Fluidity is a public space that interprets the many possibilities that are offered to the most innovative and creative architects for sustainable design of modern cities.

Fluidity, image courtesy GGlab

Fluidity, image courtesy GGlab

Today’s global society requires a greater continuity between public and private, indoor and outdoor spaces, from which new synergies arise, and lead to more dynamic urban spaces with a better relationship between cities and their inhabitants. Fluidity uses the characteristics of ceramics to respond to these needs, creating urban elements characterized by a double skin, in other words with an outer side, composed of elements that decontaminate the air, and an inner side consisting of extruded ceramic tubes. The floor is flexible, forming waves that move in synergy with the various layers of the skin. Walls, ceilings and floors interact with each other.

Fluidity, image courtesy GGlab

Fluidity, image courtesy GGlab

Fluidity, image courtesy GGlab

The public space of the future is a varied space, composed of elements which interact with one another through the use of diverse materials and various building systems, leading to design projects with versatile functions.

Fluidity, image courtesy GGlab

Fluidity, image courtesy GGlab

The Ceramic materials that make up the project are the result of a continuous technological innovation, the pursuit of environmental sustainability and modern design from the Spanish ceramic industry has always stood out for its creativity and ability to innovate.

Fluidity - Circulation diagram, drawing courtesy GGlab

Fluidity - Construction diagram, drawing courtesy GGlab

+ Project facts

Title of design: Fluidity
Architects: GGlab + Paulo Flores
Design Team: Andrés Arias, José Ramón Tramoyeres, Paulo flores, Danilo Spiga, Povilas Cepaitis Lluis Enrique, Diego Ordoñez, Carlos Piles, Alberto Seller, Jaume Verdeguer, Miguel Rus, Arense Zaragoza.
Consultants: Cast on Cast (parametrization, optimization and digital manufacturing)
Ceramics: CERACASA
CERÁMICA DECORATIVA
CERÁMICA MAYOR
NATUCER
TAU CERÁMICA
Structure: Manolo García Carpintería Artística S.L.U.
Fluidity Exposition: MADE – Milan, Italy 2011 , Cevisama – Valencia, Spain 2012

+ All images and drawings courtesy GGlab

London based creative + boutique studio, carbon, have recently completed their award winning project in Abu Dhabi for Bloomsbury’s. A free standing cupcake kiosk in Al Wahda Mall, the designers took on the language of theatre to create a stage of baking, a performance of icing, and the customers creating the drama. The architeture and components was designed as a “kit of parts” to cater the design for future roll out locations across the Middle East and India.

Bloomsbury's in Abu Dhabi, image courtesy Carbon | Photo by Issa Saleh AlKindy

The Brief

Carbon was approached to design Bloomsbury's, the first international branch for Bea's of Bloomsbury, a London based fresh food cafe. The offer was to be a cupcake kiosk in a mall that also had a fully functioning production baking kitchen that was on full display.

Bloomsbury's in Abu Dhabi, image courtesy Carbon | Photo by Issa Saleh AlKindy

With a logo, a basic material palette and the general site identified, Carbon was asked to translate and elevate the UK brand into a Luxury Cupcake offer that translated the Victorian Charm and Sophistication into a modern and sleek international brand that was scalable and affordable and instantly recognizable in the crowded UAE cupcake market.

Bloomsbury's in Abu Dhabi, image courtesy Carbon | Photo by Issa Saleh AlKindy

Sited within Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi, the site location was within a triple height mall atrium with shops and kiosks on all sides. The site conditions had restrictions on circulation space, unobstructed views from existing shops, maximum heights, safety and security (day and night), and limited construction hours (non mall operation hours).

The Solution

Carbon approached the design knowing that a great customer experience starts with the right Customer Journey and an immersive customer experience… "We knew it had to be more than a simple servery counter with stools."

Carbon's solution was to enclose the kiosk in order to focus the attention to the branded area. A tall simple portal that allowed for framed experiences, framed views and framed functions allowed Carbon to create a simple yet rich architectural language in the middle of a busy mall. This would allow customers to experience the Bloomsbury's cupcakes in a true retail lead built environment. To future proof the concept, the portal established a modular 'Kit of Parts' for Bloomsbury's to adapt per site for future Roll-Outs across the Middle East.

Bloomsbury's in Abu Dhabi, image courtesy Carbon | Photo by Issa Saleh AlKindy

All sub-components were designed as secondary modular units to be configurable based upon the site constraint, user requirements and conditions.

Carbon, when designing the Bloomsbury's 'Kit of Parts', pitched to the client that the 'Bloomsbury's Experience' would be one of 'Theater'.

We see the built environment of Bloomsbury's to be The Stage in which the Baking and Icing of the Cupcakes will be the Performance. The Display of the Cupcakes will be the Main Feature and the coming and going of your customers will add to the drama and spectacle. To be seen buying, to be seen eating, to be seen carrying a bag or box of Bloomsbury's will be what creates buzz and word of mouth, but when your customers sit and enjoy a Bloomsbury's Cupcake in your built environment, we believe they will have had and experience that they will repeat and enjoy time and time again.

The construction process was engineered with modular portal elements that link together with integrated services, creating the stage. The supporting counter, display, storage and kitchen components get dropped in place and sprinkled with the cast of cupcakes. Whilst maintaining a sense of transparency with existing site-lines across adjacent shops and avenues in the mall. It was crucial to maintain a tight palette of materials and colours that related closely to the offer of Bloomsbury's; but also not detract from the colourful cupcakes. Lighting, be it natural or artificial was also carefully considered in order to enhance the sense of space, atmosphere and views through.

Bloomsbury's in Abu Dhabi - Layout plan & Elevation, drawing courtesy Carbon

The Success

To see Bloomsbury in the mall has established the brand overnight in Abu Dhabi. The success of the design lies in having created a free standing object that demands presences from the approach, but has intimate, controlled spaces within an open mall environment. Overall, the kiosk stands as a dramatic theatre set for the colourful cupcakes which are the star of the show. After launching in May 2011, cupcakes are still selling out. Daily, customers can be seen socializing intimately within seating niches of the portals, gathering in groups in larger sofa areas and enjoying a brief moment within at the touch down counter spaces.

Bloomsbury's in Abu Dhabi - axonometric & Sections, drawing courtesy Carbon

+ About carbon

carbon is a London based multi-disciplinary design practice. Established by Go Sugimoto and Ahmed Ansari, the studio engages in the design of human social spaces in retail, residential, commercial, education and cultural projects.

Currently the studio is working on retail projects in London, India, Dubai, residential projects across London, the Middle East and Africa with a strong focus on the integration of brand as it relates to the individual expression.

+ Project facts

Project : Bloomsbury's
Location : Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Number of floors : one
Total floor area : 93 sq m
Timescale : 5 months
Client : Tablez Food Company
Designers : Carbon | www.carbon-creative.com
Photographer : Issa Saleh AlKindy

+ All images and drawings courtesy Carbon | Photo by Issa Saleh AlKindy

Pott Architects is delighted that through finishing the project Studio Lofts in Hamburg new space for creative companies has been created. On a 7,000 square meter business park site, in a green space between inner city and airport, the studio has realized a modern office concept. Under ecological and energetic aspects the main building of the existing complex has been renewed and extended sensitively. Thereby convertible lofts have been generated which can react flexibly to the individual space requirements of young, dynamic developing creative companies.

Studio Lofts, image courtesy Pott Architects

Studio Lofts, image courtesy Pott Architects

Studio Lofts, image courtesy Pott Architects

Studio Lofts, image courtesy Pott Architects

Studio Lofts, image courtesy Pott Architects

+ Project facts

Project: Studio Lofts
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Architect: Pott Architects | http://www.pottarchitects.com/

+ All images courtesy Pott Architects