The Shukhov Tower, known after the name of its designer, Vladimir Shukhov (1853-1939), is a landmark in the history of structural engineering. Formally known as the Shabolovka Radio Tower, it was built between 1919 and 1922 and it is an emblem of the creative genius of an entire generation of modernist architects in the years that followed the Russian Revolution…
THE Prada-toting protagonists of “Sex and the City”, a once-popular American television show about single thirty-somethings in New York, are unlikely role models for Middle Eastern women. The second movie spin-off was partially set in Abu Dhabi, but the authorities stopped it from being filmed or even screened there. Yet the single lifestyle appears to be catching…
Thomas Jefferson The Third President of the United States and one of the founding fathers of the Declaration of Independence. As we look back into his life, architecture the art has been his focus of study, even a style has been attributed to his method of design, the Jeffersonian Style, evident from the design of his residence “The Montichello” a combination…
Summary: In the profession of architecture, drawing is essential to the process of design. From diagrammatical to highly technical, hand drawing brings value to every architectural project by allowing us to quickly explore ideas and convey intent. The development of a parti, the analysis of a site, the organization of spaces, even the exploration of construction…
Focusing on recent acquisitions in MoMA’s Department of Architecture and Design, Conceptions of Space addresses how contemporary architects continue to embrace spatial creation as a fundamental focus of their work. The exhibition reveals how, beyond formal traits and functional needs, the conception and articulation of architectural space still defines architecture…
1 Sydney Opera House One of the world s great icons, the Sydney Opera House is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the star attraction on the glittering harbor. This graceful building, shaped like shells or billowing sails, perches on a finger of land surrounded by water. Snap a photo while gliding by on a harbor cruise, relax at one of the restaurants, stroll around…
Net Zero Energy House by Klopf Architecture, Cupertino, CA This refurbishment of an existing single family home is designed to be light and open and airy. The house is net-zero via insulated concrete forms, structural insulated panels, high-performance windows, cementitious siding, and a solar photovoltaic system sized to cover all of the energy usage. Add To…
The second tallest building in Britain could be built in Croydon town centre after plans to build a 68-storey skyscraper were submitted to the council. Proposals to demolish buildings at 1-5 Lansdowne Road and Voyager House at 30-32 Wellesley Road and replace them with 68 and 41-storey towers, which would be connected by an 11-storey bock, have been sent to Croydon…
A growing number of governments around the world are considering whether to grant legal recognition to same-sex marriages. So far, two dozen countries have enacted national laws allowing gays and lesbians to marry, mostly in Europe and the Americas. In Mexico, some jurisdictions allow same-sex couples to wed, while others do not. Countries That Allow Gay Marriage…
A construction company that lost its preferred contractor status for five London schools after failing to agree costs is to build the Department for Education’s new headquarters. BAM Construct UK (BAM) will be the main contractor to refurbish the DfE’s new Whitehall home in the Grade II listed Old Admiralty Building in Horse Guards Parade (pictured). The renovated…
Protecting and enhancing the historic environment is an important component of the National Planning Policy Framework’s drive to achieve sustainable development (as defined in paragraphs 6-10. The appropriate conservation of heritage assets forms one of the ‘Core Planning Principles’ (paragraph 17 bullet 10) that underpin the planning system. This is expanded…
India is a country where you could find ancient structures surviving even from the Indus Valley Civilization ( 4500 year ago). But I am going to list the most impressive ones and restrict myself to list the ones which are older than 1 years / closer to 1 years. Sanchi Stupa - 3rd Century BC The Great Stupa at Sanchi is the oldest stone structure in India and…
The SS Yongala Wreck might just be THE Best Wreck dive in the World! This 110m long steamer called the Yongala was sunk in 1911 near Townsville during a cyclone. It was only re-discovered in 1958 and is now the most famous dive site in Australia. It is home to an amazing array of marine life which includes barracudas, Giant Trevallies Turtles and Sea Snakes…
Philip Johnson, the American architect responsible for several museums, gardens, and buildings across the country once said, “I hate vacations. If you can build buildings, why sit on the beach?” It seems like most of America’s greatest architects felt the same way as Johnson, devoting much of their time to building and preserving legendary pieces of art made…
Sec. of State John Kerry Photograph by Saul Loeb — AFP/Getty Images More than 170 countries agreed early Saturday morning to limit emissions of key climate change-causing pollutants found in air conditioners, a significant step in the international effort to keep global warming from reaching catastrophic levels. The deal reached in Kigali, Rwanda, comes after…
The answer to this question would be subject to taste and opinions of different people. Off the top of the my head, I can name a few of my personal favourites: Charles Correa: Kanchenjunga Apartments-Mumbai, Jawahar Kala Kendra-Jaipur B V Doshi: IIM Bangalore, IIM ahmedabad (In collaboration with L.I. Kahn). He has a very well designed office in Ahmedabad too…
‘Glasgow’s Guggenheim’ … Zaha Hadid’s Riverside Museum Photograph: Murdo MacLeod for the Guardian From the swooping space-age shopping mall to the Z-shaped school with a running track through it, here are the buildings that Zaha Hadid will be remembered for Vitra fire station, Weil am Rhein (1994) Hadid’s first completed project – a complex construction of tilted…
I had my head in the clouds, literally, when the idea began to germinate. In 2013 I pledged to run my first marathon in my 65th year. Amsterdam was booked and on the way back from Marseilles, where I had run the half, I was looking through the races listed the free magazine, Distance Running. I spotted The Bahamas Marathon, and knowing my wife had always wanted…
Located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati s central business district, the Great American Insurance Group Headquarters occupies 450, square feet on 18 floors of the newly-constructed Queen City Square. Their new LEED Gold certified offices incorporate amenities that will help the organization attract and retain talent. The Great American headquarters is one…
Google Earth has always been our favorite way to explore the world from the comfort of our desks. Being able to click on places of the globe and zoom down to see it up close is incredibly fun and Google has released updates and layers over the years that let us gather more information as we clicked around. Now, with a refresh on the software, Google Earth is…
Photograph © Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images In a design class, I typically used models to express myself every step of the way. In the beginning of the semester, the models were frequently abstract and crude. They often could have been mistaken as the work of a five-year-old. As the semester progressed and I learned more about my design solution, the quality…
