New project from Zaha Hadid

Architect Zaha Hadid was appointed last month to design a new building on the campus of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Called the Innovation Tower, the building will house the institute’s School of Design.

Below is text on the project from Zaha Hadid Architects, followed by a press release from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University:

INNOVATION TOWER, HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY [HONG KONG, CHINA] 2007-2011

The fluid character of the Innovation Tower is generated through an intrinsic composition of its landscape, floor plates and louvers, that dissolves the classic typology of the tower and the podium into an iconic seamless piece. These fluid internal and external courtyards create new public spaces of an intimate scale which complement the large open exhibition forums and outdoor recreational facilities to promote a diversity of civic spaces.

Urbanism

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HK PolyU) is an urban endeavour by virtue of addition and growth over the last 40 years. The rich patchwork of various faculties, communities and facilities are strung together by a community of visually coherent yet different buildings. From a process of outward expansion, the HK PolyU is now looking inwards to develop itself by making creative use of its remaining void on the North side of the campus.

The Innovation Tower aims to use these voids to create an accessible urban space which will transform how the Hong Kong Poly University is perceived and the way it will be used. The building unashamedly aims to stimulate and project a vision of possibilities for its future, as well as reflect the history of the HK PolyU by encapsulating in its architecture the process of change.

Architecture

The proposed vision of the new Innovation Tower presents a unique opportunity to re-examine and address a creative, multidisciplinary environment. Our concept in its first instance, collects the variety of programmes of the school. Having undergone a strict process of examination of the multiple relationships amongst their unique identities they have been arranged in accordance to their ‘collateral flexibilities’. Priority lies in the drawing in of the campus staff, students and public into a welcoming new space that acts as both the building’s entrance and organiser for the existing complex.

The first architectural gesture is to raise the landscape of the existing football field and tennis grounds, so as to place the main pedestrian entrance of the new school building on a level open to it’s immediate context at podium level. The free ground below becomes accessible from the established main campus route (Yuk Choi Road) to proposed workshops, parking and access to future development on ‘Phase 8’. The new Innovation Tower on podium level is established as an open public foyer that channels deep into the building through a column-free, open showcase forum. The long integrated path from Suen Chi Sun Memorial Square guides the visitor to the main entrance and from here, a generous and welcoming space openly leads its visitors access to supporting public facilities (shop, cafeteria, museum) through a generous open exhibition ‘showcase’ spanning over two levels between podium and ground level.

The podium level is a route that ramps and stretches through towards the open ground with relocated recreational outdoor facilities. From the entry foyer, a long escalator penetrates deep upwards through four levels of openly glazed workspaces. The myriad of workspaces accommodated within the new school offer themselves as a variety of visual showcases.

The route through the building becomes a clear upward cascade of showcases and events allowing the student or visitor to visually covet and engage work and exhibits throughout its circulation passage. These routes aims to promote new opportunities of interaction between the diverse types of users through its spaces through every level.

Voids bring in natural daylight, fresh air and the sense of continuity of space. In this way, the programmes of the tower, which comprise of learning clusters and central facilities, are allowed to create coordinated repertoires and dialogue between respective volumes.

PROGRAM: Innovation Tower, School of Design Development
CLIENT: Hong Kong Polytechnic University

ARCHITECT:
Design Zaha Hadid with Patrik Schumacher
Project Director Woody K.T.Yao
Project Leader Simon Yu
Competition team Hinki Kwong, Melodie Leung, Long Jiang, Zhenjiang Guo, Yang Jingwen, Miron Mutyaba, Pavlos Xanthopoulus, Margarita Yordanova Valova

CONSULTANTS:
Local Architect: AGC Design Ltd AD+RG
Structural & Geotechnical: Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Ltd
Building Services: Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Ltd
Landscape: Team 73 Hong Kong Ltd
Acoustic: Westwood Hong & Associates Ltd

More

Women on a board

Награда, полученная Бостонской фирмой, показывает, как далеко продвинулись в архитектуре женщины

Автор: Роджер Льюис

Перевод: Ольга Макеева Источник: Washingtonpost
2007 © Copyright De-Viz

Впервые в истории Американский институт архитектуры дал одну из высших национальных наград, Firm Award, компании «Леерс Вайнцапфель Асошиейтс», владелицами которой являются женщины. Бостонская фирма, основанная в 1982 г. Андреа Леерс и Джейн Вайнцапфель, была награждена за лучшие результаты в области выдающихся архитектурных достижений.

Но заслуживает ли эта награда внимания только потому, что была выиграна архитектурной фирмой, возглавляемой женщинами? Не манифестация ли это сексизма?

То, что делает данную награду достойной упоминания в истории затруднений и битв, ведущих, наконец, к прогрессу, относится к XIX веку, когда женщинам, стремящимся стать архитекторами, было отказано в такой возможности.

Ещё несколько десятилетий назад женщина, принятая в университет на курс архитектуры, была редкостью. Прежние поколения академиков архитектуры, так же, как и многие родители, полагали, что архитектура предъявляет слишком много требований и чересчур сурова для женщин – интеллектуально, технически и физически.

Люди того времени просто не могли представить себе женщину, ходящую по стройке, спорящую со сквернословящими подрядчиками и рабочими или требующую, чтобы что-то было переделано по-новому в соответствии с чертежами и спецификациями. Женщин считали слишком эмоциональными, мягкими и уступчивыми.

Существует огромное число историй о том, как молодых женщин пытались разубедить делать карьеру архитектора либо просто жёстко велели им забыть об их планах. Вместо этого им советовали выбрать профессию, более подходящую для нежного пола. Во главе списка стояли профессии учительницы и няньки, а также хорошим вариантом считалось замужество и материнство.

Когда я изучал архитектуру в Массачусетском технологическом институте в 1960-х гг., в моём классе училась всего одна женщина. Из 40 архитекторов в моём корпусе мира в Тунисе была тоже только одна женщина.

Несколько десятилетий назад, если женщине удавалось поступить в архитектурную школу и закончить её, следующим препятствием на пути была необходимость найти работу. Многие фирмы отказывались брать женщин, опасаясь, что тем не хватит энергии и технического мастерства. Нанимателям казалось, что женщины в конструкторском бюро будут отвлекать коллег-мужчин и этим снижать продуктивность работы в офисе. И многие начальники боялись, что женщины бросят работу, как только найдут себе мужа и заведут семью.

Поскольку относительно немногие женщины становились архитекторами, то тем более исключительной редкостью было встретить фирму, ими основанную и возглавляемую. Только в последние 40 лет женщины начали поступать в архитектурные школы и пополнять ряды профессионалов в весьма значительных количествах.

В наше время американское культурное и социальное отношение к женщинам-профессионалам изменилось. Женщины продемонстрировали, что у них не меньше творческого таланта, технических способностей, настойчивости и силы духа, чем у мужчин.

Возможно, вы спросите, содержит ли здание, спроектированное женщиной, видимые признаки и функциональные характеристики, которые можно было бы интерпретировать, как выражение женской чувствительности. Можно ли, глядя на строение, определить, что архитектором была женщина? Есть ли особая эстетика у «женской» архитектуры?

Ответ: нет.

Это вполне очевидно из портфолио «Леерс Вайнцапфель Ассошиейтс», наиболее известных, поскольку большинство из спроектированных ими гражданских, корпоративных и академических зданий получили множество наград.

Фирма из 24 человек, среди которых есть как мужчины, так и женщины, проектировала школьные здания и лаборатории, центры отдыха и общественные помещения, библиотеки и здания суда. Среди их клиентов – Смит Колледж, университет Гарвард, университет Принстон, университет Цинцинатти и университет Пенсильвании.

Эстетический язык «Леерс Вайнцапфель» решительно современен и соответственно изобретателен. При этом все проектные формы, структуры, материалы и детали отвечают определённым условиям: учитываются местность, климат, функциональные задачи, подходящие технологии, энергетические потребности и бюджет. В отличие от некоторых более известных архитекторов, как мужчин, так и женщин, партнёры не навязывают в своих проектах заранее продуманных трафаретных дизайнерских решений или характерных композиционных жестов.

В результате возникает архитектура одновременно смелая и деликатная, геометрически рациональная и операционно практичная. Самые разнообразные цвета и текстуры используются свободно, так же, как прозрачное или полупрозрачное покрытие, часто применяемое, чтобы пропускать дневной свет и демонстрировать желаемые виды.

Работа «Леерс Вайнцапфель» ни мужская, ни женская. Это просто добротная, содержательная архитектура, которая потрясающе выглядит.

Роджер К. Льюис – практикующий архитектор и заслуженный профессор архитектуры в университете Мэриленда.

THE WOMAN BEHIND THE TOOLBET

JoAnne Liebeler

Having worked in television and broadcasting since college, JoAnne Liebeler co-hosted the popular home repair and renovation series Hometime and has hosted her own series, TLC's Home Savvy, since 1997.

Raised in Indiana and Minnesota, JoAnne earned a degree in journalism with minors in history and theater from the University of North Dakota. While in school, JoAnne was a reporter for city and campus newspapers and became active in community and college theater.

For six years after college, JoAnne was an assignment editor at Minneapolis television and broadcast outlets, and was also part of an improvisational comedy troupe called TheatreSportz.

JoAnne doesn't consider herself especially skilled in the home improvement area, but since hosting Hometime and Home Savvy, she's confident that if she can do it, anyone can. These programs allow JoAnne to showcase her reporting and acting skills and her sense of humor, which prove invaluable while tackling home repairs.

JoAnne has started her own production company that develops and produces television programs — something that's been a longtime dream of hers.

Women in construction in South Africa

Women flourish in construction

South Africa's once male-dominated construction industry has become attractive - and lucrative - for women, says Ingrid Verwey, specialist in contractor development at the Development Bank of Southern Africa and founder of the South African Women in Construction Association.

Verwey said in a statement this week that the association's database of women contractors had grown from 60 at its inception in 1999 to over 2 000.

A 2005 survey commissioned by the body had revealed that, in Gauteng province alone, the association boasted seven member companies involved with in million-rand deals, 13 medium-sized construction companies owned and managed by women and 43 smaller companies that were gender-compliant.

Women building houses in Gauteng
Earlier this month, Gauteng Premier Mbazima Shilowa said that, since 2004, the provincial government had awarded tenders worth over R359-million to women-owned companies for the construction of thousands of houses.

And this week, 50 houses built by three women-owned companies - Ndilekaluzuko cc, Kopano Creative Concepts and L&R Welding and Suppliers - were handed over to beneficiaries of the Gauteng government's Doornkop Thulani Housing Project in Soweto.

Gauteng Housing MEC Nomvula Mokonyane, who handed over the houses, said the companies were three of 10 women-owned firms awarded contracts worth around R200-million by her department in 2006.

Skills development
Realised that there was a need to build capacity and management skills for women in the industry, Verwey established the SA Women in Construction Association (Sawic) in 1999.

The association works closely with the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), the Industrial Development Trust (IDT) and government departments to build up skills, create career opportunities, and provide networking platforms for women in construction.

Skills development and business training courses are run throughout the year at the DBSA and by service providers such as PPC, the Cement and Concrete Institute, Rocla and Plascon.

Sawic also conducts monthly provincial workshops to enhance the capacity of women in the construction industry.

Verwey acknowledges that Sawic is in competition with other "women in construction" organisations, saying she believes that cooperation among these organisations is key to improving women's working conditions in the country.

SouthAfrica.info reporter

Women in Construction again

THE HISTORY OF NAWIC

The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) began as Women in Construction of Fort Worth, founded on September 11, 1953 by Doris Efird and 15 other women who were looking for a support system. These women were all actively employed in the construction industry and had been doing business with each other for years when they decided to finally meet face to face. The founding members of Women in Construction of Fort Worth were Alice Ashley, Ida Mae Bagby, Carolyn Balcomb, Sue Bowling, Margaret Bubar, Margaret Cleveland, Era Dunn, Doris Efird, Ronda Farrell, Hazel Floyd, Jimmie Blazier, Nina Ruth Jenkins, Ethel McKinney, Irene Moates, Mildred Tarter and Edna Mae Tucker. This progressive group of women had the foresight to create an atmosphere where they could network and support each other professionally as well as personally. This support system gave them the confidence to reach for and achieve their goals. When describing this group of women, Alice Ashley said, �We were women with electricity in our veins, cement dust on our shoes, sawdust on our minds � busy, busy, busy, filthy things. � In the first year of its existence, Women in Construction raised over $2,700 to donate to the Foundation for Visually Handicapped Children. They wanted to branch out beyond Fort Worth in search of other women to join the organization, but they discovered the charter was not adequate and did not have the powers to organize other chapters. Women in Construction of Fort Worth amended their charter to incorporate other chapters in Texas and throughout the nation. In doing so, on May 17, 1955, they became The National Association of Women in Construction.

Advancements were made over the years with the inception of The NAWIC Image in 1969, the official publication detailing Association news. In honor of the founding members, The NAWIC Founders Scholarship Foundation (NFSF) was created in 1961 to award scholarships to students pursuing construction-related studies. The NAWIC Education Foundation (NEF), founded in 1972, developed programs to enrich the minds of children as well as adults.

As word of NAWIC spread, several foreign countries became interested in the cause to enhance the success of women in the construction industry. In 1996, NAWIC signed an International Affiliation Agreement with NAWIC-Australia. In 1998, NAWIC signed an International Affiliation Agreement with New Zealand and another in 1999 with South African Women in Construction (SAWiC). In September 2003, NAWIC signed an international affiliation agreement with the United Kingdom.

NAWIC's objectives are:

* To unite for the mutual benefit of the women who are actively engaged in the various phases of the construction industry.

* To promote cooperation, fellowship and a better understanding among members of the Association.

* To promote education and contribute to the betterment of the construction industry.

* To encourage women to pursue and establish careers in the construction industry.

* To provide members an awareness of the legislative process and legislation as it relates to the construction industry.

TODAY'S NAWIC

Since its founding, NAWIC, an international non-profit organization, has grown to a membership of 5,500 women with more than 179 chapters. In its 51 years of service to its members, NAWIC has advanced the causes of all women in construction whose careers range from business ownership to the skilled trades. With almost 900,000 women working in construction today, the industry is becoming more accepting of their non-traditional roles.

Over the years, the cause of NAWIC has stayed the same: To enhance the success of women in the construction industry. NAWIC has many education opportunities: For children - to explore and open their minds to the possibilities construction offers as a career choice; For Adults - to further their careers with certification courses. For more than 30 years, NEF has offered creative and educational programs for students from grade school to high school and adult certification programs. The Foundation�s award-winning Block-Kids program, Building Design Program and the CAD/Design/Drafting Scholarship Awards competitions introduce students to careers and opportunities in construction. NEF�s adult certification programs include: Certified Construction Associate (CCA), Construction Document Specialist (CDS) and Construction Industry Technician (CIT), which are administered through Clemson University. Since its founding, the NAWIC Founders� Scholarship Foundation (NFSF) and NAWIC chapters nationwide have awarded more than $4 million in scholarships to students pursuing construction-related studies.

NAWIC has developed nationally recognized awards programs to celebrate the achievements of women in the industry, as well as supporters of women in the industry. This year marks the 12th annual Crystal Vision and Crystal Achievement Awards. The national campaign for Women in Construction Week is held the first full week of March each year and provides opportunities to celebrate women in construction and to educate the public of their cause. The NAWIC Image, the award winning national bi-monthly magazine showcases the efforts, causes and issues of NAWIC members and the construction industry. It has been the voice of today’s woman in construction for more than 35 years. NAWIC provides education, networking, legislative awareness, industry and community involvement, personal growth and development and lasting friendships. NAWIC is the voice of women in construction.

Women in Construction

The WiCC Story

An Economic Justice Project

In May 2001 Women's Transitional Housing Coalition, Inc. (WTHC) a non-profit housing developer and service provider in Duluth initiated a new program with 3 primary goals:

1. to teach women construction skills,

2. to utilize women crews to work on renovation and new construction projects, and

3. to assist women in entering jobs that pay livable wages.

During the first year WTHC raised funds for the project, worked on developing a hands-on training curriculum, and identified projects that women could work on to gain skills that would lead to jobs in the construction trades.

WTHC staff also approached local job training programs asking them to refer women to the project. The City of Duluth, The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe and NEMOJT all came on board and began referring low-income women they were working with to the project for work experience. Women who came in through the job training programs were paid through the job training programs for 400+ hours of training.

First-time WiCC rooferDuring the first year, the women who entered the WTHC's Women in Construction Training Program, worked on a variety of projects including:

* working with a local construction company to build a $250,000 home;

* removing a tar and gravel flat roof and installing a new rubber membrane roof;

* working on a Habitat for Humanity home;

* and siding a duplex for Northern Communities Land Trust.

By the end of the first year over 20 women were involved in the project and there was a waiting list for new women interested in joining the project.

In February of 2002, WTHC raised $300,000 to renovate 37 units of its transitional housing units; this included a large single family home, 13 SRO units and 23 2-3-bedroom apartments. The funding for the project came from Minnesota Housing Finance Agency who agreed to allow the Women in Construction Training Program to perform all the renovation. The renovation project was extensive and included:

* installing replacement windows and doors;

* patching and painting;

* refinishing wood floors,

* installing ceramic tile floors,

* tub surrounds and fireplace surrounds;

* installing kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities;

as well as other work.

WiCC worker on the Katsangeo ProjectThis project ran from May to December of 2002. Simultaneously, the training program crews began building a 3 bedroom single family home for Northern Communities Land Trust. Crews began construction on the 2-story home in June and completed the project by late November. Women crews performed all construction on the house with the exception of the excavation, basement, plumbing, electrical and sheetrock.

As the renovation and new construction projects were underway, WTHC purchased 2 additional buildings, a single-family house and an apartment building with five large family units. Both buildings were in need of extensive renovation, so WTHC again raised the money to renovate the buildings and again utilized the training project to do the work. This project started April 1, 2003 and will be completed by October 31, 2003.

Although still under the umbrella of WTHC, the training project has grown and expanded to include:

Lindy's DreamBUILDERS

In August of 2001 ten women from the Women in Construction Training Program began meeting to form a construction business. They wrote a grant to the Presbyterian Church - Self Development of People Fund and were awarded $150,000 over a three year period to develop their business. The goal of the project is to create leadership, work in community with each other, and to work as part of a team with Women's Transitional Housing Coalition and the Women in Construction Training Program to build and renovate housing for low-income families. An additional goal is to support each other in developing women-owned companies in a wide-variety of construction trades.

Lindy's DreamBUILDERS was named after Lindy Askelin, a woman who spent her adult life working in Duluth as one of the few women carpenters and cabinet-makers. Lindy died of breast cancer in 1996 and the group chose to honor her and other women who worked in construction and paved the way for women today to pursue careers in the construction field.

Home Girls

In 2001 WTHC received a grant from the Women's Foundation of Minnesota and the W. Glen Boyd Foundation to develop a construction related program that would work specifically with girls and young women. This initiative is called "Girls Best" and the goal is to provide outreach and education to girls about construction as a career. The young women involved in the Women in construction Training Program have developed a speaker's bureau, a training program specific to working with girls and young women and is planning on holding a state-wide conference in fall of 2003. During the summer of 2002, over 20 young women (ages 14-21) worked on job sites with women crews, gaining a variety of experiences.

Energy Audits

In the summer of 2002, through a contract with Minnesota Power, several women were trained as energy auditors. This provided jobs for women and a source of income for WTHC. The auditors work with local landlords to provide their tenants with an audit of their energy consumption and recommends ways of cutting their energy costs. MN Power provides incentives including: new refrigerators, microwaves, light bulbs and aerators.

Painting in WiCC ShopWomen in Construction Company LLC

In the fall of 2002, in order to continue to work on projects funded by MHFA and the City of Duluth, the Women in Construction Training Program's Coordinator got her contractor's license and set up a limited liability corporation that was a subsidiary of Women's Transitional Housing Coalition and still under their non-profit status. This company hired all the women in the Training Program and began bidding on work in the community, new women continue to come in for training, but the training component is now part of the business. In addition to renovation and new construction, the company has set up a cabinet shop and training center. The cabinet shop will be utilized to build 6 new kitchens for the WTHC renovation project starting in April, and it will also be used for women to design and build furniture.

How We Work - (fighting barriers for women in the construction trades)

This project is based on the belief that people learn best from hands on experience and on-the-job training. It is also our belief that the project should prioritize low-income women who want to learn a skill that can help them become self-sufficient. Additionally we want to work on renovating and building housing that will benefit low-income individuals and families.

Due to the many barriers women face when entering so-called "non-traditional" jobs our program works hard to create a supportive, non-threatening environment in which women can learn without fear of harassment or ridicule. With so few women in the construction trades and women not wanting to be the only women on construction sites our goal is to assist women to develop their own business in a variety of areas such as: ceramic tile, wood floor refinishing, landscaping, and cabinet shop. The Company will function as a business capable of employing 12-15 women and training an additional 6-12 women each year.

The project employs only two people with long-term experience, a project coordinator with 25 years experience in housing development, construction management and administration, and a construction trainer/supervisor with 25 years experience as a carpenter in the field and woodworker in a cabinet shop. As needed, we hire additional experienced trainers to work with women. For instance, last summer when we had the renovation project and the new construction project going at the same time, we contracted with the construction instructor from Lake Superior College to manage, train and supervise our crews. When we decided to refinish the wood floors in the transitional housing units, we worked with a local company who provided us with equipment, supplies and training and when women wanted to install ceramic tile floors rather than vinyl, we hired an experienced tile installer to train our crews. This has proven to be cost effective and very efficient. When a woman is trained in a certain area, she is expected to train and supervise new women coming into the project. Funds are raised every year to provide women with tools and work clothes. Currently (as of mid-summer 2003) there are fifteen women on the payroll with Women in Construction.

For information about our Women's Transitional Housing Coalition, Inc. and Home Girls, contact: Deyona Kirk, 218-728-6437 or email th@wthc.org

For information about the Women in Construction Company LLC, the Training Program and Lindy's DreamBUILDERS, contact Michelle LeBeau, 218-733-1451 or email michelle@womenworking.org