RIBA’s Post

Congratulations to 31/44 Architects  and Will Burges on Six Columns being named RIBA House of the Year 2024. There are a few comments in the coverage that stood out for me. The first was RIBA President Muyiwa Okiuyiwa’s comments about Six Columns being “a solution to futureproofed design; this is a home that can evolve with its occupants' changing needs over time.” And the other being a comment from Award Chair Je Ahn, noting, “one-off houses are as unique and varied as we are as individuals…” These comments ring true to my and my practice’s core philosophies of sustainable design and the importance of understanding our clients. When we are asked whether we ‘draw plans’ or ‘design a house’, the answer is always ‘anyone can design a house, we design homes.’ Architecture is an art, therefore, naturally subjective. Regardless of the context or style (and there are a host of fantastic different contexts showcased in the RIBA House of the Year shortlist), a home symbolises security & comfort for us personally but also our family. It’s a place to escape the outside world. We are all different, and aspire to find or create spaces that are as individual as we are. Congratulations again to 31/44 Architects for Six Columns - such a fabulous design. It’s always so interesting to see the real mix of designs shortlisted in this annual award:

Framework Friday / Victorian Remix Architects: Guarnieri Architects Glazing Specialist: Cantifix Ltd Technical Brochure: https://lnkd.in/e2GB9QbE Good morning LinkedIn, Put the coffee on pause as we go back to my roots for this #FrameworkFriday. The Victorian Remix project, nestled in the heart of South London, is the type of project that made me fall in love with architectural glazing. Yes the scale of big commercial projects is so exciting but for us residential projects are far easier to connect to on a personal level. Faced with the challenge of enhancing a historic space without compromising its integrity, this project was a balancing act of respecting heritage while ushering in a wave of modern wellbeing and light-infused living. Which is of course Cantifix Ltd's raison d'etre. The Vision: To craft a multi-use family space that breaks the barriers between the indoors and outdoors, immersing its occupants in natural light and wellbeing year-round. The ambitious plan called for an architectural solution that would seamlessly blend with the Victorian property's original charm, all within the confines of a conservation area. The Choice: Cantifix Ltd was the obvious choice to bring this vision to life. The brief? A frameless glass box that not only respects but enhances the living experience by promoting health, wellness, and a connection with nature. The Engineering Marvel: Achieving minimalism without compromise required innovation at every corner. With glass panels tipping the scales at over 400kg, the design introduced a cruciform steel support, cleverly distributing loads and allowing for the leanest steel sections possible. The result? A living space bathed in light, blurring the lines between home and garden, and embodying the ethos of open-plan living. The Outcome: A testament to collaborative genius, the Victorian Remix stands as a beacon of health, openness, and architectural finesse. A place where daylight reigns supreme, and the distinction between inside and outside is blurred. It's not just a space; it's a statement on living well, blending tradition with innovation. #FrameworkFriday #ArchitecturalGlazing #StructuralGlazing #Glass #Glazing #Facades #Facade #FacadeEngineering #Wellbeing #InnovationInGlass #Fenestration #WindowsAndDoors

Excited to share this insightful article about the Mercator One Office Building by Hadi Teherani Architects. The innovative design truly pushes the boundaries of modern architecture. Check it out and expand your knowledge in the field!

In the inner-city suburb of South Yarra, in the city of Melbourne, Victoria State, Australia, a dynamic mixed-use project incorporates historical design into its contemporary architectural style. The six story office building with a first floor restaurant was masterfully designed by Bird de la Coeur Architects. The designers took a unique approach to the brick facade of the building by using a flex brick system. The design and brick choice are meant to compliment the historic 1890’s south yarra post office across the street. Designers set about weaving this building into the urban fabric of the neighborhood by implementing a brise soleil scattered brick floating facade. This facade, allows for natural sunlight to bathe the interior spaces of the building, while also being able to filter out some sunlight to reduce solar heat gain inside the space. The carbon neutral bricks are made with biofuel locally in tazmania. The strategically placed bricks, provide a combination of privacy while also maintaining views of the city. They work as a thermal regulator, while also helping direct wind to move through the interior spaces to naturally venthilate it and reduce energy costs. A rooftop garden adds an insulative layer to the roof of the building, and provides the building users with a place of respite. This project, is a phenomenal example of how we can create meaningful and impactful developments, while also implementing and promoting sustainability practices in our urban environments. We’re all in this together #sustainability #sustainabledesign #sustainablearchitecture #architecture #sustainable #recycledmaterials #energyefficiency #australia #australianarchitecture #renewable #renewablematerials #urbandesign #urbanplanning #planning #cityplanning

| Planning Permission   We’re pleased to share news of an exciting Planning consent, for an exclusive development of four, three- and four-bed dwellings, in a charming Hampshire village, a few miles south of Reading. Located within an established residential area – and adjoining a prominent Conservation Area – the goal was to create a small enclave of seamlessly integrated properties, drawing inspiration from the neighbouring architecture and the rich palette of materials found locally.   Comprising four family homes with traditional building spans and roof pitches reminiscent of rural architectural forms – including Plot 1 that echoes a domestic farmhouse, and Plots 2, 3, and 4 that evoke the simplicity of traditional barn conversions – the design works to respect the existing settlement pattern, where each home carefully assimilates into the setting, allowing for spacious accommodations without compromising the amenity of adjacent dwellings or the surrounding landscape. Plot 2 has also been designed as an accessible and adaptable home that meets requirement M4(2) of the Building Regulations, providing ease of access and adaptability for future needs. Balancing traditional elements with contemporary design and detail, the dwellings avoid being derivative, offering modern living spaces with a nod to the area's heritage. A restrained palette of high-quality materials, including brick and horizontal timber cladding, lends the development a modern edge while visually connecting it to the local building stock. Expansive glazing to the rear floods the homes with natural light, while maximising long-distance views and a connection to the generous gardens - which sit at approx. five times the size of neighbouring properties. Working closely with the Local Authority, we have been able to achieve a design that optimises the value of the land for our client, while also introducing a thoughtfully designed scheme of dynamic and sympathetic homes, carefully curated for their rural setting. Many thanks, as ever, to all involved – Edgars, HCUK Group, Infrastruct Cs Limited and Windrush Ecology. Works have already commenced on site, so please stay tuned for more updates as things progress. To take a closer look, visit the link below: https://lnkd.in/e-RNk7kN #andersonorr #architect #architecture #design #archilovers #archidaily #instadesign #instaarchitecture #designinspiration #house #home #planningpermission

Houses: image or essence? Here’s an interesting take on a timeless debate. In his introduction to the classic April 1990 issue of The Architectural Review, Peter Blundell Jones shares his thoughts on the state of British architecture in the late 20th century – laying much of the blame on a certain future monarch known for being staunchly anti-modernist. Blundell Jones also celebrates the house as a site of experimentation. He makes a compelling case for the importance and influence of private home design – something we at StudiO are very passionate about. “Although one-off private houses by architects constitute only a small fraction of new domestic building, they do provide an important opportunity for exploration and demonstration. It is here that ideas of domesticity can be recast, the importance of cultural memory tested, the value of tradition questioned.” What matters more: style or substance? How can we strike the perfect balance between old and new? Can a single home design change the wider architectural landscape? Questions like these are at the heart of what we do. So, should home design focus on image or essence? The debate rolls on. Meanwhile, the best architects will continue to fuse the two in the hope of creating spaces fit for a king… ⚫ Read the article: https://lnkd.in/eEz3RtBz #architecture #design #homedesign #modernarchitecture

What if your entire house was narrower than a parking space? 🏠 Sounds impossible, right? 🔹Yet, in Warsaw, Poland🇵🇱, there's a house that defies our usual expectations. The Keret House, designed by architect Jakub Szczęsny, is officially the world's narrowest house. ❇️Key facts:- - At its slimmest, it's only 92 cm (about 36 inches) wide. - The widest point is just 152 cm (about 60 inches). - It's wedged between two existing buildings. - Despite its size, it includes a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, and living area. 💫As a civil engineer, this project fascinates me. It's a brilliant example of maximizing space in urban environments. 🏡The Keret House challenges our perceptions of livable spaces and showcases innovative design solutions. What's the most creative use of space you've seen in architecture or engineering?🤔 video credit:- zackdfilms #InnovativeArchitecture #UrbanDesign #CivilEngineering #india #student #technology #africa #europe #northamerica #engineering #CreativeSpaceSolutions #linkedin

Tips For Building Your Custom Dream Home A# custom #dream #home is all about impossible unless you have a gifted architect, designer and team of contractors, builders and artisans on board. A custom home is different from the average suburban home due to all its design features and the expanse of the property so it cannot be made promptly without a long design period. Usually finding a great local contractor can be a domino effect leading you to great sub-contractors and experts such as carpenters, plumbers and so on since experienced contractors keep networking with other building professionals. Link to #blog #article: https://lnkd.in/g7ZgWp5k #CustomHome #DreamHome #HomeBuilding #Architect #Designer #Contractors #HomeDesign #Construction #BuildingProject #RealEstate #FutureHome #HomeFeatures #SustainableLiving #HomePlanning

**Challenges and Problems of Imposing GCC Traditional Style on Modern Buildings If the purpose of reviving traditional architecture is to create a visible identity, then it is simply too late to try to reincarnate it. All attempts will appear superficial, and the created structures will be mere imitations of the past. Damluji (1998) adds that tourists viewing these buildings may get a romantic image of the past, but little understanding of the ideals and lifestyle of the time, as the culture in which it was based would simply be incomprehensible in the modern context. An architectural style always has a reflection on the society in which it was built, and trying to apply the same today would not do justice to the current Gulf societies. A good example here is to compare today's society with that of the society 4,000 or so years ago. The society has significantly changed, and modern buildings in the Gulf countries are a reflection of this. Human life changes and evolves with time, encapsulating different effects and influences from within its society and from other cultures. The mixing of different cultural influences has always been a key player in shaping human identity and development. To isolate one over the other is, in itself, a suppression of creativity. This is the fundamental problem with trying to impose one set style from a different era relevant to different social norms on a society existing in a different cultural context. Imposing traditional style on modern buildings contradicts the definition of modernism. Rabat (1969, p. 233) defines modern architecture as a forward-looking mode of inquiry. It follows then that any attempt to impose traditional architecture on a modern building is a contradiction in terms of regression, rather than progression. ** Impact on Cultural Appearance Over the last few decades, Gulf countries have witnessed immense socio-economic changes and development. This has led to the significant urbanization of the cities and towns in these countries. Rapid urbanization has resulted in the implementation of new design techniques for the construction of modern buildings in these areas. Factors such as the discovery of oil, nation-state building, the incorporation of traditional societies into the modern world, and population growth have played a role in this urbanization process (Alsharekh and Long, 2004). As a result, there has been a focus on the implementation of modern buildings. Planning and construction, even at the local levels, have aimed at designs that are modern and differ from the traditional style of architecture. This has led to, what advocates of the traditional architectural style would say, are negative implications and effects on the cultural appearance of the region (Khalaf, 1987). This will be discussed using the example of Bahrain to give the best understanding of the effects that modern buildings have had on the cultural appearance of the region.

Architects are more than just builders. They are the craftsmen who shape our most intimate and personal spaces: our homes. Their designs go beyond mere aesthetics, influencing our daily lives in profound ways. A well-designed home is not just a shelter; it's a reflection of our personalities, our values, and our aspirations. It's a place where we find comfort, inspiration, and a sense of belonging. Architects play a pivotal role in creating these spaces that nurture our souls and enhance our well-being. From the layout of rooms to the choice of materials, every detail of a home's design has the potential to impact our moods, our relationships, and our overall quality of life. Architects consider factors such as natural light, airflow, and privacy to create environments that are not only functional but also conducive to relaxation and productivity. Beyond the individual, architects also contribute to the fabric of our communities. Their designs shape public spaces, schools, and workplaces, influencing how we interact with each other and our surroundings. They have the power to create vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive environments that enrich our lives and foster a sense of community. On World Architecture Day, let us celebrate the architects who dedicate their lives to creating spaces that inspire, comfort, and uplift us. Their work is a testament to the human spirit's ability to transform the built environment into a reflection of our dreams and aspirations. #WorldArchitectureDay #ArchitectsOfTheFuture #BuildingDreams #SpacesThatInspire #DesignInspiration