I never thought I would see a bridge clad in zinc, but here it is. It does look stunning. OZ Architecture has chosen the right material to elevate this project from “just a bridge” to a “beautiful bridge”. Black roofing installed the flatlock panels.

The designers at Kallman, McKinnell and Wood of the Boston World Trade Center appropriately eschewed pared-down modernism for a more multi-cultural approach. Decorative elements were employed but made modern. Fin-like brackets, clad in GKD’s Futura 3110, appear to support deep Polynesian overhangs. Photography copyright 2004, Robert Benson.

This Amphitheatre is in Pornic, France. The building is used as a theater, for concerts, lectures and conferences, for the general public as well as high school students. It caught my eye because of the beautiful zinc panels designed by Rachdi Parent Architects. The blue-grey of the zinc has been archived by coloring the zinc with a slight blue tinted organic coating

For many years acoustical products provided needed absorption or diffusion and did not contribute to the decor. RPG has changed all that with its Shape Optimized diffusors and decorative absorbers . Now the design community can have both acoustics and aesthetics. The Deamp microslit sound absorbers offer the possibility of high resolution art or signage with the accompanying benefit of controlling excessive reverberation to provide a comfortable and effective work place environment. If transparent panels are needed, Deamp is also available transparent or translucent.

Day Three and Day Four:

Friday and Saturday were great days for us as well.  The show was more than we had hoped for and a great opportunity for us to talk with new and old friends. 

A number of very talented architects attended the show.  Among them, were some of the more famous in the field and we did get a chance to have Daniel Libeskind (photo above) autograph one of his books.  It may seem strange at first blush, however, at the end of the day, we are architecture fans.  It was an honor to shake his hand. 

On Friday night we held a small party at the convention center for anyone who wanted to attend.  A three man band played jazz, we served light food & drinks, and everyone had a nice time. 

We have to be honest and say that we thought Saturday would be more of a non-event than actual work.  We are happy to say that we were wrong.  We had quite a few people stopping by the VMZINC Lounge, talking, have a drink and relaxing. 

Overall it was a great show and we look forward to next year in Denver! -VM

Source: www.zincsense.com

repost from www.zincsense.com

The United Nations Auditorium in Geneva Switzerland was designed by architect Daniel Starrenberg. This project stands out with its unique ceilings as well as its excellent seating. Figueras seating has provided the 730 Bonamusa chair as well as all the millwork for the tables.

Terminal 3 will stretch almost half a mile across the desert, providing Las Vegas with a full-service, stand-alone International Terminal that will also connect with existing Terminals 1 and 2. A column-free ticketing hall and concourses will provide flexible open spaces that will accommodate large flows of passengers. The metal roof is made out of VM Zinc ZipRib panels ensuring that the roof will last longer than Las Vegas. The Architect is PGAL

project of the month -02.12 -hooked on phonics:

pronunciations vary for non-locals, but for those living in and around northwest washington state, puyallup is a city located south of seattle.  or southeast of tacoma, if you prefer.  (don’t worry, locals will tell you which one, if any, is correct).  either way, our hearing is going due to too much rock and roll in our youth at the tacoma dome,  so we are have trouble nailing it down.  no worries. 

the name comes from the native american puyallup tribe.  “puyallup” means the generous people.  we can see that.  nice people, nice city and nice architectural sensibilities. 

take the puyallup city hall, for instance.  designed by the mighty mithun firm on the great alaskan way in nearby seattle, this building absolutely sings with massing and materiality.  we say “mighty” for a reason.  mithun architects provided the architectural, interior design, and landscaping services for this private-public stunner.  (http://mithun.com/projects/project_detail/puyallup_city_hall_block/)

the team at mithun has managed to join the public and private realms with a project that accommodates shops on the main street front and a public plaza + courtyard + landscape to be enjoyed by all.  moreover, the mixing of a material pallet that includes concrete, brick, glass, wood, plants, lights and zinc, could have been a disaster in less skilled hands.  mithun makes it happen with an ease that doesn’t shout for or demand attention.  instead, it has a subtle and sweet finesse that sneaks up on you. 

The only thing we’re concerned about is that drivers passing this building too fast will suddenly slam on their breaks and cause accidents! (“whoa!  what was that?”)  closer inspection (of the zinc first, of course) reveals zinc panel sizes intentionally rendered so that the reveals line up with the mullions.  sounds easy.  hard to do once paper meets the reality of construction.  by the way, the zinc was expertly installed by locals:  architectural sheet metal of puyallup.  (www.architecturalsheetmetal.com)

we believe that the installers’ local pride, combined with their craftsmanship, speaks for itself.  but, because this is a blog, we will mention that the vertical interlocking wall panels were drawn in such a way that they create texture as they draw the eye to the sky. the vertical columns above the brick massing at the street front intensify this effort. wrapping the zinc around to the nearby fascia brings the eye back to the other elements, including the glass and the wood soffit. the brick base box anchors the ensemble to the lively street.

everywhere you turn, the materiality of this building plays out like a small symphony.  quiet and confident — not like great grandma cranking out show tunes on her 1970s hi-fi at full volume in the room down the hall.  no, this building is more like a drive along the ocean on a sunday afternoon, or a windswept field on an open prairie.  calm with an element of the uncontrolled.  and yet, somehow, it is being controlled.  generous in it’s own way.  enough said.

we hope you go by this project. get off i-5 for a few moments and take a look.  if you dig architecture, you’ll be glad that you did.  on the way, you can practice non-local variations of the name: “pju-AWL-ep” … “pew-owl-up”   …”pew-awl-ap”   ”hello? hooked on phonics?” 

enjoy -vm

photos by gilbertson photography.  (www.gilbertsonphotography.com)

editorial contributions by bryan ninneman

Source: www.zincsense.com

repost from www.zincsense.com

DC Arrival

We arrived in DC after the short car ride (5 hours) from Raleigh.  By the time we arrived, our battle hardened booth deployment squad had already set up the VMZINC Lounge (Booth # 329 at the show) and were off replenishing their batteries, taking sustenance, and dreaming of a show filled with laughter, friends and new acquaintances. 

The rest of our team took in the Hanley Wood Party at the Thomas Jefferson Building/Library of Congress.  This is one of the more amazing interiors in DC and we highly recommend that you check it out the next time you are in the neighborhood.  (Number Ten -First Street Southeast.)  As we left the party, we were greeted by a beautiful monument-filled night sky. 

We will continue to update from the show and invite all who are attending to stop by the booth for a little R & R.  -Vm

Source: www.zincsense.com

repost from www.zincsense.com

DAY TWO:(AIA National Convention in DC).

Day Two brought about the early morning finishing touches to the booth. Our team refined the concept, purchased the materials and put it all together at the show.  The finishing touches on Day Two (the first actual day of the Expo) were completed by the dynamic duo of Chandra Hester and Gary Engle -who had worked tirelessly through most of the night before to get the booth in tip-top shape. 

So, how did it go over?  The first real day of the trade Expo at the Convention (our Day Two), brought more than double the attendees that we saw the previous year in New Orleans.  In other words, one day with the new VMZINC “Lounge” was more successful than the full show last year in NOLA.  We dig NOLA, but how cool is this?

If you are attending the show, stop by booth # 329, put your feet up after walking all over the beautiful Convention Center, have a refreshment or two and charge your phone.  Oh, and don’t forget to look at the stunning zinc projects that surround you on our flat screen TVs.  Enjoy -VM.

Source: www.zincsense.com

repost from www.zincsense.com