#30 Nov/Dec 2009

News and observations

• Country living in Laufnitzdorf (AT)
• Christian Kerez's Escola Paulista in Zurich (CH) (nearly completed)
• Paula Rego's House of Stories in Cascais (PT)
• Tallinn (EE) finally gets its central square
• And now… What? Architecture in times of recession
• Reality check: Skuratov Architects' apartment building, Moscow (RU)
• and more…

New projects

• Corporate village, Valletta (MT) by Architecture Project
• Hotel, Helsinki (FI) by K2S
• Theatres, Skopje (MK) by Platforma
• University library, Vilnius (LT) by R. Paleko ARCH studija
• Army museum, Warsaw (PL) by WXCA

Gernot Hertl: Resolutely reduced

Gernot Hertl practices an uncompromising and yet sensitive-looking style. No big fuss. 'I always have the feeling that somewhere it is still possible to change and improve. We always try to be as uncompromising as possible.'

New buildings

• Apartment building, Copenhagen (DK) by Lundgaard & Tranberg
• Penthouse, Rome (IT) by -scape
• Chapel, Tarnów (PL) by Beton
• Hotel, Linz (AT) by Josef Hohensinn
• Office building, Moscow (RU) by Projekt 21
• Private house, Ljubno ob Savinji (SI) by Superform
• Mixed-use development, Ipswich (UK) by John Lyall Architects
• Library, Ventspils (LV) by INDIA
• Museum restoration, Zurich (CH) by Christ & Gantenbein Architects
• Private house, Ibiza (ES) by Andrés Jaque
• Accident and emergency service building, Zagreb (HR) by Produkcija 004

Versatile wood

There are few materials as versatile as wood. Timber can be used in just about any part of a building, from the foundation piles and support structure, through internal walls and window and door frames, to the facade cladding and eaves. Today we find wood in a whole range of building typologies – houses, of course, but also sheds, schools, churches and museums. It is a material that lends itself to many different types of processing – as planks, shingles, sheets and beams – and surface treatments – staining, painting, varnishing, burning. It can be fashioned into all manner of forms – box, log cabin, blob – and conjure very different atmospheres: restrained or extravagant, warm or cool, light or heavy, cosily old-fashioned or tautly modern.

Focusing on European countries, cities and regions

• The urban condition of Athens (GR) since the 2004 Olympic Games
• An architectural tour of Germany's 'secret capital': Munich (DE)
• Profile: Barkow Leibinger (DE)
• Home: Stefan Spaens and Britt Crepain's house-cum-office, Antwerp (BE)

Buildings from the margins of modern history

In 1984, Batric Mijovic's primary aim was to design an earthquake-proof department store. Three majestic cupolas (looking like space shuttles) were the result, but now this traditional city-centre department store in Bar (Montenegro) seems to have had its day. Vesna Vučinić champions this impressive structure.