Archinect - News

Mork-Ulnes Architects and Alison Damonte reimagine San Francisco home destroyed by fire

2023-09-13T11:58:00-04:00

Mork-Ulnes Architects has unveiled their completed residential project in Bernal Heights, San Francisco. Named ‘The Silver Lining House,’ the home was commissioned by architectural photographer Bruce Damonte and interior designer Alison Damonte, who sought a “container for the couple’s art and furniture collection, and a laboratory for their work.”

Image credit: Bruce Damonte

The new scheme replaces an original 1908 wood house, which was damaged by a fire on Christmas Eve, 2017, when the project had already commenced. While the fire caused a reevaluation of the scope and scale of the redesign, the brief remained to “create a home that acted as a capsule for art and inspiration.” A new structure was proposed whose proportions, scale, and exterior massing took cues from the site’s gabled Edwardian neighbors, with an exterior black cedar cladding echoing the local vernacular and subtly referencing the fire that spurred the home’s regeneration.

Image credit: Br...

Watch a timelapse of the 140-year-old Victorian home moving through the streets of San Francisco

2021-02-22T17:55:00-05:00

For the first time in more than 45 years, a Victorian home was relocated in San Francisco Sunday. The 1880 Italianate-style house, once located at 807 Franklin, crawled seven blocks to 635 Fulton on a hydraulic dolly operated by remote control.

The Garden of Eden is reimagined with Pamela Tan's ethereal installation

2019-01-22T10:38:00-05:00

Generally depicted as a place filled with lush greenery surrounded by life and abundance, The Garden of Eden is referenced in literature, film, and design. In religious texts, those familiar with the book of Genesis read about Eden and its detailed reference to "Paradise." A place filled with trees bearing the fruits of the earth, Eden also happens to be the place where the serpent tempts Adam and Eve. However, despite its common visual representation architectural designer Pamela Tan used her multidisciplinary background to approach Eden's vision with a different perspective. Tan's project, Eden, is a vision in white. The public installation set to be a permanent exhibition in a Malaysian retail center reflects an ethereal heavenly approach.

Eden designed by Pamela Tan. Photography by David Yeow

The Crystal Palace, 1851. © wikiarquitectura.com

At first glance, the immersive installation embodies shapes forms reminiscent of modern architectural designs. However, upon closer examinati...

London, South of the River. A Personal Journey Before ‘Brexit’

2016-07-08T06:59:00-04:00

[...] during a visit some months before the Brexit vote, I armed myself with a detailed map and trolled all over South and Southeast London — a conglomeration of formerly independent villages, boroughs, towns and green spaces that have long since been incorporated into London [...] the neighborhoods that make up the great London patchwork quilt are ephemeral, especially now, as the immigrant communities of London wonder what the post-Brexit future will bring.

Read more about the effects of Brexit for architects on archinect:

Architects react to shocking EU referendum result

Property funds suspend trading in biggest seize-up since financial crisis

Creative Currency, post-Brexit

Post-Brexit pessimism causes precautionary job losses

After Brexit, “the priority for the government at this time will not be big sexy projects”

Brunel’s Thames Tunnel transformed into an underground theatre

2016-04-14T11:00:00-04:00

Called the Grand Entrance Hall, the underground space – opening today – will be run by The Brunel Museum and is set to host plays, operas, concerts and even weddings. Architects Tate Harmer breathed new life into the 1843 Grade II*-listed shaft – originally designed by civil engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel and his father Marc – adding a cantilevered staircase to make the 75ft-deep hall accessible.

Discover more UK content here:

Restoring, it needs

2013-11-23T10:25:00-05:00

Later it was the stamping ground of the 19th century’s version of today’s “starchitects,” including Andrew Jackson Downing and his disciples, like Calvert Vaux and Frederick Clarke Withers. Their work — grand Second Empire Victorian, Gothic revival and Queen Anne houses — is everywhere

Lisa Selin Davis profiles the town of Newburgh NY, which has grand but neglected architecture and is reminiscent of 1980s Brooklyn, before gentrification. The community is working to revitalize the troubled city and it's architecture. However, some doubt whether the recent influx of artists/new business such as the Newburgh Brewing Company, will be able to address long standing issues such as a lack of jobs and crime.