Last weekend the annual GA network meeting took place, this time in Barcelona. We had great weather, nice food, long nights, looked at some amazing architecture - and talked about the guiding business, of course.
The network is growing steadily, and at the meeting no less than 6 new members were accepted: GA is now represented in Bilbao, Budapest, Istanbul, New York, Shanghai and Valencia. We’re going global!
- a fresh initiative based on a cooperation between artists / architects and a material producers exploring sustainabillity.
The first exhibition is now on display, called LINOLEUM DIAMONDS – a synergybased work of linoleum manufacturer Forbo, 036 and danish artist Malene Bach.
Durring the year alltogether 6 collaborations will be presented including events and after-work lectures and talks.
Please take a look at our new blog www.teamup2010.dk
All fotographs by: Søren Rønholt.
www.forbo.dk
www.036.dk
www.malenebach.dk
Posted by: scaledenmark
The Jacob-und-Wilhelm-Grimm-Zentrum is the new central library of Humboldt University, located on famous old boulevard Unter den Linden near Museum Island and Brandenburg Gate. It is the biggest freehand library in Germany and contains 2 million books, all of them publically accessible and not in closed depots.
Berlin-based Swiss architect Max Dudler won the competition, in which 277 architects participated, with a typical „Berlin style“ rationalist building. Behind a strictly orthogonal façade, the visitor encounters the big reading hall, which refers to the terraces of the Hanging Gardens of Semiramis. The space is illuminated by natural roof light and contains green desks and lamps with stone covers for 250 people, all designed by the architect. The atmosphere of the hall breathes a similar spirit as the big library hall by Labrouste in Paris. Most of the 1250 workstations are located directly at the fassade with tremendous views over the city. Separate lockable cabins are also available for students who prepare final exams. Counting 5000 visitors a day, the library is such a succes that the administration is still working on stronger regulations for users. They like to reserve work stations in the morning by stacking piles of books on them and then leave for shopping…
picture: Stefan Müller
Posted By: ticket-b
New architectural map of the Ruhr Area has appeared, GA network partners Rhein-Ruhr and Berlin cooperate on the occasion of the European Capital of Culture 2010, our architectural map of the Ruhr Area was published in January. It is the fifth map in the series, continuing the previous success of maps
from Berlin, Munich, Cologne and Hamburg. All the maps are created by members of the Guiding Architects Network.
This is the first map publication ever to cover the entire Ruhr area and list buildings from all of its regions, which counts 53 cities and towns. The set of four maps plus booklet contains 2300 projects from the rich industrial history of the area, including civil structures, contemporary architecture, parks and gardens as well as urban projects. Five of the best projects from eight historical periods are presented with short texts and fotos.
The authors are architects Detlev Bruckhoff and Thomas M. Krüger, supported by designer Marnie Schaefer. All three of them have profound knowledge of the area, as it’s where they grew up. The map is published and financed by the Marketing Company RVR (Regionalverband Ruhr).
Posted By: ticket-b
The Danish capital was endeavouring to be pronounced the world’s best city for cyclists in 2015. The bicycle is already considered to be the obvious means of transport by most Copenhageners because the city council has made a concerted effort to improve the infrastructure, safety and parking facilities for cyclists.
- every day 37% of everybody in Copenhagen arrives at work or education by bicycle.
- 25% of all families with two kids in the city own a cargo bike.
- the 519,000 inner city copenhageners own 560,000 bicycles!
Many people have written about the Green Wave bicycle lane in Copenhagen but few have actually documented it.
This is a long section of it, filmed from a bike. The film doesnt cover the way to the city centre but has instead a sequence of the morning bicycle rush hour. The ride started about 08:15 AM. 08:30-09:00 AM seems to be peak hours, although the flow never really stops.
Thanks to Mayor Bondam.
http://sustainablecities.dk/en/city-projects/cases/copenhagen-the-worlds-best-city-for-cyclists
http://www.kk.dk/~/media/Files/PolitikOgIndflydelse/Byudvikling/Miljoe/kk_brochure_gb_09.ashx
(Eco Metropole Copenhagen 2015)
Posted By: scaledenmark.dk
On the 4th anniversary of the accession of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as Ruler of Dubai, the city has seen the official Inauguration and the surprising re-naming of the former “Burj Dubai” to “Burj Khalifa”
Starting the new decade with one of the most spectacular fireworks ever seen, the opening of the Burj Khalifa is a symbol of the end of the turbo-urbanism of the last decade; and at the same time, a symbol for the beginning of a new business and city development philosophy of Dubai.
It is symbolic that the inauguration of the tallest building in the world is connected to the fourth anniversary of Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum becoming the ruler of Dubai, because it was his ambitious vision that has made Dubai the first Arabian metropolis - moreover, it is even more symbolic that it has been renamed from “Burj Dubai” to “Burj Khalifa”, because it has been the president of UAE, his highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Bin Nayhan, ruler of Abu Dhabi, who has demonstrated the strength and unity of the Emirates by supporting Dubai in these difficult times.
The Burj Khalifaas a building is holding several world records, e.g.:
Tallest structure ever built: 828 m (2,684 ft)
(previously Warsaw radio mast - 646.38 m (2,121 ft) which collapsed 08.08.1991)
Tallest actual structure: 828 m (2,684 ft) (previously KVLY-TV mast - 628.8 m (2,063 ft))
Tallest freestanding structure: 828 m (2,684 ft) (previously CN Tower - 553.3 m (1,815 ft))
Building with the most floors: 160 (previously both 1 & 2 World Trade Centre– 110)
The first world’s tallest structure in history to include residential space
Tallest elevator in the world up to 504m (previously Tapei 101 with 448m)
World’s fastest elevators at a speed of 64 km/h (40 mph) or 18 m/s (59 ft/s)
(previously Taipei 101 – 16.83 m/s)
Highest vertical concrete pumping (for a building): 601 m (1,972 ft) (previously Taipei 101 - 449.2 m (1,474 ft))
Highest vertical concrete pumping (for any construction): 601 m (1,972 ft)
(previously Riva del Garda Hydroelectric Power Plant - 532 m (1,745 ft))
Highest outdoor observation deck in the world in the 124th floor at 420m
(indoor hold by Shanghai World Financial Centre at 474m)
http://www.burjdubai.com/the-tower.aspx
http://www.tallest-building-in-the-world.com/2008/08/19/under-construction/some-interesting-facts-on-the-burj-dubai-the-tallest-building-in-the-world-under-construction.htm
http://gulfnews.com/in-focus/burj-khalifa
Posted By: ticket-dxb.com
holidayarchitecture.com is the online directory for architecturally outstanding houses and hotels - and the new partner for Guiding-Architects. At holidayarchitecture.com you will find architecturally outstanding houses and hotels for your next vacation.
Recommendations from the Guiding-Architects network for hotels and other accommodation will be published on holidayarchitecture.com and linked with offers for guided tours at these places. holidayarchitecture.com was launched in 2007, and since 2009 the site has also been published in English.
The site is independent and free. All published hotels and houses are selected according to criteria of the highest quality.
“We are architects ourselves and started to collect information about interesting spots for our holidays.”, Jan Hamer, founder of holidayarchitecture.com, describes the beginning of the project. Meanwhile, hotel operators and owners of holiday homes are lining up to have their location published.
Posted By: gugiding-architects.net
The New Museum (Neues Museum) in Berlin, part of the Unesco World Heritage Museum Island, built by Andreas Schlüter in 1856 was heavily destroyed in World War II.
After 40 years being a ruin it is now renovated in an extraordinary way by David Chipperfield. About 4.000 visitors a day are fascinated by the Nofretete (Nefertiti) bust, the Greek and Aegyptian collection and the respectful restoration of the only museum with an original interior of the German Historism in the 19th century. The New Museum finally opened on 16th October 2009.
The reconstruction of the New Museum is only a part of the general renewal of the Museum Island. In 2010 David Chipperfield will add a contemporary entrance building: The James Simon Gallery. Here will start the new underground „archeologic pathway“, which will connect the four museums with a distinct thematic approach to each institution.
The first new building in the neighbourhood of the island by Chipperfield was the Art Gallery „Am Kupfergraben“, finished in 2007.
„Ticket B - Architectural Guided Tours in Berlin“ offers from now on special tours to the urban development of the Museum Island with short inside visits in parts of the museums in cooperation with the Foundation „Preussischer Kulturbesitz“.
Posted By: ticket-b.de
Green Lighthouse is Denmark’s first public CO2-neutral building. The new building, Green Lighthouse, was inaugurated on the 20th October 2009 and serves as an example in several ways. The house is actually a lighthouse in more than one sense. It is a green lighthouse of CO2-neutral buildings up to the UN Climate Conference (COP15); It is a lighthouse of efficient public-private cooperation; and last, but not least, it is a lighthouse for the Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen, which will see its student services consolidated under one roof.
With Green Lighthouse it has been proven that it is not rocket science, but primary common sense to construct carbon neutral buildings. The design concept of the house alone contributes to an energy use reduction by ¾.The unique design involves the optimal use of daylight, an automatic ventilation system and an automatic cooling and heating system. The orientation of the building, with regards to the sun, means that full advantage of solar energy can be taken. With Green Lighthouse two birds has been killed with one stone; futuristic carbon neutral construction is beeing combined with a modern study and research environment.
In 2007, Copenhagen defined itself as the environmental capital of Europe.
The vision for 2015 is to become the Eco-Metropole of the world. In order to meet the vision four themes has been defined;
Worlds best city for cycles, centre for world climate policy, A green and blue capital city, a clean healthy major city.
Lord Mayor, Ritt Bjerregaard, City of Copenhagen, states;
- With Green Lighthouse we have demonstrated that it is also possible to build CO2-neutral structures when it comes to office buildings. Green Lighthouse is a perfect example of reaching great heights through new partnerships. In the City of Copenhagen, we are proud to show future building owners how they can contribute to making the city CO2-neutral.
www.greenlighthouse.ku.dk
Photo credits: Adam Mørk
Posted By: scaledenmark.dk
