Devs do you do this before building?

This is today's edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. Generative AI taught a robot dog to scramble around a new environment Teaching robots to navigate new environments is tough. You can train them on physical, real-world data taken from recordings made by humans, but thats scarce, and expensive to collect. Digital simulations are a rapid, scalable way to teach them to do new things, but the robots often fail when theyre pulled out of virtual worlds and asked to do the same tasks in the real one. Now, theres potentially a better option: a new system that uses generative AI models in conjunction with a physics simulator to develop virtual training grounds that more accurately mirror the physical world. Robots trained using this method worked with a higher success rate than those trained using more traditional techniques during real-world tests. Researchers used the system, called LucidSim, to train a robot dog in parkour, getting it to scramble over a box and climb stairs, despite never seeing any real world data. The approach demonstrates how helpful generative AI could be when it comes to teaching robots to do challenging tasks. It also raises the possibility that we could ultimately train them in entirely virtual worlds. Read the full story. Rhiannon Williams Africas AI researchers are ready for takeoff When we talk about the global race for AI dominance, the conversation often focuses on tensions between the US and China, and European efforts at regulating the technology. But its high time we talk about another player: Africa. African AI researchers are forging their own path, developing tools that answer the needs of Africans, in their own languages. Their story is not only one of persistence and innovation, but of preserving cultures and fighting to shape how AI technologies are used on their own continent. However, they face many barriers. Read the full story.Melissa Heikkil This story is from The Algorithm, our weekly AI newsletter. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Monday. The must-reads Ive combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 How Silicon Valley is planning to work with Donald Trump Avoiding antitrust regulation and boosting growth are at the top of Big Techs agenda. (WP $)+ Tech executives overwhelmingly supported Kamala Harris. (Vox)+ Trumps policies could make it harder to hire and retain overseas talent. (Insider $)+ Immigrant tech workers are rushing to secure visas before Trumps inauguration. (Forbes $)2 People are abandoning X following the US election result Threads and Bluesky are experiencing an influx of new users. (Bloomberg $)+ Trump loved Twitter during his first Presidency. Will he during his second? (Insider $)3 The Biden administration plans to back a controversial cybercrime treatyCritics fear it could be abused by authoritarian regimes to pursue dissidents. (Politico)+ The treaty would also make electronic evidence more available to the US. (Bloomberg $) 4 DNA testing firm 23andMe is firing 40% of its workforce Things arent looking good for the embattled company. (WSJ $)+ The company is axing all its therapy programs, too. (Reuters)+ How to delete your 23andMe data. (MIT Technology Review) 5 How oil and gas companies are masking their methane emissions The odorless, colorless gas is notoriously tough to track, but satellites are changing that. (FT $)+ Even if we reach net zero, parts of the planet will keep getting warmer. (New Scientist $)+ Why methane emissions are still a mystery. (MIT Technology Review)6 This database tracks license plate cameras across the world The project, called DeFlock, aims to give drivers the choice to avoid certain routes. (404 Media)7 Baidu has unveiled its AI-integrated smart glasses The device can track calorie consumption, among other features. (FT $)+ Smartglasses are a growing trend in China. (SCMP $)+ The coolest thing about smart glasses is not the AR. Its the AI. (MIT Technology Review)8 Everything we know about Uranus is wrongA brief flyby 40 years ago coincided with a rare spike in solar activity. (NYT $) 9 How Ukraine is rewilding amid the war Ecologists believe the conflicts catastrophes can birth environmental gains. (Undark Magazine)+ Ukraine has a plan for getting Trump onside. (Vox)10 To find alien life, look to the mountains Who knows whats trapped under tectonic plates? (The Atlantic $)Quote of the day "I did not say I was uncomfortable talking about it. I said we're not going to talk about it. Michael Barratt, an astronaut and medical doctor, refuses to elaborate on a medical issue an astronaut experienced during a recent mission, Ars Technica reports. The big story Zimbabwes climate migration is a sign of whats to come December 2021 Julius Mutero has spent his entire adult life farming a three-hectare plot in Zimbabwe, but has harvested virtually nothing in the past six years. He is just one of the 86 million people in sub-Saharan Africa who the World Bank estimates will migrate domestically by 2050 because of climate change. In Zimbabwe, farmers who have tried to stay put and adapt have found their efforts woefully inadequate in the face of new weather extremes. Droughts have already forced tens of thousands from their homes. But their desperate moves are creating new competition for water in the region, and tensions may soon boil over. Read the full story. Andrew Mambondiyani We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or tweet 'em at me.)+ Heres how to make perfect cacio e pepe every time.+ New York is a wonderful placeeven if youre a native New Yorker, theres always something new to try for the first time.+ The 2024 Natures Best Photo Awards are full of delights.+ Good luck to the brave souls skiing in central London.

This story originally appeared in The Algorithm, our weekly newsletter on AI. To get stories like this in your inbox first, sign up here. When we talk about the global race for AI dominance, the conversation often focuses on tensions between the US and China, and European efforts at regulating the technology. But its high time we talked about another player: Africa. AsMIT Technology Reviewhas written before, AI is creating anew colonial world order, where the technology is enriching a small minority of people at the expense of the rest of the world. African AI researchers are determined to change that. Theyre forging their own path, developing tools that answer the needs of Africans, in their own languages. However, they face many barriers. AI research is eye-wateringly expensive, and African startups and researchers get a fraction as much funding as their Western or Asian counterparts. They have to innovate and rely on open-source resources to do more with less. Despite that, the African AI story reflects not only persistence and innovation, but a determination to preserve cultures and shape how AI technologies are used on the continent.Read more herefrom Abdullahi Tsanni, who went to this years Deep Learning Indaba, a machine-learning conference held annually in Senegal, to learn about the opportunities and barriers the African AI scene faces. And then some personal news!This edition will be my last newsletter, and from next week youll be in the extremely capable hands of my colleagueJames ODonnell. Its been a delight writing this newsletter for the past two or so years, and Im so grateful youve joined me on this journey covering everything fromsnowballs of bullshittoTaylor Swifts deepfakes. Im not going anywhere, though. Ill be diving deeper into the AI beat at MIT Technology Review to bring you stories on whats happening in AI and how the technology is changing us and our societies. Stay tuned for more! Finally, while I have you, this week were running our biggest sale of the year, with 50% off an annual subscription to MIT Technology Review. New subscribers receive a free digital report on generative AI and the future of work.Subscribe here. Now read the rest of The Algorithm Deeper Learning Why AI could eat quantum computings lunch Tech companies have been funneling billions of dollars into quantum computers for years. The hope is that theyll be a game changer for fields as diverse as finance, drug discovery, and logistics. Those expectations have been especially high in physics and chemistry, where the weird effects of quantum mechanics come into play. In theory, this is where quantum computers could have a huge advantage over conventional machines. Enter AI:But while the field struggles with the realities of tricky quantum hardware, another challenger is making headway in some of these most promising use cases. AI is now being applied to fundamental physics, chemistry, and materials science in a way that suggests quantum computings purported home turf might not be so safe after all. Given the pace of recent advances, a growing number of researchers are now asking whether AI could solve a substantial chunk of the most interesting problems in chemistry and materials science before large-scale quantum computers become a reality.Read more from Edd Gent here. Bits and Bytes The Saudis are planning a $100 billion AI powerhouseSpeaking of the race for AI dominance, this piece looks at how Saudi Arabia wants in on AI action. And its putting its money where its mouth is. The country is investing a massive sum to develop a tech hub that it hopes will rival the neighboring United Arab Emirates. (Bloomberg) AI is making it harder to believe what is real and what is notTwo recent examples show just how influential AI slop can be in warping our sense of reality. In Dublin,crowds gatheredin the city center to wait for a Halloween parade to take place. There was no parade planned, but the listing was created by AI and then picked up by social media users and local media. By way of contrast, some social media users dismissedshocking images of the devastating recent floods in Spainas AI-generated, although they were entirely real. AI companies are getting comfortable offering their technology to the militaryMilitaries around the world have been pouring money into new technologies, including AI. Meta and Anthropic are the latest tech companies to start courting them, joining the likes of Google and OpenAI. (The Washington Post) OpenAI is shifting its strategy as the improvement in its AI tools slows downThe current paradigm in AI development is to make things bigger to make them better. But OpenAIs new model, code-named Orion, only performs slightly better than its predecessors. Instead, OpenAI is shifting to improving models after their initial training. (The Information)

Click to enlargeWAF 2024 World Building of the Year, Darlington Public School in Australia by fjcstudio. Image: Brett Boardman 1 of 10WAF 2024 World Building of the Year, Darlington Public School in Australia by fjcstudio. Image: Brett Boardman 2 of 10WAF 2024 World Building of the Year, Darlington Public School in Australia by fjcstudio. Image: Brett Boardman 3 of 10WAF 2024 World Building of the Year, Darlington Public School in Australia by fjcstudio. Image: Brett Boardman 4 of 10WAF 2024 World Building of the Year, Darlington Public School in Australia by fjcstudio. Image: Brett Boardman 5 of 10WAF 2024 World Building of the Year, Darlington Public School in Australia by fjcstudio. Image: Brett Boardman 6 of 10WAF 2024 World Building of the Year, Darlington Public School in Australia by fjcstudio. Image: Brett Boardman 7 of 10WAF 2024 World Building of the Year, Darlington Public School in Australia by fjcstudio. Image: Brett Boardman 8 of 10WAF 2024 World Building of the Year, Darlington Public School in Australia by fjcstudio. Image: Brett Boardman 9 of 10WAF 2024 World Building of the Year, Darlington Public School in Australia by fjcstudio. Image: Brett Boardman 10 of 10The Darlington Public School in Australia by fjcstudio has been declared the World Building of the Year at the World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2024. fjcstudio previously won Building of the Year in 2013, making it the first practice in WAFs history to win the award twice.This years Festival took place at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore from 68 November 2024. ArchitectureNowrounds up this years most recognisable winners from across New Zealand and Australia, starting with this years World Building of the Year awarded to Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tmaki architects,fjcstudio.The world-renowned awards programme attracted 775 global entries this year, which were then shortlisted down to 461 projects. The awards festival taking place over two days, selected the very best projects from this shortlist using a Super Jury sourced from all over the globe, including editor of Architecture NZ,Chris Barton. Only 40-odd projects were category winners or received a Highly Commended award respectively. The remaining awards of Future Project of the Year, Landscape of the Year, World Interior of the Year and World Building of the Year went to a sole winner highlighting what a feat it is to be awarded in any of these awardcategories.World Building of theYearDarlington Public School in Australia byfjcstudioThe community school is located on the fringe of the city of Sydney, and has a strong connection to Aboriginal people embodied in itsredesign.The transformed school now seamlessly connects to its surroundings, offering glimpses of the inner courtyard from the main entrance, promoting a sense of privacy and community for the children, as well as providing facilities that are publicly accessible including the community hall, covered outdoor learning area andlibrary.WAF 2024 World Building of the Year, Darlington Public School in Australia by fjcstudio.Image: Brett BoardmanCollaboration took place with educational consultants and the school community to inform the brief, resulting in an inclusive learning environment by the architects. The redesign embraces the rich Indigenous culture through the artistic heritage of the school, conserving and displaying aboriginal artworks around the school to preserve stories of the country for future generations. A community garden with indigenous plants has also been created to teach students indigenous cooking andculture.The school continued to operate during construction, minimising time, cost and disruption. The building also embraces sustainability, with passive design elements such as sawtooth roofs angled to the sun, high-level glazing for indirect daylight, and protective curved screens for filtereddaylight.WAF 2024 World Building of the Year, Darlington Public School in Australia by fjcstudio.Image: Brett BoardmanAlessandro Rossi, Associate at fjcstudio commented: Its very humbling given the modest scale of the building its a little school project, so to have won against all the other big projects at WAF is a testament to the client and the community engagement that helped drive the design process. The real winners are the children who will spend time in the building - a place of enrichment for many years tocome.On behalf of the jury Paul Finch, Programme Director of the World Architecture Festival commented on: thevery highquality of several of this years finalists,not leastthe National Star Observatory in Cyprus, but the jurys unanimous decision was reached relativelyeasily.The result of the project is poetic, a building in which topography and landscape, inside and outside, form and materials, flow seamlessly in an unexpectedly delightful way. It is also an inspirational propositionabout the acknowledgement and reconciliation of historic difference a pointer to brighter, better futures forall.Warren and Mahoney receive three World Architecture FestivalAwardsThe New Zealand practice founded by the iconic architectural partnership of Miles Warren and Maurice Mahoney took home three awards in total at WAF2024.A category winner in Completed Projects for Higher Education & Research is the purpose-builtWaimarie Lincoln University Science Facility (also a NZIA 2024 Canterbury Architecture Awards Winner).The trans-Tasman practice won two further WAF awards for the University Technology of Sydney, National First Nations College. The College received the prestigious WAFX Award for Cultural Identity.WAFX Award winners are selected from projects that best use design and architecture to tackle major world issues, including health, climate change, technology, ethics and values says organisers, and are chosen from the 2024 WAF Future Projects shortlist this year comprising 150 leading projects from all over theworld.Waimarie Lincoln University Science Facility by Warren and Mahoney (NZ), Winner Higher Education & Research, Completed Projects, WAF 2024.Image: Hamish MelvilleWaimarie Lincoln University ScienceFacilityHigher Education & Research, Completed Projects WinnerUniversity Technology of Sydney - National First Nations College by Warren and Mahoney in association with Greenaway Architects, OCULUS and Finding Infinity won Highly Commended in Future Projects, Education, and is also a 2024 WAFX Award Winner.Image: Warren and MahoneyUniversity Technology ofSydneyMori architecture in thespotlightQuay Stadium, announced earlier this year as a WAFX winner in the Cultural Identity category, is an unrealised project multinational practiceHKSdesigned in collaboration withBuchan,TOA ArchitectsandBoffa Miskell(landscape architects), with close consultation with Ngti Whtuarkei. The project received a Highly Commended in this years Awards under the Competition entriescategory.Founding director ofTOA Architects Nicholas Dalton, travelled to Singapore this year with Matekittahi Rawiri-McDonald having had two projects shortlisted this year, including Te Taumata o Kupe, which wasshortlisted for a WAF Special Prize for Best Use ofColour.Further celebratingAotearoasIndigenous architecture on a world stage was The P, a modern mass-timber structure on the University of Waikato campus in Hamilton by Architectus,Jasmax andDesignTribe in association. The inherentlyMoriarchitecture is inspired by and showcases Mori design technologies, culture and customs to create a bicultural gateway to thecampus.The P by Architectus, Jasmax and DesignTribe in association, Highly Commended Higher Education & Research, Completed Projects, WAF 2024.Image: Simon DevittThe P by Architectus, Jasmax and DesignTribe inassociationHigher Education & Research, Completed Projects HighlyCommendedAuckland Stadium at Quay Park, Te Tangaroa by HKS, Highly Commended Competition Entries, WAF 2024.Image: HKsAuckland Stadium at Quay Park,Te Tangaroa byHKSCompetition Entries HighlyCommendedNightingale Village wins GROHE HousingAwardNightingale Village in Australia by Architecture architecture, Austin Maynard Architects, Breathe, Clare Cousins Architects, Hayball, andKennedy Nolan was honoured with the 2024 WAF Award for Housing.The housing development, designed by the above five Melbourne practices, was led by architects with a focus on affordability and sustainability and has been widely lauded for creating community connections and beautiful neighbourhoods while remainingeconomical.Clare Cousins, founder of the eponymous practice was invited to speak in Wellington as part of last years New Zealand Architecture Awards, where she spoke at length about the rewards and challenges of working as a developer-architect on the Nightingale Villageproject.The Village, located in the trendy Melbourne suburb ofBrunswick, is now home to more than 200 families and community housing residents, and serves the architecture and urban planning community as a successful urban housingmodel.Nightingale Village in Australia by Architecture architecture, Austin Maynard Architects, Breathe, Clare Cousins Architects, Hayball, Kennedy Nolan, winner of the 2024 WAF Award for Housing.Image: Tom RossFind all 2024 World Architecture Festival winners atworldarchitecturefestival.com.See related ArchitectureNow articles onNew Zealand projects shortlisted for WAF 2024 and those that were up forWAFX or Special Prizes.

Public Art Heritageis calling on urgent submissions to protect the iconic artworks in and around theCity-to-Sea Bridgeand Te Ngkau Civic Square, Wellington. The public artworks currently under threat are some of the most recognisable artworks in TeWhanganui-a-Tara.In theTe Ngkau Precinct Development Plan now being consulted on, the strengthening and retention of the City-to-Sea Bridge (by artists Paratene Matchitt, Rewi Thompson and John Gray, 1993) isnt presented as an option and is to be demolished. The Council is only consulting on new options to access the waterfront from Te Ngkau. It is also consulting on what it should prioritise during the development of the remaining parts of theprecinct.The retention of the City Gallery Wellington and refurbishment of the Town Hall and Library are already well underway, however, theMichael Fowler Centre byWarren and Mahoney is potentially underthreat.Says Public Art Heritage of the legacy of the Square and surrounding publicartworks:Conceived as a huge outdoor room with its large, purposefully designed bricked area as a gallery/stage floor, public art was at the heart of this vision. Kara Puketapu from theTenths Trust was consulted on the new square and it was decided bi-culturalism would be best reflected in the commissioned artworks by three senior Mori artists working at the height of their powers. Integrated into the precincts design, the resulting works are a tangible connection with the past, and an embodiment of thiskaupapa.Our research has clarified that the entire site encompassing the City-to-Sea Bridge, Te Aho a Maui Capital Discovery Place (including Thompsons elevated plaza maunga and paving that serves as its roof), the steps with Matt Pines Prow and Capital and forecourt of the square can be considered one integrated architectural and sculpturalinstallation.AffectedworksCity-to-Sea Bridge, currently scheduled to be demolished, by Paratene Matchitt, Rewi Thompson & John Gray, 1993.Image: Wood Wall 3 by Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UKCity-to-Sea Bridge (x1) and connected artworks(x3):Paratene Matchitt,Rewi Thompsonand John Gray, City-to-Sea Bridge(1993)Rewi Thompson, Te Aho a Maui(1991)Matt Pine, Prow & Capital(1992)Athfield Architects, Nikau Palms(1992)The main plaza of Te Ngkau Civic Square showing Toi te Rito Maihis paving work.Image: Canuck85 via Wikipedia CommonsTe Ngkau Civic Square precinct artworks(x6):Toi Te Rito Maihi, title unknown (ptiki whriki pattern in brick work, main part of Civic Square), (c.1991)Neil Dawson, Ferns(1998/2018)Mary-Louise Brown, Seven Steps to Heaven(1999)Bruce Campbell, Axis of the Gate to Serendipity(1997)Alan Hobbs, Pig(1995)Jim Allen (TBC), Gibbs Memorial Fountain(1956)Artist unknown, triptych, Michael Flower Centre.Image: SuppliedMichael Fowler Centre artworks(x4):Gordon Crook, wall hangings(1983)Gordon Crook, banners(1983)Jock McEwen with Prisoners of Rimutaka Prison and Students of Petone (Hutt Valley) Technical Institute, Te Pou o Tauiwi me Te Pou o Wi Tako(1983)Artist unknown, triptych (refer to the image above). (If you have any information about this artwork please contact Public Art Heritage).Public Art Heritage has also reported that, within the Square, Charlotte FishersReflecting Pools (1991), Chris BoothsSilent People (1991) and Robert FrankensThe Sun Sets the Stage to the Day and Naga, Protecting the Ancient Knowledge (both 1992) were also commissioned for the precinct but have since beendecommissioned.How to make asubmissionComplete an online submission form, download a submission form, or collect one from any library. Emailyour submission to[emailprotected]before5pm Wednesday 13 November 2024. You can also send an inquiry for an oral submission via the same emailaddress.Public Art Heritagehas prepareda sample submissionformhere, which can be borrowed from, altered, amended or adapted for furthersubmissions.The Architectural Centre Inc.has been following this closely. Follow@architectural_centre_incon Instagram forupdates.

Submitted by WA ContentsStaggered volumes define educational and cultural centre shaped around the pond in China China Architecture News - Nov 12, 2024 - 15:47 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"A new educational and cultural centre, defined by staggered volumes, was undertaken as a nonprofit endeavor by students at the University of Hong Kong, guided by professionals through the platform of Project Mingde.Named Duling Educational and Cultural Centre, the 500-square-metre building is located in the quaint Hakka village of Duling, nestled in the verdant countryside of Guangxi, China.Time seems to slow down in Duling, where the sounds of rural life fill the air. This village, which is home to about 3,000 Hakka people, is a living example of the values of education and hard work that are woven throughout daily life.Situated in an area that receives a lot of rainfall but lacks fresh water, the village was faced with a conundrum. Due to the lack of a water infrastructure, the villagers, who frequently experience rain showers, were forced to rely on a limited supply of well water.The community's health and well-being, especially that of the younger generation, were at risk due to hygiene issues that arose from this deficiency.Culturally-respectful sustainable designThe project aims to meet community needs while honoring the Hakka culture's core values. The design concept, which was based on sustainability and respect for tradition, aimed to turn a struggling village into a setting that would provide a safe place for kids to play and learn as well as a gathering area for the community.The project was completed in two stages. The existing school building was first renovated, strengthening its structural integrity and adding a new roof structure to protect it from additional weather-induced deterioration.In order to address the urgent hygiene problems that plagued the school community, a sustainable restroom facility was also implemented.The village's cultural center and kindergarten were built during the second phase. In order to alleviate the community's freshwater shortage, this design made the most of the difficulty posed by heavy rainfall.With a cascading form that culminates in a series of tiered roofs, the building takes into account the topography, airflow, landscape views, and culture of the site. Rainwater from these roofs is directed into an underground recycling system and then into a collection lotus pond. After that, the building's clean water is eventually pumped up for use.An embrace of cultural incluenceThe lotus pond, which doubles as a rainwater reservoir and an educational symbol, is at the heart of the building's design, which was inspired by the Hakka culture's significance of the water pond.This pond seamlessly incorporates sustainability into the architectural narrative while evoking memories of intrinsic cultural heritage.Throughout the design process, the space's openness and adaptability were crucial factors. In order to maintain a flexible arrangement while optimizing airflow and thermal control, the interior classroom spaces were designed to blend in with the outdoor areas.Without being limited by a set arrangement, users can modify these highly configurable spaces to suit their needs.This strategy places the users' demands first, enabling an interactive experience in the area.Fostering bonds and removing cultural barriersIt is crucial to consider the actual purpose of the project that has been started when concluding this phase of the journey.The philosophical underpinnings of the physical structures are what give them intrinsic value, even beyond their usefulness. These values, which are rooted in empathy, humanity, and cultural awareness, are what motivate these initiatives.Through this project, the significant influence of the built environment on creating strong community ties and overcoming geographical and cultural barriers has been recognized.These moral considerations have made it possible to design environments that reflect respect and understanding between people, demonstrating the tenacity of the human spirit.Project factsProject name: Duling Educational and Cultural CentreCompletion Year: 2024Gross Built Area (m2/ ft2):500m2Lead Architect: Elisabeth LeeAll images Jin Weiqi (Macau University of Science and Technology).All drawings Lokz Ng.> via Project Mingde

Submitted by WA ContentsOPEN Architecture completes double-shell concrete Sun Tower in YantaiChina Architecture News - Nov 12, 2024 - 13:46 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Beijing-based architecture studio OPEN Architecture has completed a double-shell concrete tower in Yantai, China.Named Sun Tower, 50-metre-tall structure features outdoor theater, digital exhibition spaces, library, cafand bar. Atop the summit is a unique semi-outdoor "Phenomena Space".Sun Tower facing the oceanEncompassing a total of 4,960-square-metre area, the movement of the sun as seen from the site's vantage point shapes the geometry of Sun Tower. Sun Tower is an oceanfront public cultural facility in Yantai Yeda Development Zone.Yantai was one of the first locations in China where an ancient sun-worshiping culture developed, according to archeological findings.Frontal viewIn addition to providing much-needed cultural and communal amenities to the new urban district, OPEN designed the Sun Tower to capture and celebrate natural phenomena, reestablishing people's connection to nature's spiritual power.The library and digital exhibition spaces aim to increase environmental awareness and promote conversations about coastal community collaboration.Sun Tower between Sea and City. Image Iwan BaanOn the equinoxes, the northern edge of the building's outer shell runs parallel to the noon sun. On the summer solstice, the axis of the outdoor theater faces the sunrise over the fabled Zhifu Island, and on the winter solstice, the entrance tunnel faces the setting sun.On the summer solstice, the circular shape of the roof is situated on a plane perpendicular to midday sunlight.Sun Tower at Autumnal Equinox. Image Iwan BaanDuring the summer, the majority of the building's spaces lack air conditioning. Rather, the design makes extensive use of passive techniques to preserve interior comfort while drastically cutting down on energy use.These tactics, which effectively increase people's comfort zone through improved indoor airflow, include using tunnel cooling for fresh air supply, using thermal mass to reduce indoor temperature fluctuation, inducing cross ventilation, and using the chimney effect to remove hot air.Ramp exhibition gallery. Image Iwan BaanDesigned with a shell structure, the main body is made up of two layers of white concrete shells that are joined and supported by ramps and slabs.The building's concave inner shell, which faces the sea, serves as a sound collector by absorbing and enhancing marine sounds. Its base features a semi-outdoor theater that doubles as a spot to unwind and watch the sea.The library and the Phenomena Space are located inside a smaller inverted shell that sits on top of the inner shell. Both print and digital books are available at the library. It's a very special experience to read above the sea and beneath the sky.Sun Tower, In Between Space. Image Iwan BaanThe phenomenon space is a purposefully ill-defined semi-outdoor void area. A breathtaking view is framed by its horizontal opening that faces the ocean.Rainwater can enter through the oculus opening in the middle of the roof and collect in a tiny pool. As a unique time device, the pool's water swirls for nine minutes every hour, from five in the morning to nine in the evening.The Digital Exhibition Space, which zigzags upward along the ramps, is located in the center of the building, between the inner and outer shells.Sun Tower, Kissing Shells. Image Iwan BaanThe exhibition's contents can be readily changed thanks to new technologies. To allow for the hanging of objects, some of the tie holes in the interior walls have been meticulously treated but left unfilled. Pairs of hanging points are also thoughtfully incorporated into the ceilings.The structure is situated on a plaza shaped like a seashell. The outdoor theater's stage and the tower's footprint make a complete circle. The stage is transformed into a space with mist and fountains when it is not being used for performances. From the stage, the plaza's floor rises toward the sea, creating a sizable outdoor amphitheater.Sun Tower, Outdoor Theater. Image Iwan BaanA set of elliptical rings that resemble planetary orbits radiate out from the plaza's center. Time is marked on the equinoxes by a water channel that is tangent to the tower and carved into the stone plaza; on the hour, the shadow of the tower's northern edge crosses each elliptical ring precisely along the channel.Fountains honoring the 24 Solar Terms of the conventional lunar calendar are set into a section of the outer ring. The sprays from the fountains match the high and low tides of the sea on typical days.Sun Tower, Phenomena Space. Image Iwan Baan"Sun Tower is special as a building typology, it is a cultural lighthouse where ancient wisdom in respecting nature is integrated with contemporary urban cultural life," said OPEN Architecture."The architecture frames and transforms invisible energiesair, light, sound, and natural phenomenainto tangible and visceral experiences, allowing people to establish moments of connection with the universe and otherwise endless cycles of nature," the studio added.Sun Tower night viewIn between spaceIn between spaceIn between spaceLibraryLibraryLibraryMain entranceMist and fountains on the plazaOutdoor TheaterPhenomena SpaceRamp exhibition galleryThe upper partTwo layers of white concrete shellsViewing platformEntrance tunnelSite planGround floor planUpper Level Digital Exhibition Floor PlanLibrary floor planSectionPhenomena Space SectionFirst idea sketchSun and Sea & Far and NearOPEN Architecture revealed plans for Sun Tower in 2022. In addition, the studio unveiled the design for a partially floating theater overlooking the Yangtze River in China. Moreover, the Chapel of Sound is one of significant built projects of the studio in Beijing.Project factsProject name:Sun TowerArchitects:OPEN ArchitectureInterior and Landscape design: OPEN ArchitectureLocation:Yantai, China.Design year:2019-2024Client:YEDA City Development GroupBuilding area:4,960m2Site area:9,850m2Principals In Charge: LI Hu, HUANG WenjingProject Team:Design phase: CAO Mengxing, LIU Xiaoyang, Daijiro NAKAYAMA, LU Di, WEN Peng, WEI Zihao, ZHANG Ziyao, LIN Jingran, Crystal Kwan, BI Shunjie, Giovanni ZORZI, Anastasia MASLOVA.CA Phase: LU Di, Daijiro NAKAYAMA, WANG Dongsheng, LIU Dandi, TANG Junhan.Structural & MEP: ArupLocal Design Institute: Shandong Pulaien Engineering Design Co., Ltd.Landscape Construction Document: Yantai Urban Planning and Design InstituteSpecial Fireproof Design:Institute of Building Fireproof System, CABRScenographer: dUCKS scnoCuratorial Consultant:Aric ChenLighting Consultant: Ning Field Lighting DesignAll images Jonathan Leijonhufvud unless otherwise stated.All drawings OPEN Architecture.> via OPEN Architecture

First phase planning application includes two residential schemes, one by M Architects with Studio Multi and another by Archio LtdA rendering of Studio Egret West's Lewisham masterplanSource: WAXA rendering of Studio Egret West's Lewisham masterplanSource: WAXA rendering of Studio Egret West's Lewisham masterplanSource: WAX1/3show captionLewishams 1970s shopping centre is set to be reimagined as a vibrant, landscape-led town centre under a 17-acre masterplan developed by Studio Egret West in collaboration with Landsec U+I. The proposal, submitted last week, seeks to integrate 1,700 new homes, enhanced public green spaces, and a 500-person live music venue to boost the local cultural scene.The redevelopment plan, which includes detailed applications for the first two residential buildings designed by M Architects Studio Multi and Archio Ltd, aims to transform Lewisham into a sustainable, pedestrian-friendly district. Key features include eight acres of accessible green spaces, including a central urban meadow, along with wildflower planting and over 300 new trees to promote biodiversity.The scheme seeks to prioritise sustainability and resilience, with designs centred around pedestrian zones, local retail spaces, and community areas that have been designed to reflect Lewishams character.Plot N1, designed by Mae with Studio Multi, will deliver 445 co-living studios with retail space at ground level. N2 by Archio Ltd will provide 119 homes in a mix of 1, 2 and 3 bed apartments.N1 by Mae and Studio MultiSource: Mae / Studio MultiN1 shown within the site wide illustrative planSource: Mae / Studio MultiN1 shown within the site wide illustrative planSource: Mae / Studio MultiN2 by Archio LtdSource: Archio LtdN2 by Archio LtdSource: Archio Ltd1/6show captionLucas Lawrence, Director at Studio Egret West, commented: Lewisham Shopping Centre dramatically redefined the Lewisham town centre in the 1960s. Sixty years later, we feel very fortunate to be charged with redesigning its future, both as an improved neighbourhood town centre but also as a major new place for South London.The development will bring homes, shops, restaurants, public realm and a music venue into the heart of Lewisham, all focused around a new multi-levelled landscape that offers a greener, healthier place to be. Lawrence added that the project emphasises retaining and retrofitting existing structures where feasible, including notable buildings such as Lewisham House and sections of the high street.Community engagement was prioritised during the projects development, with over 3,000 residents involved in shaping the masterplan. Landsec U+Is CEO, Mike Hood, highlighted the significance of local involvement, stating: This submission marks an important milestone to create a new green centre for Lewisham. A place that people will love, that brings immense social and economic change, thousands of much-needed homes, and a beautiful green meadow on top of a revived shopping centre.Jon Watson, Development Director at Landsec U+I, echoed this, describing the project as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve the lives of millions of people who live in and around Lewisham town centre and across the wider Borough.Watson added, Right from the start of our journey to rethink the centre, we heard loud and clear from thousands of locals what mattered most to them: Better housing, for everyone; more green spaces; music and culture; more places to eat and hang out; a better mix of shops with more choice; a place where everyone can feel welcome and safe. The final designs reflect all of this and more.

Two practices to work with UK engineering firm Mott MacDonald on first three modules of controversial Saudi megaprojectNeoms vision for the first phase of The LineGensler and Vienna-based practice Delugan Meissl Associate Architects have been handed key roles on the first phase of The Line in Saudi Arabia.The two firms will collaborate with UK engineering consultancy Mott MacDonald on the first three modules of the 170km-long megaproject, itself part of a much larger developing region called Neom.Scheduled to complete in 2045, The Line is envisaged to have a total of 140 modules, each measuring 800m long, 200m wide and flanked by two parallel 500m high walls with the completed scheme expected to house nine million people.Delugan Meissl Associate Architects (DMAA) has been appointed as urban designer by Neom and will lead the concept and detailed masterplan for the first phase.The practice will also continue to support Neom on later phases of the project to maintain its design vision on the first phase as further architects are appointed.> Also read:Saudi Arabia to scale back plans for The Line, say reportsGensler has picked up a role as city planning consultant on the first three modules and will lead on city design coordination and city planning while leading on governance across the project on areas including planning policies, frameworks, land use and design compliance.The worlds biggest practice has also been appointed as city asset design architect for critical city infrastructure, including transport hubs and public realm.Source: NEOMThe linear city will be flanked by two 500m high walls covered in mirrored claddingMott MacDonald has joined as city infrastructure engineer, tasked with driving management and control of the schemes vertical and horizontal structures and utility systems.The Lines chief development officer Denis Hickey said the project had established a unique partnership that brings world-leading city design and engineering expertise to deliverphase one.He added: Collaboration is at the core of this, with a city-wide best practice group that will showcase how innovation can change the way we consider, design and build cities forever. This reflects NEOMs vision and global ambition.Other developing projects in Neom, which will stretch across 26,500sq m of desert in Saudi Arabias north western Tabuk Province, include a floating octagonal industrial complex and the Arabian peninsulas first outdoor ski resort.Neom, Gensler, DMAA and Mott MacDonald have been contacted for comment.

Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook and Office for Place interim chair Nicholas Boys Smith Source:&nbsp House of CommonsThe Office for Place, the government body set up in 2021 to champion good design and placemaking, is to be scrapped, housing minister Matthew Pennycook has announced In a statement made today (Tuesday, 12 November) in the Commons, Pennycook announced that the arms-length body would be dissolved and its staff reabsorbed back into the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).He said it was being wound up in order to make housing design and placemaking more efficient and fully integrated.In its place, the minister said he would be setting up quarterly steering boards to support the delivery of more high-quality, well-designed homes with expert design and placemaking guidance, which he said would be particularly relevant to new and larger sites including new towns.AdvertisementThe Office for Place was set up in the wake of the 2020 Living With Beauty report by the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission, which was co-chaired by Nicholas Boys Smith, founding director of pressure group Create Streets. Boys Smith was then appointed as the Office for Places interim chair.Boys Smith was one of a small number of candidates who had been interviewed for the position of permanent chair along with former RIBA president Ben Derbyshire and property expert and broadcaster Kunle Barker. The candidates had been left in limbo over the outcome since March.The body had continued operating since Julys general election with Boys Smith acting as interim chair. Labour initially said it planned to retain both the Office for Place and the role of chair.Boys Smith was paid 500 per day for a two-day week in this role, equating to 52,000 between September 2023 and September of this year. The AJ understands the decision to scrap the office came as a surprise to the candidates.Pennycook said: I would like to offer my sincere thanks to the interim board, led by Nicholas Boys Smith as chair, and the Office for Place team for their exemplary work on this important issue.AdvertisementIn putting design and quality at the heart of the housing supply agenda and establishing the principles of design coding and embedding them in practice across the planning and development sectors, Nicholas and the team have made a significant contribution.Pennycook said that, following the resetting of departmental budgets, he and deputy prime minister Angela Rayner had concluded that support to improve the quality and design of new homes and places can be more efficiently and effectively delivered by the department itself.The minister insisted the government was not downgrading the importance of good design and placemaking, or the role of design coding in improving the quality of development. He added: We want exemplary development to be the norm not the exception.He said: Rather, by drawing expertise and responsibility back into MHCLG, I want the pursuit of good design and placemaking to be a fully integrated consideration as the government reforms the planning system, rolls out digital local plans and provides support to local authorities and strategic planning authorities.He said the decision would not affect wider government commitments to Stoke-on-Trent, where a headquarters for the Office for Place was being established, including the 19.8 million the city had been promised in Levelling Up funding.Elsewhere in his speech, Pennycook said the MHCLG intended to update the National Design Guide and National Model Design Code next spring, and reaffirmed the governments commitment to continue to bolster design skills and capacity through the 46 million package of capacity and capability support provided to local planning authorities.'Without the Office for Place we must hope that design quality is not forgotten'Former RIBA president Ben Derbyshire Without the Office for Place we must hope that design quality is not forgotten in the new homes that the government has committed to build, and in the re-use and renovation of existing buildings it must also deliver if the nation is to meet its climate commitments.The New Towns Task Force has been asked to ensure that quality and design are integral to its agenda, and it does have an architect amongst its number.Its good to see that Office for Place personnel are to be brought back into MHCLG where quarterly Steering Boards on design and placemaking are intended to ensure work is guided by those with relevant professional and practical expertise.Any future Office for Place equivalent must eschew populist rhetoric and follow in the footsteps of the late, lamented CABE as a champion of good, contemporary design. It provided excellent guidance, research and exemplary design review processes. Local planning departments still desperately need an accessible central resource such as that.Now we must think again.2024-11-12Anna Highfieldcomment and share