We're kicking off our review of 2020 with a look at Dezeen's top eight churches from the past year, including floating, rainbow-topped and timber places of worship.
Built on a canal boat in east London, this floating church is topped with a pop-up roof that recalls an organ's bellows.
UK studio Denizen Works worked with Turks Shipyard and naval architect Tony Tucker to create the chapel for the Diocese of London that can function as both a church and a community hub.
This facetted timber chapel was built as part of an extension to a church in the town of Stroud in southwest England.
Built from a combination of cross-laminated timber panels and glue-laminated structural beams, the form created by Nicolas Pople Architects was intended to invoke the feeling of a gothic cathedral.
Built as an extension to a church situated at the intersection of three valleys within the Black Forest, this triangular tower also serves as a public viewpoint.
The cross-laminated timber tower completes the church, which has a 16th-century gothic choir and a large, tent-like hall built in the 1970s.
Contini Architettura built a church as part of a group of buildings, including a parish hall, sports' clubhouse and changing rooms, around a gravel-filled square in the village of Castel di Lama.
The arrangement of the buildings was designed to recall traditional Italian town centres, while the church has an elliptical main hall.
Local studio Robert Gutowski Architects created a crescent-shaped building featuring skewed angles and whitewashed concrete for the Church of Pope John Paul II in the village of Páty.
According to the studio, the shape of the building was designed to "invite people closer to the holy act" at the altar.
Architecture firm Foster + Partners has developed a proposal for repairing London's Hammersmith Bridge while reopening it by inserting a separate double-decker road raised over the original structure.
An extra deck would allow vehicle traffic to drive over the top of a pedestrian and cycle path, freeing up space for workmen to carry out essential repairs.
The temporary crossing, which wouldn't rest on the bridge, could be built in two parts and inserted across the bridge from both sides to meet in the middle.
Supported by truss structures on both sides, it would allow the bridge, which is currently closed, to reopen to pedestrians and vehicles while repairs are made.
Using the decks as a platform, workers could remove sections of the Grade II*-listed bridge and ferry them away on barges for specialist repairs.
Raised decks would be supported either side and meet in the middle
"We believe that our concept resolves the two challenges for Hammersmith Bridge economically and efficiently," said Foster + Partners head of structural engineering Roger Ridsdill Smith.
"Delivering a temporary crossing quickly, whilst providing a safe support to access and refurbish the existing bridge."
Hammersmith Bridge over the Thames has been closed since 13 August 2020 as it was deemed unsafe. Sensors placed on the bridge revealed that microfractures were developing in the bridge's cast iron pedestals.
Due to decades of unchecked corrosion, the bridge could shatter and plunge traffic into the river at any moment.
Hammersmith and Fulham Council estimated the cost to repair the bridge, which first opened in 1887, would be £46 million just to stabilise it, and £141 million to restore it to a state where it could open to motor traffic again.
Foster + Partner's proposal could prove more cost-effective, allowing the bridge to reopen to the 22,000 vehicles who used it to cross the river in the UK's capital every day.
The lower deck would give workers a safe way to access the original bridge's pedestals, anchors and chains. Removing and repairing elements off-site would be easier, and also cut down on noise and disruption.
"We consider that this approach is practical and viable," said COWI executive director David MacKenzie, the engineering firm partnering with Foster + Partners on the project.
"Our experience is that offsite refurbishment of bridge structures is safer and more controlled, and results in a higher quality final outcome when the structure is re-installed."
Hammersmith Bridge was designed by 19th-century civil engineer Joseph Bazalgette, and was the first iron suspension bridge to span the Thames. The landmark structure is painted green and gold, with monumental towers sporting heraldic crests.
Foster + Partners was founded in 1967 by Norman Foster, three years before Hammersmith Bridge was given its Grade II*-listed status.
Latex can help replace polluting materials such as leather and plastics, according to designers working with the plant-based material.
Despite its fetishistic associations, designers are waking up to its credentials as a sustainable alternative to animal and petroleum-based materials.
This past year saw latex turned into full-body suits by French fashion house Balmain, while young designers Harikrishnan and Fredrik Tjærandsen made headlines with inflatable garments made from the stretchy material.
Designers "starting to realise" the benefits of latex
"Latex has often been related to fetishism, but I think designers are starting to realise that it's a natural fabric which makes it very interesting in today's discussions about ecology and ethical issues," French fashion designer Arthur Avellano told Dezeen.
"It is a noble and natural material that does not kill animals, does not cut down trees and isn't plastic either."
The material has suddenly become highly sought after: in the six months up until March, latex sheeting manufacturer Supatex reported a 40 per cent rise in orders, with an increasing number of clients inquiring about the material's environmental credentials.
Top: Harikrishnan designed latex inflatable trousers. Above: Fredrik Tjærandsen also designed inflatable latex clothing
"Latex is preferable to leather due to the fact that none of the additives is derived from animals," said Nange Magro of latex fashion brand Dead Lotus Couture. "It has a much closer fit and a much higher stretch than leather or PVC."
"I immediately fell in love with it due to the tactile feeling, the smell, the sensation of it," Magro told Dezeen earlier this year.
Latex sheeting has advantages over both natural leather and plastic-based leather alternatives explained Claire Davis, founder of London latex-focused fashion label Hanger Inc.
"Leather is animal skin and vegan leather is essentially a plastic sheet that's going to survive on earth until after humanity has gone extinct," she told Dezeen.
"Latex is the best of both worlds because it's both vegan and biodegradable."
Latex "bleeds out" of rubber trees
Latex is a natural, renewable material derived from the rubber tree. Its production is sustainable and carbon-negative since the trees are not cut down during harvesting.
It is named after the sticky, milky white liquid produced by many plants to protect themselves from pests: when the bark of a latex-bearing plant is damaged, latex coagulates to seal the scar while the bark regrows.
Commercial latex sheeting is derived from the rubber tree, hevea brasiliensis, which is native to Brazil and which is grown in plantations in South America, west Africa and south-east Asia.
Natural rubber latex, which is also used to produce natural rubber, is extracted via a process called tapping. This involves scoring the bark so that latex drips out into a receptacle.
Hanger Inc is turning latex into everyday essentials like T-shirts
"The tree effectively bleeds out," explained Joseph Lewis, head of UK business development at Supatex.
"So you're taking what it has to offer and then leaving it to re-bark and re-heal before you're able to tap it again in a few weeks time."
The natural rubber latex, which consists of natural rubber microparticles suspended in water, is then processed into commercial latex sheeting by reducing the water content and adding pigments and coagulants to create the desired colour, stretch and tear resistance.
"We add things like sulphur and zinc in minimal quantities of roughly half a per cent in proportion to the raw material," explained Lewis.
"These are essential in order to give the [latex] its elastomeric properties, otherwise you'd end up with a piece of [latex] that's very limited in its stretch with poor elongation and breakpoints."
"Perfect alternative to leather"
As designers are focusing on the full lifecycle impact of their products some are reconsidering widely used materials such as animal leather and plastics including polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyurethane (PU).
Designers like Davis and Avellano, who first turned to latex for its "visually impactful" texture, are now reappraising the material for its green credentials.
Both designers are independently working to make latex more available as day-to-day clothing by applying it to casual silhouettes like T-shirts or loose-fitting trousers.
Molly Younger tuned latex into a collection of flesh-like bags
"In the beginning, I chose to work with latex for the aesthetic rendering and of course the challenge of finding new techniques to make it wearable," explained Avellano, who has been using the material in his fashion collections since 2013.
"But I realised by experimenting with it that it is the perfect alternative to leather or plastic."
"With a growing need for leather alternatives, latex can start to fill this gap," she said."Natural latex is durable, washable and can be moulded to any shape imaginable, making it an ideal material for many design applications."
Latex can replace polyurethane
The material can also match the textural and performative qualities of polyurethane, which is widely used in footwear and furniture production.
"Latex is the only solution that exists that gives us a similar performance to what you can get from PU in athletic shoes but without it being a crude oil-based synthetic," explained Tull Price, the founder of Australian footwear brand Feit, which uses latex to form the outsoles of roughly 30 per cent of its collections.
"It's really flexible, it's comfortable and durable, although not as durable as hard rubber."
Nina Edwards Anker's Beanie sofa is filled with latex and lentil beans
Meanwhile, architect and designer Nina Edwards Anker has used natural latex in combination with lentil beans to form the filling of her Beanie Sofa.
"Latex is already big in the bedding world in different forms and the furniture industry needs to catch up," she said. "Especially because organic latex is more comfortable than artificial foam."
"It is against mass production and consumerism"
Although Latex has several positive aspects, it can be a demanding material to work with that can force designers to slow down their production processes.
"In terms of construction, working with latex is almost ritualistic," explained Harikrishnan.
"It takes a lot of time, patience and practice, which means it is against mass production and consumerism. It took me 48 hours as a first-timer to create my inflatable trousers."
Harikrishnan's graduate collection went viral online
Even after being processed, many forms of latex remain sensitive to light as well as sweat and oils. This means that the finished products have to be properly maintained. However, this is something Harikrishnan believes is a positive as it means users have to appreciate their products.
"It needs to be treated gently but that also means the material stays biodegradable and will eventually return to its natural form, meaning zero waste or harm to the planet," he said.
Under prolonged exposure, the material becomes brittle and discoloured, meaning that owners need to follow a care regiment of polishing it and applying talc, as well as storing it away from direct sunlight.
"If you're thinking of buying a garment you should be ready to enter a relationship with it for the rest of its life because it is now your responsibility," said Davis.
"I think with latex this is extra true because you really have to look after it, it's only going to last as long as you take care of it."
A cascade of terraces will frame a large atrium at the heart of the Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum that Zaha Hadid Architects is developing in China.
Slated for completion in late 2023, the pebble-shaped museum will encompass 125,000-square-metres and contain a mix of public spaces, galleries and educational facilities.
It has been designed by Zaha Hadid Architects as a landmark for Shenzhen's new Guangming Science City – a masterplan intended to establish the city as a hub for innovation.
The museum will be built beside Guangming Park in Shenzhen. Visual is by Slashcube
"The museum will be a key destination to learn and explore the power of science and technology and understand their impact on our life and future," explained Zaha Hadid Architects.
"Linked with universities, schools and innovation centres across China, the museum will form the region's world-class Science City, becoming a landmark institution that will showcase and strengthen Shenzhen's global position as a leading centre of innovation and technology."
A cascade of terraces will frame the entrance area
Inside, the Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum will have a U-shaped plan that bends around the vast atrium at its centre, designed by the studio to cater for "intuitive orientation and navigation".
The plan is reflected externally where the building's smooth pebble-shaped form breaks up into a series of terraces, framing a large glazed wall. This wall marks the entrance to the museum and opens into the atrium.
It will have a U-shaped plan that evokes a pebble externally. Visual is by Slashcube
The terraces and large glazed wall have been positioned to the west of the site, providing views of the adjacent Guangming Park.
Long areas of glazing will also be placed along the lengths of the museum to offer passersby glimpses inside and the atrium will contain large projecting volumes that frame views into the galleries.
An atrium will sit at the heart of the museum. Visual is by Slashcube
Once complete, many of the museum's galleries will be used for permanent exhibitions, while others will be designed to be easily adapted.
This is hoped to ensure the museum's longevity and allow it to host a variety of different exhibitions so that visitors have "a rich and varied experience each time they visit".
According to Zaha Hadid Architects, eco-friendly strategies will also play a key role in the design, with the goal of it becoming "a benchmark for sustainability" in the region and achieving the highest rating in the Three Star System – China’s green building standard.
It will utilise high-performance thermal insulation and energy-efficient glazing, alongside smart building management that can automatically monitor internal environmental conditions, such as temperature, and help minimise the building's energy consumption.
The galleries will be designed to be easily adapted. Visual is by Zaha Hadid Architects
Zaha Hadid Architects is an international architecture studio that was established in 1980 by the late British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid. Today it is headed up by Patrik Schumacher with its main office is in Clerkenwell, London.
Pastel storage walls curve and dip through the rooms of this apartment in London's Marylebone neighbourhood, which has been overhauled by architecture studio Jonathan Tuckey Design.
The apartment is situated along Upper Wimpole Street, occupying the ground floor of a Regency-era townhouse that had a rather poor internal layout and limited storage space.
Top image: the apartment's bedroom. Above: a pale-pink storage wall dominates a corner of the living room
"[The apartment] was split linearly and devoid of any sense of hierarchy or public/private spaces," Jonathan Tuckey Design told Dezeen. "The bedroom spilled from the communal hall and was completely visible from the main street and front door."
There was also a significant lack of storage, meaning its owners were unable to hide away the "untidiness of everyday life".
Inhabitants are guided through a tiled corridor
Instead of fitting standard shelves and cupboards, the studio set out to fashion built-in furniture in the form of MDF storage walls, which would be able to comfortably accommodate the inhabitants' breadth of belongings.
By constructing these deep-set storage walls, Tuckey and his team also hoped it would create intricate "rooms within rooms", a concept they had become interested in by looking at American architect Louis Kahn's studies of Scottish castles. Kahn observed how ancillary rooms for servants were often built around main living spaces, set into the castles thick outer walls.
A small antechamber features pistachio-green storage walls
In the two works, the saint and other biblical figures are depicted standing inside green and pink rooms that feature a series of soaring archways.
"These works helped conceptualise the joinery pieces as an internal architecture, housed within the larger volume of the building," the studio explained.
"They were designed with the ambition of being able to subdivide spaces but also create a relationship with the vertical proportions of the rooms."
An arched doorway looks through to the master bedroom
In keeping with Giovanni's colour palette, Jonathan Tuckey Design has created a pale-pink storage wall in the apartment's living room.
It is inbuilt with flush cupboards, glass-fronted cabinets and a couple of arched niches where small trinkets can be displayed. There's also a decorative golden strip running along the walls upper edge, along with few brass spotlights.
The wall winds up and around an existing marble fireplace before dipping into a short corridor, where the floor has been clad with a striking mix of black and white triangular tiles.
The bedroom has been finished with a green headboard and side tables
Inhabitants are lead through to a small antechamber. Storage walls here are pistachio green and include open shelves. A tall arched doorway grants access to the master bedroom proper, which has been finished with matching green side tables and a huge bed with an emerald-coloured headboard.
The apartment's pastel scheme takes a detour in the study, where the MDF joinery is stained in a natural wood colour. One of this room's walls has also been inset with navy-blue panelling.
The apartment's study features contrasting blue panelling
This isn't the only residential project that features distinctive storage solutions.
