Welcome to another episode of This Week in Architecture!

Dual House

Our first story comes to us all the way from Ahmedabad, India, where VPA Architects designed two individual homes intended to be for two brothers and their respective families. Despite being on two separate lots, the families made it clear that they did not want to divide the plot, and use the area as common space for both families.

The final design resulted in a unique home that looks different from almost every angle. Contrasting materials of brickwork and RCC treatment provide a wonderful visual aesthetic, and the designer was able to stick to the cost restraints of the families.

One important component to the design was cross ventilation. While it was desired by VPA Architcts to keep the direct sun rays from entering the home from the south and west, they didn't want to breeze to stop almost. Aluminum fins were used to dissipate the sunlight.

There was a lot of care taken in the site planning and interior spaces as well, from having high ceilings to a beautiful garden.

Check out the full story, with countless more pictures here.

3D Printing on the Moon

So 3D printing is one of those new technologies that is totally mind-blowing and awesome, right? It's about to get even more awesome. Foster + Partners has joined forces with the European Space Agency (ESA) to explore the possibilities of using 3D printing to build lunar habitats on the moon's southern pole. This would mean that residents of the space station would have a place to live for extended periods of time on the moon, cutting down on travel time and costs to get back to the moon.

The proposed cellular structure was inspired by biological systems, and will be resistant to all things under the sun (pun intended) including meteorites, gamma radiation and high temperature changes.

Foster + Partners is used to designing for extreme climates on earth using sustainable materials, so this kind of venture is right up their alley. The kicker? The future residencies will be able to be transported via space rocket.

Check out the full story here.

House Hafner

Our next story comes to us from the countryside of South Germany, where Hornung and Jacobi Architecture combines a high level of natural protection with a high level of privacy. The most striking part of this home is that the topography is barely touched -- the building almost seems to situate itself as a result of the existing topography. The drive enters to a seeming cantilever from out of a hill, with a stark white color with large windows that yield incredible views.

The building is simplistic, with an open floor plan that conforms to a basic L shape, but from the renderings it looks quite inviting. Given the floor to ceiling windows, the nature has every opportunity from every corner of the house to walk right on in to the living space.

Check out the full story with numerous photos here.

Living Like Kings

We move from Germany to Seattle, Washington, where the Emerald City prepares to grace the Sacramento (soon to become Seattle) Kings with a new home base. While Seattle currently doesn't have a basketball team, they plan on acquiring the Sacramento Kings, a move expected to be imminent. Naturally, its close proximity to Canada, the stadium will double as a hockey arena. At 725,000 square feet, the arena will be able to seat anywhere from 18,000 to 20,000 people.

At the moment the public feedback is mixed. Some are in high praise of the idea, realizing the value of such a huge investment in the city, in hopes that it will bring visitors and fans alike while also providing a great source of entertainment. However, there are some who are concerned about the resulting traffic congestion and dual-use arena would have, and would like to see a better connection to the Sodo area in which the arena is currently sited.

The project, however, is expected to take quite some time, as an environmentally friendly building is part of the terms of the agreement.

Check out the full story here.

Plenty of Fish

When it comes to hotels, none comes close to paralleling the experience given at the Water Discus hotel in Dubai, UAE. While the concept is not new, the size certainly is. The hotel will have discs above the water in addition to a massive ring below. The hotel will allow guests to have a first hand experience of the reef amidst the ocean.

Designed by Deep Ocean Technology, the hotel will have 21 suites in two main discs; one above the water and one below. The hotel is to be equipped with earthquake detection technology and other weather warning systems to ensure that it stays safe.

Other examples of similar ideas are the Utter Inn on Lake Mälaren in Sweden, as well as the Jules' Undersea Lodge off of Key Largo in Florida, USA.

Check out the full story here.


Thanks for tuning in this week. If you enjoyed these stories, remember to share, tweet, email and pass them on. See you next Friday afternoon for the best way to kick off your way to an architectural weekend!

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Prologue: I'd like to start a new little series here, and I'm going to do my best to make this a weekly occurrence. The world of architecture is constantly evolving and constantly changing as new functional needs and desires are attempted to be met by the brilliant design world of today. Each week, new exciting things happen all over the world, and these episodes will be an attempt to capture but a fraction of these things, gathering a few of them that pique my interest all in the same place. Without further ado, Episode I.



My Micro NY

The first story comes to us from New York City, where Mayor Bloomberg announced the winning designs for the 300-square-foot Micro Apartments. Designed to create affordable housing, teams competed in a competition entitled 'adAPT NYC' to create affordable living spaces for singles in New York City. Two teams, nARCHITECTS and Actors Fund HDC had winning proposals, which will be formulated into a project called My Micro NY.

The first micro building will have 55 rental apartments ranging from 270sqft to 370sqft, with storage space, great views and even balconies. The building will have the same amenities as other apartment buildings, with public meeting space, a café and rooftop garden. Residents are expected to be able to move in beginning in September 2015.

Now of course, there is the big question everyone has in their minds: what will something like this cost? With rental rates rising and a huge competitive market for housing in NYC, recent graduates and singles will be looking for affordable places to live. Unfortunately, "affordable" has a completely different scale in NYC; a studio apartment will likely start at $940 a month, and up to $1700 for a two-person apartment.

Check out the full story here.

Isbjerget

If you're staring at that title and wondering what the heck it is, you're not alone, and that's because it's Danish. Our second story is a project that is yielded through the collaboration of JDS Architects, CEBRA, SeARCH and Louis Paillard. A new housing development in Denmark is quite close to completion, designed to look like and inspired by floating icebergs. The project is expected to be inaugurated this spring, and will accommodate around 7000 inhabitants and around 12,000 new workplaces. Talk about efficient!

The title is quite literal, meaning "The Iceberg." And that's exactly what it looks like! For those architectural minds that love to see sweeping curves, this is not the project for you. However, it does carry its own intriguing character that revolves around unexpected diagonals and some truly irregular forms. It just goes to show that architecture does not need to look like a 1950's toaster to be beautiful.

This is just one of many developments in progress for Denmark's docklands area, which is definitely worth digging up if you have the time.

Check out the full story here.

Tumbleweed Tiny Houses

This is a bit less current and not so much a story or article as it is something I found really interesting. in an increasingly high-density world, people are beginning to look for new living options. With prices rising, each new square foot is quite a bit more expensive than it was, say, 10 years ago. But what if you could build an entire home that could you could simply plop down in a backyard? What if someone had already drawn up the plans for you to do it?

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Tumbleweed Houses. With tons of pictures, plans, DIY documents, and example layouts, this company provides everything you need to build your own functional home  with your bare hands. Did I mention these are all about the size of a large shed?

The fact alone that people can live with only the bare necessities is intriguing, and would make many a person second-guess that overpriced apartment they're living in. While the original intent seems to be creating full homes, the same plans can also be used for extra rooms to be used as you pleased -- right outside in your backyard.

Check out the site here for plans, photos and more.

3D Printing a House

Today's last story comes to us from the Netherlands, where a Dutch architect has designed a home that he plans to build with the world's largest 3D printer. A relatively new technology, 3D printing is still enormously expensive and is not very widely used in the architectural profession albeit for perhaps small projects and concept models. Inspired by a mobius strip, Janjaap Ruijssenaar's (try pronouncing that one out loud) design 12000 square foot home will be printed using the massive D-Shape printer. Designed by Italian Enrico Dini, the D-Shape printer can print an almost 20ft by 20ft square, and continues to add layer by layer for depth.

This literally brings to life the idea of a "printed house," something I certainly never imagine I might see in my day. Not only is the technology behind the expected construction amazing here, but the actual design itself is gorgeous. It's simplistic, but speaks to a more profound idea of limitless continuity. Though the only available photos are renderings, they are pretty freaking cool.

Unfortunately, the project could take up to 18 months to build, and the printer would be active for half a year -- straight. If he pulls it off, Ruijssenaar could open up a whole new world of architectural design. But that's what it's all about in the field; pushing the envelope.

Check out the full story here.






Thanks for reading! Tune for next week's episode, available Friday, February 1st. Have a great week!

For any requests or discoveries to be discussed in the coming week, comment below!

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