At the time, the Karlsruhe, Germany, born architect and partner in Rem Koolhaas’ office was in charge of the new CCTV tower, the headquarters for China Central Television in Beijing. The large-scale office building set many records in terms of complexity and re-interpreted the typology of the skyscraper in a new way.
Similarly essential and big in scale is the strategy of Ole Scheeren’s design for the recently completed Interlace in Singapore, even if the architect abandoned the concept of an isolated high-rise. The housing blocks comprising over 1,000 apartments form a cluster of single layers reminiscent of dominoes. In conversation with Alexander Hosch, Ole Scheeren describes the structure of the Interlace and outlines its residential qualities. Photographs by Iwan Baan reveal the project’s dimension. A multi-layered urban space was also a central concern for Renner Hainke Wirth Architekten, the German office that developed the design for the Entertainment House in Hamburg St. Pauli. The new building is located on a highly controversial site – in Hamburg’s amusement quarter. While gentrification in this area is usually accompanied by demonstrations, there have been no protests in this case. Till Briegleb explains the reasons behind and takes a closer look at the building’s urban function.
Domus Germany takes a look at the recent textile work of Hella Jongerius, who explains the various stages of development in an interview. For the Dutch designer, who moved to Berlin a few years ago, carpet design begins with the development of new yarns. Together with a small team of experts, Jongerius looks for technical solutions to specific engineering issues: first the yarn, then the carpet and its effects. Industrial facilities are also the cornerstone of Stefano Giovannoni’s designs. For the Milan-based industrial designer, the process of developing new products is an interactive process involving many experts. The designer takes on the role of a moderator who communicates with technical and marketing specialists in order to find the best solution for the respective product.
