FOLDONE expresses a new dynamic position, with a strong conceptual abstraction. It evolves in a continuum of folding surfaces, giving a contemporary spirit to space.

Dynamism and transformation are concepts which describe this design generated by research into the perception of movement: surfaces are folded, creating continuity, into functional spaces able to accommodate objects.

A designed component as a new vision of furniture, where steel plays the role of a contemporary character.

courtesy Carlo Alberto Mari

courtesy Carlo Alberto Mari

+ Photographs by Carlo Alberto Mari

Mexico-based architectural practice T38 studio has completed a house in México, Tijuana, Baja California.

courtesy T38 studio ; Alfredo Zertuche

+ Design statatement

On a sloping site with a privileged view of the city, we designed a house for a young family. The main design criteria was that every interior space would have a relation with exterior space. To accomplish that, our approach was to integrate outdoor space at every level of the house, be it a garden or terraces. Other spaces we would open up to the exterior by extensive use of glass positioned to take advantage of the landscape surrounding the site.

courtesy T38 studio ; Alfredo Zertuche

Since the site is an irregular triangle, we broke the house into two perpendicular wings which surround the garden and open up towards the views. Because of the slope in the terrain, we have a main vertical circulation core and the rest of the house is broken up into split levels, creating an interesting flow of circulation within the program. On the first level there is the public space composed by living room and dining room that open up towards the pool. Half a level up is the kitchen and family room that connect to the garden. After that is the private space where on one level is the main bedroom with its own terrace and on another level the two daughters bedrooms. Finally, on the third level is an office space and t.v. room with a terrace that has 270 degree views.

courtesy T38 studio ; Alfredo Zertuche

Another of our concerns was the materiality of the house, that is why we kept the palette to a minimum. Using local materials like brick, combined with steel, glass and wood; same materials found in local construction, but with a different use and interpretation.

courtesy T38 studio ; Alfredo Zertuche

+ Project facts

Architects: T38 studio
Architects in charge: Alfonso Medina, Oscar González.
Project Team: Mauricio Kuri, Sara Díaz.
Construction: Taller38
Project Year: 2011
Site surface: 370 m2
Built surface: 340 m2
Location: México, Tijuana, Baja California.
Photographs : Alfredo Zertuche.

+ All images and drawings courtesy T38 studio

courtesy Roland Halbe; formTL

In the new spa area of the Palais Thermal, a roof made by formTL consisting of a thin white membrane protects bathers from the elements and from prying eyes.

Radolfzell / Tübingen, October 2012. For 165 years, the old Graf-Eberhard Baths in Bad Wildbad, situated in the northern part of the Black Forest, have been considered one of Europe’s finest bathing temples. Built in 1847 directly over a thermal spring, the baths have undergone many different extensions and modernisations over the years. The ensemble is characterised by the new Eberhard baths, a terraced structure from the 70s, which has been empty for some years. These historic leisure baths with their ‘Maurische Halle’ (Moorish Room) and ‘Fürstenbädern’ (Prince’s Baths) are now extending their range of facilities with an outside canvas-covered spa area.

courtesy Roland Halbe; formTL

The town of Bad Wildbad lies in the idyllic and narrow Enztal valley in the northern part of the Black Forest. Due to this, it was decided to use the empty exterior area of the 70s structure for the extension. The renowned Stuttgart architecture firm Kauffmann Theilig & Partner created a friendly spa landscape, characterised by warm wood tones, on the second and third floors of the terrace structure. This landscape is enhanced by specially selected lighting. Bathers can access the new area via wooden stairs that lead up from the sauna’s inner courtyard in the historic baths. Here, they find themselves in a polygonal wooden landscape, with various sauna experiences on offer, before coming to the highlight of the area: a new outdoor rooftop pool that offers swimmers an impressive view of the valley.

courtesy Roland Halbe; formTL

In order to prevent people looking in from the nearby hotel and to offer sauna users privacy, the entire north-facing side of the pool level is covered by a filigree membrane construction. It also offers protection against the weather, as well as framing the view towards the south and east of the valley.

courtesy Roland Halbe; formTL

Despite the geometric and constructional challenges, or rather because of these, the light construction appears to float. As structural engineers, formTL (membrane specialists from Lake Constance), were responsible for the membrane roof project, from the drafting of the design to the supervision of its actual construction. Its basic structure consists of a pre-tensioned membrane with three high points and lateral anchoring. In order to offer effective protection from prying eyes, the membrane roof is tilted on its longest axis, forming some extreme geometrical shapes: the construction comprises some very steep and some very flat areas, the latter posing a particular challenge due to winter snow. Moreover, the organically shaped high point rings around the masts are perfectly geometrically integrated into the double-curved membrane surface, offering unhindered views up to the sky. The unusual length of the freestanding front side is extraordinary. Even on open ground, this construction would have been a challenge. However, the fact that the construction was carried out on the already existing structure in Bad Wildbad increased its level of difficulty. Both the membrane protection and the outside pool by Kauffmann, Theilig & Partner had to be planned with as few interventions as possible into the existing construction. When placing the foot and anchoring points, added care had to be taken regarding the positions of the beams in the underlying levels. With its complexity and sophistication, this construction can compete with any of the challenging large-scale projects in the portfolio of membrane specialists formTL.

courtesy Roland Halbe; formTL

+ Project facts

Client:
Staatsbad Wildbad
Bäder- und Kurbetriebs GmbH

Architects:
KTP Kauffmann, Theilig & Partner

Fitter:
Velabran/Novum

Membrane roof construction engineers:
formTL, www.form-TL.de

Photography:
Roland Halbe; formTL

The Hakkasan New York design reflects the brand's global philosophy with subtle edits to the interior de-cor – which includes a new motif and deep blue color scheme with red and pink undertones, tailored to New York sensibilities. The restaurant is 11,000 square feet with seating for 200 guests with semi-private dining areas available for groups between 15-30 people. A 60-foot bar and 80-foot entranceway lobby are integral features of the restaurant.

Image courtesy of Mona Zubair

Image courtesy of Mona Zubair

There is a lot of mystery to Hakkasan, experienced on a journey through a sequence of charismatic, yet somehow distinctly varied spaces that are charged with powerful emotion.

Gilles & Boissier

SPECIAL DESIGN FEATURES

• The Marble was sourced from a single block in a quarry in Carrara, Italy, and fabricated/installed by Artisan Stoneworks (Deer Park, NY).
• The restaurant's stone Ling Ling screens and other stone features are produced from 4,885 feet of Calacatta finished marble slabs, carved by a water jet machine.
• The millwork was made using machining and hours of shaping, sanding and finishing.
• The restaurant's signature cage is sourced from white oak harvested in Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.
• Blue and red?hued frosted glass, semi-transparent glass, and mirrors are installed throughout the space.
• 100% natural beeswax, organic aromatherapy Luxe Ylang Ylang candles provide scents, along with Maroma (jasmine) incense sticks with natural essential oils from India.

Image courtesy of Mona Zubair

Image courtesy of Mona Zubair

According to Gilles & Boissier,

Entry is via a long corridor: minimalist, opaque and plainly cast in marble. At its end there is life, the wooden cage animated from day till night by a multitude of ambience and action – a modern hutong house containing a variety of spaces, linked together by a long bar as the major element that is anchored by a metallic wall as its backdropThe deep blue glass enveloping the kitchen acts as a lantern, emanating a halo of energy and humanity from beyond: glimpsed through the transparency of the wooden and marble panels of the cage, the imagery plays like dentelle lace on a sensual body, a feminine sensation mixing with the strong and massive architecture. A single glance can capture a wealth of different emotions and ambiences, like a snapshot of pure life that builds up frame by frame into a movie, taking you on a trip to a fantastic China.

Image courtesy of Mona Zubair

Image courtesy of Mona Zubair

+ ABOUT GILLES & BOISSIER

Patrick Gilles and Dorothee Boissier bring together a wealth of experience garnered from two of the world's leading design minds, infused with a creativity all of their own. With an ever- growing portfolio of high-profile international work, their studio is set to become a leading player in the next generation of architectural, interior and furniture design.

+ ABOUT HAKKASAN

Hakkasan was founded in London in 2001, and has now established itself as one of the most successful modern Chinese restaurant concepts to become a worldwide fine-dining brand. Locations include London Hanway Place, London Mayfair, Miami, Abu Dhabi, Mumbai, Dubai, San Francisco and New York. The Hakkasan group is owned by Abu Dhabi's property investment company Tasameem which also owns Michelin-starred dim sum restaurant Yauatcha in London. Hakkasan opened to critical acclaim, achieving a Michelin star in 2003, and was the only Chinese restaurant in Europe to receive such an accolade that year. Hakkasan London Mayfair and Hakkasan New York were each also awarded a Michelin star for 2012. For further details, please visit www.hakkasan.com.

Hong Kong-based design studio Clifton Leung Design Workshop shared with us their recent completed Goelia Headquarter.

courtesy Clifton Leung Design Workshop

courtesy Clifton Leung Design Workshop

courtesy Clifton Leung Design Workshop

courtesy Clifton Leung Design Workshop

+ All images courtesy Clifton Leung Design Workshop