Natchez Street Pavilion

architect: Steve Badanes

location: Seaside, Florida

project function: Public walkway

year of completion: 1993

materials: The umbrella structures on the pavilion are made with recycled aluminum panels coated in industrial aircraft paint.

interesting facts: The umbrella was originally supposed to be made of wood and fold down during hurricanes, but was eventually built as an immobile structure out of aluminum. This structure has been damaged and rebuilt many times after hurricanes on the coast, first in 1995 by hurricane Opal. Eventually Seaside gave up on reconstructing the walk, which is why currently only half the structure remains standing.

questions to think about: How does climate affect design? What is an acceptable lifespan for a structure? Is this sustainable? Comment below to share your opinion...

more information:

http://www.jerseydevildesignbuild.com/
www.pushpullbar.com/forums/showthread.php?14013-Natchez-Street-Pavilion-Seaside-Jersey-Devils

Pictou Landing Health Centre

 

architect: Richard Kroeker

location: Pictou Landing, Nova Scotia

project function: community center and health facility

year of completion: 2008

materials: This building was constructed by members of the Pictou community using locally harvested spruce poles. The spruce poles are bent and then strapped using stainless steel to give the building its unique shape. Pictou Landing owes its form "not to an attempt to mimic traditional forms, but to the bending capacity of the wooden truss system"(architect Richard Kroeker); it is an example of a material informing form rather than the shape of the building determining the material.

interesting fact: Dalhousie University School of Architecture tested the strength of the trusses to decide how they should be connected.  After the students struggled to decide on a system, a passerby suggested the metal that was eventually used to lash the poles together. 

more information:

http://www.richardkroekerdesign.com/pictouhealth.html­­

http://www.architectureweek.com/2009/0114/building_1-1.html

Case Study: La Defense

architect: UN Studio

client: Eurocommerce, Deventer

location: Almere, Netherlands

material of interest: color radiant film

application: applied to exterior glass

Case Study: MOET Marquee

architect: PTW Architects

client: MOET & Chandon Australia

location: Melbourne, Australia

material of interest: tensioned lycra

application: exterior/interior

Case Study: LA Prada Store

architect: OMA*AMO Architecture PC, New York, NY

client: Prada

location: Los Angeles, CA

material of interest: polyurethane foam sponge

application: interior finish

Materials in the News: organic light-emmitting diodes 09.08.2009

Check out this recent NY Times article on OLEDs and how they are becoming increasingly popular for many reasons, including their energy efficiency.

Click here to read the article.

Some insights on Materials Research: Immaterial/Ultramaterial

I was recently reminded of a great book about materials research: Immaterial/Ultramaterial: Architecture, Design, and Materials edited by Toshiko Mori.

The book discusses different types of material research being conducted based on types such as edge, surface, substance, and phenomena.

The book also transcribes round table discussions between some well-known architects regarding each subject.

There are two copies of the book on reserve at the Kranzberg Art and Architecture Library. Check it out if you get a chance!