Tyson's Blog Posts Tagged 'design' (51)

Having studied cities for many years, I've found that reconciling new and existing architecture is quite a daunting task. It is particularly difficult in urban areas where buildings are in such close proximity to one another. While there are many reasons for this circumstance, a…

One of the hardest things to accomplish in the design process is to limit design elements. It's often surprising how fast the design can get far too busy and out of control. This project by L&A Design Group is a good example of what you might do…

As an architect, space is often a luxury we can't afford. We are asked to make do with little. It may seem confining at times, but I've often found myself grateful for these types of constraints. I would term this the dilemma as that of Life, the Universe and Everything. There must be a point of focus…

When you find a place of peace and tranquility, my initial instinct would be to leave it alone. Although this isn't an exciting prospect from an architectural point of view, I think architectural interventions can have a detrimental effect on some of these places. This…

I often think about the minimalist approach to architectural design, particularly in terms of the dying practice of ornament in building design. I don't necessarily think that something needs to be elaborate in order to be well designed, but when you take…

Gehry Partners were chosen to design the Eisenhower Memorial in Washington D.C. I thought this would be a great opportunity to talk about divided interests in architecture.  Whenever you have a monumental site, not to mention the memory…

The Saemangum Exhibition Center is an interesting little project by the firm poly.m.ur, located along the west coast of Korea.  While I really love the play between architecture and landscape, there is a more subtle…

I wrote an article a while back titled Every Architect Needs A Hero, which is one of my favorite topics to theorize about. It's not a terribly new idea. I would say it's fairly dated,…

This post is for the many student readers we have here. This project was a competition for architecture students at the Helsinki University of Technology. I think there is this perception amongst professionals that students don't know anything (I'll be…

I had a professor say to me once that an entrance isn't merely a door. I hadn't really thought about it before, but looking at many of the great buildings that I admired the entrance door was not a prominent feature. The entrance, instead was more implicit in the…

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. This playful design by Aranguren & Gallegos Architects is a reminder that a key component to architecture is fun. I've had the chance to work with many different people in many different places and circumstances,…

#1 - Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

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Sometimes architecture is just about imagery. This competition entry by Afsarmanesh Architects is a design based on the impact of the urban image. It also plays upon the transient nature of the digital…

While I think this is a beautiful project by Tridente Architects, the one element that stands out to me is the wooden thermal screen.  This is a technique that is seldom used in the United States. We tend to put screens on the inside of the house,…

In the vein of my previous post I'd like to reinforce the importance of simplicity. In the words of my professor, it's often counterproductive to reinvent the wheel. Take what you know and add a little flare to it. This project by Jun Mitsui & Associates Architects is a great…

Minimalism is a word that runs rampant in architectural discussions. But to be honest, I don't know that many I speak with have a great deal of knowledge about the subject. In architecture, most think of minimalism as having to do with material…

Including the right amount of intrigue in architecture is not always easy. You could liken it to fashion design, the goal being to reveal enough to keep you interested, but cover enough to maintain some mystery. This project by Supermachine Studio really peaks ones…

Context in architecture has lost some momentum in recent years. It's a discussion that for some, has just gone on too long. Yet I believe that you can't do away with it completely. This project by HOK, the Salvador Dali Museum, is an…

One of the hardest concepts to master in architecture is that of contrast. This is partly due to zoning that essentially prohibits one architecture from standing out too much from any other in it's immediate context. But it's also a reflection on what architects care…

I run into a lot of people that feel a great deal of animosity about architectural theory. I think it comes the inherent shock of coming together with people that are on polar opposites of the design spectrum. For instance you have a design critic who spends most…