The strangest houses are in Japan

In Japan is built with some freedom and the taste for the experimentation, proof of this is its many architectural styles.

(Edición en Español)

Aníbal looked the sketches of what could be his future home, his future house. Despite not having much free time, he takes very seriously to define the morphology of his future home, he knows that the architect was putting all his best intention in the preparation of the draft, but there was something that was clear: would he and his family who were to enjoy (or suffer) the future construction.

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The most incredible staircase of this century

Nothing like traveling to London to do business and (at the same time) enjoy of the holidays, especially in a spiral staircase.

(Edición en Español)

Hi, do you know this time of the year that you want to take a break but, by the contrary, you have to manage more business? I, Rodolfo, I don't know, of course, but as I have many friends that have experienced it, I venture to give you a little advice: mounted an office in London, you'll discover the two things. If you have already decided to mount an office, I recommend a great place, whose idea is the fusion of the art and the commerce, as well, and also has the most incredible staircase that has been created in this century.

But, as usual, an interlude. When we speak of rehabilitation or reform, I remember a story that I heard long ago (or read), from the first light bulb created. Thomas Alva Edison completed his first bulb and he put it in the hands of his assistant, Jimmy Price, he has to move the bulb to the second floor. The guy broke it, but Edison, circumspect (I imagine), not chastised at the assistant, on the contrary, when he finished his second bulb, he returned to hand over to his assistant, had a second chance. The same thing happens when we reform a building: we give a second chance.

London is the city of the international business, but is also a cosmopolitan city that wears its charm with pride. In the Soho, specifically in the number 178 of Wardour Street, corner with Hollen Street, was inaugurated in the last April, one of those obsolete buildings, which have been given a second chance. This opportunity were gave by the Resolution Property real estate team, whose area of activity is the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe, and whose vision of the sector is very different from the classic, and now more that have been associated with the Peterson HK Group, with they will reach Canada and Hong Kong. They saw the potential of this building and wanted to give it an added value.

They counted with a large group of professionals of different branches and different international experiences (of course), I will not tell you which of them have work thanks to my (you know my eternal humility). The building, renamed to Ampersand Building, or simply Ampersand, has been remodelled to include the luxury residences and offices of high level, which will accommodate professional applications, telecommunications, corporate, technological applications and everything you can imagine, in total, 6.169 square meters of floor space.

They called to the Darling Associates architecture Studio (lovers of its work, clear), with offices in London, Poland and the United Arab Emirates, who knew how to anticipate its customer's needs. His work has been to improve the facades and redistribute the inside, giving a new entrance at the corner of Wardour Street and Hollen Street, and enhancing the figure of reception areas, both for the users of the residential area as for the shopping areas. A huge skylight has become in the main focus of lighting in the interior of the building, whose effect has been multiplied by converting all the walls of the courtyard to transparent (using the glass, of course).

In the top floor, a roof gable covers the 10 new luxury duplex (can you imagine working and living in this building? No? Read on...). The building has four floors of offices accompanied by a terrace of 195 square meters, with a few vertical gardens that give a welcoming atmosphere. Outside, a huge glass panel covers the corner chamfer, coated with copper fins (this will like to my cousin), as well as the windows, and with a game of volumes that gives life to the facade.

Another of the architects of this wonder is Tom Hingston, graphic designer, he has worked to brands such as Dior, McQueen or Lancome, or groups such as The Rolling Stone, U2 and Robbie Williams. He was the creator of the (fantastic) logo, which you'll see developed when you enter in the lobby: in the centre, a sculpture of seven meters long, built with brass and wood, is will extending, being inscribed on it the reception, and even in the concrete on the floor and the walls, these "threads" or recesses and projections created in different materials , make up the logo of the building.

But not content with this, the good Tom had designed a giant canvas, 115 by 15 meters, which is equivalent to four courts of basketball (NBA) and it took seven days in to place in front of the old façade (has a perimeter of 316 meters, is sectioned into two parts and weighs in total 850 kilos), to cover the works of remodelling, at the same time giving publicity in a dark background... that ready! The company that built it and installed, Embrace Building Wraps, tells us which was the wrap most important in the United Kingdom in the time to do so.

If you are not convinced of invest in this building, now yes, we got to the best (at least for me), and it's the collaboration of Paul Cocksedge, a designer of international renown, which has worked for Swarovski, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Hermes or Sony. He had to make the staircase, and put hands to work, thinking and designing 984 hours of his life (someday I will know as counted the hours), as he says in his video, soon knew that he wanted a staircase live (he called the living staircase), and he designed it so that it could enjoy it during the journey and after of the journey. To achieve this he did three things: the stair shaft was eliminated and introduced a recreation areas, placed a large number of plants around the perimeter, and reduced the width of the staircase to the minimum.

The numbers are the following: the staircase covers four floors of the building, with a total of 87 steps, has a diameter of 5.5 meters and a height of 12.5; the main structure is made of steel in different sections (to be able to introduce it out of the window) and welded on-site, its weight total is 12.4 tons; the planters of the balustrade are designed to withstand 593 plants; total weight, including the balustrade, is 15.8 tons, to this should add 3.2 tons of white oak paneling, I love the wood!.

Paul was helped by another acquaintance, the Arup engineering company (already know, that of the infinity edge pool), they were responsible of the calculation and dimensioning, the construction had another great professional, Peter Dann. As I have already said, all the staircase is covered with white oak, brought directly from New York, a very good wood with quality for our coatings since it has an excellent hardness and durability. In addition, in this case, has the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification, with it is controlled that the forest from which is extracted is managed with environmental, social and economic standards. Using this certification we avoid the illegal logging, the violation of human rights, the use of child labour, and other unpleasant elements.

The detail is in the design, so finally, I must do mention of the lamp that hangs on the first floor of the staircase, the creation of another famous artist: Ingo Maurer, who shows us with an exclusive design of its signature, the lamp Zettelz-6, a new way to give light to our lives. As you can see, I not lied when I said that Ampersand had gathered a large group of professionals... and artists! Bye bye.

Whitney, Allen, Obama and the pavement of Pine

Founded by Whitney, used by Allen, inaugurated by Obama and you can enjoy the works of American art.

Hi, the vitality printed by the geniuses in his works isn't appreciated, in the majority of the cases, by their immediate environment. These geniuses end up imposing its will through a strange, or, as it is called today, a patron who discovers the hidden genius, gives him a chance to hatch, and of course, collecting the fruits. In my family, of ancient lineage, we are very used to detect this type of persons, which help you grow the humanity making a leap in quality.

Woody Allen is the genius par excellence, the friend of the wit, from the imagination and, at the same time, of the real. The greatest work he has done (no doubt) is the film "Manhattan," a success in 1979 and a pleasure for the senses. One of his famous scenes is when Isaac (Allen) meets with Mary (Diane Keaton), takes place in the Whitney Museum Art, located at 945 Madison Avenue, whose building was designed in 1966 by the architect Marcel Breuer, a construction that broke moulds in its time, with a solid volume and a reverse staggering, most typical of the architecture brutalist than of the architecture modernist.

The Museum was founded by the sculptor and, later, patron Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, from whom he inherited his popular surname. The idea was to promote American art and safeguard it for future generations. Over time, this museum has become one of the big four in New York, next to MoMa, the Metropolitan and the Guggenheim. But the success has made that the fantastic building is obsolete and, above all, small for the large number of works of art which possesses, which were only 700 when the museum began his journey by 1929 (it rained) and which currently reach 21,000.

I am not going to deny that I, Rodolfo, had something to do with the idea of a new Museum, my suggestions smart and altruistic were enough, part of my personality, as you know. Thus, the direction of the Museum, with Adam D. Weinberg at the head, commissioned the Italian architect Renzo Piano, the design of the new building. After a while looking for a convenient location for the new construction was chosen the number 99 of the Gansevoort Street, in New York, of course.

The building opened its doors may 1 and was inaugurated a day before, nothing more and nothing less than by the first American Lady (Michelle Obama), she inspired us tenderness remembering their own childhood, in which, places like a Museum seemed very far from she, Michelle encouraged that these spaces are open to the thousands of children in the country, really, I was enormously thrilled by his speech. They also spoke the Mayor of New York (Bill de Blasio), the director of the Museum (Adam D. Weinberg), the architect of the building (Renzo Piano) and the granddaughter of the founder (Flora Miller Biddle).

The Connoisseurs say than the building resembles a boat from the West and a factory from the North, as if will mimic the environment that the "anchor" (do you understand?), I seems a notable presence with strength bordering also the brutality, without losing sight of the elegance of the materials (glass, steel and concrete of the façade). At the entrance a large cantilever welcomes you to enjoy of 2.590 square metres of public space, and the view of the Hudson River.

With 60.500 square meters built in 9 floors, the building has 15,200 meters of interior galleries, 3,960 meters of exhibition space at the outdoors and terraces with views to the High Line. The largest Gallery without columns in a Museum in the city of New York of 5.480 square meters, includes a lobby with free access, two floors of a permanent collection, Gallery and a special exhibit on the top floor. The building weighs around of 30,000 tons (excluding the works of art) and nearly cost the 422 million dollars (377 million euros). The construction company, Turner Construction has made available to the public a print 3D (its parametres), I rub the hands just thinking about it.

Renzo has respected the rules of the game, the Museum is not a building with striking facades or strident colors, it is a volumetric place that it merges with the environment without going unnoticed, in addition, it offers the possibility of enjoying several terraces in a staggered fashion (making a nod to Breuer?) and that leaves part of stair in outdoor turning it into an unexpected viewpoint. It has an education centre that provides classrooms with the latest technology, an outdoor Gallery, a theatre with 170 seats and overlooking the Hudson River, distributed in two floors, a laboratory and a library (the old Whitney did not have classrooms, theatre or study center). You can buy in a shop at the retail, to eat in its restaurant (ground floor) and enjoy of a cafeteria (top floor) which are directed by Danny Meyer.

But the best thing is the interior, where the rooms are used to the maximum and its lifts open their doors from the lobby to the right of the galleries, maintaining the privacy and the priority between the spectator and the work, in addition, the elevators have works by the painter and sculptor Richard Artschwager. In the roof (within of the room) the rails allows to play with an endless ways to combine the stay, subdividing it according to the needs of the sample. And, when you look down, you'll see a pavement recycled, pine wood brought from other factories, following the same speech that began outside, sublime.

The pine is a tree with more than 120 different species distributed in several continents, mainly in America, Asia and Europe (in Africa, there are very few). In the build are used as a structural element, as exterior cladding and interior and decorative elements. The burning does not produce toxic fumes, has excellent physical strength and, a more than remarkable, acoustic and thermal behavior. The great variety of species allows the use of different textures within the construction. Of course, is a recyclable material to one hundred percent (ask the Whitney).

We must keep in mind that the wood is an organic material and, therefore, it is attacked by insects, their protection is mandatory. When we are going to use the solid wood flooring, make sure that the carpentry is settled, that the thermal differences are not very radical (avoid winter and summer) and that the surface on which it is placed have adequate moisture, must prevent the wood receive excessive moisture or that can absorb aqua, this cause drying and cracking.

With all, a solid wood floor is always an excellent choice, with proper environmental management and energy efficiency tested, ah, and if it is pine, better! Bye bye.

The Arches of Laminated Wood

Back of a cover with arches of laminated wood, it hides one of the best and most modern wineries of today.

Hi, I don´t like the velocity, but I'm a fan convinced of the rapidity, if you do not understand, don't worry, you will understand during the course of time between the beginning and the end of this text, for some reason I write articles with shortage of lines, so that you do not fall asleep on the road! (although in the background I know that you would never do it, to my, your friend Rodolfo).

The beauty of the mobile phones of today would not be possible without the famous inventor, Alexander Graham Bell, he patent the phone in 1876, this is an example of quickness and speed, because he arrived a few hours earlier than her compatriot Elisha Gray. The rapidity of Graham could with the speed of Gray, both were in a hurry but only one achieved the prize of going down in history as the person than patented the telephone. In the construction spends something like, run not always is synonymous with reach, and choose the adequate materials will give us quickly and effectively, as in the construction that I am presenting today, with a material that provides a physical and aesthetic qualities unparalleled: the laminated wood.

See from Peñafiel Castle: The Protos winery

Countless members of my family have visited during generations (since it was built in the 10th century) the famous Penafiel Castle. I know stories that you will not believe, but now is not the time nor the place to address these issues, if I mention the castle is because from there you will have the best possible view of the architectural wonder, I've based this article (also) historical in this construction. It would be unforgivable (although justifiable) that you visit "our Penafiel" and you do not enjoy of the Wine Museum. From its characteristic shape of ship, looking from the ramparts you can see, towards the North, a striking triangular structure composed of five half cylinders elongated and recumbents.

The simplicity of the proposal of the architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (remember you?) fits perfectly with the style of the area... but... What say I? It doesn't fit with the area! Indeed... I don't think that it fits with none part of the municipality of Penafiel, neither the Castle, on the contrary: they are out of all context, so that they are unique, and are inevitably, intertwined by something that does not understand of years or entities. It is like when the grandfather spends hours with the grandson and they discover that are equal.

This building has been put in the hands of Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (which have had the invaluable help of Alonso Balaguer y Arquitectos Asociados) by the responsible for Protos, already know, the good wine (denomination of origin Rivera del Duero). The premises were clear: 10,000 square meters to build 19,450 square meters of winery in which to produce 1,000 tons of grape, store 3.500.000 bottles of wine and some 5,000 barrels. Of course the building complies with these functions and much more, and all for the modest sum of 25 million euros.

Arches of Wood

The most of the construction is hidden in the subsoil, the ideal site for treatment and the rest of the wine, the building is also connected in the subsoil with the old cellars of Protos (more than two kilometres of galleries), this burial is not casual: the temperature is low (about 15 ° Celsius), which favors the ripening and conservation of the wine. Above this are the areas of processing, fermentation and the storage tanks, the plant of bottling, the area of packaging, technical areas and, of course, access areas for vehicles. The areas of marketing, reception of guests, and, the most novel, a small Auditorium and a garden terraced with views to the castle which will delight users of offices located on the ground level.

The structure is formed by arches of laminated wood, which are supported in steel parts with form a "Reverse V" and that underpinned by concrete pillars, help convey the efforts to the foundation of the building. These arches are separated each other 9 meters and the distance between its points of support is 18 meters (how easy is the geometry!). These beautiful semicircumferences holding the boards (also laminated) of the cover by elements of steel (in the form of "V") that communicate the loads to the arches. The arches always work by compression and together with the triangles, are the ways more effective to transmit the efforts, hence its wide use in architecture and engineering.  Finally emphasize the air chamber which, along with the pieces of terracotta on the outside of the cover, provide one protection against solar radiation which does not have price.

Laminated Wood

The beauty and the usefulness of the wood is not in doubt, an organic material that grows and is able to withstand the most adverse conditions, even centuries after that it was split of the life, is a marvel of the physical and the chemical. But until the wood has limits and that's where the human ingenuity comes: the dissection of the wood in small thicknesses in form of sheets and their union by different types of adhesives establishes the laminated wood. The forms that can be taken through this material only are defined by the imagination of the designer, reaching up to thirty meters of light. If we glued the laminates with the same directions of the fibres will result in a correct transmission of efforts, this being the best way of working of the structural elements.

The disappeared Holtza S.A. was the company that made the arches that today bring us here. For our peace of mind we should require (or suggest strongly) that the laminated wood elements have a seal of quality that endorse them as the quality seal AITIM of Spain, the certificate of the Institute Otto Grafof Germany, the certificate Acerbois Glulam of France or the famous AITC certificate of the United States of America. 

The prefabricated elements give us greater rapidity in the assembly of structures but do not provide us with velocity of execution: so is my favorite the first before that the second. Bye bye.

The Bamboo Chapel

A construction beautiful of bamboo occupies our article of today, a construction challenge and environmental.

(Edición en español)

Hi, if you are half adventurer as me, you will love to visit the Ilha do Corvo (Crow Island), the island smallest and most remote of the archipelago of the Azores. It has 17 kilometers from surface, a village called Vila do Corvo (of course) and four hundred inhabitants. They have told me that in the only prison on the island never have entered a prisoner... and I think is true because there are so few... Who will put in jail a relative? I have fallen them very well and they will leave me to make my beautiful construction provided that I use their famous stone of black basalt, they did not have to ask for it!

Today I have the restless mind and, after seeing the building that I bring, I liked to do as Miguel Ángel (best known for Michelángelo Buonarroti) who made the paintings of the Sistine Chapel (have you heard of it?), the idea is simple, and I think that will you give me reason, to me, Rodolfo, as soon as I explain to you (later). As I know that you liked the dome of glass, you will love this new prodigy of the construction, this time with a vegetal element: the bamboo.

Fourteenth Stop: The Bamboo Chapel

The chances of the construction lead us on this occasion to the Thu Dau Mot town, in Binh duong, Viet Nam, to a building in the middle of an artificial lake. The architectural firm that designed the project is Vo Trong Nghia, true specialists in constructions of bamboo as they already demonstrated with several works as, for example, the pavilion of Viet Nam for Expo China 2010. This beautiful structure of bamboo has already received some international architecture Awards: Green Good Design Award 2010, FuturArc 2011 or 2011 Arcasia Awards (I decided one of this awards!).

The Wind and Water Bar uses the energy of the wind and the cold water of the lake for natural ventilation of indoor air. On the roof there is a skylight of 1.5 meters in diameter which evacuates the hot air that focuses on building (hot air rises, cold air falls) and allows the partial lighting of the enclosure. The height of the dome is 10 meters, the width is 15 and its surface is 270 square meters. The construction lasted about 3 months and the structural system is based on a series of prefabricated porches that revolve around the central axis of the building, these porticos are made with several "reeds" of bamboo united each other.

To site can be accessed through a path of stones spanning the artificial lake, I do not I fell, of course, but my partner tested the coldness of the Vietnamese water! All construction has covered with a plant species that is introduced into the water, giving the impression of "birth" of the Lake, sublime. To finish with the description (I have hurry) I will say that the interior is completely done with bamboo: lamps, staircases, tables and chairs, pillars... all a waste of engineering with this vegetable.

Rods to build

The bamboo is a plant that needs a warm atmosphere so their natural habitat is the tropical climate.  There are many classes and subclasses of bamboo and are plants that reach from the meter in height up to (care) 30 meters, can grow up to half a meter daily, which is a great advantage if we are going to use it commercially. They can withstand temperatures up to - 20°C, although it is normal that they remain well between 30 and 42°C.

The bamboo has been used in the construction since the beginning of humanity in areas where exist, of course, has a great resistance to traction and to compression but, without rejecting this, the best quality that possesses is the flexibility:  the material is folded or cede to the pressures which are applied without they break it or deteriorate. Another important quality of the bamboo stems from its plant condition: you can carve it and can be divided it without losing its mechanical qualities.

The bamboo is attached by ropes, wires or mortising, are not typically used screws or studs because they may cause cracks, but if you use them will have to reinforce the indoor area with some rigid filler. There are many types of mortising: dovetail, form of male-female union, key, etc. The toughest area of the reeds is the knots, therefore, we will make sure that, in the structures, the knots will receive the loads. Of course if we use two types of joints we will give longer life to our building.

The Proposal

As I promised at the beginning of this article I have a very special proposal to the bamboo. If we based us on the genius of Miguel Ángel we can perform a bamboo Chapel and paint it a beautiful picture, do you like the idea? Please, please... We can act in two ways: make the dome and mount a scaffold (may also use bamboo) where professionals perform their work; or, on the other hand, we can make a design where you specify areas of reeds that will be painted in one or another color... At the time of construction (if we do well) we will obtain a precious engraving... without having to assemble scaffolding!!

This second option does not seem very difficult with the computer programs which have the practitioners today; I will show it to you with the time. Bye bye.