Architect: Modern

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Architecture's Modern Marvels - #3

The building that hit #3 on Vanity Fair's Modern Marvels list is perhaps my all-time favorite building. It is at least in contention for the top spot. I guess the critics are right when they call Peter Zumthor the architects' architect.

In architecture school, there is always a lot of discussion about the experience of the space. About entry, passage... about the journey.

The Therme Bath Vals is a spa set up in the mountains of Switzerland, and if any building is about the journey... then it is this one. I drove with friends from Zurich up to Chur and then on to Vals. For someone who hadn't really spent much time in the mountains, the drive was unbelievable. The scenery was so picturesque and quaint - at one time we were stopped by a passing farmer and his herd of cattle!

By the time we got to Vals, I was soooo ready to be at the spa. The excitement had really been building. As someone who loves minimalist design, but also loves tactile, crafted designs, Zumthor has always been one of my favorite architects.

Believe me, the spa did not disappoint. The exterior structure is gorgeous, constructed of locally quarried stone in long linear patterns. The massive forms sink into the mountainside, with the green roof furthering the feeling that you are being enveloped by your surroundings.

Once inside, we donned our bathing suits and made our way into the pools. Talk about the progression of space... I can still remember the different experiences in each pool; the hot water right next to the unbearable cold, the rose petal water, the tiny pool with the highest ceiling, the pass-through from inside to out. We swam and swam until we were so shriveled we couldn't possibly stay any longer.

Buildings are meant to be experienced, and the Therme Bath Vals was one of the unforgettable experiences of my life. How can you not love this building and this architect?

Architecture's Modern Marvels - #1

As many of you probably know, Vanity Fair recently compiled a list of Architecture's Modern Marvels. And it is really a pretty good list. Probably because they actually took the time to survey real (and prestigious) architects, rather than simply give us a list of the most popular according to HGTV. Since I've been fortunate to visit 6 of the top 21, I thought I'd take the time to write a bit about my experience with those buildings... after all, architecture is really all about the experience.

First up is Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Bilbao, which coincidentally was the site of my first ever architectural pilgrimage. While lately it has been pretty popular to hate on Gehry (I'm as guilty as anyone), it is hard to deny the success of this building.

One of my closest/oldest friends has lived in Bilbao most of her life, so the summer after my freshman year in college (1998 - just after the building opened), I took a trip to visit her. The trip was mostly social... I wanted to see my friend, but I have to admit I was also excited about the prospect of seeing this building, one that we'd been hearing about in school all year long.

Even though I've known all my life that I wanted to be an architect, I had a bit of a rough start my freshman year. I just wasn't cut out for the tedium of pencil shading, hard-lining, and precision. Precision had never been my forte, but that was exactly what we were expected to produce. In fact, after a year of hard-lining (of which I was adequate, but certainly not a star), I was beginning to wonder if architecture was meant for me after all.

That all changed when I visited Bilbao. Along with my friend and her family, we spent the day visiting the museum. Just walking the streets up towards the museum took my breath away. Clearly, this was an icon. The museum had been open for less than a year, but everyone knew that the city was changed forever. The Bilbao effect has since been coined to describe the complete and utterly positive changes on a city by a singular structure.

We spent the day wandering through the museum. For anyone who ever travels with families, you know how difficult this can be. Trying to accommodate young children, the elderly, and everyone in between can be hard, and more often than not I'm leaving the museum sooner than desired. But, with the Guggenheim, no one wanted to leave.

We all know that "form follows function" is not how Gehry works. But for some reason, the form and the function of this building are completely interconnected. All of the spaces are appropriately formed from the inside to suit the artwork, while still creating Gehry's sculpture from the outside.

Do I think it is perfect? Of course not, no building is. But whether or not the Guggenheim Bilbao is to your taste or not, you have to admit that it is a spectacular piece of architecture. This one building does more than most architects' entire careers. It has unity a city, brought (some) prosperity to that city, and become an iconic symbol across the world. It has managed the unique and delicate balance of fantastic form and suitable function. It has helped to advance both the architectural and building technologies - in the field and in the office. And perhaps least importantly to most, but most importantly to me... it helped remind me why I wanted to be an architect, and helped me to return to school completely motivated and totally invigorated.

Freya's Golden Cabin

This project somehow manages to be quite lovely, while still bordering on kitsch. The simple materials and form keep you from being overwhelmed by the story and cut-out tree imagery. I have to admit... the more I look at the project, the more it grows on me. Freya's cabin, designed by Studio Weave takes advantage of new technologies to giving new form to a fairy-tale typology. Wouldn't it be great to see this cabin in a new updated version of the Brothers Grimm?

A Great Place to Learn

Well, it has been a long week and I'm tired, so pardon me if I'm not totally coherent!

First off... let me say that I just love this Granada elementary school by Alejandro Munoz Miranda. I have featured a few schools on this site, and they are all actually quite similar. I'm not sure if this shows a common trend or (more likely) a common thread in my tastes.

I am a big fan of minimal design... Unfortunately, I live in a region that seems to have a physical reaction to the idea of minimal (regionalism and craft are all the rage here). So many architects, designers, and especially clients seem to think that minimal automatically means cold. But, as you can see here... it doesn't have to at all. A minimal structure can still be warm, inviting, an colorful!

Although I wish the photos included the students actually using the space (why are architects outside of Dwell so reluctant to show people using their buildings?), I can imagine how much fun kids and teachers would have in this building.
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All in all, I really like this project and would love to see it first hand (preferably during the days when students are running around!). Does anyone want to send me to Spain? My bags can be packed immediately! ;)

Via Spotlight on Design

Whites and Brights

I love the interior design/decorating of this Naseem Alizadeh's home office. The bright bold colors keep the white from being too precious.

Just lovely.

The Interior Made it for me

I had previously seen images of this project, but they had all been exterior shots. While, I like the exterior, it is the images of the interior that really attract me.

By Mass Studies via Inhabitat

Comfortable Concrete?

I freaking love this concrete sofa by Grey Concrete.

Via Despoke

Goooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaal!!!

I really like the design of this World Cup Stadium in Durbin, South Africa. But, one of the things I like most is that I've never heard of the designers before.... It is always great to see work by new (to me) designers and architects!

The team includes Theunissen Jankowitz urban, Amrbo-Afrique Consultants, Osmond Lange Architects and Planners, NSM Designs, Mthulisi Msimang, and gmp International.

Via Inhabitat
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A House in the Trees

I quite like this house in the trees by Martin Fernandez de Lema and Nicolas F Moreno Deutsch. Not being allowed to take down trees, the architects came up with a clever solution to work around them - incorporating the trees into the building itself.

As much as their solution for the trees.. I really like their material selection. There is a lot of texture and warmth in the home, without the overuse of too many materials.

Via ISO50 and ArchDaily

How Embarrassing

So, the World Expo 2010 is taking place in Shanghai, and many of the world's best architects have contributed designs. Many countries have hired the best architects found in their own country, while others have ventured out beyond their borders... but most designs have something in common... trying to articulate the priorities and passions of their home country, exuding confidence and creativity. Of course, I say most because the US is one glaring exception. What does our pavilion say about us? We could be locate along any highway in any suburb. We value conformity and corporate culture (which we can directly link to many of the problems plaguing our nation). We don't really have any place for innovation or creativity and we certainly don't value our architects, which is why we hired a Canadian to design a metal panelled representation of an eagle (there is that lack of creativity and ingenuity again).

Very Frustrating. An expo is not an office park.