one is surrounded by water. Along the sides, above and below. Where light filters through and give every activity a glance. That can be used for the exhibitions, the gatherings, during and after the world expo. One is in the water. The water cube is constructed out of a surrounding wall with a series of water basins that are stacked on top of each other. Based on the maximum structural capacities of the glass facades and floors. It allows showing all the different aspects of the oceans!
The façade turns into a mini museum, into a library of the oceans! Thus the central water space turns into a cathedral like space that celebrates the oceans. With all the environmental differences in the world. The deep sea, the tropical parts, the mangroves, the reefs, etcetera. The basins are organized like a world map. So that any different sea can be shown and positioned clearly: the polar seas on top and the bottom, and the tropical parts in the middle. The coast lines of the contents are clearly expressed on the facade.

source: ArchDaily

BIG + Fuglark, Education Centre - Faroe Islands

Designed by Danish architects Bjarke Ingels Group and Faroe Islands architects Fuglark, the Faroe Islands Education Centre, situated on a hillside on the outskirts of Torshavn, resembles the radiating structure of a vortex, has a panoramic view overlooking the sea, mountains and harbor and will be the largest educational building project in the country’s history.The stunning, 19,200 sq m Education Centre, will be housing 1,200 students and 300 teachers, combining a secondary school and two colleges in one building.
At the school’s heart is an open rotunda space, creating a natural gathering point across floor levels and academic interests, creating a sense of community for learning and life.
A stepped interior reflects the undulating Faroe landscape with its alternating plateaus, stairwells and terraces serving different social and academic activities.
The generous surroundings provide unique opportunities to shape the school from the inside out ‐ as a functional sculpture formed by the schools internal needs.

Cherokee Lofts, LEED Gold multifamily building, California

The Cherokee Lofts by Pugh + Scarpa Architects is the first LEED Gold-certified mixed-use or market-rate multifamily building in Southern California.
The five-story building features 2800-square-feet retail space on the first floor, and it has 12 lofts located on the second, third and fourth floors. The architects have also designed a green roof, and an underground level of parking. The structure’s exterior features perforated metal construction, which is designed to function as accordion shutters, which can be opened or closed by the residents to create an ever-changing building front and let in natural light for illumination.
The result, a constantly changing building front, providing alternative views inside.
The project pays homage to the musical and hollywood history of cherokee recording studios,
MGM studios before it, and those who recorded music on site from frank sinatra to david bowie
to dave matthews. While its architectural form and integrated function are an expression of the environmental and cultural context in which it is built.

Prada Pop-up Boutique, Paris

Technically the pop-up stores, restaurants, galleries etc phenomenon, aren’t a new concept; but we all have to admit that nowadays the trend seems to be hotter than ever.

And when Prada is involved in a pop-up project, well let’s just say that the result is something to remember. So, harry up because this pop-up beauty will be open till December 31^st.

Situated at Place Beauvau 92, the boutique was designed by architect Roberto Baciocchi. Both the Mirabeau Bridge and the Italian luxury firm’s original store in Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II; were the inspirational forces behind this surrealistic, two floor and 570 square meter space.

The bohemian theme carries on throughout, with a Montmartre-inspired, mannequin-lined street scene up the staircase; bronze and glass apothecary cases; lilac velvet furnishings; and an abundance of floor-to-ceiling mirrors.

Prada’s love for innovation and rich history perfectly blend together in this one of a kind, pop-up boutique.

One might wonder…. Could this be the era of pop-up Architecture?