rare architecture is an office for research, architecture and education. Projects range from the scale of the Object to the Urban. We stress the need to establish a tailored response, which implies a singular design process for each project with an adapted use of our network of competences. Mixing different endeavours we sensibly apply transversal thinking between teaching, research and commissions.
Digital Craftmanship|09.10| As part of the 2010 Story of London festival, rare organsies a talk showcasing the architectural journey exploring the use of digital craftsmanshift at a variety of scales throughout the Town Hall Hotel project. The term refering to the use of contemporary digital tools to design and manufacture a new form of craft.
London Design Festival 2010|08.10| rare to show their debut furniture ranges Twig and Edward as part of London Design Festival. 22nd to 26th September at The Tramshed, 32 Rivington Street.
Interieur|08.10| Submission for Interieur 10, the renowned design fair, of HH by rare. The exercise bike prototype blurs the line between the decorative & functional, through two converging ideas - human usage and cultural recognition.
Designed Geographies|07.10|
Summer Visiting Design Workshop - Singapore, July, 2010 This year’s focus will be on artificial expansions of specific urban conditions and their new geographies. The design potential of operational growth are be investigated through new strategies relating the preset topographical limitations and geopolitical conditions of Singapore exploring of territorial discontinuity.
BBC 4|06.10| BBC 4Radio has invited RARE to a conversation programme exploring prospective urban strategies for dense european cities, building on our dual localisation in both Paris and London as well as our research on the city fabric and verticality.
RIBA Journal|06.10| The June issue of the RIBA Journal features an extensive coverage of the Town Hall Hotel. The critique by Eleanor Young reviews the “impressive rebirth” exploring the different layered considerations of the architecture and interior design. The piece also includes our short review on parametric considerations applied to design and construction processes.
Royal Academy - Summer Exhibition|06.10| RARE architecture will be part of this year’s Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. The prestigious event will exhibit one of our research model from June 14st to end of August.
Design review |06.10| RARE directors participate in a design review session organised by The Finnish Institute in London. The selection of designers will participate in the exhibition HEL YES! during the London Design Festival 2010 and/or the Finnish design show at Tokyo Design Week.
Architect's Journal - AJ |05.10| The Architect’s Journal – AJ - announces the forthcoming completion of RARE’s Grade 2 listed refurbishment in Bethnal Green, London. The journal highlights the contemporary take on the existing Edwardian/Art Deco structure through the innovative and performative new design.
Opening coverage |05.10| Follow the pre-opening of the Town Hall Hotel in recent publications including Elle Décor Italia, Blueprint, Casa Vogue Greece, Elle Decoration UK.
The Times |04.10| A feature in The Times (3rd April) explores the challenges posed by the renovation of Bethnal Green’s Old Town Hall into the Town Hall Hotel including Peng Loh’s vision as a developer and a commentary on its contemporary architectural design within a strong historical context by RARE. Read Marcus Binney’s article which describes the works. “The makeover is in a modern manner but done with respect for the old work, which is either conserved intact or set off by startling interventions...”
Viajante press |04.10| RARE designed Viajante Fine dining Restaurant & Bar is featured in the recent issues of Glass Magazine, The Evening Standard, Restaurant magazine.
rare in Wallpaper* |03.10| The March issue of Wallpaper* Magazine features a preview article by Henrietta Thompson on the Town Hall Hotel & Apartments in London exploring its uplifting impact on Bethnal Green and looking at the multi-scale design by RARE ranging from the overall conversion and extension of the Listed building to material research and furniture design. Photos by Ben Stockley.
SA Article |02.10| Breeding Design through Geographies. SA magazine #254 features a four year retrospective view of the Architectural Association - AA Singapore Workshop. Calvin Chua examines the pedagogy and evolution of the event’s agenda through it's different thematic cycles together with the workshop’s jurors and coordinators Michel da Costa Gonçalves and Nathalie Rozencwajg.
Nearing completion |01.10| The Old Bethnal Green Town Hall will soon open as the new Town Hall Hotel & apartments. This Grade 2 listed building, redeveloped into a 9000 sq.m. hotel and conference facilities by rare architecture, underwent an extensive refurbishment and will be complemented with a bespoke adaptive extension in the forthcoming months.
Housing planning |01.10| Planning process for affordable housing in the north of France is now underway. 2 buildings by rare architecture boasting passive environmental controls`with respectively 17 and 20 units will form part of a new urban redevelopment scheme, intended to expand and improve the built fabric of Beuvrages.
Design Hotels Book |01.10| Just released, the "Design Hotels" book features a preview of distinctive interiors in the Town Hall hotel. January 2010.
Vincennes |12.09| The refurbishing and enhancing of an early XX century mansion converted into a family villa in Vincennes, close to Paris, is now nearing completion. The old dilapidated premise was successfully transformed into a light and airy contemporary interior while preserving its original external typical features. A central open staircase forms the core of the house integrating all 3 levels, from basement to roof level, in a visually continuous whole.
Blueprint magazine |12.09| Manick Govinda ArtAdmin's curator talks about art project and rare architecture Town Hall Hotel project in the December issue of Blueprint magazine.
Viajante Restaurant|11.09|
A new fine dining restaurant designed by rare in London.
Hotel construction |10.09| On site log: The delicate restoration of the former Council Chamber's vaulted ceiling is completed, while the roof extension is ready to receive the envelope’s performative skin. Room fittings and internal finishes are gradually being completed with the bespoke digitally produced joinery panels produncing a fruitfull contrast to the bathrooms' diaphanous qualities. The swimming pool testing is finalised and tiling is underway. Furniture prototypes are now completed.
Artists Collaboration|09.09|
After a successful commissioning process, selected artist are starting their artwork for Old Bethnal Green Town Hall. Involved throughout the selection process rare is assisting the development of these distinctive pieces embedded and closely associated within the design and building fabric. Commissions build upon the history and the new character its extension engenders.
London Design Festival 2009
A journey into a design process|09.09| Exhibition showcasing the design process involved in the redevelopment of a Grade 2 listed building.
26 Sept. 2009 This event opens the former Council Chamber of Bethnal Green Old Town Hall's current building site to the wider public for an exhibit showcasing the rich design process by rare architecture. The sensitive contemporary design aims to preserve the building's original features while integrating contemporary inserts such as a new roof extension – a bespoke laser cut skin wraps the building, adapting itself to various conditions.
The exhibition will take the visitors through the extensive process of design and making involved in refurbishing and extending this outstanding building. The event will also provide a preview of the project, due to be completed early 2010 to the wider London public.
Light prototype|09.09|
Extract of the instruction for the guiding surface and colour variations of injected silicon chandelier made of 550 components, developed in collaboration with textile designer T. Gueta.
Art Commission|07.09|
Artsadmin is commissioning a major series of site-sensitive artworks for the Grade 2 listed Old Bethnal Green Town Hall. The building used to be the headquarters of the pre-1965 metropolitan borough and was Tower Hamlets Town Hall for a time until the borough decentralised itself in the 1980s.
Furniture design|06.09|
The first prototypes for the furniture of the V. restaurant developed by rare for Fiske are now ready. The bespoke range that will be extended for dining and bar areas, forms the core design of the project due for completion in the first half of 2010.
SIA Exhibition |06.09|
To mark the success of the AA summer visiting workshop – Breeding design, the Singaporean Institute of Architect SIA is organising a retrospective exhibition featuring work from the four years of this event in October 2009. This yea'sr workshop has once again attracted people from around the world to explore designed geographies for Singapore.
This event is part of Archifest 09 - Festival of Architecture
Inter4, Tokyo|04.09|
Intermediate 4 finished this year’s unit trip to Tokyo with extensive visits of contemporary architecture and an insight into offices such as Toyo Ito, SANNA and Sou Fujimoto.
Workshop, Madrid|04.09|
N. Rozencwajg presents academic and office work in a special workshop at the IE business school in Madrid. The presentation was followed by a full day workshop for MBA students to “think design” - an introduction to conceptual and design thinking exposing students to the importance of physical space and its impact on the interaction of people and information. The workshop asked participants to intuitively manipulate paper into potential public spaces models – then think how these would encourage a variety of social interactions on their campus.
Hotel construction |03.09| On site log: Work has started on the roof extension as the independent steelwork forming the double storey extension is being assembled with the delicate insertion of vertical supports through the existing structure. Following the development of a full scale prototype for the bespoke laser cut facade, the manufacturing process of each unique panel forming the project’s skin is now underway. Internal works are moving ahead with the completion of internal partitions and services which are being carefully inserted to negotiate the listed features.
Designed Geographies BREEDING DESIGN : Summer Visiting Design Workshop Singapore, 15 to 24 July, 2009
The AA architecture and urbanism design workshop will mark its fourth year of successive multidisciplinary investigations by expanding its outlook on instrumental forms of density through Designed Geographies. This year’s agenda will emphasise researches into cross-referenced layers of urban conditions to propose new ramified readings of the city while exploring the potential of organisational systems to induce new approaches for programmes, site and context.
Hotel construction|11.08| On site log: Piling and underpinning works are fully underway revealing the original shell and concealed features of the existing construction allowing the fine notation for renovation works to be updated. In relation to the particularity of this complex refurbishment a constant feedback loop is ensured for design adaptations. Prototyping for automated productions of designs such as water jet cut and CNC milling are also taking place to refine and validate manufacturing processes.
Vincennes villa|10.08| Construction and refurbishment works for a XIX century villa in “Vincennes” have started.
Spans Exhibition|08.08|
The Building Centre’s exhibition “Spans” features the Crossing project, recently completed in Dorset, amongst a selection of innovative bridges throughout the UK. The structure developed and constructed by students from the Architectural Association was granted the Custerson Award and was co-coordinated by Nathalie Rozencwajg.
Inaugural Ceremony|08.08|
A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Bethnal Green Old Town Hall project to mark the commencement of construction works. The 9000 sq.m. Project, redeveloped into hotel and conference facilities, is undergoing an extensive refurbishment and will be complemented with a bespoke adaptive extension. The building should be completed within the next 18 months.
Breeding Design|07.08|
Breeding Design Singapore visiting course is underway. This year’s emphasis is put on formal strategies for the extension of existing high rise constructions. The program received the support of the Singapore Design Council promoting innovative and multidisciplinary approaches in design.
Crossings in BD|03.08|
BD magazine features article on the Crossing project explaining genesis and final pictures of the collaborative work co-directed by Nathalie Rozencwajg.
"City" new translation|02.08|
South Korean I-Education publisher acquired the rights of the “City” books collection; the translated version is to be released early next year.
Competition winner|01.08| rare is laureate for the conception of a two-phase housing project in northern France, part of the ongoing urban regeneration of Beuvrages city centre within Valenciennes Metropole.
Vincennes villa|12.07|
In the trendy town of Vincennes, in proximity of the Parisian leisure grounds, the office is inserting a hybrid design, refurbishing and enhancing the features of an early XX century mansion converted into a family villa.
Vivere la citta|11.07|
The first four titles of the “City” books collection (co-directed by Michel da Costa Goncalves) have now been released in their Italian translation, published by ZooLibri.
Research publication |11.07|
The book "The Art of Artificial Evolution", which includes research on Evolutionary Computation for Architectural Design (including Michel da Costa Gonçlaves' exploratory work) is officialy published by Spinger Verlag as part of Natural Computing Series.
London Hotel|09.07|
Planning application for the London’s project including hotel and conference facilities has been submitted. Detailed studies and prototyping are now fully underway.
Wagram Project|07.07|
The office starts the studies for the Wagram residential project in Paris, revisiting ornamented rooms with modern design.
Housing competition |05.07| rare architects selected in a restricted competition for a housing project in northern France.The project encompasses several building redefining the architecture of the city centre.
rare in Milan |04.07| The “First Cut” exhibition from 18.04.07 to 22.04.07.
VERTICAL STRATEGIES FOR URBAN LIVING BREEDING DESIGN: Summer Visiting Design Workshop | 19 July –28 July 2007, Singapore | For the second year, the Architectural Association is migrating to Southeast Asia to offer an intensive introduction to the School’s approach to architectural education and design, co-ordinated by rare.
First Cut Exhibition |02.07| rare will present three design projects at the forthcoming Milan Design Fair 2007 for the “First Cut” exhibition exploring laser cutting production; animalabstraction and headlight projects investigate surface reconstruction while 2inONE design looks at an adaptive component-based partitioning system.
Hotel refurbishment|01.07| Feasibility studies underway for a large refurbishment of a listed building into serviced apartments and conference complex (London).
TILE07|01.07| Preparations are underway for the TILE07 gathering in Marrakech where the combination of advanced conception and local craftsmanship will be explored during a collective research event.
First Cut|11.06| Design projects in development for production.
Boulogne-Billancourt Housings|10.06| Studies underway for a housing development in Paris (with OSA).
Collaborative practices Workshop|07.06| Coordination of the Architectural Association Singapore visting workshop: BREEDING DESIGN. Refer to the website or to d+a #34 magazine which dedicated an article to the event.
Bridge|09.06|
Hooke Park "crossing" project site 2 near completion. Photos of the project are currently exhibited in the AA bar.
Joint Publication |07.06| Chapter on Art of Artificial Evolution by M.Hemberg, U.M. O'Reilly, A.Menges, K. Jonas, M. da Costa Goncalves, S. Fuchs:
Exploring Generative Growth and Evolutionary Computation for Architectural Design.
Housing development |06.06|
Flats refurbishment in Brussels completed.
Flat refurbishment |06.06|
Argerich flat in Paris - design development.
Masterplanning & Landscaping |04.06|
Collaboration on urban planning for an industrial complex in Tainan, Taiwan.
FEIDAD 2006 prize |03.06|
mass.diversity research project selected as semi-finalist for the FEIDAD 2006 prize.
Education Award |01.06| Nathalie Rozencwajg wins the Custerson Award (in collaboration with V. Bontjes van Beek) to build a bridge in Hooke Park, Dorset-UK
Singapore Design Festival |12.05|
Organisation of the Urban folds design workshop exploring computer aided manufacturing, held in Singapore at the Idea Centre.
Architectural Association N. Rozencwajg and M. da Costa Gonçalves are teaching as Unit Masters of Intermediate 4 at the Architectural Association School of Architecture, London.
For the fifth year running the Architectural Association will offer an intensive introduction to the school’s approach to architectural education and design. The workshop will investigate instrumental forms of urban density and develop alternative ways of observing and reading the city to generate strategic frameworks for its evolution. As the starting point for a broader reflection on prospective tools for dense urban fields, this year’s focus will be on artificial expansions of specific urban conditions and their new geographies. The design potential of operational growth will be investigated as means to adapt to multiple, fast-changing urban inputs.
"City" publication Created in 2003, the 'Junior Ville' collection of documentary books aims to develop a different and participative attitude towards urban environment. The six released volumes focus on different aspects of pre-teenagers daily landscapes: cities.
The collection has been published in Italian and South-Korean with respective translation.
Educational Workshops We regularly organise workshops focusing on new and collaborative modes of design using advanced tools of conception and production. Let us know if you are interested in hosting, teaching or participating in one of them.
SIA Exhibition
Exhibition of the AA summer visiting workshop – Breeding design at the Singaporean Institute of Architect SIA.
Research based design
SP + URA - July 26th 2008
As part of the Vertical strategies agenda, N. Rozencwajg and M. da Costa Gonçalves present the lecture "a Journey through research based design" an event co-hosted by the Urban Redevelopment Authority.
ENSAPL M. da Costa Gonçalves was teaching the urban project studio at the ENSAPL.
Associated modelling The office is exploring the pratical use of a fully integrated digital modelling for the large-scale London project. The associative model accompanies the development and coordination of the project as well as offering a constant validation of design and related execution issues, hence enhancing the overall conception.
