Parametric architecture and design

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    Partisans sculpts limestone facade for Rolex boutique in Toronto

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    Toronto architecture studio Partisans has used parametric modelling to create an undulating stone storefront for luxury watch brand Rolex.

    Partisans’ latest application of its digital modelling and fabrication technique resulted in a sculptural facade that wraps the ground floor of a high-rise on Bloor Street in Downtown Toronto.
    The flowing lines of the Rolex store’s limestone facade emanate from the building’s existing architectural featuresThe studio worked with Italian architect Arturo Tedeschi on the project, which is intended to give the store presence and allow it to stand out from others in the busy shopping district, as well as reflect the high-precision of Rolex timepieces.
    Limestone panels affixed to the building’s exterior are shaped to echo the forms and textures of the brand’s watches.
    The stone panels are shaped to curve around windows and emulate the brand’s watch designsThe material was chosen for its luxurious appearance and longevity, according to Partisans founder Josephson, who said: “Stone is future heritage, it’s having a renaissance.”

    The panels continue the geometry of the existing building features, such as the rigid vertical mullions, but flow into softer shapes that curve around large windows and over the entrance awning.
    More stone appears in the boutique’s interior. Photo by Robert Lowdon Photography”Each stone bay was cut according to measurements found through 3D scans of the existing building,” said Partisans designer Ian Pica-Limbaseanu.
    Niches are integrated into the stonework to house cove lighting that washes over the curvaceous forms at night, yet the junctions between the stone and the glass were trickiest to detail, according to Pica-Limbaseanu.
    Dark green seating matches a glass artwork, while walnut panelling and furniture contrast the paler stone. Photo by Robert Lowdon Photography”The window detailing, specifically, had a tall order of requirements to satisfy,” he said.
    “Not only did it need to meet the exterior stonework at exact locations accurate to within a quarter of an inch, but it also needed to allow for easy maintenance and proper energy performance for what was otherwise an utterly unprecedented look to glazing on Bloor Street.”

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    Tedeschi applied his computational design skills to create an algorithm for the parametric compositions etched into the limestone across the east facade.
    These forms follow the geometries of engravings seen on watch-face dials while also responding to the unique qualities of the structure’s elevation.
    Niches in the limestone facade house cove lights that wash over the facade at nightThe store interiors feature plenty more stone, whose creamy tone is contrasted with dark walnut panelling and furniture.
    Dark green seating matches a glass wall artwork that bears the Rolex logo, which separates the main shop floor with a more intimate lounge area tucked behind.
    The facade was designed to reflect the high-precision of Rolex timepieces and to stand out on Toronto’s high-end Bloor StreetPartisans has previously used parametric design tools to create a rolling, pixellated brick facade for a single-family home, and a high-rise informed by architectural “revision clouds” – both in Toronto.
    The firm was founded by Josephson in 2012, and has since completed a pool house in Ontario with an undulating timber roof and a lakeside sauna designed as a cavernous wooden grotto.
    The photography is by Doublespace Photography, unless stated otherwise.

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      Sculptural rattan installation meanders through Thai art gallery by Enter Projects Asia

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      Architecture studio Enter Projects Asia has completed a private gallery for a collector in Chiang Mai, Thailand, featuring an undulating rattan structure designed by an algorithm that weaves its way in and out of the building.

      The 2,000-square-metre gallery complex comprises gardens, water features and a series of pavilions for displaying the owner’s collection of silverware, fine china and porcelain, including what is reportedly the largest collection of Wedgwood porcelain in Southeast Asia.
      A rattan installation weaves throughout the galleryEnter Projects Asia, which is based on the Thai island of Phuket, developed a holistic proposal for the project that spanned everything from spatial planning to lighting and furniture, with the fluid rattan structures providing a consistent element throughout the scheme.
      The aim was to create a less “clinical, antiseptic” interpretation of a traditional gallery, based on the studio’s research into parametric design and dynamic forms, Enter Projects Asia director Patrick Keane explained.
      The overhead rattan structure drops down to form several pods”We sought to create an immersive experience, giving the space a warmth and depth uncharacteristic of conventional art galleries,” he said.

      The gallery features two wings arranged on either side of a central entrance. Each wing contains an exhibition space, with a private dining area also accommodated in the larger of the two volumes.
      The gallery complex also includes gardensThe rattan installation begins at the entrance and traces an overhead route through the building, seamlessly transitioning between inside and outside.
      At several points, the suspended structure drops down to create bulbous open-sided pods, incorporating shelves for displaying artworks and objects.
      The rattan structure weaves in and out of the buildingThe installation’s complex form was generated using generative design software and is intended to simulate the movement of clouds and steam.
      Its shape seems to change constantly when viewed from different perspectives, adding visual dynamism to the interior.

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      Lighting integrated within the overhead structure creates a warm glow both during the day and night, while concealed lights illuminate the display areas.
      The three rattan pods – measuring five, four and three-and-a-half metres in height respectively – were fabricated in a factory during the coronavirus lockdowns before being transported to the site and assembled.
      Lighting was incorporated into the rattan shapes to create a warm glowEnter Projects Asia regularly works with rattan palm, which is a naturally abundant resource in the region. Previously, the studio produced a similarly sculptural wickerwork installation for an office and factory building in Waregem, Belgium.
      During the pandemic, the practice also launched an initiative called Project Rattan that focuses on creating bespoke rattan furniture and lighting using local craft skills.
      The rattan structure creates a cohesive scheme throughout the galleryAccording to Keane, the fast-growing palm species are well suited to use in interior design, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional building materials.
      “It is not hard to be sustainable in construction if we adapt to our environment,” he said. “Why would we use synthetic, toxic plastics when we have all the noble materials we need at our fingertips?”
      The bulbous shapes were created with parametric design softwareKeane founded Enter Projects in 2005 after completing his studies in Australia and the USA. Since relocating to Asia, the firm’s projects aim to combine a focus on innovation with a strong sustainable agenda.
      Previously, a rattan studio the practice designed for yoga brand Vikasa was named leisure and wellness interior project of the year at the 2020 Dezeen Awards.
      The photography is by William Barrington-Binns.

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