Archive for the ‘Design’ Category

Can Classical And Modern Architecture Coexist?

Studio Daniel Libeskind (SDL) Model of the Dresden Military History Museum

Heavy debate exists over the potential relationship between classical and modern architecture. Although the differences in style and form are most apparent, the materials used in classic, or historic, architecture differ greatly from those used in modern. Technology plays a critical role in the inherit differences between the approaches. While most classic buildings utilize materials that were readily available such as brick and timber, modern structures tend to use industrialized materials such as glass and steel.

Aquatecture and The Wonders of Water-Based Architecture

Satoru Mishima, Nikkei BP Photo of The Burj Al Arab Hotel Using ALPOLIC Panels, 1

A new typology of architecture has been created in which there is an intentional association with water—aquatecture. Our fascination with the sea has led us to create opportunities for both temporary and permanent aquatic living. Created for two reasons, aquatecture is meant to provide either leisurely temporary accommodation or permanent residence when time on land is no longer an option.

FOA Design Tile-Covered Facade for Ravensbourne College, London, 2010

Foreign Office Architects, Ravensbourne College, 2010, London, 1

Inspired by gothic rose windows and flower patterns, Foreign Office Architects created a beautiful tile-covered facade for the Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication in London. In 2010, the FOA design duo, Farshid Moussavi and Alejandro Zaera-Polo, constructed the facade featuring a non-periodic tiling pattern that utilized 28,000 anodized aluminum tiles. The three colored tiles varied in size depending on the designated location of the windows.

The Bloomberg Pavilion by Akihisa Hirata Architecture Office in Tokyo, Japan

Photo by Takumi Ota, The Bloomberg Pavilion by Akihisa Hirata Architecture Office 1

Financial information provider, Bloomberg, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo commissioned architect, Akihisa Hirata, to create an installation piece to inspire a new generation of artists. The Bloomberg Pavilion, constructed in 2011 at the museum’s main entrance, serves not only as an artistic work itself, but also as an exhibition for young local artists to showcase their work.

Timber Wave Installation by AL_A and Arup for The 2011 London Design Festival

Photo by Stephen Citrone of the Timber Wave by AL_A and Arup for the London Design Festival 2011

In September 2011, an astonishing 12.5m installation framed the entrance of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The Timber Wave, designed by Amanda Levete Architects (AL_A) for the London Design Festival, would prove to be fascinating from conception to realization. The finished product would be the result of the collaborating efforts of AL_A, Arup, and Cowley Timberwork, each company playing a critical role in the development.