Grounds and Envelopes : Reshaping Architecture and the Built Environment

Providing a source of vision for the revitalisation of ground and envelope as spatial elements that can inform the search for embedded locally specific architectures, this book collects essays and projects that each contributes a particular element to what might constitute an integrated and richly nuanced approach to spatial organisation. Projects include:

• Paulo Mendes da Rocha; Brazilian Pavilion, Osaka World Expo 1970, Osaka, Japan
• RCR Arquitectes: Marquee at Les Cols Restaurant, Olot, Girona, Spain
• Weiss / Manfredi; Seattle Art Museum: Olympic Sculpture Park, Seattle, Washington, USA
• Peter Eisenman; City of Culture of Galicia, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
• Plasma Studio and Groundlab; Xi’an Horticultural Expo, Longgang, China
• Foreign Office Architects; Yokohama International Ferry Terminal, Yokohama, Japan
• Nekton Design; Turf City, Reykjavik, Iceland
• Alvaro Siza; Swimming Pool, Leça da Palmeira, Portugal
• Eduardo Souto de Moura; Braga Municipal Stadium, Braga Portugal
• MVRDV; Villa VPRO, Hilversum, Netherlands
• Bernard Tschumi; Le Fresnoy Art Centre, Tourcoing, France
• OCEAN; World Centre for Human Concerns, New York City, USA
• R&Sie(n); Spidernethewood, Nîmes, France
• Toyo Ito; Serpentine Pavilion, London, England
• Enric Miralles and Carme Pinós; Olympic Archery Range, Barcelona, Spain
• Kengo Kuma; GC Prostho Museum Research Centre, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
• Cloud 9; MediaTic, Barcelona, Spain
• Diller, Scofidio and Renfro; Blur Building, Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland, Swiss National Expo

With an abundance of built and un-built key projects available, it is now possible to outline the contours of a new discourse. This book initiates a new beginning in this direction so that architecture can partake in the creation of heterogeneous space and culturally, socially and environmentally sustainable built environments.

Michael U. Hensel is an architect, researcher, educator and writer. He is currently Professor for Architecture at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design, where he directs the Research Centre for Architecture and Tectonics. He is founding and current chairman of OCEAN – Design Research Association and of SEA – Sustainable Environment Association, and has authored and edited numerous books and journals.

Jeffrey P. Turko is an educator, researcher, and founder of the international award-winning design practice NEKTON Studio. Currently a Senior Lecturer at the University of Brighton, he is also a registered architect in the Netherlands, an advisory board member of the Research Center for Architecture and Tectonics, and current Vice Chair of OCEAN Design Research Association.