Element House / APOLLO Architects & AssociatesSave this picture!Houses•Uji, Japan Architects: APOLLO Architects & Associates Area Area of this architecture project Area:  189 m² Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2024 Photographs Photographs:Masao NishikawaMore SpecsLess Specs Save this picture! Text description provided by the architects. ELEMENT stands in a quiet residential area in the southern part of Kyoto. The L-shaped plot, which faces two roads, features a change in elevation and distinct facades on the north and south sides. The main facade is characterized by a large overhang with a wide southern-facing window, enclosed by a concrete wall imprinted with cedar-board formwork. The secondary façade is distinguished by its powerful cantilevered appearance, which allows for a pilotis-style garage area.Save this picture!Save this picture!The main entrance opens into a two-story atrium space, where light streams in from high windows positioned on both the north and south sides. Guests are warmly welcomed by a cozy entrance courtyard visible directly ahead. The family living area, located within the atrium space, is complemented by a total of three courtyards of various sizes.Save this picture!Save this picture!In addition to the entrance courtyard, there is a courtyard in the kitchen and dining area that draws natural light all the way into the back of the kitchen, as well as a central courtyard equipped with a bench and full-opening sliding doors. Each of these distinct courtyards makes a unique contribution to the spatial experience within the home.Save this picture!The second-floor workspace is equipped with dedicated office and meeting areas as well as fitness facilities, providing a perfect base for remote work. From the living room's atrium, one can look up through the glass to catch a glimpse of people engaged in work or physical training, creating an atmosphere that promotes both productivity and well-being.Save this picture!Additionally, the ceiling features a visually striking combination of concrete ribs and recessed solid walnut panels, creating a coffered effect that spans the entire living space. This element not only introduces a distinctive rhythm and harmony but also serves as the foundation for the interior design of the space.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Private rooms and wet areas are concentrated near the secondary entrance, while public areas such as the living and dining rooms and outdoor spaces are laid out near the main entrance. ELEMENT subtly integrates these various scenes of daily life to create a unique narrative, serving as a model for an environment where life and work are in perfect balance. Project gallerySee allShow less About this office Published on May 15, 2025Cite: "Element House / APOLLO Architects & Associates" 15 May 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1030140/element-house-apollo-architects-and-associates&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save世界上最受欢迎的建筑网站现已推出你的母语版本!想浏览ArchDaily中国吗?是否 You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

A new outdoor concourse at Boston’s South Station by Pelli Clarke & Partners replaces a low slung entry that leads riders to the central hall—a vast improvement upon this quotidian scenario so many suburbanites experience daily. Riders have historically huddled off of drab rolling stock onto a concrete platform underneath a metal roof that leaks when it rains. They proceeded to a space that was once grand, but now pales compared to its former self. This new concourse, dubbed The Great Space, has 10 concrete arches that support three domes—each reaches 60 feet from floor to ceiling. The arches delineate passageways throughout the hall, connecting the atrium to the street, bus stops, and other transit connections. The floor-to-ceiling heights in the new concourse are 60 feet. (Jason O’Rear) At the center of each of the three domes is a ring of spotlights. These fixtures further brighten the interiors, which also rely on natural light for illumination. The underside of the domes were covered with a diagrid pattern that extends from the base of the arches up to the ring of lights. The outer walls of the concourse were clad in corrugated concrete, this adds texture and dimension to the design. “The transformed public concourse at South Station is not only an essential transportation space but also a bold architectural statement for Boston,” Graham Banks, a partner at Pelli Clarke & Partners, said in a statement. “By combining functionality with beauty,” Banks added, “the light-filled, expansive space enhances Boston’s position as a connected, forward-thinking hub and offers a monumental entryway befitting a great city.” The new approach (Jason O’Rear) The project was first announced in 2021, reported by James McCown for AN. The 126-year-old train shed was due for an upgrade; it hadn’t been renovated for 30 years. The concourse’s completion marks the end of phase one to the major redevelopment project happening at South Station, backed by the developer Hines. The Boston Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), Amtrak, and Mass DOT are also on the project team. Outer walls of the concourse were clad in corrugated concrete. (Jason O’Rear) At the apex of the arches is a ring of spotlights. (Jason O’Rear) Previously, South Station’s train and bus terminals were separated. The station rehabilitation project consolidated them, improving connectivity. This gesture expanded bus terminal capacity by 50 percent, the architects added, and makes for more seamless connections between Amtrak, commuter rail, subway, and city bus lines. Phase two of the transformative project will deliver South Station Tower—a new, 51-story tower above the platform also designed by Pelli Clarke & Partners. The effect will echo Marcel Breuer’s Pan Am (now MetLife) Tower above Grand Central Terminal in New York: A tall, modern skyscraper above a squat Beaux Arts train shed. A rendering of South Station tower (Courtesy Hines) South Station Tower will offer 680,000 square feet of premium office space, and 166 luxury residences, the architects said. There will also be dining options and a rooftop park. Phase two of the transformative project will complete later this summer.

Transformation of former Royal London Hospital among 38 winners announced at a ceremony yesterday evening The former Royal London Hospital dates back to the 1750s The original buildings and the extension are linked by a three-storey atrium 1/5 show caption AHMM’s transformation of the Royal London Hospital into the new Tower Hamlets town hall has been named as RIBA’s 2025 London building of the year. The scheme on Whitechapel Road has added a contemporary extension to the grade II-listed former hospital, parts of which date back to the 1750s. It now functions as the headquarters of the council, which had decided to use the neoclassical building to bring its operations together into a single location after the hospital moved out in 2012 to an adjacent site. RIBA described the scheme as a “tour de force of reinvention, combining a sensitivity to the existing building’s story with a sharpness of contemporary detailing”.  The original and newbuild parts of the scheme are linked by a three-storey glazed atrium crossed by bridges, an approach which RIBA praised for illuminating and celebrating the brickwork on the former hospital’s south facade. “The junction between the existing building and the new extension is materially rich and spatially dramatic, and each is enhanced by its proximity to the other,” RIBA said. RIBA also praised AHMM’s access strategy for using ramps to “seamlessly” connect mismatching internal levels and the public realm. Tower Hamlets Town Hall was among 38 winners of RIBA’s regional awards for the capital handed out at a ceremony yesterday evening, which also included Purcell’s restoration of Elizabeth Tower and a social rent later living scheme by 2023 Stirling Prize winner Mae. Hawkins Brown’s Central Foundation Boys School Peregrine Bryant Architects’ restoration of Handel Hendrix HouseSource: Robin Forster Brisco Loran and Arrant Industries’ Costa’s Barbers Archio’s Citizens House 1/4 show caption Hawkins Brown’s Negar Mihanyar scooped Project Architect of the Year for the practice’s transformation of the Central Foundation Boys School and its estate, while Peregrine Bryant Architects’ restoration of a grade I-listed building which was once home to Jimi Hendrix picked up the Conservation Award. Brisco Loran and Arrant Industries’ Costa’s Barbers, a shop in Battersea reimagined as a home and an office, won Small Project of the Year.  Client of the Year was awarded to Archio’s Citizens House, a community-led development of 11 affordable homes in a former backyard garage site in Lewisham.  RIBA Regional Director of London, John Nahar, described the shortlist for this year’s winners as a “breathtaking display of variety, creativity, and purpose”.   “These projects tackle some of the most pressing challenges we face today - from affordable housing and social isolation to the environment and the need for retrofit and reuse.  “It’s inspiring to see such a wide range of innovative and considered projects – a testament to the strength and ingenuity of architects in the region,” he said. Regional award winners will now be considered for a RIBA National Award, which will be announced on 10 July.  The shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize for the UK’s building of the year will be drawn from the RIBA National Award-winning projects later in the year.

COFCO Qianhai Innovation Center Office / Goettsch PartnersSave this picture!Courtesy COFCO. Image © CreatAROffice Buildings•Shenzhen, China Architects: Goettsch Partners Area Area of this architecture project Area:  190000 m² Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2024 Photographs Photographs:CreatAR Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers:  SYP Glass MEP Engineers: WSP Norge, WSP Lighting Consultants: HDA More SpecsLess Specs Save this picture! Text description provided by the architects. The COFCO Qianhai Innovation Center is a state-of-the-art headquarters and multi-tenant office complex located in Shenzhen, China. This 190,000-square-meter development is defined by two nearly identical towers, each crowned with a large, glass-enclosed atrium. These atria provide unique identities in the skyline for the headquarters of two related companies: COFCO Group and Aviva-COFCO Life Insurance. The respective 200- and 180-meter towers are composed of three slender masses where the upper levels are carved back and exposed to reveal the open atrium and separate outdoor sky terrace that connect to the surrounding cityscape. Sited next to an urban green belt and local park, the towers are oriented to address this context and integrate closely with the natural environment. The buildings are rectangular in plan, with one side tapered to expand views toward Qianhai Bay.Save this picture!The design of the COFCO Qianhai complex is a reflection of Shenzhen's rapid growth from a fishing village into a megacity of 17 million people. Inspired by the organic development of Shenzhen's urban villages—where dwelling units stacked over time have shaped the streetscape—the complex's design features headquarters spaces that function like a connected village in the sky.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The atrium at the top of each tower serves as a dynamic, flexible space that unifies the building's headquarters floors. These atria feature interconnecting stairs, open corridors, and meeting rooms that encourage formal and informal collaboration among employees. The grand spaces can also host large company-wide events. Each atrium is entirely clad in a highly transparent cable wall, blurring interior and exterior space, and visually linking the sky villages to the traditional urban villages at the street level.Save this picture!Save this picture!"The COFCO Qianhai complex sets a new standard for urban headquarters, especially in China," said James Zheng, AIA, LEED AP, CEO and president of GP. "The design pays tribute to Shenzhen's origins while reinforcing its global ambitions with a strong visual identity."Save this picture!The cable walls are a key engineering innovation, offering a dynamic component that adapts to external forces and internal stresses. Unlike conventional static facades, the cable system uses outward-angled columns to support horizontal cables, which are reinforced by each floor slab back to the core. The vertical cables are engineered to flex, absorbing and distributing loads, ensuring stability under varying conditions—including seismic events.Save this picture!Save this picture!The towers feature operable windows for natural ventilation, reducing the need for mechanical cooling systems. Double-laminated low-E glass, combined with ceramic frit coatings, minimizes solar heat gain and enhances energy efficiency. Additionally, the air circulation system within the atria draws cool air from the ground level and channels it upward, creating a passive cooling effect that helps maintain a comfortable indoor environment, even in Shenzhen's warm, humid climate.Save this picture!"The facades strike a balance between aesthetics and functionality, a crucial consideration given Shenzhen's subtropical climate," said Travis Soberg, AIA, LEED AP, principal and director of sustainable design at GP. "The elegance of the design was made possible by a team of designers and engineers working in close collaboration to deliver both beauty and performance."Save this picture!The complex's ground level incorporates sustainable features, designed as a "sponge city" to absorb rainfall. Permeable surfaces and strategic landscaping help manage stormwater, reducing urban runoff and minimizing flood risk. A sunken garden and pedestrian-level greenery further connect the development to its natural surroundings.Save this picture!By combining innovative design, sustainable practices and cutting-edge engineering, the COFCO Qianhai complex establishes a new paradigm for modern Shenzhen. Its "sky village" concept promotes community and connectivity, transforming the high-rise workplace into a more human-centric environment. This development supports Shenzhen's vision to become a global leader, inspiring future projects that prioritize community, sustainability and technological advancement.Save this picture! Project gallerySee allShow less Project locationAddress:Shenzhen, ChinaLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeGoettsch PartnersOffice••• MaterialGlassMaterials and TagsPublished on May 14, 2025Cite: "COFCO Qianhai Innovation Center Office / Goettsch Partners" 14 May 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1030007/cofco-qianhai-innovation-center-office-goettsch-partners&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save世界上最受欢迎的建筑网站现已推出你的母语版本!想浏览ArchDaily中国吗?是否 You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

New Research By Shoving a Bed Frame Against the Door, This Pompeii Family Tried to Survive Mount Vesuvius’ Eruption Archaeologists are learning new details about the four individuals’ futile attempt to hide inside an ancient residence called the House of Helle and Phrixus A bed frame shoved against the door served as a makeshift barricade. Pompeii Archaeological Park In 79 C.E., Mount Vesuvius erupted, spewing ash and small volcanic pellets known as lapilli over the city of Pompeii. Nearly 1,950 years later, archaeologists are still sifting through the layers of debris and making remarkable discoveries about life—and death—in the ancient city. Researchers recently discovered four members of a family, including a child, who attempted to escape the eruption by barricading themselves inside a bedroom, according to a statement from the Pompeii Archaeological Park. Though their efforts were futile, their remains provide remarkable insight into the doomed city’s final moments. When the eruption began, most residents of Pompeii “had no clue what was happening,” Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the park and co-author of a new study published in the journal Scavi di Pompei, tells the New York Times’ Sara Novak. “Many thought the end of the world had come.” A majority of the 15,000 to 20,000 residents of Pompeii and nearby Herculaneum fled and survived the eruption. The four family members were among the roughly 2,000 Pompeians who remained when the city was destroyed. As Helle struggles in the sea, Phrixus reaches out to his sister from atop a flying ram. Pompeii Archaeological Park Archaeologists found the family’s remains in a small but stately residence known as the House of Helle and Phrixus, named after a fresco of the mythological siblings discovered on the dining room wall. In Greek myth, the siblings survive their stepmother’s attempt to sacrifice them to the gods by flying away on a ram with a golden fleece. While Phrixus escapes, Helle falls off the ram into the sea. The fresco captures the siblings reaching out to each other—Helle in the sea, Phrixus on the ram—in a fittingly futile attempt at rescue. The architectural features of the house may have accelerated the family’s demise. Like many Roman houses, the House of Helle and Phrixus featured an open-roofed atrium, intended to aid rainwater collection. But as lapilli fell from the sky during the first phase of the eruption, the rock debris, which reached up to nine feet in some locations, quickly flooded the house through the atrium. At first, the archaeological evidence shows, the four individuals tried to protect themselves by packing into a small room. They even pushed a wooden bed frame against the door, hoping that it would prevent the lapilli from entering.When that failed, the researchers think they pulled back the barricade and attempted to escape. Based on the location of the remains, they only got as far as the triclinium, or dining room. “This house, with its decorations and its objects, shows us people who tried to save themselves,” says Zuchtriegel in the statement, per a translation by La Brújula Verde’s Guillermo Carvajal. “They didn’t succeed, but their story is still here, beneath the ashes.” Over the centuries, the ash preserved the remains of the family, the wooden bed frame and other items, including a bronze amulet known as a bulla and a stash of amphorae filled with garum, a popular Roman fish sauce. Ash and lapilli flooded into through the open-roofed atrium, burying the house in up to nine feet of debris. Pompeii Archaeological Park Researchers don’t know that this particular family owned the House of Helle and Phrixus. The group may have taken refuge there after the owners fled, as Marcello Mogetta, an archaeologist and Roman art historian at the University of Missouri who wasn’t involved in the study, tells the Times. Still, the recovered objects offer a glimpse into Pompeian family life. For instance, the child was likely the one wearing the bronze bulla, as tradition dictated that boys wear such amulets for protection until adulthood. Additionally, traces of masonry materials suggest that the house was under renovation. As Zuchtriegel says in the statement, “Excavating Pompeii means confronting the beauty of art, but also the fragility of life.” Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.