Earthquake proof Earthen School Pakistan

Design Boom writes about "...tipu sultan merkez' earthen school in jar maulwi, pakistan by berlin-based architectural and engineering practice ziegert roswag seiler architekten ingenieure has received this year's holcim award for sustainable construction within the asia-pacific region.

The first level of of the two-story building is constructed with cob walls comprised of locally sourced clay, sand, straw, water and earth. resting upon brick foundations,the interior spaces are protected from moisture penetrating from the ground or rainwater.

The upper floor is a bamboo framework filled with an earthen mixture. the combined result of the structure absorbs humidity and the mass of the thick 60 centimeter bearing walls
reduces the temperature of interior spaces by 8 degrees celsius during the 40 degree summer heat.

Local residents were able to build their new community facility by implementing appropriate construction technologies and skills which were already present within the village.

Accra Twin Towers

Design Boom writes about "...lisbon-based practice frederico valsassina arquitectos has designed the 'accra twin towers' to be positioned along liberia road in urban context of accra, ghana. overlooking the gulf of guinea, the pair of structures contrasts the encompassing development
of dense suburban scale buildings, becoming a visible landmark.

Placed upon a limited plot size, the program is divided into residential and office levels within the 40 floors. reaching 160 meters in height, the external form is generated by taking away cubic masses from an interior corner, gradually opening a void between them. within the widest point of the gap and elevated
above ground level, an outdoor terrace and swimming pool is connected to the base's recreational floors.

An extension of the existing street life, three floors of shopping welcome visitors into the program. a range of dwelling sizes
may be created with a modular arrangement to provide flexibility of market trends during construction without interfering with the exterior's aesthetic composition. the steel mesh protects the dominant glass curtain walls from direct and harsh sunlight, reflecting and filtering intense radiation.