The Athenaeum International Architecture Award was established in 2006 in Chicago to celebrate outstanding new buildings and urban designs. The annual list of winners provides an insight into the current trends in commercial, public and residential architecture. The jury pays special attention to innovative solutions and the use of new materials, which allow the creation of architecture that is respectful of the environment and the historical context.
This year, 114 projects from 36 countries were awarded the prize. In October, they will be shown at an exhibition as part of the second Istanbul Design Biennale, then at the opening of the Contemporary Center in Athens, and in the fall of 2015 at the first Chicago Architecture Biennale. We are proud to present two award-winning projects by Russian architects, as well as eight other interesting buildings from the list of winners.
Residential building "Venice" / Evgeny Gerasimov and partners
Residential building "Venice" is located on Krestovsky Island - one of the most luxurious districts of St. Petersburg. The proximity to the park and water, some isolation of the building site from neighboring buildings and, of course, the architecture of the building itself give it a convincing resemblance to a palace or castle. The jury appreciated the use of advanced technologies (the suspended ventilated facade system bears the load from decorative elements, Scandinavian-type window frames) and unconventional materials (Jurassic marble and clinker bricks are used in the facade decoration).
Museum of Architectural Drawing / SPEECH
The building of the museum is the embodiment of the dream of the architect and passionate collector of graphics Sergei Tchoban about the ideal space for storing and exhibiting architectural drawings. It is located on the territory of the former Pfefferberg brewery, in one of the bohemian districts of Berlin, which until recently was industrial. The laconic monumental building sensitively responds to the existing development, but at the same time confidently declares itself - a free silhouette, contrasts of concrete and glass, decorative elaboration of facades. The area of the museum is only about 490 m2 and includes an entrance space, two showrooms, a storage room and a conference room. The building is designed in such a way that it maintains the temperature and humidity conditions created inside for a long time. A variety of security systems and lighting with the lowest possible ultraviolet radiation allow the most valuable exhibits to be displayed.
Eli & Edith Broad Museum of Art / Zaha Hadid Architects
The museum is located on the outskirts of the University of Michigan campus. This is a territory that is actively used by both students and ordinary citizens. The liveliness of the place was reflected in the network of highways, roads and paths, some of which were deliberately designed, and some appeared as a way to shorten the route. These multidirectional flows served as inspiration for the composition of the museum building. Thanks to the dialogue of intersecting geometric planes, many differently adjoining spaces have been created inside, which gives a wide field for experiments with exposure. Thanks to a thoughtful approach, the building fits perfectly into the existing context of the place.
Tower The Bow / Foster + Partners
This 237-meter tower is one of the tallest buildings in Canada, the main landmark and dominant of the city of Calgary. The curved shape appeared in response to the study of climatic conditions. The tower faces south, bending towards the sun, which allows it to get the maximum amount of sunlight and heat, provide as many offices as possible with views of the Rocky Mountains, reduce wind load and the amount of steel required for construction. The triangular sections of the diagonal lattice structure encircling the entire building visually soften its scale. On the concave side of the tower, atriums are made to the full height of the building, which act as climatic buffer zones. They insulate the building and further reduce energy consumption. The atriums on the 24th, 42nd and 54th floors have three landscaped gardens with mature trees. The tower is connected to the city's system of closed pedestrian paths, the second floor is open to the townspeople - shops and cafes are located here. The arc of the building forms a beautiful square, in the center of which stands a sculpture by the Catalan Jaume Plensa.
Tower Carpe Diem / Robert A. M. Stern Architects
The Carpe Diem tower is not just another high-rise dominant of La Défense. So far, this is the only building in France that has a double LEED-CS certificate, and even platinum. The main energy resource is geothermal sources, the water in the building is additionally heated by sunlight (the ever-changing light of the Parisian sky "catches" the faceted facade), there is a heat recovery system, control of lighting intensity, presence sensors. Column-free interiors provide maximum light and spectacular views. The main lobby is decorated with an atrium with a conservatory.
Roberto Garza Sada Center for the Arts in Mexico City / Tadao Ando Architect & Associates
This closed building consists of six floors, each 5.4 m high. The main materials to match the harsh shape are concrete, granite, plaster, epoxy coating. At first glance, the building may appear gloomy and unfriendly. However, surprisingly enough, there is a lot of natural light inside - almost all the windows are concentrated on the roof of the building. They are equipped with a system of automatic blinds that control the flow of light. A special air conditioning system ensures high efficiency of electricity consumption; the lamps are connected to heat, motion and daylight sensors located throughout the building. A system has been created inside that regulates the light and air for each room separately, depending on its purpose.
Columbia University Campbell Sports Center / Stephen Hall
The building is located on the northern outskirts of Manhattan as an addition to the Columbia University outdoor sports complex. It houses a gymnasium, university team offices, as well as conference rooms, a training center, an executive hotel room and auditoriums. Stephen Hall describes the concept of a building as “points on the ground, lines in space” with which coaches describe match layouts. The points are piles and the lines are external staircases and terraces. The building forms the corner of the street and forms a kind of portal connecting the playing field with the city space. The industrial look of the building emerged in response to the adjacent Broadway Bridge and subway ramps.
Perot Museum of Nature and Science / Morphosis Architects
The museum building fully complies with the principles of sustainable architecture, that is, it seeks to have the least impact on the environment. This is not just a background for exhibits, but a full-fledged tool for scientific education. By linking architecture, nature and technology, the museum exemplifies scientific principles and arouses interest in the environment. The building is in the shape of a cube, it is surrounded by a characteristic Texas artificial landscape. The undulating stone roof is planted with drought-resistant grass and is a living ecosystem that will develop independently over time. Nature flows gently into the anthropogenic interior of the museum. The high atrium is flooded with natural light, escalators take visitors to the upper floor, where an observation deck is equipped. Actually, this is where the museum's route begins - down the spiral path through the exhibition galleries and now and then unexpected views of the city.
Dalian International Convention Center / Coop Himmelb (l) au
The concept of the building reflected both the promising future of Dalian City and its traditional role as a port, commercial, industrial and tourist center. The rational structure and organization of the building connects with airy spaces and modernist architecture. Suspended volumes wedge into the facade and create a complex multifaceted structure. A multifunctional theater venue for 1,600 people and a conference hall for 2,500 people, as well as many other facilities, are located under one roof. The "folds" and "flakes" of the façade are designed to let in as much natural light as possible.
Al Bahar Towers in Abu Dhabi / AHR
It can be assumed that the completion of the construction of the Al Bahar towers in the future will be associated with the beginning of a new era in the history of architecture. Its concept was influenced by local historical and cultural traditions and environmental aspects. Elements of the dynamic façade - a reimagined traditional mashrabiya lattice - open and close based on the movement of the sun, reducing the effect of heat on the façade by 50%. This made it possible to abandon heavily tinted glass and artificial lighting, to provide a good view from the windows. The tops of the towers are cut at an angle to maximize the benefits of rooftop solar panels. Inside the buildings, in areas of the greatest sun exposure, gardens have been designed to create a comfortable environment. Honeycomb mesh works well in terms of earthquake resistance, weight redistribution and wind load reduction. The architectural concept of the building echoes the important concept of Islam and the emerging science of biomimmikria - the unity and interconnectedness of all living things.
