Marble Arch Mound "will not be remembered fondly" says commenter

In this week's comments update, readers are continuing to critique MVRDV's fake hill in central London after the firm admitted it opened too early.

Visitors to the £2 million Marble Arch Mound attraction have been issued refunds after widespread criticism led to Westminster City Council suspending bookings.

The studio told Dezeen the issues with the hill's sedum turf not appearing healthy was due to  London's "unexpected dry weather". However, commenters disputed this.

"I'm apoplectic over these statements," said JZ. "If I were a plant I would sue for being characterized as uncooperative and unpredictable."

"Too dry?" questioned Judith Patten. "London has had torrential downpours (and flooding) over the past few weeks; there's only been one dry day."

Other commenters found it ironic that a temporary structure is affected by climate change.

"This project will not be remembered fondly in the hearts of Londoners, especially after a period of extreme weather," said Ted J. "People can definitely see better value in investing the £2 million into flood defences than a bump on the side of the road."

Park lover agreed: "Temporary structures are not sustainable! £2m for something that talks about a greener future and climate change, sustainability, that is temporary and will be taken down. A really sustainable approach is to have more permanent legacies made well to serve a current and future purpose!"

Was Westminster City Council right to delay opening? Join the discussion ›

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Studio PHH divides lakeside house with double-height glass atrium

Reader describes lakeside house as "a crime against the environment"

The environmental impact of a waterfront property in Princeton, New Jersey, which was designed by Studio PHH Architects for two occupants, is being debated by commenters.

"725m2 for two people? That is just immoral," began Sim. "It should be considered a crime against the environment to build a house that big for two people."

Pierre-Henri Hoppenot, founder of Studio PHH Architects, responded by saying: "I love your passion for sustainability, which is something that was integral to this project. This residence's roof is covered in a large solar array and actually exports electricity to the grid each month."

Commenters remain unconvinced. Adrian B added: "My heart sinks every time I click on something that looks interesting, promising, or attractive, only to find it is another colossal house built for rich people who pay, at best, lip service to the environmental crisis."

"Building environmentally friendly buildings is not just about energy use, it is also about how we distribute materials," concluded Sim.

Is it morally wrong to build a house with more space than its intended occupants need? Join the discussion ›

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Heatherwick's Vessel has closed again after a fourth suicide

"The issue is not the Vessel" says commenter

News that the Heatherwick Studio-designed Vessel viewpoint in New York is temporarily closed following a fourth suicide from the structure, has led to much debate from Dezeen readers.

"If this Vessel didn't exist, that poor kid would have committed suicide anywhere else," said J. "The issue is not the Vessel."

Roaa Kayat agreed: "This is really sad but please people stop blaming the designers for suicide, if the Vessel weren't here those who want to do it would've jumped from any other place."

Frank was less forgiving. "The Vessel is designed to do only one thing: get people off the ground," they said. "That Heatherwick couldn't imagine what would happen next is absolutely criminal."

What steps should be taken to reduce suicides at the viewpoint? Join the discussion ›

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AL_A reveals plans for world's first magnetised fusion power plant

Commenter says prototype power plant is "jumping the gun"

Readers are unconvinced that a prototype power plant being built in the UK will be successful in proving the viability of Canadian energy company General Fusion's nuclear fusion technology as a carbon-free energy source.

"All of this outrageously expensive and complex technology just to produce a little bit of steam," said NonNimby. "Seems like a pipe dream to me."

"Seems to be jumping the gun somewhat," agreed Perry Curling-Hope. "The technology does not yet exist. Maintaining stability of the plasma beyond a few seconds has not been demonstrated."

"How do you propose testing the untested without building test facilities like this one?" responded Intrabrain.

Is the Fusion Demonstration Plant ahead of its time? Join the discussion ›

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Dezeen is the world's most commented architecture and design magazine, receiving thousands of comments each month from readers. Keep up to date on the latest discussions on our comments page.

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Hastings Architecture converts 1960s Nashville library into its own headquarters

Tall, arched windows and marble cladding feature in a mid-century building in Tennessee that has become the new home of American firm Hastings Architecture.

Named after its address in downtown Nashville, 225 Polk Avenue, the project entailed the transformation of a 1965, modern-style building that was originally designed by architect Bruce Crabtree.

The mid-century building at 225 Polk Avenue in Nashville has been revived

For 35 years, the multi-level structure – which sits among government buildings – housed the Nashville Public Library. It totals 42,000 square feet (3,902 square metres).

"After the library was relocated in 2001, the site fell into a state of disrepair," said local firm Hastings Architecture, which was founded in 1985.

The building houses the offices of Hastings Architecture and other companies

The firm's partners bought the vacant building in 2017 and set out to revive it. Today, it houses a 24,000-square-foot (2,229-square-metre) studio for Hastings Architecture, along with offices for United Talent Agency and the architecture firm McAlpine.

"Hastings saw in the library an opportunity to create a striking space for its growing firm, and a chance to revitalise an important historic landmark in the community," the firm said.

The interior was reconfigured to create a more open atmosphere

The project entailed a merging of old and new. The team refurbished certain historic details while also introducing contemporary elements.

The exterior's Georgia Cherokee marble panels were cleaned, and where necessary, swapped out with new pieces from the original quarry. The glazing in 16-foot-tall (4.9-metre) arching windows was replaced with high-performance, insulated glass.

Inside, the floor plan was reconfigured to provide a more open atmosphere and to create space for multiple tenants.

The team refurbished the terrazzo floor in a central lobby, along with a terrazzo-clad stair connecting the building's two main levels.

Walnut is used as an accent against a black and white colour palette

The lobby connects to Hastings' office, which is found on the south end of the building. The ground level consists of a light-filled studio with a 20-foot-high (six-metre) ceiling.

Upstairs, the team placed meeting rooms, a materials library, private offices and more studio space. Employees can step outside and take a break on a wraparound balcony.

Natural light floods the entrance

A black-and-white colour palette was used throughout the space. Walnut accents take cues from the original design.

"It was important that we honour the architect's original intent in our design plans," said David Bailey, a partner at Hastings. "We wanted to celebrate the history of the building by restoring as much as we could, and keeping the space open to highlight the original interiors of the building."

The Athenaeum is accessible to the public and nonprofit groups

The talent agency and the other architecture office are found on the north side of the building.

Just off the lobby, an auditorium was converted into a 1,500-square-foot (139-square-metre) multipurpose room that is accessible to the public and nonprofit groups. The space, called The Athenaeum, can accommodate up to 300 people and honours the building's past as a civic facility.

The building's historic features were retained during the restoration

Other adaptive reuse projects in the US include Studio Gang's conversion of a Wisconsin power plant into a student union, and Skolnick Architecture's transformation of an 1830s Hamptons church into an arts centre.

The photography is by Eric Laignel.

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11 architecture projects from students at the University for the Creative Arts

A self-funded art bank and a community building aiming to support local fishermen through Brexit are included in Dezeen's latest school show by students at the University of the Creative Arts.

Also featured are a masonry school that aims to make use of stone as a low carbon material and a project that explores how brownfield land can be used to solve the housing crisis.

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University for the Creative Arts

School: University for the Creative Arts
Courses: BA (Hons) Architecture and Master of Architecture

School statement:

"From rebuilding devastated cities to servicing the needs of different social groups, design changes lives as well as landscapes. This year's final year, students reading architecture at the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) have been encouraged to approach their design with an activist's mindset.

"Their work considers the environmental, social, functional and economic impact of buildings and spaces and presents new concepts that could help to shape a better future. Their work is the culmination of years of rigorous learning, refining of skills and a drive to put forward innovative ideas that can make a real impact in the world.

"Discover the work of UCA's graduating Architecture students on our website."

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Maisie Bishop

"In their final project, Bishop explores the Fish Island in east London. With the old industries of east London rapidly being replaced by a growing number of new tech corporations, Maisie's proposal explores how AI, robotics and 3D printing can be applied in daily life to promote greater, more equal, and efficient health and wellness in the borough of Tower Hamlets.

"By exploring five pillars of life: health, shelter, fuel, transport and environment, their proposed institute is a hub for education, exploration and application.

"The design primarily focuses on five 3D printed research spaces, dedicated to exploring the potential AI, robotic and printing advancements in the above fields, organised around a central atrium. This public atrium provides opportunities to employ the technologies produced and for persons visiting to experience these advancements in real-time."

Student: Maisie Bishop
Course: BA (Hons) Architecture, UCA

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Thomas White

"White's work is a manifesto for sonic urbanism at Manston airport. The vacant void of Manston airport has disconnected the surrounding communities from each other, acting as an inaccessible zone separating them.

"The project uses six central pavilions to carve out four radial territories around them. The pavilions use sound to bring people to the site and weave existing communities together.

"These acoustic gateways re-link and neutralise the existing acoustic arenas, preparing an entry into urbanism fuelled by sound. The pavilions also act as sonic adjudicators in the politics of sound and become a testbed for what should or should not be heard.

"This is passed over to the inhabitants to contemplate through the many interactive sounds, installations and future development that are housed on and around the site."

Student: Thomas White
Course: Master of Architecture, UCA

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Keerthigan Thavaseelan

"Thavaseelan's project 'Manston Modulation' explores the uncertain future of Manston Airport and proposes Thanet's first deployable community radio station that helps redevelop the airport into a residential landscape.

"This project explores the relationship between temporary architecture and permanent architecture through modules and permanent community hubs. Thavaseelan integrated spectrogram visuals within his drawings to highlight the ever-changing frequency aspect of radio to the proposal.

"He also produced accompanying music and at project film, to give the project extra depth."

Student: Keerthigan Thavaseelan
Course: Master of Architecture, UCA

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Anna Reeves

"Reeve's project sets out a vision for a thriving community, bringing togetherness and independence to the small parish of Brandon. Each member is a guardian of protected land, working as merchants of the council, with an intrinsic relationship with the natural world at the very core of their lives at RAF Barnham.

"The protection of the Nightjar, the Curlew and the Woodlark bird species is central, their history and continued existence immortalised in the conservation efforts made by the community.

"This vision presents Reeve's perspective on how we can make the best use of brownfield land to solve our housing crisis, by designating space for people not only to live but to work self-sufficiently and harmoniously with the land, honouring its history."

Student: Anna Reeves
Course: Master of Architecture, UCA

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Ting Leung Henry Chan

"Hong Kong has been an international trading city since the 19th century but is now at a crisis point in its history. With all the changes in both the legal and political status of Hong Kong in recent years, the unique identity and reputation of Hong Kong, under the 'one country, two systems' framework agreed in the Sino-British Joint Declaration in 1984, are now at risk.

"Chan's Free Port is a complex consisting of the international embassy and congress buildings, as an extension to the cargo port of Hong Kong. With the uniqueness of this legal area, this could be transformed into an open ground for trade.

"With the Free Port, Hong Kong could maintain its position as a world-leading international trading city and retain its role as the window city of trade to the benefit of Mainland China."

Student: Ting Leung Henry Chan
Course: Master of Architecture, UCA

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Nicholas Strange

"Strange has designed a self-funded Art Bank in Hackney Wick, managed by local artists to benefit those involved in the arts, who are struggling due to the gentrification of Fish Island.

"Using the financial techniques of 'securitisation' and 'leverage', the narrative is achieved to use local artists' work as a liquidated asset to purchase and remortgage lost workspace for artists on the island.

"Whilst publicising and securing future profits for artists' liquidated work in the process, to further expand the circular economy of the narrative."

Student: Nicholas Strange
Course: BA (Hons) Architecture, UCA

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Hanna Makhoul

"Hanna's project explores building a fibreglass factory in Beirut to deal with the devastating explosion in the city in 2020. Approximately 7000 tonnes of glass was shattered from buildings, and around 300,000 people were left homeless.

"Glass can still be found almost everywhere around the city due to the blast's shock waves. Hanna's project aims to reuse this material as fibreglass. The fibreglass will rebuild damaged areas by mass-producing identical curved leaf-like modular components assembled on-site by locals in the act of hope and unity.

"This bespoke modular system, aesthetically inspired by local Arabic architecture, will include elements such as arches and vaults to form the megastructure. Following the fibreglass factory and workshops build, further phases include a market and a residential area."

Student: Hanna Makhoul
Course: Master of Architecture, UCA

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Jordan Panayi

"London School of Stone Masonry is a satellite stone masonry school in the heart of Fish Island that pays homage to 'Stonemasons Yard'. Stonemasons are the most recent makers to lose their place in Europe's creative capital due to the current Olympic regeneration scheme.

"The masonry school simultaneously serves London in its future construction the industry as we rediscover this age-old material and enter The New Stone Age, making use of this low carbon material and its cost-saving potential."

Student: Jordan Panayi
Course: BA (Hons) Architecture, UCA

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Alastair Wilkinson

"Harnessing urban development as a catalyst for the reclamation of valuable archaeological material, Wilkinson's proposal aims to create a centre for the analysis and archive of such objects as well as an educational institution for study in this field.

"The need for the building is propelled forward by the statutory assessment of archaeological remains as part of the planning process for development projects. Proposed building development plans across the London area mean there is a need for substantial archaeological work. The London Plan and its infrastructure links nationally and to Europe."

Student: Alastair Wilkinson 
Course: BA (Hons) Architecture, UCA

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Kimberley De Silva

"De Silva's project explores the UK fishing industry and the negative impact of Brexit on the livelihoods of hundreds of fishermen. To counter the problem, De Silva has designed Swan Wharf. This building offers a helping hand to local fishermen in the area, with the support of consumers and small businesses dedicated to aiding this small but hard-working population."

Student: Kimberley De Silva
Course: BA (Hons) Architecture, UCA

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Ian Wille

"Ian's project is a response to gentrification. It experiments with ideals of participatory democracy, social commons and protests to project a societal spirit of individuals as citizens, not consumers.

"Central to the project is a democratic hall where actors participate in creating specialised and specific legislation for the municipal area of Fish Island. This project aims to return ownership and direction of cities to the people who live in them, not investors who profit from them."

Student: Ian Wille
Course: BA (Hons) Architecture, UCA

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Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and the University for the Creative Arts. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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Competition: win a $500 or $150 gift card from Grovemade

For our latest competition, we've teamed up with desk company Grovemade to offer readers the chance to win a $500 or $150 gift card to spend on their products.

American brand Grovemade designs and makes desk accessories to help create the ideal workspace.

One reader will win a $500 gift card and four readers will win a $150 gift card to spend on their products online.

Grovemade's black leather desk pad and walnut iPad stand

All of Grovemade's pieces are designed by the brand's team and produced either in-house or with other manufacturing partners in the USA.

Each of the designs is based on extensive research into how people use their workspaces.

"Over a decade of manufacturing experience helps us to push the limits of physical products," said Grovemade.

"Our focus is always on creating innovative products that fill specific needs in your home workspace while keeping the appearance minimal and clean."

Tall laptop stand in walnut and leather desk pad

Winners will be able to choose from a wide range of products, such as the best-selling desk shelf system and desk pads.

The desk shelf system is intended to bring clarity to your workspace, helping you to manage clutter and provide a place for all of your items.

Screens are elevated to improve ergonomics and subtle organisation zones help everything on your desk live in harmony, including your keyboard.

The desk shelf systems are available in American walnut and maple.

Desk pad in merino wool felt

Desk pads provide subtle, effective organisation of your workspace, creating functional boundaries and zones. The benefit is an optimised workspace, improved work and a protected desk.

They are available in vegetable-tanned leather, merino wool felt and natural matte linoleum, which is crafted from linseed oil, natural pine rosin, wood flour and calcium carbonate.

"Your workspace should help you get your best work done – it's a place where you should feel inspired," said Grovemade co-founder Ken Tomita.

Other items up for grabs include mouse pads, coasters, monitors, laptops, headphones, iPad and screen stands, as well as stationary.

The Grovemade pen in titanium

Grovemade was established in Portland, Oregon, in 2009. The brand is, "committed to helping people feel inspired in their workspaces, with a focus on natural materials and clean design".

One reader will win a $500 gift card and four readers will win a $150 gift card. They are also available to buy online.

The competition closes on 30 August. Terms and conditions apply. Five winners will be selected at random and notified by email.

Competition closes 30 August. Terms and conditions apply. Five winners will be selected at random and notified by email.

Partnership content

This competition is a partnership between Dezeen and Grovemade. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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Carlo Ratti Associati designs MAE Museum dedicated to carbon fibre

Italian studio Carlo Ratti Associati and architect Italo Rota have designed a museum dedicated to carbon fibre, which will be partially made from the material.

Created for carbon-fibre manufacturers MAE, the museum will feature objects from the company's 53-year history that show how the ultra-strong, lightweight material is used across the automotive, cycling and fashion industries, among others.

According to Carlo Ratti Associati (CRA), the MAE Museum will be the world's largest archive of acrylic fibre technologies.

The MAE Museum will include an archive fitted with robotic arms that fetch documents

It will be situated in a renovated warehouse in Piacenza, Italy, next door to a new MAE pilot plant, and will have an interior largely made of carbon fibre, including some sections made with recycled fibre.

The carbon-fibre elements will include an entrance door that "opens like a curtain", while another feature of the museum will be its heavy use of robots in the exhibition experience.

Its first room will be a robotic archive warehouse, where mechanical arms move along the walls to extract historical photos and documents and place them on a raised viewing platform for the viewer's perusal.

Elements will be made of carbon fibre, including the curtain-like door

Elsewhere in the museum, visitors will be able to observe the process through which acrylic fibre is transformed into carbon fibre and see objects demonstrating its contemporary use.

In a black room filled with immersive installations, they will be able to interact with cutting-edge prototypes and objects that use the material more experimentally.

CRA founder Carlo Ratti said that the MAE Museum project was an opportunity to explore the ecological potential of the material through such actions as using recycled fibre.

"From high-performance bikes to the Lamborghini Aventador car, carbon fibre is driving innovation in multiple sectors," said Ratti.

"The MAE museum celebrates a defining material of modernity, by focusing on its new circular frontier and envisioning new applications for its use."

Currently, carbon fibre is made with fossil fuels through a highly polluting process. However, its strength and lightness have made it the standard for aircraft, and it is also sometimes used in cars, bicycles and tennis racquets.

A room with immersive installations will also feature in the museum

Bio-based and recycled carbon fibre are now being explored but have their limitations.

MAE first produced synthetic fibres for clothing, which became popular after world war two in Europe, before moving on to carbon fibre.

The connection to clothing remains — similar synthetic fibres are put through complex chemical processes to turn them into carbon fibre.

CRA has designed the museum with Rota, which specialises in museums and exhibitions and previously designed the Arts and Food exhibition at the Triennale di Milano.

Rota and CRA have undertaken a number of recent collaborations, including creating a shipping container intensive care unit for a Turin hospital and the MEET centre for digital culture in Milan.

Renderings by CRA.

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