Tag Archives: Architecture

Dubai’s 40-Mile Green Spine Will Include One Million Trees

Posted on by

The architectural firm URB is following the proposals for the Dubai Mangroves and Dubai Reefs projects to convert Dubai’s landscape into a lush green paradise. Called the Green Spine, it will serve as a highway in the region with park areas, farms, trams, and more than a million trees planted. The Green Spine will cover almost 64 km, and it will be focused around the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, one of the most important highways in the area.

Designer: Urb

The Green Spine will be connected to a massive solar panel array which will offer electricity to power an electric tram system. There will be enough power remaining to provide electricity to nearly 130,000 homes. Bioswales will also be integrated to capture and manage rainwater, as well as greywater. The aforementioned million trees will be placed in parks, urban farms that produce veggies and fruits, as well as gardens.

The Green Spine will also be incorporated with outdoor fitness areas, playgrounds, and dedicated sports facilities. Cycling will also be encouraged since footpaths and High Line-style elevated park areas will also be constructed. The space will also include retail areas and food stores.

“By integrating a comprehensive network of green pathways, pedestrian routes, and cycling tracks, the Green Spine enhances urban connectivity, making it feasible for residents to reach essential services and leisure areas quickly and conveniently,” explains Urb. “This initiative not only promotes a healthier, more active lifestyle but also significantly reduces the need for vehicular travel, thus lowering urban traffic and its associated environmental impacts. The Green Spine’s role in this broader urban planning framework showcases its commitment to creating a more accessible, efficient, and environmentally friendly city.”

The Green Spine is a multi-year project, and it will be constructed as a component of a much larger Dubai 2040 plan to heighten the city’s sustainability, as well as the quality of life. But, for the moment we aren’t aware when it will be completed.

The post Dubai’s 40-Mile Green Spine Will Include One Million Trees first appeared on Yanko Design.

Revolutionary Cross-Sea Tunnel & Bridge System In China Has Broken 10 World Records

Posted on by

Last month China opened the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link – a newly built cross-sea tunnel and bridge system in the Guangdong Province, South China. The impressive architectural wonder broke 10 world records, although pretty specific ones! The Pearl River estuary is where the Pearl River joins the South China Sea, and this is one of the most densely populated places in the world. It includes Hong Kong, Macao, and nine other cities in Guangdong, and they are all separated by large water bodies, which is quite difficult to get around. And the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link has been built to tackle this issue!

The link measures almost 15 miles and is designed to connect the two cities it is named after. Both cities are situated on opposite banks of the Pearl River Estuary. The link isn’t one whole bridge though, it includes an underwater tunnel in the middle, as well as bridges connecting every island to the city. It features eight lanes allowing speeds up to 100 km/h, and it reduces a two-hour drive to only thirty minutes. The link took seven years to construct, and now it finally opened to traffic on June 30.

The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link has set 10 new world records according to the China Global Television Network (CGTN) –

  1. Largest span for a fully offshore steel box girder suspension bridge (1,666 m/5,466 ft)
  2. Highest bridge deck (91 m/299 ft)
  3. Highest navigation clearance for a sea bridge
  4. Largest offshore suspension bridge anchor (344,000 m3 /12 million cubic ft of concrete)
  5. Highest wind resistance test speed for a suspension bridge (83.7 m/273.6 ft per second)
  6. Largest steel bridge deck with hot-mix epoxy asphalt paving (378,800 m2 /4 million sq ft)
  7. Longest two-way, eight-lane immersed tube tunnel (5,035 m/16,519 ft)
  8. Widest underwater steel shell-concrete immersed tube tunnel (up to 55.6 m/182.4 ft)
  9. Largest single-volume cast for a steel-shell immersed tube using self-compacting concrete (29,000 m3 /1 million cubic ft per tube section)
  10. Widest repeatedly foldable M-shaped water stop used in the final joint of an immersed tube tunnel (3 m/9.8 ft)

The tunnel section also has innovative safety features such as novel firefighting and smoke exhaust systems. Fourteen robots patrol the tunnel throughout and monitor the pipes and cables to ensure everything is working well. The team of robots also keeps a lookout for car accidents, and if one does occur, they direct traffic using built-in loudspeakers, while also filming the scene, and transmitting it to a remote control center.

The post Revolutionary Cross-Sea Tunnel & Bridge System In China Has Broken 10 World Records first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Futuristic Building-In-A-Box Can be Set Up In 11 Minutes & Can Accommodate 8 People

Posted on by

Meet this building-in-a-box called the CMAX System. The building-in-a-box is well-designed and is intended to be a solid-floored and habitable structure. It is 19 feet in length, and 7.4 feet in width, with a height of 7.2 feet. What makes the CMAX System unique is that you can fold it into a manageable 330-lb unit which can be easily moved from one location to another, in a pickup or trailer. You can set the box anywhere, and elevate it from the ground, leveling it using its adjustable legs. The box can be set up within 10 minutes, and you only need two people and no special tools for it.

Designer: CMAX System

The CMAX functions as a rigid central structure that can be mounted with solar panels, air-conditioning, and a water treatment unit. It is also equipped with a lockable door. It is designed to make use of natural ventilation and features multiple retractable surfaces that can be shut for complete privacy. You can also make it airtight to use it as a mobile medical unit or laboratory. The CMAX’s portable fold-up buildings have a lot of uses – they can be utilized as temporary storage, living or working quarters, or even a shelter, and at economical prices.

Initially, the CMAX System was designed as an emergency shelter for humanitarian aid, but since the design is so versatile, and has so many functionalities, it can be used as a solution for multiple American issues, including affordable emergency housing, to tackle the rising wave of homelessness in the country. The CMAX System is perched on 20 height-adjustable feet, so you can make it stable on flat ground, and emergency teams can set it up wherever needed. The system also offers campers or mountaineers a cabin in the mountains when they need one!

The buildings are being sold to customers on pre-order, and at the moment we are unsure when deliveries are expected.

The post This Futuristic Building-In-A-Box Can be Set Up In 11 Minutes & Can Accommodate 8 People first appeared on Yanko Design.

Innovative And Sustainable Tiny Homes Transforming Flood-Prone Communities In Bangladesh

Posted on by

Bangladesh, a country where up to 80% of the land is classified as floodplain, faces significant challenges with flooding, impacting its population of around 170 million. In response to this critical issue, Bangladeshi architect Marina Tabassum, in collaboration with engineers AKT II, has created the Khudi Bari—a simple, low-cost, and highly functional tiny house designed to offer a safe and affordable home adaptable to the country’s challenging conditions.

Designer: Marina Tabassum and AKT II

The Khudi Bari, meaning “small house” in Bengali, stands out for its innovative and practical design. Raised above the ground and accessed via a ladder, this tiny house is not built on wheels but is designed to be easily assembled, dismantled, and relocated without the need for specialist tools. This feature is particularly crucial for Bangladeshi residents who need to quickly move to higher ground to escape encroaching floodwaters.

The construction of this house prioritizes sustainability and local resource utilization. The primary building material is bamboo, complemented by prefabricated recycled aluminum nodes that allow for easy assembly. The walls and roof can be sourced locally and crafted from materials such as polycarbonate and metal. This approach not only reduces costs but also supports local economies.

The interior of the Khudi Bari ranges from 64 sq ft (5.95 sq m) to 144 sq ft (13.4 sq m), consisting of a single, versatile room. This space can be adapted to meet the needs of its occupants, with the area beneath the raised house available for additional living space if necessary. Despite its simplicity, the Khudi Bari provides a dignified living environment for those in need.

The Khudi Bari is not just a conceptual design, it has been put into real-world use. Over 100 units have already been deployed throughout Bangladesh, significantly improving the living conditions for vulnerable populations. The project has been carried out in collaboration with relief organizations and community groups, demonstrating a successful model of community-driven, sustainable architecture.

One of the units is currently showcased at the Vitra Campus in Germany, an exhibition space run by the renowned furniture maker Vitra, known for featuring exceptional architectural designs. This international exposure highlights the global relevance and innovative nature of the Khudi Bari project.

While the exact cost of each unit is not specified, initial prototypes were produced for around £300 (approximately US$380). Efforts are ongoing to further reduce this cost, making the Khudi Bari even more accessible to those in need. This initiative is part of a broader trend in architecture aimed at addressing the impacts of climate change, with similar projects like the Floating Bamboo House and Blooming Bamboo House also contributing to sustainable and resilient housing solutions.

The post Innovative And Sustainable Tiny Homes Transforming Flood-Prone Communities In Bangladesh first appeared on Yanko Design.

Lisbon’s Iconic Bica Funicular Railway gets a stunning 2997-brick LEGO recreation

Posted on by

Anyone who’s visited Portugal has undoubtedly encountered the Ascendor da Bica… either in person or through a postcard, a fridge magnet, or perhaps a tourist recommendation. The Ascendor da Bica is more than just a mode of transportation; it’s a vibrant thread woven into the fabric of Lisbon’s identity. Christened “The Bica Funicular,” it scales the steep hills of the Bica district with a unique charm. LEGO builder Peter_Designs’ creation reflects this spirit faithfully. The tram itself is a marvel of LEGO engineering, built at a 20.5-degree angle to mirror the real tram’s ingenious solution to conquer Lisbon’s challenging topography. This intricate build utilizes 2997 pieces (with 773 being dedicated to the cart alone), ensuring not only structural stability but also a remarkably accurate representation of the tram’s distinctive design.

Designer: Peter_Designs

The set extends beyond the meticulously crafted tram, offering a delightful recreation of the surrounding cityscape. With a staggering 2224 pieces dedicated just to the scenery, the build incorporates colorful buildings in a style reminiscent of Lisbon’s architecture. A detailed platform completes the scene, providing the perfect stage to display the tram in all its glory. The total piece count reaches a substantial 2997, promising a rewarding and immersive building experience for LEGO enthusiasts of all ages.

But the Ascensor da Bica’s appeal transcends its impressive brickwork. This set offers a unique opportunity to add a historical landmark with a touch of whimsy to your LEGO world. Imagine this iconic tram, painstakingly recreated in LEGO form, gracefully navigating the slopes of your existing LEGO City. The set even includes functional tracks, allowing you to integrate the tram seamlessly into your cityscape and transport minifigures (not included) on a scenic journey, just like their real-life counterparts.

Peter_Designs’ motivation behind this creation is evident – a love for Lisbon and a passion for LEGO. Their design choices reflect a deep appreciation for the city’s charm and the Ascensor da Bica’s undeniable appeal. Whether you’ve had the pleasure of wandering Lisbon’s cobbled streets and marveling at the Bica Funicular, or simply dream of visiting this vibrant city someday, this set offers a delightful way to celebrate Portugal’s rich heritage and experience the magic of Lisbon from the comfort of your home.

The Ascensor da Bica LEGO Ideas project is currently in the crucial stage of garnering support from the LEGO community. With enough votes from passionate LEGO enthusiasts like yourself, this little piece of Lisbon could become a reality for LEGO fans worldwide. Imagine gifting this set to a friend who has fond memories of Lisbon, or displaying it proudly in your home – a constant reminder of the beauty and ingenuity that LEGO bricks can bring to life! Head down to the LEGO Ideas website if you want to vote for the LEGO Ascensor da Bica.

The post Lisbon’s Iconic Bica Funicular Railway gets a stunning 2997-brick LEGO recreation first appeared on Yanko Design.

Baluchon’s Tiny House Serves As An Office For A Health Professional Who Works On The Go

Posted on by

Acclaimed tiny home maker Baluchon recently created a tiny house that is intended to be a portable house for a health worker. Named the L’atelier de Saint-Joseph or Saint Joseph’s Workshop, it is founded on a double-axle trailer, measuring almost 13 ft in length. The home features a finishing of red cedar cladding and aluminum and is powered by a standard RV-style hookup. We aren’t sure what kind of healthcare the structure will be used for, but it is designed for a healthy professional who will be offering advice from there.

Designer: Baluchon

The interior of the structure is quite compact and features a finish of solid oak and spruce. It is filled with loads of natural light, due to the generous glazing. Curtains have been incorporated into the home to offer privacy.  As you enter the space, you are welcomed by a reception area. There is a generous amount of space near the large window, and it is occupied by a bed with loads of integrated storage. A work area with a desk is located nearby, and it includes some seating as well, including more storage space. A compact wood-burning stove has been incorporated as well to heat up the small office.

The structure doesn’t contain any sleeping lofts, as it isn’t going to be used as a home, but Baluchon did integrate some loft storage space above the bathroom. The bathroom seems to be quite compact, and it only includes a sink, shower, and toilet. The L’atelier de Saint-Joseph isn’t very well-equipped, but it does have all the essentials one would need to get their work done throughout the day. It isn’t intended to be utilized as a home, hence it doesnt feature a kitchen or sleeping loft, but it does include a workspace, as well as a comfy bed for rest.

We aren’t aware of what the L’atelier de Saint-Joseph is priced at, but Baluchon’s models and tiny homes usually start at around  US$85,000.

The post Baluchon’s Tiny House Serves As An Office For A Health Professional Who Works On The Go first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Low-Energy & Serene Family Home Is Tucked Away In The Rich Forests Of Ontario

Posted on by

Nestled deep in the Ontarian forest, the Forest Retreat is a beautiful new house designed by Kariouk Architects. Intended to be a family retreat, the home is surrounded by nature on all sides, and this will last throughout the year. The home is intricately connected to the surrounding land, including its exquisite trails and creeks, creating a ‘Canadian homestead’, that is a meeting space for extended family and friends.

Designer: Kariouk Architects

The Forest Retreat is constructed to be a fascinating combination of local materials, craftsmanship, and open space where a family can get together to spend time in the thralls of nature. Immersed amid Canadian nature, the house shares a serene relationship with nature. “Historically, the Canadian identity has been defined by our relationship to the land,’ said the architects. ‘The home honors that emotional connection through visual and material harmonization with its surroundings, but moreover, through responsible material sourcing and site adaptation, as well as energy-saving systems.”

The home is perched on a property of around 100 acres, and the site includes a variety of meadows, rocky outcrops, and wetlands, forming a land with diverse topography. The home is built on a rocky outcrop, so no trees had to be cut down for the construction of the home. It serves a continuous and free-flowing space, topped with a copper-clad roof, which spans at least 60 meters. The entire home is open-plan, although the bedrooms and bathrooms share their own closed-off section. The children’s rooms are placed in a volume above the main floor, and they can be accessed through a catwalk. The roof has a unique tent-like form, which imitates the undulating contours of the site. Glazed walls offer tranquil views of the surrounding trees and landscape.

The interior of the home features hand-crafted elements, in spite of the structural engineering employed for the roof and the raised mezzanine. It is populated with custom fittings and fixtures, and local woodworkers built the shingled paneling, staircases, and cabinetry. The architects made these decisions to incorporate a certain wholesomeness into the space. “The intention was to bring soulfulness to the home by thinking through and resolving details in person and by hand, and not merely on a computer screen,” said the architects.

The post This Low-Energy & Serene Family Home Is Tucked Away In The Rich Forests Of Ontario first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Mexican Lake House Beautifully Accommodates Pre-Existing Trees Without Disturbing The Environment

Posted on by

Called the Casa Santa Maria del Oro, this picturesque lakeside home in Mexico’s Nayarit state was designed by the Mexican studio MCxA Group. The home is perched on a steep slope, which gently makes its way to the water. The home features circular holes that function as light wells, a courtyard, and spaces for trees. The home is slightly embedded within the earth, and topped by a lovely green roof.

Designer: MCxA Group

“The volume of the house is completely hidden, lost in the slope of the land and leaving only the terraces visible, which coexist with native trees and open to the lake,” said architects MCxA. The home is surrounded by five old trees, and they weren’t disturbed. Curves and holes were created in the floors and ceiling plates to ensure the trees weren’t bothered.

“Circular shapes are subtracted from the volume to honor their presence, allowing these giants to intertwine with the dwelling,” said design team leaders Mauricio Ceballos and Francisco Vázquez. This unique design style was adopted to pay tribute to the natural environment as well as the local community. Construction was conducted in such a way, that it harmonizes with nature, without causing harm to it.

The home occupies 350 square meters, and it contains three levels as well as three bedrooms. All the rooms are concealed from the view on account of the green roof, which also serves as a unique component of the home. You can access it from the upper level through a pathway of cylindrical pillars which create a 20-meter staircase. The staircase is “intricately designed to blend with the site, divert rainwater through the permeability generated by the spacing of the pieces, and serve as a sculptural statement with prefabricated cylindrical concrete steps,” as mentioned by the architects. These volumes feature curved glazed portions which offer lovely views of the trees.

Most of the living spaces are located in the middle story. This floor includes the bedrooms and bathrooms, which are located on both sides of the open-plan lounge and dining area. The home features concrete flooring and earth-toned decor. This decor includes volcanic stone and recycled wooden elements which are further accentuated by dark steel columns and window trims.

The post This Mexican Lake House Beautifully Accommodates Pre-Existing Trees Without Disturbing The Environment first appeared on Yanko Design.

The Open House Features Movable Walls Which Ensure Privacy & Offer Access To Nature When Needed

Posted on by

Designed by KWK Promes, the Open House is a new and upcoming German residence that not only embraces openness but also privacy. The home not only opens up to its surroundings but also provides privacy. The home is open as standard, but with the simple flick of a switch, walls will come ahead and shut off the house to curious eyes. The Open House was built as such since the site is often populated with visitors for social and sporting events.

Design: KWK Promes

The intent behind the Open House was to create a house where the owner can take in the surrounding forest, and immerse himself in nature, while also being able to close off the home when the site gets busy. The walls are long and curving and placed on small wheels, which will move through an electric motor once the button is pressed.

“The site near Bremen, where the house stands, usually is a quiet corner on the edge of the village at the interface with the forest,” said KWK Promes “However, periodically – due to sports events in the direct neighborhood – the area would fill up with casual people. The architects didn’t want a fence to limit interference with the character of this place and at the same time to preserve the natural migration of wild animals. The essence has therefore become to maintain everyday openness but with the possibility of using temporary closure in the most inconvenient moments.”

The Open House has been created for a family of two, and it occupies almost 2700 sq ft, including the garage. The home includes two bedrooms, a living room, a mezzanine area, a kitchen, and bathrooms, all placed within an open layout amped with generous glazing, creating a serene connection to the outside.

The exterior is influenced by the local architectural style, and it will feature whitewashed walls and a traditional thatched reed roof with custom openings at the top. These openings will ensure better ventilation throughout the home. All the power in the home will be supplied via solar panels, although we are not sure about their capacity.

The post The Open House Features Movable Walls Which Ensure Privacy & Offer Access To Nature When Needed first appeared on Yanko Design.

Flat-packed accordion-style house can be easily deployed in emergencies

Posted on by

While a permanent mode of residence is always ideal for most people, there are times when that is a luxury that they can’t afford. This can happen in times of natural disasters like floods or earthquakes, military deployment in remote locations, or even shelter in a tourist or pilgrimage spot. Temporary housing, on the other hand, feels nothing like a house at all, especially since they’re often made with low-quality designs to make it cost-effective and easy to tear down when no longer needed. A better and longer-lasting solution would be a portable home that can be extended, set aside, and reused as needed, such as this housing concept design that takes inspiration from flat-packed furniture that can easily be set up even by just a handful of people.

Designer: Komal Panda, Suyash Chavan

There has always been a need for portable or easy-to-assemble housing, even outside emergencies and disasters. Being able to put up a roof over people’s heads in a quick and efficient manner never goes out of fashion, and there is an almost never-ending number of attempts to make that practical and cost-effective. Prefabricated housing is one such possible solution, but it still takes a lot of time and effort to put the house together. These types of houses can’t be easily moved once they’ve been built either, which makes them less ideal for less permanent abodes.

1

Baadi is a concept that takes the popular flat-pack furniture design to houses, though you don’t exactly assemble one from disparate parts. Instead, you pull out one side of the house, and the rest of the walls expand and unfold like an accordion. This mechanism allows a house that’s big enough for two to four people to be collapsed down to a very flat structure and moved around as needed. The design also makes it possible to deploy multiple houses quickly with only a few people involved, which is a key element when the houses are indeed needed for emergencies.

1

Just like flat-packed furniture, however, there is a connotation of such designs being soulless and dry, especially from lack of customization options. Baadi, however, is designed to be modular and flexible, such as in how many panels can be used to extend the size of the housing, as well as colors for the panels. The latter aspect is actually critical when the houses need to be very visible even from a distance, in case identification and location are needed during natural disasters.

Admittedly, the concept doesn’t leave much room for using different materials, though it’s not that hard to imagine how the design can be extended to support a wider variety, as long as they meet the requirements of durability and resilience. After all, such a housing system places greater emphasis on portability and flexibility, while still providing the necessary protection and comfort when regular houses are near impossible to have.

The post Flat-packed accordion-style house can be easily deployed in emergencies first appeared on Yanko Design.