Last week, the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority unveiled OMA’s conceptual masterplan for a major new arts district in Hong Kong. Under OMA’s plan – one of three competing proposals – the 40 hectare waterfront site facing Victoria Harbour would become an authentic environment of three urban villages embedded in a new public park, Hong Kong’s largest.

OMA founding partner Rem Koolhaas commented: “Using the village – a typology every citizen of Hong Kong is familiar with – as the model for our plan allows us to absorb the massive scale of WKCD’s ambition into manageable portions and forge deep connections with Kowloon, whose vital urban energy will be the lifeblood of WKCD.”

The new terminal for Stockholm will provide permanent ferry connections to Finland and the Baltics. c for the new urban development Norra Djursgårdsstaden - both architecturally and environmentally. The terminal, which will have a facade covered with expanded mesh, recalls the shape of a moving vessel and the architecture - with large cranes and warehouses - that previously characterized the ports. At the same time, the terminal has an ambitious sustainable profile, characteristic of the entire development.

'Greenway Self-Park' Opens in the River North Neighborhood, Featuring Wind Turbines, Rain Water Collection System and Electric Car Plug-In Stations.


A contradiction in the terms? HOK beleives that even parking garages can be environmentally progressive.


The architectural design firm recently completed Greenway Self-Park, an 11-story energy-efficient parking garage located in the popular River North neighborhood. This structure, which is the first of its kind in Chicago, is currently pursuing LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

A 28-acre site located at one of the most active transit nodes in Baltimore is the focal point of a 15-year long, $1.5 billion dollar multi-phase effort to radically transform an aging group of state government offices into a vibrant community. Seattle architectural firm Mithun has been selected, working in concert with Baltimore-based design firms The Design Collective and Cho Benn Holback + Associates.

The required sustainable master plan will transform a classic 1960s office campus into a diverse community that consolidates many of Maryland’s state offices while introducing new retail and offering a range of quality housing choices for in-city living.

“State Center has all the ingredients to be one of the greatest examples of the rebirth of the American city in this century,” notes Bert Gregory, FAIA, Chairman and CEO, Mithun. “A great sustainable rebirth built around reinvented existing urban infrastructure, great transit, and vibrant mix of uses and people in a walkable neighborhood. State Center’s core values, aspirations, stakeholder inclusion and unique public private partnerships will reinforce the uniqueness of Baltimore, while serving as a national model for Transit Oriented Development.”

Rafael Viñoly Architects announced last week that they have been selected as the architect for the new Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate. Situated on the campus of the University of Massachusetts Boston, this historic project will stand beside the existing John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, encouraging visitors to explore both buildings. The new facility will house participatory educational programs designed to engage the public in our system of government and heighten awareness of the U.S. Senate’s role in the government. The project will break ground in Fall 2010. The design is targeting LEED Certification.

Kristiansund Opera and Culture Centre will house Norway's oldest opera, dating back to 1805, which every year arranges the Opera Festival Weeks - Norway's largest and most comprehensive presentation of opera and musical theatre and one of Scandinavia’s largest opera festivals.