BIG on Google, Hot and Cold and Hyperloop One

Picture courtesy: dezeen magazine

The Danish firm BIG featured some years ago for its houses that reflect the mountains, is now holding its second 'Hot to Cold' exhibition this time in the Deutsches Architekturmuseum, looking at cultural and climatic context when designing buildings.

The Mountain Dwellings - the second generation of VM houses - were each designed with balconies to allow residents fresh air and light while the elevators were hidden by glass panels decorated with mountain designs. Now BIG is keen to exhibit the care it takes over climate by opening its exhibition in demonstrating its environmental knowledge.

Picture courtesy: design bloom.com

BIG or Bjarke Ingels Group, has been based in Copenhagen and New York but since designing the central pavilion for the Serpentine's annual summer show this year, has opened a London office. Set up by starchitect, Bjarke Ingels in 2005, the practice recently won the project of Google's new HQ at Kings Cross with Heatherwick Studios.

Bjarke Ingels and Thomas Heatherwick commented: ' From the beginning the project to give Google a new home in King's Cross has been extraordinary. Rather than impose a universal style on Google's buildings in the UK and USA, we have tried to create an interestingness that fits the scale and community of the area. The Silicon Valley startup garage meets the London train sheds that couples clarity with eccentricity and anchors innovation with heritage'.

Picture courtesy: inhabitat.com

Meanwhile BIG and Barcode have jointly designed the Amsterdam Gateway. It is a mixed use building called Sluishuis which will create a landmark in the emerging neighbourhood of Ijburg, linking the new urban district to the harbour areas near the city's historic city centre. It will offer 380 zero energy residences, 4,000 square meters of commercial and common areas, 240 underground parking spaces and a comprehensive water quality programme.

BIG is also involved in the planned hyperloop transportation system which will connect Dubai and Abu Dhabi in just 12 minutes.

Picture courtesy: industry news.co

It is anticipated that it will travel at over a 1,000 kilometers an hour, taking passengers and cargo in capsule pods using both levitation and propulsion mechanisms.

Hyperloop was created by entrepreneur Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla Motors, Pay Pal and space exploration company, Space X. The experimental arm BIG Ideas is heading up the team developing the vision. BIG Ideas is working alongside AECOM and Arup.