point92

Point 92’s latest edition, is a white armadillo, the gucci bag or however we wish to name it. but it has a large hole in it, this interconnecting void that offers lush greenery and landscaped courtyards that slowly climb around the corner of the building is the green bit, the part that makes it sustainable. These are actually break out areas , they need to be planted with big trees, none of that shrubby stuff. once organised, they can be used as proper shaded from the hot sun, nice ‘dining is possible’ roof terraces. From here we let our brilliant engineers design m/e systems to bring in lots and lots of fresh air for a naturally ventilated atmospheric condition. The ‘hole’ is made large enough to be seen from afar, we think at night it can be lit by a number of different ways to evoke yet another iconic conceptual work. an armadillo with a heart? or the gucci bag unzipped.

©2008.huatlim

barbara cappochin award

zlgdesign is proud to receive the prestigious 2007 International Prize Barbara Cappochin Award for their BOH Visitor Centre.

The International Biennial “Barbara Cappochin” Prize for Architecture is launched in Paris. The purpose of the Foundation is to remember Barbara, a young student of the Faculty of Architecture I.U.A.V of Venice by promoting high quality architecture. This quality can only be obtained if the three essential figures, the Contractor, the Designer and the Constructor, work together to identify that thin line that connects life and architecture, by focusing on choices, ideas and materials in order to attain high quality results. This is the objective of the Foundation.

astro’s green fingers

 

Image of Astro new look office, designed to promote Astro’s philosophy of work, of solidarity, symbolic in the way the facade shows two building materials coming together, one transparent, and the other more solid. A concept that drives the plan form as well as the section, two spaces meeting in the centre where the courtyard breaks into a garden, with many natural elements. The dark cement and the panar glazing on the facade locks into each other as a clasping hand, the interlocking floors give each level a view of the the next one either above or from below. A humane and completely intimate internal environment that encourages external awareness and a sense of connection to light and landscape.

www.zlgdesign.com

duyong

Duyong, a restaurant designed by zlgdesign [susanne zeidler and huat lim] created from tradition, albeit reference to the art of making boats, nearly lost through the ages can be seen here in Kuala Terengganu, in Pulau Duyong. The simple geometry of a arched structure assembled to represent and echo the forms of a malay boat gives this interior its essential meaning and presence.

www.duyong.com [website]

collaboration

As a designer and architect, one often takes a lead role but there are moments when a collaborative stance adds value to the Project. With most scenarios this often makes it difficult to identify the key person lending the idea ot the Project.

It is not often easy for more than one architect to be involved at the beginning of the Project, where the work is mainly at a conceptual level. Quite often a Masterplan architect takes the lead, with several more architects working under the different parcels.

The expertise is already there within each one of the consultants, to give their intrinsic value to the Team as the project requires whether its design or cost management. Neither the Client or his Project Manager must make attempts to lead the Project Team, as such we have many failures where this has been permitted.

It takes USD 2 million towards training an architect to take on a position where he can just begin to lead a team. For spectacular performances we can expect the investment to be much larger, with award winning results and superlative designs.

barbara cappochin award | zlgdesign philopsophy | huatlim

on architecture

There is a little problem I’ve had for sometime to solve in my head, and that is that I think architecture is taking a bit too long to becoming like what good art should be, generative and always assuming an emotive role. We don’t seem to be able to connect to our buildings as easily as we do with music or art, or simply things we adore, like our children or our books.

huatlim

generative art

I have for some years been very interested to research how generative artists’ work will eventually have an influence on how architectural methodology can borrow from it, and be subsequently developed using this process. Action painting and drip painting of Pollock, how this has evolved to influence chance or generative art as in the work of Brian Eno, the transitional work using compression techniques of Douglas Gordon’s videos and Simon Reilly’s time warp installations are all clues to how architecture can be engaged in similar philosophical framework.

huatlim

francis design

Martin Francis worked on the Nimes Mediateque project for Foster france, and now owns one of the most sophisticated consultancy firm in the UK francisdesign, specialising in the architecture and design of luxury boats and yachts. Martin also loves collaboration, and is both architect, naval architect and furniture designer. Martin, together with British Architect Ian Ritchie and the late Peter Rice to set up RFR [now based in Paris] to work on several reknown architectural projects, amongst others the Renzo Piano’s Centre Pompidou, and La Defense in Paris.

www.zlg-design.com

boh visitor centre

This is one of those buildings that seemed totally in sync with the environment, yet it’s construction techniques, of precast piles and steel framework belies its simplicity. A totally open concept, naturally ventilated interiors and perforated walls made of fallen tree trunks make this a unique experience.

The 170m long facade demonstrates that a simple modernist structure in a natural surrounding may not present so much an aesthetic issue, as most critics may argue for a lame vernacular solution, meaning the old Balinese nonsense “tropical” indigenous excuse for want of something more visually or culturally relevant.

www.zlg-design.com