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Book Weather

For something a little more permanent, Karo Architekten have created the ultimate in open-air libraries. Located in Magdeburg, Germany, this little slice of book-loving heaven was designed with the local community. What began as a temporary installation back in 2005 was kept alive by the locals, and now they have a stylish monument to all their hard work.

Working on the same Give and Take principle, this project is a great demonstration of the effect a little people power can have on your surrounds.

The final design is also a cheeky nod to the building materials of the initial intervention - beer crates. Is there anything they can't do?!

I especially love the mixture of grass, landscaping and informal nooks and crannies. Even the graffiti adds a little something to the overall tectonics.

Friday, November 20

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Bringing the Outside In

Friday, October 17

If we ever needed a little more convincing that bigger is not always better, a quick glance at the residential architecture of Japan reminds us that good things do indeed come in small packages.

The 'House N' by Sou Fujimoto is an innovative design consisting of three shells, with each layer allowing for both glimpses and ample views of of the adjacent spaces. The house provides intimate corners and soaring heights, and a street presence that is both private and personable.

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Next Station...Pretty City!

So back on track, remember those mesh shells? Well, here's where my train of thought took me next. That's right, Pretty Town City!

This beautiful chapel is a few years old now, but it still takes my breath away every time it crosses my desk. Located in Kobuchizawa, Japan, the Leaf Chapel is the work of Klein Dytham Architects. I would attempt to describe this beautiful structure, but I can't outdo the architects own words:

The chapel is formed by 2 leaves - one glass, one steel - which have seemingly fluttered to the ground. The glass leaf with its delicate lace pattern motif emulates a pergola and the structure holding it up reminds one of the veins of a leaf which slowly become thinner the further they get from the central stem.

The white steel leaf, perforated with 4700 holes, each of which hold an acrylic lens, is similar to bride's veil made of delicate lace. Light filters through the lenses and projects a lace pattern onto the white fabric inside.

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In Memory

Tuesday, December 2

I like to be on the edge of the possible.

- Jørn Utzon

(9 April 1918 – 29 November 2008)

[Left to Right, Top to Bottom] Sydney Opera House 1965, 1965, 1967, 1973

[Left to Right] Shark Tower, c. 1939 [Architect: Eric W Andrew and Winsome Hall] ,

Staircase, Buhrich I House, 1958 [Architect: Hugh and Eva Buhrich]

[Top to Bottom] Rose House, c. 1951 [Architect: Harry Seidler & Associates] ,

Fredericks Farmhouse, 1983 [Architect: Glenn Murcutt]

During the week however, Dupain was a versatile commercial photographer and an early champion of modernist architecture. One of his most comprehensive projects was his documentation of the entire construction process of the Sydney Opera House, a project he photographed so extensively that his final catalogue of some 1500 photographs was said to have resembled a flick-book depicting the iconic sails rising from the ground.

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Médiathèque BDIV de Fougères
by Tétrarc

February 12th, 2010

Architectural photographer Stéphane Chalmeau has sent us his photos of a library in Fougères by French studio Tétrarc, where glazed sections of the building are screened by a trellis of lettering.

Here’s some more information from Tétrarc (in French):

Lieu: Fougères (35)
Maître d’Ouvrage: Fougères Communauté
Architecte: TETRARC architecte mandataire [Jean-Pierre MACE directeur de projet, Rémi TYMEN chef de projet]
Ingénieur Tous Corps d’Etat IOSIS CENTRE OUEST
Economiste: CMB
Acousticien: SERDB
Programme: Construction de la médiathèque BDIV (Bibliothèque Départementale d’Ille et Vilaine) de Fougères, aménagement intérieur et conception du mobilier.
Surface: 4 238 m²
Coût: 5,3 M€ HT
Mission: Mission de base et exécution partielle

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Jebel al Jais Mountain Resort by OMA 2

May 29th, 2007

Live from Dubai: OMA just sent us a few more images of the proposed Jebel al Jais Mountain Resort in Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates.

For more info see our previous story