Cool Modern Architecture

[mikeR]

I like Morphosis' stuff

Morphosis
Hypo-Alpe-Adria Bank HQ
Udine, Italy
http://www.arcspace.com/architects/m...haab/haab.html

[HOUSTONIAN57]

Winspear Opera House in Dallas










Opening sometime this year.

[brickell]

Originally Posted by honte

Well, first, I was correcting the Ikea statement, not defending any kind of "progressive" notion. In fact, I'd really rather not respond to your question because it probably will open up an endless debate that serves no end. My post was supposed to be helpful: Sourcing things takes an incredible investment of time and devotion, and I certainly don't need to share that knowledge.

You're right. It was helpful. We sometimes take these things for granted. Thank you.

My only issue was not about Ikea per se, but Ikea as representation of the mainstream. Once co-opted, it won't be long before designs are available at Target and Wal-Mart and any original progressiveness or meaning is lost.

The intent of the designer may be good, but it seems that they should be aware of what's out there. Most regular people have neither the time or devotion to know or care that the design was ground breaking in 1958. They only see that it's another funny light that their sister bought 2 years ago.

[honte]

^ True. It's dangerous sometimes and the designer probably considered what you are describing. Using "timeless" elements can be a real challenge. I'm dealing with this very issue a lot on a present project.

On one hand, there is this pressure to always be cutting edge, partly for the exact reasons you mention. No one wants their project to come off as passé or dated, or worse, cheap.

On the other hand, designing something because of pressure one feels to compete or remain trendy is an absolutely horrible reason. Everyone wants an exciting design, but that excitement must come from a true motivation or design intent, not a concern for how people will judge your work.

When using the classic or timeless designs, most designers expect that the genuine article will be of a high enough quality and "purity" that even uneducated viewers will know the difference. In most cases this will be true, although depending on circumstance, sometimes one just can't make something work. For me, I tend to worship Modernist design from the 1940s-1970s, so I have to deal with the fact that in no way do I want my stuff to come off as "retro." I have to be sparing in my affection, if you will. Decisions must be made very carefully, to judge how something will read and what the cultural connotations will be. It's an immense amount of work, just trying to look at something as simple as a light fixture from many different perspectives (meaning both physical and cultural / ideological perspectives).

Last, most of these things also come down to how one uses them, what surrounds them. Ikea can be a fantastic asset when budgets are tight. I have Ikea cabinets in my kitchen (which I customized somewhat and augmented with other storage of my own design), and virtually no one guesses that's where they came from.

[amor de cosmos]

21 terraced houses / Vallo & Sadovsky Architects
Architects: Vallo & Sadovsky Architects
Location: Pekná Cesta, Bratislava-Rača, Slovakia
Construction Year: 2006
End section house constructed area: 162 sqm
Terraced house constructed area: 138 sqm
Photographs: Pato Safko, Vallo Sadovsky Architects

http://www.archdaily.com/11681/21-te...ky-architects/

[brickell]

Originally Posted by honte

^ True. It's dangerous sometimes and the designer probably considered what you are describing. Using "timeless" elements can be a real challenge. I'm dealing with this very issue a lot on a present project.

It's always nice to hear the point of view of actual designers and the process they go through. As an amateur critic it's a lot easier for me to just point it out.

My house is slowly being taken over by Ikea, but I admit to being cheap.

[muppet]

the world's largest building by floorspace:

Originally Posted by Dr.T

BEIJING INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

... mega scale...

NORMAN FOSTER

DESCRIPTION:

... This airport, at present the biggest of the world, was a challenging order for Foster&Partners, both for the enclosed period of development, and for the challenges that there implies an air terminal of 3.25km of length: operational efficiency, internal transport, comfort of the passengers, natural light and energy efficiency.

... Four months after having being confirmed like winners of the contest, they moved a team of the people to Beijing and finished 2,500 drawings. In the peak of the construction there were 50.000 workers, therefore they managed to extract this project of 1.3 millions of m2 of the office of Foster&Parthners to the reality in only 4 years.

... Although the airport measures 3.25km of length, the interior space is unified thanks to the visual connections to everything long. These spaces are illuminated in a natural way thanks to the use of the glass and the triangular skylights located in the roof.

... The structure of the covering and the side buttresses changes inside a chromatic arch of 16 tones, which go from the red one to the yellow one, answering to the coloristic imágen of Chinese people and that also it is allowed to face easily inside the terminal.

... As for energy, the airport incorporates diverse concepts of passive design as the skylights faced into the southeast to gain heat during the morning and a system of control of energy to reduce the expense in unnecessary lighting



PLANES:













RENDERS:











PICTURES:







[CENTER]



































]

CREDITS:

PICTURES by

© Nigel Young / Foster & Partners

RENDERS and PLANES by

Foster & Partners

[amor de cosmos]

that's wack, yo

[honte]

^ Do you guys think Foster's firm is better or worse these days? Honestly, I think he reached his peak about 5-6 years ago. Many of his new designs just don't sing, in my opinion. Are they too big now?

[RLS_rls]

^You know that's exactly what I was thinking. That airport is....retardedly huge. I mean that building is just too big to comprehend. And if a building that size lacks anything in human scale than the sheer proportions are just kind of lost.

I kind of like how it really has a feel of motion, especially in the shots where the cieling seems to spread like giant wings. But when you have to walk that far (pulling 50 pounds of luggage with you) the effect is moot.

[honte]

^ Yeah, I tend to agree.

But really, I mean, is Foster+Partners too big now for its own good? In the past, Foster definitely has done some mammoth buildings that still really captivate.

[muppet]

Basically the Beijing Terminal, 3.25km long, needs to be so big to so greatly expand the capacity, up from 35.5 million before construction to 64 million after completion (now the 5th busiest airport in the world). The thing is demand is still rising - the capacity of 85 million on this airport will be exceeded soon with China set to become the world's biggest travel destination, and Beijing being first on many, many lists.

Thus they're already planning another third airport barely as the concrete has set on the new Terminal. This new airport will begin construction in 2010 and be completed by 2015.

[muppet]

Brutalist rowhomes, Rowley Way, London
by Neave Brown 1969, now Grade II Protected buildings

[amor de cosmos]

Port House, Antwerp, Belgium
Antwerp Port Authority announce Zaha Hadid wins headquarters designer
Located on the boundary between the city of Antwerp and its harbour, the new headquarters for Antwerp Port Authority will house approximately 500 staff (currently working in separate buildings) in a single new building that comprises a former fire station and the new extension.

The new Port House design consists of two entities: the existing fire station and a new crystalline volume lifted above the retained building. Together they form an impressive new landmark as the headquarters of the Antwerp Port Authority, overlooking the city and port, and symbolizing Antwerp as a port of global importance and a major economic driver of the region.

“I am absolutely delighted to be selected to build the headquarters for the Antwerp Port Authority. Antwerp is one of the world’s busiest shipping ports and the new Port House design reflects the city’s worldwide significance in communication and transportation. The dichotomy between the reflective, faceted form of the new extension and the powerful structural mass of the existing fire station creates a bold and enigmatic statement for the city,” states Zaha Hadid.

The jury selected the design by Zaha Hadid Architects as it preserves the dignity of the existing fire station whilst adding a new landmark that will contribute to the further development of the Het Eilandje district of Antwerp.

http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com...pload_id=10958

[muppet]

great, very dynamic. I'm undecided about using such a historic building though as juxtaposition.

Would it have been better than an extension in the same style pastiche? Probably

[muppet]

Kiaohsiung International Stadium, 100% solar powered, Taiwan

Originally Posted by Razqal

almost done!! someone's flickr site:

























alot more photos here in arthurchengjca's flickr album:

http://flickr.com/photos/35328700@N00/page9/

[amor de cosmos]

The Prayer Chapel / debartolo architects
Architects: debartolo architects ltd.
Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Project team: Jack DeBartolo Jr FAIA, Jack DeBartolo 3 AIA, J. Eric Huffman, Aaron Taylor, Tim Smith, Kent McClure
Civil + Landscape: wrg design
Structural Engineer: rudow + berry
Mechanical engineer: kunka engineering
Electrical Engineer: associated engineering
Contractor: arthur porter construction
Landscape Design: michael boucher landscape architect
Lighting Design: roger smith lighting design
Constructed Area: 578 sqm
Design year: 2003-2006
Construction year: 2007
Photographs: Bill Timmerman

http://www.archdaily.com/12045/the-p...lo-architects/

[amor de cosmos]

The Prayer Chapel 2/2

[honte]

The Hadid is beautiful, of course, but I too question the nature of the response. While I would probably support the modification to the existing building in a dense, urban area (although it could be a touch more sensitive), I am not seeing the cause here except as an attention grabber.

[amor de cosmos]

Vader House, Australia
Victorian house revived by modern extension
The Vader House presents a series of contradictions which unify creating a new pulse for this Victorian terrace. A large extension to the rear of the building holds dimensions only possible due to the high boundary walls, built in disregard of existing height regulations long before such rules were created, which permitted a non-standard height along the northern boundary. From here the roofline abruptly turns to follow the dictated set-back lines, resulting in a playful and telling interpretation of planning rules.

The design as a whole is both playful with a bold use of colour, outdoor pool and mezzanine level, yet practical offering sensible zoning of the living, bathing and working areas and a rational movement order within the space.

With double-height ceilings, exterior brick facades reclaimed as interior walls, a hard-edged staircase and large steel chimneys, the interior presents an industrial aesthetic but remains homely by careful use of lighting, compartmentalising of the zones and the social interpretation of the space - the living, cooking, working and playing zones all within audible and visual reach of one another.

Transparency of the double-height glass facade and glazed corridor leading to the main building and the double folding doors to the courtyard and pool connect the indoor and outdoor spaces creating a new outdoors centre to the property and uniting all three spaces as a whole.

Niki May Young
News Editor

http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com...pload_id=10963