Auditory Pavilions for the Dutch Centre

MIII architecten designs two satellite pavilions for 'The Mothership' in Baarn

This project concerns two new additions to the existing Pavilion P1 - built in 2000 - to inform professional customers about the specialisms and other educational matters regarding the arboriculture. The brief was to create two new pavilions as 'satellites' related to the 'mothership', that would be part of the scenery in a very natural way, but still recognisable as organic structures to fit the profile of the company and the existing Pavilion.

Both the volumes evolve from a strictly mathematical grid from various reference points in the area, such as visibility axes in the exhibition garden and historical agricultural scenery.

Also the orientation to the sun was a very important issue, both for philosophical matters like being part of the sources of life, as well as for practical matters like daylight and warmth to the inner-climate. The almost self-evident integration in the natural environment, achieved by this 3-D mathematical extrapolation of the surrounding’s analysis, lead to the creation of clear, constructive structures.

The clarity of the construction-plans remains completely visible by using glass façade panels as transparent physical separation segments. The acquired plastic effect can be seen as the result of the dialogue between the wooden construction frames and the glass fragments of the highly transparent skin.

The glue-laminated wood constructions are evidently an up-dated version of methods that have their roots in the 500 year old Dutch way of wood construction-systems. Together with the very modern glazing and cladding techniques used, the overall result is considered by ZNA as a step forward into the office’s inquiry for the edges beyond conventional perceptive enclosure of space, together with a realistic use of today’s applicable building techniques.

Arts and Innovation Centre, Bangor University, United Kingdom - From the dragon's den..

Work on unifying Arts and Innovation Centre at Bangor University begins onsite

Due to open in spring 2013, the Arts and Innovation Centre at Bangor University - also known as the Pontio project - has been designed by global architecture firm Grimshaw to showcase local and international artistic talents using state-of-the-art digital technology.Construction has now commenced on the project, which was recently afforded financial backing of £27.5m from the EU's Convergence European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Assembly Government.

The scheme also includes the erection of an 'Innovation Hub', designed to generate strong professional relationships between the educational institution and local businesses. The new design structure will straddle an area between the lower and elevated parts of Bangor city centre, unifying the two main campus areas of upper and lower Bangor.

Over a construction period of two years, Bangor University is hoping to incorporate a 500+ seat theatre, a rehearsal studio, teaching rooms, a cinema and an outdoor amphitheatre, alongside social spaces such as a new Student Union, bars, cafes and restaurants.

University of Florida Clinical Translational Research Building, Gainesville, United States

Perkins + Will designs facility to prolong the built environment and human life

The University of Florida Clinical Translational Research Building (CTRB) serves as the major catalyst for developing models and synergies in medical research, education, and healthcare across all colleges and departments at the University. The CTRB will extend clinical treatment from bench to bedside to curbside by outreach to the local community, creating a unique clinical research environment. The building creates a unified home for the NIH funded Institute on Aging (IOA) and the Clinical Translational Science Institute (CTSI) which are joined within a 120,000-sq-ft facility that is one of the first of its kind.

Inspired by the Biophilia Hypothesis the project emerges as a leaf drawn in the canvas of the site organising the project footprint into vein-like channels which filter and transmit stormwater to an on-site retention basin. The leaf’s central spine unites the IOA and CTSI by creating a collaborative courtyard. The two institutes each consist of a wing of clinical and support spaces at the ground level with research spaces above. The wings are joined by shared multi-purpose spaces, conference rooms, collaborative spaces and the main entry lobby.

The concept 'sustaining life itself provides healing' emerged from the desire to provide sustainable healing, working and educational environments. The concept; considering nature as both model and context provides the framework for the building design and sustainable strategies. The building utilises the environmental forces on the site to provide for its needs. Available solar radiation provides daylighting and energy through photovoltaic collectors. Rainwater and condensate will be collected for flushing toilets and irrigation. The building will achieve energy use reduction of up to 50% by its orientation, glazing design and through the use of underfloor displacement ventilation in the office and research areas. The project has a LEED® certification goal of Platinum and will be carbon-neutral.