Strasbourg Cathedral / Axis Mundi

Invited to submit a proposal for a new cathedral for the city of Strasbourg in France, the design team of Axis Mundi engaged in a dialogue with the city’s Gothic heritage. The 2,322 sq.m. building is composed of a series of unfolded arches echoing vaults of the Gothic cathedrals. The proposal features both  subtle and dramatic design characteristics that together create a new and contemporary place of worship.

References to canonical layouts and iconography of classical architecture are made through the ideographic interpretation of the arches. The concrete elements are designed to create volumes of light for the interior. A bas-relief of a digitalized abstraction of a Gothic cathedral is part of the east façade and it becomes visible as the morning sun casts shadows on the exterior walls. The continuously repeated arches rest on a submerged “Latin Cross” floor plan. A low grade ramps serves to lead the visitors into the cathedral. The floor plan is an abstraction of a Gothic Cathedral, and is composed of  a Latin cross (or cruciform) plan, with a long nave making the body of the church, a transferse arm called the transept and, beyond it, the choir, chancel or presbytery.

Via eVolo

By Lidija Grozdanic

Aquamarine Power Breaks Ground on Oyster Wave Energy Farm in Orkney

Aquamarine Power recently announced the first step towards the installation of its second Oyster wave energy generator with the arrival of the “Excalibur” jack-up barge begin to drill piles into the seabed in order to create foundations for the next-generation wave energy device. The new Oyster is the first of then potential units that are planned fri the area, and each Oyster will be capable of producing 300-600 KW of electricity. Once completed, the farm will be able to provide enough energy for 3000 homes.

The Oysters will capture energy from waves and convert it into clean, sustainable electricity – in essence, it is a wave  -powered pump that pushes high-pressure water to drive a conventional onshore hydro-electric turbine. The innovative device use an on-shore base that is much easier to maintain than standard offshore wave power designs. The system is also capable of operating at shallow depths, making it more consistent than systems that operate far out sea.

The Oyster is scheduled to be installed off the Orkney Islands at the end of July, when it is transported from Methil to EMEC by barge. Once the Oyster is on the site, it will be fixed to the seabed around 500 m. from shore.  This will be followed by a commissioning process which will see the device connected to an onshore hydro-electric generator via sub-sea pipelines.

Speaking about the project, Martin McAdam, Chief Executive Officer of Aquamarine Power said: “The installation of our second full-scale Oyster will be another major milestone fro Aquamarine Power. Our team will be working very hard over the next few months to complete the project for sea trials to begin in the autumn. We have been made to feel very welcome in Orkney since we installed our first Oyster at Billia Croo in 2009. We have worked with more than 30 local economy since we began working in Orkney.

We believe wave energy offers a very positive future to Orkney and we look forward to continuing to build on those relationships with our second Oyster project.

Via Inhabitat + Aquamarine Power

By Timon Singh

Rainbow MagicLand opens in Rome, Italy

Europe’s newest theme park was officially unveiled during a grand opening ceremony just outside Rome on May 25.

Built at a cost of 300 million Euro ($400m), Rainbow MagicLand covers a 60-hectare site in hilly surroundings at Valmontone, about 30 km south east of the Italian capital. Inhabited by pixies, ogres, dragons and other fantasy creatures, the new park incorporates several licensed properties from Rainbow SPA including Huntik and the Winx Club, plus extensive Theming, with imposing buildings and structures at every turn.

The park is the second and largest of two properties developed by Alfa Park, taking as its template Miragica in Molfetta, which opened in 2009. Both parks are located next to a Fashion District shoping outlet, built by same developer, with over 5 million people already visiting the Valmontone site on an annual guests to Rainbow MagicLand, which guests can enjoy for a special opening price of 35 Euro (or 28 Euro for those under 1,4-metres in hight).

Spread across the park are a total of 35 themed attractions, pitched mainly at families and children, including a 50,000 square m. undercover area. The park also features three theatres, an ice rink, planetarium, 28 food & beverage facilities and 5,500 parking spaces. Around 2,000 staff are employed at the new venture.

Via Park World online

Solar Energy powers 1 Million Homes in Bangladesh

Although roof-mounted photovoltaic panels may not be a common sight yet in the West, the technology is really heating up in Asia – specifically in Bangladesh. According to local offocials, the number of solar-powered households in the Asian nation now amounts to over one million. Under – investment in the country’s infrastructure means that the country’s power plants only generate around 4,700 megawatts of electricity a day against a demand of 6,000 megawatts, so some 60 percent of Bangladesh’s 150 millions people have no access to mains electricity. As a result, the power-hungry, fair-weathered country has exhibited the fastest expansion of solar technology in the world.

Bangladesh’s embrace of solar power has shown quite a meteoric rice – especially considering that in 2002, only 7,000 homes in Bangladesh used solar energy. Today, according to Nazmul Hag of the Infrastructure Development Company (IDCOL), it now benefits five million people. “It’s the fastest expansion of solar energy anywhere in the world,” Hag told PhysOrg. “We crossed the one million threshold more than 18 months ahead of schedule (and) we have set a new target to cross 2,5 million by 2014,” he said.

IDCOL is responsible for financing clean energy projects, and they saw the benefits of solar power as many households in Bangladesh are not on the national grid. With the help of NGOs, households could finance the purchase of photovoltaic panels in small monthly payments. If only solar panels were as affordable in the West.

+IDCOL

Via PhysOrg

By Timon Singh

Giant Mangrove Patch Office Tower Rotates to Provide Splendid Views of Java Sea

The rotating Agung Sedayu Center both mimics and straddles Northern Jacarta’s sensitive mangrove ecosystem without leaving an undue footprint. Designed by Agung Mahaputra, Andika priya Utama, Arief Aditya Putra, Dely Hamzah, Nidia Safiana, and Rahadi Utomo, the Mangrove Tower provides rotating views of the surrounding coastal expanse. On a more practical and ecologically-sensible note, the building’s rotation follows the sun as it makes its way across the morning sky. For these and other sustainable features, we give the asymmetrical, mixed-use Mangrove Tower top marks.

The buildings are propped up with a skeletal structure that shades the interior. Then, the corridors that line each floor act as a buffer zone between the offices and the sun, keeping the former nice and cool while at the same time ushering in a ton of light. These systems also ensure that the building need not rely on energy-hungry lighting or cooling systems.

An office building that also incorporates entertainment and retail facilities, the Agung Sedayu center is designed to provide a space for coastal visitors to view the mangrove forest. But it’s only for pedestrians and cyclists. No cars allowed! This will ensure the area’s long term viability. It’s a beautiful design that strikes a necessary balance between fostering both development and biodiversity.

+Agung Sedayu Center

Via Arch Daily

By Tafline Laylin

EDP Foundation Cultural Centre in Lisbon. Amanda Levete Architects

The EDP Foundation Cultural Centre in Lisbon is a project about water, light, reflections and people – a building that captures the essence of the unique riverside site and the extraordinary southern light of Lisbon.

The site is of strategic importance. Acting as the gateway to the culturally rich area of Ajuda/ Belem, the building will be a magnet, drawing people from the heart of the city to the panoramic views along the Tagus estuary. The currently neglected riverfront area will be activated, and the cultural centre will become one of Lisbon’s leading destinations.

+Amanda Levete Architects

Via eVolo

Prince Charles’s Eco-Village Knockoon Will Feature Car Chargers In Every Home

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is planning an eco-village in East Avrshire, Scotland , called Knockroom, and electric car charging infrastructure will be a key element. The plan, involving 700 homes to be built over 15 years, hopes to demonstrate that electric and hybrid vehicles can be a viable solution for rural communities by pre-installing EV chargers in every home. Also on offer is diesel or hybrid car sharing program residents will automatically be enrolled in upon moving to Knockroon.

Knockroon is 40 miles from Glasgow and 90 miles from Edinburgh, which means a resident could make it to either city on single charge of a Nissan LEAF. But just to allay range anxieties, Prince Charles is planning to install a car charging station halfway between the Knockroon and Edinburgh.

What we love is how quaint and traditional this future-tech village manages to look in the architectural plans. Check out our gallery to see more of the lovely Scottish village.

By Laura K. Cowan

+Knockroon

Via Inhabitat