Architecture

Schneider + Schumacher

Schneider + Schumacher is an architecture firm with offices in China and Germany. It was founded by two engineer architects Till Schneider and Michael Schumacher, who are both very committed to superior details, structural clarity, and being task focused in every project they undertake. They works lies mainly in architecture, building and product management, product design, and town planning. Along with their entire team, Schneider and Schumacher set out to design and build structures that are flexible and cost effective, while still offering a clearly unique experience to the client. They also take into consideration the growing concern of sustainability and adaptability, so they work to build that into their designs. One of their most recently and highly acclaimed architectural designs is the extension they…

Bjarke Ingels Group

Bjarke Ingels Group, also known as BIG, is an architectural company based in both Copenhagen and New York. Their team is comprised of architects, designers, builders and thinkers — all key components for developing their next greatest project. They are continuously involved in a handful of projects ranging anywhere from North America to Europe and Middle East to Asia. In addition to architecture, BIG has expertise in the urbanism, research and development fields. Their designs are unlike any other company’s because they incorporate the changes of contemporary life and base their projects off of how society is evolving. Click here to take a look at both past, present and future projects. “By hitting the fertile overlap between pragmatic and utopia, we architects once again…

Elenberg Fraser

Elenberg Fraser is a multi-residential architecture and interior design firm based in Melbourne, Australia founded by Zahava. Much of the residential space in Melbourne is designed by the Fraser team, along with luxury resorts, hotels, and restaurants throughout Melbourne, Sydney, and Hanoi. There is strong modern and comtemporary theme in her designs which stems from her dedication to the acknowledgment of current trends combined with consideration of the current market. Fraser is a strong believer in the design process being all about catering to the customer’s preferences and style, and being flexible when it comes to cost and the floor plan. Fraser likes to create for their clients very livable but still exciting environments. The design team creates a much more unique atmosphere within the spaces…

Whitepod

Whitepod is a unique, eco-tourism resort located in Switzerland, perched along the swiss alps and over-looking Lake Geneva. The resort itself has an interesting layout with the main lodge, the chalet Les Cerniers, located at the base of the resort, and scatter above along the mountainside are the guest “pods”. They aredome-shaped tents pitched atop wooden platforms. Each room comes furnished with one bed, a full bathroom directly linked to warm spring water, and other furniture and objects crafted by local artists. Each room is also equipped with a wood-burning stove and are very well-insulated so all guests are able to enjoy the gorgeous alpine scenery. The rooms are intended to reflect traditional Swiss lodging while offering a luxury aesthetic. View more of what Whitepod resort has…

ARTechnic

A Japanese architectural studio established in 1994 by Kotaro Ide, ARTechnic creates both residential and commercial structures. As president and architect, Ide works to make his projects stand out from the rest. ARTechnic’s buildings bring fresh, contemporary style that is based on innovation and experience. They believe that the quality of life and the environment can be improved through such excellence. Ide, along with assistant architects Ruri Mitsuyasu, Tatsuya Orito and metalwork designer Manami Kawamura, construct projects that leave a lasting impression. Shell, a private residential home completed in 2008, received much recognition throughout the past few years. In 2009, it received Interior Design’s Best of Year Award. The following year, the home reached its fame in England with publication in Architecture Now! Houses by…

Sadar + Vuga

Sadar + Vuga is an architecture firm headed by the team Jurij Sadar and Bostjan Vuga. Their firm is based in Slovenia and focuses on architectural design and urban planning. Sadar and Vuga, along with their design time create structures with the intentions to broaden the imagination and stimulate the senses of the public. Their clients vary from municipal councils, to government bodies, and private art organizations, and they primarily design residential buildings, interactive public buildings such as resorts, offices, retail space, and sports stadiums, and the reconstruction of existing structures. Their design aesthetic can be described as modern contemporary with a unique and experimental use of space and dimension. Sadar and Vuga believe that architecture should be a means to shape and change social space. If…

West 8

West 8 is an urban planning and design firm from the Netherlands. Adriaan Geuze is the founder, and along with partner Edzo Bindels they run West 8 New York. West 8 is known as a leading urban design firm in Europe, and has been becoming just as well known in the United States. Their architectural design ranges from landscape to urban structures, and brings together modern culture, urban identity, regard to public space, and engineering to create one cohesive design. Since the firm was created in 1987 the team has won many architecture awards and various international design competitions such as the new design for Governor’s Island in New York City, and the New Central Waterfront in Toronto, Canada. West 8 and its team of…

Jakob + MacFarlane

Dominique Jakob and Brenda MacFarlane are the innovative architects behind the firm Jakob + MacFarlane based out of Paris. They work together designing offices and other public buildings, homes, traveling installations, home furnishings, and interior spaces. They set themselves apart through their use of digital technology to develop their design concepts and bring those designs to life. They believe this use of new material will create a more “flexible and immediate environment”. Their projects, structures, and home furnishings also have a very unique geometric aesthetic to them. The architectural design team regularly competes in design competitions and have recently had a book published about their works and innovation in the world of architecture.

Studio Fuksas

Studio Fuksas is an architectural design and urban planning studio led by Massimiliano Fuksas and Doriana Mandrelli. Both have received degrees in architecture and have decades of experience. Fuksas has offices in Rome, Paris, and Shenshen, China with an international staff of 170 employees. Their teams have built structures around the world, but have left their biggest footprint in Europe, regarding the recently completed, and open to the public New National Archives of France. They create a variety of structures from shopping malls, housing, public and religious buildings, exhibitions, and even product design. It is very important to the studio that their client is involved throughout the entire process from concept, to design and construction. They take on a very innovative approach to architecture with…

Ensamble Studio

Ensamble studio is an architectural design and construction studio based out of Madrid, Spain. It’s team consists of founder PhD Antón García-Abril, partner Débora Mesa, and Javier Cuesta, head of construction design. All have graduated from schools with degrees in architecture, and view it with a very scientific perspective. When designing their structures they are constantly taking into consideration the history of the space they are building on, as well as the natural elements. This aesthetic can be seen in Cervantes Theatre and The Truffle. It’s important to the studio to maintain a proportional relationship between the scale of the building elements and space they are using. Ensamble Studio is a research oriented team that enjoys giving back to the local community through its architecture, while highlighting both…

K2s Architects

K2s architects are sweeping the Finnish nation with futuristic creations, polished with their traditional roots. Recently, K2s architects completed the exquisite “Kamppi Chapel of Silence” in central Helsinki, Finland, designed by architects Lintula Kimmo, Niko Sirola and Mikko Summanen. Evangelical Lutheran church of Finland commissioned it in collaboration with the city of Helsinki. It is meant to be “a place of silence and contemplation for all people next to one of the busiest commercial centers in Finland” as stated by architect Summanen. Its curved wooden shape resembles an egg or bowl, evokes the idea of Noah’s ark and fits 60 people maximum. The small sacral sanctuary has no windows creating a space with great audibility. The constructions for the chapel begun in March 2011 and was completed…

LIKEarchitects

LIKEarchitects is one architectural design firm that has stacked up their awards for ephemeral creations globally. Operating from Lisbon, Portugal, this experimental and modern studio is comprised of young Portuguese architects Diogo Aguiar, Teresa Otto and João Jesus. Recently, the firm partnered with IKEA to create ‘LEDscape’, an installation with a self-descriptive name: a landscape of LED lights displayed this previous holiday season. Placed in the CCB – Belém Cultural Centre, ‘LEDscape’, contains 1,200 Ledare light bulbs and 1,200 Hemma floor lamp bases from IKEA in various heights. The standard walkway for the pedestrian is blocked, forcing them to interact with the structure and walk through the lit lamp forest. ‘LEDscape’ is part of a greater plan to promote community involvement of urban settings. See…