Marc Th. van der Voorn designed the DOTS and MIST – Clocks for Nextime.

For a considerable time, I was walking around with the idea to design the glass plate of the clock instead of the dial. After seeing the ANZAS Dance Studio in Beijing, I was convinced.

By using a grid of dots, a print can be placed on the glass without losing its clock-function. The dots generate a 3D effect and with the contrast of the background, the numbers seem to float and the end of the hands seem to dissolve.

Marc Th. van der Voorn

+ Designer: Marc Th. van der Voorn | http://www.marcvandervoorn.nl/

Image courtesy Marc Th. van der Voorn

Image courtesy Marc Th. van der Voorn

Image courtesy Marc Th. van der Voorn

Image courtesy Marc Th. van der Voorn

Dutch-based practice Serge Schoemaker Architects has designed a modular wooden building system: Plan Libre 2.0. The environmentally sustainable construction can be assembled within one day and dismantled for reuse or recycling elsewhere.

Plan Libre 2.0, image courtesy Serge Schoemaker Architects

The clear architectural form of the structure is based on a natural solution for structural efficiency, and creates a unique spatial quality. The series of three-level high wooden pillars will be fixed into the base, gaining their strength in the connection with the upper floor segments.

Plan Libre 2.0, image courtesy Serge Schoemaker Architects

The central void both reduces the overall construction dimensions and brings light into the center of the building. The patio can be used as green area and offers panoramic views through the building.

Plan Libre 2.0, image courtesy Serge Schoemaker Architects

The circular structure consists out of six laminated wooden pillars and twenty-four prefabricated floor elements, made with a timber frame construction. The building is ten metres high; its diameter widens from twelve metres at the base to seventeen metres at the top.

Plan Libre 2.0 - Floor plan, drawing courtesy Serge Schoemaker Architects

The wooden construction could function as a public viewing platform in a natural environment, a temporary or permanent pavilion and as a spacious contemporary patio house.

The architectural office aims to realize its first prototype in 2012.

Plan Libre 2.0 - Building elements, drawing courtesy Serge Schoemaker Architects

+ Project facts

Project: Plan Libre 2.0
Surface: 2,000 m2
Design: 2011-2012
Status: Study
Project Team: Serge Schoemaker, Dik Houben

Plan Libre 2.0 - Construction principle, drawing courtesy Serge Schoemaker Architects

Konstantin Achkov and Petar Zaharinov presented their design exhibition “Puzzles for living“, in gallery Credo Bonum, Sofia Bulgaria.

Konstantin Achkov presented his 3 new chairs in this format: -KO-Ko (arm chair with hole), Stack (bar stool) and Frame (arm chair with fermi construction), in their design exhibition “Puzzles for living”, in gallery Credo Bonum, Sofia Bulgaria. Everything is made in 18mm beech plywood. The parts is cut in CNC router and assembling is without glue. The concept basic in black end white. In the walls in gallery have plates black OSB with elements on chairs. Under present OSB have assembled chair is same parts.

Petar Zaharinov presented fly reassembled parts on center of gallery and assembled in floor.

Image courtesy Konstantin Achkov

Image courtesy Konstantin Achkov

Image courtesy Konstantin Achkov

Image courtesy Konstantin Achkov

Image courtesy Petar Zaharinov

Image courtesy Petar Zaharinov

Image courtesy Petar Zaharinov

Danish practice 3XN is the architect behind a new experimental conference center and hotel where everything is adapted to the circulation of nature and where guests will get an idea of how it feels to live in a world without waste.

Render courtesy 3XN

No waste

The Green Solution House conference center on the Danish island of Bornholm is designed and developed in accordance with the principles of Cradle 2 Cradle®. This means that all materials used in the building are either fully recyclable or biodegradable. Hence, the building design takes on the ambition to eliminate the concept of waste.

Render courtesy 3XN

The project is managed by Kasper Guldager Jørgensen, head of 3XN's innovation unit, GXN: In Denmark, the construction industry alone is responsible for 30% of all waste generated. Waste that puts an enormous burden on the environment, but with Green Solution House we demonstrate that this is a problem, which we can actually solve.

Render courtesy 3XN

Eliminating waste means that everything must be part of a circulation. Thus, the building is designed for disassembly and constructed of defined recyclable materials. Solar energy produces the energy consumed in the building, rain water is collected and water used is biologically cleaned and reused. Integrated green houses produce organic fruits and vegetables for the hotel restaurant. Further, the daily material flows from running the center is either recycled or composted.

Axonometric, drawing courtesy 3XN

High ambitions

For Kasper Guldager Jørgensen it is part of his everyday work to investigate how fungus can be used as isolation material or how algae can be used in solar screening. This is why he is excited that the Green Solution house is a building in continuous development. It will be a dynamic building, a showroom that we will keep enhancing in order to demonstrate the most cutting edge solutions within sustainable building, and it will give the guests an inspirational and unusual experience.

The Island of Bornholm is already a popular travel destination and surveys made among professional conference organizers show that the Green Solution House will attract even more visitors to the small scenic island. Bornholm has a clear vision to become one of the most ambitious European communities within sustainable living and the Green Solution House is a core element of this vision.

With its innovation unit, GXN, Danish practice 3XN is in front when it comes to investigating and introducing sustainable materials and technologies in architecture. GXN consists of a multidisciplinary team of architects, engineers and designers. The unit has currently 11 ongoing research projects and takes part of all projects managed by 3XN.

Green Solution House:
Address: Strandvejen 79, 3700 Rønne, Denmark
Client: Hotel Ryttergården
Size: 4.500m2
Completion: 2013
Budget: 65 mio. DKK
Lead Architect: 3XN and GXN (design and project management)
Partner Architects: William McDonough + Partners (cradle to cradle)
Engineers: Esbensen Consulting Engineers (climate and energy)

Elevation + section, drawing courtesy 3XN

Green Solution House will be an innovative laboratory that integrates the latest knowledge within materials and appropriate green technologies. At Green Solution House, our intention is to be restorative instead of just reducing harm. We believe that design can make the world a better place, if done with the right intentions. The building is Cradle to Cradle inspired and will show regenerative solutions on biodiversity, materials, energy, and water, and will be waste free. At Green Solution House we want visitors to leave inspired and be able to contribute positively to local and global communities.

Elevation + section, drawing courtesy 3XN

The four goals of the Green Solution House are:

1. To be a platform for the highest level of sustainable development
2. To be an example of continuous improvement
3. To show solutions on biodiversity, materials, energy, water, and waste
4. To grow a local and global network for knowledge sharing

+ About Cradle to Cradle

Cradle to Cradle is about creating buildings in such a way that all materials at the end of their lifespan become nourishment for new circuits. Either in the form of ‘biological materials’ that can easily go back to the water or soil without providing synthetic materials or toxins, or as “technical materials” that continually circulate as pure and valuable materials within closed industrial circuits. For this to be done, the buildings must be designed so they can be disassembled in clean materials that can be recycled over and over again. without losing quality. All together five different circuits can be identified:

Water Circuits – design where rainwater is collected and consumption of water is cleaned and recycled
Nature Circuits – design that incorporates the surrounding nature and enhances biodiversity
Technical Circuits – design with materials that can be reused in technical cycles without generating waste.
Biological Circuits – Design with biodegradable materials which can compost after use
Energy Circuits – design where the energy used is based on renewable energy

A Cradle to Cradle house is a living building that has the same features as a tree. It produces oxygen, purifies water and air, generates more energy than it consumes, binds CO2, develops microclimates and supports biodiversity (source: Cradle to Cradle Denmark).

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Museum of Liverpool | 3XN Architects

Middelfart Savings Bank | 3XN architects