GESAMTKUNSTWERK

Westbank has built a practice around long-term commitments to artistry, sustainability and city-building. These commitments underlie an orientation towards projects like Woodwards, Vancouver House, Mirvish Village, Telus Garden and Oakridge – catalysts for larger change that go beyond the borders of the projects themselves. We are here to create. To provoke. To ignite. We are the vehicle for a new movement of cultural expression.

As the practice matures, we have become more ambitious. With every new project reflecting our commitment to the philosophy behind Gesamkunstwerk, or in our recent work the Japanese philosophy behind layering, the net effect is that our work becomes much more complex and far-reaching.

The core of Westbank’s mission is to create a body of work with a high degree of artistry that helps foster more equitable and beautiful cities. Westbank is active across Canada and in the United States, with projects including luxury residential, Five Star hotels, retail, office, rental, district energy systems, affordable housing initiatives and public art. Established in 1992, we are one of North America’s leading developers, with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Seattle, Shanghai, Beijing, Taiwan, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and over 25 billion dollars of projects completed or under development.

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April 06, 2016

World’s First Earthquake Proof Building

Kengo Kuma, famous Japanese architect, protects Japanese office building with carbon fiber curtain. He has renovated an office building in Nomi City which is recognized as the first earthquake resistant building. It is strengthened by carbon fibre beams as seen in the picture below:

kengo-kuma-komatsu-seiren-fabric-laboratory-fa-bo-japan-designboom-02

The influence of Kuma’s design is the idea of braiding rope, so that it forms a strong and flexible rod-like structure. The idea is to have separate rods so that from afar it’s a sheer cloak.

Kuma is an expert at transforming the ordinary into something functional yet visually beautifully.

kengo-kuma-komatsu-seiren-fabric-laboratory-fa-bo-japan-designboom-02

Kengo Kuma is also coming to Vancouver to give a presentation at the Chan Centre. He will be at UBC April 12th 2016 to discuss Westbank and Peterson’s Alberni project.

For the full article please visit Design Boom

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