Talkitect

Slideshow: Vitra Design Museum and Campus – Basel, Switzerland

lugray — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:00:00 +0000

A variety of buildings quietly sit on the Vitra campus outside Basel, each designed by one of the world’s top architects. Ando sits next to Gehry across the street from a new Herzog and de Meuron. Grimshaw, Siza and Gehry added factory buildings, with a fourth under construction designed by Sanaa. The firehouse was Hadid’s first completed building and a Buckminster Fuller geodesic dome completes the campus. An impressive collection of architecture compliments the exquisitely designed furniture Vitra is famous for, including designs by Charles and Ray Eames. My visit there was all the more interesting with an exhibit of the work of the Campala Brothers, fantastic designers and artists.

Slideshow: Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut – by Le Corbusier – Ronchamp, France

lugray — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 13:00:00 +0000

For a lengthy description of this icon of 20th century architecture read this article, previously posted on talkitect.com:
http://www.talkitect.com/2009/11/notre-dame-du-haut-ronchamp-france.html

Slideshow: Luzern Culture and Congress Center – by Jean Nouvel, Luzern, Switzerland

lugray — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:00:00 +0000

A unique piece of architecture in a beautiful city. The Luzern Culture and Congress Center calmly sits at the edge of the lake, reflections of the immense cantilevered roof sparkle in the water. The boardwalks surrounding the building are alive with people flowing in and out of the restaurants, cafes, theaters and museum within. It is really a fantastic design, especially the facades facing the water. It is iconic and yet isn’t presumptuous. It doesn’t shout for attention yet draws crouds under its extended canopy. Truly spectacular architecture.

Slideshow: Ohel Jakob Synagogue – by Wandel Hoefer Lorch Architekten – Munich, Germany

lugray — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:00:00 +0000

This beautiful synagogue in Munich was one of the precedents I used for my thesis design project. The exterior stone facade with the metal mesh sanctuary rising out of becomes an elegant form that reveals the interior functions. The entrance to the synagogue when there isn’t a service is a bit disappointing, having to go through the nearby community center and through a tunnel. I understand the security concerns, and the tunnel was actually rather well designed but it didn’t offer a sense of grandeur or spirituality. I was also a bit disappointed with the interior design of the sanctuary. It came off as looking a little to corporate for some reason. But the quality of light in the sanctuary was great and all in all it was a wonderful experience visiting a fantastic work of modern religious architecture.

Playing the Building: An installation by David Byrne

lugray — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Slideshow: Kunsthaus Bregenz – by Peter Zumthor – Bregenz, Austria

lugray — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:00:00 +0000

This is one of the most elegant buildings I have visited. It is truly magnificent in its simplicity, attention to detail, materiality and lighting – everything you hope for in a Zumthor design. I was also incredibly impressed with the artwork of British sculptor, Antony Gormley who filled all three galleries with incredible sculptures that really transformed the spaces. It was just a fantastic experience and I will let the photographs do the rest of the talking.

Allied Works’ Brad Cloepfil presents the winning design for a new performing arts building in Calgary

lugray — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Slideshow: Allianz Arena – by Herzog & de Meuron – Munich, Germany

lugray — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Allianz Arena, designed by Pritzer Prize winning architects Herzog & de Meuron, is an elegant stadium design yet I wouldn’t say its one of their best projects. Groundbreaking for its unique, bubble skin, the facade is it’s most riveting feature as it changes color with a system of lights that reflects those of the team playing within. Once you slip past this innovative facade, however, the building becomes just another stadium, with typical concrete structure. Other than the facade I really didn’t find that much intrigue in this design. One other aspect of the design is the parking garage that is located below a large landscaped plaza – leading from the train station to the stadium. I was rather disappointed with the experience as it was really quite far and the grounds were not well maintained. Of course the experience might be different on a game day when the plaza is full of fans pre-drinking for a big match but for most of the time it is just a desolate wasteland.

An Interview with Glenn Murcutt

lugray — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Walter Gropius – The Dessau Bauhaus

lugray — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:00:00 +0000