Hydropolis in Dubai

Since every Malaysian architect (rethink: no, every single living architect) seem to be hoping to get their big break in Dubai – the Las Vegas of the Middle East, here’s a short one on one of the mega-projects under development there.

This one is called Hydropolis, a luxury underwater hotel. (Hmmm, I have a special fondness for water if you didn’t know) I doubt this is the first underwater hotel, having heard about a smaller one in Florida but I am not sure on how true that is.

“Hydropolis is not a project; it’s a passion,” enthuses Joachim Hauser, the developer and designer of the hotel. I like what he is saying - passion is indeed what is lacking in many Malaysian architects.

“There have been many visions of colonising the sea – Jules Verne, Jean Gusto and several Japanese architects – but no one has ever managed to realise this dream. Despite being a dream of mankind for centuries, nobody has ever been able to make living underwater possible.”

Visitors begin at the land station to enter this surreal space. The semicircular cylinder will arch over a multi-storey building. On the lowest level passengers board a train into Hydropolis.  

So now we’re creating a living space in the sea. I’m sure that soon, architects and town planners would be looking into the future of underwater city planning. So maybe someday, you could come visit me in my underwater home..? Whooo, how cool is that!

Anyway, this is how it would look like from the top. The land belongs to the Crown Prince of Dubai, and this is his last free beach property on this stretch of coast. (Just thought you might want to know)

This thing costs about €550 million and is scheduled launch on December 2006. So if you can’t swim or dive, this would be a great option to get an underwater experience.. but be warned, you’d better be uber-loaded!

Solar Umbrella House

Here’s a cool house.

The Solar Umbrella House in Venice (by Pugh+Scarpa) features a solar canopy that wraps the south wall and roof, screening out the scorching sun while providing the residence with all of its electricity. Sunlight provides 95% of electricity for the house. The concept for the house was about climate and the idea of making the house a pavilion in the garden.

This is how it looks like on the other side of the street.

This space is located on the first floor of the home. It is defined and highlighted by the solar canopy.

The transition between the house and garden. It is so cool the way the landscape slips in and out of the house.

The living room opens up to the garden at the side. This illustrates the creativity that went into the house’s boundaries between inside and outside, a mixture of concrete, steel, and sliding glass panels that create a porous edge.

The home’s master bedroom is fitted with built-in cabinets made from formalhyde-free MDF.

My favourite interior feature is the feature staircase that links the living room to the upstairs. The perforated steel treads and risers allow light to filter into the spacious living area downstairs.

This project was chosen as an AIA Committee on the Environment Top Ten Green Project for 2006. You can check out the other projects here.

What more can I say than that this house rocks! 

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Pugh+Scarpa Architects claim to be inspired by the Umbrella House designed by Paul Rudolph in 1953. It was built as a model home on Lido Key. The name came from the huge wooden trellis that extended over the terrace and pool. It was said to be ‘one of the five most remarkable houses of the mid-20th century’. The open floor plan includes visible structural columns and a double-height living room.

 

Go check these links for the Umbrella House: 1 and 2.

Designer shelves

So fellow booklovers, maybe it’s time to show off your books! I found some pretty cool designer bookshelves you might want to look at..

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1. Ready Made

(Designer: NEXT Architects, Droog Design, Netherland)

What it looks like: A bookshelf of a well-read individual, with a series of classic titles.

Storage method: The linen-wrapped book covers extend only 4cm inwards. Each is attached to a rod that runs inside the upper section of all five MDF shelves. Push a ‘classic’ amd it swings upwards, providing space for and actual book. Remove your book, and the classic returns to it’s original position.

Livee’s verdict: This is a witty resolution for aspiring readers to display the books they collect but never intend to read. Aesthetic-wise, it isn’t really my cup of tea…

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2. Liz

(Designer: Mass,  France)

What it looks like: One of those teaching aids my teachers used to let me play with in kindergarten.

Storage method: Accessible from both sides, this bookcase is ideal for collections that vary in size. Drawing one short balsa plank to its limit through the MDF frame creates a shelf while modifying the space on its opposite side, making room for a taller book. A locking system installed inside each shelf prevents it from being pulled through the bookcase.

Livee’s verdict: The “push-me-pull-you” effect would make this design very appealing to kids. I’d definitely like to play with this thing if I was a decade-and-a-half younger. I hate the slimy green though! It’s probably best for a children’s centre or something of that sort. Btw, this shelf feels very IKEA-ish to me.

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3. Ptolomeo

What it looks like: Nothing.

Storage method: Stretching from a stainless-steel base, a column of books rests on top of each other in steel C-sections. Each C-section is attached to a supporting structure at the rear, forming a tower (of BOOKS! Woohoo, what a dream come true!).

Livee’s verdict: I love the fact that it is “barely even there”. At first glance, I thought it looked like the books are toppling over second, but I like it because it give me a sense of “organized chaos”.

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4. Three-2

(Designer: Jakop & MacFarlane, Italy)

What it looks like: A semi-transparent honeycomb tower.

Storage method: The varying shape of the stacked volumes provides an exciting range of display options. New titles can be shown off in shallower nooks, while squarish recesses provide more conventional shelving space.

Livee’s verdict: With the funky colours and shapes, these shelves are real eye candies. I find this very un’bookshelf’ish and eye-catching. But I wonder if it’ll still look this good when it starts shelving books.

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5. Sticklebook 702

(Designer: Gusto, UK)

What it looks like: Illusionary floating books.

Storage method: A combed strip grips the pages of each book in this shelving system, making paperbacks appear as if they are suspended in mid-air. Hiding behind the books is the supporting structure, an aluminium ‘backbone’. Books are easily tapped onto pronged modules of the plate, which grips them securely.

Livee’s verdict: This is a cool solution that tries to rethink the conventional designs of bookshelves – the books are held up on a wall, instead of having them rest on a shelf. However, I’d probably not risk the pages of my expensive books to be held in mid-air like that. So I think this system would be best used with second-hand books. Plus – this thing doesn’t look like it is capable of supporting heavy-weight paperbacks.. right?

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6. Marmalade

(Designer: Terry Schreuer & Alon Razgour, Israel)

What it looks like: A toy, maybe?

Storage method: This ’shelf’ features a wood base and relies on simple spring mechanics. Place a book on the row of blow-moulded plastic blades and its weight pushes down metal springs concealed in the units it rests on. Supported on either side by unweighted blades, the book maintains an upright position.

Livee’s verdict: This shelf is fun and functional at the same time. It changes shape as differently sized books are added, since the descent of each blade depends on its load. The fun mechanism and bright colours would attract both kids or adults… or me, at least! Another great idea to rethink the expression of conventional shelves!

James Turrell ‘Light Reign’

I have always been fascinated with light-related architecture and designs because they encourage people to slow down and ponder, enjoy and be fascinated by the beauties of nature in our modern fast-paced world. Many artists work with paint, stone, clay, fabric etc. etc. But I really ‘tabik’ those that work with light, because the medium is so short-lived – but they still manage to capture such beautiful moments. James Turrell is one of them, and he calls his spaces ‘the Skyspace’.

 

‘Light Reign’ is currently installed at the Henry Art Gallery. (No I have not been there, but would very much want to.) This Skyspace is an elliptical pavilion that “floats” above the ground on two columns. Visitors sit on a bench that runs along the building’s interior. The back of the bench is tipped slightly, encouraging visitors to look up at the sky through a large opening in the ceiling.

This reminds me of the Pantheon in Rome though. The only thing is that in Pantheon, the sky seems more remote… In the Skyspace, it seems closer to the viewer.

 

And as for the exterior, one would easily describe the structure as ‘a translucent glass lantern’. Looks cute, don’t you think? Heehee.. The structure’s translucent exterior shell incorporates computerized LED lighting that slowly changes color over time, providing soft luminescence at night and on cloudy days.

For those unfamiliar with James Turrell, he is best known for his other project – Roden Crater. That’s another really cool project I wish I could visit. It is actually a space designed as a massive naked-eye observatory for the volcanic phenomena at the site. Cool huh!