November 30, 2007 | Broadcast | News
Financial Times: Cities on speed make icons of skylines
By Edwin Heathcote, Financial Times
Published: Nov 27, 2007
The construction boom in China has led to all kinds of seemingly apocryphal stories about a shortage of tower cranes and about the prices of steel and concrete going through the roof. The thing is, they turn out not to be apocryphal.
Hong Kong already has nearly 50 per cent more skyscrapers than the city we all still think of as the spiritual home of extruded architecture, New York. Only one of the world’s top 10 tallest buildings is now in the US – Chicago’s Sears Tower.
Asia’s skylines have become the laboratories of architecture. The freedom, speed and volume of development are giving architects the chance to make real and radical innovations.
There has probably never been a time quite like this: horizons are changing by the day, as cities on speed attempt to define themselves through architecture, to create icons of their own skylines.
November 30, 2007 | Broadcast | Events
Design&Disasters Exhibition: Making a critical difference in disasters through creative design
Date: 28 Nov 2007 – 16 Dec 2007
Time: 10AM – 9PM
Venue: Utterubbish, The City Hall Level 4 continue >>>
November 27, 2007 | Digests | Reports
China Digest #01
China Digest is an irregular update by Bert de Muynck on news relating to the development of Chinese architecture and urbanism.
From November 28 till December 5, the Blue Rock Space (at the China Millenium Monument) will host the exhibition Instant Hutong, a part of the Hutong Vision program organized by Du Liao Studio. Get the scoop in their press release; Focusing on the Beijing Hutong districts as the research object, the main goals of the program are: to show the charm of the culture of Beijing Hutongs and Siheyuans, to post the existent problems in social and physical levels, and offer some attempts at the protection of that culture in this dynamic new age. The program is planned and structured as a multi-step experience.
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Images and text of the design for the Hyatt Regency, by Goettsch Partners, in Chengdu can be seen on the World Architecture News website. The mixed-use development integrates a 12-storey shopping center with a 25-storey Hyatt Regency hotel. Together, they provide 1,200,000 square feet of retail space, 450 guest rooms and supporting hotel amenities. Goettsch Partners seem to do well with the Hyatt Regency as they were during last summer commissioned to design another Hyatt, the Park Hyatt Guangzhou mixed-use tower.
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On November 8, 2007, the big mac of book cities the Beijing Publishing Logistics Center, located in Tongzhou district and an hour and a half drive from central Beijing opened. TBJblog reports on the building designed by the Beijing Institure of Architectural Design Studio and the opening. Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD), established in October 1949 following the founding of the People’s Republic of China , is a large-scale state-owned architectural design and consulting institute.
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Linda Vlassenrood, curator of the 2006 China Contemporary exhibition in the Dutch Architecture Institute, published in the new issue of Mark Magazine a 14 page article on the Beijing and Shenzhen based architecture firm Urbanus. Projects include the Dafen Art Museum, Sungang Central Plaza and Tulou Social Housing. The whole article can be downloaded from the Urbanus-website.
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Both Der Spiegel and The Sunday Times ran major articles on Beijing’s urban development towards the 2008 Olympics. Der Spiegel does that through a series of photos capturing the Olympic Buildings under construction, while Hugh Pearman reports for The Sunday Times on the Starchitects operating in China’s capital. On CCTV he states the following; Koolhaas does not do polite architecture. He rejoices in the perversely difficult. He is therefore the very opposite of Andreu. This makes CCTV interesting, though I suspect it is more dramatic right now, half built, than it will be when finished. More CCTV-news (ain’t we loving it all?), a certain DutchTom has been stalking the building and posted throughout the last year images of the growth and rise of CCTV on his flickr-page; click here to see some recent pictures.
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In the mean time Chinese artist Cao Fei, and her Second Life alter ego China Tracy, is exploring the architectural and urban potential of Second Life, both in online version as in the preparation for a book publication. She is in the process of creating RMB City, and wants your help. She even has hard hats to make your life easier. Her website inludes the RMB City Manifesto, where one can read that Our world, however, is constructed with “transparency” and “imagination”, does it exist? It may not be. Even if it exists now, it won’t in the future. It could end after our visit, and start over again when we return. Eventually, after numerous fleeing and sneaking in, we will have the experience the whole World.
Alternative Archive Article #1
Alternative Archive Article #2
Alternative Archive Article #3
Help China Tracy create RMB City art installation
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Architectural Record and Businessweek invite you to submit your firm’s work for the 2nd Biannual “Good Design is Good Businessâ€? China awards program. Projects completed by January 2004 in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan are eligible. Winners will be featured in the China editions of Architectural Record and BusinessWeek. The submission deadline is November 30, 2007. Click here further to either get the pfd for submitting your projects or to see last year’s winners.
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Digest by Bert de Muynck.
Bert de Muynck is an architect, writer and director of movingcities. He lives and works in Beijing, China.
November 26, 2007 | Broadcast | Events
*A MUST SEE!* TheatreWorks presents V.I.S.T.A Lab 2.0:INTERFERENCE
TheatreWorks presents
V.I.S.T.A Lab 2.0:INTERFERENCE
<Visual.Interactive.Sound.Text
A Process-Presentation by
Choy Ka Fai
In collaboration with
Joavien Ng, Mohd Fared Jainal, Patricia Toh, Ling Hock Siang, Ng Yi-Sheng, Zulkifle Mahmod, Khoo Eng Tat, Lim Woan Wen, GraceTan/kwodrent, and Torrance Goh/FARMWORK. continue >>>
November 26, 2007 | Uncategorized
Developments at FFW Magazine
We’ve been slowly growing our beloved FFW magazine and it is perhaps time to do a quick update on what we’ve been up to..
1- Video content. We are going to embark on producing video content for the site, probably studio tours or perhaps short documentary-style clips,etc. We are planning and conceptualising the whole direction of the video series as we speak. If you would like to volunteer your firm/design studio for us to tour or you just want to be involved in the production of these videos, drop us an email!
2- We’ve been busy behind the scenes, trying to link-up with other knowledge and event partners. We are talking to different people to organise events, bring more content to the magazine and help in the drive to grow the architecture community in Singapore and also across Asia.
3- Building a community at FFW Magazine. Since we first dreamed of FFW Magazine, we’ve always wanted it to be more than just a magazine but rather as a launch pad for the community. We are deliberating on re-working the website with a new engine and a modified structure so that we can make the system more open for participation.
4-Expansion of editorial team. At this stage, our editorial team has grown to 6 active contributors and we are expecting another addition soon. We’ve got writers from across the region and in all, the expansion of the editorial team will be an ongoing process as we would like to expand the knowledge base from which we can tap onto. With all of us contributing our own expertise and angle, I really feel that FFW Magazine can keep on growing to greater heights!
If you would like to be part of the FFW Magazine setup or have ideas, comments,criticism about it, drop us an email or discuss it in the forums. We want to hear from you! Till next time..keep walking!:)
November 26, 2007 | Uncategorized
New Office..soon.
We are getting ready to move into a new office at the end of the month. Nothing overly fancy but definitely something that we will be calling home..a nice, pleasant and fun environment for us to play in..I mean..work in. A home to base ourselves as we continue our journey in life.
Stay tuned for more information on our new address and who knows, perhaps more than just a new address..;)
November 26, 2007 | Uncategorized
Spotted: Magical Spaces Exhibition
We’ve had a decent amount of listings in the media for the Magical Spaces Exhibition and for those who STILL haven’t visited it, please go now! It is still on until the 14th of November 2007 at The Asylum, 22 Ann Siang Rd.
Anyway, here are some places that we have spotted our humble event popping up:
TIMEOUT SINGAPORE.
A friend told us that we are featured in the magazine but anyways, we found our project on their website.
TODAY NEWSPAPER- 01 Nov 2007
I-S Magazine- Spotted on 04 Nov 2007
Also, we were recently interviewed by CUBES magazine for a report on the project. More on that in the near future!
November 26, 2007 | Uncategorized
We are officially more friendly.
The 5ft website is now officially more friendly! Check out the smiley face..that’s proof that we are friendly! Ok, but seriously, its more friendly on the eyes. Out with the dull and visually heavy colours of the previous site.
Like we said when we first started this blog/website, we will let it take shape slowly..evolving with nature, with time and with us. That’s how we like to approach our projects too, let the process shape the product.
November 24, 2007 | Features
The Archifest 07 Pamphlet
For those who haven’t got their hands on an Archifest pamphlet, here are some photos of it! continue >>>
November 24, 2007 | Broadcast | Events
Wonderland by Culture Push
Our friends at CulturePush are organising their first event called NEXT STOP: WONDERLAND. We’ll be there so you should too!:)
Inspired by an enchanted forest, the Majestic Bar is a hidden oasis in the heart of Chinatown. Conceived as a tree within a building, each story in this three-storey bar represents a different part and experience of being in the tree.
In a rare collaboration of art and architecture, Majestic Bar integrates artworks by Zadok ben David, Donna Ong, Sandra Lee and Yuki Chong, transforming a classic shophouse into a living work of art.
Join us for a night of drinks and conversation with architects Annex A and artists Donna Ong, Sandra Lee and Yuki Chong as they bring us on a very personal tour of Majestic Bar.
The first of a series of intimate and friendly tours and talks initiated by Culturepush, we invite arts enthusiasts, aspiring artists and ultimately, people curious about art, to meet up-and-coming and successful Singapore-based artists and designers to find out more about their work.
The event is free. To reserve a place, email Michele at michele@culturepush.com by Friday, 23rd November.
NEXT STOP: WONDERLAND
8pm, Wednesday, 28th November
Majestic Bar
41 Bukit Pasoh Road [Map]
www.majesticbar.com
November 24, 2007 | Broadcast | Events
Alvar Aalto Exhibition at NUS Museum.
Alvar Aalto & Architecture
29 November, Thursday
2.00pm
Panel discussion & exhibition tour
Theatre Green Room, University Cultural Centre, 50 Kent Ridge Crescent, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119279
An afternoon designed to inform and enlighten both the specialist and the non-specialist, this session explores selected aspects of Alvar Aalto’s architectural practice. His motivations and architectural philosophy will be discussed, including design in other domains (furniture et al) as a vital part of his architectonic entity as well as the relevance and applicability of his architectural ideas. The panel will be chaired by Associate Professor Wong Yunn Chii, Head of the NUS Department of Architecture. Featured speakers include Mr Markku Lahti, Director of the Alvar Aalto Foundation and Ms Mirkku Kullberg, Managing Director of Artek.
SPECIAL FEATURE: Gain deeper insights as Director Lahti gives a special tour of the exhibition following the panel discussion. Limited places available on a first-come-first-served basis.
For further updates and enquiries, visit www.nus.edu.sg/museum or contact NUS Museum via tel 6516 4617 or email museum@nus.edu.sg
November 24, 2007 | Broadcast | Events
Objects as Architecture, Architecture as Objects
November 28 to December 6 2007
Sculpture Square
FREE Entry
November 24, 2007 | Articles | Features
Archifest 07
ArchiFest is an Architectural Design Festival that celebrates the built environment and preludes the Singapore Architecture Biennale 2010. Held annually, it is a platform for all walks of life to discuss, debate and deliberate architectural issues. Participants will find themselves engaging in uninhibited dialogue, creative collaborations and a constant exchange of ideas. continue >>>
November 24, 2007 | Broadcast | News
ZLG Design finish the BOH Visitor Center in Malaysia
The people who are responsible for Avenue K’s posh, polished facade in Kuala Lumpur have now completed a project in the Sungei Palas Estate in the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. ZLG recently received the 2007 International Barbara Cappochin Foundation Special Prize Award for the project.
November 21, 2007 | Articles | Broadcast | Features | News
“We built this city… without architects”
It was only this morning that I read about Robert Campbell’s (of Architectural Record Magazine) wish to experience architecture ‘with seven senses, not one’. He very rightly supplied a quote from Juhani Pallasmaa: “Instead of experiencing our being in the world, we behold it from outside as spectators of images projected on the surface of the retina.â€?
Campbell was speaking about how some specific examples of recent architecture in North America no longer engaged all vehicles of the human senses; but instead sought to impress upon only one: that of the visual. Campbell’s collumn left a somewhat sour aftertaste, saying, “Maybe someday, architecture won’t be up to the architects at all. Driving along in our bean-sprout-fueled cars, we’ll simply flip a switch to create our own environment. The same building will be Palladio for me, Goff for you.”
November 20, 2007 | Broadcast | News
Beijing Is Ready for the Olympics
By Ullrich Fichtner in Beijing, www.Spiegel.de
Ten months before the official kickoff of the Summer Olympics, China has already prepared the stage for the world’s top sporting event. Twenty new sports facilities have been built and 11 others renovated. The message from Beijing is clear: Nothing about the 2008 Olympics has been left to chance.
[Images and Text Courtesy of Spiegel Online. More at www.Spiegel.de ]
November 20, 2007 | Broadcast | News
The world’s tallest tallest building?
Kuwait Burj-beater plans get green light
by Joel Bowman on Thursday, 08 November 2007, ArabianBusiness.com
Kuwait has taken another a step closer to trumping Gulf Arab neighbour Dubai in the race to build the world’s tallest building after authorities approved initial plans for a colossal new development that includes a tower expected to be over one kilometre high. The project includes construction of a 200-hectare natural desert reservation, a new airport, a large business centre, as well as areas that concentrate on the environment, sports, media, health, education, and industry. At its centre will be the Burj Mubarak Al-Kabir, a tower soaring 1,001 metres into the air – almost twice the height of Taiwan’s Taipei 101, which is 509 metres tall and officially still the world’s tallest building. continue >>>
November 20, 2007 | Broadcast | Events
MAD in China
Danish Architecture Centre
Copenhagen, Denmark
From ArcSpace.com
