A Foundation for the Future

The World Architecture Festival held at Barcelona from 2nd to 4th November 2011 recognized some of the most promising projects in the future of architecture. In the 3rd part of our series covering the event, we present the winners ...

Category Winners for Future Projects 

Commercial : Wadi Rum Resort, Jordan

With the Wadi Rum Resort, Oppenhein Architecture + Design, USA bring yet another classic combination of design, construction, quality and sustainability in the natural environment. The architecture is simultaneously powerful, yet comfortable; primitive, yet innovative; casual, yet elegant; raw, yet refined. Sustainability comes through, by harvesting the power of the sun, wind, rain and earth. Passive means of cross ventilation, the natural cooling effect of the rocks, and proper siting minimize energy consumption and maximize comfortable healthy living.  Rainwater is harvested in subterranean cisterns and grey/black water is re-harvested.

Image Courtesy – Eric de Broche des Combes - Luxigon

Competition Entries : Glacier Discovery Walk, Jasper National Park, Canada

Expected to open in the summer of 2012, the Glacier Discovery Walk is envisioned to be an extension of the fractal landscape that defines the Columbia Icefields in Canada’s Jasper National Park. The walk, intended to be a journey and not a destination, allows one to have some of the most exhilarating viewing experiences, as it finally veers into a glass pathway to reveal the valley below.  The walkway’s sustainable approach is evident from the weathering steel that is used on all exposed surfaces, while providing a maintenance and VOC-free material.

Cultural : Zhang Da Qian Museum, Neijiang, China

Zhang Da Qian, born in Neijiang, is recognized as one of the most prolific painters of 20th Century China. The museum is a commemoration of his invaluable contribution to Chinese and World Art. In 1956, Zhang Da Qian and Pablo Picasso met in Paris, where they exchanged ideas on art and initiated their friendship. The design philosophy behind the museum would be to integrate the cultural essence of the east and west.

Education : Women’s Opportunity Center, Kayonza, Rwanda

The Women’s Opportunity Center is an icon of empowerment, an initiative by Women for Women International that helps women survivors of war, rebuild their lives. The design revives a lost Rwandian housing tradition and its circular forms radiate from classrooms to a community space, farmer’s market, guest lodging, and the civic realm beyond. Bricks are made from clay on-site by the center’s future users, creating income opportunities. The demonstration farm helps women produce and market their own goods, manage a business, and fuel the local economy. The global network of consultants tapped African entrepreneurs to create water purification, biogas, and other sustainable systems that can now be produced and maintained by the local community, thereby creating a life-cycle of self-sufficiency.

Experimental Projects : The Tower of Nests, Shanghai, China

With ‘Green Architecture’ having become the order of the day, this experimental project actually explores the prospect of co-existence of humans and the animal kingdom! The high-rise building integrates human and animal inhabitants through a combination of man-made apartments and natural birds’ nests on the façade of a skyscraper. The tower is designed to be inhabited by humans as well as animals and insects, such as bees, birds and squirrels. It includes parking, commercial and residential areas and green indoor spaces.

Health : Binh Chanh Pediatric Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

The hospital is designed to create a home-like ambience for the children, letting in an abundance of air, light and room for interaction between the interiors and the exteriors. Natural cross ventilation provides amply ventilates the wards. With intelligence use of the solar shading, the solar gain in the rooms is kept limited and therefore less energy is needed to cool the rooms. Using the thermal mass of concrete walls and floor slabs, night cooling also reduces the energy consumption for cooling. On sunny days, the solar panels produce 75% of the demand for sanitary hot water. The extensive roof planting withhold dust, pollutants and heavy metals besides reducing solar radiation and allowing the excess rain water to be used for irrigation.

Landscape : Shoreline Walk, Beirut, Lebanon

The Shoreline Walk forms part of the efforts to reconstruct Beirut, once known to be the melting pot of religions and cultures. While the Civil War from 1975-1991 did much to damage the city, Beirut’s spirit and resolve to rise again is demonstrated through this resurrection. The city’s once famous rocky shoreline Cornice transformed into a rubbish mountain. But instead of leaving the old coastline redundant, it was decided to create a pedestrian route that straddled the old and new city boundaries, thus, paving the way for ‘The Shoreline Walk’…. 

Masterplanning : West Kowloon Cultural District Conceptual Plan, Hong Kong

The proposed plan aims at creating a social fabric that fosters the spirit of exploration and in the process, bring about long-term sustainable cultural development for Hong Kong. The 3-layer organization comprises 1) The Green Terrain at the south (a continuous undulating green lawn by the waterfront filled with leisurely retail and diners) 2) The City Link at the north (fuses with the existing neighbourhood and accommodates spaces for living, working and commercial activities) and 3) The Cultural Core in the middle (unifies all the visual and performing arts facilities to promote participation by the locals as well as visitors). In effect, The Conceptual Plan aims to offer a low carbon sustainable community not just for artists but for the general inhabitants of the new district.

Image Courtesy – Pak Chung

Residential : Wafra Living, Kuwait

A model residential complex, Wafra Living comprises high rise building set back from the street and an L-shaped building defining the street edge. It has been so conceived to maximize privacy within the community, while providing ample natural light and usable indoor and outdoor common spaces. The front building has cuts that allow better visibility for lower floor apartments located at the rear. The ‘High Square’ located at +6.00 m is an exclusive community space that lets tenants enjoy recreational activities. A “veil”, created on the façade as an occupiable layer, conceals the various service spaces within the apartments that are not intended for public viewing.