Cities and buildings are SYMBOLS. Symbols of our constant quest for an ideal environment, they are the most powerful and enduring witnesses of our civilization. Each stone, each window, each street tells a story. A story that grows richer, more replete with the passage of time. Architects and Planners are the TOOLS society employs to manifest the shape of each new era. Albert Abut LINKED-TOWERS Albert Abut is a French architect, graduated from the prestigious Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. His architecture is defined by his French heritage, a very distinct creativity with a specific vision on architecture & urban planning, and, the French innovative spirit. During the past 25 years spent living between Paris & Tokyo and immersed also in Japanese history & culture, the Paris & Tokyo avant-garde scenes inspired him in the realization of many buildings which have been characterized under“specific minimalism with attention to detail”. Also a naval architectural expert, his knowledge of materials and technologies used in extreme conditions (wind, salt, humidity, heat, cold...) enhances his contribution to every construction project, promoting development and integration of the latest and most advanced building materials & technologies with force and elegance. This unique background provides a distinct approach to architectural and urban developments. Photo antoine poupel RECENT TENDENCIES VISION I ALLIANCE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND DESIGN Albert Abut is a pioneer in this field. He started research on energy efficient building technologies as “Like the human skin, recognizing the heat and the cold, Assistant Professor at the Eindhoven University of the dry and the humid, air velocities, and like the human Technology (The Netherlands). Since then he applies eye, recognizing the different shades of light, and in a energy efficient design on all of his buildings. pro-active way towards each one of these elements, the “third skin”, exterior envelope of a building, must assume His present research is directed on the principle of the a perfect conceptual and technological coordination “Third skin” : between the architectural, the structural, the “Each project is a conceptual and creative adventure mechanical, the electrical components and the inner that requires imagination and endurance. This spaces. adventure, in which I engage with my team, draws on all kind of sources of inspiration : from our past, present This human environment I progressively attempt to and future, as well as our direct and indirect improve with various technologies and different environments. At the end, each one of these adventures innovative materials, is also enriched by permanent must engender a timeless and progressive solution for research on fluidity patterns, providing an overwhelming mankind. sensation of weightlessness within the realms of the real and the unreal. Presently, my research strongly focuses on two of the five senses : the touch and the sight which I interpret My buildings are made to transmit in various ways and give as the touch of a building. For me, the building envelop materiality to the vibrations governing our floating what I call the “third skin” (the first being our natural universe”. skin, the second our clothing) should act as an intelligent skin like the skin of any living being Albert Abut dwelling on our planet.” RECENT TENDENCIES RECENT TENDENCIES VISION II VISION III EDO21 REBUILDING TOKYO REBUILDING TOHOKU Since 2004, Albert Abut is working on an extensive The 3/11 devastation in the Tohoku area will trigger proposal to rebuild all “Shuto” expressways and JR dramatic changes in urban and rural planning railways under the channels and rivers of Tokyo over methodologies at coastal regions of Japan. which they were built in the Sixties. Many projects are already on the drawing boards. These channels and rivers were making the charm of old Nevertheless they are having difficulties to Edo called the Venice of the East and depicted in the materialize as discussions and negotiations with the paintings of Hiroshige and Hokusai. Local Mayors and Local Governments have a hard time to match with the Ministry of Finance’s (MoF) This major project would allow Tokyo to regain it's expectations as the funds allocated by the MoF are historical urban grid, open all waterways and bridges to yet to be efficiently dispatched to different the sky, create parks and promenades along the localities. waterways but mostly provide natural light to the lower floors of the buildings built along these waterways. Solutions under study at our firm will necessitate massive earth works at higher grounds but also new In 2005, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi actually referred harbor engineering features involving knowledge of to this proposal in order to offer to his citizens a better the sea bed conditions and tsunami mechanisms. urban environment. PROJECTS HOSPITALITY BODY & MIND RESIDENTIAL WORKPLACES MACROSPACES BODY & MIND CULTURE, MUSEUMS, LIBRARIES, CONCERT HALLS, EDUCATION, SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES, TRAINING CENTERS, SPORT COMPLEXES, STADIUMS Dun Laoghaire Central Library Headquarters & Cultural Centre, Ireland. International Competition Erfurt Cultural Center, Erfurt, Germany. Project French-Japanese School extension building + RENOVATION OF THE EXISTING, Tokyo, Japan. Completed Grand Egyptian Museum, Giza, Egypt. International Competition Hakodate Public Library, Hokkaido, Japan. National Competition Hakuju Hall Classical Music Concert Hall, Tokyo, Japan. Completed Hiroshima Baseball Stadium, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, Japan. National Competition Hot Ice, Cultural & Administrative Complex, Montreal, Canada. International Competition Institut Franco-Japonais du Kansai RENOVATION, Kyoto, Japan. National Competition LycEe Romain Rolland, Argenteuil, Paris, France. National Competition Maison des Musees de France, for dai nippon printing (DNP) Ginza, Tokyo, Japan. Completed Okinawa Christian School International, Yomitan, Okinawa, Japan. Completed OKINAWA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL I YOMITAN I OKINAWA HOSPITALITY RESORTS, HOTELS, APARTMENT-HOTELS, GOLFS, MARINAS, RESTAURANTS, CAFES, BARS, CLUBS ANNUPURI Alpine Village, Niseko, Hokkaido, Japan. Project AWAPIKO RESORT & SPA, EAST CAPE REGION, NEW ZEALAND. UNDER PLANNING BORA BORA GOLF, 30 luxury villas and a 18 hole ECO-golf, Bora Bora, French Polynesia. Under Planning Clark HOTEL, boutique hotel, Budapest, Hungary. Project Club Med Kabira, Ishigaki Okinawa, Japan. Completed Concept Hotel, Kyoto, Japan, PROJECT Five Star Hotel, TESHIE, Accra, Ghana, Under Planning FOUR restaurants in CRESCENT Complex, District 11, HCMC, Vietnam. Project Ishigaki Resort Villas, ISHIGAKI, Okinawa, Project Les Comptoirs de la Tour d’Argent, Daikanyama, Tokyo, Japan. Completed NATADOLABAY MARINE & GOLF RESORT Master Plan, Sigatoka, Fiji. Completed Restaurant L’Osier FOR SHISEIDO, Ginza, Tokyo, Japan, Completed Rotisserie L’Ecrin, Ginza, Tokyo, Japan. Completed the marmara TAKsim, 389 room Five Star Hotel renovation in Istanbul, Turkey. PROJECT The Rose Hotel, Sydney, Australia. Completed Westin Tokyo Spa, Ebisu Garden Place, Tokyo, Japan. Completed YANQI GOLF VILLAS, YANQI, HUAIROU, BEIJING, CHINA. PROJECT RESTAURANT L’OSIER I GINZA RESIDENTIAL SINGLE & MULTI FAMILY, APARTMENTS, CONDOMINIUMS, VILLAS, HOUSES CONDOMINIUM BUILDING RENOVATION (31 UNITS) YOYOGI-HACHIMAN, SHIBUYA, TOKYO. COMPLETED DuplexES & A Triplex (4 units), JINGUMAE, Tokyo, Japan. Completed FranCoise House Apartment Building Renovation (8 units), NISHI-AZABU, Tokyo, Japan. Completed HAUTE COUTURE SAIGON (110 units), HCMC, Vietnam. Project LUXURY Residences, (32 units), Hiroo, Tokyo, Japan. Project Private LUXURY Residence, Jiyugaoka, Tokyo, Japan. Project Private luxury residence, chiba, japan. project PRIVATE Residence, Nyanyanao, Accra, Ghana. Completed PRIVATE RESIDENCE, Hatsudai, Tokyo, Japan. Completed PRIVATE Residence, Prat-Paul, PLOUGUERNEAU, France. Completed PRIVATE RESIDENCE, KERIDAOUEN, PLOUGUERNEAU, FRANCE. COMPLETED PRIVATE apartment, Madrid, Spain. Completed Renovation of a “Hotel Particulier”, Le Marais, Paris, France. Completed Residential Linked-Towers (5 TOWERS & PRIVATE VILLAS IN TOTAL 700 units), TESHIE, Accra, Ghana. Under Planning Residence with Onsen (hot springs), Ohiradai, Hakone, Japan. Completed TR Apartments (38 units), NISHI-AZABU, Tokyo, Japan. Completed TR APARTMENTS I NISHI-AZABU HAUTE COUTURE SAIGON I HCMC WORKPLACES PUBLIC & ADMINISTRATIVE, CORPORATE, COMMERCIAL, RETAIL, SHOWROOMS, FACTORIES, LABORATORIES AXA Direct Japan Offices , Ariake, Tokyo, JAPAN. Completed BIO-TECHNOLOGY CENTER, OHTAKI, CHIBA, JAPAN. PROJECT Bluebell offices & showrooms, nogizaka, tokyo, japan, completed COSMOPOLITAN OFFICE INTERIORS, NOGIZAKA, TOKYO, JAPAN. COMPLETED DF Office Interiors, Kasumigaseki, Tokyo, Japan. Completed DRESSCODE BOUTIQUE, OMOTESANDO, TOKYO, JAPAN. COMPLETED Dun & Bradstreet office interiors. Akasaka, Tokyo, Japan. Completed Factory & Office Building in Tsu, Mie, Japan. Under Planning MK SEED CENTER I TOKE I CHIBA Global Showroom Concept & Guidelines for LIXIL. Under Planning GL Trade Office Interiors, Kasumigaseki, Tokyo, Japan. Completed Hartrod Japan Office Interiors, Kamiyacho, Tokyo, Japan, Completed Heart of Budapest, Budapest City Hall, Hungary. International Competition. PROJECT Judicial Centre, Korneuburg, Austria. International Competition. PROJECT LOUIS VUITTON RETAIL BUILDING, OMOTESANDO, TOKYO, JAPAN. PROJECT Maison de la Paix, Geneva, Switzerland. International Competition. PROJECT Mary Kay