Architectural Drawings - 8 Circular Plans That Defy Convention - Architizer Journal

11/4/2018 Architectural Drawings: 8 Circular Plans That Defy Convention - Architizer Journal
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Architectural Drawings: 8 Circular Plans That Defy Convention
Architectural Drawings: 8 Circular Plans

That Defy Convention
We explore the unorthodox layouts of architects that broke the mold
by going full circle.
Paul Keskeys
INDUSTRY
AWARDS
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With the exception of a few special typologies, there is one floor plan shape that most
architects will never touch: the circle. Why? Because it is inherently inefficient, spatially
speaking and — more often than not — financially speaking as well. Try finding furniture
that you can push up against curved walls without any spaces behind, and you will find your
choices seriously limited. Furthermore, specifying building envelopes with rigid materials
such as glass or stone paneling generally becomes more expensive as soon as you eschew
straight lines in your plan.
It may come as a surprise, then, that some of the most popular projects in the
2017 A+Awards possessed a circular or ring-shaped layout, or a plan consisting of several
circular spaces linked together in a chain. What drew voters to these projects in spite of —
or perhaps because of — their convention-busting curves?
We explore the evidence below, and also look at a couple of iconic plans from yesteryear
that Journal
broke the mold by going full circle.
https://architizer.com/blog/inspiration/industry/architectural-drawings-circular-plans/?fbclid=IwAR3tATv1gmqtQBpNSnfjSN3nvZsOTxUcmi2c6Dsz1q0… 1/18
GRAN MEDITERRANEO by ARCHITECTURES DAVID TAJCHMAN, Tel Aviv-Yafo,

Israel (concept)
David Tajchman’s firm won an A+Award, capturing the popular vote in one of the unbuilt
residential categories for its innovative, 21st-century reimagining of the high-rise in Tel
Aviv, Israel. The project harnesses a particular advantage of circle-shaped plans: the ability
to create continuous, curving façades that offer panoramic views of the surrounding
landscape. This quality is accentuated with the placement of outward-facing, plant-filled
amphitheaters within every apartment, utilizing the high solar gain inherent within this
layout.
Micr-O Hangzhou by Superimpose, Hangzhou, China
Shortlisted in the 2017 A+Awards in the Architecture +Learning category, Micr-O

Hangzhou was designed as a communal space for villagers in the rural Tai Yang Valley to
learn about sustainable farming. In this instant, the circular layout lends itself to the
project’s key goal of congregation for both social and educational purposes — a canvas-
covered, ring-shaped structure offers shelter for visiting families while framing a central
courtyard that is perfect for learning activities and events.
The Bahá’í Temple of South America by Hariri Pontarini Architects, Santiago, Chile
Winner of an A+Award in the Cultural-Religious Buildings & Memorials category, the

Bahá’í Temple’s pinwheel plan is derived from a number of design intentions — some
symbolic, and others practical. Seeking to create a space that would be welcoming to people
of all faiths, the firm was inspired by forms that are at once protective and permeable, like
the canopies of trees and the interwoven strands of Japanese bamboo baskets. The
resulting cocoon-like dome of translucent marble has nine entrances positioned around the
perimeter, slender windows that allow sunlight to stream in and a radial formation of seats
at its core.
Shanghai Library East Hall by nARCHITECTS, Shanghai, China (concept)
nARCHITECTs scooped an A+Award in the Unbuilt Institutional category with its

proposal for a library that feels like home. The circular plan of the building is intended to
aid social interactions throughout the library as it creates a continuous floor space
connected by low-pitched ramps winding up the volume. The lack of corners within this
configuration minimizes isolated pockets of space and encourages a truly communal
learning experience.
https://architizer.com/blog/inspiration/industry/architectural-drawings-circular-plans/?fbclid=IwAR3tATv1gmqtQBpNSnfjSN3nvZsOTxUcmi2c6Dsz1q… 10/18
Farmanieh Residential Tower by Farshad Mehdizadeh + Mohsen Marizad + Raha Ashrafi,

Tehran, Iran (concept)
The private residential spaces within this A+Award-winning concept for a modular high-
rise are not actually curvilinear, but are stacked within a circular superstructure. This
arrangement serves to create communal intermediary spaces between the units that can be
inhabited in a variety of ways, all with sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding urban
landscape.
Liepaja Thermal Bath by Steven Christensen Architecture Liepaja, Latvia (concept)
Rather than a single circular space, architect Steven Christensen opted for a string of
spherical voids within the monumental concrete volume of his award-winning spa
complex. The conceptual design seeks to break down conventional spatial hierarchies by
link programs through a continuous network of domes, both upright and inverted. The
resulting spaces possess a magical, cave-like quality, with gentle, interlocking curves
accentuating a relaxing atmosphere for bathers.
Via MCM Daily
Via Wikipedia
Marina City by Bertrand Goldberg, Chicago, Ill.
One of the first architects to use a circular layout to harness outward-facing views was
Betrand Goldberg. Completed back in 1964, the wedge-shaped apartments of his Marina
City project each possess a rounded balcony, giving the building its iconic “corn-cob”
aesthetic. While the building remains a unique visual asset on Chicago’s skyline, it could be
argued that the apartments were not the most practical ever designed, with tight bathrooms
and dressing rooms squeezed in nearer the core of the building.
Via Flying Concrete
Via Mortar Sprayer
Turner House by Lloyd Turner, Boulder Creek, Calif.
Built in 1982, the linked torispheres of Lloyd Turner’s unusual home resulted from the
innovative construction technique used to build it. The architect pioneered a method of
inflating balloon forms, upon which he sprayed a hardening urethane foam and gunite (air
emplaced concrete) to create elegant concrete shells. The spatial redundancy in certain
areas of the house is countered by its incredibly efficient construction technique — not to
mention the joyous aesthetic of Turner’s unique residence, which blends seamlessly into
the surrounding landscape.
For more unorthodox plans and innovative layouts, check out the full gallery of winners in
the 2017 A+Awards.
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11/4/2018 Architectural Drawings: 8 Circular Plans That Defy Convention - Architizer Journal

B How architects find building-products.

Architectural Drawings: 8 Circular Plans

Architectural Drawings: 8 Circular Plans That Defy Convention

Architectural Drawings: 8 Circular Plans That Defy Convention

GRAN MEDITERRANEO by ARCHITECTURES DAVID TAJCHMAN, Tel Aviv-Yafo,

Architectural Drawings: 8 Circular Plans That Defy Convention

Micr-O Hangzhou by Superimpose, Hangzhou, China

Shortlisted in the 2017 A+Awards in the Architecture +Learning category, Micr-O

Architectural Drawings: 8 Circular Plans That Defy Convention

Architectural Drawings: 8 Circular Plans That Defy Convention

Winner of an A+Award in the Cultural-Religious Buildings & Memorials category, the

Architectural Drawings: 8 Circular Plans That Defy Convention

Shanghai Library East Hall by nARCHITECTS, Shanghai, China (concept)

nARCHITECTs scooped an A+Award in the Unbuilt Institutional category with its

Architectural Drawings: 8 Circular Plans That Defy Convention

Architectural Drawings: 8 Circular Plans That Defy Convention

Farmanieh Residential Tower by Farshad Mehdizadeh + Mohsen Marizad + Raha Ashrafi,

Architectural Drawings: 8 Circular Plans That Defy Convention

Architectural Drawings: 8 Circular Plans That Defy Convention

Liepaja Thermal Bath by Steven Christensen Architecture Liepaja, Latvia (concept)

Architectural Drawings: 8 Circular Plans That Defy Convention

Via MCM Daily

Architectural Drawings: 8 Circular Plans That Defy Convention

Marina City by Bertrand Goldberg, Chicago, Ill.

Via Flying Concrete

Architectural Drawings: 8 Circular Plans That Defy Convention

Via Mortar Sprayer

Turner House by Lloyd Turner, Boulder Creek, Calif.

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