Location| Southern California, South America / Dubai, UAE
Type| multi-unit residential
Size| 5 stories, 40 units (2,400 sf)

Status| concept

Part 2 of a modular series of housing concepts is the 4×10 Luxury Lofts. This housing concept is based on the common unit used in the 2-4-6-8 Luxury Residences project and is configured into 5 story residential components with shared open air circulation between the units and parking below. A total of 40 units are available with private parking and swimming pools. Like the 2-4-6-8, this concept is intended for a mild to hot climate typical of Southern California and parts of South America, Africa and India. The 4×10 concept is also the design model featured in the previous “Augmented Reality” post.

Please review the first part of this series > 2-4-6-8 Luxury Residences [concept]

All images and content are the property of rui duarte DESIGN and may only be used with written consent. Copyright 2010, All Rights Reserved

design images

I few weeks ago while watching the SYFY channel, I noticed the terminology of “augmented reality” being put to use as two mechanical boxers faced off in a ring while the human controllers were off on the sideline with a “piece of paper” on their backs recognized by a digital camera and fed into a computer capturing body movements. I’ve been aware of motion capture techniques for many years, especially for computer animation and film. Today I found a post on one of my favorite forums PushPullBar referring to a plug-in for SketchUp that would transform a digital computer model onto a piece of paper and capture my movement of the paper back into a composite video signal of me moving the paper with the computer model on it. I tried the plug-in made by Inglobe Technologies and it worked!

This technology has been around for a few years (I believe), however seeing it work on my desk is nothing short of amazing. I find it difficult not to use the F-word in expressing how easy and accurate this process works. 1. download the plug-in (trial version) 2. install the plug-in 3. run SketchUp 4. load a model 5. initiate the plug-in from the SU plug-in menu 6. select a cam source from a menu 7. AUGMENTED REALITY !!!!!!!!!

I also made this short video to illustrate the process and demonstrate the real time usability aspects. Now I’m beginning to consider how to implement this technology into client presentations and maybe take it one step future. Maybe in another 10 years we will not only be able to spin, pan and zoom but also create architecture in this type of virtual environment. Please leave a note with your thoughts and first impressions.

Location| Narragansett, RI
Type| additions and alterations
Area| 2,800 sf
Association| SPM Design

Status| unbuilt

The location of this project is within a stone’s throw from Scarborough Beach in the southern most part of Narragansett. The client’s family has enjoyed this summer beach house for a number of years as a departure from their homestead in New Jersey. The home recently was water damaged during the winter months by a broken pipe that flooded the crawlspace below. The client is now looking to add more living functionality to the house and prepare accommodations for future decades of guests.

Currently the house is 970sf of inhabitable area, containing 3 small bedrooms, 2 baths, kitchen and living room. A new second floor will be added with 2 more bedrooms, a bath, and a family room overlooking the ocean. A third story viewing room is proposed to take advantage of the location and view.

The design of the house is based on simple modern forms that make reference to ocean movements and generate interior volumetric spaces, much like the void formed by a surfer’s pipeline wave. Exterior materials will be selected to compliment the concept and window placement will be designed to picture frame the views of the ocean and horizon. Being a seasonal summer home, emphasis is placed on a passive wind design that will cool the home during the summer months. This will be achieved utilizing a centrally located stair as a vertical exhaust mechanism.

preliminary design images: 10/30/09

Location| Rio de Janeiro, Brazil / Dubai, UAE
Type| multi-unit residential
Size| 690 feet, 42 stories, 168 units (2,400 sf)

Status| concept

Recently in conversation a few colleagues of mine were discussing modular construction and how it was only attributed to small-medium residential applications. Well I took the conversation topic to heart and started to look at a residential tower concept where most pieces are to be pre-fab and lifted into place. At the moment several other experts are looking at the design and determining what components could indeed be pre-fab. The design is also looking into sustainability and energy conservation. Structurally a concrete and steel frame with pre-cast concrete, metal panel exterior cladding would be used. This is a design concept and not a realized project; however the design is targeted at a warmer climate such a Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo area.

UPDATE: Please review the second part of this series > 4×10 Luxury Lofts

All images and content are the property of rui duarte DESIGN and may only be used with written consent. Copyright 2009, All Rights Reserved

design images

On our annual “visit a new city tour”, Tracey and I drove up to Toronto Canada to explore a relatively new city of only 175 years. Our trip started early on Aug 15 with a departure from Providence taking us about 12 hours to reach our destination (including stops, traffic and a dinner caused be a severe traffic jam on the QEW in Ontario). We arrived late at our hotel in downtown Toronto and sat down to a few pints of Canadian ale. Our Sunday walking effort was challenged by record high heat and humidity, nevertheless we navigated through the city and found our way while drinking plenty of water. The heat continued on Monday as we found ourselves back in the car to explore west and east suburbs of the city and get a sense of living styles in the surrounding area. Tuesday night we walked 2 blocks from our hotel to Rogers Centre to watch the Red Sox defeat the Blue Jays 10-9. We were impressed by the stadium and it’s amenities, grand concourse and retractable roof all of which made the game more spectator friendly. Also noted by our new friend Saba (a long time Jays fan) that it is an “old stadium and not to be confused with a ballpark like Fenway”. Toronto is loaded with new architecture by Will Alsop, Gehry, Morphosis, Libeskind, Mies, Calatrava and many others. Some of the building noted in the photographs include:

The Sharp Centre for Design, Ontario College of Art and Design, Alsop Architects, 2004
Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), Gehry Partners, 2008
University of Toronto Graduate Housing, Morphosis Architects, 2000
BCE Place Allen Lambert Galleria, Santiago Calatrava, 1992
Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), Studio Daniel Libeskind, 2007
Toronto Dominion Centre (TD Centre), Mies Van Der Rohe, 1967

Wednesday we left Toronto and made a stop to visit our friend Doug who recently moved to Niagara Falls and visit the Falls (my first time). Needless to say the Falls are breathtaking and a very unique natural wonder that can not be fully captured with photographs, so I also shoot some HD video to get a better representation of the sites and sounds of the Falls. As a five day trip we covered many miles and saw many interesting things, enjoyed great food, friendly people, and became acquainted with a new city. We haven’t determined our destination for next year but I’m certain Toronto will remain on our top 5 city list for a long time to come. I hope you enjoy the photographs which can be seen as a full screen slide show and please leave your comments!