fukuoka prefectural international hall

image by Hiromi Watanabe

all information from http://emilioambaszandassociates.com/portfolio/Fukuoka-Prefectural-International-Hall

                                            http://www.architecturenewsplus.com/project-images/6641

Description

Fukuoka, Japan, was in need of a new government office building and the only available site was a large two-block park that also happened to be the last remaining green space in the city center. Ambasz was awarded the commission for successfully achieving reconciliation between these two opposing aims: maintaining the green space of the existing park while providing the city of Fukuoka with a multi-use, symbolically decisive building. Under the building's fourteen one-story terraces lie more than one million square feet of space, containing an exhibition hall, museum, 2000-seat proscenium theater, conference facilities, 600,000 square feet of government and private offices, as well as large underground parking and retail spaces.

image by Emilio Ambasz & Associtates

Its northern face presents an elegant urban facade with a formal entrance on the city's busiest commercial avenue. The southern side extends an existing park through a series of terraced gardens that climb the full height of the building, culminating in a magnificent belvedere that offers views of the harbor and surrounding hills.

image by Hiromi Watanabe

image by Hiromi Watanabe

Facts

location:   Fukuoka, Japan

client:           Dai-ichi Seimei Insurance

cost:           $380.0M

area:         1,000,000 sq ft

image by Hiromi Watanabe

Awards

2000 Business Week / Architectural Record Award

2001 DuPont Benedictus Award

2001 Japan Institute of Architects Certificate of Environmental Architecture, First Prize

image by Emilio Ambasz & Associtates

image by Emilio Ambasz & Associtates

image by Emilio Ambasz & Associtates

image by Emilio Ambasz & Associtates

image by Emilio Ambasz & Associtates

city hall london UK

image by Foster + Partners

all information from http://www.fosterandpartners.com/projects/city-hall/


Description

City Hall houses the chamber for the London Assembly and the offices of the mayor and staff of the Greater London Authority. It forms the focal point of the More London development – a new working community on the south bank of the Thames between London and Tower Bridges. Occupying a strategic position on the cultural route from Tate Modern, the Globe Theatre and Southwark Cathedral to HMS Belfast and the Design Museum, More London has played a key role in the social and economic regeneration of the borough of Southwark.

image by Foster + Partners

One of the capital’s most symbolically important new projects, City Hall advances themes explored in the Reichstag, expressing the transparency and accessibility of the democratic process and demonstrating the potential for a sustainable, virtually non-polluting public building.

image by Foster + Partners

Designed using advanced computer-modelling techniques the building represents a radical rethink of architectural form. Its shape achieves optimum energy performance by maximising shading and minimising the surface area exposed to direct sunlight. Offices are naturally ventilated, photovoltaics provide power and the building’s cooling system utilises ground water pumped up via boreholes. Overall, City Hall uses only a quarter of the energy consumed by a typical air-conditioned London office building.

image by Foster + Partners

Home to a workforce of some 15,000 people, More London integrates a broad mix of uses within a new network of streets and public spaces. A strong diagonal boulevard, which follows the ideal pedestrian route from London Bridge Station to Tower Bridge, is intersected by smaller routes and alleyways that forge links between the activity of the waterfront and the residential community of Bermondsey.

image by Foster  + Partners

The landscaping in the streets and piazzas includes tree planting and water features and extends to the design of paving and street furniture. Alongside the offices, there are shops, restaurants and cafés, and the development includes the Unicorn Children’s Theatre, a hotel, supermarket and fitness club. Together they help to create a lively and congenial social environment on the riverside.

image by Foster + Partners

Facts + Figures

Appointment: 1998

Construction start: 2000

Completion: 2002

Area: 19 814 m²

Height: 45 m

Client: More London Development Ltd.

Structural Engineer: Arup 

Quantity Surveyor: Davis Langdon & Everest

M+E Engineer: Arup 

Landscape Architect: Townshend Landscape Architects

Lighting Engineer: Claude Engle Lighting

Additional Consultants: Montagu Evans

image by Foster + Partners

  

image by Foster + Partners

image by Foster + Partners

image by Foster + Partners

image by Foster + Partners

image by Foster + Partners

image by Foster + Partners

Awards

Institution of Civil Engineers London Association Merit Award – City Hall

Related Press Releases

City Hall officially opened by Her Majesty the Queen

23.07.2002

City Hall handed over to Government Office for London on time and on budget

17.05.2002

New Headquarters for the Greater London Authority submitted for Planning

08.06.1999

Foster building chosen for the New Headquarters for the GLA

26.02.1999

reichtag new german parliament

image by Foster + partners

all information from  http://www.fosterandpartners.com/projects/reichstag-new-german-parliament/

Building description 

The transformation of the Reichstag is rooted in four related issues: the Bundestag's significance as a democratic forum, an understanding of history, a commitment to accessibility and a vigorous environmental agenda. As found, the Reichstag was mutilated by war and insensitive rebuilding. The reconstruction takes cues from the original fabric; the layers of history were peeled away to reveal striking imprints of the past - stonemason's marks and Russian graffiti − scars that have been preserved as a 'living museum'. But in other respects it is a radical departure; within its heavy shell it is light and transparent, its activities on view.

image by Foster + partners

 Public and politicians enter the building together and the public realm continues on the roof in the terrace restaurant and in the cupola, where ramps lead to an observation platform, allowing people to ascend symbolically above the heads of their representatives in the chamber.

image by Foster + partners

The cupola is now an established Berlin landmark. Symbolic of rebirth, it also drives the building's natural lighting and ventilation strategies. At its core is a 'light sculptor' that reflects horizon light down into the chamber, while a sun-shield tracks the path of the sun to block solar gain and glare. As night falls, this process is reversed - the cupola becomes a beacon on the skyline, signalling the vigour of the German democratic process.

image by Foster + partners

The building provides a model for sustainability by burning renewable bio-fuel - refined vegetable oil − in a cogenerator to produce electricity: a system that is far cleaner than burning fossil fuels. The result is a 94 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

image by Foster + partners

 Surplus heat is stored as hot water in an aquifer deep below ground and can be pumped up to heat the building or to drive an absorption cooling plant to produce chilled water. Significantly, the building's energy requirements are modest enough to allow it to produce more energy than it consumes and to perform as a mini power station in the new government quarter.

image by Foster + partners

Interior description

The internal refurbishment of the Reichstag, the New German Parliament, was as politically symbolic as the external transformation signalled by the building’s glass cupola. Flourishes of bold, primary colours and transparent materials are used to convey a sense of joy and openness, while stonemason’s marks and Russian graffiti are preserved as a ‘living museum’ of the past.

image by Foster + partners

 The project was also significant for the commissioning and integration of major works of art by some twenty artists – while the majority are by German artists, the four Allied Powers which occupied Berlin after 1945 are also represented.

Sustainability

Site + Climate

The design utilises natural light as an architectural feature. Careful attention was paid to the sun's movement around the building and how this could be used to bring light into the space.

image by Foster + partners

Form + Massing

The renovation project sought to bring light, and openness into the building. To accomplish this, a large dome shaped sky light was installed to help capture and reflect daylight deep within the structure.

image by Foster + partners

Passive Design

The solar collector brings natural lighting into the heart of the building, whilst an automated solar shade protects against unwanted, direct solar gain. The main chamber of parliament is naturally ventilated via the cupola.

image by Foster + partners

Environmental Systems

The building was designed to optimise the use of passive systems whilst minimising active systems. Both the artificial lighting and ventilation are controlled by a central BMS system and a heat exchanger recovers waste heat from the exhaust air.

image by Foster + partners

  

Renewable Energy

A biofuel powered, Combined Heat and Power (CHP) provides approximately 80% of the annual electricity and 90% of the heat load of the building. A large Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) acts as a seasonal store of both heat and coolth. Photovoltaic's on the roof power the solar shade within the light sculpture.

image by Foster + partners

Energy Infrastructure

The CHP and GSHP units, at peak operation, provide energy to both the Reichstag and surrounding government buildings.

image by Foster + partners

Mobility + Connectivity

There are public transport links near to the building and a large number of bike racks for both staff and visitors.

Añadir leyendaimage by Foster + partners

Materials + Waste

The design aimed to protect and maintain the masonry shell of the heritage building, whilst redeveloping some of the core areas. By retaining most of the original building structure, construction and demolition waste was significantly reduced.

image by Foster + partners

Water

Inside the building low flow fixtures and fittings were selected to help reduce the potable water requirements. All landscaping is either low maintenance or hardscaping, to minimise water usage.

Land + Ecology

The bio-fuel used to power the CHP unit is derived from locally produced rapeseed vegetable oil. The Reichstag, next to the River Spree, is surrounded by landscaped areas, with a mix of biological diversity that is protected and managed.

Culture + Heritage

In stripping back previous reconstruction to the building, striking imprints from the past were unearthed, including graffiti left by Soviet soldiers. These discoverers influenced the design, creating a space that sought to become a 'living museum' of German history. Drawing light into the heart of the building, helped to create an open and visible platform for the German democratic process.

image by Foster + partners

Wellbeing

The design sought to bring light and fresh air into the heart of the Reichstag, improving user wellbeing. The addition of viewing galleries and breakout spaces have brought additional amenities to the building.

image by Foster + partners

Prosperity

The use of a locally produced biodiesel has helped protect and enhance the local agricultural economy. Increased tourist numbers to the Reichstag, has bought added benefits to the immediate vicinity.

Planning for Change

Creating a building that was open and honest about it's past has helped it become open-minded and forward-thinking about its future. The Reichstag has now become a beacon, signalling the vigour of the German democratic process.

Performance in Use

The operational energy profile for The Reichstag, shows that it uses 57% less primary energy than typical existing buildings, and 39% less than the requirements for new buildings.

image by Foster + partners