Auditorium Complex, Rheinisch-Westfaelische Technical High School // Aachen // Germany

The Danish architect firm, Schmidt Hammer Lassen won a German competition a couple of months ago, which consisted of designing a new auditorium for the Rheinisch Westfaelische Technical High School in Aachen, Germany. The auditorium complex confines a structure of a total of 13,500 m2. The building will be complete by the year 2012.

The unique element in this project, is the use of grass in the facade and the roof of the building - a rather sustainable solution, which contributes to helping mother nature heal from the wounds that we have caused her through the ages. Despite being ecologically friendly, the grass facade solution also appears very pleasant and elegant on the building's exterior - a pleasant appearing which is at times rather challenging to achieve when designing buildings with natural vegetation, such as the applied grass. Despite the grass facade, the building has a whole bag full of sustainable surprises, such as well-planned natural lighting, natural heating and cooling techniques and many, many more. This project is a great example of how contemporary sustainable architecture should function.

Kilden Performing Arts Center // Kristiansand // Norway

The Kilden Performing Arts Center in Kristiansand, Norway is designed by the Finnish architect group ALA. This project isn't rather new, as a matter of fact, it dates back to 2005, the year in which ALA architects won the competition for the building. The building is currently under construction and is estimated to stand ready at its site by the year 2010. The site is a tight renewed former industrial pier.

The building is to house a theater and a concert hall, which are both symbolically connected with the easy-to-spot massive curving wall that leans towards the water, while wrapping all its functions within it (the two halls).

Guggenheim Vilnius // Vilnius // Lithuania

This Zaha Hadid Guggenheim project is to be built in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. As by tradition, the Guggenheim museum features extraordinary and shockingly exciting architecture, and in this project, Zaha Hadid has clearly put her architectural touch on the building, with her abstract and vivid forms. The entire construction of the building is estimated to cost about $117 million, of which 10-15% will be provided by the Lithuanian government. 

This project is from 2008, and it's expected to stand complete in the Lithuanian capital by the year 2013. At completion, this building will stand as a national icon, representing the country's modern mentality and its very dynamic evolution, which was kick-started thanks to the country's EU membership back in 2004. It is no wonder that this Guggenheim will stand as a great monument to the Lithuanian people, since so far, most Guggenheim museums (even the ones that have remained only proposals) have given certain countries great popularity and attention.

    

Randers Kunstmuseum // Randers // Denmark

This ladies and gentlemen, is my first post on this blog, and certainly not the last. As the first project, I've decided to present you a Danish project by the Danish architects 3XN. This building is an art Museum, and is, as the name implies, situated in the Danish city of Randers, which is situated on the Jutland isle.

As you can see, the museum has a rather unique roof structure, which actually creates two almost separate museum buildings, which are connected by two wave-like roof structures. The facades are built with large curtain-wall systems, so that natural light flows freely in the structure and so the museum's visitors can enjoy as much as possible of the outside view from the interior. 

The surrounding landscape around the site consists of a pleasant natural environment, which the museum strives to integrate itself into. Its integration with its surroundings is achieved, as earlier mentioned, through the two large curtain-wall systems at both openings from the roof system.

Welcome

Welcome to this new blog, hopefully in time, it will grow rich and exciting and achieve its goal of providing rich information on European architectural projects. Follow this blog, I can assure you that it will grow fast, since I'm planning on using a lot of time on it!