Multi Purpose Stair - 10Out2008

Stumbleupon is always a great source for internet randomness - and a quick way to waste some time. But we always find some gems, like this staircase designed by London based Levitate Architects. The staircase was designed as a space-saving feature for an apartment in the UK.

The flat occupies part of the shared top floor of an existing Victorian mansion block. Our proposal extended the flat into the unused loft space above, creating a new bedroom level and increasing the floor area of the flat by approximately one third. We created a secret staircase, hidden from the main reception room, to access a new loft bedroom lit by roof lights. Limited by space, we melded the idea of a staircase with our clients desire for a library to form a library staircase in which English oak stair treads and shelves are both completely lined with books. With a skylight above lighting the staircase, it becomes the perfect place to stop and browse a tome. The stair structure was designed as an upside down sedan chair structure (with Rodrigues Associates, Structural Engineers, London) that carries the whole weight of the stair and books back to the main structural walls of the building. It dangles from the upper floor thereby avoiding any complicated neighbour issues with the floors below [Levitates Tim Sloan, via].

So, anyone else think it looks like they just found books to fill in the shelves for the photos? There looks to be multiple copies of everything&pretty siiick, nonetheless.

.:more on the staircase -> via Apartment Therapy

.:more on the flat itself -> via Apartment Therapy

impacted senator - 08Out2008

http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/2008/09/an-open-letter.html

The infamous No Impact Man has a run-in with a local NY senator, and writes an open letter in complaint [click the title of this post to read the full article].

The Human Cause - part one - 08Out2008

[Image: Kids at play in front of the CCV Chapel]

Tim McKeough [a freelance writer on all things architecture, arts, culture  design] reports in the September 2008 issue of Metropolis on the CCV Chapel, by Brooklyn, NY based Stan Allen Architect. Project lead Carlos Arnaiz was a volunteer for the Chosen Children Village [CCV] Foundation while growing up in the Philippines. The foundation, which works with children with disabilities, is a non profit and reached out to Arnaiz once they found out one of their own was an architect. SAA jumped at the opportunity to work on a project with limitations varying from the funding of the project to the zoning of the project in the town of Silang [located in a major seismic area]. As a classic example of great architecture at work, SAA circled through all the plausible outcomes and finalized upon a gem that cost in its totality around 250,000 dollars.

[Image: Building cross section]

At nearly 2,600 square feet, the concrete building has no incorporated HVAC systems or even glass or glazing enclosures. Instead, the concrete takes on the form or a stone-carved sculpture - a monumental form with openings on all walls [including the tanguile-slatted entry doors] whose curvilinear wall mimics a church organ in a way. As stated by Stan Allen [and a hint to all you first year architecture students struggling with designing your outdoor spaces out there]

Its really more of a pavilion than a buliding&Its not separated from the environment, and the wind blows right through. It was an opportunity to make a very elemental piece of architecture - its just about the space, the structure, and the light.

[Image: Interior saturated with natural light from interlocking finger wall]

Creating a project for next to nothing [in this day and age] is next to impossible without weakening either the projects final form or visualized potential use. The SAA design in my own opinion amply achieves both - holding interest in the envelope and interior space, remaining user friendly for the kids of CCV and those of the community, and staying to a modest budget. Donating ones talents and time is rare. What has resulted is simply siiick.

[Image: Exterior view of interlocking finger wall]

[Image: Interior view of chapel space]

.:You can check out Tims full article here->

All images courtesy of Marvin Dungao/ Stan Allen Architect. More on the Human Cause to come&peace ninjas and ninjettes.

Ninja Arithmetic XLIV - 08Out2008

Thanks to AMNP reader Zanzi for submitting this week?s edition of ninja math!

.:Zanzis previous Ninja Arithmetic submission->

::Ninja Arithmetic is an AMNP original feature that you can find here every Wednesday. To submit an idea for some ninja math, email us at ARCHITECTURE[at]MYNINJAPLEASE[dot]COM. For past entries, click on any Wednesday in the calendar - or click on the ?Ninja Arithmetic? category under ?archjutsu?::

Eye Candy: Peeta - 08Out2008

AMNP reader Adele hit us with a link to the work of Peeta, an Italian graffiti artist [more about Peeta]. In general I really liked the work - but his 3d work? My ninjas, PLEASE - dude is bananas.

.:Peetas Homepage->

::Eye Candy is a weekly post on exactly what it sounds like - something cool to look at, whether because the project is ill or simply because it warrants a ?my ninjas, please?. If you come across something in these here internets that you think should be featured here as ?Eye Candy?, hit us up! architecture AT myninjaplease dot com::

hard & soft - 08Out2008

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/07/science/07tier.html?8dpc

The presidential candidates claim to see America?s energy future, but their competing visions have a certain vintage quality. They?ve revived that classic debate: the hard path versus the soft path [read more by clicking the title of this post].

Jetson Green: SF Performing Arts Center - 08Out2008

Preston, green ninja master over at Jetson Green, writes:

Earlier this month, the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design announced a total of 66 buildings as winners of the prestigious and coveted American Architecture Awards program.  One of those buildings was Tom Eliot Fischs and LMN Architects design for the City College of San Franciscos (CCSF) new performing arts center.  As you can tell from the rendering, its going to be a beautiful, contemporary structure with tons of green features and natural lighting.  Scheduled to be complete in Spring 2010, the performing arts center will target LEED Gold certification with some of the following features:

• Geothermal well field and heat pump system
• Radiant floor and ceiling panel systems
• Natural ventilation
• Abundant natural light
• Water-saving fixtures
• A 30,000 sf living roof with native vegetation

Click here to read read the rest of this article [this is just an excerpt] over at Jetson Green.

::article written by Preston, founder + editor of Jetson Green - original article entitled SF Performing Arts Center LEED Design. These articles from Jetson Green on MNP?s Green Tuesdays are part of a feature you can find here every week - just click any Tuesday in the calender and enjoy! And for more ?green? news + info, head on over to Green.MNP::