Villa D, Zaha Hadid Architects recently featured the works of
Shigeru Ban as part of
Dellis Cay, a project consisting of million dollar villas designed by esteemed architects in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The list also includes Zaha Hadid, David Chipperfield,
Kengo Kuma,
Piero Lissoni, Chad Oppenheim, among others.
I mention this with excitement and reticence. Whilst it is great to have significant works of architecture constructed in the Caribbean - even though they are exclusive private residences, and aside from the historic precedents that exist - I am somewhat concerned with the environmental considerations of these projects.
Maison H , Shigeru Ban
The proposal showed by Shigeru Ban makes me consider if it is fit for purpose. The Caribbean is a brutal environment and requires robust construction. The world was educated on the destructive power that hurricanes yield with Katrina and in the Caribbean the hurricane season runs for over 6 months. We also average over 250 sunny days frequently with temperatures over 29°C that no amount of double glazing can effectively diminish. Throw in the humidity, rising tides and sea level changes and it begs certain questions from many of the renders and imagery shown. In the Caribbean, environmentally sensitive design is not optional, but for our survival.
A cautionary word -
starchitects take note due diligence is required.
The Raumati House in New Zealand is a seaside family residence designed by Parsonson Architects that allows view to the beach whilst maintaining protection from the wind and sun with a casual and flexible layout. The elevation mimics the profile of the landscape with a palette of materials that flow from inside to out.
cardboard study model
central atrium lined with books
living room
A live 5-day blogathon in Los Angeles with back-to-back discussions, interviews, panels, slideshows, films and parties designed to push the architecture and landscape conversation from virtual to reality.
photos by Jason Walp
PS1 - MOS
entry elevation
1937 - 2009, acclaimed architect most noted for the Media Centre at the Lords Cricket Oval and the competition entry for the National Library of Prague died on the streets of the Czech city, in the town that he was born. Kaplický was the founding partner of Future Systems, and with ex-wife Amanda Levete carved a radical, less "machine aesthetic" that was strikingly original and organic.
Villa D, Zaha Hadid Architects
Maison H , Shigeru Ban
Although in a dense Los Angeles neighbourhood the residence is able to skillfully soften the lines between inside and out without intrusion of the surroundings. The residence was made popular as it served as the primary setting for the dark comedy series Californication.
