Architectural Cases

In the historic Mendong area of Nanjing, China, DHaus has brought to life a remarkable interior design for a townhouse, showcasing a harmonious blend of artisanal skill, geometric sculpture, and flowing spatial experiences. This project, conceived as part of a larger residential development, masterfully interweaves elements from traditional crafts, the distinctive architectural philosophy of Carlo Scarpa, and contemporary home design to forge a richly layered living space.

The design journey for this Nanjing residence began with an invitation from a Chinese developer, prompting DHaus to collaborate with local experts on a new complex of fifty townhouses. Following the successful completion of the masterplan and exterior facades, DHaus was entrusted with the interior scheme for one of these homes. This undertaking drew significant inspiration from a prior residential assignment in Paris. That earlier project emerged after a presentation of DHaus furniture pieces in Le Marais led to a private client commissioning a penthouse interior near the Pompidou Centre, where the studio had the opportunity to explore how furniture, architecture, and spatial perception could coalesce into a unified residential concept. This foundational experience profoundly shaped the innovative direction taken with the Nanjing townhouse.

Further enriching the design was an in-depth exploration of Carlo Scarpa's renowned works in Venice, focusing on three core tenets: the elevation of craftsmanship to an architectural language, the thoughtful interplay between historical and modern elements, and the deliberate orchestration of movement through meticulously designed sequences of space, illumination, and views. For the Nanjing townhouse, DHaus's architects initially conceived three distinct spatial ideas—a library, a gallery, and a sculptural interpretation stemming from the Paris apartment—which were subsequently synthesized into the ultimate design. The resulting interior is anchored by an impressive triple-height atrium that ascends through the dwelling. This central volume expands progressively upwards, marrying the tactile warmth characteristic of a library with the sinuous, curved geometries explored in the gallery concept.

At the heart of this interior lies a captivating sculptural staircase, serving as its principal architectural feature. Its initial step is intentionally magnified, a deliberate design gesture that echoes Carlo Scarpa's distinctive approach to thresholds and stepped structures. Through the thoughtful integration of finely crafted materials, sweeping curved forms, and a carefully choreographed flow of circulation, the townhouse transcends mere functionality to create a domestic environment that celebrates fluidity, aesthetic appreciation, and tangible material expression. It invites inhabitants to experience their surroundings through dynamic movement and sensory engagement.

In Pozuelo de Alarcón, on the western outskirts of Madrid, the Universidad Francisco de Vitoria's campus is being reimagined with two striking new architectural additions by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). These distinct structures, totaling 8,500 square meters, are designed to enhance both academic and administrative functions while emphasizing movement and social interaction within the university environment. BIG's innovative approach treats traditional transitional spaces like corridors and ramps as vibrant social hubs, seamlessly extending this philosophy to outdoor terraces and courtyards, blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor, and between scheduled activities and spontaneous encounters.

The Academic Center exemplifies this design ethos with its unique composition of horizontal planes. Four stacked bars, with the central two rotated 45 degrees, create a triangular footprint that allows for terraces between floors and lifts the main structure, forming a shaded plaza beneath. This configuration, with its long upper volume intersecting triangular gardens, generates a dynamic pinwheel effect within the campus layout. Inside, approximately thirty classrooms and hybrid learning spaces are complemented by shared study zones lining the open circulation paths. The exterior, characterized by pale concrete and extensive glazing, achieves a light, skeletal appearance, while deep fins provide sun screening for the upper levels. Complementing this, the Central Administrative Building offers a contrasting, more enclosed form. Its design features four gabled volumes arranged in a windmill pattern, creating a contemporary cloister around a central planted courtyard. This inward-focused layout draws natural light into the offices and provides a communal garden for staff, seamlessly blending functional spaces with serene green areas. A continuous ramp along the courtyard's edge connects all levels in a single circuit, extending to a rooftop terrace that offers panoramic views of the campus and chapel, while glazed passages maintain visual connectivity with the garden below.

Despite their differing forms, both buildings share a fundamental strategy of integrating movement and social interaction into their architectural fabric. The Academic Center opens up with its elevated classroom stack and terraced extensions, creating expansive public spaces. In contrast, the administrative complex embraces an inward orientation around its garden, ascending to a accessible roof. One generates a plaza through rotation, while the other fosters community through a cloistered layout. At Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, BIG's dual design introduces two identifiable yet distinct architectural forms. The teaching facility is characterized by an elevated, permeable structure, while the administrative area consists of a compact cluster of pitched roofs. The common thread unifying these designs is the emphasis on circulation, transforming the campus expansion into a series of dynamic spaces where people naturally cross paths between learning environments, offices, and the surrounding landscape, fostering a vibrant and interconnected university experience.

These innovative designs by BIG offer a compelling vision for modern educational and administrative facilities. By prioritizing fluid circulation and the integration of social spaces, the architects have created environments that are not only functional but also actively promote interaction, collaboration, and a sense of community. This forward-thinking approach to university architecture underscores the importance of design in shaping human experience and fostering a dynamic academic atmosphere where learning and connection flourish.