Chathurika Kulasinghe Features a Simple House Typical of Curved Countryside

This project is a reform project of a farmhouse hosting pension that has been around since the 18th century. The farmhouse is located on a site that is linked to the north part of the famous Camino de Santiago. This area is on the outskirts of the traditional core of Madelos en Sobrado dos Monxes and borders the Concello de Boimorto. The initial building of this farmhouse hosting pension began to be abandoned in the 1970s due to its deteriorating condition. The wooden structure of this building has weathered with some of the stone walls crumbling. EeG recognizes that the process of abandonment of old buildings as is the case in many rural areas is causing a transformation of the landscape. It is also influenced by social and cultural changes. For this reason, the abandoned building is then reconnected with the surrounding environment by re-establishing the access from the north which is a continuation of the path. This building is then made as a transition, passing through the large space on the ground floor and then connecting it to a clearing in the forest. Because this is a reformation project, everything that can be preserved from the existing building is preserved. Additions were also made to increase the functionality, such as a room on the ground floor and an increase in height. To produce a reciprocal look throughout the structure, transparencies and traditional materials are used for the restored walls. These new forms are used to produce a passive climate system, through windows that control temperature, deciduous vines for solar control, and pools of water that generates thermal inertia and cross ventilation. His project is realized through a structural solution that combines traditional systems of portals, plates, joints, and materials. It is also supported on pre-existing structures. The goal is to integrate the old building with its new needs in an environment with the warmth and harmony provided by traditional materials and solutions. The same is true for interiors where strength and exterior light are introduced through transparencies, amplified in areas with reflections created by mirrors. Forming a balance between the synergies of the past with the environment and the construction of the present.

Architecture studio Precht has created Bert, a uniquely shaped building with four main masses that serve as accommodation for guests and restaurant staff at the Steirereck am Pogusch. Located in rural Pogusch, Austria, Precht and Baumbau designed Bert in 2019 with the concept of a treehouse. The concept of tree trunk shape aims to balance and resist the strong winds around the forest. Precht explained that Bert was built with the thought that most people in the future will spend their entire lives in the city. So, when people go to the forest or the mountain, they will see a lot of things that they’ve never seen before. That's the beginning of people's perspectives that can change according to the place they visit. Precht asserted, through the environment and nature he will invite people to think that they are not the main character when in the mountains or forests, but they are only the smallest part of a very long story. "For this reason, Bert started from the ambition to create a building that looks like it is in a fairyland with a not too big environmental impact," Precht said at the Forest Stewardship Council event Bert's uniqueness and characteristics as a "cartoon-style tree house" are visible through a circular and branched shape that represents the tree trunk. For this reason, this building uses a circular tube-shaped concrete foundation and is combined with a prefabricated construction method that uses cross-laminated timber (CLT) material made of cross-laminated wood. As a hospitality building, Bert's interior consists of a kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bathroom that blends with an interior designed in dark colors. In addition, Bert's interior also applies exposed wood to look contrasted with the wooden buildings surrounding the interior. Because Bert's structure is curved, the furniture used is also adjusted to the shape of the building structure. The exterior of Bert uses a layered wooden board material designed to withstand the weather and can change over time. Precht created a large circular window on each mass on the front façade that displayed uniqueness such as the eyes of cartoon characters on Sesame Street or the little yellow Minions from the animated film Despicable Me. In addition, these circular windows also serve as the main circulation of natural light into the building.

Owner and architect Jim Cutler Anderson Architects chose a location with an artificial pool for his residential project. This area is also overgrown with various types of vegetation due to its geographical location which is still in an 88-hectare vineyard area which is not conducive to cultivation. This family residence occupies 502.92m2 and this 167.64m2 guesthouse is designed to unite the owner's life with the surrounding environment. The owner who has a strong attachment to nature deliberately expands his emotional connection with a wider life. The wooden roof, kitchen, living room, dining room, and master bedroom use a simple steel frame for their structure. Therefore, the design of this house has many openings that integrate the outside view with the indoor situation. In addition, the glass material also becomes a single unit that harmonizes the house with the environment. Glass also functions as a circulator that will maximize incoming light and provide warm temperatures into the house. The glass partitions blend well with the presence of local wood construction.  Jim designed this house by making the pool and residence one unit so that residents can enjoy the outside view and connect with wild creatures who "visit" the pool at certain times to find food or drink water. To allow guests to get a feel for the place, the guesthouse is connected by a covered walkway that is outside the room. In plain view, this pool is enlarged and loosened so that it can blend with the residential structure. Calculation of the location and placement of the building structure has been planned in such a way that visitors can park their vehicle in the area provided and walk 46m to reach the residence and pool. On their way, they had to pass through a forest that led to a bridge that crossed a small part of the pond and to the main entrance. And when visitors enter the pool area and residence, they will be presented with a wide view of the pool. When they see the panorama, it is hoped that they can unwind and become a pleasant experience to remember.

Plan Associates has constructed a multipurpose office building located in Amphoe Mueang, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Located in a bustling area, Choice Headquarters is surrounded by a wealth of culture like Thai architectural elements such as the long-Kao (Thai rice harvest house), the wall of Chiang Mai, and traditional Thai terraces. By Plan Associates, these elements were applied to the Choice Headquarters building by combining modern architectural styles and environmental influences. Façade Choice Headquarters This four-story building has various functions and uses. To fluently circulate light and air, the design team designed a central courtyard with a large open area filled with greenery to bring natural sunlight and cool air into the building. In addition, natural ventilation is placed in the entrance hall. Choice Headquarters combines modern architectural styles and traditional elements A large staircase becomes access between spaces at Choice Headquarters Grouping in the same area, there is a grand stair that functions as a transition zone between the plaza on the 1st floor and the open space on the 2nd floor. This staircase serves to connect people in the office to maximize their mobility in carrying out activities related to the rooms in the office. Choice Headquarters. Through this staircase, people can easily access the lounge areas, meeting rooms, and seminar rooms. In addition, the stairs are designed to allow people to exercise and save energy while creating intense interaction with people in the office. Open space on the 2nd floor Room zoning by Plan Associates is oriented towards the wind flow and sun shading. So, the core area consisting of a gathering place for certain space functions, networks, installations, and circulation of the building is placed on the west side to minimize exposure to solar radiation during the day. Meanwhile, offices and meeting rooms are located on the north, south, and east sides, respectively. When you look more deeply into the contents of the building, you will see that the building spans in columns which create a large open area with a sparse arrangement of columns. The flexibility of setting this column is meant for future functionality changes. Office space  Office space in Choice Headquarters has two variations of use, namely 75% formal office space and 25% informal office space. The difference in the design of this office space is intended to respond to the use of space flexibly, create a good atmosphere so that it can encourage creativity, and relate to a lifestyle that can adapt to technological changes. Window glass and aluminum reflect the harmonization of local Thai materials and contemporary materials As a building surrounded by rich Thai culture, Plan Associates tries to use local materials that are affordable and easy to find. Thus, in addition to supporting local businesses, it also saves time and costs in the construction process. This material is a vernacular brick used as the main material in the construction of Choice Headquarters that can be seen on the interior and exterior. In addition, the integration of raw natural materials such as wood and raw concrete combined with window glass and aluminum reflects the harmonization of the attractiveness of local Thai materials and contemporary materials. Choice Headquarters is iconic with its vernacular brick facade designed to form a heat-protective grille. Vernacular bricks, wood, and concrete are the main materials in Choice Headquarters Responding to the current unrest, architecture in this era is required to create sustainable buildings that are oriented towards nature and the environment. For this reason, Choice's office building is in the process of Platinum Tree Certification from the Thai Green Building Institute (TGBI). Section Choice Headquarters