A new landmark tower will be marking in the next few years the Parisian skyline. Designed by Jean Nouvel, the Tour Signal is a building that consists of 71-storey and will located in the grerater region of Paris, inside the prestigious business district of la Défense.

The Architect has chosen to locate its project at the Porte Ouest to open up the La Défense neighbourhood to Puteaux.

Atelier Jean Nouvel won the competition for this project after being selected from a shortlist of five architects originally chosen out of 18 competitors.

All the illustrations are courtesy and  copyright of Ateliers Jean Nouvel

We would like to briefly break away from the mold of projects and architects that we have typically featured at Archinnovations and shed the light in a series of articles on Baupiloten, hoping that it would inspire Architecture schools to adopt similar programs that encourage architecture students to get involved and accomplish real life projects.

 All photographs are courtesy of Jan Bitter

As explained by its founder Suzanne Hoffman : « The Baupiloten are a group of students at the architectural faculty of the TU Berlin who carry out building projects under my guidance and supervision. This allows the students to have the unique chance to experience all the various building phases starting with design methods and concluding with cost control and site supervision. The Baupiloten learn how to develop and detail their design within a given budget and how to convince the client of the project through presentations and information, while displaying their competence and knowledge. Throughout the design process the students are able to consolidate their team project within all relevant disciplines, for example technical subjects, CAD and quantity surveying. »

Located in Southern Colorado, Pueblo is sited at the foot of the Wet Mountains where the Great Plains meet the Rockies. Pueblo is both a geographical and cultural crossroads. Native nomadic cultures gathered at the confluence of the Fountain and Arkansas Rivers living off of the rivers and the grazing buffaloes. Later farmers and ranchers settled the plains with domesticated livestock.

In addition to the natural geography, Pueblo was also influenced by the railroad. A major north/south line crosses a major east/west railroad line, bringing industry to Pueblo, and resulting in a culturally diverse population. Pueblo’s steel and brick industry brought migrant workers to the community adding to its demographic diversity.

Text courtesy of Antoine Predock Architect PC. All photographs courtesy of Timothy Hursley, Photographer

Located in the Big Sur area of Northern California, this 2,500 square foot 2 bedroom house was built for a family to enjoy together on the weekends and holidays.




It is a modernist structure that sits lightly on the land, acknowledging the ecologically fragile nature of the site.

A new school has just been inaugurated in the town of Sipoo, close to Helsinki, Finland. The building was designed by K2S Architects Ltd, who had won the design competition in 2004.

All photographs are courtesy of Marko Huttunen photographer.

The project is located inside the dam of the Osaka port, where hundreds of ships pass through daily. Some important buildings such as the A.T.C. (Asian Trading Center) , W.T.C. (World Trading Center) and Birds Sanctuary are located around the site.


In December 1997, a tunnel under the sea for both cars and subway trains was inaugurated, aiming to link this area to Osaka’s City center. This project is considered as the last developments in that area.


The architect created a 30,000m2 basin on which he erected a magnificent sphere 70 meters in diameter made of glass and steel, designed to be perceived as floating on water.

Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects (OSKA) have designed the Wabi Sabi house in Houston, Texas for developer Carol Isaak Barden + Company. The house represents a singular commingling of Eastern and Western aesthetics and the sensual use of natural materials. Rick Sundberg was the lead architect on the project, his first in Texas.

“It was exciting to work in a city like Houston,” says Rick Sundberg. “The climate is so different from ours, and it raises unique challenges. Working on a spec house has its own challenges – creating a home that can accommodate a wide range of lifestyles and families; from active young families to empty-nesters.”