Penang Global City Center by asymptote architecture

The PGCC  is comprised of two iconic, sixty-story towers housing luxury residential units and five-star hotels, the penang performing arts center (penpac), a high-end retail and entertainment complex, an observatory, a world-class convention center and a vast public arena in the form of a plinth that serves as an entrance to the pgcc and connects it to the city beyond.

Set against the backdrop of the nature reserve of penang hill, the twisting, glass facades of the towers ‘perform’ various surface effects - reflecting, refracting and distorting views of penang, the surrounding landscape and the seascape beyond.

The vast, cascading plinth, which functions as a public plaza with multiple gathering spaces, are venues for the performing arts center, convention center and various facilities for residential, office and urban life.

John Curtin School of Medical Research by lynos

John curtin school of medical research, a research laboratory designed to enhance interactivity and collaborative research. located in the capital city of australia, the low-rise structure is based at the australian national university in canberra. housing research facilities, exhibition areas and a 200 seat public lecture theater, the building features a series of internal spaces that are connected with stairs and open atria aimed at promoting social exchange and fraternization. 

Angular glass and steel fins expand outwards, giving the form a strong sense of movement and orientation. alternating panels gradually reveal the inner-workings of the school as the viewer approaches the entrance. digitally rendered concrete panels on the side and back elevations symbolize the research work of the school through simplified icons of molecules and codified representations of the DNA strand. 

Inside, flexibly designed laboratories accommodate small and large groups, allowing research to be undertaken in a variety of manners. office areas for independent analysis and support staff are located next to the labs, delivering an integrated and highly efficient workplace.

De Blob by massimiliano fuksas

The building is a part of a larger urban revitalization project set in the historic centre of the city. the 3000 m2 mixed-use building serves as the focal structure of the masterplan. the position of the project's site made the structure take on the role as a natural meeting space for the public.

In addition to being an iconic building, it aims to redefine in one form the city centre while connecting the bijenkorf, a chain of upscale department stores, with the old shopping district. the multidirectional intersection it sat next to gave a non-directional shape, resulting in a blobular form.

The 5-storey concrete structure is wrapped in a transparent skin constructed out of glass and steel. featuring faceted, triangular details, the otherwise smooth and curvy envelope dips in slightly to form light-reflecting dimples which also alter and play with the spatial configuration of the interior. elliptical cut outs on the floor slabs allow for natural light to reach the level of the square.

Newton Suites by woha

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The newton suite project of this high-rise apartment in an established area was designed in 2003 and scheduled for completion in 2007. the 36 storey tower incorporates 118 apartments with views towards the verdant bukit timah nature reserve and the city skyline. singaporean architects WOHA created these living spaces with attention to detail, proportions and scale, ensuring that the building is a comfortable and efficient living space. a studied randomness adds a dimension of spontaneity and playfulness to the building’s design and common areas that make them at once friendly and aesthetic.

The architecture and landscape merge seamlessly, integrating living spaces into the flowing foliage of the sky gardens. the elegant profile of the building is a mature and stylish addition to the skyline.

The newton suites project by WOHA founders mun summ wong and richard hassell with its skygardens and full-height green wall (the tallest continual green wall in the world?) was recognized as a finalist in the 2008 CTBUH - council on tall building and urban habitat - awards for the asia and australasia category and continues the bravery of urban and architectural experimentation that is evident everywhere in singapore.

Panum Complex extension by c.f.moller

The aim of the extension is to link the university more closely with the business community and the surrounding city. 'it has been essential for us to create a building that will be in dialogue with the district of nørrebro. until now, the panum building has had the air of a large, closed-off research institution with its back turned to the city.

Through the new extension and its link with the existing panum complex, we will be able to open up its inner universe of dynamic and exciting research to the outside world,' says c.f. møller partners mads mandrup and mads møller.

With denmark's most energy-efficient laboratories, the project will be pioneering in energy usage with waste energy from the ventilation system being recycled in the overall energy balance of the building.

Henderson Waves by rsp architects

Based on the principle of parametric design, this new visual symbol has attracted the community to its walkways and shelters.

Its three-dimensional surface integrates structure and form in a unique wave that undulates dramatically over and under the bridge deck and creating sheltered seating areas inside every upward curve.

With the sensitive use of natural organic shapes and materials such as wood and steel, this structure helps unite the city's southern ridges, which are comprised of a nine-kilometer chain of green open spaces spanning the rolling hills of mount faber park, telok blangah hill park and kent ridge park before ending at west coast park.

Zayed National Museum at abu dhabi

The design of the museum aims to combine a highly efficient, contemporary form with elements of traditional arabic design and hospitality to create a museum that is sustainable, welcoming and culturally of its place. featuring a landscaped garden around its base, the museum's display spaces are housed within a man-made mound. the interior conditions are regulated passively through five solar thermal towers, which host the galleries.

The towers heat up and act as thermal chimneys, drawing cool air currents throughout the museum. fresh air is captures at the low level and drawn through buried ground-cooling pipes and then released into the museum's lobby. air vents open at the top of the wing-shaped towers taking advantage of the negative pressure on the lee of the wing profile to draw the hot air out.

Balancing the lightweight steel structures with a more monumental interior experience, the galleries are anchored by a dramatic top-lit central lobby, which is dug into the earth to exploit its thermal properties and brings together shops, cafes, and auditorium and informal venues for performances. throughout, the treatment of light and shade draws on a tradition of discreet, carefully positioned openings, which capture and direct the region's intense sunlight to illuminate and animate these interior spaces.

The Wave in vejle by henning larsen architects

'The wave in vejle' is a new sculptural housing landmark of vejle, denmark. with an ideal location overlooking the promenade and the bay the characteristic building both respects and challenges the potential of the area. 

During the day the white waves are reflected in the sea and at night the characteristic profile looks like illuminated multi-coloured mountains. The building has 140 attractive apartments many with two storey house plans, all with views.

The wave is inspired by the characteristics of the area: the fjord, the bridge, the town and the hills. The clear and easily recognisable signature of the building connects the residential area with the sea, the landscape and the town.

Bella Sky Hotel by 3xn

danish architecture practice 3XN has completed 'bella sky hotel', a new landmark accommodation and conference center in copenhagen, denmark. situated between the old city core and orestad - copenhagen's growth center - the project is an extension of the bella center, and injects the site with a fresh urban identity. 

consisting of two asymmetrical towers, the hotel's form is read in a completely different manner depending on the vantage point. the structure tapers down to a slim set of footprints and inclinesin opposite directions. as a result, all 814 rooms obtain an unobstructed view of the flat landscape.

serving as a visual landmark on the site, the towers are distinguished by a dynamic and graphic skin of white triangular panels. even from a great distance, the slightly pixelating effect is clearly read. the lobby, which merges into the existing entrance of the bella center, causes a twist of the ground floor, resulting in a dramatic street presence for the hotel. 

The Ren Building shanghai's icon architecture

After the Beijing Olympics, everybody has seen many impressive architectures just like the Bird's Nest Stadium, the Water Cube and on. The Ren building is a proposal for a hotel, sports and conference center for the “Better City, Better Life” 2010 World Expo in Shanghai. The building is conceived as two buildings merging into one. The two buildings meet in a 1000 room hotel, a building for living. 

Link to The Ren 3D Animation here. The first building, emerging from the water, is devoted to the activities of the body, and houses the sports and water culture center. The building becomes the Chinese sign for 'The People', and a recognizable landmark for the World Expo in China.

Link to Architect Designer here. The building takes its form from the Chinese character for person 人 (”ren”) and combines two buildings (one symbolic of mind and the other symbolic of body). We love the poetic inspiration that reflects both site and cultural sensitivity.