Carlos M. Teixeira – BrazilThe Prosthesis Garden | |
The majority of the plants in this garden in Nova Lima, Brazil, already existed when the house was built. A ground cover of Syngonium angustatum fivefingers now supplements the luscious verdure of fruit trees, several exotic trees, and tree species native to the Atlantic Forest. The forest that predates the building now houses several technical structures that more or less complement the vegetation. In a way, the trees serve as “bodies” for a number of “prosthetic devices”. At first, it was only two hooks for a hammock that were screwed into two tree trunks. Gradually, screw bars were added that pierce tree trunks and serve to suspend flowerpots holding bromeliads. Other supplements to the natural vegetation include a shelf, a table and a bench. The shelf and the table each consist of glass panes resting on metal frames anchored in the trees. The table is set on a wooden platform, and a tree trunk extended by a metal rod forms one of its legs. An elegant wooden bench is propped on two logs of wood, its backrest supported by two trees by means of a steel truss. Two further elements complete the unusual design principle: some dead bushes were painted in a glowing magenta, and the hedge is a bamboo row backed by a magenta satin curtain. | |
PRIVATE PLOTS & PUBLIC SLOTS. Competition. 2008 Results. Tercer Lugar
West 8. Spadina Wavedeck, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (2009 ASLA Awards)
West 8 + DTAH, Rotterdam and Toronto, Ontario, Canada
client: Waterfront Toronto
Project Statement
A cross between bridge and boardwalk, Spadina Wavedeck is part of a series of timber structures that build a coherent identity across the Toronto Central Waterfront. This 630m2 wooden structure offers a new waterside gathering place in an area that was formerly a narrow sidewalk and lacked public access to the lake. With playful undulating geometry, the Wavedeck creates a flexible public space at one of the most heavily used parts of the Toronto shoreline.
Project Narrative
The project uses a simple yet surprising form to allow unique programming possibilities and interactions with both the lake and the urban streetscape. It combines innovative geometry, careful use of materials and detailing, unique lighting effects, a clever accessibility strategy, and integrates an ambitious aquatic habitat component within the scope of the project. It introduces a form of public space new for the city of Toronto which promotes new interactions with people and the landscape — making more space for pedestrians and building the character and identity of the Central Waterfront public realm. Though it is just a small part of a larger revitalization plan for the waterfront, it hints powerfully at the kind of change possible on the lakefront. 
In order to establish a coherent aesthetic for the public realm along the waterfront, the simple undulating timber wave gesture became a prototype that will be repeated at seven heads of slips with subtle variation. The identity of each wave structure is derived from the spatial qualities and activities suggested through its form; different levels of contact with the lake and a water's edge bench oriented towards both the lake and the city highlight the experience. Each Wavedeck is a response to the current pinch-points where the streetscape meets the water's edge, creating a new public space gateway where the city kisses the lake, inspired by the sinuous contours of the shoreline of the Canadian lakefront.
The project takes the problem of a lack of pedestrian space along Queens Quay and, essentially, creates new space “out of thin air” using a cantilevered structure on piles over the water.
The unique geometry of the Wavedeck is unprecedented where the playful curves are constantly changing. The form stimulates and allows people to interpret the space in many different ways — the landings on the east and west sides allow for informal staging for buskers and other performers and the steps can be used as seating. This is a flexible public space. The stairs act as an informal amphitheatre and the varying heights of the deck allow for different vantage points and, ultimately, different experiences with the lake. The Wavedeck is completely wheelchair accessible and routes from the street to the central overlook area are seamlessly integrated into the form and marked by a stainless steel disc pathway.
Spadina Wavedeck is positioned to help stitch together the Music Garden and HTO Park, two already revitalized public spaces on Toronto's Waterfront. This link has already transformed the waterfront stroll. The Wavedeck’s undulating wooden deck with carefully detailed finishes has been described as having a “sheer unexpected beauty that can’t help but make one hunger for more.” The deck had to be structurally designed to withstand the strong wave force of the lake and any ice shifting, giving it a robust quality befitting its dockland site.
The invisible parts of the design are equally important: the project also includes the design of new aquatic habitat in the lakebed. Riverstone shoals, tree logs and embankments were installed to provide shelter and increased feeding and foraging opportunities for lake fish. This important sustainable feature is subtly highlighted by night by a sublime underwater lighting display of 24 LED lights.
www.west8.nl/projects/all/toronto_central_waterfront/
www.west8.nl/projects/all/spadina_wavedeck/
www.west8.nl/projects/all/simcoe_wavedeck/
www.west8.nl/projects/all/rees_wavedeck/
Bustler: West 8 Wins Competition Vaartkom Leuven
West 8 in collaboration with Snoeck en Partners, Bas Dirk Jaspaert, ERM and Tritel, has won the competition organized by the City of Leuven, for the revitalization of the former industrial site Vaartkom in Leuven, Belgium.
Here’s a description of the project from West 8:
The Vaartkom is a unique location close to the water’s edge and within walking distance from the historical city center. Already this district offers an exceptional urban landscape, with its remnants of a rich industrial past. Inspired by these industrial artifacts, West 8 proposes a vibrant new urban center where living, working and production function in a healthy balance.
The area of the Vaartkom is characterized by a fascinating variety of features and scale. The original port operations are almost completely gone, what remains are the remnants of a rich industrial past. An attractive district will emerge where living, working and production function in a healthy balance.
This shift to a more human use also requires an adjustment to the design of public space. The accessibility of many homes and commercial spaces should be ensured, so the area will be better connected to the surrounding technical structures. The public space around the Vaartkom transforms from an industrial to an esplanade wharf, a lounge with numerous terraces.The hardness of a port makes room for warmth, for green, for a human habitat.
The Engelsplein is an important part in this transformation. The square plays a qualitative role as transit space. The presence of the viaduct, the bus platforms and the entrance ways to the public parking define the public space. A maximum green character is created by gathering the necessary ‘hard’ surfaces under the viaduct. It is people and green who get all daylight.
Quilligan Architects • Work • Civic • Redesign of Ramses Square, Cairo, Egypt.
Redesign of Ramses Square, Cairo, Egypt
About the project: The key objective has been to define Ramses square physically and give a sense of place to the remodelled square by reinforcing the edges, removing the high level traffic, and reorganising the surface traffic. The design upgrades and provides new attractions to the square in the form of shopping, cafes, public events with music, and films.
- Client: National Organisation for Urban Harmony
- Projected Value:
- Date of completion: Ideas Competition
- Awards: Quilligan Architects awarded 2nd place for this design in a major international design competition
