Building the Future: The World Architecture Fair

Bim Peacock, Literature Editor

Naturally, when one thinks of the future, they imagine flying cars, neon skyscrapers, and best of all, coliseums full of teenagers killing one another.  While this dream is a fantastical one, the reality of human creation is potentially even more interesting.  Architects recently have focused on designing the buildings of tomorrow with fascinating twists to the classic ideology, while using imaginative methods to push on to great strides in the realm of environmentalism.

From taking after the structures of Earth’s environment to harnessing light and natural features, the natural world has become the next step in the future of creation.  At long last, someone has answered the call to work with the world rather than destroying it, and these works from the World Architecture Fair are merely a glimpse into what the future may hold.

1.Cloud city by the Union of Architects of Kazakhstan takes on a design based on the structures of the sky themselves.  Rather than the traditional solid-building design, Cloud City’s structure is designed to have different levels of compartments that vary in position as the building rises.  To put this in perspective, most of the building’s base structure is hollow support while connected office compartments reach out from varies places, allowing all of these office and apartment areas to be naturally lit due to an absence of light obstruction.
1. Cloud city by the Union of Architects of Kazakhstan takes on a design based on the structures of the sky themselves. Rather than the traditional solid-building design, Cloud City’s structure is designed to have different levels of compartments that vary in position as the building rises. To put this in perspective, most of the building’s base structure is hollow support while connected office compartments reach out from varies places, allowing all of these office and apartment areas to be naturally lit due to an absence of light obstruction.
2.The Interlace by Ole Sheeren of OMA is designed in an alternating block structure to allow the maximum amount of sunlight to flow through to the courtyards at the base and to the surrounding countryside.  Alongside this, greenery grows across rooftops and side terraces to increase the amount of plant life prevalent in the area.
2. The Interlace by Ole Sheeren of OMA is designed in an alternating block structure to allow the maximum amount of sunlight to flow through to the courtyards at the base and to the surrounding countryside. Alongside this, greenery grows across rooftops and side terraces to increase the amount of plant life prevalent in the area.
3.Davor Mateković of PROARH designed the Hill House.  This structure takes a much more subtle approach and attempts to blend the house into the landscape, and also follows the contours of the hill with its shape.  Alongside this, as it is designed to be a Mediterranean dwelling, the surrounding groves of olives provide a natural cooling system through shade and absorbing heat.
3. Davor Mateković of PROARH designed the Hill House. This structure takes a much more subtle approach and attempts to blend the house into the landscape, and also follows the contours of the hill with its shape. Alongside this, as it is designed to be a Mediterranean dwelling, the surrounding groves of olives provide a natural cooling system through shade and absorbing heat.
4.As a throwback to the olden days, Sanjay Puri’s Reservoir takes its design from the ancient step wells of India.  Each level of this office complex acts as another step descending into the reservoir below, and is built with cheap and efficient sandstone from the surrounding regions.
4. As a throwback to the olden days, Sanjay Puri’s Reservoir takes its design from the ancient step wells of India. Each level of this office complex acts as another step descending into the reservoir below, and is built with cheap and efficient sandstone from the surrounding regions.
5.Home farm is designed by SPARK architects as a solution to a large aging population.  Acting part as a retirement home and part as an urban vegetable farm, retired inhabitants will be able to work part time among the farm terraces to pass the time, while also creating a means of food production for urban environments.  Alongside this, the building is designed to catch rainwater, harness sunlight and wind power, and overall remain environmentally sustainable.
5. Home farm is designed by SPARK architects as a solution to a large aging population. Acting part as a retirement home and part as an urban vegetable farm, retired inhabitants will be able to work part time among the farm terraces to pass the time, while also creating a means of food production for urban environments. Alongside this, the building is designed to catch rainwater, harness sunlight and wind power, and overall remain environmentally sustainable.

For more info, visit any of the links below:

CNN

Croatia Week

The Interlace

Design

Design Boom