Office building sets new heights in Korea, contractors named for HCA's affordable housing scheme and Rafael Vinoly's design for New Domino enters review process.
KOREA
Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture has designed the new head office for the Federation of Korean Industries in Seoul. The firm won an international competition to design the building which will be more than 240m high - among the tallest in Korea. The building's design aims to help reduce the internal heating and cooling loads and collect energy by installing photovoltaic panels on its façade. AS+GG is collaborating with Thornton Tomasetti and Environmental Systems Design and Chang-Jo Architects on the project, which is due to be completed in 2013.
UNITED KINGDOM
The Homes and Communities Agency has announced that Wates, Laing O'Rourke, Seddom, Leadbitter, Kier, Carillion and Skanska are among the contractors to have won places to construct new homes as part of its 'delivery partner panel'. The panel was set up to obtain homes for the Public Land Initiative, which involves the construction of 1,250 homes on land owned by the HCA. The framework is split into three regions and public agencies must sign an agreement with the HCA as well as a separate contract agreeing to use the panel of builders.
UNITED STATES
Rafael Vinoly Architects PC's design for The New Domino has entered the public review process - a major official step forward for the project which will create 660 units of affordable housing and four acres of public park space including a riverfront esplanade along the East River in Brooklyn. The firm's masterplan design transforms the industrial complex into a mixed-use and residential development that emphasises open space and public access to the river while preserving the landmark Refinery complex and Domino Sugar sign.
BELGIUM
Ian Simpson Architects, in collaboration with Kirkegaard Associates, has won an international design competition for the redesign and transformation of the Queen Elisabeth Hall in Antwep, Belgium. The competition attracted 65 entries from around the world and the shortlisted team included Caruso St John, Robbrecht and Daem and Office dA. The new design will provide a world class concert hall and conference facility for the KMDA, the Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp and the Royal Flemish Philharmonic Orchestra.
VIETNAM
Nikken Sekkei will design the National History Museum in Hanoi. Akihico Hamada, Nikken Sekkei's executive manager believes that the project will help to strengthen the relationship between Vietnam and Japan. He also added that solar energy will be used by his company as well as state-of-the-art technology. The museum will be located in Friendship Park in Xuan Dinh and Co Nhue commines of the Tu Liem district.
