1. The National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland
The National Stadium football stadium in Warsaw, Poland is on the site of the former 10th-Anniversary Stadium. The stadium has a unique retractable PVC roof which unfolds from a nest on a needle suspended above the centre of the pitch.

2. PGE Arena Gdansk, Poland
The stadium has a very sophisticated look because of the special polycarbonates used to build the elevation. The facade appears with the amber color – which is very symbolic to close Baltic Sea. Amber is precious stone that appears almost only on Baltic shore and Poland is the main source of this mineral.

3. The Municipal Stadium in Wroclaw, Poland
The distinctive shape was chosen to be easily recognisable and associated with the dynamic city. The shape of the stadium is highlighted by the innovative design of its external walls. The building is covered by glass fibre mesh coated with teflon. The mesh is anchored by steel rings placed around the entire body of the stadium.

4. City Stadium in Poznan, Poland
The stands in the form of rectangular prisms are clearly marked blocks of stair and lift shafts, stressed with a row of arching pillars supporting the shafts.

5. The Olympic National Sports Complex in Kiev, Ukraine
The “Red Stadium” was built on the grounds of Alekseevsky Park in Kiev in 1923 for the second All-Ukrainian Olympic Games. Over the decades, it was to be rebuilt and renamed several times. The sports venue, which is now called the Olimpijski National Sports Complex, has since been completely renovated for the Euro 2012. The 45,000-m² filigree, translucent membrane roof features 640 high points with light domes. They lend the construction a discrete, self-assured radiance and provide spectator terraces suffused with daylight.

6. Donbas Arena in Donetsk, Ukraine
Due to its unusual design decision Donetsk arena is shaped like a "flying saucer". The main feature of the stadium is the oval shape, and completely glazed facade. The roof of the arena is tilted in the direction from north to south, repeating the slope of the landscape, increasing the natural light and ventilation field.

7. Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv, Ukraine
Following the reconstruction of the Kharkiv arena, the Metalist stadium became known as a "spider". This nickname comes from the architectural features of the stadium, whose roof is supported by 24 towers resembling the tentacles of arthropod, which are placed around the bowl.

8. Arena Lviv, Ukraine
Ukraine's fourth and final UEFA EURO 2012 stadium combines traditional national architecture with a modern slant, its two-tiered stands offering perfect sightlines. A transparent roof protects fans from the elements.

The renovated Castle manor house in Ormož, Slovenia
Photo: Miran Kambič

We congratulate Maruša and her associates and hope that the work of architects continues to be acknowledged in Slovenian culture.

Niko Kralj beside his legendary Rex chair, for Stol Kamnik, 1952, photo Borut Krajnc

His design career is rich in design of numerous chairs and furniture programs for home and office and an author of over a hundred patents in Slovenia and abroad. And who doesn’t have sweet memories of rolling over and over the Rex chair although you knew your behavior is starting to get on your parents nerves and it’s high time to stop? Beside Rex armchair we mustn’t forget the timeless classic of world design like Lupina series, 4455 and modular system furniture Futura, Savinja, Javor and Konstrukta if we list only the most known.

Lupina chair for Stol Kamnik, 1955-1959, photo Domen pal

Mosquito chair, designed in 1953, replica by Impakta,  photo Domen Pal

Javor-Postojna furniture program for Lesna industrija Pivka, 1977

Kralj, a diplomat of architecture at Faculty of Architecture in Ljubljana, was not a cosmopolitan only in his design but also in his capability of absorbing knowledge from leading designers and architects of his time. He was a great friend of Tapiovaara Ilmari and met with big names like Charles and Ray Eames, Mies van der Rohe, Tobio Scarpa and many others. 

Swedish professor Erik Breglund once said: “If Yugoslavia (Slovenia was at that time a part of it) had five designers like Kralj, it would become a leading force in design”.

Maybe the next urban challenge is just the thing to discover the future “Kralj” inside of you!

a) The total amount of real estates was 21 billion euros less than it is the current market value.
b) The Information Commissioner of RS later on files a temporary order to enable the access to the information about the real estates’ owners.
c) The mania that obsessed the Slovenians when looking and compering the value of their own and their neighbor’s house and everyone elses they know, resulted in the crash of all the state servers.

But the issue lies in the following facts: on the one side we have 6,1 million registered real estates (among them were 1,16 million buildings) that are owned by 1,17 million owners. It doesn’t take much math to calculate the number of real estates per owner.

We’re a small nation (only 2 million citizens) with big (not that attractive) houses and are apparently not yet satisfied with the size of our houses. We crave for the “quantity” of living and it’s about time to think about its quality aspect.
 

No one can dispute the fact that Gehry’s first skyscraper 8 Spruce Street currently marketed as New York by Gehry is Big Apple’s building of the year. The 76-story apartment tower flaunts sensuous exterior of stainless steel and is by the critic’s words described as” one of the most delicious pieces of eye candy to hit the Manhattan skyline since the Chrysler Building”.

8 Spruce Street, Frank Gehry

When talking about towers we need to mention a new member that is joined the “genius” club in 2011. Jeanne Gang became the first architect in 11 years to win the MacArthur Foundation “genius” grant which provides a five-year stipend of $500,000. Still remember her 81-story Aqua tower? Yes, it’s something genius about it :) 

Aqua Tower, Jeanne Gang

In 2011 there are also some big green projects that were playing with the idea of sustainable architecture. No doubt the most hyped was MAD Architect’s futuristic metal Ordos Museum in China’s Inner Mongolia Region.

Ordos Museum, MAD Architects

There was also time for some legendary architects that have been shaping the modern architecture for quite a while. Centro Niemeyer, an ambitious cultural project carried out by the legendary and brilliant Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer was opened in the spring of 2011 but was nearly after eight months temporary shut down due to disagreement over its finances and irregularities in its spending.

Centro Niemeyer, Oscar Niemeyer

But if we draw a line we can say that this year was all about Zaha. Hadid’s Evelyn Grace Academy school in Brixton, London won the 2011 Sterling prize and when opening the opera house in Guangzhou, China all world architecture news were focused on the world’s most spectacular and alluring opera house. And who can’t remember the completed glory of the Riverside Museum – truly triumphant transport museum for Glasgow. 

Evelyn Grace Academy School, Zaha Hadid

Opera house in Guangzhou, Zaha Hadid

Riverside Museum, Zaha Hadid

These are just some of many masterpieces of architecture that formed the year of 2011.
Ohh... and there is one particular that marked this year for all of times :)

The Life Stand, Martynika Bielawska and Wojtek Nowak

It seems like in the past couple of years the neighbors started to compete with each other in the uniqueness of their houses – more precisely in the colourness of their facades. Is this perhaps a new way that people express their personality or they just want to prove that they can be their own architects that want to make up for their fallacious houses?

People don’t realize that the freedom of their choice is limited with other people’s rights – like the right to a visually unpolluted local environment. It seems that these rights are better understood even in some of the so called “third world” countries.

We hope for the day when the following saying in the “Slovenian DIY Architecture” will prevail:
Less colour, more form.

Maybe just a thought a day helps to take some problems away…

Santa Marta, a favela in the heart of Rio de Janeiro

"A chair is a very difficult object. A skyscraper is almost easier. That is why Chippendale is famous."

Mies van der Rohe - Barcelona chair

Richard Neutra - Boomerang chair

Saarinen - Tulip arm chair

Alvar Aalto - Paimio chair

Le Corbusier - lc2 chair

Charles and Ray Eames - Lounge chair  

Ladder and deck being produced in workshop...

...and then assembled together with structural elements on site.

Of course the process doesn't go without unforeseen “dimension problems”, so everything has to be adjusted on site, but finally we achieve our first goal. It was time to rise the deck up to its final position and firmly support it with the last structural element.

Going up


No one could resist going up there and taking some photos

After construction frame raised up and it was possible to climb up to the top platform, we started with cladding. The cladding was a bit tricky, since we didn't know how much tension bended, 1cm wood plank can take and if we will able to open it up and transport at 3 meter height. Luckily our assumptions turned out to be correct and the whole process went fairly quick with no major difficulties.

The first “canoe”.

After surviving a heavy rain, the canoe element proved itself as trustworthy piece, so we could start making more of them. Because of its structural durability and tension between two planks we could achieve a process which was in fact based on the same system that we did our models – but this time in big scale. Here is the story how it looks in 1:1 :

Log being cut into 1cm planks.

A “canoe” was made out of 4 planks, cut differently because each next element should be longer than previous one. It was connected with nails in the middle and with bolts on the side.

On site, a rod was placed inside to give the element its initial shape.

Despite its dimensions the canoe is in fact quite lightweight, so there is no problem passing it up.

As the rod is kicked out the shape has to be preserved manually...

...but soon the canoe is placed over last one, so it takes its shape.

Even though the elements were strong enough to keep itself in same place, they had to be screwed to deck anyway, because the weight of the cladding was growing with each canoe installed.

Moreover  by using exactly the same method as with the model, cladding arrangement was somehow faster than we expected. Eventually the tower was going to be ready before the given deadline, so we had enough time to enjoy the views and see how the others are doing.

“Volume” group making and assembling parts for their pavilion. Use of laminated parts allowed them to achieve this twisted and springing shapes.

“Span” is represented by this elevated pathway which is going to join pavilion and tower together. Remote lighting helped us to continue working when it started getting dark.

Back to our tower we have soon reached the moment  that the shape was getting closer to its final form.

Adjusting the top spike

Fixing the last canoe.

Finishing our work at night, had its good side in seeing our tower and whole Voyager plot beautifully lit with supporting lights:

Next day, which was also the last day of work, had a very positive atmosphere, as every group was managing their work on time. As the tower had its shape already, we were working with smaller details, or helping others.

Before final presentation

The effect was actually quite amazing regarding the fact that we had only three days for the proper construction! So the tower become final point of Voyager, starting from laminated wood sitting space, then further transformed into the path. This is final result:

The Voyager team is: Luke Olsen, Aaron Chetwynd, Jesse Randzio, Geraldine Dening Martin Self, Charlie Cory, Edward Coe, Irene Chin, Effan Adhiwira, Lili Zhang, Di Lu, Katie McClure, Zhang Ren Ying, Angelina Kochkinova, Cous Cous H, Justine Dorion, Anthony Awanis, Ben Leclair, Mehmet Kalyoncu, Linda Zhang, Hansen Chan, Amritha Krishnan, André Bonassa, Cheer Huang Cheng and

Wojtek Nowak and Martynika Bielawska


There is no better explanation of what the SummerMake is about than this picture:

So we have a clear task: design a tower, We have a bunch of models to choose from, and we are already familiar with the site. However we still lack the decision what actually we aim for? All the proposals are rather “theoretically stable” but somehow look like they should stay proposals.  Right now we are behind other groups, that quickly found out which of their models can be transformed into structure. So we still have to find out what to do!

Adjusting one of the tower proposals in 1:20

Meanwhile we have to keep up with everyone and prototype the parts of the structure, so we are sure that on site nothing will fall apart because of too weak connector. We haven't chosen the final model yet, but we often use a part made of 2 two pieces, that is quite adjustable within the structure.

Testing in 1:1 prototype

Final model presentation had to convince Martin- our structural engineer, that wooden sticks-glue-staples creatures can actually be build and stand on its own long after we leave Hooke Park. Altogether we have decided what models we are going to use. Regarding the tower, everyone liked the model which originated from “span” but has been rotated upwards.

This model attracted everyone the most, so it was given a chance to be realized as 6 meter tower on Voyager site.

So there it came- time to locate our 1:20 proposals on the site model and try somehow join them in order to achieve coherent voyager structure. At the end we agreed on volume/sitting space leading into elevated path, joined at the other end with the tower. Now the question was- How to make it work?

Choosing the right place for each structure.

Our group were about to solve out the most difficult part of the workshop- construction process. Hours of conversations with tutors and team members didn't give us a clear, single view how to build  6 meter tall tower with platform in the middle to sit on and a leader to climb. Everyone seemed to had different idea how the things should go together and what is the correct order to join them. Slow process of going back and forth from the site to the workshop and back to the table, forced us to top up with coffee.

Overtime work on physical model...

Martin, the engineer, gave us a helping hand with the supporting structure, and the work order. The plan is to use Rhino to get out the right dimensions and shapes out of 3d model, prepare the parts, assemble a half of the structure on the ground and then rise it and make stable to get the supporting deck. After that we will finish the cladding on site... somehow.

...and digital one, to get important knowledge before we will start building it in real.

Luckily one thing was certain- we need a good foundation to keep 6 meter thing not to collapse and smash people around. Let's the digging begin!

Girls having fun

Welcome to Hooke...

While working on our tower, having a sudden strikes of brilliant ideas, and later realizing that its actually not going to work, we also started to become more and more familiar with the area itself.....AA camp located in Hooke Park , designed by collaboration between Frei Otto, Buro Happold and Edward Cullinan, was initially a commune for furniture designers, who had a great opportunity to use wood from the trees that had to be cut. Now it serves as a proving grounds for AA students.

Grass covered dormitory + barbecue equipment around.

White bubble, cupolas hiding spacious wood shop, computer room and a studio provide all necessary tools and machines for design experimentation. Grass covered hut with en-suite double rooms with separate entrance meet up in common room space. Finally – boat like refectory, are the three buildings for student use. Except some auxiliary structures, like bridges, pavilions, there is nothing but nature around.

Jesse Randzio's remote habitat floating through forest...

Perfectly framed views outside, transformed windows into a stunning pictures. Far from a city life we were about to go 'back to nature', even with the food served in the refectory, that was only vegetarian...

Probably the best window view in the world.

However, after a week of this intensive work and overwhelming greenery, both outside and on a plate, we could finally get some rest. On Sunday whole group went for a trip to the coast, stopping by Beaminster festival. There we could experience traditional English culture, music and food. Colorful event of quite random shows attracted whole families. One could  chose between Morris dance show, local fire brigade 'health and safety' presentation, teddy bear parachuting contest (!?) or tango classes. Unfortunately we didn't bring any teddies at that occasion so we decided to try some local cuisine instead. Full fat bacon baps and lamp dogs successfully satisfied our meat craving.

Festival overview (notice crane for teddy parachuting above the trees).

Next stop Lime Regis- tourist destination by the coast with picturesque beach, happy people and deep-fried-food-to-die-for. Lying in the sun, with can of local ale, stuffed like thanksgiving turkey, we were enjoying lazy time option.

Boats at Lyme Regis, resting like we did.

Arriving back to Hooke Park we had to prepare ourselves for the second half of the workshop – leading to realization of the stuff we have created so far. Definitely more challenging and responsible but that was the essence of Summer Make.

Making...

For making models we were using various types of wood: twigs found on site, freshly cut planks, laminates, plyboard + all sufficient   connectors like rubber bands, wire, nails, glue, staples, bolts... It was really fun time, especially because of almost unlimited resources, and huge variety of tools we could work with.

...many models.

At the end of the model making sessions we came up with some 1-20's like: rotary platform, primary unstable structure which requires group of people standing on the platform in order to achieve balance. Other positions create a shelter for three, or auditorium tribune. Trampoline-like net surfaces stretched between trees on the side in order to create walkway and flexible tower construction using simple weaving.

Tower

Effan, who is experienced in bamboo constructions was also trying to solve and improve our models in terms of possible realization. As a group, we decided to make as many different proposals as possible, rather than discussing few too much. All in all, collective discussions at the end of a day always bring fresh look to what we did, so there is no point in overworking one concept and giving everyone a ready solution.

Authors explaining ideas behind every model.

At the end of a day all groups presented around 30 different 1:20 answers to how voyager can look like, and how it may work, but in general all of us wanted somehow to give its user a chance to discover the voyager's area in unusual way, for example from a certain height. Bridges, platforms designed to give a panoramic views from a high points, were quite popular among the proposals, but there were also several bit more introvert structures, concentrating on particular places within a site.

Discussion in progress

After discussing our models, ideas and approaches we were once again divided, but this time into three groups (6 people each) and in those we were about to stay till the last day. From now on, we also knew that our “voyager” is in fact 3 structures (tower, span, volume) spread along the plot, but somehow corresponding to each other, and oscillating around a common story. Each group had to deal with the final model, based on the ideas mixed from all other proposals prepared so far, as well as prototyping parts 1:1 that are going to be used in the construction. It was a bit surprising that at the end we are all going to come with 3 different voyagers, but at least none will probably miss a job. Wojtek and I decided to work out what Voyager can be made out of tower, and gathered with: Katie, Cheer, Ben and Hansen to design and construct a final structure, one-third of SummerMake outcome.

Figures exploring the proposals on 1-20 site model. 

One of the “towers” receiving a crit.

The day after, our plot was introduced. Big clearing surrounded with high oaks, right behind the workshop have became our destinations for upcoming weeks. On second day our task was to carry out site registration process using unlimited tools and senses.

Nika trying to get impression of the site...

That day gave us an opportunity to relax a bit, explore the forests and get to know each other better. That was also a nice change of the environment before 'dark, indoor days' to come. Some people were exploring different perspective on the Hooke park by recording rolling down the hill or following the chickens routes. Other concentrated on exploring the site through different senses:collecting samples of earth to smell or recording voices on the site. After pinning up and presenting the results our main tutor Luke Olsen divides us into 6 groups based on our findings. The following day we will be implementing our research to design process which oscillate around already familiar theme, tower, span, and volume. Although there is one new addition, our structure should provide a shelter for three people and a gathering space for twenty.

...and then giving a lecture about changeable silhouettes around the voyager area.

In the next entry we tell about designing phase of the Voyager project, and also something about Hooke Park itself. Bye for now!

Our objects should respond somehow to the voyagers, but in fairly open way of interpretation.

Eventually a bizarre combination of a few houses, empty road, and a pub (closed anyway) appeared in front of us, when we finally left the fast and silent train  (pretty much opposite to Polish ones). We were waiting for others participants to come, and one by one we gathered in a group, then we have been taken by cars to the Hooke itself. On the way we could get an first impression how life in Dorset looks like.

Cowboy hat – a typical Dorset head wear

At the place we had a introduction and small welcome party warmed up with a locally produced cider – everything seemed to forecast a nice and pleasant stay:)

That's all for now, soon we will present how the beginning of the workshop began, how working here works and what was hidden behind table shown above.
 

Cyril Shing and Borut Sočan welcoming the students at the White Dancer

Some slight technical problems delayed Cyril’s lecture but we were all in time for the second treat: the reception in the City Hall where the workshop attendees were welcomed by Prof. Janež Koželj, professor at The Faculty of Architecture in Ljubljana, Vice-Mayor of the City of Ljubljana and also a member of the Trimo Urban Crash jury.

Workshop attendees with Prof. Janez Koželj at the City Hall

On Thursday there were hours of tough work ahead of our workshoppers. After taking pictures with their exhibited project presentations at the Trimo Urban Crash exhibition of the shortlisted projects at MAO, the workshop room became a bit hot. “Olfa” knives, rulers, duck tapes, glues and papers of 11 different colours were lying on the work surface: tables floor and even on a printing machine. The mess was all over but everyone seemed to find their way out – and the results of the workshop are definitely a living proof of that.
Thursday afternoon quickly turned into a Thursday evening and it was time to unveil something we’ve all been waiting for – the realisation of the winning Life Stand. The opening event was held in the centre of the residential neighbourhood of Fužine in the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana. The event was opened by the General Manager of Trimo, Tatjana Fink, and the Deputy Mayor of Ljubljana prof. Janez Koželj. A rich accompanying program with the Dunking Devils acrobatic team, the Bast dance group, and the performance of rapper, Adam Velić, ended with a banquet at the Museum of Architecture and Design was definitely the right choice to lift the neighbourhood kids and the rest of the crowd to their feet. After the show a banquet was held at MAO and the day turned into a pleasant summer evening.

Exhibition of the shortlisted projects Trimo Urban Crash 2011
 

The openning ceremony with the Dunking Devils in action

Where the second night ended nobody knows but the participants themselves. Everything is OK if the right timing in the morning remains… and this time it didn’t… and the bus waited and waited and nobody came. So it drove off… and came again a bit later. But everything was forgiven: the results of the workshop had outcome the expectations. The sight of eleven architectural sculptures, each one of them in its own colour was for everyone present there a moment of pride. An open symposium with group presentations in the presence of some of the jury members – Chris Procter, Patrizia Di Monte and Miloš Ebner – was closed with announcement of the winning projects of Responsible Artchitecture workshop and with an award ceremony for the authors of the shortlisted projects.

 
The colourful results of the workshop

At the end of a three-day Trimo Urban Crash workshop we took the finalists to an excursion where they were able to see a part of Slovenia its customs and architecture. The day started early heading first to city of Radovljica where the guide took us for a walk through the old part of the city, showing us the typical houses for this part of the region. Our journey continued with visiting Bled, the most famous lake that together with its surroundings ranks among the most beautiful alpine resorts. The students were very impressed and wanted to stay longer, but (un)fortunately we had more things to see. On the way to see the beauty of Soča valley, we passed through Italian-Slovenian border and saw the beautiful Julian Alps, and even made a stop for some Italian coffee that was a fine introduction to lunch that we had in city Bovec. Bovec is also called the valley of inspiration where natural wonders are something normal – waters, caves, Mt. Triglav are just a few of them.

The old town of Radovljica


Piran, Tartini square

Before we visited the most interesting city for the students, Piran, we wanted to stop to see the city Stanjel, but since we were running out of time we had to skip it, although it would be great to see the famous Ferrari’s garden. Finally we arrived to Piran, the old Mediterranean city; where some of us went to the Tartini Square in the very centre of Piran, and others went to jump in the water and in this way conclude the Trimo Urban Crash experience. The ones who didn’t want to swim went to see the Piran from the very highest point, which is the church tower. With a refreshing ice-cream and a smile on our faces we finished our Trimo Urban Crash experience that was, according to the students, very special and one of a kind!