Arch Daily Mixed

Founded on-----
Founded at-----
News CoverageMIXED

Advertise your business here! 🚀

Contact us now and get more customers.

Smiling woman thumbs up

10

ADM Publishers' Articles

Filter by

View by
Sasaki Reimagines Oman’S Second-Largest City With A New Waterfront Masterplan
Arch Daily Mixed
Sasaki Reimagines Oman’S Second-Largest City With A New Waterfront MasterplanSalalah is Oman's largest logistics port and its second-largest city. Located within a two-hour flight from Dubai and a 90-minute flight from Muscat, the city attracted over one million tourists in 2024. As part of the Oman Vision 2040 investment plan, Oman's Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has commissioned Sasaki to develop a master plan for redesigning the city's waterfront. The plan includes renovating the city's coastal public spaces and constructing new housing and infrastructure to accommodate projected growth. The project is part of a broader initiative to double tourism's contribution to the nation's GDP by 2030, with on-site construction set to begin later this year, in 2025. + 7 The New City Salalah waterfront development designed by Sasaki comprises 12,000 residential units for 60,000 residents across four neighborhoods, 3.5 million square meters of parks, 200,000 square meters of retail and hospitality space, two new hospitals, and integrated multimodal transport links. Covering 7.3 square kilometers, the plan envisions a walkable urban environment, emphasizing 10-minute neighborhoods. It prioritizes mixed-use development and soft mobility, incorporating open spaces, cultural venues, and amenities. The design also features a pedestrianized marina and a new 6-kilometer-long public beach, aimed at attracting travelers. The masterplan seeks to enhance Salalah's appeal as a year-round sea-and-sun destination at the crossroads of Asia, Europe, and Africa. Romil Sheth from Sasaki highlighted the region's valued natural features, including lush wadis, local agriculture integrated into the city, and an extensive coastline, as key elements complementing the plan's urban design, placemaking, and planning strategies. From a climate resilience perspective, the New City Salalah masterplan includes measures to address rising sea levels and flooding, particularly given the region's khareef monsoon season. These measures include the introduction of a wetland park, revetments, and natural infrastructure strategies to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events. The waterfront development is an integral part of the Greater Salalah Structural Plan, a framework designed to enhance livability by addressing spatial, infrastructure, and mobility challenges while expanding capacity to accommodate the growing Wilayat Salalah, which is projected to reach a population of 674,000 by 2040. The phased development is scheduled to begin later this year, with 5,827 residential units set for delivery in Phase 1. This initiative joins other urban planning projects announced earlier this year. In Europe, Zaha Hadid Architects was recently awarded a large-scale urban regeneration project in Naples, while Foster + Partners unveiled plans for the reclamation of a former industrial site in Constanța. In North America, RIOS and Field Operations are advancing a project to transform parking lots into a new neighborhood in Chicago, while in Asia, Uzbekistan is preparing to expand its capital city with a master plan designed by Cross Works. Plans range from industrial land reclamation to densification of under-occupied areas, bringing cities up to speed with the climate resilience and social needs of their societies.
mixed-use
Mar 10, 2025
Rios And Field Operations To Transform Chicago’S West Side And United Center Area Into A Mixed-Use Neighborhood
Arch Daily Mixed
Rios And Field Operations To Transform Chicago’S West Side And United Center Area Into A Mixed-Use NeighborhoodThe United Center arena in Chicago, designed by HOK Sport (now Populous), Marmon Mok, and W.E. Simpson Company, was built between 1992 and 1994. With a capacity of over 20,000 seats for sports and general events, it includes more than 6,000 parking spaces in lots surrounding the arena. These parking lots span approximately 55 acres (over 22 hectares) in Chicago's West Side (1901 W. Madison Street). A new master plan, named the 1901 Project, aims to transform this space into a mixed-use neighborhood. Led by design collective RIOS, with contributions from landscape architecture studio Field Operations, this long-term, multi-phase project aims to connect neighborhoods by creating new public spaces and infrastructure on a metropolitan scale. The proposal recently received approval from the Chicago Plan Commission. + 8 According to the United Center Joint Venture, the design draws inspiration from Chicago's motto, Urbs in Horto (City in a Garden). The 1901 Project includes housing, retail, entertainment, and public open spaces across more than 55 acres of privately owned land surrounding the arena, transforming a previously enclosed area into an interconnected, open neighborhood. The project's client describes this $7 billion private investment as a "catalytic development" intended to activate the district year-round as a destination to live, work, and play. It represents a major shift for an underutilized area of Chicago, which currently serves primarily as a parking zone for event-driven automobile traffic. In contrast to its current function, RIOS emphasizes that the new development would incorporate historical urban features and restore pedestrian activity. The firm highlights walkability as a key principle, incorporating open pedestrian spaces, including a park and walking paths, as part of an integrated urban design strategy. According to Sebastian Salvadó, Creative Director and Partner at RIOS, the project features "a network of plazas and paseos that echo the city's pre-automobile urban fabric", linked by a continuous elevated park draped over the district's rooftops. More than 10 acres of the masterplan are reserved for integrated public spaces accessible for everyone, including the signature elevated park designed by Field Operations. Following approval from the Chicago Plan Commission, the project's next steps include review by the zoning committee and final consideration by the Chicago City Council. If approved, construction of the first phase is expected to begin in spring 2025. This initial phase includes a 6,000-seat theater-style music hall designed by RIOS, an elevated park spanning more than 10 acres (around 4 hectares), redesigned parking facilities, bike lanes, pedestrian paths, and a mix of hospitality and retail buildings. Future phases of the project plan to introduce housing, an expanded multi-modal transportation infrastructure, and targeted projects focused on the enhancement of public spaces established in the first phase. The United Center estimates the project's full completion within 10 years. The project represents an update to one of Chicago's largest infrastructural spaces, adapting it to contemporary environmental and urban needs. Large surface parking areas, which in the U.S. have been estimated to occupy approximately 5% of the land, have been identified as contributors to urban heat islands. The redevelopment of these spaces has been increasingly explored in urban regeneration efforts, often in comparison to land designated for housing construction. New approaches to parking infrastructure can be seen globally, such as the laminated wood garage by Herrmann + Bosch Architekten or the use of rammed earth in the Neuenburg am Rhein parking garage by MONO Architekten. Designs such as these aim to enhance human interaction in spaces originally designed for cars while mitigating their socio-environmental impact.
mixed-use
Mar 05, 2025
Renzo Piano Building Workshop Wins Competition To Design The New Midtstadt Mixed-Use Complex In Frankfurt
Arch Daily Mixed
Renzo Piano Building Workshop Wins Competition To Design The New Midtstadt Mixed-Use Complex In FrankfurtRenzo Piano Building Workshop (RPBW), in collaboration with Holger Meyer Architekten, has won the competition for the new Midstad project in Frankfurt. Led by Joost Moolhuijzen and Erik Volz, the design reimagines the future of European city centers as resourceful and multifunctional. The project involves a 35,000 m² rehabilitation of an existing department store on the Zeil in Frankfurt's city center, integrating a six-story mass timber extension and a mixed-use, community-driven program. The project involves reconstruction during ongoing operation, partial demolition, and the expansion of the existing department store. The Midstad Frankfurt project aims to transform the inner-city location of 'Östliche Zeil' by addressing urban, economic, and cultural needs. The new space will combine shopping, leisure, work, dining, entertainment, sports, culture, commercial apartments, and education under one roof. The goal is to convert the existing six-story, monofunctional 1980s department store, Weltstadthaus Peek & Cloppenburg, into a ten-story, multi-use complex. The design preserves three retail floors while adding two 'playground' levels, a two-form entry elementary school on the fifth floor, 56 long-stay apartments, and office and conference spaces on the upper floors. A key aspect of the transformation is improving the building's permeability and accessibility. New entrances will be added from Reiffensteinplatz and Reineckstrasse, with a light-filled passageway connecting two courtyards. Visitors will be able to navigate the building using either escalators or glass elevators. The building's volume will be fragmented to create a more open, light-filled structure, replacing the closed-off design of the existing department store. The main north façade on Zeil will feature a transparent wood-and-glass screen, offering views into the building's interior, including cultural spaces, co-working areas, and children's facilities, with a prominent two-story multifunctional hall at its center. Midstad Frankfurt is a renovation project that seeks to transform an existing city-center building into a flexible, mixed-use complex, contributing to the revitalization of the downtown area. According to Midstad's real estate managers, the project demonstrates how urban spaces can be revitalized through adaptable utilization concepts. The developers emphasize that multifunctional buildings capable of evolving with the changing needs of urban visitors and residents can help revitalize city centers. RPBW's design plans embody this vision, showcasing how European cities can be renewed through needs-based planning. Mixed-use architecture is a key strategic instrument for urban renewal in large cities. Several renowned architecture firms are engaged in similar projects worldwide, including Valerio Olgiati, with his three red concrete towers in Tirana; Gensler, with an office conversion project in New York City; and Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), with the remodeling of the HSBC Tower in London. These projects align with broader initiatives to reclaim downtown areas, repurpose disused land, and renovate large-scale underutilized buildings, such as the General Motors and Bedrock redevelopment of Detroit's Renaissance Center and the regeneration of the Bromley-by-Bow Gasworks in London.
mixed-use
Mar 03, 2025
Expo City Dubai To Be Transformed By Unstudio Into New Urban Center
Arch Daily Mixed
Expo City Dubai To Be Transformed By Unstudio Into New Urban CenterThe site of Expo 2020 Dubai is scheduled to undergo a major transformation, developed by UNStudio in collaboration with several other firms. The master plan aims to reimagine the location of the first World Expo held in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia into a new urban center, integrating the structures of the original Expo with new developments to create a cohesive and engaging new district. The development, part of Dubai's 2040 Urban Master Plan, leverages approximately 80% of the existing infrastructure and buildings from Expo 2020, minimizing waste and maximizing the value of previous investments. + 11 The 3.5-square-kilometer development is designed to accommodate over 35,000 residents and 37,000 professionals, while maintaining capacity for approximately 50,000 annual visitors. The masterplan shifts from the organic layout of the Expo 2020 thematic districts to a more efficient grid system. This improved urban structure enhances navigation and accessibility. The development is organized into five new districts: Expo Downtown, a high-density mixed-use area, Expo Fields, featuring sports facilities and residential components, Expo Hills, a low-density residential area with open spaces, Expo Business, understood as an innovation campus, and Expo Valley, a low-density residential neighborhood planned for completion in 2026. Each district incorporates a mix of residential, commercial, and recreational elements. A key focus is on creating a green and vibrant public realm. The landscape design, led by SLA, incorporates elements of the Expo 2020 themes of Sustainability, Mobility, and Opportunity. This involves extensive green spaces, water features, and the planting of over 30,000 native trees. The integration of the Dubai Exhibition Centre further enhances connectivity and activity within the site. The design prioritizes efficient urban planning, incorporating extensive green spaces and promoting alternative transportation methods such as walking, cycling, and public transit. The project's sustainability goals are reflected in its pursuit of LEED Gold and BREEAM Excellent certifications. In other related news, preparations are underway for the next edition of World Expo, to be held in Osaka, Japan. Construction photographs reveals the "Grand Ring," designed by Sou Fujimoto, which will encircle the exhibition grounds, while most of the national participants have unveiled designs of their pavilions, including Kengo Kuma's design for the Portugal Pavilion, and the German pavilion, by LAVA Architects.
mixed-use
Feb 05, 2025
Expo City Dubai To Be Transformed By Unstudio Into New Urban Center
Arch Daily Mixed
Expo City Dubai To Be Transformed By Unstudio Into New Urban CenterThe site of Expo 2020 Dubai is scheduled to undergo a major transformation, developed by UNStudio in collaboration with several other firms. The master plan aims to reimagine the location of the first World Expo held in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia into a new urban center, integrating the structures of the original Expo with new developments to create a cohesive and engaging new district. The development, part of Dubai's 2040 Urban Master Plan, leverages approximately 80% of the existing infrastructure and buildings from Expo 2020, minimizing waste and maximizing the value of previous investments. + 11 The 3.5-square-kilometer development is designed to accommodate over 35,000 residents and 37,000 professionals, while maintaining capacity for approximately 50,000 annual visitors. The masterplan shifts from the organic layout of the Expo 2020 thematic districts to a more efficient grid system. This improved urban structure enhances navigation and accessibility. The development is organized into five new districts: Expo Downtown, a high-density mixed-use area, Expo Fields, featuring sports facilities and residential components, Expo Hills, a low-density residential area with open spaces, Expo Business, understood as an innovation campus, and Expo Valley, a low-density residential neighborhood planned for completion in 2026. Each district incorporates a mix of residential, commercial, and recreational elements. A key focus is on creating a green and vibrant public realm. The landscape design, led by SLA, incorporates elements of the Expo 2020 themes of Sustainability, Mobility, and Opportunity. This involves extensive green spaces, water features, and the planting of over 30,000 native trees. The integration of the Dubai Exhibition Centre further enhances connectivity and activity within the site. The design prioritizes efficient urban planning, incorporating extensive green spaces and promoting alternative transportation methods such as walking, cycling, and public transit. The project's sustainability goals are reflected in its pursuit of LEED Gold and BREEAM Excellent certifications. In other related news, preparations are underway for the next edition of World Expo, to be held in Osaka, Japan. Construction photographs reveals the "Grand Ring," designed by Sou Fujimoto, which will encircle the exhibition grounds, while most of the national participants have unveiled designs of their pavilions, including Kengo Kuma's design for the Portugal Pavilion, and the German pavilion, by LAVA Architects.
mixed-use
Feb 05, 2025
An Urban Living Machine For The Common Good: Municipal Services Buildings In Hong Kong
Arch Daily Mixed
An Urban Living Machine For The Common Good: Municipal Services Buildings In Hong KongIn Delirious New York, Rem Koolhaas vividly discusses the Downtown Athletic Club, a striking example of how an unassuming building exterior can conceal a vibrant mix of distinct, self-contained programs. Inside the uniform facade of this skyscraper, a private athletic club hosts an eclectic range of facilities—boxing gyms next to oyster bars and interior golf ranges below swimming pools—all segregated yet highly accessible. The Downtown Athletic Club epitomized the dynamism of New York's skyscrapers at the time, showcasing the thrill of capitalism through a selective, inward-focused world of leisure and privilege for the selected. This "machine of programs" operated independently of the external city as an isolated ecosystem within its walls. Yet, one might ask: could a similar model, designed for public use, create a more inclusive, lively community and neighborhood experience? This will activate the building within, instead of only serving the selected elites, and influence and transform the urban fabric and shapes around the building. In Hong Kong, a distant parallel can be drawn with the Municipal Services Buildings (MSBs)—publicly-funded structures that serve the community by integrating diverse functions within a singular vast building mass, much like the Downtown Athletic Club. + 15 Designed as all-in-one hubs, these buildings offer essential services and experiences that cater to everyday needs, fostering local commerce and keeping neighborhoods vibrant. Over time, MSBs have evolved into more than just utilitarian buildings; they have become focal points for social activity and economic growth within a 20-minute walking radius of their location. While subway stations are the typical contemporary nodes within neighborhoods serving as transportation hubs, MSBs are unique buildings that become the hub of community engagement and leisure, driving interaction and commerce within their neighborhoods. Exploring a few key examples of these Municipal Services Buildings provides insight into their history and evolution, offering lessons on their successes and potential areas for improvement. These buildings are unique in their dual function, acting as public spaces and quasi-clubs for frequent visitors. They form a "public club"—accessible to all, but with a community and social network shaped by regular users. Unlike exclusive private clubs, they blur the lines of membership and inclusion, fostering a more organic, open-ended form of community - a building type that serves the common good. The Municipal Services Buildings (MSBs) of Hong Kong trace their origins back to the colonial period. In the 1960s, Hong Kong was rocked by riots, initially sparked by labor disputes, which soon escalated into anti-colonial protests. In response, Sir Murray MacLehose, the then-governor, sought to address public discontent by fast-tracking urban development projects planned for the common good. Early plans to integrate playgrounds atop market buildings were expanded, evolving into a more ambitious concept: multi-functional urban complexes designed to meet a wide range of daily needs for the city's residents. The Urban Council, responsible for creating these urban complexes—later renamed Municipal Services Buildings—oversaw the development of the first MSB in Aberdeen, which opened in 1983. Designed by Dennis Lau and Ng Chun Man Architects and Engineers (DLN), it was soon followed by another in Kowloon City, designed by Palmer and Turner. These initial MSBs were already ambitious in scope, and they set a precedent for integrating diverse communal functions, including wet markets, cooked food centers, libraries, government offices, and sports facilities. The range of programs, from indoor basketball courts to dance studios and gyms, embodied the city's efforts to support community well-being in dense urban areas. Over time, each new MSB continued to expand this vision, testing the limits of Rem Koolhaas' concept of Delirious New York and the programmatic density of the Downtown Athletic Club. One of the most ambitious MSBs is in Sheung Wan, initially built by the government department ArchSD. Standing at 13 stories, it offers the typical array of public amenities—wet markets, libraries, food centers, and sports facilities—and a theatre, lecture rooms, practice spaces, and galleries. The sheer size and complexity of the Sheung Wan MSB and 40 other MSBs have led some to refer to them as Hong Kong's "Urban Living Room Machine." This expansive typology has attracted attention from architectural organizations like the AIA (HK) and Docomomo Hong Kong, sparking renewed interest in its potential for shaping community-focused urban design and public building. It has also become a subject of academic inquiry, with architecture students at the University of Hong Kong examining how the MSB can be reimagined and further developed to serve the common good better while expanding on architectural concepts and their agencies. The Aberdeen Municipal Services Building was the first in Hong Kong, setting the stage for a new urban complex far removed from pristine shopping malls or single-use sports centers. Its appeal lies in its organized chaos, where an eclectic mix of programs coexist in a vibrant, dynamic environment. From wet markets to cooked food centers, the building's floors are packed with finely subdivided stalls—often more than 30 on a single floor of wet markets and over 10 food stalls in dining areas—each operated by local vendors. This diverse mix facilitates small businesses and local commerce while fostering a strong sense of community. In the case of the Aberdeen MSB, including a generously sized public library and well-maintained sports facilities further enhances the building's role as a central hub where residents engage in everyday activities. It's common for locals to chat with stall owners after a workout session or grab a quick meal with their gym buddies, creating an atmosphere of familiarity and interaction. This unique blend of activities and the fact that these buildings are publicly funded gives users a sense of agency and ownership rarely found in commercial spaces. Without a dominant "owner" possessing the building, local residents can navigate the space as if it were their own, fostering a robust communal atmosphere. Small, tight-knit groups naturally form, carving out their routines while respecting the diversity of the other users. This grassroots sense of belonging is further bolstered by the absence of supermarkets or chain retailers, which helps to drive local small businesses. As a result, the Aberdeen MSB serves as a functional hub and preserves the local urban fabric, ensuring that the economic and social vitality of the surrounding area remains intact. The Ap Lei Chau Municipal Services Building, the last of its kind developed by the Urban Council before its dissolution, opened in 1999 just across the Aberdeen Harbour—a mere 12-minute walk from its predecessor. This was the first MSB designed with an integrated HVAC system, marking a shift in building standards and comfort and an improvement from the perspective of building systems and thermal comfort for the users and the common good. Situated on a small island in the southern part of Hong Kong, connected by bridges and the MTR but still geographically distinct, Ap Lei Chau MSB quickly became the vibrant heart of its local community. Its harbor-side location and its role as a community hub transformed it into a critical urban node that helped activate the otherwise quiet Ap Lei Chau Waterfront Promenade. The building fostered a symbiotic relationship with the surrounding urban fabric, particularly along the waterfront. Locals frequently purchase fresh seafood directly from the wet market or boats docked at the nearby promenade and bring it to the cooked food stalls inside the MSB, where it is prepared to order. These stalls, not limited to the ones in Ap Lei Chau but also in other MSBs, function like communal kitchens, offering an ever-changing, unwritten menu shaped by local traditions and customers' fresh ingredients. The unique dynamic fosters a hyper-localized culinary culture, where the personal relationship between customer and vendor drives the experience. This distinctive heritage, the public built environment, and city fabric becoming like an extension of your home and living room are only made possible due to the development of MSBs. Beyond the waterfront, Ap Lei Chau MSB sustains small businesses in the surrounding streets, reinforcing the community-driven atmosphere typical of Hong Kong's MSBs. Activities spill out from the building, with conversations and commerce extending into adjacent streets blessed with minimal traffic. The absence of large retail conglomerates and heavy vehicular flow has allowed the area to flourish as a pedestrian-friendly, tightly-knit neighborhood. Ap Lei Chau MSB exemplifies an evolved version of the community network found in other MSBs, enriched by its island location and the leisurely urban fabric surrounding it. Many of Hong Kong's Municipal Service Buildings (MSBs) are now showing their age, with several surpassing the 40-year mark. This has raised questions about these once-pioneering communal structures' mounting maintenance and management costs. As Hong Kong's urban landscape has evolved, particularly with the rapid expansion of the subway system over the last two decades, younger generations have gravitated towards air-conditioned, cleaner, and more conveniently located supermarkets along their commute, most of the time residing directly above subway stations. This shift in consumer habits has sparked debate over whether MSBs are becoming obsolete. The passive design strategies used in the original MSBs, which excluded modern HVAC systems, have mainly proven insufficient, given the lack of cross-ventilation in these large, solid buildings coupled with rising urban temperatures. Additionally, the community-driven markets housed within MSBs often lack the oversight to maintain hygienic and pleasant environments despite their allure of organized chaos. This has become a factor that has contributed to the decision to demolish some MSBs, including the Kowloon City MSB. Luckily for the iconic Aberdeen MSB, the first of its kind, underwent a costly renovation that introduced HVAC systems and better hygiene despite losing parts of its original architectural characteristics. As the conversation around designing for the common good continues, the future of Hong Kong's MSBs remains uncertain. Will these buildings find a second life through improved design principles, integrating better passive strategies with modern HVAC systems to serve a different yet still local audience? Or will they meet a tragic end, with their roles as communal hubs gradually usurped by the forces of capitalism and real estate development? The fate of the MSBs offers a poignant case study of how we balance historical value, community-driven spaces, and the pressures of modern urban living. Editor's Note: This article was originally published on October 07, 2024, as part of the ArchDaily Topics: Designing for the Common Good.
mixed-use
Jan 05, 2025
Capitaspring Tower, Designed By Big And Cra, Wins The International High-Rise Award 2024/25
Arch Daily Mixed
Capitaspring Tower, Designed By Big And Cra, Wins The International High-Rise Award 2024/25Designed by the architectural practices BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group and Carlo Ratti Associati, the mixed-use CapitaSpring tower in Singapore has been announced as the winner of the International High-Rise Award (IHA) 2024/25. The high rise stood out among the 31 projects considered in the competition. Measuring 260 meters in height, the tower officially opened in 2022, standing out for its strategy of integrating open and green spaces throughout the building. + 11 The jury for the 11th International High-Rise Award engaged in extensive discussions about the future of high-rise buildings amid pressing global challenges, including urbanization and post-pandemic societal needs. They focused on criteria such as social value, sustainability, innovation in addressing local issues, and future-proof design. The jury chair, Kim Herforth Nielsen, emphasized the importance of "greening," "densifying," and maximizing existing structures, ultimately arriving at a consensus that CapitaSpring exemplified these ideals. CapitaSpring was praised as "the best high-rise building in the world at the moment" due to its ability to bridge the interests of the city and private developers. Standing 280 meters tall, it replaced a long-neglected site, now incorporating public spaces like a hawker center and green zones accessible to all. This co-designed approach reflects a successful collaboration between the city's planning framework and the developers' vision. The jury concluded that this development represents a new direction for tall structures, due to its ability to balance comfortable urban spaces, densification, and the inclusion of greenery. The award was officially presented at a formal ceremony held in Frankfurt's Paulskirche, attended by Brian Yang from BIG and Gregory Chua representing CapitaLand, the tower's developers. Today with CapitaSpring we have set out to explore the high-rise as a vertical extension of a uniquely Singaporean form of tropical urbanism. By wresting the vertical lines of the façade apart, the tower opens up for access and views between inside and outside, turning the traditional pinstripe of the classic curtainwall into something more engaging, inviting, and accessible. A simple gesture that fundamentally reimagines the social role of a skyscraper. - Bjarke Ingels The award winner highlights a shift in skyscraper design, emphasizing the evolving priorities in urban architecture. Modern high-rises increasingly incorporate responsive facades and passive design elements. Additionally, these structures are reshaping urban landscapes by elevating public spaces, moving them from traditional ground levels to rooftops or podiums between buildings.
mixed-use
Nov 13, 2024
OODA Breaks Ground on Tetris-Like Mixed-Use Development in Tirana
Arch Daily Mixed
OODA Breaks Ground on Tetris-Like Mixed-Use Development in TiranaPortuguese architecture studio OODA has commenced construction on the Hora Vertikale Towers in Tirana, a city renowned for its urban revitalization and architectural innovation. The project aims to contribute to this dynamic landscape as a multi-functional, 55,000-square-meter "vertical village" rising 140 meters tall. The project is designed to also integrate a large-scale green public space, also designed by OODA. The project was first announced earlier this year. The architectural design of the Hora Vertikale Towers features a composition of twenty stacked cubes, each measuring 22.5 meters by 22.5 meters, arranged at three different heights. This structure offers a fluid and dynamic profile, accentuating Tirana's ongoing transformation and commitment to modern architectural practices. By utilizing local resources, the project set out to contribute economically to the area, enhancing community engagement with its green public space integration. The first phase of the Hora Vertikale project in Tirana includes constructing thirteen slightly disarranged cubes, each 22.5 meters on each side, designed to give the ensemble a dynamic and playful appearance while reflecting the average height of Tirana's buildings. Envisioned as a "vertical village" with a height of 140 meters, the structure aims to integrate into Tirana's urban fabric while serving as a landmark that mirrors the city's character.
mixed-use
Oct 11, 2024
Cobe'S Creative Reuse Strategy Set To Transform Tallinn'S Industrial Site Into A New City District
Arch Daily Mixed
Cobe'S Creative Reuse Strategy Set To Transform Tallinn'S Industrial Site Into A New City DistrictDanish architecture firm Cobe has announced a new project to transform the historic 'Krulli' steelworks, a large-scale former industrial site in Estonia's capital, into a mixed-use city district. The strategy for the project is developed to optimize for material reuse, as materials, components and even entire buildings have been evaluated for their potential to be reintegrated into the scheme. This way, the decommissioned industrial area provides the foundation for an innovation hub, maintaining its history while adapting to the necessities of modern workspaces and city life. + 5 The 'Krulli' steelworks, dating back to 1899, represented an important industrial facility in Tallinn. However, in recent years, the site has remained vacant, only hosting temporary activities within its abandoned structures. This new initiative aims to reimagine the area, introducing a mixed-use functionality focused on entrepreneurial communities and start-ups. The development will also provide 600 new homes in addition to its extensive workspace offerings. The strategy involves the repurposing of materials and components at both small and large scale, thus maintaining the local identity and history of the site. Three industrial heritage halls will be transformed into an innovation hub, hosting co-working spaces, cafes, shops, and artist studios. To develop this strategy, the existing building structures, materials, and components have been mapped and evaluated for their feasibility. The halls are set to be complemented by additional office spaces constructed from timber and arranged in a checkboard pattern that infills the existing structures. Existing limestone walls, concrete columns, panels, foundations, and steel trusses are re-used, ensuring the preservation of the historical facades and minimizing carbon impact. The industrial cranes will be transformed into bridges connecting the three halls horizontally. We firmly believe in urban transformation and in reusing what already exists. In the context of climate change and resource scarcity, the most sustainable and meaningful project will always be the one that is already built. Following this principle, the Krulli site is a treasure box of materials, buildings, and urban qualities just waiting to be transformed and reused. The project prioritizes ambitious reuse goals that make both environmental and economic sense, forming the foundation of the Krulli identity. A 'resource stair' approach establishes a hierarchy for all materials found on site and any new additions. Reuse is always the highest priority, followed by biogenic materials, and then re-usable materials, leaving carbon-intensive concrete as the last choice. - Cobe founder and professor at Harvard University, Dan Stubbergaard Cobe was tasked with the project at the start of 2023 and has since crafted a comprehensive master plan for the former Krulli steelworks site. This plan includes specific transformation projects as well as conceptual designs for the landscape and public spaces. A central feature of the plan, the innovation hub, is now in the detailed design phase and is projected to be completed by 2027. Cobe's approach revisits and expands upon a 2021 master plan developed for the area by Estonian architect Andres Alver. Over the past few years, modern industrial heritage has emerged as an invaluable resource for cities. While its functionality is often obsolete, the sites, buildings, and infrastructures have proven to have the potential to be transformed into attractive new areas for residents, without losing their layered history. On this note, BIG and SCAPE have recently announced plans to transform Connecticut's decommissioned coal-fired power plant into a public-oriented development as a hub for learning. Similarly, MAD Architects has unveiled the project for the renovation of a former warehouse into a space for culture, while RSHP Proposed the transformation of Victorian gasholders into a mixed-use residential hub in London.
mixed-use
Oct 10, 2024
An Urban Living Machine For The Common Good: Municipal Services Buildings In Hong Kong
Arch Daily Mixed
An Urban Living Machine For The Common Good: Municipal Services Buildings In Hong KongIn Delirious New York, Rem Koolhaas vividly discusses the Downtown Athletic Club, a striking example of how an unassuming building exterior can conceal a vibrant mix of distinct, self-contained programs. Inside the uniform facade of this skyscraper, a private athletic club hosts an eclectic range of facilities—boxing gyms next to oyster bars and interior golf ranges below swimming pools—all segregated yet highly accessible. The Downtown Athletic Club epitomized the dynamism of New York's skyscrapers at the time, showcasing the thrill of capitalism through a selective, inward-focused world of leisure and privilege for the selected. This "machine of programs" operated independently of the external city as an isolated ecosystem within its walls. Yet, one might ask: could a similar model, designed for public use, create a more inclusive, lively community and neighborhood experience? This will activate the building within, instead of only serving the selected elites, and influence and transform the urban fabric and shapes around the building. In Hong Kong, a distant parallel can be drawn with the Municipal Services Buildings (MSBs)—publicly-funded structures that serve the community by integrating diverse functions within a singular vast building mass, much like the Downtown Athletic Club. + 15 Designed as all-in-one hubs, these buildings offer essential services and experiences that cater to everyday needs, fostering local commerce and keeping neighborhoods vibrant. Over time, MSBs have evolved into more than just utilitarian buildings; they have become focal points for social activity and economic growth within a 20-minute walking radius of their location. While subway stations are the typical contemporary nodes within neighborhoods serving as transportation hubs, MSBs are unique buildings that become the hub of community engagement and leisure, driving interaction and commerce within their neighborhoods. Exploring a few key examples of these Municipal Services Buildings provides insight into their history and evolution, offering lessons on their successes and potential areas for improvement. These buildings are unique in their dual function, acting as public spaces and quasi-clubs for frequent visitors. They form a "public club"—accessible to all, but with a community and social network shaped by regular users. Unlike exclusive private clubs, they blur the lines of membership and inclusion, fostering a more organic, open-ended form of community - a building type that serves the common good. The Municipal Services Buildings (MSBs) of Hong Kong trace their origins back to the colonial period. In the 1960s, Hong Kong was rocked by riots, initially sparked by labor disputes, which soon escalated into anti-colonial protests. In response, Sir Murray MacLehose, the then-governor, sought to address public discontent by fast-tracking urban development projects planned for the common good. Early plans to integrate playgrounds atop market buildings were expanded, evolving into a more ambitious concept: multi-functional urban complexes designed to meet a wide range of daily needs for the city's residents. The Urban Council, responsible for creating these urban complexes—later renamed Municipal Services Buildings—oversaw the development of the first MSB in Aberdeen, which opened in 1983. Designed by Dennis Lau and Ng Chun Man Architects and Engineers (DLN), it was soon followed by another in Kowloon City, designed by Palmer and Turner. These initial MSBs were already ambitious in scope, and they set a precedent for integrating diverse communal functions, including wet markets, cooked food centers, libraries, government offices, and sports facilities. The range of programs, from indoor basketball courts to dance studios and gyms, embodied the city's efforts to support community well-being in dense urban areas. Over time, each new MSB continued to expand this vision, testing the limits of Rem Koolhaas' concept of Delirious New York and the programmatic density of the Downtown Athletic Club. One of the most ambitious MSBs is in Sheung Wan, initially built by the government department ArchSD. Standing at 13 stories, it offers the typical array of public amenities—wet markets, libraries, food centers, and sports facilities—and a theatre, lecture rooms, practice spaces, and galleries. The sheer size and complexity of the Sheung Wan MSB and 40 other MSBs have led some to refer to them as Hong Kong's "Urban Living Room Machine." This expansive typology has attracted attention from architectural organizations like the AIA (HK) and Docomomo Hong Kong, sparking renewed interest in its potential for shaping community-focused urban design and public building. It has also become a subject of academic inquiry, with architecture students at the University of Hong Kong examining how the MSB can be reimagined and further developed to serve the common good better while expanding on architectural concepts and their agencies. The Aberdeen Municipal Services Building was the first in Hong Kong, setting the stage for a new urban complex far removed from pristine shopping malls or single-use sports centers. Its appeal lies in its organized chaos, where an eclectic mix of programs coexist in a vibrant, dynamic environment. From wet markets to cooked food centers, the building's floors are packed with finely subdivided stalls—often more than 30 on a single floor of wet markets and over 10 food stalls in dining areas—each operated by local vendors. This diverse mix facilitates small businesses and local commerce while fostering a strong sense of community. In the case of the Aberdeen MSB, including a generously sized public library and well-maintained sports facilities further enhances the building's role as a central hub where residents engage in everyday activities. It's common for locals to chat with stall owners after a workout session or grab a quick meal with their gym buddies, creating an atmosphere of familiarity and interaction. This unique blend of activities and the fact that these buildings are publicly funded gives users a sense of agency and ownership rarely found in commercial spaces. Without a dominant "owner" possessing the building, local residents can navigate the space as if it were their own, fostering a robust communal atmosphere. Small, tight-knit groups naturally form, carving out their routines while respecting the diversity of the other users. This grassroots sense of belonging is further bolstered by the absence of supermarkets or chain retailers, which helps to drive local small businesses. As a result, the Aberdeen MSB serves as a functional hub and preserves the local urban fabric, ensuring that the economic and social vitality of the surrounding area remains intact. The Ap Lei Chau Municipal Services Building, the last of its kind developed by the Urban Council before its dissolution, opened in 1999 just across the Aberdeen Harbour—a mere 12-minute walk from its predecessor. This was the first MSB designed with an integrated HVAC system, marking a shift in building standards and comfort and an improvement from the perspective of building systems and thermal comfort for the users and the common good. Situated on a small island in the southern part of Hong Kong, connected by bridges and the MTR but still geographically distinct, Ap Lei Chau MSB quickly became the vibrant heart of its local community. Its harbor-side location and its role as a community hub transformed it into a critical urban node that helped activate the otherwise quiet Ap Lei Chau Waterfront Promenade. The building fostered a symbiotic relationship with the surrounding urban fabric, particularly along the waterfront. Locals frequently purchase fresh seafood directly from the wet market or boats docked at the nearby promenade and bring it to the cooked food stalls inside the MSB, where it is prepared to order. These stalls, not limited to the ones in Ap Lei Chau but also in other MSBs, function like communal kitchens, offering an ever-changing, unwritten menu shaped by local traditions and customers' fresh ingredients. The unique dynamic fosters a hyper-localized culinary culture, where the personal relationship between customer and vendor drives the experience. This distinctive heritage, the public built environment, and city fabric becoming like an extension of your home and living room are only made possible due to the development of MSBs. Beyond the waterfront, Ap Lei Chau MSB sustains small businesses in the surrounding streets, reinforcing the community-driven atmosphere typical of Hong Kong's MSBs. Activities spill out from the building, with conversations and commerce extending into adjacent streets blessed with minimal traffic. The absence of large retail conglomerates and heavy vehicular flow has allowed the area to flourish as a pedestrian-friendly, tightly-knit neighborhood. Ap Lei Chau MSB exemplifies an evolved version of the community network found in other MSBs, enriched by its island location and the leisurely urban fabric surrounding it. Many of Hong Kong's Municipal Service Buildings (MSBs) are now showing their age, with several surpassing the 40-year mark. This has raised questions about these once-pioneering communal structures' mounting maintenance and management costs. As Hong Kong's urban landscape has evolved, particularly with the rapid expansion of the subway system over the last two decades, younger generations have gravitated towards air-conditioned, cleaner, and more conveniently located supermarkets along their commute, most of the time residing directly above subway stations. This shift in consumer habits has sparked debate over whether MSBs are becoming obsolete. The passive design strategies used in the original MSBs, which excluded modern HVAC systems, have mainly proven insufficient, given the lack of cross-ventilation in these large, solid buildings coupled with rising urban temperatures. Additionally, the community-driven markets housed within MSBs often lack the oversight to maintain hygienic and pleasant environments despite their allure of organized chaos. This has become a factor that has contributed to the decision to demolish some MSBs, including the Kowloon City MSB. Luckily for the iconic Aberdeen MSB, the first of its kind, underwent a costly renovation that introduced HVAC systems and better hygiene despite losing parts of its original architectural characteristics. As the conversation around designing for the common good continues, the future of Hong Kong's MSBs remains uncertain. Will these buildings find a second life through improved design principles, integrating better passive strategies with modern HVAC systems to serve a different yet still local audience? Or will they meet a tragic end, with their roles as communal hubs gradually usurped by the forces of capitalism and real estate development? The fate of the MSBs offers a poignant case study of how we balance historical value, community-driven spaces, and the pressures of modern urban living. This article is part of the ArchDaily Topics: Designing for the Common Good. Every month we explore a topic in-depth through articles, interviews, news, and architecture projects. We invite you to learn more about our ArchDaily Topics. And, as always, at ArchDaily we welcome the contributions of our readers; if you want to submit an article or project, contact us.
mixed-use
Oct 07, 2024