RADA Architects’ Post

Four recent titles highlight the past and future of timber, from forest to building products: BLANK: SPECULATIONS ON CLT Jennifer Bonner and Hanif Kara OBE’s Blank: Speculations on CLT explores the cultural, spatial, and technological significance and potential of cross-laminated timber (CLT) and its material unit, the CLT blank. DESIGNING THE FOREST AND OTHER MASS TIMBER FUTURES In this book, architect and Columbia GSAPP professor Lindsey Wikstrom poses the question, What role could mass timber, with its potential to replace concrete and steel, have in ensuring the planet’s survival? INNOVATIONS IN MASS TIMBER: SEQUESTERING CARBON WITH STYLE IN COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS From the world’s tallest mass timber building in Milwaukee to a fairy-tale experience at the Hans Christian Andersen Museum in Denmark, Innovations in Mass Timber focuses on 16 global projects that represent innovation and style through sustainable mass timber design in the commercial sector by Boyce Thompson TOUCH WOOD: MATERIAL, ARCHITECTURE, FUTURE Through an extensive selection of essays, both “practical and visionary” projects, and over 200 illustrations, Touch Wood, co-edited by Carla Ferrer, Thomas Hildebrand, and Celina Martinez-Cañavate S., showcases how architects and designers are harnessing wood’s natural beauty, sustainability, and structural properties to create inspiring spaces. https://lnkd.in/emEcMJWR

Symmetrical #design elements draw attention to the exterior of this #building.

It’s exciting to see the final prefabricated insulated timber frame panels going in at East Oxford Community centre! Now we’re based nearer the site, we had 360 degree coverage of the panels going in and could appreciate just how fast they were getting on the roof. Next will be the tidying up of taping up the Smartply OSB airtightness boards internally and sealing the weathertight breather membrane externally before external finishes start. A big benefit of offsite timber frame is that it is also able to weather the crazy rain recently for a few months while external finishes are applied, and quickly get a roof on the building to allow internal works.   Oxford City Council ODS Timber Innovations Harry Tuke  #jessopandcookarchitects #jessopandcook #architecture #design #archilovers #photography #architecturephotography #ig #building #city #architect #community #eastoxford #cowley #oxford #cowleyroad #construction #onsite #sustainability #climateconscious #eco #green #timberframe #timber  

We were recently challenged by writer and architecture critic Justin Davidson with Curbed (New York Magazine) to develop a speculative but realistic design for a public school project in Brooklyn using mass timber. This exercise was part of a larger effort to visualize what New York might look like if it embraced mass timber technology. Our conceptual design for this K-12 school in Red Hook, Brooklyn, utilizes mass timber construction to create a sustainable and user-focused learning environment that integrates with its urban context. A prominent timber arcade, extending a nearby park onto the site, serves as a welcoming community threshold and recognizable landmark. The design thoughtfully responds to the existing context by incorporating a preserved brick warehouse facade, housing the natatorium, and echoing the area's warehouse typology with masonry detailing on the western facade. In contrast, the southern and eastern elevations of the mass timber structure feature expansive openings to maximize natural light and offer views of the park and surrounding streetscape, showcasing the material's biophilic qualities and creating a vibrant and engaging learning environment. Our design is featured alongside projects by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, SHoP Architects, and ZGF, all ranging in size and function. This endeavor underscores modus studio's commitment to innovative and environmentally conscious design. We're proud to be part of a movement to push the boundaries of what's possible with mass timber. Check out the full article to learn more about our vision and the exciting possibilities of mass timber in New York: https://lnkd.in/gJ-3f-_t #modusstudio #architecture #interiordesign #design #research #architectureresearch #masstimber #CLT #woodarchitecture #sustainability #curbed #newyork #brooklyn #redhook #schooldesign #k12design #k12schools #k12architecture #educationspaces #learningspaces #learningenvironments #educationalarchitecture #schoolarchitecture #learningfacilities #biophilicdesign

Symmetrical #design elements draw attention to the exterior of this #building.

Celebrating the end of my first year's BSc (Hons) Architecture at Bristol UWE looking at my most celebrated (and time consuming) piece of work. This detail at 1:20 depicts the atmosphere, materiality and sensory experience within the space designed for project 4 in Design Studio. The form is highlighted by openings in both spaces, above head height and eye line, causing diffuse light to cascade inwards. The entryway is brighter, lighter and a place of group gathering thanks to a skylight providing direct sunlight as if in a spotlight. The second, more intimate space, towards the rear is darker and accentuated during stormy weather, by rain reverberating off the roof causing an acoustic sensory experience of being cocooned and safe within. The first part of the drawing on a white background I've used to clearly define the space and the lighter and brighter experience within. The second part of the drawing on black background with white pen was chosen to show the difference in atmospheric quality and a higher level of technical detailing.

Situated along the Lawrence Levee Trail and north bank of the Kansas River is the 722 Ash Street residence. This project consists of a 1,500 square foot primary house and a 500 square foot accessory dwelling. Designed and created by architectural students at Studio 804, this project is LEED Platinum Certified to help reduce energy consumption. Sustainability is at the core of Studio 804's mission and was a significant factor when choosing building materials. The whole building's exterior consists of a rainscreen facade cladded with Fundermax's Max Compact Exterior panels, which generated energy savings. Additionally, the woodgrain phenolic panels allowed the house to beautifully blend in with and complement the surrounding nature. "Initially I thought, ‘I don’t know about high pressure laminates’... But once I saw what we could do with it, it worked out beautifully for us.” Learn more about this innovative project at the University of Kansas in our full written case study: https://hubs.la/Q02vNqJd0? #exteriorarchitecture #exteriordesign #panels #sustainabledesign #architecture #architects #architectureanddesign #designers #buildingmaterials #fundermax #createwithfundermax #architect #sustainablematerials #morethanapanel #foryoutocreate

Unlock 🔓 Stair Safety. Private Stair (1 Person) 🚶 : 36" Cozy Companions ( 2 Person) 🧑🤝🧑 : 49"-60" Crowded (3 Person) : 74" . . . #knowledge #information #people #person #tips #architect #architecture #stairs #home #residence #team #student #measuring #measure #length #earth #world #trending

Architectural Inspiration from Nature: Ant Hills On the way back from Somerset, I stumbled upon a vast green field dotted with countless ant hills—tiny marvels of engineering that immediately sparked my curiosity. These mounds are much more than soil piles; they are sophisticated structures designed by the worker ants beneath. By digging tunnels and carrying displaced soil to the surface, they create insulated roofs for their underground homes. Each hill serves as: Temperature Control: Insulating the nest from cold or heat. Drainage Support: Shaping the mound to manage moisture effectively. Access Points: With multiple entrances for quick entry and exit. Shared Ecosystem: Offering shelter to other insects, creating a thriving micro-ecosystem. Some ant hills grow up to a meter tall and two meters wide, showcasing the ingenuity of these tiny "engineers." It's fascinating to see how nature creates functional, sustainable designs—lessons we can draw from as architects and designers. What are some of your favorite examples of nature's architectural brilliance?