AEWORLDMAP.COM (3,000+ posts)

Images: [1],[2],[3],[4]
Building: The Retreat at Blue Lagoon
Address: Norðurljósavegur, 241, Iceland
Start of Construction: 2014
Completion Date: 2018
Cost: $48,123,195
Area: 10400 m²
Cost/m²: $4,627/ m²
Architect: BASALT Architects
Engineer:
Interior Design: Design Group Italia
Lighting Design: Liska
Sound Engineering: ELFA Consulting Engineers
General Contractor: Javerk
Project Management: Blue Lagoon Company

AE Interest: This location is considered a UNESCO Global Geopark. The Silica-rich waters of the lagoon prevented the lava from absorbing some of the water in the surrounding area, thus forming the geological formation. Some of the water flows underneath the building, resulting in geothermal heating that can substitute for a mechanical heating system. Similarly, this project uses geothermal seawater to feed “photosynthetic microalgae,” reducing their carbon footprint. The resort’s structural integrity consists mainly of concrete shear walls and columns. The same structural systems are also often exposed to the audience as if attempting to assimilate into the geography of the surrounding area. The architects wanted the project to convey the belief that humanity and nature have an architectural bond which one can see by the usage of local timber and metamorphic rock from the surrounding area.

Articles: [1],[2],[3],[4],[5],[6]

[Essay]

Images: [1],[2],[3],[4]

Building: Hangar (Agora) 14 Location: Bodeaux, France

Address: Rue Jean Samazeuilh CS 20088 33070 Bordeaux Cedex France

Start of Project: 1930 (Building was retrofitted)

Completion: 1999 Client: City of Bordeaux

Owner: Bordeaux Events and More

Architects: Lanoire & Courrian

Project Management: Sarl Lanoire & Courrian – Eurl Flint, agent – ECCTA, technical design office

Director General of Planning: Michèle Laruë-Charlus

General Commissioner: YTAA – Youssef Tohme Architects and Associates

Cost: €3.35 M

Area: 6754 m² (Ground floor: 3,000 m² – 1^st Floor: 2,400 m² – Patio: 600 m² – Other: 754 m²)

Cost per square meter: €558/m²

AE Interest: Frost glass facade covering the majority of the main entrance, 8 identical steel staircases allowing access to the top and bottom floors, Terrace facing the Garonne river creating a panoramic view of the landscape, Building was once used for harboring storage, Some of the building’s original facades were kept to highlight that it was converted into a venue hall.

Articles: [1],[2],[3],[4]

[Essay]

*Original post by Kristin Wall on January 26, 2010*