Japanese studio EASTERN design office has designed the MOSTIP shoe shop in one of the huge shopping mall in Japan. With its dynamic form, the triangle was shaped from the moon to give the sense of non-static, the shoes are displayed and placed on it, as symbolizing an invisible man enjoying a moonwalk.

Moonwalk - MOSTIP, image courtesy of Koichi Torimura

+ Project description courtesy of EASTERN design office

This is a portion of the moon, a tip of a huge thing.

This is a shoe shop built in a huge shopping mall. Two big and small triangles are placed in a space of 9m x 12.5m x 4m.

Moonwalk - MOSTIP, image courtesy of Koichi Torimura

The triangles have the shape of the moon that is cut. There are two portions of the moon. Two triangles have some large and small craters same as the moon.

Shoes are displayed on the big triangle. They are placed as if an invisible man is enjoying a moonwalk. An arrow tip shaped triangle is not floating, rather it is slightly touching on the ground with a tension as if it were to start moving.

One side of the entire wall is covered by a mirror, therefore the space seems enlarged twice, and the number of triangles may increase from two to three or four with the angle one looks into the space. Moreover, the big triangle will change its form into a diamond.

Moonwalk - MOSTIP, image courtesy of Koichi Torimura

Sneakers walking on the moon

24 craters are on a big triangle, and another 15 on a small one. Five different sizes of craters are used. They are like fireworks.

They are designed like a mold of fireworks. The mold of fireworks should be a perfect ball shape made out of paper. To display perfect radial fireworks to decorate a night sky, the mold into which gunpowder is charged should also be a perfect ball. Therefore, many perfect globular forms are engraved into the triangle.

A tip of the triangle can be seen as a part of an iceberg. It is only a portion. As the design encourages various ways of seeing the space, a tip of the iceberg represents a way of shop management in which many potentials are to be developed in the future. Whether the space looks heavy or light is up to the people and how they see it.

+ Project credits / data

Project: Mostip
Location: Shiga Japan
Completion: 2008
Client: SPOCAZI
Total floor area: 113.70m2
Design team: EASTERN design office
Photographer: Koichi Torimura
Constructor: Daihohiiragi Co., Ltd

+ All images and drawings courtesy of EASTERN design office | Photo by Koichi Torimura

In Norway, 70°N arkitektur has designed the Brinken Terrace situated on top of the Tromsø island facing west with its beautiful view. The project is composed of two apartment buildings with 48 large apartments, and the different approach in the flats' design in the blocks gives variation in the window placements and facade expression.

Brinken Terrace, image courtesy of 70°N arkitektur

+ Project description courtesy of 70°N arkitektur

Brinken Terrace has a prominent location on the top of the Tromsø Island with views towards all directions. The area is sun exposed at all hours and have direct access to the green area that stretches along the Tromsø island. In the completed outdoor areas many of the existing trees and other vegetation are being preserved, in addition, there has been planted more vegetation as birch trees, rose and berry bushes etc.

Brinken Terrace, image courtesy of 70°N arkitekturcourtesy

The area between and around the buildings is composed by varied playing and outdoor recreation areas for the residents. It has for instance a small field for playing ball, various playgrounds and a sunbath/barbecue area. There is also a football field with artificial turf in the neighborhood which also is part of the project.

The project was completed in 2009. The total area of the project is approx. 8100 m2 which includes the underground parking. The two blocks are in principle similar, with increasing height from two floors to the west towards the existing residential housing in Brinkveien street, and up to five floors to the east and north, towards the students apartment blocks at Prestvannet.

Brinken Terrace, image courtesy of 70°N arkitekturcourtesy

In the planning phase, the future residents cooperated with the architect on the design of the apartments, this led to customized and unique apartments. Overall, the project has 48 flats of varying size from 36 to 196 m2. The different approach in the flats' design in the blocks gives variation in the window placements and facade expression. Both blocks have open and bright entrances halls, two staircases, two elevators, and underground parking with storage rooms. The blocks are linked together by the common parking and outdoor areas.

Brinken Terrace, image courtesy of 70°N arkitekturcourtesy

All apartments have secluded private terraces or balconies. From the second storey and up the balconies are drawn into the building to provide as good microclimate as possible, which is important in the arctic climate. The apartments in the front have large west-facing roof terraces. The height of the ceiling in all apartments is 2.7 m, and the large windows frames the spectacular views of the mountains of Kvaløya island to the west, Malangen mountains to the south and Tromsdalstind mountain to the east. Most apartments have views in two directions, while the largest apartments have a 360° panoramic view. The top apartment in the southern block fills the entire floor, and has also, as the other apartments, a wonderful view from the bedroom and bathroom.

The construction system is steel columns in the facade and concrete decks, with internal load-bearing concrete walls. The facades are 200mm wide boards of impregnated pine and in the balcony niches gray laminate plates are used.

Brinken Terrace - Site plan, drawing courtesy of 70°N arkitekturcourtesy

+ Project credits / data

Architect: 70°N arkitektur
Project: Brinken Terrace
Location: Tromsø Island, Norway
Type: Terraced housing
GFA: 8,000 m2
Builder: Econord AS
Photographer: Ivan Brodey

(left to right) Michele R. Widerøe, Joar Lillerust, Berit Steenstrup, Petra Schnutenhaus, Magdalena Haggärde, Gisle Løkken, Irene Wilner Bergholt, Brinken Terrace, image courtesy of 70°N arkitektur

+ About 70°N arkitektur

70°N arkitektur works with all kinds of design issues from small object design, exhibition and set design, housing projects to area planning and urban design, as well as lecturing and teaching.

70°N arkitektur developes projects, thinking and methods within the whole spectre of architectural practice; buildings, landscape, urbanism, processes/development, theory/ideas, communication/participation and exhibitions. Experimentation and dialogue are fundamental in 70°N arkitektur's practice. Ever since the office was established architectural competitions have been an important arena for continuous reformulation and development of the office's practice as a reflective, critical and committed approach to architecture and planning, and a vital position in the public debate concerning architecture, urban development and regional planning.

70°N arkitektur has been noticed in several national and international competitions, lately with 1st prizes in regional planning competition Øresundsvisioner 2040 and Nordhavnen International Ideas Competition, Copenhagen. The office has received several awards, as Architectural Review's Award for Emerging Architecture – Highly Commended in 2008.

70°N arkitektur partners are: Gisle Løkken, Joar Lillerust, Magdalena Haggärde and Petra Schnutenhaus. Office collaborators are: Berit Steenstrup, Irene Wilner Bergholt and Michele R. Widerøe.

+ All images and drawings courtesy of 70°N arkitektur

The Otto Bock Science Center Medical Technology by German architectural firm Gnädinger Architekten was started from the idea of human muscle fibers, a metaphor for the simulation of complex biological processes and structures. Gnädinger created an amorphous, abstract façade, which wraps dynamically around the six-storey, reinforced concrete frame, encompassing around 1,000 square meters of floor space.

The architectural design was intended to bring high-tech and nature together in a harmonious manner. The organically-formed, white exterior buckled bands encircle the rounded body of the building, based on the model of human muscle fibers, a metaphor for the simulation of complex biological processes and structures.

Gnädinger Architekten

Otto Bock Science Center Medical Technology, image courtesy of Gnädinger Architekten

+ Project description courtesy of Gnädinger Architekten

A new building presents itself in the center of the New Berlin – the Science Center Medical Technology at Potsdamer Platz.

The new building is the representative office in the capital city for the medical technology company Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH. The team of Gnädinger Architects, together with the media designers Art+Com developed this unique public stage for the topic of movement, which is the first of it’s kind in the world. An exhibition invites visitors to “discover what moves us”. Starting from the idea of human muscle fibers, the Berlin architectural firm Gnädinger created an amorphous, abstract façade, which wraps dynamically around the six-storey, reinforced concrete frame, encompassing around 1,000 square meters of floor space.

The architectural design was intended to bring high-tech and nature together in a harmonious manner. The organically-formed, white exterior buckled bands encircle the rounded body of the building, based on the model of human muscle fibers, a metaphor for the simulation of complex biological processes and structures.

Otto Bock Science Center Medical Technology, image courtesy of Gnädinger Architekten

The outer shell, an expressive aluminum and glass façade, is unusual for the city of Berlin, and provides a kind of acupuncture of new architecture amongst Berlin’s traditional stone buildings and glassy modernism. In the immediate vicinity of buildings by architects ranging from Richard Rogers, Renzo Piano, Hans Kollhoff and Helmut Jahn, this compact structure demonstrates a confident independence. The Science Center Medical Technology responds to the context of the city’s stone buildings and their serially repetitive stylistic devices with a new sensual, individualistic quality. With its complex, flowing forms based on freeform curves (splines), a new vibrancy is created, which goes beyond the already well-known standard of the tediously serial. The building therefore takes up this conceptual game in order to rediscover sensuality in the contemporary implementation of ornament in architecture.

Otto Bock Science Center Medical Technology, image courtesy of Gnädinger Architekten

Behind the extravagant exterior with its convex and concave, tapered lines, three levels serve as exhibition space on over 500 square meters. The fourth level is for training and conference rooms and the top floor serves as a dialogue platform for interdisciplinary communication between doctors, patients, therapists, orthopedic technicians and manufacturers. Inside, the functional surfaces surround a central access and technical core. The zoning of the plan with a windmill-like access system allows the planning of different room sizes. Here, the architects arrange the floor space on the periphery and along the glass cladding, so that even behind the dynamic facade, daylight is guaranteed throughout the room, giving the building high quality as a residence and workplace.

Otto Bock Science Center Medical Technology, image courtesy of Gnädinger Architekten

The interior is consistently minimalist. The surfaces are white, with silver-gray stone or carpet on the floors. Even the furniture and the exhibits are predominantly white. At the core, in contrast, are colored glass panels with integrated TV monitors to provide information. Dark, wooden panels create atmospheric accents in the elevator and a few select places. Illumination is provided by means of so-called “light cells”, which are freely arranged, round light fields of various sizes and heights. The central, three-storey, steel staircase in the exhibition area was designed as a giant, sculptural light object. The translucent foil on the underside is fully backlit.

+ Project credits / data

Project: Otto Bock Science Center Medical Technology
Location: Berlin, Germany
Architect: Gnädinger Architekten

+ All images and drawings courtesy of Gnädinger Architekten

Jean-Claude Trichet + Petra Roth + Wolf D. Prix, image © European Central Bank/Robert Metsch

Austrian architects Coop Himmelb(l)au won a competition to design the new headquarter for European Central Bank in 2003 with double-towered proposal. North tower comprises 45 floors with 185 meters, and South tower 43 floors with 165 meters.

This year May, the groundbreaking takes place in Frankfurt, Germany. The project is scheduled to complete in 2014.

+ Press release courtesy Coop Himmelb(l)au

Groundbreaking of the new premises of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, Germany

The groundbreaking of COOP HIMMELB(L)AU’s new premises of the European Central Bank has been celebrated yesterday in attendance of Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Central Bank, Petra Roth, Mayor of the City of Frankfurt, Wolf D. Prix, Design Principal and CEO of COOP HIMMELB(L)AU, the Governing Council as well as the Governors of the National Central Banks on the site of the future new premises of the European Central Bank.

Wolf D. Prix, image © European Central Bank/Robert Metsch

During the ceremony Wolf D. Prix said in his speech for the groundbreaking:

The task of architecture is not only to provide a shell for functions, but through its architectural aesthetic it must also enable to establish three-dimensional cross-references in the culture of our globalized society without denying its location. The dialectic of old and new – the carefully renovated Großmarkthalle and the new ensemble of towers – will mirror this synchronicity.

Furthermore, he describes the towers as archetypes of architectural history, which are symbols and convey overview. In the case of the European Central Bank the towers are aligned on the new site in visual connection to Frankfurt’s city centre and – due to their new typology with its precision and significance of form – will become an icon, a three-dimensional symbol of the European Union, Mr. Prix explained.

He describes the groundbreaking as an important and decisive moment – both for the owner and future user and for the architect.

After all, it is a moment that takes us across a threshold. The threshold from the blueprint to the building: a thought building becomes a real building.

Further groundbreaking events will take place on May 31, 2010 for the House of Music in Aalborg, Denmark and on June 18, 2010 for the Martin Luther Church in Hainburg, Austria.

European Central Bank, image © ISOCHROM.com, Vienna

+ Project description courtesy of Coop Himmelb(l)au

Urbanism and architecture

The location for the new headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt's Ostend district has the potential of adding a new landmark to the Frankfurt skyline that will be visible at great distances. The starting point for the design of the towers was the urban perspectives of the city of Frankfurt.
At a height of around 185 meters, the double tower, with its polygonal shape and east-west orientation, has a striking profile that is visible from all important reference points in Frankfurt's city center, as well as from the river Main. Thanks to its form and presence, the double tower will become a characteristic feature of the Frankfurt skyline.

Urban planning and integration

The imposing form of the Grossmarkthalle (wholesale market), which so strongly characterizes Frankfurt's skyline and the north bank of the river Main, unites with the vertical profile of the towers to form a significant ensemble that considers both the local urban design environment and the general urban spatial context, thus creating a tension between Frankfurt's banking district and the Ostend area. By concentrating the ECB's functions in the Grossmarkthalle, the south side of the premises, facing the Main, can be largely kept free of construction. The prominent view of the south side of the hall from the Main embankment with the clearly visible profile of the high-rise emphasizes its special position.

The architectural concept of the tower

The tower ensemble is the result of a design process inspired by the urban links with the city of Frankfurt. Owing to its clear orientation towards the important urban perspectives, the ensemble enters into a dialogue with the important urban reference points in Frankfurt: the Alte Oper, the Museumsufer and the financial district.

Starting with the economical typology of a double-slab high-rise, a second design step combines the urban planning specifications with the geometric transformation of the towers, in order to generate a multi-faceted building structure while preserving its urban significance.

European Central Bank, image © COOP HIMMELB(L)AU

The vertical city

The atrium between the office towers becomes a "vertical city". Through platforms we are creating spaces, plazas and pathways between the towers, just as they exist in a city. The connecting and transferring levels divide the atrium horizontally into three sections of different sizes, with heights ranging from around 45 to 60 meters.

These connecting platforms, bridges, ramps and stairs form a network of links between the office towers. They create short paths between the individual office floors in each tower and thus enable larger, interconnected usable office spaces on one or more floors in both towers, thereby also promoting informal communication.

This new typology supports a dynamic development of form and enables differentiated office spaces with different panoramic perspectives.

European Central Bank, image © COOP HIMMELB(L)AUEuropean

The Grossmarkthalle – a forum for communication

Our design reinforces the Grossmarkthalle's existing potential as an "urban foyer" housing a conference and visitor center, as well as a library and restaurant, through the incorporation of a building for the press center which traverses the structure of the Grossmarkthalle. This so-called entrance building, in which ECB press conferences will be held, occupies a special position in content, form and space and thereby marks the entrance to the ECB.

Since the western parts of the Grossmarkthalle were reconstructed after being destroyed during the Second World War and do not, therefore, represent part of the substance of the original building – even in the way they are constructed – we propose, as agreed with the historic preservation authority, that the incision for the new entrance to the ECB be in this part of the hall.

We continued to develop the concept of integrating the extensive functional areas into the Grossmarkthalle, as suggested during the Optimisation Phase. As before, the required new facilities are being placed in the spacious interior of the hall as independent building structures (the "house within a house" concept). The building structures, which are at diagonal angles to the Grossmarkthalle, allow the hall to be experienced along dynamic spatial sequences – and this not only in the public areas of the hall's ground floor, but also on the upper levels, which, with their conference and restaurant facilities, are largely reserved for employees of the ECB. The restaurant structure, as a visible sign of the new functional areas in the hall, generously orients the employee restaurant and terrace towards the Main in the south.

+ Project credits

PLANNING: COOP HIMMELB(L)AU – Wolf D. Prix / W. Dreibholz & Partner ZT GmbH
DESIGN PRINCIPAL: Wolf D. Prix
PROJECT PARTNER: Frank Stepper
PROJECT ARCHITECT: Hartmut Hank
DESIGN ARCHITECT: Karin Miesenberger

3D VISUALIZATION: Armin Hess (Vienna)
PHOTOGRAPHY: Markus Pillhofer
CLIENT: European Central Bank (ECB), Frankfurt/M., Germany
STRUCTURAL ENIGNEER: B+G Ingenieure, Bollinger und Grohmann GmbH, Frankfurt/M., Germany

+ General data

SITE AREA: 120,000 m²
GROSS FLOOR AREA: 185,000 m²

+ Data high-rise

FLOOR SPACE PER OFFICE FLOOR (ONE TOWER): 700 to 1200 m² (varying according to shape)

HEIGHT OF HIGH-RISE:
North tower 185 meters: 45 floors including the ground floor and technical floors
South tower 165 meters: 43 floors, 220 meters high including the communication mast

HEIGTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS WITHIN THE ATRIUM: 45 to 72 meters
WIDTH OF THE ATRIUM: 18 meters

LIFTS IN THE HIGH-RISE:
2 goods lifts
5 express lifts
9 twin lifts
2 special lifts

NUMBER OF DEPTH OF THE: 97 piles
FOUNDATION PILES: Maximum 37 meters

+ Data Grossmarkthalle

INTERNAL LENGTH AND WIDTH OF THE HALL: 220 m x 50 m = 11,000 m²
HEIGHT OF THE HALL: 23.50 meters at the highest point of the barrel vaults
INTERNAL LENGTH AND WIDTH OF THE WING BUILDINGS: 65 m x 15 m = 975 m²
HEIGHT OF THE OFFICE WINGS: 32.50 meters – 8 floors
HEIGHT OF THE ENTRANCE BUILDING: Maximum 27.50 meters

+ Chronology

COMPETITION:
Phase 1: 2003
Phase 2: 2003-2004
Revision Phase: 2004

OPTIMIZATION PHASE: 2005
START O PLANNING: 2005
PRELIMINARY SITE WORKS: 2008
MAIN CONSTRUCTION WORKS: 2010
SCHEDULED OPENING: 2014

Hamburg-based architectural practice gmp architekten has designed the Zhongguancun Christian Church located in Beijing, China. The project features vertical fins running along the building’s perimeter that forming an unique homogeneous skin. It creates a special lighting atmosphere inside the church hall, matching the ecclesiastical function of the space.

The shape of the church body does not only allow for a sightline to the south media façade of the Cultural Tower but also emphasizes its special function in contrast to the surrounding commercially used buildings.

gmp architekten

Zhongguancun Christian Church, image courtesy of gmp architekten

+ Project description courtesy of gmp architekten

With its free curved shape, the building forms a solitaire in the park-like open space between Zhongguancun Cultural Tower and the “City of Books”. On the upper floors it houses China's largest Christian church, while on the ground floor commercial spaces are situated. The shape of the church body does not only allow for a sightline to the south media façade of the Cultural Tower but also emphasizes its special function in contrast to the surrounding commercially used buildings. The rod system of the façade forms a homogeneous skin, which however lets in sufficient daylight.

The entrance to the main church hall faces northeast and opens up to the street as well as to Zhongguancun Cultural Tower. A cross, clearly identifying the building as a Christian church, develops from the façade rod system. Through a large portal, worshippers mount a stairway to enter the main church hall on the first floor. With its alternation of open and massive wall sections, the façade rod system creates a special lighting atmosphere inside the church hall, matching the ecclesiastical function of the space.

Zhongguancun Christian Church, image courtesy of gmp architekten

Zhongguancun Christian Church, image courtesy of gmp architekten

The entrance for clergy and church employees is placed on the northwest side and gives access to a side chapel as well as to stairways and a lift to all the floors of the church building. The parish offices and community spaces are on the second and third floors of the south and west wings. Some of the upper-floor spaces open onto a roof terrace – a substitute for a churchyard – that offers parishioners an attractive outdoor space.

Zhongguancun Christian Church - Ground floor plan, drawing courtesy of gmp architekten

Zhongguancun Christian Church - 1st floor plan, drawing courtesy of gmp architekten

Zhongguancun Christian Church - Section, drawing courtesy of gmp architekten

+ Project credits / data

Project: Zhongguancun Christian Church
Location: Haidian District, Beijing, China
Competition 2004 – 1st prize
Gross floor area: 4,000 m²
Construction period: 2005–2007

Architect: gmp architekten – von Gerkan, Marg and Partners Architects
Design: Meinhard von Gerkan and Stephan Schütz
Project managers: Helga Reimund, Xia Lin
Team design: Katrin Kanus, Stephan Rewolle, Gero Heimann
Team realization: Christian Dorndorf, Xin Meng
Chinese partner office: Sunlight, Beijing
Client: China Zhongguancun Culture Development Co., Ltd.
Photo: © Christian Gahl, Berlin

+ All images and drawings courtesy of gmp architekten | Photo by Christian Gahl