Chris Uffelen

Vertical elegance: exploring the cutting-edge world of today's apartment building design, with unique spatial ideas, innovative room concepts for inspiring living spaces. Today, multi-family buildings have become symbols of modern living that redefine both social cohesion and urban space. Their high resident density, low resource and space requirements, as well as communally used areas make them also the most sustainable approach for new forms of residential spaces. With a variety of heights and façade designs, multi-storey buildings are shaping the appearance of cities and suburbs, turning them into veritable stages for these multifaceted architectural showpieces. This volume presents projects that combine innovation, esthetics, sustainability, and quality of life. Each selected building, from social housing to luxury serviced apartments, emphasizes flexibility and individuality, and tells its own story. They all present visions for a vibrant and sustainable urban future through the interplay of intelligent floor plans, well thought-out spatial concepts, and convincing design solutions.

An inspiring overview of contemporary homes set against the backdrop of high mountains, steep hillsides and picturesque valleys with a focus on architecture and interior design. From the majestic peaks of the Alps to the green slopes of Japan's Shikoku Range and the rugged heights of the Rocky Mountains: the selected residential buildings at such dizzying heights are a reminder that architecture not only creates spaces, but also shapes the relationship between human beings and their environment. They are creative showpieces that blend harmoniously and respectfully into the breathtaking nature of the mountain landscapes. Hillside locations present very special challenges and at the same time offer endless design possibilities. On the one hand, they open up spectacular views, while on the other they make innovative solutions for the room program possible. All the oases of modern living featured in this book demonstrate unique ways how esthetics, functionality, sustainability and adaptation to the topography can be felicitously combined.

This compendium presents an international showcase of contemporary landscape design between global trends, local traditions, climatic conditions, functional demands, new technologies, economic circumstances, and individual styles. Whether around, besides, on top of, or even in buildings, in populated areas or in the countryside, landscape architecture develops and designs outdoor spaces for humans as independent creations. It mediates between nature and architecture and connects the grown and the planned habitat, balancing function and aesthetics. Against the backdrop of climate change, the central task today is the conservation of natural resources and the creation of sustainable, high-quality green spaces. A reference work and source of inspiration, this compendium provides an overview of the entire spectrum of this discipline based on projects around the world. Their common denominator is the design of ecologically and socially intact living space. Almost exactly ten years after the publishing of the Atlas of World Landscape Architecture, this new publication takes stock of the developments of the last decade.

Functionally and esthetically compelling solutions for library building and spaces today that work for all users. Libraries are spaces for learning, discovery, and also for interaction. Their architecture is currently the subject of much discussion, as the demands on these cornerstones of modern civilization have changed enormously since they have had to meet the requirements of the new multimedia and digital age. The library as an institution underwent a real image change from an introverted knowledge repository to a globally networked information provider and communication mediator. The architectural expression of this expanded and constantly evolving profile of requirements makes library construction extremely multi-layered and complex. But this is also precisely the source of enormous potential for bold designs and ingenious aesthetic concepts. Whether involving new buildings, conversions or extensions, this volume shows the diversity of this building task with its interplay of state-of-the-art technology and cultural demands.

Elaborating the diversity of wood architecture today for private homes More and more architects and builders are exploring the possibilities of a material for the construction of houses that offers unparalleled major advantages regarding design, function and ecology. Wood is a renewable building resource that impresses with its natural qualities as well as its astonishing versatility, especially given a number of new techniques, processing options, and innovations. Moreover, wooden architecture represents a promising opportunity to work towards a more CO2-neutral future. Frank Lloyd Wright said about the world's oldest building material that it is "universally beautiful" and "the most human of all materials", facts that are highlighted in this volume focusing on residences. The presented projects demonstrate the sheer endless possibilities of timber for architecture and interior design. From an esthetic point of view, they also show completely new ways for, but not limited to, the design of individual homes.

Most wonderful diversity: How global architecture of today heads for tomorrow Nearly exactly ten years after the publication of the Atlas of World Architecture, this new follow-up publication reviews the last architectural decade by means of current exemplary buildings from all continents. Not only have building tasks, techniques and styles changed greatly in the last decade, but the world has transformed, which is significantly reflected in global building culture. Conversion and sustainability have gained significantly in importance, and great innovative architecture has emerged in new regions. The most diverse projects from temporary exhibition halls to mega airports are compiled and vividly presented in concise texts, accompanied by images and drawings. Contemporary Architecture. Masterpieces around the World is published as a new reference work that reflects the exciting diversity and remarkable achievements of current architecture worldwide. A particular focus is once again on presenting previously unknown masterpieces alongside the well-known highlights of today's world of construction.

Cafés, coffeehouses, and coffee shops around the world supply us with energy and lift our spirits every day. They are spaces for exchange and interaction, for letting the imagination flow and even escaping reality, and, of course, for writing, reading and thinking - a second home for many of us. From reduced minimalism to ironic eclecticism, from cozy and hygge to industrial style, from vintage to elegant: this centuries-old institution is constantly redefined, reconceived and restaged for example as espresso bars, coffee roasteries and art house cafés, reflecting new social trends and design inspirations as well as the latest developments from the world of coffee. A Coffee A Day features an exciting global contemporary conceptual and stylistic range with a focus on the creative design esthetics.

Communicative living on a single level thanks to a wide variety of layouts, ingenious spatial solutions by playing with building structures, and the symbiosis of architecture and environment: The bungalow is the epitome of a self-determined life - and inspires builders and architects alike. The one or one-and-a-half-story type of detached single-family house today is resplendent with elegant monopitch roofs, flat-roof variants in the Bauhaus style, or classic gable-roof models. The contemporary projects presented show the entire range of functional and design possibilities. Each one is unique and has been individually developed according to its location and the wishes of the residents. What all the bungalows presented have in common is their architectural quality and their high quality of living.

The desire for beautiful gardens is as strong as ever. An own garden as a private oasis of well-being, but also as a place of prestige can be much more than lawn and flowerbed, path, and hedge. The projects by professional landscape and garden architects presented in this volume show which elements, components and structures, composed and conceived with care and sophistication, constitute stylish and convincing garden design. The interaction with the surroundings, usually the house that belongs to the particular garden, always plays an important role. This can be sometimes strictly geometrical in a near-natural environment, unpretentious in front of a luxury villa, or freely moving, loosening up minimalist architecture. The size of the presented gardens from very different climatic zones ranges from a green backyard of less than 20 square feet to park-like grounds of over 2,000.

The building culture of China is currently one of the most innovative and most adventurous in the world because of the bold ways architects approach materials and genres as well as forms and functions. At the same time, it offers the opportunity to implement the most daring designs in the shortest possible time, as both the expertise and the necessary manpower are available. While technology and tradition play an important role, so do sustainability and ecological concepts aiming at achieving a harmonious interplay between the respective building and its surroundings. This volume features a wide range of typologies, styles, and locations that have one thing in common - their architects come from China and make the world stop and take notice of their work. The author presents the most important and interesting contemporary offices and designers and their most significant projects at home and abroad.

After the Middle Ages, concrete fell into oblivion and was only rediscovered around 1700. Through constant further development and improvement, it became the most widely used building material of our time. New and innovative applications make it an incredibly valuable design tool for contemporary architectural conceptsas its properties and appearances can be influenced by the respective mixture of components. The creative potential is almost inexhaustible. As versatile as this malleable material presents itself, it requires the skill and passion of its planners to create esthetically convincing solutions. The publication shows the enormous relevance and inimitable fascination of concrete in impressive imagery and versed texts with all relevant facts.

The purpose and primary function of wayfinding and signage design is to provide spatial orientation as quickly and clearly as possible. Respective concepts and systems can be designed for individual buildings, for example coporate headquarters, museums or hospitals, for areas such as a university campus or distinct municipal district, or for entire systems like a city's public transport. In addition to communicating direction, the interplay of typography, pictograms, materials, colors and shapes in these systems also delineates a particular identity of the location. On the basis of international realizations this title shows the range of different approaches and implementation possibilities of environmental graphics. No matter what kind of spatial context, the focus is always on visual communication that is understandable for every user. This volume is an indispensable reference work for anyone invloved in communications, as well as for architects, interior designers, graphic designers, and indeed creatives minds of any sectors.

This title is dedicated to a common and very frequent construction task in Switzerland and Austria: the detached house. Current design trends and new interpretations of alpine building cultures, different life forms and realities, changed demands and needs can be discovered in what architects and designers have created in recent years. A particularly exciting phenomenon in this context is the creative handling of room arrangements and the spatial partitioning, for which very different solutions are found. For this volume, the author has selected outstanding contemporary concepts and designs that deserve to be noticed and appreciated much more. Between prefabricated houses on the one hand and fancy villas on the other, all presented homes are within a middle-class budget. Floor plans and elevations, key figures on square feet, facts on ecological aspects, materials used and, last but not least, the respective designers offer the potential builder an extremely practical benefit.

Bricks are the only non-natural building material that can look back at several thousand years of history. And as Mies van der Rhohe stated: "Architecture starts when you carefully put two bricks together. There it begins". Buildings made of this fabric from very different epochs and cultures all over the world are always astonishing, and the world's best architects have explored the qualities of brickwork. A key characteristic for its success since time immemorial has always been easy planning through the standardization of production and the resulting harmonized construction process. Amazing constructive qualities, inexpensive and at the same time environmentally friendly production as well as the longevity are among the qualities that are particularly valued today. In this volume, historical and contemporary brick edifices are featured showing the wide range of possible applications and design possibilities.

For many people home ownership is one of the most important goals in life and the biggest private investment. In Germany about two thirds of the residential building stock consists of single-family homes. With 80.000 to 90.000 new residences built every year it is by far the most important construction task for architects in this country. For this volume, the author has selected outstanding contemporary concepts and designs that deserve to be noticed and appreciated much more. Neither luxury villa not mass housing, all homes are within a middle-class budget. Apart from ground plans and elevations, key figures on square meters, building price and construction duration, facts on ecological aspects, materials used and, last but not least, the respective architects offer the potential builder exeedingly practical benefits.

The aim to live in a mini house can have various reasons: For many it stands for a better, more livable existence on the basis of what is necessary, possible and desired, making one's life easier, more economical and more sustainable. The limitation of the floor space promotes concentration on the essentials in order to integrate what one needs for life. With well thought-out planning, cleverly organized floor plans and intelligent, compact concepts, a lot of space can be created in a small area. By now, in addition to do-it-yourself protagonists, established architects and hip design studios have taken on the interesting task of developing sophisticated solutions for small homes and tiny houses. This volume presents very different projects in terms of architectural style, construction method and interior design.