The Promenade on the Foot of the Mountains of Heaven - Studio A+ project is a vacation house situated on a hilly site of Heavenly Mountain in Xinjiang, China. Within a panoramic view of snowy mountains, the site is ideal for mountain viewing and walking. The concept originates from regarding nature’s wonders with awe. A promenade, from the earth to different levels of the building and from the outside in and inside out, is created to guide the client on a small journey.
Round Retreat - UnitedLab Associates LLC is anchored to the site by its relationship to natural elements. Four trees and a pond present a natural matrix from which the design arises, and the formal strategy begins by encircling one existing tree and allowing the other trees to erode the perimeter, forming concave spaces in the donut-shaped form. By liberating the structure of right angles, visitors are allowed to sync with the rhythms and orders of nature as the architecture merges with its surroundings and become a serene backdrop for relaxation and healing. The openness of the floor plan facilitates serendipitous connections and generates new relationships between occupants, architecture, and nature.
Resembling interlacing structures in a tropical paradise near Tulum, Casa San Juan - Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos appears as an experimental design solution with formal similarities to the vernacular architecture of the region: The Mayan House. Height, large spaces for air to enter, the distribution of floor areas and the division between public and private spaces are the guiding concepts. The formal solution, which is also grounded in principles of sustainability, presents a contemporary take on the vernacular architecture, converting it into a “shell” that employs the traditional local materials.
Torre Helea - Bulnes Arquitectos is a residential building located in Puebla City, the second fastest growing city in Mexico. This project is the answer to the demanding and exigent sector of the local real estate market; therefore, the unique architectural features make the difference in comparison to other relevant projects in the region. The structural challenge was solved by using a high resistant concrete core and a steel structure in cantilever finished off with a stringer. Sustainability issues were also addressed.
To see more amazing entries from this year’s WIN Awards please click here.