Dominus Winery by Herzog and de Meuron -Crystal Chambers

Herzog & de Meruon work together in a Swiss Architecture firm, known for their innovative architectural designs. For this project they wanted to integrate the space (winery) into the landscape to echo the importance of the winery. The materials used in this project were concrete, galvanized steel gabions and basalt rock from a nearby American Canyon. The gabion idea was both an aesthetic and technical choice. Gabions are used to temper the interior environment so as to not allow for crazy temperature fluctuations. The location of this winery is set back from the road in the heart of the vineyard. The concept of this winery was 'a sensous fusion of nature and man-made' which is and original but yet a very economical solution.

Night Garden By Rael San Fratello Architects- Rachel Marie Dala

Night Garden is a vertical landscape installation created by Rael San Fratello Architects and Architecture students at University of California Berkeley for DesCours, a free, public, week-long architecture and art event in New Orleans. Night garden was inspired by historic Spanish courtyards which were built after the fires of 1780's and 90's. The courtyards were constructed by ceramic brick and including a water fountain that was use to terminate external fires. By taking New Orleans historical architectural reference, Night Garden is a new installation of glowing porcelain tiles with in a steel structure, supporting translucent vessels designed to hold evening flowers such as primrose, brassavola, and moonflowers. Some materials and references used were wrought iron, brick, tile, placement of water, historical relevance of fire and exotic plant life of New Orleans. The construction of the tiles (plastic molds) use to slip case the porcelain were created by a three-dimensional program Modo. The porcelain mold contains a pattern created by the tooling paths tool in Modo. The tooling path also accentuated the transparent quality of the porcelain while electric kin firing gave each tile a different color finish. The translucent vessels are vacuum-formed, holding green water to support the flower while mounted on a LED light.

Beijing Noodle No.9 (Las Vegas) by Design Spirits Co., Ltd - Alex.

Beijing Noodle No.9 (Las Vegas)
Design Spirits Co., Ltd

Architect's statement:

"A space, gently covered with light through a silk-like skin. The challenge was to break the preconceived ideas that make up the elements of an interior, by governing the space into "one coordinated element" through the creation of a seamless border.

This contemporary Chinese restaurant, Beijing Noodle No. 9, is located within the huge casino hotel holding over 3,300 rooms in Las Vegas. The restaurant is adjacent to the casino; consequently, the excitement, gaming machine sounds, and neon lights are naturally overflowed into the space.

In general, a space usually consists of various interior elements, materials, series of products, and patterns placed appropriately. Taking advantage of no support columns in the site, the Beijing Noodle No. 9 utilizes the only one pattern throughout the space to achieve the minimal and visually calm atmosphere set in the heart of a surrealistic environment.

The restaurant incorporates the subtle boundary bringing the fading casino sounds into the space to create the inviting welcome to customers. Since the open design façade allows the sounds in and out, the one primary arabesque pattern is applied to the entire space to produce visual calmness.

As customers walk into the space, they will undergo the visually and physically 'gunblocked' entry experience, and are comfortably led past the sparkling aquarium tanks to the deep part of the restaurant. The gorgeous double-wall design features the elegant arabesque patterned layers, consisting of one woodland-patterned steel decorative surface above a painted similarly patterned solid back, with glossy finish. This design creates the arabesque shadow effect, and the wall continuously extends to be the ceiling, which generates a soft cocoon-like interior experience. By placing LED indirect lights between the layers, the arabesque patterned shadows are appeared on the tables, floor, and kitchen appliances to accomplish a cohesive design throughout the space.

The overall dining experience, supported by brightly lit ambient light, envelopes customers in a sensuous embrace. Dreamy lighting contrast projecting the wonder of deep forest, and secrets of the ocean conquers the sounds from the casino to create a visual serenity."

MONDAY Oct. 18

We will be working in the woodshop using the vacuum former and laser cutter. Please wear closed toe shoes and dress appropriately.

Christian Dior Ginza Store by Kumiko Inui- Rachel Marie Dala

The Christian Dior designed by architect Kumiko Inui is located on Ginza Tokyo, Japan. The building conists of a translucent facade made out of two overlapping sheets of aluminum. The outer layer (1st skin) contains thousands of small to large holes intently revealing the 2nd layer (2nd skin) of the facade which also uses the same pattern. The facade pattern of the building derives from Christian Dior's signiture motif, a famous woven pattern from Thonet's Chair. The project was completed in 2004.

Heklad Stal Shelf by Bility- Amy Ngo

Artist: Gudrun Lilja

Concept: To build a shelf inspired from crocheted lace doilies

Effects: Aesthetic appeal

Materials: Perforated polycoated steel

Living glass by The Living- Amy Ngo

Concept: To create a kinetic surface that controls air quality in a room.

Effects: Will help control air quality without using motors and mechanics. It also doesn’t emit sound, which makes it place-able anywhere without needing to be aware of the noise level. It would only be useful in interiors because it’s impossible to control the air outside.

Materials: Plexi-Wires, Silicone, 9V battery, materials to build the microcontroller (can be bought from a robotics kit).

Use of computer: The artist used many types of actual modeling such as using piano wires, homework board, plywood, and polyester mesh to test out their ideas. From there, they tested on silicone and different ways to use it instead of making a 3D model in a program.

Fabrication techniques: In making their final model, after building the microcontroller, they attached them to seams that contain the controllers and wires. For the panels, they had custom laser-cut washers and a Plexiglass mold. The mold is built with the plexi attached using pins that are trimmed (with wire cutters), then bolts are applied and everything is sealed using tape. Then, the liquid silicone is poured in the molds. Slits are cut through the surface using a technique perfected by earlier testing on plywood.

Extras: Part of a flash project which entitles an architectural project that is under $1000, lasts less than 3 months, a creation of a full-scale and functioning prototype.