The great thing about digital photos is that it is so easy to take a look at them while on a computer.Today I decided to look at an album from last summer's visit in Finland - and came across this cute little buildings. It is quite so simple, yet has pretty little details and such a romantic feel. I'd love to have a hideaway like this is my garden!
Now this is something unique and exotic: a free-access-for-all reindeer viewing facility in Hjerkinn, outside Dovrefjellm National Park Norway (and overlooking the Snøhetta mountain massif): this area has the last wild reindeer there (as most are domesticated herds). I just love this building, so natural, smooth curves and the floor-to-ceiling windows makes you feel like you are outside in the wild nature.
This certainly seems a bit like an extreme locations with wild nature and probably more reindeer than people around you. Add there the fall foliage and this just might a little near-Arctic paradise! Maybe one of these days it's time for fjord-trekking in Norway...I can already hear the call of the wild in my ears!
I never thought of Holiday Inns as very exciting places to stay, but I might have to change my mind - at least with this new hotel they have in Shanghai, China. It has a very interesting (and scary I say) cantilevered swimming pool on the 24th floor.
Combine the pool with a glass bottom and you are basically swimming high above the street with great views both up and down. I certainly hope that the engineers did their structural calculations well - this just might give me some extra heart palpitations if I was to try to swim in it. That said, this is going on my hotel shortlist for our upcoming visit to Shanghai - something new and certainly exciting to try...
How funky is this prefab desert home from Christopher Daniel and California Roll! It is open, spacious and filled with light and soft curves inside. The exterior certainly is most unusual and a great conversation piece.
But more importantly, this house is very energy efficient because of its design and materials - it sounds like the ultimate geek house with electronically controlled glass panels which change the transparency of the house, hydraulic powered automatic doors and security system and modularized skylights. I am so looking forward to seeing the first actual built of this little gem!
If you want to read the details and see the actual technical drawings follow this link to Violent Volumes site.
images Violent Volumes
Santiago Calatrava, the Spanish modern architect, sculptor and structural engineer never stops amazing me. He is originally from Valencia and he has designed in his hometown the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències - the City of the Arts and Sciences and the Alameda Bridge and metro station.
Amazing forms, contrasts with the reflecting water and all those numerous details everywhere.
L'Hemisfèric - an Imax Cinema, Planetarium and Laserium. Built in the shape of the eye
El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe - Museum of the Science Principe Felipe 2. an interactive museum of science resembling the skeleton of a whale
El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía - opera house
L'Umbracle - landscaped walk
L'Umbracle
Detail from Alameda bridge and station
Candela Oceanographique - largest oceanographic aquarium in Europe
L'Agora - a covered plaza for concerts and sporting events
image Wikipedia
images José Miguel Hernández Hernández Fotógrafo de Arquitectura
Will Russian city of St. Petersburg soon start to build its first true skyscraper - the Gazprom headquarters. The Okhta Tower by RMJM Architects is planned to reach up to 1300 ft ( 400m). The planning permission in the historic centre of the city, which is also on Unesco's list, was rejected last year, but apparently the mayor of the city has now approved the building plan - the location still seems to be somewhat debatable. The construction is supposed to start this spring and finish by 2016 so it is interesting to see what the final decision is.
The design looks interesting, although admittedly it might look a bit funny if there are no other high-rise buildings in the city.
Grimshaw Architects have created some extraordinary buildings and structures such as The Eden project - rainforest in futuristic bubbles in England is certainly something unique both in design and as a concept.
I was also surprised to find out that they have also designed the Bay Bridge in San Francisco - one of the bridges crossing the Bay in the area.
My favourite, however, is the Ludwig-Erhard-Haus in Berlin, Germany, with its spaceship-like elevators.
The Eden Project in Cornwall, UK
images Peter Cook/View, image above Edmund Sumner
Ludwig-Erhard-Haus in Berlin, Germany
images Jens Willebrand/Archphoto, image above dmoch
SF Bay Bridge
Caixa Galicia Art Foundation, Spain
images Edmund Sumner/View
Experimental Media &Performing Arts Center, Troy, NY
images Paul Rivera/Archphoto
The London Olympics Authority has provided updates on the progress of building the sites where they report 80% of the work being completed already. As always with the Olympic games, we can expect some stunning modern structures and landscapes to go with them.
As the site of the Games is in the East side of London, the the financial centre (besides the City's Square Mile) Canary Wharf can be seen rising on the background.
Main Stadium
The Velodrome
The Olympic VIllage
The Aquatics Centre
The Basketball Arena
Chobham Academy school, part of the Olympic Village
250 acres of new Olympics parklands built on previous wetlands area
images by The Telegraph
London-based Lord Norman Foster is definitely one of today's most iconic architects and I used to love seeing his "gherkin" (The Swiss Re) daily during my commute to London City and the Square Mile. He has a large portfolio of innovative designs to explore around the globe and here are a few of my favourites.
Swiss Re office building, a.k.a. Gherkin in London
images Foster + Partners
The Sage in Gateshead (UK) ia such a futuristic looking blob. It serves as social space and music center, and is very relaxing for the eye to look at.
Images Foster + Partners
The Viaduct of Millau (France) is the tallest bridge in the world and such a symmetrical jewel to look at. It crosses the river Tam on the way from Paris to Montpellier. Itcan be a fantastic drive on a clear day, and rather scary on a foggy one. This construction took 11 years and the road was opened in 2004. Definitely on my list of places to visit when next time in France.
Images Foster + Partners and Le Viaduct Millet -site
Chesa Futura apartments in St. Moritz, Switzerland located at the edge of the slope and looking towards the village of St. Moritz and the lake. A mix of state-of-the-art design with traditional building style, including shingled exterior.
images Foster + Partners
image by http://www.bodensee.aero
This Stairscaper model designed by Alessandra Faticanti and Roberto Ferlito from Barcelona-based architecture firm Nabito is waiting to be built in Abu Dhabi - following a first place position in the Total Housing Competition 2010. The inspiration came from a spiral staircase they saw in Istanbul.
It seems that Abu Dhabi is becoming one of the leaders of modern-day architectural jewels if this project goes ahead. It will be certainly modern architecture at its best, however, I might feel tiny bit scared entering one of the top floor apartments and knowing that there is nothing much underneath me and my little garden-balcony...and what about the fire escape stairs?
images by Nabito/dudye.com
Inspired by Gudmundur Jonsson and his Casa G, I wanted to look more into the architectural history of Iceland as it is a very interesting one. The island is not known for being densely forested, and since the main tree species has been birch (not so suitable for large buildings) other natural materials such as stone and turf has been used widely.
Turf also offers great insulation compared to just wood and stone. The building style evolved to include wooden ends in the house, eventually to be replaced by wooden house clothed with corrugated iron - which in turn was replaced by reinforced concrete structures. Here you can see some of the evolution from interconnecting stone and turf to wood-ended turf houses and the modern day street view in capital Reykjavik, including the famous Hotel 101 known for its modern style and fashionable decor.
Image by Mongabay
Image by Hurtswic
Image by dbsfemino
image by Giorgio V
Image by Radius/ SuperStock
Modern-day view of Reykjavik consists mainly of colourful scene of concrete houses and the countryside has more wooden ones
.
Hotel 101 in Reykjavik is one of the best known buildings in Iceland with its black and white design interiors and extensive art collection.
XTEN Architecture has designed this sleek observation tower, which is at the same time provides plenty of solar energy. To me this Za'abeel Park Observation (ZPO) tower in Dubai looks like a gigantic, blooming flower with a very delicate, laced stem. Unusual architecture at its best.
I love Frank Gehry's creations. Architecture. Furniture. Accessories. Jewellery.
I am looking forward seeing his latest project, the new Guggenheim museum of modern and contemporary art in Abu Dhabi being completed. This beauty is scheduled to open in 2013. So original and the seashore location is breathtaking also.
Considering Gehry's previous Guggenheim building in Bilbao in 1997, one can expect a real eye candy and lot of surprising details!
images courtesy of e-architect.co.uk
I just have to add in a couple of my all-time favourites from Gehry also
The Dancing House in Prague. image Wikipedia
Gehry Marquese Riscal Hotel in Alava, Spain. Image by Lioninoil
Maggie's Center in Dundee, Scotland from 2003. image © Adrian Welch
The ready-to-wear Gehrys come of course from Tiffanys. Maria Sharapova was reported wearing his earring during the Australian Open this. If you love modern architecture, this jewellery is just made for you.
And what about all the fabulous Gehry furniture then?
Heller - Frank Gehry Collection Color Cube 1 set of 4
Vitra - wiggle side chair by frank gehry for vitra
Heller - Frank Gehry Collection Coffee Table (set of 2)
Knoll - face off cafe tables by frank gehry for knoll
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