ToastingDesign Blog

The economy has been rough.  Tensions have built between architects, owners, contractors, consultants, etc. Much of the public has limited understanding of what we do, and the architecture profession is going through some turmoil right now. There are even segments of our industry that feel that architects aren’t needed. Many architects and building professionals are ready for something to change and are looking for an avenue to make that happen.

NOW IS THE CHANCE TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN!

The AIA has announced a year-long initiative titled “Repositioning the Institute” aimed at discovering how to truly move the architecture profession forward. Many people believe that the public definition of the architect and the profession is outdated and inadequate, and Jeff Potter, FAIA, puts it rather beautifully:  “The public thinks design is a noun – we know design is a verb.”

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Full Project Link: Khel Tower | Mumbai Vertical Athletic Sporting Community
The following project is an Advanced Architecture Studio project by Mark Swingler and Kent Hoffman in coordination with Professor Antony Wood, Executive Director of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. The project was located in the C-Ward District of Mumbai, India and seeks to make a difference in aspiring athletes lives and communities, ultimately strengthening its legacy for generations to come. Due to the intense population density of Mumbai, it was necessary to move from the horizontal to vertical realm, creating an innovative athletic facility in the sky.

What do you do when you are restricted from building a skyscraper?  Duh, build an EARTHSCRAPER of course!  This is something you have to see to believe…

Talk about flipping architecture upside-down…and yeah, pun intended!

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In the final semester of architecture school, Matthew Abbott and Ryan Bloom participated in a traveling studio (Tall and Green: Seoul) sponsored by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) based in Seoul, South Korea.  The design studio’s goal was to design a high rise based around a particular issue plaguing Seoul.

After spending 8 days in Seoul with the class and professor, Matt and Ryan determined that their highrise solution would address the aging population of South Korea and the many issues surrounding the topic.  Challenging the norms of highrise design, Noin Tap focused on the needs of the Korean elderly, innovative ideas in structure and experience, and more.

Recently, Matt and Ryan’s design was shortlisted in the CTBUH “Why Tall?” International Design Competition that concluded on October 12th, 2011 at the CTBUH National Conference in Seoul, South Korea, where their work was on display.  Their work can be viewed below as well as on the CTBUH website (www.ctbuh.org) under Tall Buildings Academic and Student Work.

Noin Tap (Elderly Tower) Competition Entry

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