Great Architects
A glance behind the scenes – their inspiration, vision on architecture and the use of technology in the design practice.
Local strength leads to successful projects worldwide using ARCHICAD
3LHD Architects, Croatia
3LHD is a collaborative architectural studio, focused on the integration of architecture, art and (urban) landscape, an approach which has resulted in a series of projects and realizations in Croatia and abroad. We spoke with Marko Dabrović, Partner, and Krunoslav Szoersen, Architect, to learn how the team at 3LHD has leveraged their migration to BIM using ARCHICAD to land major projects from Croatia to China.
BIG and OPEN BIM
BIG
Jakob Andreassen, BIM Manager of BIG shares how they are working with GRAPHISOFT to develop a plug-in for Rhino and ARCHICAD so that they can link geometries and data from both software into each other. This will allow them to leverage the best that each software has to offer throughout the design process.
POLYFORM and OPEN BIM
POLYFORM Arkitekter
"As an architect, it's important for us to use tools that suit us in our way to design," says Christoffer Lissau Lund, Architect. OPEN BIM has made it easier for POLYFORM to design and collaborate on team projects.
BIM Equity and OPEN BIM
BIM Equity
"We believe that OPEN BIM is the key solution to ensuring that we have one model from the first sketch...from start to finish," says Thomas Graabaek, Partner/Architect of BIM Equity.
According to Thomas, ARCHICAD and OPEN BIM have made it easier and more fun for architects to learn to work with BIM.
Project: 480 Hay Street
480 Hay Street, Perth is a $500 million mixed-use redevelopment offering a luxurious 5 star Westin hotel, office, retail and dining space options for locals and visitors alike. The project, managed by BPi, is the first of its kind in Australia to adopt a true Open BIM approach.
The project employs best of breed 3D modelling and documentation solutions such as ARCHICAD, BIMx, Solibri, Revit and Tekla. Model files are coordinated and information sharing is enabled between project participants using the latest techniques and standards such as Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) and BIM Collaboration Format (BCF) to enable timely, accurate exchanges between project participants. This Open BIM approach has eliminated proprietary lock-in and is reducing inefficiency and waste across the project.
Peter Clewes, Principal
architectsAlliance
Project: Cairns Family Health and Bioscience Research Complex — ARCHICAD 18 Signature Building
Peter Clewes, Principal, architectsAlliance, shares his experience designing and seeing to completion the Cairns Family Health and Bioscience Research Complex. Located at Brock University, about 100 miles outside Toronto, Ontario, the highly complex project presented a number of design challenges. Watch the video to learn why and how the hexagon played such an important part in the design and construction of this major research center.
EZRA Architects, Singapore
EZRA Architects was established in Singapore in 2005. In this video, founder and principal architect, Lim Kee Hua, talks about why he chose ARCHICAD, and how they work with the award-winning software on a diverse range of projects that span the globe.
Bernardo Farkasvölgyi
Farkasvölgyi Arquitetura, Brazil
Project: Hotel Golden Tulip BH
A golden tulip blooms with BIM
In 2011, Farkasvölgyi Arquitetura started eight hotel projects in the Belo Horizonte region. One of the hotels presented itself as a major challenge to the entire team; it was a retrofit of the old and unfinished "Beira Rio Hotel“ in downtown Belo Horizonte. The refurbishment required correcting numerous irregularities from the time it was built and were more critical due to the demands of the new laws that now govern the AEC market. Thanks to BIM, ARCHICAD, and GRAPHISOFT's BIMx Hyper-models, the architects, engineers, and other trades were able to collaborate in a very coordinated way, ensuring the high quality completion of this very challenging project.
Daniel Taraczky, Lead Architect & CEO
Abdel-Rahim Chehadé, Architect
Dorottya Gőz, Architect
László Gőz, Founder of BMC
art1st design studio, Hungary
Project: Budapest Music Center, 2013
An architecturally and culturally unique institution, the Budapest Music Center is one musician’s 30-year dream come true. The architects from art1st studio and the founder of the institute guide the viewers through this elegantly designed, multi-functional building, including their use of ARCHICAD on the project as well as the building's historical background and future mission. The article on this project can also be found here.
* For English subtitle please turn on the youtube caption.
House at Cuil Bay — BIMx success story
Architect: John Gilbert Architects
Project: Residential house at Cuil bay, Scotland
Through a commissioned family house project at Cuil Bay in Scotland, John Gilbert Architects started to explore BIMx as a communication tool with the client. BIMx became an essential channel between them, enabling the client especially to understand the "real space" of her house. Watch this video and discover how BIMx unravels what the 2D documents couldn't express for the client and made it so much more fun!
Exhibition Design with BIM — Nationalmuseum of Sweden
CAD/BIM Expert: Joakim E. Werning
An unprecedented way of designing exhibitions using BIM: The Nationalmuseum of Sweden embraced the concept of using 3D CAD to design their exhibitions approximately 10 years ago. Today, the museum not only uses GRAPHISOFT ARCHICAD for designing and managing exhibit installations, but also to provide extremely precise BIMx models of their exhibitions for website visitors to download and view. CAD/BIM Expert for exhibition designs, Joakim E. Werning, hopes to develop this virtual exhibition technology even further for their future exhibitions.
Take the tour: http://bit.ly/IpZGX0
LIAG Architects, the Netherlands
Project: Schravenlant public comprehensive school
Client: OSVS
LIAG was founded in 1919 by Dirk Roosenburg who was a contemporary of the architects Dudok, Rietveld and Oud, and many of his buildings have been declared a national monument. Today, together with clients, the firm creates powerful properties with a positive attitude towards the environment and its users. LIAG has strong affinity with the realization of integrated sustainable housing solutions that also take into account the total life of a building.
In 2010, LIAG won a European tender to rebuild the Schravenlant public comprehensive school in Schiedam in the Netherlands.
This video explains – through the school building project – LIAG's "cradle to cradle" approach, their way of sustainable thinking, concerns for the health of the users of the building, and why beauty is essential for the building to be integrated into society.
Please turn on the English captions to see the subtitles.
Related link:
http://www.liag.nl/en/home/item29/
This video courtesy of Dubbelklik
Dag Strass, Architect
Helen & Hard Architects, Norway
Project: Vennesla Library and Cultural Center 2011
Client: Vennesla Kommune
Helen & Hard was founded in 1996 in Stavanger on the west coast of Norway by Norwegian architect Siv Helene Stangeland and Austrian architect Reinhard Kropf. Today, the company has a youthful staff of 20 drawn from 8 different countries, with offices in both Stavanger and Oslo. Helen and Hard designs a wide variety of projects ranging from single family houses to large public buildings, from offices and multi-family housing projects to master planning.
The award-winning Vennesla Library and Cultural Center is located in a small town, Vennesla, Norway. It comprises a library, a café, meeting places and administrative areas and links an existing community house and learning centre together. The designers developed a "rib" concept to create useable hybrid structures that combine a timber construction with all technical devices and the interior.
Marcellus Lilley, Associate
Karl Frost, Senior Technician
Studio Pacific, New Zealand
Project: The Rock, Wellington Airport, 2010 (in association with Warren and Mahoney Architects)
Client: Wellington International Airport Ltd.
Studio Pacific was established in Wellington in 1992 by Nicholas Barratt-Boyes, B. Arch, ANZIA, RIBA; Stephen McDougall, B.B.Sc, B.Arch, FNZIA; and Evzen Novak, B. Arch (Hons), ANZIA, RIBA. Prior to establishing the Studio, the directors studied and/or worked together in New Zealand before working for a period in Europe. The collective international experience greatly influenced the direction of the practice. From early design competitions and small residential commissions, Studio Pacific has evolved into an award-winning creative practice with diverse projects throughout New Zealand.
The Wellington International Airport Passenger Terminal required a unique and innovative design. Marcellus Lilley, Associate and Lead Project Architect and Karl Frost, Senior Technician explain the process that resulted in the multi award-winning Airport Terminal building in 2010.
Orcutt | Winslow
www.owp.com
Orcutt | Winslow was established over four decades ago by two Arizona State University graduates eager to take on the architectural field with new and innovative design solutions. Along with the philosophies that "a project can only be as good as the information gathered," and "behind every well-designed building is an architect who took the time to thoroughly understand the client's needs," Herman Orcutt and Paul Winslow began building client-focused design teams that could offer personal service during each stage of the architectural process.
Saravanan Balasubramanian, LEED AP and Russ Sanders, AIA member also reveal the keys to winning the project in Mumbai, India, and how they expect the project, Sahana Pride, to progress using the latest technologies.
Hassan Saffarini, Director of Engineering, Adnan Saffarini Office, reveals why the recession was the turning point for the firm to move to BIM, and how he hopes other disciplines of the building industry will follow suit.
Hassan Saffarini, Director of Engineering, Adnan Saffarini Office, reveals why the recession was the turning point for the firm to move to BIM, and how he hopes other disciplines of the building industry will follow suit.
iPda (integrated PROCESS design associates) is an emerging firm, offering customized workflow to building projects and project teams at an international level.
Charles Good-Man, President at iPda, talks about BIM workflow and the way the firm embraces “Design Build”, the building industry’s newest frontier. In the second part of the interview, he explains how the BIM Server enabled iPda to build an international project team network.
Established in 1900, Nikken Sekkei Architects, Engineers and Planners is Japan’s largest design firm.
Tomohiko Yamanashi is the executive officer and principal in the architectural design department, and has been the key figure in many of the firm’s innovative designs. In the interview, he talks about the concept of Tokyo’s Mokuzai Kaikan (‘Timber Hall’) and how BIM enabled his team to collaborate with craftsmen who work with modern digital technology, as well as the unlimited possibilities of simulation using BIM.
Didier Girardet, President, Thierry Deschaumes, Associate,
A.C.D. Girardet & Associés, Versailles, France
A.C.D. Girardet & Associés was established in Versailles in 1983.
Their work is strongly oriented towards sports facilities of all sizes, including recreational areas and school or community gyms, as well as large-scale projects such as stadiums. One of their most important projects to date was the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, in which they had to meet constraints specific to this particular project: the timeframe, for example, meant that all construction work had to be completed between two tournaments...
The interview was conducted by Abvent France, in partnership with the French Tennis Federation, owner of Roland Garros, the French Open.
Darren Tims, Principal, Director of Projects, Rice Daubney, Australia
Rice Daubney is a creative firm for architecture, planning and design with experience spanning 30 years across Australia and Asia. As one of Australia's leading architectural practices, Rice Daubney produces projects that have a common emphasis on quality, commercial focus, and innovation in design, across all the sectors of the business; Commercial + Workplace, Retail, Health + Research and Defence.
Craig Baudin, Associate Director of Fender Katsalidis Architects, Victoria, Australia
Craig Bauding has a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture and is a registered Architect. Prior to joining FKA he worked on a number of large residential, commercial and mixed use projects in Australia, Hong Kong and Malaysia. In September 2007 he was made an Associate Director of the practice. Craig brings a broad based range of experience across all phases of the project cycle, from early concept through to completion.
Abelardo M. Tolentino, Jr., President & CEO, Aidea Philippines, Inc.
At the start of his career, Aidea Philippines CEO & President, Abelardo Tolentino, Jr. envisioned a Filipino design firm that would lead and inspire the industry through its designs, relationships and global thinking. He changed the mindset of his people and inspired them to continuously innovate the way they design.
Under his leadership, Aidea has broken into the international market. They have completed numerous projects for clients throughout Europe, the Middle East and North America.
Prof. Hilde Léon, Léon Wohlhage Wernik Architects
Prof. Hilde Léon founded the office together with Konrad Wolhage in 1987. Berlin is the starting point and the inspiration for their work. All their projects, both German and international, are planned in the Berlin office. In addition to public building projects, offices, and residences, the firm also develops urban planning concepts.
Prof. Dietrich Fink, Prof. Thomas Jocher, Fink + Jocher Architects
The office of Dietrich Fink and Thomas Jocher was founded in 1991 in Munich. Since that time, they have established themselves with not only residential, office, and industrial planning projects, but also in the area of national and international urban planning. The firm's slogan, "To design is to explore," has resulted in a number of prestigious awards.
György Fazakas, Principal, Fazakas György Architects
With an office located in Budapest in a state-of-the-art building designed by his own firm, Fazakas György has made a name for himself as a well-respected international architect.
Based on his experiences working at an architectural firm in New York City from 1985 to 1989, Fazakas urges all young architects to get as much experience as they can working abroad before settling down back home. This is also important because, according to Fazakas, international teamwork has become a key component to any successful building project.
Philippe Madec, Principal, Atelier Philippe Madec
Since 1989, when Philippe Madec opened his first office in Paris, he has focused mainly on architecture's role in sustainable development. By doing so, he has earned the respect of his colleagues worldwide. Madec's architectural and urban approach forms part of a wider environmental framework, "rooted in the earth and its resources," as he likes to say.
Xavier Gonzalez, Principal, Atelier d'Architecture Brenac + Gonzalez
Brenac + Gonzalez, founded by Olivier Brenac and Xavier Gonzalez in 1978, has grown to be one of the most highly-respected architectural firms in France. Their shared vision for excellence in design has earned them a coveted spot among the top architectural firms.
Thomas A. Heinz, AIA, Chicago, USA
Thomas A. Heinz, AIA, of Libertyville, Illinois has worked on more than 40 Frank Lloyd Wright buildings, restorations, and reconstructions. As a renowned Wright devotee scholar and author of 30 books, Thomas A. Heinz brought the vision of Wright to life on the 11-acre Petre Island in Mahopac just 40 miles north of New York City.
Using ARCHICAD, Heinz was able to translate the original design into the very difficult rock terrain of the island, while preserving the original Frank Lloyd Wright design and addressing the realities of current building, energy and zoning requirements.
Vladimir I. Plotkin, TPO Reserve, Moscow, Russia
"The main thing is an attraction for shape."
Vladimir Plotkin is the chief designer of the TPO "Reserve" architectural design firm in Moscow, Russia. He designed numerous hotels, offices, residential complexes, skyscrapers and other land-mark buildings in Moscow and in St Petersburg. Plotkin is also a professor MArchI (Moscow Architectural Institute) and a member of board MOSA, laureate of the "Golden Section" Prizes in 1999 and 2001of the International Academy of Architecture.
Juli Capella, Capella Garcia Arquitectura, Barcelona, Spain
Juli Capella from Capella-Garcia Arquitectes is known as one of the most important figures in contemporary architecture and design in Spain. Some of their outstanding projects are the Heron City or the OMM Hotel in Barcelona. They believe their style as a non-style.
Ivo Venkov, paastudio, Pacific Palisades, CA, USA
Ivo Venkov and his wife Rossi Venkov are known as the "Coolest Architects" in the United States after winning a Merit Award for their Pacific Palisades Residence project in 2005. They call their architecture 'livable minimalism'.
David Sutherland, Fender Katsalidis Architects, Victoria, Australia
David Sutherland is the Director of Planning of one of the foremost design firms in Australia. Fender Katsalidis' international projects include Southeast Asia and the Middle East. They have designed the 90 story Eureka Tower, one of the highest residential towers in the world. Compared to earlier days, they enjoy work and the efficiency of it by using Information Technology that is translating their thoughts in to build reality.
Zhang Xiaolei, Architect, China Architecture Design & Research Group, Beijing, China
China Design is the largest architectural firm in China with nearly 2,000 employees. Among the Group's well-known masterpieces are Beijing Railway Station, China Art Gallery and many more completed projects in Beijing. Since 1986, the Group was awarded 289 design prizes, including 5 international prizes.
Thomas Rau, Principal, RAU Architecture, The Netherlands
Dutch Architect Thomas Rau started his firm in 1993 and became best known for his ING-bank offices and Europe's first CO2-free building, the World Wildlife Fund headquarters in Zeist, Netherlands. Rau describes his guiding principle as "open-minded architecture", providing the client with what he/she really wants, and not necessarily with what he/she asked for.
Chad Oppenheim, Principal, Oppenheim Architecture+Design, Miami, US
Heralded in the press as changing the face of "Miami modernism", Chad Oppenheim was awarded the AIA Outstanding Young Architect of the Year prize five years ago.
Prof. Gustav Peichl, Principal; Katharina Fröch, Partner; Christoph Lechner, Partner; Peichl & Partner Architects, Vienna, Austria
A virtuoso architect and equally famous sketch artist, he is famed for his large-scale projects in Europe and the Middle East. His Millennium Tower is a landmark building that can be seen across Vienna.
Jan Kleihues, Principal, Kleihues + Kleihues Architects, Berlin, Germany
His Berlin-based practice boasts a host of embassies and Berlin's tallest hotel building. With a long history of post-war reconstruction design, the firm has had a massive impact on the face of the city.
Michel Rojkind, Principal, Rojkind Architects, Mexico City, Mexico
Last year Architectural Record voted this exuberant Mexican architect as at the vanguard of building design. A powerful exponent of ARCHICAD, he is an enthusiastic example to anyone who still doubts the power of virtual design.
An archaic modernist — Axel Schultes, Principal, Schultes Frank Architekten, Berlin, Germany
His seminal works are in Berlin and include the Chancellery building and the much-acclaimed Crematorium, which brought him international recognition and inspired many other designers.
The Orcutt/Winslow Partnership — Paul Winslow, FAIA Principal; Herman Orcutt, AIA Principal; Russ Sanders, AIA, Orcutt/Winslow Associate and Virtual Building Committee Coordinator, Arizona, US
The practice was named the AIA Arizona 2004 Architectural Firm of the Year and 2005 Western Mountain Region Firm of the Year, having completed more than 1,800 projects worth billions in construction revenue. Absolutely devoted to ARCHICAD.
Tomohiko Yamanashi, Project Director, Nikken Sekkei Corporation, Tokyo, Japan
Nikken Sekkei Architects, Engineers and Planners is Japan's largest design firm, and has worked on 20,000 projects across some 40 countries. It just won the Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA) architecture Gold Medal for the Laboratory for the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies in Japan.