castillo-miras arquitectos: nazari tower restoration in huercal-overa
the world is dotted with ancient artifacts and historic structures that throughout the years have passed from owner to owner and undergone various transformations to suit contemporary needs. in the mountainous landscape of almeria, spain, in a small town called huercal-over, a military defense tower on a raised enclave remains standing since the 13th century. it was originally built by the arab kingdom of nazari during their rule in spain when their territories were being reduced to the southern andalusia region. the construct was part of a larger fortress that has long since been destroyed, but the tower remains as a memory of its past, surrounded by hidden relics that date back to the bronze age.
an old one, but just for the sake of completeness...
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One Hyde Park by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
10 February 2011 | 18 comments
Here are some photos of the recently-completed One Hyde Park residential development in London by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, which boasts the most expensive apartments in the world.
EM2N have entered the second phase of the complex for the swiss cinematheque. until recently the home of the national film archive was presented as a simple utilitarian accumulation of sheds.
Maiden Tower
Marte.Marte Architekten
August 23, 2013
What could match the massive presence of Marte‘s concrete home, this raw, stony material, this self-contained unit? Oxidizing steel: just as raw, just as authentic in its expression and its properties.
Modern Ruin in Sante Fe, New Mexico, by Autotroph Design, 2012
"Modern Ruin" is an apt name for this house and studio in Agua Fria Traditional Village, just outside Sante Fe. Sharing a piece of property with a family member's house, a green house, chicken coops, and a garden, the new structures designed by Autotroph Design recall the area's traditional adobe architecture and its modern industrial infrastructure. The project appears like something incomplete—a ruin—even as it provides relatively comfortable appointments for the owners, who are also the builders.
Gas Kompressor Station Egtved \ C. F. Møller Architects
David K. | October 10, 2013
Natural gas plant consisting of compressor station and service buildings.
A technical site is normally swaddled in greenery to prevent it from becoming an eyesore in the natural environment. The new Energinet.dk compressor station at Egtved is Den-mark’s first installation of its kind, and here the opposite is true.
Sustainable House Integrates a Roof Terrace by Chris Pardo Design: Elemental Architecture
Wren House is a residential project designed and completed by Chris Pardo Design: Elemental Architecture in Missoula, Montana. It was built with sustainability in mind, for the homeowner and his family have a deep respect for the environment. Boasting several unique sustainable features, the freshly built dwelling requires very little energy and heating. “The home is equipped with two solar arrays, a solar water system, geothermal, LED custom lighting, and Optiwin high performance windows.”
Gebze, Turkey YapıKredi Banking Academy
TEGET Architects
November 19, 2013
The Academy Building by TEGET Architects is an addition to the already existing banking center designed by British Architect, John McAslan. As an addition, the new building is not simply in continuity with the conglomerate of the existing 10 cubes; but rather an abstract statement of its own using the main complex as a backdrop. It introduces a focal point to an otherwise non-hierarchical organisation via a pair of scaleless copper beams extending out to the landscape. The program is the academy, the gate for the bank, where new comers will be educated as well as the ‘in-service’ employees. A composition of classrooms, social areas and meeting rooms. It is handled in a straight forward manner as the pair of copper bars are allocated for education whereas the central void for socializing.
Cluny, France Construction d’un Pole de Restauration à l’ENSAM de Cluny
Bernard Desmoulin
March 17, 2014
L’enceinte de l’Abbaye de Cluny dessine un paysage fini, installé dans le calme et l’histoire. Sa silhouette ne réclame en apparence aucune modification. Seule, la nécessité d’un nouvel usage autorise la greffe d’un élément étranger.
JVA arkitekter converts an old train station transformer into the gallery trafo
jarmund / vigsnaes arkitekter (JVA) out of norway has shared with us the ‘gallery trafo‘, a transformation of a decommissioned railroad transformer. the new art space maintains the rugged industrial nature of the brick building, utilizing the existing openings and angles extrapolated in faceted corten steel faces and concrete elements.