Architect Laertis Vassiliou, founder of <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fopaworks.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Open Platform for Architecture</a> (OPA) and <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.laav.nl%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">LAAV Architects</a>, developed this concept design, Casa Brutale. Images of the house built into a cliff went viral online. It will eventually be built in Lebanon.
Casa Brutale (2015) by OPA —
Architect Laertis Vassiliou, founder of Open Platform for Architecture (OPA) and LAAV Architects, developed this concept design, Casa Brutale. Images of the house built into a cliff went viral online. It will eventually be built in Lebanon.
Courtesy OPA
Vassiliou is interested in exploring ways to build underground.
Casa Brutale (2015) by OPA —
Vassiliou is interested in exploring ways to build underground.
Courtesy OPA
"For 3 months after we released this project, we were only replying emails. We worked really hard with the press," says Vassiliou, of his firm's Casa Brutale design.
Casa Brutale (2015) by OPA —
"For 3 months after we released this project, we were only replying emails. We worked really hard with the press," says Vassiliou, of his firm's Casa Brutale design.
OPA Open Platform for Architecture
The project, expected to be completed in 2018, is being constructed in Beirut, Lebanon in collaboration with British consulting firm ARUP.
Casa Brutale (2015) by OPA —
The project, expected to be completed in 2018, is being constructed in Beirut, Lebanon in collaboration with British consulting firm ARUP.
Courtesy OPA
Casa Brutale will be located 5249 ft (1600 m) above sea level on Faqra mountain outside Beirut, Lebanon. "The site is between two mountains and the clouds form inside the valley. So you will be swimming, looking at clouds," says Vassiliou.
Casa Brutale (2015) by OPA —
Casa Brutale will be located 5249 ft (1600 m) above sea level on Faqra mountain outside Beirut, Lebanon. "The site is between two mountains and the clouds form inside the valley. So you will be swimming, looking at clouds," says Vassiliou.
Courtesy OPA
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fopaworks.com%2Fportfolio%2Fthe-bamiyan-cultural-centre-competition-2015%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">The Plinth</a>, OPA's submission for the architectural competition to build The Bamiyan Cultural Centre in Afghanistan, is the first chapter of the firm's Terra Mater Trilogy.
The Plinth (2015) by OPA —
The Plinth, OPA's submission for the architectural competition to build The Bamiyan Cultural Centre in Afghanistan, is the first chapter of the firm's Terra Mater Trilogy.
OPA Open Platform for Architecture
According to Vassiliou, the title The Plinth is a cultural metaphor. "This building is not only a cultural center but also an archive of history of the Bamiyan Valley."
The Plinth (2015) by OPA —
According to Vassiliou, the title The Plinth is a cultural metaphor. "This building is not only a cultural center but also an archive of history of the Bamiyan Valley."
OPA Open Platform for Architecture
The Terra Mater Trilogy consists of three designs: The Plinth, The Holy Cross and Casa Brutale.
The Plinth (2015) by OPA —
The Terra Mater Trilogy consists of three designs: The Plinth, The Holy Cross and Casa Brutale.
OPA Open Platform for Architecture
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fopaworks.com%2Fportfolio%2Flux-aeterna-holy-cross-chapel-transcendental-brutalism%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Lux Aeterna Holy Cross Chapel</a> was designed in 2015 and proposed to be located on the island of Serifos, facing the Aegean sea.
Lux Aeterna Holy Cross Chapel (2015) by OPA —
Lux Aeterna Holy Cross Chapel was designed in 2015 and proposed to be located on the island of Serifos, facing the Aegean sea.
Razvan Marescu/OPA Open Platform for Architecture
Constructed with simple materials of wood, glass, and concrete, the church conveys the architect's message of purity.
Lux Aeterna Holy Cross Chapel (2015) by OPA —
Constructed with simple materials of wood, glass, and concrete, the church conveys the architect's message of purity.
OPA Open Platform for Architecture
The shape of the building is that of an extruded cross.
Lux Aeterna Holy Cross Chapel (2015) by OPA —
The shape of the building is that of an extruded cross.
OPA Open Platform Architecture
At night, the cross structure illuminates from inside the earth and functions like a light house. "This is how true belief should be. It should come from the inside, not from the outside," says the architect.
Lux Aeterna Holy Cross Chapel (2015) by OPA —
At night, the cross structure illuminates from inside the earth and functions like a light house. "This is how true belief should be. It should come from the inside, not from the outside," says the architect.
OPA Open Platform Architecture
The chapel's glass window allows for light to shine through.
Lux Aeterna Holy Cross Chapel (2015) by OPA —
The chapel's glass window allows for light to shine through.
OPA Open Platform for Architecture
This bright concrete building is an homage to Le Corbusier's "Ronchamp" church and Tadao Ando's "Church of Light," two of Vassiliou's favorite architects.
Lux Aeterna Holy Cross Chapel (2015) by OPA —
This bright concrete building is an homage to Le Corbusier's "Ronchamp" church and Tadao Ando's "Church of Light," two of Vassiliou's favorite architects.
OPA Open Platform for Architecture
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.laav.nl%2F%23%2Fvilla-clessidra%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Villa Clessidra</a> is Vassiliou's newest project above ground. This 3-level cubic house is made of a steel frame and bare concrete that accentuates the use of glass, water, and mirrors in the middle. "I like simple things and honest materials like light and water. I like reflections."
Villa Clessidra (2016) by LAAV Architects —
Villa Clessidra is Vassiliou's newest project above ground. This 3-level cubic house is made of a steel frame and bare concrete that accentuates the use of glass, water, and mirrors in the middle. "I like simple things and honest materials like light and water. I like reflections."
LAAV Architects
The project gained the name Clessidra, Italian for hourglass, from its resemblance to the structure of an hourglass, and to represent a place where time stops.
Villa Clessidra (2016) by LAAV Architects —
The project gained the name Clessidra, Italian for hourglass, from its resemblance to the structure of an hourglass, and to represent a place where time stops.
LAAV Architects
Vassiliou placed the building in an imaginary pine forest in the Dutch dunes to create a place for relaxation and meditation.
Villa Clessidra (2016) by LAAV Architects —
Vassiliou placed the building in an imaginary pine forest in the Dutch dunes to create a place for relaxation and meditation.
LAAV Architects
As much as he enjoyed the exciting ride of designing the series of underground architecture, his next move is to steer away from the ground. "I admire architects who don't repeat themselves. I don't want to have one signature style."
Villa Clessidra (2016) by LAAV Architects —
As much as he enjoyed the exciting ride of designing the series of underground architecture, his next move is to steer away from the ground. "I admire architects who don't repeat themselves. I don't want to have one signature style."
LAAV Architects
Wadi Rum Excavated Sanctuaries was Switzerland-based architect Rasem Kamal's thesis project at the Rice School of Architecture in 2015.
Wadi Rum Excavated Sanctuaries (2015) by Rasem Kamal —
Wadi Rum Excavated Sanctuaries was Switzerland-based architect Rasem Kamal's thesis project at the Rice School of Architecture in 2015.
Architect Rasem Kamal
Wadi Rum, a vast empty desert located in south of Jordan, was declared a world protected site by UNESCO in 2011. Its topography allowed the architect to excavate natural ground with a high flexibility of horizontal expansion.
Wadi Rum Excavated Sanctuaries (2015) by Rasem Kamal —
Wadi Rum, a vast empty desert located in south of Jordan, was declared a world protected site by UNESCO in 2011. Its topography allowed the architect to excavate natural ground with a high flexibility of horizontal expansion.
Architect Rasem Kamal
Kamal was inspired by the nests of ant colonies or formicary, an interconnected layout of family chambers underground.
Wadi Rum Excavated Sanctuaries (2015) by Rasem Kamal —
Kamal was inspired by the nests of ant colonies or formicary, an interconnected layout of family chambers underground.
Architect Rasem Kamal
A team of architects, headed by Bjarke Ingels and David Zahle, placed the design of the Danish National Maritime Museum underground to preserve the 60-year-old dock walls, creating an open view for visitors.
Danish National Maritime Museum (2013) by Bjarke Ingels Group —
A team of architects, headed by Bjarke Ingels and David Zahle, placed the design of the Danish National Maritime Museum underground to preserve the 60-year-old dock walls, creating an open view for visitors.
Rasmus Hjortshøj - COAST
The sloping zig-zag bridges allow visitors to navigate within and around the dock, 23 ft (7 meters) below the ground.
Danish National Maritime Museum (2013) by Bjarke Ingels Group —
The sloping zig-zag bridges allow visitors to navigate within and around the dock, 23 ft (7 meters) below the ground.
Rasmus Hjortshøj - COAST
The Earthscraper, a concept designed by <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bunkerarquitectura.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">BNKR Arquitectura</a>, is another example of underground architecture. The inverted skyscraper is to be located in the Zocalo, the 190,000 square-foot historic square of Mexico City.
The Earthscraper by BNKR Arquitectura —
The Earthscraper, a concept designed by BNKR Arquitectura, is another example of underground architecture. The inverted skyscraper is to be located in the Zocalo, the 190,000 square-foot historic square of Mexico City.
Bunker Arquitectura
Plunging 984 ft (300 m) into the ground, the 65-story glass and steel pyramid will have a mix of office and residential spaces.
The Earthscraper by BNKR Arquitectura —
Plunging 984 ft (300 m) into the ground, the 65-story glass and steel pyramid will have a mix of office and residential spaces.
Bunker Arquitectura
A central void allows for a generous amount of natural light and ventilation into the structure, and layers of "earth lobbies" made of plants and trees are designed to improve air quality.
The Earthscraper by BNKR Arquitectura —
A central void allows for a generous amount of natural light and ventilation into the structure, and layers of "earth lobbies" made of plants and trees are designed to improve air quality.
Bunker Arquitectura
Belgian architect Vincent Callebaut has revealed ambitious plans for a series of underwater eco-villages.
Aequorea (2015) by Vincent Callebaut Architectures —
Belgian architect Vincent Callebaut has revealed ambitious plans for a series of underwater eco-villages.
Vincent Callebaut
The Aequorea, housing a variety of facilities including a living space and sports fields, farms across 250 floors and reach a depth of up to 3,280 ft (1,000 m).
Aequorea (2015) by Vincent Callebaut Architectures —
The Aequorea, housing a variety of facilities including a living space and sports fields, farms across 250 floors and reach a depth of up to 3,280 ft (1,000 m).
Vincent Callebaut
The self-sufficient 'oceanscraper,' constructed using recycled plastics, can host up to 20,000 people in the future.
Aequorea (2015) by Vincent Callebaut Architectures —
The self-sufficient 'oceanscraper,' constructed using recycled plastics, can host up to 20,000 people in the future.
Vincent Callebaut
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nlarchitects.nl%2Fslideshow%2F112%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Loop House</a>, built in Heiry Art Valley in South Korea, is a single layered house with a continuous floor wrapped around a central courtyard.
Loop House (2006) by NL Architects + yo2 —
Loop House, built in Heiry Art Valley in South Korea, is a single layered house with a continuous floor wrapped around a central courtyard.
NL Architects and Young Joon Kim/photo by Kim Jong Oh
While the architects' original plan was to build a bungalow with garden, they had to push down part of the house to comply with zoning regulations.
Loop House (2006) by NL Architects + yo2 —
While the architects' original plan was to build a bungalow with garden, they had to push down part of the house to comply with zoning regulations.
NL Architects and Young Joon Kim/photo by Kim Jong O
CarTube, designed by London-based <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.plparchitecture.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">PLP Architecture</a>, combines electric cars and mass transit into an underground road system. Automated cars would be controlled to travel at a steady speed, which could reduce travel time by 75%.
CarTube (2016) by PLP Architecture —
CarTube, designed by London-based PLP Architecture, combines electric cars and mass transit into an underground road system. Automated cars would be controlled to travel at a steady speed, which could reduce travel time by 75%.
PLP Architecture
According to Lars Hesselgren, director of research at PLP, "CarTube has the potential to be the next best thing to teleportation and will revolutionize exiting cities and allow for unprecedented urban forms."
CarTube (2016) by PLP Architecture —
According to Lars Hesselgren, director of research at PLP, "CarTube has the potential to be the next best thing to teleportation and will revolutionize exiting cities and allow for unprecedented urban forms."
PLP Architecture