Items Tagged ‘EU’
Arsenal de Metz
Project Name:
Arsenal de MetzLocation:
Metz, Lorraine, France, EUCompletion Date:
February 1989Original Use(s):
arsenalNew Use(s):
concert hall and exhibition galleryProject Description:
History
Built in 1863 during the reign of Napoleon III, this building served as a military arsenal for over a century.[1]
(Re)Developer
Ricardo Bofill, the renowned Catalan architect, was born in 1939 in Barcelona. In 1963, shortly after graduating from the Barcelona University of Arqitectura and Scholl of Geneva, Bofill formed an international team of architects, engineers, sociologists, writers, movie makers and philosophers and thus founded Taller de Arqitectura. Over the past 40 years, the studio has gathered valuable experience in the fields of urban planning, architecture, landscaping, interior, furniture and product design. Among prestigious projects undertaken by Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arqitectura are the Christian Dior headquarters in Paris, the headquarters developed for Cartier, Decaux, Axa, the Shiseido company headquarters in Tokyo, Donnelley skyscraper in Chicago, and the international airport in Barcelona, and many other.
Outcome
The restoration of the building, with its nearly 11,961 sq. yards of built surface, was directed at accommodating a rehearsal hall, a concert hall for chamber music, a restaurant, exhibition gallery, offices for administration, management and centre services and a 1,500-seat auditorium. One wing of the building, originally square with a 100′ x 166’ interior courtyard, has been sacrificed in order to open up the central courtyard to the city, forming a public square and giving a better view of the Templars chapel, which dates from the 12th century. The façade has been slightly modified by means of cladding with slabs of natural stone with metal joints which underline the rhythm of the arches. The introduction of big new windows has lightened the heavy, opaque solidity of the old military building. The main auditorium is underground, situated beneath the central square. The roof, with its wooden structure covered with anodized steel, is flat, the problems of reverberation were resolved by means of a design based on detailed studies of acoustic performance. The hall has two ramped seating areas; the smaller, with a pronounced incline, can be used to accommodate the choir when necessary. The orchestra pit is located between these two seating areas, on the lowest level of the auditorium.[2] With its completed conversion, the building is now home to Symphony Orchestra of Lorraine. This project has helped to open up the space to the public, provide a new cultural venue, and build upon its storied past.
[1]Virtual Tourist
[2]Ricardo Bofill
Images courtesy of Ricardo Bofill.
Pigsty Showroom
Project Name:
Pigsty ShowroomLocation:
Germany, EUCompletion Date:
Original Use(s):
pig barnNew Use(s):
showroomProject Description:
History
Built in the 18th century to serve as a pig barn, this building had seen better days. Serving this singular purpose for most of its life, the pigsty was partly destroyed during World War II and was falling apart.
(Re)Developer
The current owner decided that he would like to convert the building into a showroom. FNP Architekten was brought onto the project to help realize this dream.
Outcome
The architects employed a special method that both protected and yet did not touch the shell of a building. The frame of a “house” was placed within the pigsty. This allows the entire interior of the new building to rely on the inner shell, rather than the 1780 structure. The new roof provides an overhang that protects the outer walls and yet sits on the new shell, adding pressure only to the new building. Windows were constructed in the same locations as the original structure, preserving the outer facade.[1]
[1]Greenline
Images courtesy of FNP Architekten and Greenline.
Water Pumping Plant Residence
Project Name:
Water Pumping Plant ResidenceLocation:
Berlin, Germany, EUCompletion Date:
2008Original Use(s):
utilityNew Use(s):
residentialProject Description:
History
The building was erected between 1925 and 1926 as an extension to the first pumping station in Berlin’s Neukoelln district (then called Rixdorf) dating from 1893. In 1993 new facilities were built on the adjoining premises and the old pumping station was decommissioned. In 1989 the former pumping station was placed under preservation order. Over the 13 years following the closedown it was not possible to find a use for the building, mainly because of its location, the exceptional size of the hall and the lack of a second escape route for the upper floors.
(Re)Developer
There had been a survey commissioned by the preservation authorities in 2002 that included major concessions such as new staircases within the hall and big dormers on the roof, but still no one could be found to buy it. It was only in early 2006, when Berlin-based artists Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset caught sight of the house through an online real estate service and spontaneously decided to make it their new headquarters.[1]
Outcome
The resulting adaptation is a home with a vast floor plan broken up into small “nooks.” It contains two separate private areas for each of the artists, as well as kitchen, four bathrooms, an attic living room, and a large living/working space.[2]
[1]ArchDaily
[2]Archi-Ninja
Images courtesy of Nils Wenk, ArchDaily, and Udo Meinel.
Gasometer City
Project Name:
Gasometer CityLocation:
Vienne, Austria, EUCompletion Date:
2001Original Use(s):
utilityNew Use(s):
residential, commercial, culturalProject Description:
History
The Gasometers were built between 1896 and 1899 in the Simmering district of Vienna near the Gaswerk Simmering gas works of the district. The containers were used to help supply Vienna with town gas. At the time, the design was the largest in all of Europe. The Gasometers were retired in 1984 due to new technologies in gasometer construction, as well as the city’s conversion from town gas and coal gas to natural gas. In 1978, they were designated as protected historic landmarks.
(Re)Developer
Vienna undertook a remodelling and revitalization of the protected monuments and in 1995 called for ideas for the new use of the structures. The chosen designs by the architects Jean Nouvel (Gasometer A), Coop Himmelblau (Gasometer B), Manfred Wehdorn (Gasometer C) and Wilhelm Holzbauer (Gasometer D) were completed between 1999 and 2001.
Outcome
Each gasometer was divided into several zones for living (apartments in the top), working (offices in the middle floors) and entertainment and shopping (shopping malls in the ground floors). The shopping mall levels in each gasometer are connected to the others by skybridges. The historic exterior wall was conserved. One of the ideas rejected for the project was the plan by architect Manfred Wehdorn to use the Gasometers for hotels and facilities for the planned World Expo in Vienna and Budapest. On 30 October 2001, the mayor attended the official grand opening of the Gasometers, but people had begun moving in as early as May 2001. The Gasometers have developed a village character all their own and are a city within a city. A true sense of community has developed, and both a large physical housing community (of tenants) as well as an active virtual internet community (Gasometer Community) have formed. Numerous theses and dissertations in psychology, urban planning, journalism and architecture have been written about this phenomenon. Indoor facilities include a music hall (capacity 2000–3000 people), movie theatre, student dormitory, municipal archive, and so on. There are about 800 apartments (two thirds within the historic brick walls) with 1600 regular tenants, as well as about 70 student apartments with 250 students in residence.[1]
[1]Wikipedia
Images courtesy of TreeHugger.com and Wikimedia.
Taller de Arquitectura
Project Name:
Taller de ArquitecturaLocation:
Barcelona, Spain, EUCompletion Date:
1975Original Use(s):
cement factoryNew Use(s):
architectural firm office, private residenceProject Description:
History
The complex was originally a large cement factory from the turn of the century. It was made up of over 30 silos, underground spaces, and very large engine rooms. Years of neglect and vacancy had left the complex into stages of disrepair.
(Re)Developer
In 1973, famed Spanish architect Richard Bofill bought the site, seeing great potential in its assets. This private development saw the transformation of the complex from industrial into a mixed residential and office headquarters. Upon completion, Bofill set up his firms office within the space. The entire reuse project took two years to complete.
Outcome
To better define the space as well as clear out portions that were beyond repair, Bofill tore down a number of the silos (keeping eight) and other structures. Extensive new landscaping (including gardens of eucalyptus, palms, olive trees and cypresses) was installed to soften the edges and create further definition. This adapted space now includes “offices, a modelling laboratory, archives, a library, a projection room and a huge space known as ‘The Cathedral’, the venue for subsequent exhibitions, lectures, concerts and a whole range of cultural activities linked to the architect’s professional life.” Additionally, he incorporated his own private residence and guest rooms.[1]
[1]Ricardo Bofill
Images courtesy of Ricardo Bofill and Loft Life Magazine.