Author: Jayakrishnan Ranjit

A simple geometric expression fused by an organically morphed inner form. Louisiana State Museum and Sports Hall of Fame frames a linear edifice designed by Trahan Architects in Natchitoches. The design envisaged horizontal slats in the oldest settlement of Louisiana Purchase, gleams and lustre in the blooming sun. Sitting amiably on the banks of the Cane River Lake, the architects inhaled their inspiration from the riverfront setting. Incorporating early sustainable practices and the 17th-century bousillage building techniques of the French settlers, the design oriented to an elemental angle.

Rotating Triumphal Arch revolves on such an inspiring idea of a rotating arch visualized and executed by KATARSIS ab in the courtyard of the Nikolsky market. Started as a paper project, the rotating triumphal arch emerged in the district’s heart of Kolomna, deep in St. Petersburg.

A play boosts our mind with entranced zeal. Architecture defines that expedition in concerted ways. NEST, an interactive sculptural playscape designed by Tri-Lox, explores the rooftop terrace at Brooklyn Children’s Museum (BCM) in Crown Heights. The unique nests of the baya weaver bird inspired the designers to weave the NEST. The woven patterns trail from reclaimed NYC water tower wood, twisted and splayed into an organic form, knitting a playable landscape with a climbable exterior, circular hammock area, and permeable interior space for open and creative exploration. The designers at Tri-Lox explored the museum’s educational assemblage and scooped an idea…

A single entity defines the entire character. Hypar Vault created by Italy-based New Fundamentals Research Group presents a full-scale prototype of an experimental barrel-vaulted stone structure for SNBR, the French company that specializes in cutting-edge stone construction. The structure ropes its name, resembling the geometry of its constituent blocks. The expression of two prefabricated stone modules, one mirroring the other as they curve and bend based on the hyperbolic paraboloid, is one of the few “doubly ruled” surfaces in geometry. Using these configurations allowed the vault to be constructed with almost zero wasted stone. Wire-cutting technology cut the modules out…

Slicing up in curvaceous curves! Knubben, the iconic and venerable harbour bath of the 1930s, was redesigned and re-invoked by Snøhetta in an eclectic expression. To honour the 300th anniversary of the once ‘Arendal Swimming Club’ in 2023, the facility enshrines a salubrious twist inspired by its original architectural drawings.

A place to learn, grow and play enriches students to accomplish goals and discover new meanings. Jockey Club Innovation Tower, a fluidic craft scored by Zaha Hadid Architects invoke the dynamics of an institution of the future. JCIT, home to the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) School of Design and the Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation, soars 15 stories enveloping a 15,000 sq. m tower to accommodate over 1,800 students and staff.

Intricately knotted, intelligently configured and explicitly erected. livMatS Pavilion, designed by ICD/ITKE University of Stuttgart, exposes a nature-inspired expression sitting amiably in the Botanical Garden of the University of Freiburg. The livMatS Pavilion proposes an efficient alternative to conventional construction and takes a significant step towards architectural sustainability. The pavilion affiliates as the first load-bearing structure entirely wound of robotically woven flax fibre, a wholly natural and renewable material, even biodegradable and regionally available in Central Europe. The ground-breaking concept of weaving the natural and advanced digital technology in the pavilion shoots from the fruitful alliance of an interdisciplinary team…

To celebrate the continuum of space and time, an idea lifts off to form a monumental exploration. The Shanghai Astronomy Museum proficiently designed by Ennead Architects; presents a modern-futuristic and immersive museum; trailing to the past, and mirroring the rich history of Chinese astronomy and future space explorations.

KAPSARC (King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre) exposes a striking exposition on tectonic oeuvres designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The non-profit institution for independent research into policies contributes to the most efficient energy usage. The team at KAPSARC promotes social wellbeing to envelop and enrich our planet.

Airo presents a futuristic vision transforming the experience of travel and driving, designed by Heatherwick Studio for IM Motors. Thomas Heatherwick and his team unveiled Airo as a fully electric vehicle with autonomous and driver-controlled modes. Running on electric power with no fossil fuel emissions as it drives around. The car verve further in realizing an environmentally equipped state-of-the-art HEPA filtering system, that actively cleanses the air from the pollution of other vehicles. The curvy and sassy design enables air to pass through the under-carriage of the vehicle, parting and cleaning the surrounding air.