Maxxit Group’s Post

The University of British Columbia (UBC) appears to have big ambitions for establishing its presence in Surrey City Centre, reported Daily Hive. "Based on highly preliminary visuals, the campus’s scope could potentially rival the size of Simon Fraser University’s existing Surrey campus floor area. Conceptual artistic renderings that were not previously released to the public — when UBC first announced its acquisition in 2021 of a major tract of land to build a satellite campus — show a possible scale of the future purpose-built UBC Surrey campus." "There could be multiple towers — potentially reaching heights of nearly 40 storeys or more — along with various mid-rise height base podiums and buildings that frame a north-south linear public plaza within the middle of the development site. It is a pedestrian-only space fronted by active uses in the ground levels of the buildings, and designed with ample landscaping, seating, and high-quality materials." https://lnkd.in/gXRS4zJT #surrey #university #development

Follow Living Atlas of Quality in Architecture and the Built Environment Watch this space to see how architecture (research + practice) can evolve to integrate and respond to user experience.

I recently visited ESSTED - École Supérieure des Sciences et Technologies du Design to present "Schools for Palestine," the international architecture competition organized by Archstorming and Wallah We Can Global. The competition has now been officially integrated into the curriculum for second-year Master Architecture students. We discussed the humanitarian framework guiding our intervention, the geopolitical context of the region, and the architectural strategies needed to address these complexities. Today, more than ever, it is crucial to prepare architecture students to engage with the world beyond design aesthetics. In conflict and disaster scenarios, essential infrastructures such as schools, hospitals, and homes are often at risk. Architects must rise to the challenge of designing resilient and flexible structures that meet the urgent needs of affected populations and help restore dignity and hope to these vulnerable communities.

Structures of Landscape, dialogue architectural avec le paysage naturel https://lnkd.in/eQ5YSPXH

My final thesis project, exhibited at the SACES Student Architecture Expo, marks the end of my Master in Architecture and six years of study at the University of Malta. The thesis focused on the challenges faced by struggling systems and institutions in Malta, particularly the out-of-home and foster care system, highlighting the urgent need for deinstitutionalisation. Studies including “Homeless Human Evolution” (YMCA, 2023) reveal the rising number of homeless youths locally, with 2022 statistics from the Minors Protection Act showing over 460 children in alternative care. My project proposed urban and architectural interventions to empower and safeguard affected children and youths, providing access to nurturing environments and opportunities for community inclusion. Valletta served as the focus for this project, with efforts to blur the boundaries between home and neighborhood, creating spaces that promote integration and belonging. Valletta was also chosen to address its own challenges, particularly gentrification, which has displaced communities and marginalised the concept of “home” within the city. This project focused on reconciling these separations and thrived to rebalance priorities, by operating for and with the existing community. This was done through a proposed model which acted as a permeable threshold of inclusion within Valletta, with the opportunity for the model to later work on a larger scale across cities: having a central community with decentralised systems scattered through the city, working together as one. This approach goes beyond mere housing but instead fosters engagement with other children, youths, and the larger city. While the primary goal was to design for children in the out-of-home care system, the broader aim was to create shared spaces that lessen divisions and provide the additional support these youths need, integrating them into the community as a whole, whilst also designing to provide for the additional resources and support that the youths require. Huge appreciation goes to my colleagues and good friends who supported and collaborated with me throughout these years.

C o m p e t i t i o n We participated in a competition alongside DJURIC-TARDIO ARCHITECTURE & PATRIMOINE for the MGP competition, which involved constructing a temporary college in Mairie de Bagneux (Greater Paris, France) using a modular wooden approach. The construction utilised flexible and reusable façade and floor modules, allowing for infinite reconfiguration. Despite being temporary, the construction met the same standards as permanent buildings. It could have been repurposed in the future using the same modules, accommodating different programs—the project aimed to achieve the RE2020 standards and obtain a level 2 bio-sourced building label by 2025. Regrettably, we were not successful in winning this competition. Nonetheless, it's important to emphasise the environmental significance of the project and the challenges it addresses, which may present promising opportunities in the future. Video: MyLuckyPixel #Engineering #Green #Modular #Hors #site

Nikken Journal 58: Redesigning University Campuses Today, universities serve as vital hubs in society, filling a number of important roles. These include collaborating with industries and governments to meet reskilling, #HumanResource development and other needs. In the new issue of the Nikken Journal, we examine some of the company’s projects involving #university restoration and campus redevelopment. Nikken Sekkei is committed to designing vibrant university campuses that integrate buildings and public spaces. Our goal is to create lively commons and shared spaces that encourage movement, interaction, and relaxation which together enhance the overall campus experience. Our #expertise in interior design, #DigitalTransformation, energy conservation, and urban planning allow us to contribute to the sustainable growth of educational institutions. Separately, we are proud to have placed in the top 10 in 25 categories in Building Design (BD) magazine’s World Architecture Top 100 January 2024 issue. The company has also been ranked fifth globally in number of professional architects employed. Read the full journal here: https://lnkd.in/dDBjCKHr

Similar to practically all Western European industrializing cities, speculation on workers housing was booming business in 19th century Lille (northern France). Anyone visiting the city today does not have to look far to discover so-called 'cité's' within the contours of urban perimeter blocks. This radical collective housing typology – reminiscent to the Flemish ‘beluik’ - is characterized as an urban development figure in which tiny back-to-back houses cluster around a communal alley or courtyard. Although many of these 'cité's' are in a dilapidated condition and do not comply to current housing standards, they often equal places of intense neighborliness. It would be a missed opportunity not to elaborate upon their renovation potential. Maybe the City of Lille can find some inspiration in the extensive comparative heritage and renovation study our team POLO ORIGIN ARCHITECTURE & ENGINEERING Daidalos Peutz bouwfysisch ingenieursbureau produced for Stad Gent. #collectivehousing #cités #beluiken #beluikenstudie #compactwonen #gent #lille Departement Omgeving Departement Welzijn, Volksgezondheid en Gezin Lille Métropole Habitat

We really enjoyed this deep dive into an eco-responsive approach to place-making yesterday on The Academy of Urbanism (AoU)'s Urbanism Hour with Harry Knibb MRTPI. We discussed the genesis of our recently published book 'EcoResponsive Environments' with Routledge Taylor & Francis Group. The discussion included aspects such as: 💰Commercial implications of eco-responsive design, is it more expensive? 🚧 What are the barriers to implementing good design in practice? 🏗️ Role of delivery models in implementing eco-responsive principles 📢 Role of the art of storytelling that can break down complex interlinked design aspects that is good for people, planet and place to key stakeholders of our built environment: politicians, planners, developers, house-builders and local communities. Thankyou so much for this opportunity and we invite further reflections and/or opportunities for collective learning and working! Nicholas Falk Matt Lally Harry Knibb MRTPI Sue McGlynn Connie Dales Soham De Prachi Rampuria