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| Source: Flickr User: harry_nl |
Educatorium, Utrecht, the Netherlands, 1997 designed by OMA
The Educatorium is composed of two planes which fold to accommodate a range of distinct programs, including an outdoor plaza, two lecture halls, cafeteria and a testing facility. Planes interlock to create a single trajectory in which the entire university experience – socialization, learning, examination – is encapsulated. -- architect's web site
The design of the Educatorium is conceptualized as two planes that fold, wrap, and interlock with one another. In section the two planes appear to be in contention with one another; one plane rigid the other fluid a suggestion as to the programmatic, spatial, and social juxtapositions happening within. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: MVRDV |
Calveen Office building, Amersfoort, the Netherlands, 1999 designed by MVRDV
This new typical plan consists of a central core with a passage of 1.5 meters along a closed façade and an office zone along the floor-to-ceiling glass façade. By mirroring the plan on each level in the east-west orientation, a zigzag section is created, which is the most important trademark of the building. -- architect's web site
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| Source: Piotr Krajewski |
Elbberg Campus, Hamburg, Germany, 2003 designed by BRT Architects
the office building featuring curved and folded, metal-clad planes that snake up and around the building. Seen on end from the street, glass walls with louver fill in the areas between these planes. -- a weekly dose of architecture
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| Source: Fernando Guerra, Sergio Guerra archdaily.com |
Bus Station of Rio Maior, Rio Maior, Portugal, 2005 designed by Domitianus Arquitectura
It is a blade, or piece of white concrete with high-intensity plastic that solves the whole proposal, revealing an autonomous body coated by wood panels which are organized, in two different floors the area of service users. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: Te-Ming Chang |
Institute of Contemporary Art(ICA), Boston, USA, 2006 designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro
“The Fold,” hardly a new idea, was all the rage in the 1990s, inspired by writings of Gilles Deleuze and the proclivities of emerging computer software. Despite that decade’s prodigious outflow of “folded” schemes from architecture schools and theoretical practices, only a few (from UN Studio and several other firms) actually got built. While the ICA’s fold flows dynamically down the building’s west side, the curve becomes more rigid, far less expressive on the east face, where it seems almost a conceit superimposed on more straightforward, rectilinear forms. -- Architectural Record
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| Source: Jordán Sanz archdaily.com |
Optimil Offices, Castellón, Spain, 2006 designed by CSO arquitectura + ALT arquitectura
The project arises from the manipulation of a continuous surface which by means of two operations, cutting and folding, resolve the entire programme. In this way it appears as if it were an object which does not emerge from the ground, it poses on it. Without jumps or breaks in its continuity, it wraps playfully round the topography being an external face and internally, a floor, wall, ceiling, framework and roof. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: Jaime Sicilia archdaily.com |
Cultural Center in Son Ferriol, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, 2006 designed by Jordi Herrero + Sebastián Escanellas
The building has two main uses. The ground floor houses the Senior Center, a coffee shop, two offices and a multipurpose room. On the ground floor is the Casal de Barri, a library and three multi-purpose rooms. The core bathrooms, stairs and elevator are located at the corner, to optimize the distribution. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: K.Torimura archdaily.com |
House in Minami Boso, Chiba, Japan designed by Kiyonobu Nakagame & Associates
“Having these [the views] in our mind, we came up with the design concept to provide the one continuous wall folded in different directions setting up the various views,” explained the architects. This continuous wall does not create a bulky structure that is intrusive on the landscape, but rather, the folded wall creates an elegant residence that embraces the surroundings by making the users focus on the natural instead of the built. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: Art Gray Photography |
Brentwood Residence, Los Angeles, California, USA, 2007 designed by Belzberg Architects
...the complex interlocking geometry and asymmetrical volumes that make up the exterior. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: archdaily.com |
Suntro House, Oaxtepec, Mexico, 2007 designed by Jorge Hernandez de la Garza
The natural light is filtered trough the folds of the house in shape of rays that softly flood the spaces. Reflects and shadows on walls and ceilings animate the interior. The shape responds to the hard hotness of the site, to place every space in the best way inside of a curved skin that opens to the immediate context to obtain the best climate and views to allow the wind circulate in a way that in summer the house can stay cool. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: archdaily.com |
Openhouse, Hollywood Hills, California, USA, 2007 designed by XTEN Architecture
Set in a visible hillside area above Sunset Boulevard, the Openhouse appears as a simple folded line with recessed glass planes, a strong sculptural form at the scale of the site. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: archdaily.com |
Shell, Kitasaku, Nagano, Japan, 2008 designed by ARTechnic architects
A large shell shaped structure finds itself in the middle of the woods. It is hard to determine what exactly the structure is, and unlike the surrounding caves and rocks, it clearly is not a part of nature – nor is it a ruin. A frame, a shape, made at a completely different place for a completely different purpose. Within this shell shaped structure will one find floors constructed, wall separating spaces, and rooms furnished. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: Tisselli Studio Architetti archdaily.com |
VC1, Cesana, Italy, 2008 designed by Tisselli Studio Architetti
Cleanliness and compactness of the prospects are the aims always pursued and happily reached through the use of a simple and direct language, particularly evident in the formulation of the principal prospects: ample balconies extend themselves along the front whole length, but an single graphic sign coordinates the complexity of the system-prospect of the openings, synthesizing the single elements in an unique dominant motive, in the identification profile of the whole architectural body. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: archdaily.com |
Folded House, Vienna Woods, Austria, 2008 designed by x Architekten
The folding of the rooms and the interior development realise an analytically clear structure. The building as a serpentine line enables residents a ground level access to the gardens on all levels. The garden, attic, bedrooms and living rooms are intertwined. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: Benthem Crouwel Architekten |
Elicium RAI(ICA), Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2009 designed by Benthem Crouwel Architekten
The Ballroom is a single large column-free space that may be divided up using sliding partitions. A seven-storey stack rises above the congress halls. Elicium puts the RAI in a better position to attract large multi-day international events and gives it a bold new front. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: Pepo Segura archdaily.com |
Social Housing Building, Tarragona, Spain, 2009 designed by Aguilera Guerrero
That plastic figure materializes in a continuous skin which guarantees a clear and unified view the building, but that specializes to serving the diverse situations of the building program and housing. Finally, the skin is cut and disappears, open to the best views and orientations, leaving visible its interior, this space wrapped, solidified and materialized, where are drawn some modulated serials overtures of housing. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: James Steinkamp |
235 Van Buren, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 2009 designed by Perkins + Will
The southern glass façade and random balconies provide a large-scale backdrop to the open space created by a major traffic interchange. A ribbon of concrete frames the glass wall, undulating to define the penthouse units and providing a large-scale gesture to the expressway as well as the taller buildings to the north. The random balconies express the individuality of the units within, as well as provide a kinetic image from the freeway. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: addinc.com |
Waterplace, Providence, Rode Island, USA designed by ADD Inc.
....design responds directly to the target market. Innovative bi-level units attract empty-nesters in search of the spaciousness of a single-family home with the advantages and allure of a downtown address. -- architect's web site
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| Source: construction.com |
Sheraton Milan Malpensa Airport Hotel & Conference Centre, Milan, Italy, 2010 designed by King Roselli Architetti
The building is a study in contrast and fluidity. The firm devised a comblike shape with alternating room modules and external courtyards that link to an elongated spine housing lounge and circulation areas. Roselli and his colleagues chose white “pultruded” fiberglass, a pliable, pulled, and extruded membrane used in such applications as prefabricated emergency housing. Inside, King Roselli carried its bold gestures into the public areas, using arcing ribbons of plasterboard across ceilings and around walls that recall the facade's fiberglass strips, and penetrating the hotel's core with a soaring atrium. -- Architectural Record
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| Source: David Adika archdaily.com |
Beam House, Arbel, Israel, 2010 designed by Uri Cohen Architects
The beams of the roof rest on that ‘central concrete wall’ and serve as cantilevers to the linear roof of the living area. This keeps the northern glass façade free of columns. The circular external lines affect the interior design creating a resting bench in the living room and unique lines in the windows and walls of the private spaces. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: +31 Architects archdaily.com |
Water Villa Omval, Amsterdam, the Netherlands , 2010 designed by +31 Architects
Resting on the water, +31 Architects' latest residence offers a gently curving form complete with a roof terrace. According to the architects, “The split-level principle of the watervilla is accentuated by the round design of the facade.” -- ArchDaily
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| Source: Simon Constantini |
Giacomuzzi Commercial Building, Kaltern, Italy, 2010 designed by monovolume architecture + design
The building grows up from street level to second floor like a bent ribbon. In between it shelters three storeys very open to the surroundings due to its ample insulated glass façades. The technical solutions such as photovoltaics and solar panels are integrated seamlessly into the ribbon. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: Paul Czitrom archdaily.com |
Smooth Building, Nuevo León, México, 2010 designed by Jorge Hernandez de la Garza
The structure develops like a single continuous element that surrounds the volume with different textures that respond to the climatic conditions and to the magnificent views of the context. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: Paul Ott archdaily.com |
Raiffeisen Finanz Center, Eisenstadt, Austria, 2010 designed by Pichler & Traupmann Architekten ZT GmbH
The continuity of the building envelope conveys a sense of identity to both staff and customers, while the building’s volumetric shaping ensures it a striking role in the appearance of the town. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: archidose.org |
House at the Park, Hamburg, Germany, 2010 designed by splendid_architecture
Seen from the road, the house sits at the far end of an expanse of grass, tucked by the trees as if for protection and views out. Getting closer the S-shaped ribbon that meanders from roof to wall to floor to roof to wall and floor again (in two directions) acts like podium, raising the house above the landscape that it also integrates itself into. The U-shaped plan on the first floor locates living spaces up front and bedrooms with more privacy in the rear; between is dining. The bar above houses the master bedroom. -- a weekly dose of architecture
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| Source: Hiroyasu Sakaguchi archdaily.com |
House in Takadanobaba, Tokyo, Japan, 2011 designed by Florian Busch Architects
The conceptual openness is achieved by dissolving structural rigidity into a liberating play of alternating pin connections. The floor-wall-ceiling folds become a structurally continuous shell that is held both apart and together by a few incredibly fine steel columns: 80mm diameter on the first and second, 60mm on the third floor. Lateral torsion by seismic forces is countered by the structural composition’s using the building’s length of 18 metres. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: Atrium archdaily.com |
Gorki House, Moscow, Russia, 2011 designed by Atrium
...the idea of folded plane, which is lifted a little above the ground and forms the space of the house. It creates a variety of inner and outer spaces which serve usual dwelling functions. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: Leonardo Walther archdaily.com |
GP House, Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico, 2011 designed by Bitar Arquitectos
GP House contains the basic spaces required for a townhouse: living room, dining room, bedrooms, family room, etc; distributed in two stories connected by a staircase concentrated in a vertical volume that breaks the horizontality that formally predominates the house. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: Tamás Bujnovszky archdaily.com |
Hungarian Autoklub Headquarters, Budapest, Hungary, 2011 designed by Vikar & Lukacs Architect Studio
The main gesture of the building is a ribbon that wraps around the office spaces on seven floors, while articulating a letter ‘a’. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: Andrea Martiradonna archdaily.com |
Gazoline Petrol Station, Piemonte, Italy, 2011 designed by Damilano Studio Architects
Whether it’s providing a break for refueling, or just to stretch the legs before continuing the journey, the design of a service is strongly tied to the idea of travel. With the same continuity, the service station is separated from the asphalt like a ribbon of road wrapping around itself, creating a temporary oasis to accommodate the traveller. The architecture of a service station is usually conceived as a mere support function, thus influencing its shape. The architecture, static by definition, becomes closely linked to the concept of continuous flow that becomes the urban landscape. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: GU Yunduan archdaily.com |
Rollercoaster, Beijing, China, 2011 designed by Interval Architects
a continuous self-folding belt structure that resembles the image of a “roller coaster”. The structure folds three-dimensionally to create a series of spaces such as open gardens, shaded pavilions and exhibition corridors. The entire belt bends around and in-between the existing trees on the site so they are well-preserved and maximally utilized for shading. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: Alan McAteer archdaily.com |
Riverside Museum, Glasgow, Scotland, 2011 designed by Zaha Hadid Architects
The design is a sectional extrusion, open at opposing ends along a diverted linear path, allowing the museum to position itself as a third river flowing through one of the city’s most historic locations. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: Giuseppe Dall’Arche archdaily.com |
Tower B1, Roma, Italy, 2011 designed by Valle Architetti
On the facades the transformation into residences and offices has been characterized by the addition of terraces for the new apartments. To avoid a series of repetitive isolated terraces, the exteriors have been grouped into volumes of loggias clad with micro-perforated sheets and characterized by a pattern of alternating bored-holes on each level. They create a pierced screen that has the appearance of a fabric on the facades and cross-stitching on the corners of the larger apartments to the west. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: Howard Waisman archdaily.com |
Robert H. N. Ho Research Centre, Vancouver, Canada, 2011 designed by CEI Architecture
Its narrow site dictated a narrow floor plate. Floor-to-floor heights between the two structures match, and a full-height atrium separates the buildings while providing access to light, common social gathering spaces, and direct functional connections. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: Henning Larsen Architects |
The Wave, Vejle, Denmark, designed by Henning Larsen Architects
a new unique housing that embraces the sculptural and organic forms to become a new landmark for the city. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: construction.com |
Yin Yang House, Venice, California, USA, 2012 designed by Brooks + Scarpa
To visually unify the house, the architect defined horizontal and vertical edges with a steel band that winds without interruption around the exterior. “It pulls all the pieces together, a continuous squiggle,” says Scarpa. -- Architectural Record
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| Source: Vulkers Fotografie archdaily.com |
Sports Facility Strijp, Eindhoven, The Netherlands, 2012 designed by LIAG architects
The structure of the complex consists of long horizontal bands that culminate in rounded edges. To help the different groups of users maintain their own distinct identity, the bands around the parts of the building used by the different groups are in their own colours. The main shape of the building is created by a flowing continuous line with curved edges. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: Derek Lepper archdaily.com |
Centre for Digital Media, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 2012 designed by Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership Architects
The concept is inspired by two themes or dialogues – technology and regionalism. This building seeks to express the program through a weaving and folding gesture in the architecture. The program is stacked with academic / retail at the ground floor and three levels of student housing above. A singular ribbon, folding and bending, collects these uses to engage the street as the catalyst marker on the site. -- ArchDaily
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| Source: ACDF* Architecture archdaily.com |
Saint-Eustache Library, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 2012 designed by ACDF*
The volumetric concept of the project is based on a simple extruded rectangular tube that is folded twice. At each end of the elevated tube, glass surfaces open fully to views of the river at the level of the abundant tree tops. -- ArchDaily
