A+U, No 490

Content

Cover: Metropol Parasol by Jürgen Mayer H.. Photo: David Franck.

Feature 1: Timber Innovation Feature 2: OMA Hong Kong

Currents: SOM Wins Commission for Eco-Urban Community in Vietnam / MVRDV Wins Competition for China Comic and Animation Museum in Hangzhou / Snøhetta Unvail the Design for SFMOMA ExpansionFeature 1:

Timber Innovation

Although timber is one of the most exciting materials, the opportunities to use it in large-scale architecture have been a few compared to other materials such as concrete and steel. But the situation is now changing.Recent technology advances and expands a possibility of timber, which is sustainable material, to be used in large-scale architecture. There have been precise and dynamic proposals with the advanced fabrication and simulation technique; and related intimately to technologies such as prefabrication, CNC, structural modeling, and industrial robots. Also, many new timber materials have appeared.This issue introduces these recent innovations and achievements, providing a glimpse of possibilities that may lie ahead for timber. (

a+u

)Achim Menges, Jan KnippersICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2010Jürgen Mayer H.Metropol ParasolPatkau ArchitectsWinnipeg Skating SheltersAnssi Lassila / Lassila Hirvilammi ArchitectsKuokkala ChurchSauna TonttuAnne HoltropTemporary Museum (Lake)schneider+schumacherClaras Baumhausamunt – Architekten Martenson und Nagel TheissenJustKRodrigo ShewardObservation Deck in PinohuachoWerner SchmidtvonRoll pavilion

Feature 2:

OMA Hong Kong

Based in Rotterdam, OMA operates around the world, with offices in New York, Beijing, and Hong Kong. In particular, growth in China and the Asian economic sphere has led to growth at OMA’s Hong Kong office. Founded in 2009, it currently has a staff of almost 50 and is involved in a variety of projects large and small. This issue introduces works in progress such as the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, due for completion in 2012, the Taipei Performing Arts Centre, and the New Campus for Chu Hai College of Higher Education. It also looks at West Kowloon Cultural District, the project that provided the original impetus for opening the office, and delivers an interview with OMA Hong Kong partner David Gianotten, who talks about the momentum of the office, the speed of development in Asia, and the office’s cooperation with Rem Koolhaas. (

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)Essay: The Growth of a New ApproachDavid GianottenShenzhen Stock ExchangeTaipei Performing Arts CentreNew Campus for Chu Hai College of Higher EducationBinhai MansionWest Kowloon Cultural District

Public Discussion on Architecture in Tokyo: Thinking About Architecture After the Earthquake