The vision of living on water has recently become a professional focus among architects and urban planners. Climatic change, the rise of the sea level, and the constantly increasing global population are issues that render treating water surfaces as settlement areas as topical as never before.
Built on Water introduces innovative projects that include a wide range of building types based on very different approaches to handling water as the base for buildings - whether as floating or fixed constructions, as new buildings or for reusing existing structures. The different ways of dealing with water as an architectural element, turns this volume into a source of inspiration and comprehensive compendium of the visionary concepts for a future on and with water.

Ephemeral buildings take possession of a location for a specific period of time, adding meaning and new quality to it. They can be interim solutions that no longer serve a purpose after a certain point, or projects and settings created for special occasions. Temporary architecture frequently possesses an experimental character, which presents new perceptions of the functions and potentials of buildings, open spaces and rooms. Its transitory nature turns the attention in a very specific and precise way to what is essential and makes distinct design statements.

This volume gathers extraordinary contemporary projects from the very diverse areas of temporary architecture. Most of these concepts transgress the borderlines of architecture, art, design and social intervention, which results in a very unique form of creative freedom.
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The trend towards the Tiny House - and also the Micro Flat - is more than just a short-term hype. It is an attitude towards life, a contemplation on the essentials to which more and more people are attracted. The past months have shown us what we really need - and that is often not so much.
All over the world, houses and housing units in mini format are en vogue. For many, they are the only way to fulfill the dream of owning one's own home. The carefully selected projects from all over the world show how space can be gained by concentrating on the substantial, intelligent floor plans, well thought-out storage solutions and nesting of functions. They highlight in very different ways that great living quality can be wonderfully made possible in a small space through a clever design Lire la suite Fermer

Loyers toujours plus chers, engouement pour un mode de vie simple, intérêt pour le développement durable, désir d'accéder à la propriété : ce ne sont là que quelques-unes des explications avancées pour expliquer la croissance exponentielle constatée ces dernières années sur le marché des minimaisons. Cette tendance, renforcée par la récente crise immobilière et financière, a eu pour conséquence l'apparition du « Tiny House Mouvement » aux États-Unis et son extension progressive à d'autres pays.
En dépit des différences nationales, toutes les habitations de ce type ont en commun de regrouper sur une surface inférieure à soixante mètres carrés tout ce dont on a besoin pour vivre. uvres de bricoleurs à l'origine, les minimaisons sont aujourd'hui un domaine d'activité pour des architectes de renom, qui relèvent le défi consistant à développer des concepts spatiaux ingénieux sur un espace réduit.
On en trouvera de nombreux exemples dans cet ouvrage.

Rising rents, the desire for a simpler life, the aim for sustainability, or the wish to posses a relocatable home: These are just a few reasons why the market for tiny houses has become increasingly popular in recent years. The «Tiny House Movement« lifestyle trend, which began in the Unites States, has spread throughout the entire world driven by the construction and financial crisis. Even though there are many regional variations, all residences of this type share a major feature - on an area of up to 60 sqm (500 sqf) they provide all necessities of life. Nowadays, they are no longer designed by individual solo fighters but also by renowned architects who take on the simple yet challenging task and develop the enthralling room concepts and spatial solutions that are presented in this volume.
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Tunnel systems constitute the arteries of every modern city. In increasingly densely populated and growing metropolises the underground metro system is gaining in importance. Consequently, existing underground networks are constantly expanded and improved while completely new systems are developed.
With design, lighting, furnishing and frequently with artistic interventions, the underground complexes made of tracks, platforms and accesses have become the subject of great spatial creations. The unique combination of architecture and engineering is what makes this area of construction so exciting and that underlines the fact that the projects presented in Level -1 can be rightfully described as public transportation cathedrals.

La mission des écoles est de préparer les jeunes à la vie. En outre, elles sont toujours porteuses d'identification pour leur communauté et contribuent à déterminer leur caractère respectif et l'image qu'elles ont d'elles-mêmes. L'institution est passée de plus en plus d'un lieu d'apprentissage à un lieu de vie pour les enfants et les jeunes, qui comprend également des fonctions sociales étendues et des activités extrascolaires.
Cet élargissement des tâches influence de manière déterminante la forme et la conception des bâtiments et des terrains scolaires. En mettant l'accent sur la fonctionnalité, la durabilité et des concepts esthétiques convaincants, ce volume présente une grande variété d'approches qui marqueront le paysage scolaire de demain. Des écoles primaires aux lycées, le livre offre un aperçu des concepts innovants qui transforment l'apprentissage et l'enseignement et montre comment la pédagogie peut aujourd'hui être mise en 1/2uvre de manière moderne et qualitative dans l'architecture. Lire la suite Fermer

Courtyards are among the most versatile elements of architecture. They are non built-up but designed open spaces surrounded by a single structure, several elements, or even different buildings. In very different sizes and shapes, very private or publicly accessible, they assume central roles in every conceivable building task, capable of defining the character of the entire architectural composition.

Masterpieces: Courtyard Architecture + Design shows a wide scope of creative ideas for handling this exciting but very much underrated aspect of architecture. What makes this task particular interesting is the interplay of architecture, landscape planning and interior design. The selection includes the projects of some of the most important firms as well as impressive works by upcoming stars.

The desire for as much space as possible on as little room as necessary is neither automatically connected to an alternative lifestyle nor is it a protest against our luxury-oriented society. Sometimes it simply makes life easier, more comfortable, and more economical. The "Tiny House Movement" lifestyle trend, which began in the United States, has spread throughout the entire world, intensified by the construction and financial crisis.

This title presents contemporary projects from around the world that take on the simple yet challenging task to develop enthralling room concepts and spatial solutions for the efficient use of the smallest living spaces. The furnishings need to be carefully designed and compact to make the most of the available space. These mini interiors investigate the possibility of providing a better setting for everyday living based on what is necessary, what is desired and what is possible.
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Since 2008, for the first time in human history, more people reside in cities than in the countryside. As a result, suburban housing development is one of the most important construction tasks of our times. Architects and urban planners face the challenge of creating residential space and the associated infrastructure in the periphery or vicinity of modern cities.

Whether large or small, such projects offer the opportunity of combining the advantages of urban and rural life. While many such housing developments were designed in isolation in the past, there are increasingly successful projects today that can serve as templates for future construction projects. The contents of this volume focus on the architectural aspects of row houses, residential parks, gated communities, and large housing developments.
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