The renovation of a group of apartment buildings consisting of a tower and two low-rise structures, all dating to 1970, presented the opportunity – in addition to improving the energy-efficiency and building-technology – to alter the spatial relationships in the tower’s flats. The architect considered each flat individually, taking into account, for example, the orientation and position within the building. In the lower part of the tower small flats were consolidated, creating maisonettes which offer autonomous areas for parents and children. In the upper levels of the tower, small flats were also adjoined, attaining spacious, L-shaped living-cum-dining areas; these flats contain a room with separate entrance and bathroom which can be used as teenager-room or small office.
The buildings were fitted with exterior insulation and clad with corrugated aluminium. In the upper reaches of the tower, which are more prone to the elements, the balconies were enclosed with sliding–folding windows, and serve as conservatory or as enlarged living room. In order to attain the Swiss energy-efficiency standard, the flats were equipped with controlled ventilation.
Lava architecten transformed an old mission building in Leuven into a place where circus arts, music, theatre, and dance coexist under one shared roof. Effective soundproofing is the precondition for the shared use of the facility.
The Jewish Museum in Šeduva commemorates the culture of Eastern European towns before World War II. With their building, Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Architects from Finland reimagine the small-scale structure of one such village. Its residents were murdered in 1941 by Nazis and their local collaborators.
The new UCCA Clay Museum advances the millennia-old tradition of artisanal ceramics the Chinese metropolis Yixing is renowned for. An armour of red clay tile encloses the exhibition spaces and the open timber roof constructions above them – an expressive space for the presentation of modern ceramic art.
The Glasshouse Theatre adds a fifth venue to the heritage-listed Queensland Performing Arts Centre. It can be flexibly used for concerts, operas, and dance and theatre performances. The glass facades of the deeply cantilevered foyer visualise the theatrical art of illusion on the exterior.
In their restoration of the Monastery of Santa María of Sijena, Pemán y Franco and Sebastián preserve traces of destruction, rebuilding, and decay spanning 800 years. Recently, they remodelled the east and north wings into an exhibition space for the convent’s valuable artworks.
Housing for the homeless often consists of stacked contain ers. While the overnight shelter designed by Hild und K utilises prefabrication, thoughtful details adorn the robust building through which the Munich-based office conveys impres sions of warmth and home.