Connecting Riads, image courtesy AQSO arquitectos office

The project is located on the east side of Anfa district, a downtown historic area in the vicinity of an old airport to be demolished. The plot is situated between the Gran Theatre boulevard and a residential area composed of low buildings and an urban park.

Connecting Riads, render courtesy AQSO arquitectos office

The scheme is solved conceptually as a continuous block aligned to the surrounding streets and wrapping around two big 'riads'. This simple gesture is further defined by the particular context of each side of the site in a way that the different height of the elevation become a contemporary and expressive form to which the roof is formed by staircase shaped green terraces.

Connecting Riads, render courtesy AQSO arquitectos office

In this way the building grows to offer an urban character towards the boulevard and reduces its scale to the opposite side. The upward volume allows the apartments to enjoy the view of the park.

The building façade turns into two different strategies: the exterior skin facing the most public context becomes an introverted and formal element while the interior one facing the private courtyards becomes extrovert and domestic.

Connecting Riads, render courtesy AQSO arquitectos office

The first one is made by long balconies enclosed by sliding latticework panels and the second one is just a white and plain surface only interrupted by long windows and big protruding balconies. This elements arranged in an irregular order are hanged on the wall like flowerpots in an Andalusian patio. The building block is also perforated through big openings working as green terraces and allowing good ventilation and views.

Connecting Riads - Elevations, drawing courtesy AQSO arquitectos office

On the semipublic areas, the landscape is treated with an organic layout combining cobbled paving pathways, water features and native vegetation of trees and low-maintenance plants.

Connecting Riads - Ground floor plan, drawing courtesy AQSO arquitectos office

The complex is composed of different residential typologies ranging from 70 to 160 sqm. The apartments follow a 6×3 meters module in which grid are arranged the different rooms. There are five unit types and different subtypes depending on the orientation and geometry.

+ Project facts

Project title: Connecting riads
Subtitle: Residential complex in Casablanca
Architects: AQSO arquitectos office
Location: Casablanca, Morocco
Site area: 9814 sqm
Ground Floor Area: 49154 sqm
Client: Nokta Group

+ All images and drawings courtesy AQSO arquitectos office

Green Climate Fund Headquarters, render courtesy LAVA

The Federal Republic of Germany chose the multinational firm Laboratory for Visionary Architecture [LAVA] as the designers for their bid to host the Secretariat of the Green Climate Fund [GCF] in Bonn.

LAVA's design for the headquarters of the GCF is 'an ecological model project' and demonstrates their motto: 'green is the new black'.

Green Climate Fund Headquarters, render courtesy LAVA

The vision for international climate protection will be realised in the building design itself, with innovative solutions such as:

• Facades are articulated according to building orientation
• Surfaces integrate various means of regenerative energy production
• Photo-voltaics and bioreactors demonstrate the application of the latest technologies
• The building responds to the site to maximize the experience of its natural qualities

Green Climate Fund Headquarters, render courtesy LAVA

With a design inspired by the beautiful setting in the Rhine valley, and with curvilinear forms, nature light wells, roof top gardens and a large sunken terrace for the restaurant, the three level structure will comply with the latest energy and building ecology standards, meeting the highest demands in terms of sustainability (German gold certificate), ecology and energy efficiency (net zero energy).

Green Climate Fund Headquarters, render courtesy LAVA

We were honoured to be asked by the German government to support their bid for the GCF with a state-of-the-art proposal reflecting its core values.

LAVA director Tobias Wallisser

LAVA has worked closely with the advanced research facilities and experts at the world renowned Fraunhofer IAO to generate intelligent systems, materials and skins that respond to external influences such as air pressure, temperature, humidity, solar-radiation and pollution.

LAVA director Alexander Rieck

Since winning the international competition to design the centre of the world's first eco city, Masdar, in 2009, our projects have focussed on combining digital workflow, nature's principles and the latest digital fabrication technologies with the aim of achieving MORE WITH LESS: more (architecture) with less (material/energy/time/cost).

LAVA director Chris Bosse

Green Climate Fund Headquarters, render courtesy LAVA

Described as 'architecturally appealing' and 'environmentally friendly with functional spaces that foster working productivity' the purpose built GCF headquarters will offer ideal working conditions for approximately 300 Green Climate Fund officials, on a 13,000m2 site.

Offices with state-of-the-art office technology, logistics areas with security controls and a visitor reception zone, an auditorium, a conference room, a canteen/cafeteria and an underground car park create optimal working conditions.

Green Climate Fund Headquarters - Site plan, drawing courtesy LAVA

The proposed building has excellent transport connections, is in walking distance from several Federal ministries, including the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Green Climate Fund Headquarters - Axo, drawing courtesy LAVA

Chris Bosse, Tobias Wallisser and Alexander Rieck set up LAVA as a network of creative minds with a research and design focus in 2007 with offices in Sydney, Shanghai, Stuttgart, Berlin and Riyadh.

+ Project facts

Client: The Federal Government of Germany
Location: Bonn, Germany
Status: Feasibility Study 2012
Size: 13,000 sq.m
Project Team: LAVA – Tobias Wallisser, Alexander Rieck, Chris Bosse With Stephan Markus Albrecht, Marvin Bratke, Stefanie Pesel, Christian Tschersich
General Advisor: Fraunhofer IAO
Building Advisor: Fraunhofer Allianz Bau
Photobioreactor-Facade / Microalgae Cultivation Advisor: Fraunhofer IGB
Visualisation: MIR