Month: October 2024

Landscape architecture firm SCAPE together with Bjarke Ingels Group have announced plans to transform Connecticut’s Manresa Island into a public-oriented development as a hub for learning, exploration, and community engagement. Originally slanted for private waterfront housing, the new scheme aims to open up the area as a public park with ample waterfront access, a project led by SCAPE. Additionally, the decommissioned coal-fired power plant is set to be converted by BIG into a community hub for multiple activities including swimming, small and large-scale events, research, and educational rooms. Supported by a private philanthropic investment from Austin McChord, the project is set to open in 2030 through a phased development.

During the summer of 2024, an interesting experience was carried out in the Armenian Caucasus mountains. A group of people somewhere in a very rocky and wild environment gathered to construct an undefined and seemingly useless multi-species artifact. They woke up at 5.30 am every morning, worked under an intense heating sun on an improvised construction site, prepared meals together three times a day, played football in the evening, and sometimes danced at night. There were some wild dogs always around, horses as well, a couple of vultures close to where they were building, invisible and dangerous snakes, and wonderful mantises. They seemed happy and tired. From afar, the experience felt absurd and beautiful at the same time.

MORICO is a renovation project for a café and restaurant located in the center of Ho Chi Minh City. The existing building is an old brick row house, 5 meters wide and 37 meters deep, facing a major downtown street. Many surrounding shops have glass walls facing the road to maximize air-conditioned space, which disconnects them from the city. In tropical cities, as streets become more commercialized, the depth of the city is lost, and sidewalks tend to become mere passageways.

A design that unites form, functionality, and aesthetics to create a holistic living experience in perfect synergy with nature. Situated on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, Anandvan is a refreshing ode to the delicate balance of functionality, privacy, and aesthetic beauty. This home to the family of 5, encircled by a lush green verdant on three sides is thoughtfully designed to enrich the lives of its inhabitants by offering a sanctuary where form, functions and nature come together in harmony. Its architecture is a reflection of a deep-rooted philosophy that places equal emphasis on human comfort and the natural environment to create spaces where humans can thrive. Anandvan’s integration of water and foliage, strategic orientation to promote functionality and climatic comfort, and raw yet balanced aesthetics intend to serve as a benchmark in holistic design for architects and homeowners.