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EnCana HQ, the Canada’s Tallest Tower Outside Toronto

At the begining of this month, a new office complex development opened in downtown Calgary. With a stunning architecture built in accord with the unique city climate, the 239-metre-high headquarters tower now dresses the Calgary skyline becoming the city’s tallest building and Canada’s tallest tower outside Toronto. The Bow, as it was named due to its bow-shaped plan, belongs to EnCana Corporation, the Canada’s leading energy company, and was designed by one of the most innovative architecture and integrated design practices in the world, Foster+Partners.

With an unrivalled experience of over 45 years, 620 awards won for excellence and the ability to achieve sustainable design solutions through adequate expressions of public space and civic values, Foster+Partners met this time the EnCana’s business objectives and interests with the design of the new headquarters, and the result after six years is extraordinary.

As part of a mixed-use masterplan which aims to regenerate two entire city blocks on the east side of Centre Street, the major axis through downtown Calgary, the ambitious project manages to capture the collective consciousness of the city and to responds to its civic values, setting a bold new, meaningful symbol in terms of urban, social and environmental terms. Combining the latest advances in building technology with a deep analysis of the climate and organisations, the architects shaped an amazing building design based on sustainable principles.

Every aspect of the skyscraper is designed to be highly efficient. The tower faces south, curving towards the sun in order to take full advantage of heat and daylight, to encourage natural ventilation and help to significantly reduce energy use, and to outline a series of tremendous light-filled six-storey atria with sky gardens, cafes and meeting areas, which bring a vital social dimension to the office floors. In this way, the location of cellular offices is also maximised with beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains. The convex, glazed façade is turned into the prevailing wind, so the amount of steel is reduced and the structural loading is minimized.

The tower base is highly impermeable with a +15 enclosed bridge connection to downtown, an atrium filled with restaurants, cafes, shops and a fabulous plaza, while the atria at levels 24, 42 and 54 incorporate mature trees, seating, meeting rooms, catering facilities and local lift cores. At the very top of the building there is an auditorium which complements the staff facilities in these atria. The building project’s plan include a pedestrian connection with the downtown network and is fused at two points to Calgary’s system of enclosed walkways, which offers a retreat from the city’s harsh winters. Here’s some beautiful pictures to discover it.

See also another spectacular skyscraper in Canada envisioned by Foster+Partners.

Photos © Foster + Partners

Project details:

Appointment: 2005
Construction start: 2007
Completion: 2013
Area: 199 781 m²
Height: 239 m
Client: Matthews Southwest Developments Limited
Collaborating Architect: Zeidler Partnership
Structural Engineer: Halcrow Yolles
Quantity Surveyor: Altus Helier (Partial)
M+E Engineer: Cosentini
Landscape Architect: Gustafson Guthrie Nichol (Carson McCulloch – Local)
Lighting Engineer: Claude Engle Lighting Design
Additional Consultants: Sturgess Architecture, DA Watt, KJA, Kellam Berg, Cerami, Gensler, Cygnus, leber Rubes, Transolar, RWDI, Brook Van Dalen, Leber Rubes, Hayes Davidson

June 20, 2013
New Football Stadium Inspired by Brancusi’s Work To be Designed in Romania

Meet the new football stadium, which will be built starting with 2014 in Craiova, Romania. The amazing football arena will replace the existing “Ion Oblemenco” Stadium and will be the fourth of the three ultra modern stadiums already opened in recent years in Romania (from Bucharest -235 million euros, Cluj’s stadium-35 million euros and Ploiesti -17 million euros). The project envisioned by Romanian multi-disciplinary design practice Proiect Bucuresti looks magnificent on paper and miniature and it can compete with the National Arena in Bucharest, but at a much lower price.

The future stadium will have a 40,000 seats capacity, will cover an area of approximately 100,000 square meters, and will be part of a larger sports complex including another small stadium, athletics track with 5,000 seats and a park linking the Polyvalent Hall with the stadium. Its construction is supposed to begin in the summer of 2014 and although not yet known, the costs of the 40,000-seat stadium are estimated around 100 million euros.

With a standard playing field measuring 105m x 68m, heated, irrigated, drained and ventilated natural grass surface, comfortable seats arranged on two levels to have the best visibility possible, and VIP skyboxes located between the levels of seating around the full perimeter of the bowl, Craiova’s new football stadium will be ultra modern and will exceed European standards. It will be designed to achieve UEFA category IV (the highest level) and will host matches within the 1-st Romanian Football League (FRF), UEFA Europa League and UEFA Champions League and for National team matches (FIFA and UEFA).

But the first thing that impresses is its remarkable architectural design, that pays tribute to the renowned Romanian sculptor Constantin Brancusi. The special form of the main roof lines follows the shape used to make the eyebrows of one of his famous work “Miss Pogany”, and opens to the sky, intensifying the volume of the main bowl. They will be suggestive in daylight and the enhancement of architectural lighting at night will accentuate the building when viewed from the center of the town.The stands coverage and the protection under stairs space is solved by a single element like a dome starting from a perfect ellipse base in plan. The sculptural form opened to the sky and highlighted by the structural “ribs” architecturally illuminated thanks to transparent and translucent materials will enhance the importance of the interior space.

The result is a dynamic building architecture with arched shapes which will impress the viewer. The project that architects of Proiect Bucuresti comes with, proposes an ecological approach to the environment, so the materials and technologies used to built this football arena will be sustainable and will integrate green energy sources such as photovoltaic cells, ground source heating/cooling and deep well water sources. They will choose very carefully the materials in order to protect spectators in unfavorable weather conditions and ensure in the same time the stadium is flooded with natural light necessary to maintain the stadium’s pitch.

Artificial photosynthetic systems for the same purpose. Besides the stadium, the landscape of the sports complex will be improved with new landscaping, public parks, pedestrian walkways and parking as well, transforming this highly modern area into a powerful landmark that will boost the development of Craiova. Check out the video at the end of this post!

Photos © Proiect Bucuresti

Project details:

Location: Craiova, Romania
Architects: Proiect Bucuresti
Status: Concept design
Area: 100.000 square meters
Seats: 40.000
Execution period: 2014-2017

New “Ion Oblemenco” Football Stadium in Craiova

June 19, 2013
Steuart Padwick’s 6 Creative Desk Designs

Interested in wooden desks with creative contemporary designs? Here we come with fresh ideas made in Britain that may raise your eyebrows and complement any modern home office.  Steuart Padwick‘s range of beautifully crafted desks designs are understated stylish, unique and enlivened with a dash o color. They are bursting with British designer’s wit showcasing a very popular look right now: an seductive combination between natural wood and a colored paint or laquered finish.

Each one of them offers a new, different design approach, some of them even challenging the conventional structure of desks we already know by showing an unusual leg arrangement (see “Legs Crossed Desk” and “Pointe Desk”) or one single leg with a solid turned beech base (see “Laptilt Desk”). Smartly designed, these wooden desks reveal inspiring silhouettes with hidden drawers,  lifting lids or geometry that doubles as side table for example, creating a great focal point for modern offices.  Check out the following pieces of furniture, each with a well designed personality and find out from us how to design a good home office.

1. Belly Desk

An elegant, perfect combination of solid oak legs in a clear lacquer with Lichen Grey painted top. Belli Desk features a charming, rich contrast that animates any entryway or contemporary office. The lower part of the tabletop has a deep drawer, a storage space to maintain its large surface free from clutter.  The smooth tapered legs and delicately oblique lines give to this desk an interesting, eye-catching appearance.

2. Pitch Bullet Desk

It’s made of solid oak with painted oak top, finished in a clear satin lacquer. Pitch Bullet Desk has a simple and clean design, with a nice black and wood contrast suitable for a range of interior designs from transitional to modern. Its angled oak legs support a painted black top and a centered, spacious drawer under it for concealing anything you want from the desk (documents, tools, gadgets, etc.). Very original looking sharply angled design softened by the  tabletop’s beveled edges. This desk is part of the Pitch Bullet edged range, which is comprised of a printer/side table and a set of shelves.

3. Laptilt Desk

To Tilt or not to Tilt… Here is a fun yet sculptural piece of furniture with a clever geometry, which allows the user to convert it from an occasional table into a small laptop desk with a simple tilt of the base. A unique hidden taper on the base makes your experience easier when using a laptop while lounging on a sofa. Laptilt Desk tilts back and forward each time when light pressure is applied to use the keyboard of the laptop. It’s very practical in many occasions.

4. Walk Desk

Shortlisted for the Blueprint Best New Product 2009, the Walk Desk a trendy item for the home office, distinguising through its innovative design remainding of school times and lovely chilhood. Its playful look with sophisticated finish would embellish your modern office or your teenager room as well. Walk Desk is characterized by a  two deep drawers, a central section with lifting lid and interesting twisted legs that play with our visual perception, making the furniture piece to appear as it’s wandering. This design allows for any color combination and wood choice.

5. Legs Crossed Desk

The desk design continues the joyful rearrangement of the legs, a theme started with the Walk desk. Its minimalist wood construction with veneered oak drawer fronts and veneered American black walnut top is accentuated in a clear satin lacquer or a wonderful satin oil. The crossed legs give it a stylish balance and transforming it into a  fresh indoor furniture piece. There is also a second version of the Legs Crossed Desk which serves as a chic dressing table because it features an adjustable round mirror on the top.

6. Pointe Desk

Available in natural or mocha stained oak (mocha version shown), Pointe Desk is a feminine and fashionable desk which doubles as well as dressing table. Its name comes from the position in ballet and evidence of that are its tapering legs placed in a particular position allowing your legs to stay comfortable while working. We find here that soft curved edge detail similar to the Pitch Bullet Desk’s one.

Photos © Steuart Padwick

June 18, 2013
Furniture Designs Playing With Perceptions by Alessandra Baldereschi

Alessandrabaldereschi Design Studio presented at Salone del mobile 2013 a highly creative furniture collection which has a simple and original, yet very intriguing appearance. The innovation of the new POPPINS collection designed by Italian designer Alessandra Baldereschi consists in the use of the upholstery in various colors and geometric shapes, which create a cool optical illusion and an interesting 3D feel. Inspired by the Optical Art method, she pushed the boundaries and designed a cheerful, modern collection that ranks high in originality.

What initially appears to be with six colorful benches with many different pillows laid on them, there are in facts benches with beautiful relief decorations in the form of pillows. Five types of cushions of varied slightly deformed shapes and colors emerge from the surface of the benches developing color landscapes. The padding is broken down and place only when necessary, increasing the seat comfort, and in the same time the aesthetic value of the furniture pieces.

In this way, they become integral part of the benches’ structure showcasing the relationship between the upholstery and decoration. The unique style of the design is therefore highlighted through the dynamic effect and the accentuated vibration of colors given by this three-dimensionallity. Surprising and amazing result, isn’t it? Take a look!

Photos © Alessandra Baldereschi

June 16, 2013
The Invisible Power of a Magnet -Magneto Lamps by Foscarini

Magneto is a family of appealing lamps that combines essential design with functionality. Envisioned by Italian industrial designer Giulio Iacchetti for Italian brand Foscarini, Magneto consists of three simple elements: a support rod with a round base, a compact LED light source resembling to a microphone or an electric torch, and a magnetic sphere which connects the first two components.

In fact, the spherical magnet is the heart of these lamps’ design, hence the name of Magneto. This original idea makes the lamps very special as we haven’t seen before something similar. It looks like something magical happens and the light moves up and down as you wish thanks to the magnetic field of the magnet. Interesting, isn’t it?

The new table and reading lamp are designed without the features of a high-tech lamps, but their versatility and minimalism allows for a multitude of usages from reading to diffused lighting. The profile of the lamps houses a cable, thing that allows the movement in the diffuser, which doesn’t remain only at the top of the lamp, as it was first designed, but to be adjusted to the height we want. The possibility of extracting and reinserting the cable in the cleave means the lamp can be moved at different heights. This geometry that the cable assumes in a completely casual manner becomes part of the design, as well as the color which integrates perfectly with it.

The LED holder has an extremely simple, minimalist shape because the weight has to be reduced to the bare essentials so that all this could move and rotate round the magnetic sphere, but at the same time it had to be held, to be handled and directed as we please. They are lamps that produce a sharp, precise beam of light that can be directed down onto small areas. The first version of the lamp was the floor version, but by reducing the length of the stand, it resulted the second one-the table lamp. Magneto are made of ABS and painted steel, and comes in two colors: red and grey.

Photos © Foscarini

June 14, 2013
4 Ways To Light Up Your Garden With LED’s

As the summer months draw nearer, many people’s attention will turn to the state of their garden. Providing the perfect setting to socialise, relax and host your summer memories, you will want your garden looking as delightful and inviting as possible.

As the nights get warmer, you will unsurprisingly want to spend more time admiring your garden. As the sun sets across the horizon, there’s no need to move indoors as homeowners open their minds to a whole new realm of possibilities with the help of LED’s.

Illuminating

Cost-effective, flexible and boundless, LED’s are fast becoming the most popular way to light up and enhance the look and function of your garden. With a whole line of products available, attaining the advice and guidance of a reputable LED supplier will allow you to see the benefits for yourself.

With so many uses, colours and effects available to transform your garden, knowing what to do with each product can be a daunting prospect. Have no fear; check out our design ideas below!

Photo © Harold Leidner Landscape Architects

#1 – Light Up Your Pathways

Why not highlight your quaint pathway or paving stones with LED’s to really emphasise the design of your garden. As simple as aligning with current paving stone, you can weave your design around your walkways, illuminating the way and allowing people to explore your garden.

#2 – Flood Lights

No one wants to be left sitting in the dark. Exterior LED flood lights draw at least 80% less power than standard flood lights and bulkhead lights and with a life equal to at least 35 Halogen tubes, meaning replacing the bulb will be a thing of the past. Allowing you to save energy as well as proficiently light up your garden, many LED flood lights are available in 10, 30 and 50 watts.

#3 – Flexible Fibre Optics & LED Tape

Many people are discovering the benefits of using fibre optics to illuminate their garden, more specifically their decking. A flexible and highly inexpensive investment, you can run fibre optics on as little as £9 a year, allowing you to light up your garden all year round.

Fibre optics and LED Tape can be controlled by you creating seamless colour changes at whatever speed you desire, allowing you to create an exterior lighting design that is unique to your garden.

Photo © LuAnn Development, Inc.

#4 – Set The Mood Colour-changing

The real beauty of LED’s however, is their ability to capture the mood, whatever the occasion. Some LED lighting systems, such as LED Tape are capable of creating over 2 million colours which you can control. Fitted with sophisticated RGB colour-changing technology, you can choose from a single colour, to interspersing colours, to colours of your choice. Lighting has never been limitless!

The benefits are there for all to see. LED’s offer an affordable, long-lasting and hardwearing solution to garden lighting design and it’s no surprise that demand is high. With expert guidance from some a specialist LED supplier and installer, you can have a garden that is as beautiful and inviting as it is practical.

With garden design an ever-changing concept, Phil Warrington offers his expert guidance on how LED’s can be used to enhance your garden. He recommend Litewave; a distinguished and recognised LED supplier who stock a whole host of LED products, such as LED Tape & LED Down lights, that won’t fail to transform your garden.

Photo © Tim Turner Photography; C.O.S Design

June 13, 2013
Topographical Ping Pong Table Design Converts Into a Conference Table

When talking about ping pong table, most of us link this piece with an imagine representing whether a hard green or a blue table divided by a net, but it seems like not all of us see it in this way. For Alex Mustonen and Daniel Arsham from Brooklyn based studio Snarkitecture, the ping pong table is all black, sleek and showcases an undulating topography below its surface, which makes it somehow look like an art object.

They called it “Slice” and it’s a reinterpretation of the well-known iconic classic. A delusory opaque landscape when viewed from its shorter ends and impossibly thin from its longer sides, “Slice” features a wonderful contrast in every sense of the word. Crafted from steel, rubber and an incredibly thick and durable eco-friendly material called Richlite, it mixes an elegant and attractive design with a practical ability to transform into a conference or dining table. Yes, you’ve heard very well, this ping pong table doubles as a conference table which makes it perfect for business meetings too, not only for entertainment. Moreover, “Slice” is designed both for indoor and outdoor space. Very original looking version, what do you think?

Photos © Snarkitecture

June 12, 2013
Ingenious Way to Incorporate Plywood Into Your Décor

Looking for ways to incorporate plywood into your décor? Here’s what we found to inspire you this time: “Sending Animals” -a cool series of storage units that will definitely make your space stands out. The project belongs to Italian designer Marcantonio Raimondi Malerba, and like his entire portofolio, it consists of unique pieces of design enriched with artistic concepts due to its background in production of art and fine arts.

Exploring relationships between Man and Nature, he interprets both beauties and dynamics of nature in a very original manner, coming up with eccentric ideas for interior design and not only.

The great attraction he has on animals and their shapes led him to create “Sending Animals” collection, a new take on the design of conventional storage furniture pieces. Three silhouettes of farm animals – a cow, pig and goose – interestingly compartmentalized will display a playful rural appeal, whlist make themselves useful in your kitchen, living room or bedroom. Thanks to its small height and a pull out drawer, the goose is perfect as a low side table in a bedroom.

On the other hand, pig and cow are large enough to serve as console tables, sideboards, kitchen cabinets or just as a fun décor elements. Made from plywood, these lovely silhouettes of farm animals help you have an organized urban life, matching many styles of interior design like traditional, shabby chic, industrial or modern.

Photos © Marcantonio Raimondi Malerba

June 12, 2013