Zaha Hadid Architects brand identity by Greenspace 5:16 PM

Design and brand strategy specialists Greenspace have developed a new identity, bespoke typeface and website for Zaha Hadid Architects.

Rem Koolhaas’ Opening Lecture at The Strelka Institute 1:14 AM

Strelka Research Themes from Strelka Institute on Vimeo.

Strelka Institute, a postgrad school for media, architecture and design in Moscow. The school focuses on a series of themes aimed to reshape Russia’s current role in the world: from the preservation of the urban environment and migration to the future of energy and the role of virtual space.

The curriculum for the first academic year has been developed together with AMO (OMA’s think tank) as a framework for these creative investigations. Research projects will be led by OMA head Rem Koolhaas, AMO director Reinier de Graaf and cultural advisor Michael Schindhelm.

On the opening lecture (video above) Rem Koolhaas explains the program (first 40 minutes), addressing several global issues. Koolhaas’ interest in Russia will now play a vital role in shaping the next generation of architects.

Cultural Center in Albania by BIG 2:44 AM

All images courtesy of BIG

Copenhagen-based practice BIG has won 1st prize in the international design competition for a new 27,000 m2 cultural complex in Tirana, Albania. Developed in collaboration with Martha Schwartz landscape, Buro Happold, Speirs & Major, Lutzenberger & Lutzenberger, and Global Cultural Asset Management, the project consists of a mosque, an islamic center, and a museum of religious harmony. The winning entry was selected out of five finalists, including Zaha Hadid, spanish architect Andrés Perea Ortega, Architecture Studio from France and Dutch seARCH.

Lace Apartments & Tetris Apartments by OFIS Arhitekti 8:57 AM

Lace Apartments

Tetris Apartments

Two updated video courtesy of Slovenian architects OFIS Arhitekti showcases some interesting details and geometric shapes of the building facades, that seams a constant in this office’s works.

'Stadsmuziek' by Akko Goldenbeld 12:29 AM

On show at 'this way', Design Academy Eindhoven's exhibition at Milan Design Week 2011 is Akko Goldenbeld's musical device 'Stadsmuziek'. A scale model of the city of Eindhoven is transformed into the role of the recorder as each building, unique in size, shape and proximity to others, creates the musical score. Placed on a revolving wooden cylinder, the buildings set little hammers in motion that play the keys of the piano. By turning and turning, the city makes its voice heard - from loud to soft, long to short, high-pitched to low - translating the three-dimensional reality of the city into an aural experience.

EXOtique by PROJECTiONE 12:02 AM

EXOtique from PROJECTiONE on Vimeo.

EXOtique is the latest project from PROJECTiONE which is a digitally fabricated honeycomb tessellation installation for Ball State’s College of Architecture. The Institute for Digital Fabrication invited them them to produce a piece with help from students at the college. The project requirements they had to accomplish were the next ones:

Le Dauphin by OMA 12:15 AM

architecture et nourriture from oskar alegria on Vimeo.

Chef Fre Penau’s new restaurant, Le Dauphin is an 80 sqm ‘obsession in white’. OMA‘s Rem Koolhaas associate Clement Blanchet received the Fooding 2010 award for their interior design of the restaurant that opened December 2010. Predominant materials of marble, mirrors and wood enlarge the space through reflection, and blur the boundary between interior and exterior.

Vicente Guallart - Interview by Studio Banana TV 8:36 AM

Studio Banana TV interviews Spanish architect Vicente Guallart pioneer of interaction between nature, technology and architecture proposes new paradigms based in urban, social and cultural conditions emerging from information society

TED Talks : Kate Orff, Oyster-tecture 7:18 AM

Kate Orff shares her vision of ‘oyster-tecture’ utilizing oysters as an agent for urban change. Focusing on the New York Harbor, Orff, architect and founding principal of Manhattan based studio SCAPE, demonstrates how we can rethink our landscapes, both the green and blue spaces, linking nature and humanity for mutual benefit.

Eastern oysters being her focus for this TED Talk, she shares how the oyster can improve water quality as a natural bio filter. Blending urbanism and ecology she proposes an oyster reef for the Gowanus Canal and Governors Island, an accessible idea that can be implemented immediately.