Architizer is thrilled to announce the world' best architecture firms in 2024, all winners of the 12th Annual A+Awards! Want to get your firm in the running next season? Stay up to date by subscribing to our A+Awards Newsletter. 

Yposkafo, Greece’s undercut residential typology, opens up a subterranean world within the Greek island landscape. Different morphologies, techniques and processes have produced some of the quirkiest yet breathtaking architecture in the Greek rural topographies. Still, the origins of this architectural typology remain under-explored and, more importantly, so is the impact of such construction on the rough, untamed terrain of the island countryside.

Only a decade ago, yposkafo was primarily found on the islands of Santorini and Therasia. Because their soil is volcanic and thus quite malleable, this approach allowed builders to carve homes directly into the rock, usually underneath other buildings. Yet, today, all Greek islands are filled with yposkafo residences, many of which have received an award for architectural excellence.

This proliferation may be attributed to a building regulation law passed in 2012, allowing architects to build up to an additional 50% of the plot’s allowed square feet as long as the residence is partially under the earth. These legal parameters were an attempt to provide more homes and hotels and boost the tourist sector while at the same time preserving the islands’ natural landscape.

This architectural, political and economic move has led to the development of countless undercut residences, which admittedly do not always comply with the necessary regulations and have, as a result, instigated ample negative criticism in the past couple of years. Issues such as overbuilding, lack of the necessary infrastructure to sustain and support such buildings as well as the immense carbon footprint generated from all the supply transportation to the islands from the main country has achieved the exact opposite result: the deterioration of the natural landscape as well as the resource exploitation of most Greek islands.

Nevertheless, there is another, more optimistic side to the yposkafo typology. Even though this particular law has generated an overwhelming surge of newly built structures, it has unlocked a different approach to architectural conservation. More specifically, the alternative would be to faithfully preserve the existing Cycladic typology: small, one- to two-story white cubic houses situated on the steep island cliffs. If this type of structure were to spread as extensively as the yposkafo architecture, the islands would literally turned white.

The project LIKNON by k-studio is an excellent example that showcases the benefits of placing a building into the ground. LIKNON is a museum dedicated to the well-known Metaxa brand of premium Greek brandy, situated in a 100 year old vineyard in the island of Samos. The building is integrated into the landscape, immersing the visitors underground to get in touch with the brand’s history and eventually leading them to a series of stone terraces above the building, where the vines for the brandy are cultivated. The museum acts as an extension of the vineyard, without disrupting the natural scenery or the actual ecology of the place and thus suggesting a new, bioclimatic angle of the yposkafo typology.

Apart from conserving the existing topography of the landscape as well as the local flora and fauna, undercut structures also maintain ideal temperatures in their interior. With the ground acting as a layer of natural insulation, yposkafo buildings offer unparalleled thermal comfort without the need of additional ventilation or cooling systems.

At the same time, during the excavation process, a lot of the ground’s material can be stored and reused, minimizing any unnecessary material waste. PetrA, a project designed by react architects, is a residence located in Paros and is purely made of the stone extracted from the excavation. It is comprised of thick walls and solid, heavy roofs, forming a new “artificial” rocky terrain, which is then utilized for agricultural cultivation as well as animal herding. This simple, morphological gesture contributes to the island’s overall economy without pulling from available resources.

When thinking about the negatives and positives of the proliferation of the yposkafo typology across the Cycladic landscapes, one can’t help but think of a quote by the ancient Greek philosopher Cleobulus: “all in moderation.”

The yposkafo typology started as an attempt to boost the Greek economy whilst preserving the landscape’s natural beauty, an action which has sadly escalated to the uncontrollable construction of oftentimes unnecessary luxurious tourist homes. Still, the solution is not to regress to the old impractical — albeit beautiful — white characteristic cubes, nor should the county’s natural heritage be sacrificed in the sake of profit.

Recognizing the functional, environmental, cultural and financial benefits of the yposkafo typology, architects, governing bodies and the wider society have an opportunity to experiment and introduce a different approach to heritage conservation — one where context becomes not only a conceptual but also a material building foundation.

Architizer is thrilled to announce the world' best architecture firms in 2024, all winners of the 12th Annual A+Awards! Want to get your firm in the running next season? Stay up to date by subscribing to our A+Awards Newsletter. 

Featured Image: LIKNON by K-Studio, A+Awards Finalist 2023, Concepts Architecture+Landscape

The post “Yposkafo:” Digging Deeper Into Greece’s Wildly Popular Undercut Architectural Typology appeared first on Journal.

Architizer is thrilled to announce the world' best architecture firms in 2024, all winners of the 12th Annual A+Awards! Want to get your firm in the running next season? Stay up to date by subscribing to our A+Awards Newsletter. 

“When we think of big cities, we think of fast life, people rushing around, nobody has time to get to know their neighbors. I don’t think we should see it like that; it hasn’t always been like that.”

To understand Minna Arve’s perspective on urban planning, you only need to spend five minutes with her in Turku’s market square. The redesign of this historic landmark, the centerpiece of Finland’s oldest city, was completed in 2021 — meaning that we’re now sipping coffee outside the al fresco Cafe Eino on a sunny early summer morning, and the only thing interrupting our conversation with the elected mayor is the locals saying hello to her as they pass by our table.

It’s a small but significant detail that reveals plenty about how this corner of Scandinavia is rethinking the relationship between town and people. Nowhere is this more evident than the riverfront, which is undergoing the kind of monumental transformation usually reserved for Alpha and Beta metropoles, rather than a city that, albeit growing, is still home to just 200,000 or so people. On the banks of the Aura, though, major works are underway in all directions.

PES-Architects’ Music Hall Fuuga is the most significant project currently underway, and expectations are high. A few minutes away, the older Turku Concert Hall continues to operate for now, the country’s first concert hall and a stunning example of mid-century Finnish modernism conceived by national architecture hero, Risto-Veikko Luukkonen.

While there was an option to renovate and regenerate, careful consideration revealed this would cost almost as much money, and still leave boxes unchecked. Not least accessibility, something Arve is clear must be prioritized when awarding new developments to master planners.

Further up the water, out towards the Baltic, there’s currently no sign of another groundbreaking moment in the city’s story which will contribute towards a new placemaking blueprint for a Cultural Riverfront. But here, at the ferry terminal, huge changes are about to take place. The port itself will be moved further out of town, a large new park will replace the tarmac area used to channel HGVs, coaches and cars onto vessels bound for Stockholm twice daily. An abhorrent use of an enviable location, alongside the planned green space will be a new cultural destination concept — the Museum of History & the Future.

The rather vague name takes some unpicking, but makes sense once you get there. The institution, due to open in 2029, will celebrate the heritage and history of Turku, and Finland as a whole. Exhibitions will look to progressive formats and cutting edge technology to immerse visitors, with the building itself reflecting this remit. Enter local firm Sigge Architects, who were awarded the commission based on their unique proposal, Squ?ma.

Using a ‘magazine’ approach, the design features a series of low rise, oblong structures which are autonomous yet interconnected. Constructed from dark timbers, mirroring traditional construction in the region, if all goes to plan the aesthetics should compliment the wonderfully preserved medieval castle which will cast a shadow over the site. We ask what a mayor looks for when casting their vote for a major architectural competition to create a new civic icon.

“For me, it was important to think about not how the museum will look, but how it will support the public space around it. How will it support encounters. I’ve been speaking a lot recently about the city of encounters… how we can make public space that supports people meeting each other,” Arvo replies. “This was important with the new music hall, too. How will we create the building but also the public space around it. It comes down to making these investments accessible to people. You need to promise this, but also deliver the idea that this is for everyone to use.”

 

Arvo talks about the programming of something like a concert hall, the need to diversity in a bid to improve inclusion. But she’s talking about much more than that. At a time when urbanization and immigration are putting pressure on public services and infrastructure in Finland, Turku ranking in the country’s fastest growing areas, the electorate must be convinced that spending hundreds of millions on cultural development is in their interest. Exclusivity should not apply.

“[At the Music Hall] you won’t even need to go and listen to music, just relax, enjoy the surroundings, go to the roof terrace. We need places that support these kinds of encounters. So in that sense, more important than the building is how it is reached by people,” Arvo continues, before revealing architecture is a big passion of hers, and a belief in the power of great building design. “A skilful architect can work miracles.”

Architizer is thrilled to announce the world' best architecture firms in 2024, all winners of the 12th Annual A+Awards! Want to get your firm in the running next season? Stay up to date by subscribing to our A+Awards Newsletter. 

The post The Cultural Currency Urban Redevelopment: Lessons From Finland’s Oldest City appeared first on Journal.

The jury and the public have had their say — feast your eyes on the winners of Architizer's 12th Annual A+Awards. Subscribe to our Awards Newsletter to receive future program updates.

With the Paris 2024 Olympics just around the corner, excitement is building up. This time, however, it’s not for the usual reasons (well, at least not for the architecture community). Traditionally, the Olympics have been synonymous with grand, jaw-dropping structures designed to leave a lasting impression on the world stage. After all, with more than 200 nations competing, this is the largest sporting event in the world and hosting it can be both an honor and a challenge for a city.

For the past couple of Olympics, iconic stadiums and ambitious venues have pushed the limits of design and engineering, creating lasting legacies for host cities (a trend that reached its peak during the prime era of “starchitecture” in the 2010s.) Unfortunately, they’ve also pushed the limits of sustainability — or rather, the lack thereof. Many of these structures ended up being “white elephants,” underused and costly to maintain, with significant environmental impacts.

This year, the event is taking a different approach. While there has been a noticeable shift towards more sustainable practices so far, Paris 2024 is pushing these efforts further than ever before, aiming to align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. To do so, the 2024 Olympics focuses on using existing venues, reducing environmental impact and creating long-term benefits for the local community. But how did we (finally) get here?

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The Evolution of Olympic Architecture

Before starchitecture made its mark, Olympic venues in the 20th century were more functional than spectacular. These structures were built primarily to accommodate the events and athletes, with little thought given to their post-games use or iconic status. The focus was on practicality and utility rather than making an architectural statement.

For example, the 1960 Rome Olympics featured venues like the Stadio Olimpico, which was originally built for football and expanded for the Olympics, ensuring it had a continued purpose after The Games. Similarly, the 1972 Munich Olympics left a significant legacy with its Olympic Park, which has continued to be used for various sports and public events.

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The Olympic Games in the Era of Starchitecture

With the advent of postmodernism in the late 20th century, the architecture industry began to embrace bold, eclectic designs that often prioritized form over function. This shift was marked by the rise of “starchitecture”— a trend where high-profile architects designed iconic, statement-making buildings. Naturally, this movement found a perfect stage in the Olympic Games, where host cities aimed to showcase their cultural and economic ambitions.

Think of the 2008 Beijing Olympics with the iconic Bird’s Nest stadium designed by Herzog & de Meuron. This stadium, with its intricate steel lattice structure, symbolized China’s growing economic and architectural ambition. While initially celebrated, the Bird’s Nest has since struggled with post-Olympic usage, often criticized for its high maintenance costs and underutilization.

The aftermath wasn’t much different for the 2012 Games in London, particularly for some of the new venues. While Populous designed the main stadium with sustainability and future use in mind, it still faced challenges in finding consistent use and financial stability. The stadium had a hard time justifying its costs despite being built with a legacy plan.

On the other hand, the Aquatics Centre, designed by Zaha Hadid, stands out as a success story. Unlike many other Olympic structures, the Aquatics Centre was a much-needed facility that has continued to thrive post-Games.

This unfortunate trend continued into the 2016 Rio Olympics, where numerous venues faced severe maintenance issues and underutilization. The infrastructure left behind became a burden rather than a benefit, leading to criticism of the sustainability and planning of these grand projects.

Moreover, these issues aren’t exclusive to the Summer Olympics. Winter Games venues have also faced similar problems. Sochi 2014, for example, saw its sprawling Olympic Park and facilities underused post-games.

So, by the time the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were being planned, public sentiment had shifted significantly against extravagant Olympic architecture. Zaha Hadid’s initial design for the Tokyo 2020 stadium faced public outcry due to its enormous cost and scale, leading to its replacement by Kengo Kuma’s more modest and environmentally conscious design. Kuma’s stadium emphasized natural materials and integration with the surrounding environment, reflecting a broader shift towards sustainable architecture.

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Paris 2024: A New Paradigm

This stroll down Olympics memory lane makes it clear that the days of sensational architecture and impractical grandiosity should no longer be the norm.

Cue to today. The 2024 Olympics were promised to be the most sustainable ones yet. So what exactly is making the Paris Olympics different?

1. Reusing Iconic Venues

Paris 2024 is setting a new standard by extensively using existing venues, minimizing construction costs and, as a result, reducing environmental impact. This approach not only saves resources but also prevents the creation of underutilized structures after the event, which was clearly a common issue in past Olympics.

One prime example is the Stade de France, built for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. This stadium will host the athletics events and ceremonies, showcasing how repurposing existing infrastructure can be both efficient and environmentally friendly. Another notable venue is the Roland-Garros Stadium, famous for hosting the French Open, which will be used for tennis and boxing events. By leveraging these iconic sites, Paris ensures that these structures remain integral parts of the city’s sporting landscape long after the Games conclude.

The use of existing venues extends beyond Paris itself. For events taking place outside the city, venues like Bordeaux Stadium (designed by Herzog & de Meuron) and Vélodrome Stadium (by SCAU architecture) will be utilized.

2. Utilizing Cultural and Historic Sites

Beyond sports venues, Paris 2024 is utilizing several cultural and historic sites, incorporating the city’s rich heritage with the grandeur of the Olympics. The temporary Champ de Mars Arena, located in the park between the Eiffel Tower and the École Militaire, will host judo, wrestling and beach volleyball competitions, providing a stunning backdrop for both competitors and spectators. (After all, are you even competing in Paris if the Eiffel Tower isn’t in the background to witness it?)

Other iconic sites include the Grand Palais (set to host fencing and taekwondo) and the Château de Versailles (where equestrian and modern pentathlon events will take place). These choices reflect Paris’s commitment to integrating the Olympics into the city’s existing urban and cultural fabric, rather than building new, potentially (or, more often than not, completely) redundant structures.

3. New Future-Ready Projects

Only one new sports venue is being built for Paris 2024 — the Aquatics Center designed by VenhoevenCS and Ateliers 2/3/4/. This building will host water polo, diving and synchronized swimming events during the Olympics. After the Games, it will serve as a community sports center.

Utilizing 90% renewable or recovered energy, the center’s solar roof is one of the largest solar farms in France, covering 25% of its electricity needs. An efficient water system reduces the need for freshwater, reusing 50% of the remaining water while guaranteeing clean water for all purposes. Emphasizing upcycling, the design includes furniture made from wood waste and tribune chairs crafted from 100% recycled plastic collected from local schools.

The building will be surrounded by abundant vegetation, creating a livable and healthy district for the people of Saint-Denis. Over one hundred trees will be planted to improve air quality, stimulate biodiversity and create new ecological connections.

Another standout development is the Olympic and Paralympic Village, designed to transform into a vibrant, fully-fledged city district by 2025. Unlike previous Olympic villages that often became underutilized post-Games, this village will feature more than 2,500 new homes, a student residence, a hotel and extensive office spaces, emphasizing sustainability with its high carbon storage performance and renewable energy sources.

The design also aims to engage the local community with a rooftop gymnasium, extensive green space and a Food Court that extends the public space and encourages social interactions among residents. A pedestrian bridge will connect the public spaces around Stade de France with the Aquatic Center and the new heart of the future eco-neighborhood of La Plaine Saulnier, ensuring connectivity and accessibility.

4. City-Wide Sustainability Initiatives

Paris 2024’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond the venues. The city has undertaken several initiatives to ensure the greenest Olympics yet. These include creating 250 miles of new bike lanes, extending the Métro network and, perhaps most famously, cleaning up the Seine River. Moreover, 300,000 new trees have been planted to strengthen the urban biodiversity.

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A Blueprint for the Future

Paris 2024 is not just setting a new standard for the Olympics, but rather offering a blueprint for future global events. By prioritizing sustainability, reusing existing structures and integrating the Games into the existing urban fabric of the city, Paris is showing the world how to host a major event responsibly.

As we look forward to the start of the Olympics, there’s hope these strategies will not only ensure a successful event but also leave a lasting positive impact on the city and its residents. Paris is proving that it is possible to honor the grandeur of the event while embracing sustainability and community-focused planning.

The jury and the public have had their say — feast your eyes on the winners of Architizer's 12th Annual A+Awards. Subscribe to our Awards Newsletter to receive future program updates.

The post The Rise and Fall of the Starchitect Olympics Stadium (and What Paris Is Doing Right) appeared first on Journal.

The jury and the public have had their say — feast your eyes on the winners of Architizer's 12th Annual A+Awards. Subscribe to our Awards Newsletter to receive future program updates.

In the ever-evolving landscape of modern architecture and construction, the complexity of building projects is escalating, with each decision intricately linked to factors like structural integrity, sustainability, cost efficiency and aesthetic value. This interconnectedness requires strong communication, where choices in materials, design and technology influence the building’s performance, environmental impact and user experience. Interdisciplinary collaboration is essential to ensure that the built environment meets the diverse needs of contemporary society from an aesthetic, functional and regulatory perspective while anticipating future challenges.

The intricate nature of contemporary building projects is driven by several key factors: the growing emphasis on sustainability necessitates careful material selection and building methods to minimize environmental impact; stricter regulatory requirements demand meticulous compliance, ensuring that projects meet all legal and safety standards; additionally, innovative designs must skillfully balance aesthetics with functionality, creating spaces that are not only visually appealing but also highly practical and efficient.

Building projects are highly interdependent, prompting decisions made by one stakeholder or discipline to potentially influence the work of others. A collaborative approach ensures that the outcome reflects a harmonious synthesis of diverse expertise and perspectives, ultimately contributing to the project’s success in meeting functional, aesthetic, regulatory and sustainability objectives. For instance, choices made by architects regarding design aesthetics and spatial planning can affect structural engineering considerations, construction methods and regulatory compliance requirements; sustainability consultants’ decisions on green building certifications and energy-efficient strategies can influence design elements, construction materials and operational practices throughout the building’s lifecycle; and engineering decisions on structural integrity and sustainability can impact architectural design possibilities and material selections.

This interplay, which spans many disciplines at many levels, highlights the importance of early and continuous collaboration among stakeholders, including architects, designers, engineers, contractors, clients and regulatory bodies. By involving these parties from the project’s inception, there is a shared understanding and alignment of goals, ensuring that decisions are informed by a comprehensive view of all project requirements and constraints. Not only does this interdisciplinary collaboration enhance decision-making efficiency, but it also allows for the integration of diverse perspectives into a cohesive project conception that optimizes functionality and aesthetic appeal while meeting regulatory standards and sustainability goals.

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Elevating Design: The Role of BIM in Interdisciplinary Collaboration

The key is to create an environment where different team members can interact, challenge and inspire each other, leading to innovative and practical solutions. The diverse expertise and perspectives from interdisciplinary collaboration ensure all angles are considered, creating thorough solutions. The success of such collaboration relies on clear communication to achieve shared goals. While this communication is essential, advanced technologies like Building Information Modeling (BIM) enhance it further, improving project design and construction processes.

BIM revolutionizes the design and construction processes in AEC (Architecture, Engineering and Construction) projects by enhancing collaboration and efficiency. BIM allows stakeholders to work from a unified digital model containing comprehensive project information. This digital representation facilitates real-time updates and seamless interdisciplinary communication.

BIM incorporates multiple dimensions, such as 3D for spatial design, 4D for scheduling, 5D for cost management and 6D for sustainability. These dimensions enable stakeholders to visualize complex designs, detect clashes early, simulate construction sequences, and analyze energy performance. By improving accuracy and optimizing decision-making, BIM ultimately leads to cost savings, faster project delivery and enhanced overall quality in construction projects, making it an indispensable tool in the AEC industry.

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Green Module: Lakeside Headquarters

CSWADI’s Green Module: Lakeside Headquarters in Chengdu, China, showcases excellent interdisciplinary collaboration in AEC projects, boosted by technologies like BIM. This collaborative approach marks the Green Module: Lakeside Headquarters as a landmark in architectural innovation and sustainable urban development.

The Green Module: Lakeside Headquarters showcases a dynamic collaboration between the US and China, setting a new standard for Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) in areas with extreme climates. As the headquarters of a leading design firm, it integrates into its surroundings, reimagining regional architecture through modular spaces. The project achieves a harmonious blend of form, space, and energy efficiency by combining passive strategies, active technologies, and renewable energy with innovative materials. Recognized with the 2022 Active House Award in China, it holds certifications for Net Zero Energy Consumption and Carbon Neutrality.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) and cross-disciplinary collaboration were vital, ensuring comprehensive design considerations and efficient execution. This synergy optimized the integration of advanced materials and systems, such as photovoltaic energy storage direct current flexibility system, natural ventilation and pre-cooling ventilation, triple silver double hollow insulated glass, vertical greening intelligent drip irrigation system, as well as temperature and humidity sub-control technology. BIM’s influence extended through the entire project lifecycle, enhancing project management, elevating design quality, and boosting the efficiency of construction and operations.

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From Design to Construction: Harnessing BIM for Smarter Building Projects

Building Information Modeling (BIM) plays a crucial role in modern building projects by promoting teamwork across different disciplines and improving efficiency in the AEC industry. BIM integrates various aspects of project management — from design and scheduling to cost control and sustainability — allowing teams to handle complex building challenges with accuracy and foresight. This technology enhances communication and collaboration, enabling teams to innovate and create smarter, more sustainable buildings that meet strict regulations and societal demands. As the industry advances, BIM continues to drive improvements that enhance project outcomes and contribute to a more resilient built environment.

The jury and the public have had their say — feast your eyes on the winners of Architizer's 12th Annual A+Awards. Subscribe to our Awards Newsletter to receive future program updates.

The post Building Bridges With BIM: How Collaborative Design is Revolutionizing 21st Century Architecture appeared first on Journal.