Architecture

Insight Briefing: the business case for design and build

Insight Briefing: the business case for design and build

Simplicity is all. And it is this that is the underlying principle behind ‘Design and Build’; often the best, fastest and least expensive method of developing and implementing an office design project, yet also one of the least understood, especially with regard to its ability to deliver exceptional design.

The Key to Ambitious Sustainability Goals: HOK and Its Progress Going Carbon-Neutral

The Key to Ambitious Sustainability Goals: HOK and Its Progress Going Carbon-Neutral

Global firm HOK has long been a leader in advocating sustainable practices from its 23 offices spanning three continents. Not only was it one of the first of 400+ firms to date to sign on to the AIA 2030 Commitment — calling for new projects to be carbon neutral by 2030 — HOK is on track to meet 2030 targets ahead of the deadline.

‘Lego House’ designed by Bjarke Ingels will open in September

‘Lego House’ designed by Bjarke Ingels will open in September

It was an idea destined to happen: a whole building dedicated to Lego, built with nothing but massive Lego-style “bricks.” Indeed, word of the real-life Lego building designed by Bjarke Ingels Group first got out in 2013. Fast-forward four years, the pile of 21 white blocks is coming along nicely, looking just as Lego-y as early renderings suggested.

How Amazon’s Nonstop Growth Is Creating A Brand-New Seattle

How Amazon’s Nonstop Growth Is Creating A Brand-New Seattle

Today, Amazon says it has about 8.5 million square feet of space in Seattle (though some real estate sources estimates the figure as closer to 10 million). This gives it roughly 19% of all of the city’s “Class A” (high grade) office space, and about 70% of new downtown office space added in 2016 was exclusively for Amazon.

This Is Your Brain on Design

This Is Your Brain on Design

There has been, historically, a divide between building performance and human performance. I would argue that there’s no reason why they have to be divided. What we need to do is combine the information and produce best practices that serve both. We need to ask questions like, “Why do men and women differ when it comes to, say, thermal comfort?

Architectural Details: How the World’s Largest Curved Windows Were Forged for Apple Park

Architectural Details: How the World’s Largest Curved Windows Were Forged for Apple Park

As Apple Park approaches completion and thousands of its employees have already moved in, it is worth reflecting on how this extraordinary building envelope was made. It started with the windows: The design teams at Apple and Foster + Partners have the unmatched efforts of seele and sedak to thank for realizing this singularly bold vision for the windows, which also double as walls.

Dallas' first couple of design hitches Staffelbach future to big-league suitor

Dallas' first couple of design hitches Staffelbach future to big-league suitor

Andre Staffelbach, Dallas’ interior design of hall-of-famer, and his CEO wife, Jo Staffelbach Heinz, have decided to run with the big dogs.

On Tuesday evening, the sole owners of Staffelbach Design Group quietly merged their 70-person firm into Minneapolis-based DLR Group, the nation’s 23rd-largest integrated architectural and design firm, which is owned by an employee stock ownership program (ESOP).

A new book about architect Zaha Hadid teaches kids to be independent thinkers

A new book about architect Zaha Hadid teaches kids to be independent thinkers

The late “starchitect” Zaha Hadid should be a role model to many beyond the world of architecture—but her genius is often hidden in the dry and impenetrable language of architecture textbooks. The first solo female architect to receive her field’s highest prize, Hadid punched through all sorts of glass ceilings and stereotypes.