Category: Architecture
Posted by Anthony on 4/29/2008 8:22:00 AM
Web book for architecture students
A new "paperless" architecture book featuring facades from around the world.
This book is the result of two years of architectural research. Dynamic facades, ventilated, high-tech or traditional composites with new features. This book shows that currently new skins not only act as an isolating element, besides interact with the environment, optimizing energy exchange with the outside. From Germany to Australia or Korea to Colombia, there are many examples that readers can visit with this publication. With international vocation due to bilingual English-Spanish text and a language away from technicalities, this paper aims to show as an "interactive toy" the evolving field of the facades in architecture.
Link: Piel.Skin [Thanks, Ethel]
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Category: Architecture
Posted by Anthony on 4/21/2008 1:53:00 PM
Twenty villas, cottages, and cabins in detail
 One of our most popular posts here at L+L is the Finland Summer House posted by James back in January 2005. If exploring summer houses in Finland is your raison d'être, then we have a book for you. Finnish Summer Houses by Jari & Sirkkaliisa Jetsonen is a new book from Princeton Architectural Press that showcases work from architects such as Eliel Saarinen, Alvar Aalto, Juhani Pallasmaa and many others.
Architectural styles featured in the book run the gamut from farmhouse villas of the late 1800's to the modern structures of today.
Link: Princeton Architectural Press
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Category: Architecture
Posted by Lorenza on 2/11/2008 5:35:00 AM
The Sculptor Richard Wilson's installation in Liverpool takes by surprise every passer by!
 Richard Wilson is regarded as one of the most influential artist/sculptor of the 21st century. English born, he initially trained as a graphic designer but half way through his degree his switched to a Fine Art degree as he realised he was a ‘maker’.
After completion of his academic studies, Wilson returned to London and set base in Butlers Wharf till the early 80’s.
Richard Wilson has always been interested in the relationship between architectural spaces and the changes that can be applied to them, either by people’s interaction, or by the maker or by the manipulation of perception.
One of his most famous pieces, that brought him to be recognized worldwide, is 20:50, which is now permanently exhibited at the Saatchi Gallery in London.
Link: Saatchi Gallery
Article: Building Design
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Category: Architecture
Posted by James on 9/11/2007 11:48:00 AM
An Tur Solais - The Spire of Dublin
 A day on which one can't help but think of monuments and symbols seems like an appropriate time to take a look at a successful modern monument... at least Witold Rybczynski thought so, and it got me to thinking about it as well.
The Spire of Dublin, also known as An Tur Solais (the Monument of Light) and The Spike... it also has some unsavory nicknames in the Dubliner tradition: The Stiletto in the Ghetto, The Nail in the Pale, The Binge Syringe, and (perhaps my favorite) The Erection in the Intersection.
The monument was conceived in the early 1990's to provide a replacement for Nelson's Pillar which was blown up by former IRA members in 1966. An architectural competition was held with the intention of building the monument in time for the millennium. Alas construction was delayed by a pair of lawsuits filed by failed competitors - one designed a resurrection of Nelsons Pillar but topped by a bronze sun, the other a column topped by a revolving restaurant...
Of course monuments are contentious by their very nature - e.g. Ground Zero, Alex Eiffel, World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., etc. And the sore losers of the competition weren't the only detractors of the winning entry - public opinion and politicians decried the monument citing its inappropriateness to the context, the exorbitant cost and everything in between. Not to mention the planning process and environmental regulations (EIS). It is a wonder it was ever built at all... and so it is perhaps a fitting symbol of the new Ireland where such things are possible. And yet that uncovers an ironic twist: this monument of the new Ireland, built to replace a symbol of British imperialism, was an entry by a British architect, Ian Ritchie.
Link: The Spire of Dublin
Slideshow: Slate - The Spire of Dublin
Designer: Ian Ritchie Architects
Related: Seeing Éire [I] - Ailtireacht na Baile Átha Cliath (L+L)
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Category: Architecture
Posted by James on 8/28/2007 11:37:00 AM
A remodeled hill-hugger by Kovac Architects
This isn't super-model modern, it is more basic. And honestly, we can't all have (or be) super-models, now can we? Kovac Architects has taken a bland hillside stucco box in Los Angeles and modestly but effectively transformed it with some nicely thought out and executed design ideas.
The addition is sliver-thin at a mere eight feet, and is attached almost parasite-like to the side of the existing structure. The addition and reconfigured interior create a 2170 square foot modern tree house with living spaces on the first floor and a master suite with office mezzanine on the second. In addition to the walls of glazing which open the house to the trees at the rear of the home, a glass floor in the dining area visually connects the inhabitants to the canyon floor below.
Link: Kovac Architects
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Category: Architecture
Posted by James on 8/21/2007 12:22:00 PM
The Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2007 by Olafur Eliasson and Kjetil Thorsen
 A quick round up of the annual Serpentine Gallery Pavilion in London... this year by Danish/Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson and Norwegian architect Kjetil Thorsen (of architecture firm Snøhetta). The pavilion opens this Friday and will remain on site until November 2007.
A load of articles and images to totally max out your senses... have at it, kids.
Designers:
Olafur Eliasson
Kjetil Thorsen (Snøhetta)
Link: Serpentine Gallery Pavillion 2007
Photo Gallery: Olll
Article: Times - Come for a spin at the Serpentine
Article: Guardian - Magic circle
Article: Telegraph - Serpentine Gallery: A spinning top on an epic scale
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Category: Architecture
Posted by Anthony on 8/18/2007 7:02:00 PM
Persian/Islamic culture meets western modernità
Architect Pouya Khazaeli Parsa drew upon inspiration from Le Corbusier’s “Poem of the right angle” when designing this home which features an aerial ramp that takes you from a first-floor terrace to a roof garden with views of the beaches along the Caspian Sea.
Via: Domus Web (Reg Req'd)
Link: Pouya Khazaeli Parsa (Archnet.org)
Link: The Poem of the Right Angle (Open Eye Gallery)
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Category: Architecture
Posted by Anthony on 8/16/2007 2:10:00 PM
A quick trip into the archives
 CA|Boom I
Can you believe its been three years since CA|Boom burst onto the design scene? Check out our coverage from the design show's freshman year.
 Teardrop Vase from Derek Chen
Veneered plywood vase shell, bent in a teardop shape. Sealed and weighted with opaque colored resin. Exposed resin bottom, fully waterproof with a satin lacquer finish.
 Favela Chair
Wood scraps never looked better. Designed by Fernando and Humberto Campana.
 Fix Lighting
Simple, elegant, and modern. Light fixtures designed by Wonderwall.
 Porch House
"With a solid understanding of modern design and its application in residential architecture, Greg Lavardera has put together several plans that definitely take the bland and boring out of stock plans."
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Category: Architecture
Posted by Anthony on 8/14/2007 8:20:00 PM
Prefab Housing
 D.C. architect Carib Daniel Martin came up with the idea of HELP (Housing Every Last Person) soon after Hurricane Katrina devasted the Gulf-Coast region. His idea was to create an emergency housing system that was easily transportable and could be quickly assembled.
With a working demo in place, he secured the means to manufacture his creation and has spent the last two years fine-tuning his work. Expanding on his original design, he has evolved the structure to also meet the needs of the commercial, non-emergency market by producing 4 models: the microCABANA, microHOME, microSTUDIO, and microSHED.
A full-service website is due to be launched this coming Labor Day weekend.
Link: m-finity.com
Link: Path to Prefab
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Category: Architecture
Posted by James on 7/31/2007 2:23:00 PM
The American mid-century magazine lives again on the web
 The archives of this iconic publication which created the Case Study House Program have been exhumed and have found new life on the web.
Pages straight from the original publication featuring the Case Study houses complete with text, images and drawings are presented in PDF format. All of the greats are there including Edward Killingsworth, Charles Eames, Eero Saarinen, Richard Neutra, Craig Ellwood, Pierre Koenig, William Wurster, etc. etc. etc.
David Travers, the second and last editor following John Entenza, is involved with the project and has written an interesting remembrance of the magazine and era. He also offers an admonishment to the contemporary architecture profession:
Architecture, which used to be serious but fun, is now serious but silly. Innovative straight line, geometrical, rational, less-is-more architecture has been replaced by novelty, by glib, zigzag, crumpled, broken, exploded and discontinuous designs, by "constructive alienation," by Bernard Tschumi. Gott in Himmelb(l)au. The avant garde in architecture has lost its way.
Yeowsa!
Link: Arts & Architecture
Related: TASCHEN Books - Case Study Houses
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