Video: Emerging Urban Landscapes, The Istanbul Series
Shaped by the Ottoman Empire, known for historical Byzantine structures and its famed Grand Bazaar, Istanbul has always been a melting pot of influences and culture. In recent years, due to thriving economies, emerging cities such as Istanbul have begun cultivating a design landscape. Rapid progress often compromises preservation of heritage and promotion of the arts. On the 5th of November 2012, Taksim Square, one of the few remaining green areas of the city was closed off until late 2013, without the knowledge or consent of its citizens. Here we speak to Özlem Yalim Özkaraoglu, Director of the Design Biennial, and designer, Koray Malhan, about dictatorial urban planning and the future of Turkey’s most notable city.
AD Interviews: San Rocco at the 13th Venice Biennale
During the 13th Venice Biennale we had the chance to interview the team behind San Rocco: Matteo Ghidoni, Giovanni Piovene and Pier Paolo Tamburelli.
San Rocco is a very particular architecture magazine, described by its creators as something that “does not solve problems. It is not a useful magazine […] is neither serious nor friendly”, a curated selection of writings around particular topics related to the current state of architectural thinking and criticism. San Rocco has a five year plan, a limited time frame where 20 editions will be published with topics that range from “Scary Architects” and “Collaborations”, to “What’s wrong with the primitive hut” or “Houses for billionaires”.
During the 13th Venice Biennale, San Rocco was present in two exhibits at the Arsenale, including the launch of their project “Book of Copies” at the “Museum of Copying” exhibit curated by FAT. ”Books of Copies” is an online database comprised of images that can be copied in order to produce architecture. As such, “Books of Copies” are receptacles of a collective form of knowledge that we can provisionally call “architecture”. During the Biennale, visitors can photocopy and remix their own magazines.
San Rocco can be found online, or as part of the itinerant Archizines exhibit. You can connect with San Rocco on Facebook for more updates.
Video: Googie Architecture, Part 2
Sunny & Mild Media presents Part 2 of its Googie Architecture Series, presenting design work at the cusp of technological innovations of the 1950s. Emerging out of an obsession with the fast new world of cars, planes and rockets, Googie Architecture became an ultramodern style that sought to encapsulate the spirit of the 21st century. The new forms – sweeping, cantilevered roofs, starbursts, and flowing forms – became a form of advertisement that caught the attention of motorists, for its vibrance along the stretches of highways and for its distinctive style.
This installment features a closer look at the diners and restaurants that thrived in the ’50s and were designed with the Googie style. Even the one of the first McDonald’s restaurants adapted the style to work with its logo. Many of these buildings stand in ruin now, but the style was used in all kinds of building typologies – most of which emphasized the car: drive-thru’s, drive-in’s, car washes, diners, and gas stations. Even Las Vegas, and our associations with the its architecture today, are a reflection of that style.
Venice Biennale 2012: Wunderkammer / Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects
At the gardens of the Arsenale designed by Piet Oudolf, a small pavilion, the Casa Scaffali, encloses a fantastic world of smells, textures and artifacts, a Wunderkammer (wonder-room) curated by NY-based Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects.
A special group of architects and artists from around the world were invited to share the artifacts that inspire them, shipped in boxes to the Biennale.
We had the chance to interview Tod Williams and Billie Tsien during the opening of Wunderkammer, and we also got a chance to see them both and their team setting up the installation during the previous days, a special atmosphere as they were opening these boxes now turned into chests full of surprises.
The group includes Anthony Ames, Marwan Al Sayed, Matthew Baird, Shigeru Ban, Marlon Blackwell, Will Bruder, Wendell Burnette, Johan Celsing, Taryn Christoff and Martin Finio, Annie Chu and Rick Gooding, W.G. Clark, Brad Cloepfil, Chen Chen and Kai Williams, Elizabeth Diller, Ricardo Scofidio and Charles Renfro, Peter Eisenman, Steven Holl, Stephen Iino, Toyo Ito, Bijoy Jain, Claudy Jongstra, Diébédo Francis Kéré, Jennifer Luce, Thom Mayne, Richard Meier, Murray Moss, Glenn Murcutt and Wendy Lewin, Enrique Norten, Sheila O’Donnell and John Tuomey, Juhani Pallasmaa, Mack Scogin and Merrill Elam, Brigitte Shim and Howard Sutcliffe, Karen Stein, Elias Torres and José Antonio Martínez Lapeña, Ursula Von Rydingsvard, and Peter Zumthor.
Text from the architects after the break:
AD Interviews: Jordi Badia / BAAS
We had the chance to interview Catalonian architect Jordi Badia at the Vogadors: Architectural Rowers exhibit at the 13th Venice Biennale.
Jordi Badia is the principal of BAAS, the Spanish practice founded in 1994 with a strong background in public buildings. Remarkable examples of this office are the Tanatorio de León and the Can Framis Museum.
Jordi graduated from the ETSAB (Barcelona School of Architecture) in 1989, where he is has been an associate lecturer since 2011. He is also a Professor at the Architectural Projects Department of the Escuela técnica superior de arquitectura at UIC.
Projects by Jordi Badia BAAS at ArchDaily:
- Can Framis Museum (2008)
- CAP Salt 2 (2008)
- Workspace in a former coal bunker (2007)
- Sant Boi de Llobregat (2007)
- Day Care, Kindergarten and Primary School (2006)
- Tanatorio Municipal de León (2000)
Video: CANCHA – Chilean Soilscapes by Cristobal Palma
After opening in August, the 13th Venice Biennale will end this Sunday (November 25th). This video is a recording made by Cristobal Palma of the Chilean Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2012 entitled CANCHA – Chilean Soilscapes (see our coverage of the exhibit here).
The Chilean Pavilion was curated by Pilar Planchart and Bernardo Valdés. Other invited architects included Pedro Alonso (Deserta), Elemental (Metropolitan Promenade), Susuka (Limitless Chile), Genaro Cuadros (Playground), Germán del Sol (Kancha), Iván Ivelic (Travesies of the Amereida) and Rodrigo Tisi (Performances of Conquest). The Chilean artist Pedro Pulido also exhibited his sculpture, Nein.
More info on the Pavilion, and videos by Cristobal Palma, after the break…
Videos: New Flea Market in Barcelona / Prompt
Just a couple months ago, we featured a video by Prompt for the new flea market for the IMMB Institut Municipal de Mercats de Barcelona. The project will play a key role in the economy and urban identity of the city. Featured in this post are two more videos which highlight its progress as it goes up in the city. More information and the next video can be viewed after the break. (more…)
TEDx: Who will run the world for the next 100 years? / Desmond Wheatley
Who will run the world for the next 100 years? Envision Solar President and CEO Desmond Wheatley argues that it will be whoever has abundant sources of power. That is constructive power, rather than destructive power, which is essential to run the information and technology industries that our world is entirely dependent on. Additionally, Wheatley states that energy equals water. And, with less than 1% of the world’s fresh water available for use, desalination is becoming an increasingly plausible solution. The only problem now is that energy is expensive. But, once cities have the will to switch over to renewables, that will no longer be an issue. Could you imagine San Diego as an net exporter of water? Desmond Wheatley can. (more…)
Video: Faye Toogood, Studio Visit
British designer Faye Toogood takes a highly dynamic approach to her work. After eight years at Conde Nast as a stylist, and then editor, at The World of Interiors she went on to open a multi-disiplinary design practice Studio Toogood in 2008 and furniture design company Faye Toogood shortly after. Her client-base is impressive and ranges from Opening Ceremony to Vivienne Westwood, Selfridges, Christie’s and Pernod Ricard. Toogood invites us into her world as we visit her canal-side studio in north London and join her on a tour of her latest work for Opening Ceremony.
TEDx: Metal that breathes / Doris Kim Sung
Biology student turn architect, Doris Kim Sung has dedicated her studies to the infinite possibilities of thermobimetals, smart materials that respond dynamically to temperature change. As tested with DO|SU Studio Architecture’s recent installation “Bloom”, whose surface is completely fabricated with thermobimetal, these smart materials are capable of relieving our dependence on energy-inefficient mechanical systems with their self-shading and self-ventilating properties.
Imagine a building skin capable of maintaining thermal comfort in an environmentally responsible and cost effective way by responsively mimicking the characteristics of human skin. (more…)
Video: 10×10 Drawing the City, Exhibition
The international development and disaster relief charity Article 25, named after the 25th article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, asked 100 of London’s artists and architects to take part in ‘10×10 Drawing the City‘. Zaha Hadid, Will Alsop, Eric Parry and Tim Makower have all created artwork inspired by an individually allocated 10×10 squared section of London’s urban landscape. The one-off pieces, which together are an impressive showcase of British architectural heritage, will be exhibited at the newly revamped West Wing of Somerset House on 14 November before all work is auctioned to the public.
Video: Cityscape Chicago
This mesmerizing time-lapse film, by Eric Hines, captures the essence of the “Windy City”. The “Vimeo Staff Pick” is a compilation of over 30,000 still photographs shot between July and October of this year in downtown Chicago. (more…)
Lecture: What Was Metabolism? Reflections on the Life of Kiyonori Kikutake / Toyo Ito
This lecture, brought to you by the Harvard Graduate School of Design, explores the Metabolism movement of the 1960s and its influence on Japanese Architecture through today. Toyo Ito reflects on the life of Kiyonori Kikutake and the continued relevance of his works and ideas in today’s design culture.
Continue reading for more…
Richard Meier x Massimo Vignelli: On the Edge of Modernism
Our friends at NOWNESS have shared with us this mesmeric film by Johnnie Shand Kydd that captures the illustrious modernist Richard Meier and multi-disciplinary creator Massimo Vignelli as they reflect on their respective crafts, city life, and enduring friendship. Filmed inside the minimalist offices of Richard Meier & Partners on 10th Avenue and West 36th Street in New York City, the two powerhouses discuss their collaboration on the firm’s forthcoming monograph, Richard Meier, Architect Volume 6, chronicling the stark, white, rationalist buildings that define the firm’s aesthetic. Enjoy!
Continue after the break to browse through iconic works by Richard Meier & Partners. (more…)
Video: Zaha Hadid / Galaxy SOHO, Beijing
Last weekend, in the heart of Beijing, the unveiling of the amorphous globes of Zaha Hadid’s Galaxy SOHO stunned visitors with the office and retail complex’s radical aesthetic. Beijing’s rapid economic growth has thrust the cityscape into a continuous battle between ever-climbing modern high rises, and the traditional, winding alleyways, unique to the capital city. Crane.tv meets Hadid to hear about her newest structural feat, and collect the thoughts of the building’s wide-eyed neighbours.
Video: Hotel Lone / 3LHD Architects
3LHD Architects shared with us their video for one of their recent projects, Hotel Lone, the first design hotel in Croatia. The hotel’s identity is recognized through the external design of the building, with a facade that is defined by dominant horizontal lines – terrace guards designed to evoke the image of slanted boat decks. The site’s complex terrain with dramatic altitude changes determined the locations of internal facility spaces through a dynamic interweaving of public areas and guest suites at all levels. More information on their project can be viewed here.
Video: Valparaiso Cultural Park / HLPS arquitectos by Cristobal Palma
Parque Cultural de Valparaiso [PCdV] from Estudio Palma on Vimeo.
Winner of an international competition in 2009 after the rejection of a proposal from brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, the Valparaíso Cultural Center designed by HLPS arquitectos was finished last year with an impressive result. Today we have this great video Cristobal Palma just shared with us, shot a couple of months ago.
You can check some more videos by Cristobal Palma at ArchDaily:
Video: Googie Architecture, Part 1
Googie Architecture, shared with us by Sunny & Mild Media, is part one of a series that encapsulates the futuristic design found prevalent in the post-war sprawl of Los Angeles during the 1950s. Popular among coffee shops, motels and gas stations, the ultramodern style originated from the Sunset Boulevard coffee shop, designed by John Lautner, named Googies. A Googie building was a symbol that a business was with the times, which in turn brought traffic and attention to its doors. Form followed function, and it’s function was advertisement.
For more, read Googie Architecture: Futurism through Modernism. (more…)
Audi Urban Future Initiative: The state of our urbanized world
A few days ago we had the chance to attend the Audi Urban Future Awards, where 5 young and innovative practices presented their visions on the future of mobility for five of the world’s most intense urban regions: Boston/Washington Area (USA), Mumbai (India), Sao Paulo (Brasil), Istanbul (Turkey) and the Pearl River Delta region (China).
The Audi Urban Future Award went to Höweler + Yoon and their proposal for BosWash, a new mega region that connects commuters and center through a new intelligent infrastructure, a project that Audi has committed to push forward.
These regions deal with the most important issues that cities are facing in the urban era: the dilemma between density and sprawl, opportunities, transportation, long term versus fast growth, energy, infrastructure, and as we have seen in the last days, the natural environment.
In the following videos we will see the thorough diagnostics of the cities presented by the architects, along with a short description of their projects. Their proposals will be featured in a following article.
Istanbul, Mumbai, Perl River Delta and Sao Paulo after the break:
Video: In Conversation with Marc Newson
Marc Newson is one of the most accomplished industrial designers of our time. A self-confessed control freak, Newson’s innovative perspective has been applied to everything from cutlery to spaceships. He regularly lends his skills to brands such as Nike, Ford and Qantas. His numerous international accolades include receiving a CBE for services to design and being appointed “Royal Designer for Industry” in the UK. Examples of his work are housed in most major permanent museum collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and one of his earliest pieces, The Lockheed Lounge, holds the record for the world’s highest price paid for a piece of furniture. A complete catalogue of his works to date has also recently been released by Taschen books. Married to the prominent fashion editor and stylist, Charlotte Stockdale, Newson’s family life has had a profound influence on his attitude to design. Though he compares our current design climate to the industrial revolution he also seems nostalgic, lamenting both his daughter’s affinity for the iPad and the fact that the future is simply not as optimistic as he imagined.
New York: Night and Day
Amidst the post-Sandy recovery efforts, we would like to share with you New York: Night and Day by Philip Stockton. The New York-based animator and director created the film in attempt to explore the city’s relationships between night and day from a series of fifteen preconceived locations. Using an interesting mix of non-traditional video time-lapse and animation, Stockton combined four to eight hours of footage from each location into single sequences using rotoscoping techniques.
Review each location after the break… (more…)
