It summer time and classes are over!  FUTURES+ would like to bring to your attention X|A Advanced Architectural Design Workshops Summer 2013. X|Atelier is organizing three international intensive workshops of Advanced Architectural Design. The X|A Summer Workshops 2013 are led by X|A principals Erick Cárcamo (SCI-ARC) and Nefeli Chatzimina (USC) in collaboration with Sevgi Türkkan (ITU) all graduates of Columbia University in New York City. As part of an ongoing academic research, X|A workshops introduce participants into contemporary discussions of formal exploration in Architecture and Art.

FIRM: X|Atelier
SCHOOLS: Hellenic Institute of Architecture &
Istanbul Technical University and Yapi-Endustri Merkezi
PROFESSORS: Erick Cárcamo, Nefeli Chatzimina, and Sevgi Türkkan
COURSE: X|A workshops
YEAR: Summer 2013 - [APPLY HERE]

Through technical attainment of design and digital production the X|A Workshops give the opportunity to students of Architecture and Art, and Professional Architects, Designers, and Artists to challenge new design territories. Our goal is to explore innovative, potential architectural expressions of the current discourse around form through computational tools (Autodesk MAYA). We will focus on technique elaboration, material intelligence, formal logic efficiencies and precision assemblies as an ultimate condition of design. The workshop will develop and investigate the notion of proficient geometric variations at a level of complexity, so that questions towards geometrical effectiveness, accuracy, and performance can begin to be understood in a contemporary setting. The workshop is a discourse based in the use of multi-layered techniques and production processes that allow for control over intelligent geometries, calibration of parts, and behavioral taxonomies, normalizing an innovative held of predictability.

X|A Istanbul Workshop is hosted by the Istanbul Technical University and Yapi-Endustri Merkezi. Selected Participants will attend the Computation Workshop taking place from 17th-27th of June in ITU [Istanbul Technical University] and the Final Review and Exhibition of workshop results hosted by YEM [Yapı-Endüstri Merkezi] on 28th of June. Daily meetings will take place from 10am to 6pm at Istanbul Technical University.

X|A Athens Workshops are organized under the auspices of the Hellenic Institute of Architecture and the Athens School of Fine Arts. Selected Participants will attend the Computation Workshops, Final Review, and Exhibition at Benaki Museum of Athens from 1st-12th of July 2013 or from 15th -26th of July 2013. Daily meetings will take place from 10am to 6pm at the Benaki museum of Pireos 138.

[APPLY HERE]

Registration is OPEN now by email at  workshop@xatelier.com
More information could be found here http://www.xatelier.com/xaworkshops2013
Please connect with us in Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/xatelier.architecture 

]]> http://futuresplus.net/2013/05/22/xa-advanced-architectural-design-workshops-summer-2013/feed/ 0 futuresplus image002 http://futuresplus.net/2013/05/21/kent-state-2013-integrated-design-competition-isaac-ocasio-and-noah-shroyer/ http://futuresplus.net/2013/05/21/kent-state-2013-integrated-design-competition-isaac-ocasio-and-noah-shroyer/#comments Tue, 21 May 2013 16:46:12 +0000 Futures Plus http://futuresplus.net/?p=5672 Continue reading →]]>

Today we’re showing what may seem as a more basic project.  But there’s a great design sense in this project from Isaac and Noah at Kent State.  The small decisions that shaped the design of the building really create a great sense of place that we really appreciate.  Also, there model looks aces, check it out.

STUDENTS: Isaac Ocasio and Noah Shroyer
SCHOOL: Kent State University
PROFESSORS: Charles Harker
COURSE: Kent States University’s Integrated Design Competition 
YEAR: 2013

“The goal for this fourth year design studio project was to design the new Headquarter office building for our client Macrofirm. The building was to be 225,000 square foot. Requirements included 25,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor, 40,000 square feet of tenant office space, 140,000 square feet of prime office space and a 20,000 square foot x-factor. The site for this project is located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, right next to the Burke-Lakefront Airport.

With the main goal of the Burke-Lakefront Master plan focusing on the re-activation of the lakefront, this project had the potential to create the sense of place necessary to serve as a new lakefront destination. Having chosen site B, the project had a plethora of assets to draw from. The site had it’s drawbacks, such as the flight path and the restriction of development with the U.S.S. Cod. In effect, the design would take what would be thought of as a hindrance with the Cod and transform the site into a warm and welcoming destination that addresses the Cod in a respect of the past but also looking towards the future.

While our client Macro-firms  initiatives are being tested and developed within the main building, their sustainable living initiative Is being exemplified within the 20,000 X-factor annex: The Winter Garden. The annex contains both a historical tie to the U.S.S. Cod located behind the structure, but also contains an “active arcade.” With the active arcade, many will be drawn to the complex to experience a multimedia gaming experience that encourages physical activity. In the entry area of the Winter Garden, there are panels with historical context of the Cod as well as seating planters. In this way, those in pursuit of the gaming level will be exposed to the historical context of the Cod. The entry also serves as a shelter to those waiting for the water taxi and admission to the Cod.

Overall, the Winter Garden along the Lake Erie boardwalk attracts visitors to the lakefront with its active arcade as well as honors the historical context of the Cod. In effect, the lakefront is reactivated while holding to Macro-firms commitment to sustainable living.

Within the 205,000 square foot building we were required to further develop a 4000 square foot tenant office space, referred to as the 4k office space. The 4K Office was designed to create a sense of openness and a relaxed atmosphere for those working while at the same time maintaining a sense of privacy from incoming visitors. This is accomplished through the orientation of the spaces within the office, solid walls and shifting of ceiling heights. By introducing a two story 4K office space, the open office, waiting area and secretary/reception area are able to be double height spaces. By introducing these double height spaces, these areas having a more welcoming work environment as well as maximum day-lighting.

Another benefit of having a two story work space is that the President and Vice President have a separate entrance to the office, which allow them to go and come as they need without disturbing the rest of the office. In addition, this offers the executive staff a high level of privacy. On the second level of the 4K office, there is the President, Vice President, Executive secretary and the large conference room, all of which require a high sense of privacy.

This fourth year design studio project was complete by Isaac Ocasio and Noah Shroyer. Partnered up for the semester we competed in Kent States University’s 2013 Integrated Design Competition and took third place.”

FUTURES+ Original Submission

One of our favorite things about architecture school is the ability to go nuts and create forms from anything you can think of.  We’r really diggin’ this project from Ben at SCI-Arc.  Using a pattern within a field condition, he creates living spaces at different scales, using the same tessellated pattern.  The graphics are what we really like about this project, going nuts with color, providing a playful change to the normal black and white drawings.

STUDENT: Ben Warwas
SCHOOL: SCI-ARC
PROFESSORS: Florencia Pita
COURSE: M. Thesis -  Best Thesis award
YEAR: 2012

“The field has been used to create and describe many different aspects of architecture at various scales. But when the field is used as a vacant pattern to liberate architecture from the dead weight of theory and pure space it becomes the most powerful. This method can be traced through time from Baroque church ceilings to Robert Venturi’s Best store’s flower application and into contemporary times with FAT architects proto post-modernism’s extruded cartoon details. Field so good has taken these techniques and developed them into an architecture that combines form with the application of field into a cohesive result.

                Field so Good starts with a vacant shape that is made of a combination of lines and curves, these shapes are then repeated using oscillation instead of typical repetition. The patterns always include a diagonal and a straight line to give the illusion of movement. This pattern is then used as the design tool to produce the work. The pattern defines the form and the openings to create cohesion between fenestration and building. The patterns applied to two-dimensional surfaces are imitating three-dimensional forms to create a play between the real and the fake. The openings are always part of the pattern and never thought about as a different part of the design. The form itself is an extrusion of the pattern in an attempt to flatten the form into a two-dimensional reading. The heavy use of color is to augment the playfulness of the thesis. The combination of the pattern as form/openings/appliqué turns these vacant patterns into a field: Field So Good.

                A home and a residential tower have been designed using the Field so Good technique. These two projects are a demonstration of the scalar ability of the system used to design them. The field operates as intimate texture at the personal scale of the home and as an expansive field of fantasy at the urban scale of the tower. The heavy patterning on the tower acknowledges the immense size of the skyscraper as an alternate reality in the same way baroque church ceilings were used to entice nonbelievers into faith. The house offers the same solace to the residential neighborhood from the overwhelming sameness of contemporary suburbia.”  - Ben Warwas

“Field So Good produces an architecture that is alive with pleasure”

FUTURES+ Original Post

The long nights and countless days in studio are almost over or OVER!  F+ is  here for you to showcase all that hard work.  Let us showcase your work, or suggest a colleague that we should check out! Follow us on Twitter, Instragram, Facebook or what ever you fancy.  F+ will be coming at you all summer with great design inspiration and projects.

F+ was created with the idea of showcasing designs and ideas from students around the world.  We feel strongly that academic design should not be limited to your fellow classmates and school.  We seek to incite conversation between students, designers, and professors alike.  Don’t be afraid to comment on the work …BE A CRITIC.  F+ wants to help push forward-thinking design that is being cultivated in schools around the world.

Twitter: @Futures_Plus
Instagram: @FuturesPlus

SUBMIT YOUR WORK HERE

]]> http://futuresplus.net/2013/05/13/futures-design-your-student-architectural-journal-20/feed/ 0 futuresplus tumblr_m7bla6xR6C1r0cfy4o1_500 http://futuresplus.net/2013/05/10/knitted-cloud-mehrzad-rafeei-somayyeh-ramezani/ http://futuresplus.net/2013/05/10/knitted-cloud-mehrzad-rafeei-somayyeh-ramezani/#comments Fri, 10 May 2013 18:30:09 +0000 Futures Plus http://futuresplus.net/?p=5643 Continue reading →]]>

Check out this crazy project from Mehrzad & Somayyeh at Sci-Arc.  Made to better bridge the gap between digitally designed, computational geometries and their physical construction, it’s a series of small shading structures made to form a network that shades an entire stadium.  Check it out.

STUDENT: Mehrzad Rafeei & Somayyeh Ramezani
SCHOOL: Sci – Arc
PROFESSORS: Marcelo Spina
COURSE: Summer Studio 
YEAR: 2012

“Contemporary digital design has always had a certain disconnection with its possible physical incarnation. Abstracted away from material properties, digital geometry floats in Euclidean space unaware of the physical constraint of what it represents. Our project attempts to bridge that divergence. Knitted Cloud is a digital fabricated and mass customized solution for an expandable urban canopy system. It is the result of an integrated process involving handcrafted manufacturing and generative digital design applied for robotic mass production. The handcrafted fabrication of the weave semi rigid textile tectonic serves as logic for a generative script that allows for multiple variations in design consistent with the physical form.

Our design approach is generating a “network Cluster” of smaller units rather than a large mega structure aiming to shield large sporting events in Qatar Stadium from direct sunlight while providing favorable climate environment. Regarding to that, the idea that we took is based on the Catenary System which commonly used to evenly apply pre-tensioning loads on to membranes for space inflatable structures.”

Here at Futures Plus, we don’t normally show off any products or things you can buy.  We’re more about ideas, but today we have something a little different.  This is the Tiptop speaker, a simple bluetooth speaker that you can pair with your smart phone, computer, whatever.  But the thing we love about it, is the design is meant to transform space.  The geometry of the case is meant to nestle into a corner, and change the acoustics of the speaker, creating a space filled with sound.  We can’t speak to it’s effectiveness, but we love the idea of transforming your space with just a simple addition.  If you wanna see more, check out their kickstarter page at the bottom, and maybe donate some money.  If you do get one, let us know how it affects your space.

STUDENTS: Alex, Jack and Madeleine
SCHOOL: Stanford
KICKSTARTER: TIPTOP 

Tiptop Speakers – Thank you! from Jack Brody on Vimeo.

“We’re Alex, Jack and Madeleine, three Engineering Design students out of Stanford University. We’re music lovers. We’re design fanatics. But mostly, we’re stoked to share with you the project we’ve been working on.

We’ve spent months prototyping and testing our product.  We’ve gotten feedback from friends, family, sound professionals, manufacturers, and everyone in between. But there’s one group we really care about that we haven’t been able to reveal Tiptop to – you. An investment in Tiptop isn’t just an investment in a great idea. It’s an investment in a team that truly loves what it’s doing and wants to bring you an experience unlike anything else. The funding is a logistical necessity; the real reason we’re here is to start talking to you about what this project can become.”

Check out Tiptop Kickstarter page here and show some support!

]]> http://futuresplus.net/2013/05/09/tiptop-alex-jack-and-madeleine/feed/ 0 futuresplus a8e21344d018a05d4dab4b3aff479696_large 18115c517f66a7b83ffbfab436e4ccca_large f1cc4cf34c0b292e7b8b88035498d867_large http://futuresplus.net/2013/05/08/above-the-river-jean-paul-el-hachem/ http://futuresplus.net/2013/05/08/above-the-river-jean-paul-el-hachem/#comments Wed, 08 May 2013 18:47:36 +0000 Futures Plus http://futuresplus.net/?p=5618 Continue reading →]]>

Today, we’re showing an F+ original, from Jean-Paul, at Holy Spirit University of Kaslik.  His design for a cultural center is based on the idea of stitching the chaotic urban environment of Dbayeh with the natural setting of Naher El Kaleb.  The design uses integrated green spaces to create a transition between the 2 areas, creating a flowing environment.  Check it out.

STUDENT: Jean-Paul El Hachem
SCHOOL:  USEK – Holy Spirit University of Kaslik
PROFESSORS: Elie Haddad
YEAR: Fall 2012

“My architectural intervention comes to sew the existing crack between the urban and chaotic city of dbayeh and the virgin nature of naher el kaleb.  On one side the urban fabric of dbayeh and in the other, the virgin morphology of naher el kaleb.

How to create an interaction between these two tissues?  The cultural center, a project supported by a mesh of filaments above the river,creates the link between Dbayeh and Naher el kaleb.

These filaments stitch both tissues and hang the volume which is surrounded by a forest of green spaces. These Structures are fed from solar energy to produce electricity for the project.  The elevation of the volume creates a green public space that works in summer as in winter.

The project is divided to three areas that’s separated by the river from the left side and the road that’s integrated in the project from the right side, creating a space for workshops, the cultural center and the public exhibition space.” -Jean-Paul El Hachem

FUTURES+ ORIGINAL SUBMISSION

We came across this amazing short documentary about Lawrence Lek’s design process and experimentation.  Having gone to Cooper Union, the AA, and Trinity College Lawrence is currently a Designer in Residence at the Design Museum.  Exploring through ready materials and simple connections you can see as he works from his initial drawings to its built form, as he plays with bending plywood.  Check it out after the jump! 

STUDENT: Lawrence Lek
LOCATION: Design Residence - Design Museum
FILM: Alice Masters/Sound: Neil Cheshire
YEAR: 2012

Designers in Residence 2012: Lawrence Lek from Design Museum on Vimeo.

Check out the rest of Lawrence Lek’s work at www.lawrencelek.com

For years Futures+ has been checking out the work of Joe Kosinski, and after seeing their new behind the scene glimpse into “Oblivion” we had to share.  Besides it is Friday, the weather is amazing, and we all know you could use a nice studio break with some amazing inspiration!

FILM: Creating the World of “Oblivion” (2013)
DISIGNERS: Director Joe Kosinski,Lead Graphics animator David “dlew” Lewandowski, and Design Director Bradley “Gmunk” Munkowitz
YEAR: 2013

After this video you must check out Joe Kosinski, GMUNK’s and DLew sites amazing as always:
http://www.josephkosinski.com
http://www.gmunk.com/
http://www.dlew.me/

Just as we are about to get a glimpse into the world of the academic architectural studios of Pratt Institute, “The Competition” trailer is released.  If you haven’t already witnessed it yourself, “The Competition” is going to be an in depth look into what goes into winning some of today’s most sought after architectural projects.  Five of today’s “Starchitects” (Frank Gehry, Jean Nouvel, Zaha Hadid, Dominique Perrault, and Norman Foster) were filmed as they battle it out for the future National Museum of Art of Andorra, a first in the Pyrenees small country.  Check it out after the jump!

PRODUCTION: Office for Strategic Spaces (OSS)
DIRECTOR & PRODUCER: Angel Borrego Cubero
ARCHITECTS: Frank Gehry, Jean Nouvel, Zaha Hadid, Dominique Perrault, Norman Foster
YEAR: 2013

The Competition. Trailer from OFFICE FOR STRATEGIC SPACES/OSS on Vimeo.

“An almost uncomfortable but intensely fascinating account of how some of the best architects in the world, design giants like Jean Nouvel or Frank Gehry, toil, struggle and strategize to beat the competition. While nearly as old as the profession itself, architectural competitions became a social, political and cultural phenomenon of the post-Guggenheim Bilbao museums and real estate bubbles of the recent past. Taking place at the dramatic moment in which the bubble became a crisis, this is the first one to be documented, in excruciatingly raw detail. But does the jury have the last word?

Jean Nouvel, Frank Gehry, Dominique Perrault, Zaha Hadid and Norman Foster are selected to participate in the design of the future National Museum of Art of Andorra, a first in the Pyrenees small country. Norman Foster drops out of the competition after a change in the rules that allow the documentary to happen. Three months of design work go into the making of the different proposals, while, behind doors, a power struggle between the different architects and the client has a profound impact on the level of transparency granted by each office to the resident documentary crew, and which has a definite influence in the material shown in the film.

The presentations to the jury happen in one intense day close to election time in Andorra, becoming a hot event in the tiny country, with media all around the international stars that may help shape its future. Of the four remaining architects three show up to make personal presentations, every one of which becomes a fascinating study in personality, strategy, character, showmanship… and a dramatic moment in which any detail becomes both important and irrelevant, the line between failure and success perfectly imperceptible

Director’s biography
Angel Borrego Cubero (Spain, 1967). While trained in architecture, with a PhD from ETSA Madrid and a MArch from Princeton University, where he was a Fulbright scholar, Borrego has been developing an interdisciplinary body of works that deal with issues such as the contemporary urban condition, the negotiations between private and public space, violence, surveillance, fictions in architecture, etc.

After succeeding in a big international competition, in a process which was akin to a thriller, Angel Borrego Cubero decides to make a documentary of this recurring architectural procedure. For the last four years, intense work was dedicated to find, document and edit one into film format. “The Competition” is the first movie of this Spanish director and is also the first film documenting the tense developments that characterize architectural contests.”

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