Tyson's Blog – July 2010 Archive (22)

A very interesting project by Jean Nouvel, One Central Park is an architecture / urban design project that seeks to green the Sydney urban landscape. The taller of the two towers look like modular structures. The largest terrace seems to simply be taken from the heart of the building. This project also includes an new urban park as well as 36,000 square meters of public open…

This project by Santiago Calatrava is a redevelopment of the Denver International Airport's south terminal. The architecture includes a hotel, train station and bridge to extend the train services from downtown Denver. The project is estimated to cost $650 million dollars. Calatrava approached this project as he has in many of his beautiful bridges. He views the airport as the modern bridge into…

Ozel Office has developed a remarkable competition proposal for an opera house in Izmir. The architecture is both public and private in terms of program. An elegant structure makes beautiful space for events and performances, while the roof is a mere extension of the street that provides unique places to experience the city. From a theoretical standpoint, this project invites residents to integrate this…

I simply don't have enough good things to say about this house. Designed by J. Mayer H. Architects, it was designed based on the footprint of a previously existing home. Taking that as a starting point, the finished architecture is a seamless mixture of semi-public and private spaces that fit superbly into the topographical landscape. The visual connection between the interior and exterior are arranged…

Studio Gang Architects designed this unique tower from the simple idea that the views of the beautiful city of Chicago were not to be wasted. The buildings facade then becomes habitable space as opposed to a mere shell. The artistic benefit is the beautiful sculpture-like quality that the building takes on as a result of the residential terraces. A truly beautiful architecture.…

This is a very interesting hotel by Sohne & Partner Architects. This hotel, located in Vienna, boasts self check-in around the clock. The perforations in the facade of the architecture take on the abstract form of the hotels logo, but more…

This project by Smart Studio Architects embodies perfectly the profession of architecture. This building, once a derelict apartment building has been transformed into four elegant, full-floor apartments with breathtaking views of the Australian coast. This building also incorporates sustainable building practices including natural cross ventilation as well as passive solar techniques. The most interesting…

I really like modern twists on old houses. This house by Studio27 Architects is a great example of how existing building types can be complimented by modern architecture. I think this is successful because it responds to an inherent problem in historic preservation. The problem is that older homes do not always accommodate contemporary lifestyles. This design preserves the character of the street while…

This museum, built by Neutelings Riedijk Architects is every bit a structural marvel as it is a civic icon in the city of Antwerp, Belgium. These kinds of gravity-defying designs are an effective means to engage passers-by visually and hopefully encourage them to partake of the interior experience that the architecture offers. While perhaps stylistically a bit bland, it delivers quite well in the more…

This is an interesting project by John Wardle Architects. The building interacts with the street unlike many of the institutions of learning that you will likely see in your city. It relates to the street not only in proximity, but also in visibility. As a former student of architecture, there always seemed to be a disconnect from school life and the life that awaits us upon graduation. The visibility from…

This Arabian Performance Venue (APV) is a concept for an island theater/museum/hotel to be situated on an island connected to the mainland by several small bridges. The imagery is very impressive. The architecture feels very much like a jewel in the desert. The sheer contrast of the architecture with its barren surroundings accentuates its elegance and uniqueness. The reflections of the…

A literally revolutionary idea, Stephane Malka has designed a pocket of discontent in the urban fabric. A modular structure that is designed as an architecture of refuge for the discontented and the marginalized. I think this idea, while applicable to a great many time periods in human history, is the result of an age of rising discontent of citizens of many nations that feel their voices are not being…

This amazing skyscraper was designed by Rojkind Arquitectos. Where I believe this project is incredibly successful is adding texture and depth to the skin of the architecture, something that has been traditionally difficult in highrise construction. The building is a mixed-use development that will have retail, residences and a hotel on the top floors.…

This is a superb concept by Aedas. This project challenges the unyielding verticality of the skyscraper and allows for a more free expression of the typology. An obviously difficult and structurally problematic design, I hope we begin to see more of these ideas put forth so that our dense urban environments can form architecture in new and interesting ways.…

This is a great little house by NDM Architects. As the name suggests, the architecture is a series of loops that fold in and around each other to form each space of the house. Several cantilevers are also utilized to provide shade for the terraces above the swimming pool. The lower living spaces are quite exposed to the outside, making the distinction between interior and exterior less apparent.…

The Vitra campus has become a growing conglomeration of architecture by the most famous contemporary architects including Frank Gehry, SANAA, Tadao Ando, Alvaro Siza, Zaha Hadid Nicholas Grimshaw, Buckminster Fuller and Jean Pruve. The latest addition, the VitraHaus, was designed by award winning duo Herzog & de Meuron. This work continues their exploration of variations on traditional…

Suppose Design Office has built a rather unique, albeit primitive design for a home in Hiroshima. Utilizing the pyramid form, the design is intended to provide areas of increasing privacy as one moves from the common/living space below to the bedrooms above. The architecture appears to be on stilts to allow for light to flood the lower level through the strip windows lining the base.…

This zero carbon elevator lift was exhibited at the London Festival of Architecture. This elevator is run by solar power and water and is used to transport wheelchair users up the previously inaccessible Duke of York steps. This invention is one of the first of its kind, but hopefully it will spur many more types of sustainable contraptions.…

This visitor center by Alsop Architects was designed as a temporary(two year) structure. The purpose of the project was to exhibit the regeneration strategy for the rundown dockland quarter of the city. Juxtaposed to the Victorian Pierhead Building, this project illustrates how historic and contemporary architecture can complement and enrich the other. Figuratively, the new structure acts as a lens with which…