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DM2 Housing Project by OODA architects. In historic downtown Porto, Portugal, buildings are protected to retain the strong character of the area. OODA architects have undertaken the sensitive renovation of D. Manuel II (DM2), reinvigorating the building and incorporating a patio that is part stylish green roof, part car park. The building has been restored from commercial use to its original purpose as a residential building, albeit now providing 17 residences instead of the one it was initially built for in the 19th century. In close proximity to the city’s the universities, hospitals, nightlife, and arts district, DM2 is being repositioned for a younger market. Compact living spaces and the use of some cheaper materials on the inside reflect this, but don’t be mistaken – the architects h...Read More

Stunning waterfall art by Laurent Gongora. The Cascade de Vaucoux waterfall in south-central France is one of those wonders of nature that for centuries has evoked awe in all who see it. It’s hard to believe that man could enhance Mother Nature’s handiwork, but artist Laurent Gongora may have managed it. Gongora has added a series of 24 steel triangles, which protrude from the waterfall in the mountainous Massif Region, “redrawing” the flow of water, splitting and scattering it as it pours toward the ground. The water diverges from its natural path, providing a gleam of light and misting the skin of visitors. The Design Gongora arranged the steel triangles in an eight-meter-high diamond formation, with the pointed shapes emerging from the falling water and diverting the torrent over and ar...Read More

Looking for your first job is really hard work. You have to realize that job hunting is kind of your first job. If you want to succeed in this hunt, full-time dedication is required. Almost everyone has the same doubts and questions when the time to work finally arrives: What kind of job do I want to get? How can I impress my employer? Are my skills good enough for my dream job? Is there a way to eliminate the competition? You can be pretty good at something and learn faster than the rest, but you have to persuade the person on the other side of the table that you are exactly what he needs. There are a few things you need to consider in order to get your first job:   1. You Don’t Have a Job Hunting Strategy Job searching can be really stressful if you don’t have a plan. On...Read More

The Roof Gardens of the European Patent Office, Rijswijk, The Netherlands. In the words of the celebrated French architect Jean Nouvel, “Each new situation requires a new architecture.” And so it is that the European Patent Office (EPO) has come to require a new building to replace its outdated and now unsuitable existing home in The Hague, The Netherlands. It is clear to see why the EPO would wish to replace its current building. Even if it were not too small for the agency’s requirements, there would be compelling grounds to replace it for aesthetic reasons. The stark nature of the two intersected cuboid forms, devoid of ornament and contour, dominates both the site and the local area in an oppressive and massive statement of authority. The building’s iconic 1970s architecture has ...Read More

PRESS RELEASE: Studio Fink completes a temporary transformation of the Piazza Vecchia Renaissance square in Italy into a contemporary Piazza Rosa. The Piazza Vecchia ( Old Square ) in Bergamo Italy is a Renaissance square, that Le Corbusier called “the most beautiful square in Europe” .As key part of a major international landscape symposium Arketipos held in Bergamo throughout September 2014 this historical square was transformed for two weeks into an outdoor living room as an event attracting tens of thousands of citizens and tourist of all ages. This year London based artist Peter Fink of Studio Fink has designed its annual makeover in collaboration with Lucia Nusiner ( Planting ) and Maurizio Quargnale ( Lighting ). Peter knows Bergamo well because he has participated in the last two A...Read More

Riverside Park South by Thomas Balsley Associates. As one of the largest megacities on the planet, New York City is a world center for industry, commerce, and communication. New York emerges from an industrial past, where docks, warehouses, rail lines, and piers once represented modern city development. Over the last two centuries, the city has faced urbanization issues, giving way to transformations in its appearance. During the 1960s and 1970s, authorities started a massive urban renovation program in which they envisioned a series of green areas to turn the industrial giant into a neighborhood-friendly city. Some of that program’s iconic legacies include Central Park, Prospect Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, the subway system, elevated mass transit lines, and skyscrapers. But disagreements o...Read More

We know about his work, but what don’t we know about this legendary figure? Roberto Burle Marx was one of the most influential landscape designers of the 20th century, world renowned for the organic and geometric patterns beautifully imprinted in his gardens. He was indeed very talented, and the wide range of his artistic skills is sure to blow your mind! Read on to learn eight amazing facts about Burle Marx you didn’t know: FACT 1: He was also a singer Burle Marx was born in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1909. His mother, Cecilia Burle, was a pianist who promoted local music events that allowed her son to be in contact with music from a very early age. As you will see in the next topic, he took singing lessons in Germany and strongly considered studying music. FACT 2: He had training in pai...Read More

Atalaya Park design by G&C Arquitectos. Striking in its detailing and function, Atalaya Park is an example of a modern, inviting public and community landscape space. Nestled between buildings that look somewhat between the combination of modern and traditional, the space, designed by G&C Architects, screams “Look at me! Come and see; enjoy what I have to offer!” This once leftover space is located in Lemoiz, which is a small town in Northern Spain with a population of 1000. The space was built to create a brand new image for the area. As you probably noted from the photographs, the design could very well have been in a crowded cityscape. But why does this modern design work well in this small and pristine town? Why is it that this feels like a space that promises adventures? Resha...Read More

The ChonGae Canal Redevelopment Project by Mikyoung Kim Design. An area of 2.25 acres at the very beginning of a seven-mile green corridor has gone through a major transformation in a commercial district of central Seoul, Korea. The ChonGae canal was restored as part of a campaign by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to revitalize local waterways. Before the intervention, the canal was highly polluted, hidden away from everyone’s view, and forgotten by the community; today, the stream once again flows openly through the heart of the city to be admired and included as a valuable feature in the urban context and creating a pedestrian haven. The Chongae Canal Proposal   The ChonGae Canal restoration project was the winning design of an international competition that aimed to highli...Read More

We give you the low down on extensive green roofs, outlining what’s involved and why you should create them. Extensive green roofs are a form of Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS) that can provide many ecological, economic, biodiversity, and aesthetic advantages over traditional tile, metal, or felt roofs. In this essential guide, we take you through everything you need to know about extensive green roofs. Intensive or Extensive? An extensive green roof is a vegetated roof that does not require an additional watering system. Typically, this limits the range of plants that can be accommodated to herbaceous perennials and succulents. Intensive green roofs, on the other hand, can accommodate larger species, such as woody perennials, but require greater engineering and are often mo...Read More

Winning PLAYscape officially opens in Cape Town, South Africa Which city is the most fun? London, NYC, Buenos Aires, Bangkok, Moscow, Cape Town? To answer this question Building Trust international asked professional and student architects and designers from cities around the World to propose ideas which encouraged public interaction and turned redundant city spaces into fun creative places. A multidisciplinary team from the City of Cape Town were announced as the Professional winners in a design competition that has turned a neglected forgotten underpass into an interactive playscape. The competition had over 500 registered entrants and a jury including representatives from Building Trust International, Project for Public Spaces, BMW Guggenheim Lab, Landscape Architects Network, 3Space, N...Read More