‘Wrapped Reichstag’ (1975) by Christo and Jeanne-Claude; Photo: Wolfgang Volz/Christo

Given the jolly (?) time of year, it’s inevitable that we here at Architizer would hit on the idea of “gift-wrapped buildings.” No, we don’t mean that as an insult—these buildings have plenty of substance! By “gift-wrapped” we mean how each of the projects handle the treatment of their facade, and how that is wrapped, draped on, or floated over the volumetric shell of the structures. This could work in a number of ways: a shimmering fabric cloaked over a series of huddled forms or elements, as in SO-IL’s splendid Kukje Art Center; a taut skin stretched over a rectilinear structure to enhance its Platonic features; a free-form facade independent of the building’s perimeter walls that achieves formal flourish where the architecture’s geometry could not; or simply, an ornamental facade stamped with patterns, e.g. the Diamondhouse, or arranged in a manner that resembles or mimics something else, like the arboreal image Toyo Ito creates at the Tod’s Omotesando Building .

Great buildings, the ultimate present? Yeah, we think so! But enough chatter, go on and click through.

by Architizer Editors

posted in Uncategorized

tagged gift-wrap, holidays, presents, wrapped buildings

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