March 6, 2013
The last time we checked in with Norman Foster, he was planning to 3D print lunar base using materials harvested from the moon. (Moon rocks? Moon-stuff?) Back on earth, the famed architect found some time to toss off this striking pavilion in Marseilles, France. The reflective structure, whose minimalism has shades of SANAA in it, shows us a more youthful side to Lord Foster that we haven’t seen in a long time. Click through for more.
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February 22, 2013
Between Facebook, Twitter, online streaming, and even 2-Day Shipping, it’s easy to feel like all earthly boundaries and impediments—time, space, geographic features, inconvenience—have been finally transgressed. But your morning commute would very quickly tear you away from any such delusions. Despite all our finger-swiping savvy and invisible cloud infrastructures, we have yet to achieve similar powers of apparition/disapparition that would instantly propel our bodies from place to place. Meaning, there’s still very much a need for planes, trains, and automobiles—and all the architecture that corresponds to each.
These are the finalist from the A+ “Transportation” typology. We’re not only talking airports and bus/train stations here, but also parking structures, port facilities, and boat piers, too. Click through to see them all!
Spot a favorite? Make sure to vote for it over at the A+ Public Voting site!
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February 6, 2013
Yesterday marked the opening of this year’s Stockholm Furniture and Light Fair, and what better way to kick off the event than with the breathtaking pavilion created by Swedish architect Gert Wingårdh and Dutch illustrator Kustaa Saksi Created out of 1,120 stacks of paper — a total of 11,000 individual sheets connected at 44,000 points — “Hello! Anatomy of Communication” spans an area of 200 square meters. The paper acts as a canvas for the illustrative artist, reflected by the mirrored tabletops that rest below the suspended structure. As if the designers thought there wasn’t enough paper used in the construction, the reflective tabletops are also balanced upon stacks of paper. “Hello! Anatomy of Communication” will be on view during the fair, which runs until February 9 as a part of Stockholm Design Week. Click through to see more of the surreal paper installation!
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February 5, 2013
Project: K-abeilles Hotel for Bees
Architect: AtelierD
Location: Muttersholtz, France
This incredible multi-use pavilion provides shelter from the summer sun to visitors — and to wild bees. Often overlooked because of the fanfare surrounding their domesticated cousins, wild bees are integral to pollination worldwide. The pavilion presents two facades composed of hexagonal panels, each fit with a volume of different burrowing materials preferred by solitary native bees from densely packed tree branches to hollow bricks. The interior of the pavilion accommodates human occupation, complete with benches and storage cubbies built from the same hexagonal logic as the insect compartments outside.
Read more about this project in the Architizer database!
Photos: Stéphane Spach Photographe
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February 4, 2013
Project: Non-Program Pavilion
Architect: Jesús Torres García
Location: Salobreña, Spain
Located in the rugged terrain of southern Spain, this pavilion aims to eliminate the boundaries between form and topography. By cladding the façade in reflective glass, the edges effectively disappear into the landscape, which in turn defines the architecture itself. Leaving the program of the pavilion ambiguous allows for a wide range of uses, such as providing environmental awareness, doubling as an exposition hall or music hall, and providing activities for the wider community. Read more about this project in the Architizer database.
Photos: Jesús Torres García
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January 29, 2013
Attention acoustics nerds, sculpture enthusiasts, and optics buffs: If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to start your own sculpture park, are holding out for a really great chuppah, or just need a superlative Valentine’s Day gift idea, this may be the deal for you. The British inventor and public-art mastermind Luke Jerram is auctioning off Aeolus, a 10-ton steel-and-string acoustic wind pavilion that whirs and whistles in the breeze like a giant mohawk-shaped harp. Jerram spent three years and £250,000 (about $392,575) constructing the sculpture. Bidding, which opened yesterday, starts at just £1. Read more!
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January 23, 2013
Project: BVLGARI Pavilion
Architect: Not a Number Architects
Location: Abu Dhabi
Function: You might have just seen Architizer CEO Marc Kushner’s captivating pictures of his trip to Abu Dhabi on our blog. It reminded us of an amazing installation for Abu Dhabi Art 2012 by Not a Number Architects that was on display from June until November. Commissioned by luxury jewelry brand BVLGARI, this temporary exhibit created a wholly new spatial experience — by using packed acrylic tubes — while remaining faithful to BVLGARI’s heritage. The lounge was conceived as an exclusive and private venue with live music, a bar, and a specially curated selection of BVLGARI’s high-end jewelry. Read more about this project in the Architizer database.
Photos © NaNa
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January 7, 2013
Project: Webb Chapel Park Pavilion
Architect: Cooper Joseph Studio
Location: Dallas, Texas
Function: This concrete pavilion is part of an effort by the City of Dallas to replace several decaying 1960s minimalist structures in public parks. A concrete canopy of exaggerated depth enables a simple structure with minimal visible supports to create virtually seamless views of the surrounding site. Read more about this project in the Architizer database.
Photo © Edward Hueber
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December 4, 2012
No, the Empty Pavilion isn’t a shrine to Albert Camus. Located in the Detroit, Michigan, an area synonymous with urban blight, this new structure aims to promote interaction through empty space (something Detroit has in spades!). Created by McLain Clutter and Kyle Reynolds, the project is an experiment in public space and will remain in place for a year. Read more!
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December 4, 2012
It’s winter in our corner of the world, and while the weather outside may feel frightful, the view can be oh so delightful. What’s better than sitting by the fire, drinking hot cocoa, and watching the snow cover the outdoors in a big white blanket? Well, we can think of one thing: doing all that inside one of these cozy snow huts. So, put on your hat and gloves and click through to see our 10 favorite (indoor) winter wonderlands. And be sure to share your favorites in the comments section below!
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