courtesy Monocomplex design studio

We always put books on a bookshelf uprightly, but when looking at them, casually, we see them falling down, again. Unlike normal bookshelves, 'LEAN Bookshelf' has the bottom which inclines to keep books uprightly. It has bilateral symmetry and towers over, based on the central point. Therefore, it is possible to load books without difficulty. It has four stages of color that gradually turns light gray from black, and it enables you to create different atmospheres, according to how you place it.

courtesy Monocomplex design studio

In addition, an artistic creativity and sensitivity of the 2012 F/W season show windows of 'G.D.S' in WEST, the Galleria Department Store's luxury hall where is the Korea's first female designer store, and 'MANgds' that is a male designer store, are added to it.

courtesy Monocomplex design studio

'LEAN Bookshelf' designed by MONOCOMPLEX is re-created into a new object with the title, 'Just a Vibe' by the Asia's best graffiti artist team, ‘MADVICTOR’.

courtesy Monocomplex design studio

+ Project facts

Studio: monocomplex design studio (located in Seoul, South Korea) | www.monocomplex.com
Project: Lean / Bookshelf (Autumn 2012)
Material: birch wood (finland)
Size:
Large Ver. 1800(H) x 1200(W) x 300(D)
Small Ver. 1200(H) x 800(W) x 290(D)

+ All images courtesy Monocomplex design studio

courtesy Festka Bicycles

After two years of development, Festka Bicycles presents an ultimate carbon frame. Carbon couplings are used to connect tubes, which allows for tailor-made construction. The carbon tubes are a result of cooperation with CompoTech, a company which focuses on advanced solutions from sports to robotics. Using carefully-selected composition of high-strength fibres, the new tubes set new standards in strength and absorption of vibrations, further advancing our revolutionary sandwich tube solution. In the event of damage, the frame allows substituting any damaged tube for another. The head tube was remodeled to a new 1,5" size (upper and bottom bearing). This solution considerably adds strength in the front of the frame and improves fork fit.

Every professional biker will confirm that a high-quality headset is of key importance, and that is why Festka opted for currently the best solution on the market – Cane Creek 110 52mm. Guarantee for 110 years speaks for everything. Since this is a top-level frame, the bottom bracket can only be made of titanium. There are, of course, no stickers on the bike and the design is created by airbrush and premium varnish from PPG, a world-renowned supplier. The weight of the frame is about 1000 grams or even less, depending on type. (We can make 700g frames, but weight has impact on function at this level. Limitation and potential complications are not worth the several grams you save on the frame weight.) The total weight of a road bike thus gets below 6 kg.

What is Retül?

3D Motion Capture Bike Fit. It is the most advanced system of adjusting rider's sitting posture. Using tools, which are used to make animated films, we will create a 3D model of you and your bike and finely tune the best sitting posture on your bike. We will help you increase power, preventing health problems at the same time. For the moment we are the only European company to own this new version of the system!

courtesy Festka Bicycles

+ Design statement by Festka Bicycles

A large proportion of bicycle production now comes from Taiwan and China, which led not only to the loss of handcraft quality, but also innovation. We are putting both back to frame manufacture. We love working with carbon. We build bikes which are strong, lightweight and reliable, developed by top-level professionals in the field. We approach each customer as a winner of Tour de France. We will carefully take your measures, draw the frame, prepare an original design and seat you on the bike. But we go much further – what about your personal shirt collection to match only your bike? We always try to do things in an original and honest way and we are looking forward to each new day.

courtesy Festka Bicycles

Two years ago, we wanted to buy bicycles. And since we are demanding, it should have been bikes that would have told something about us. To our surprise, no one could satisfy us – the bikes were not hand-made and involved putting stickers on Chinese import, or the vendor tried to talk us out of our idea. In the end, we decided to show everyone that you can do things properly. We have found the best professionals in various fields – welders, developers, designers, etc. Now there is 15 of use and each member of Festka has many years of experience and excellence on their record. This enables us to make bicycles which bring joy to both us and our customers.

courtesy Festka Bicycles

The Festka Bicycles Company is focused on tailor-made manual manufacturing of frames as well as of full bicycles. Our objective is to create the bike in close co-operation with the final customer in order to meet his/her requirements and expectations in a very large extent. We provide broad consulting services with special focus on all cycling aspects including of exact measuring of bike and biker fitting and cloth design. We are very proud on our original tubes which provide excellent rigidity and resistance against mechanical damage and/or extreme low weight. (Thus the frame Mops is weighing only about 600 grams and it may be classified as one of the lightest frames in the world.). Next to carbon we provide large spectrum of steel-made frames including of a hot new product – stainless steel-made tubes XCr from the Italian Columbus Company. The main advantage of this material is that it may not be painted any way. Furthermore, we work with Aluminium.

+ ABOUT Mr. Michal Mourecek, a Company partner

Michael is former professional biker with 10 years of professional cycling experience in various Czech and Italian cycling teams. In his professional carrier he was ten times champion of the Czech Republic on the road as well as on the track, in junior age he took 3rd place in a world championship. In the Festka Bicycles Company he takes care for marketing, new ideas and testing of new bikes.

+ ABOUT Mr. Ondrej Novotný, a Company partner

Ondrej takes care for the Company backend. He has experiences from small as well as large companies of various branches. In the past, he had been working for care maker as well as publishing companies and he is capable to lead working teams. All these experiences are used in favour of the Festka Bicycles Company and – last but not least – Ondrej loves bikes and biking.

+ For more about Festka Bicycles and Project 200, please visit
http://projekt200.festka.com/en and www.festka.com.

+ All images courtesy Festka Bicycles

courtesy MAD(E) IN MUMBAI architects

The project deals with redevelopment of eighteen plots in the inner city of Mumbai, ad measuring almost 250m of length. The length of the site is expressed through a 250m long linear built form, which grows with acquisition of subsequent plots. The building expands over three phases leaving appropriate recreational grounds to handle the density of the development. The building typology houses rehabilitation and sale component in the same building forming a linear landmark along the site. The class differences of both components are configured through segregation of movements. The built form is sculpted to release voids at different levels, which behave as recreational planes for various user groups.

courtesy MAD(E) IN MUMBAI architects

+ About MAD(E) IN MUMBAI architects

Incepted by Kalpit Ashar and Mayuri Sisodia, MAD(E) IN MUMBAI, is an young international design practice involved with Architecture, Urban Design, Interiors and landscapes. The studio draws from diverse national and international exposure of its principals and their involvement with design academia. It provides comprehensive design services in the fields of Public institutions, high density housing, environmental infrastructure, community design, redevelopment, heritage conservation, interior architecture, landscapes and territorial planning.

MAD(E) IN MUMBAI takes its shape in madness of Mumbai city. This crazy patchwork of ideas, experiences and materiality forms repository and laboratory for the studio. It is a point of beginning for its speculation and practice. The studio works closely with the chemistry of the city to discover potential fields of operation. The belief of the practice lies in looking beyond the visible for the unseen and for absurdities of things and places. Rather than confirming to good ways of building architecture/cities, it believes in radical approaches that transcend the norms of design. Project challenges such as site constraints, budgets, development regulations, policies and politics are used as opportunities to speculate new urban forms. It is a platform where ordinary and pragmatic reality is elevated to the heights of poetry through imaginative speculation and craftsmanship.

Studio

Our Studio is a platform for rigorous analytical and intuitive processes. It is a place for nurturing curiosities, cultivating ideas and exploring imaginations. Plethora of ideas are tried and tested through parallel working of the hand and the mind. Alchemy of making things with one's own hand and highest standard of craftsmanship are cultivated. The designs are ruthlessly experimented and crafted through, models, experimental materials and drawings. The preconceived notions of using the materials are challenged to invent new possible physical realities. The works are celebrations of invented materials, building techniques and crafting skills. The endeavour is to shape timeless places that are works of pleasure and poetry.

Partners

Kalpit Ashar is an architect and an Urbanist based in Mumbai. He graduated with B. Arch (Gold Medal) in 2005 from Kamla Raheja Institute for Architecture and Environmental Studies, Mumbai. He completed his master's education in Digital tectonics, self sufficient habitats and emergent territories from Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), Spain in 2009. His undergraduate dissertation was nominated for President's Medals Awards 2007, RIBA London. He has won J. N.Tata Endowment, Kamla Raheja Foundation and Rotary Club awards. He was also a winner for IAAC study grant.

After graduating, he was involved as a project architect with Charles Correa Associatesand worked on various National & International projects. Through urban research and teaching at Kamla Raheja Institute he has continued his association with academic space. Currently he is a director at MAD(E) IN MUMBAI, a young architectural practise involved with Architectural, Urban and Landscape design projects in Mumbai and as a design faculty at Kamla Raheja Institute for Architecture.

Mayuri Sisodia is an architect and an Urban Designer based in Mumbai. She graduated with B.Arch in 2006 from Kamla Raheja Institute for Architecture and Environmental Studies, Mumbai. She completed her master's education in Urban Design from Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London. After graduating, she was involved with Charles Correa Architects for many national and International projects. Her academic involvement includes teaching at Kamla Rahaeja Institute as a Design faculty.

Her undergraduate dissertation was presented to Maharashtra Police as a real alternative for Urban Police Stations. She has also exhibited her work at Cities Methodologies exhibition for Urban Laboratory, Slade School of Art, London. She has won prestigious Charles Wallace India Trust award for arts, 2010. She was also winner for J.N.Tata Endowment and Kamla Raheja Foundation awards. Currently she is also a director at MAD(E) IN MUMBAI, where she pursues her interest in Art, Architecture and cities.

Together they have participated in many national and International design competitions which include Evolo international housing design competition, New York, Mater Centro de Materiales del FAD matério, Barcelona, Freedom Park National Competition, Bangalore and Urban design competition for school of planning and architecture, Delhi. Their Competition winning entries include Revitalisation of Banganga Crematorium and Jogeshwari Civic Centre, Mumbai. They have also won International Competition organised by International Association for Human Habitat.

+ Project facts

Location: Byculla, Mumbai, India
Type: Housing, retail, amenities
Size: 63,000 Sq. m
Client: Kathawala Realtors
Date: July 2012
Collaborating Architect: Muktanand Zingade Associates

+ All images and drawings courtesy MAD(E) IN MUMBAI architects

courtesy EGA

Designed by EGA, the H+ city renewal project in Helsingborg, Swedenhas won the WAN AWARD URBAN REGENERATION 2012.

Jury :

Alan Thompson, Head of Design Review at the Design Council
Biljana Savic, Urban Programme Manager for The Prince's Foundation for Building Community
Richard Brown, Director, Keith Williams Architects

Comments from the Jury:

It was Erik Giudice Architects who stood out from the crowd with their 'very innovative solution to urban regeneration'. The practice's in H+ Project was praised for its 'social atmosphere' and ability to 'encourage residents' integration' by Richard Brown.

Biljana Savic explains of the winning proposal:

It makes an effort to reconnect with the city with a central spine around a canal theme, creating a number of public spaces that are servicing the scheme but also connecting with the key movement around the site.

Bijana Savic, Urban Programme Manager for The Prince's Foundation for Building Community

courtesy EGA

Project description

The H+ project is one of Sweden’s must ambitious planning and urban renewal projects. The ongoing process aims to radically transform the southern parts of Helsingborg connecting them to the sea through the “Blue-green connection”, a landscaped water feature.

The central core of the H+ project is located around the Bredgatan area, a former industrial sector which is already evolving with the presence of the Helsingborg Campus, and several dynamic companies.

This area is strategically located between the old city and the harbor, and will be one of the first areas to undergo transformation, it will serve as a "test-bed" for H + at large, but will also be given its own identity in the H + urban mosaic.

courtesy EGA

The area is already hosting the Helsingborg university Campus, and several dynamic companies, but lacks of housing, public services and has a poor public spaces. The aim is to transform the area into a mixed urban fabric, keeping the spirit of entrepreneurship and enhancing the collaboration between university and companies.

The varying width and depth of the central promenade gives ever new perspectives. Variation in scale and building typologies, mixing old and new, creates a dynamic urban  fabric with a combination of intimate and more spectacular public spaces.

Along the canal ground floors are used  for education, café, restaurants, and office. Ground floor of existing buildings are glazed to create new relationships. The new city blocks opens up onto canal room which helps to give depth and richness of the event. Urban catalysts in the form of multi-functional buildings are placed in strategic points which activates the Canal space further.

courtesy EGA

Skyline, sun and exploitation

Bredgatan area's new skyline becomes a dynamic addition to Helsingborg. Each block structure and volume has been intensively and progressively refined to achieve optimum sun conditions in combination with optimal exploitation. Location of higher buildings in strategic position have been carefully studied in order to establish good sun conditions in the neighborhoods and in the public sphere, not least along the canal.

Canal room

The “Canal rooms” varying width and depth ever new perspectives. The buildings scale is varied to create a dynamic a combination of intimate and more spectacular, grand public spaces. Along the canal ground floors are used for education, café, restaurants, and office operations. Catalysts in the form of multi-functional buildings are placed in strategic points which activates the channel space further. Floor plans of existing buildings opens up and glazed to create new relationships. Quarter opens onto canal room which helps to give depth and richness of the event.

courtesy EGA

Neighborhood Design

The blocks are closed to the west in order to protect against wind, noise and risk from dangerous goods, the courtyards open up towards channel to give views and contact with water. Offices are located towards infrastructural axis, whereas higher residential are oriented towards the central canal and green axis.

Acoustics and risk

Along Sjögatan a protective barrier in the form of earth-filled containers separates the local street space from the dangerous traffic.  The containers form a protective buffer against risks and against noise while acting as a big "pots" in which trees are planted. Using containers in the public space creates a connection between the Bredgate area  and existing container port. This flexible solution can be easily moved on the day the situation develops, for example. when dangerous goods transport ceases.

Green architecture

In order to improve the global green area factor green roofs and facades are used intensely, in combination with greenhouses, allotments ; altogether creating a dynamic roof landscape that contributes to local air quality and microclimate.

Knowledge axis

The blue-green connection is reinforced with a longitudinal knowledge axis. By placing schools and kindergartens along the central canal we create a knowledge-axis linking with the university. Other forms of training, adult education, business courses are proposed to be located primarily along the canal route, this provides a logical and identity to the area, while all forms of education are in physical continuity. Correlation between knowledge and training in all phases of life creates a physical place. Learning and discovery also characterizes the public rooms in the area. Opening up university facade on the ground floor also helps to visualize this identity and create interest in education. Urban knowledge catalyst are placed along the axis, buildings that host seminars, informal exchange of knowledge, attracting information seekers.

courtesy EGA

Sun and light

The buildings are oriented and structured to obtain a balance between high development and optimal exposure to sun. The graphs show sun exposure during a day. It shows that most of the apartments in the area have access to direct sunlight even during low sun in winter. Shadow study has been the basis for the structure and functions of the area but also for how the canal space is programmed for both green and social values. This in order to take advantage of sun and shade to create added value.

The aim of the concept is to enable a high comfort as possible in the outdoor environment in all weather conditions with 100% passive means. In the winter create protection from wind and exposure and use the sun's rays. By creating shielded room between commercial buildings and entrances increase the perceived comfort significantly just by using passive solar energy and which also reduces wind impact. By actively working with green spaces and places creates both good sun conditions for ground floors, and cool during the increasingly hot summer months. The building's shape and material minimized the larger UHI (urban heat island effect).

Energy efficiency

The ambition of the energy concept is to achieve optimal conditions for the residential environment with minimal energy consumption. The aim is structured in three stages: meeting the need as far as possible with passive agents; meet remaining needs with high performance energy systems that are integrated into buildings, and provide this need with energy from renewable sources.

courtesy EGA

+ Project facts

Client: H+ Helsingborg City

Design Team:
Urbanism and Architecture: EGA | www.erikgiudice.com
Partners in Charge: Erik Giudice and Federico Mannella
Team: Lars Almgren and Francesca Venezia

Landscape and Planning: ATKINS Sweden
Artist: Charlotte von Poehl
Urban economy: Deloitte
Sustainability: Transsolar
Ecology: Naturföretaget

Size and program:
Site: 15 ha
Housing: 160 000 m2
Offices: 60 000 m2
Education: 20 000 m2
Shopping area: 16 000 m2

courtesy Jorge Penadés Serrano

New Approach: the celebration of geometry as an aesthetic act.

The New Approach project was born as a challenge to develop stimulating items with an essentially geometrical system that can be redefined with every new piece.

I understand space as a shifting entity. Lines merge to create planes, planes join and become volume, volume changes depending on the angle.

Jorge Penadés Serrano

courtesy Jorge Penadés Serrano

Jorge Penadés, the designer behind New Approach, likes to push the boundaries between a space and the user’s interaction with it. His work implies a continuous defiance of preconceived ideas in this scope, leading to a deeper involvement of both maker and user. Basically, his designs explore the spatial perception of the human being.

courtesy Jorge Penadés Serrano

This piece, is the first step of an ongoing project that instinctively tends to blur the frontier between reality and perception. In other words, it is a manifesto in favour of a creation system based in the combination of vertices, edges and planes as the ultimate form of beauty.

courtesy Jorge Penadés Serrano

In the end, New Approach means a constant revision of space as the way to connect with the spectator, turning him into an active user. In this project, lines are engaged to the concept of geometry, but this relationship is far from immutable. As an expression of Penadés’s philosophy, his work permanently invites to look for distinct perspectives, to reformulate the questions in order to get different answers.

courtesy Jorge Penadés Serrano

courtesy Jorge Penadés Serrano

+ Project credits

Picture: Jorge Penadés Serrano
Text: Paula Guisado