Intriguing Earth Architecture 21

America's Cup Building, Veles e Vents, Valencia, Spain - David Chipperfield Architects

Steven Holl: Sarphatistraat, Amsterdam

This is a short video of Holl's Sarphatistaat project in Amsterdam (96-02) showing interior and exterior spaces with a clear description of each. The inspiration for the project is taken from the Steven Holl Architects site and can be found below:

"In Amsterdam, on the Singel Gracht, the renovated building is a four-story brick "U" merging internally with a new "sponge" pavilion. While the exterior expression is one of complimentary contrast (existing brick adjacent to new perforated copper) the interior strategy is one of fusion. The porous architecture of the rectangular pavilion is inscribed with a concept from Morton Feldman's music, "Patterns in a Chromatic Field." The ambition to achieve a space of gossamer optic phenomena with chance-located color is especially effective at night when the color patches reflect in the De Singel Canal. The layers of perforated screens are developed in three dimensions, analogous to the "Menger Sponge" principle of openings that are continuously cut in planes and constantly approaching zero volume."

Arcspace Link

Intriguing Earth Architecture 20

178 Mirador, Madrid, Spain - MVRDV

Thom Mayne Speaks At TED

Here is the description for the lecture given by Mayne from the TED website:

Thom Mayne doesn't see architecture as the means to build a readily imaginable structure. Rather, it's a starting point for new kinds of building -- and thus new kinds of landscapes and environments. This mind-bending talk takes us on a whistle-stop tour of the buildings Mayne and his studio Morphosis have created in recent years. From the Federal Building in San Francisco to graduate housing for the University of Toronto to the Wayne L. Morse Courthouse in Eugene, Oregon, these are big ideas cast in material form.

Thom Mayne Bios
Slate Article on Mayne

Westin Raleigh Soleil Center

image courtesy RaleighSkyLine.com

A new 480 ft (146.3m) skyscraper will soon dot the Raleigh Skyline; but not downtown as one would imagine. Instead, the building is situated near a major shopping mall (Crabtree Valley) close to the I-40 Inner Beltline on Glenwood Avenue (aka US 70). The design by Perkins + Will will feature a hotel, spa and condominiums and surpass the tallest building in the city by approximately 50 ft (15.2m) and be second in the state only to the Bank of America Corporate Center (869 ft, 265m) by Cesar Pelli in Charlotte, North Carolina. The project is scheduled to open in 2009.



RaleighSkyline.com Article
raleighing.com Article

Intriguing Earth Architecture 19

Serpentine Gallery 2002, London, England - Toyo Ito & Associates

Alex Steffen Speaks At TED

Here is the description for the lecture given by Steffen from the TED website:

Worldchanging.com founder Alex Steffen offers a fast-paced round-up of radical (but possible) answers to our planet's greatest challenges, ranging from green cities and buildings, to digital collaboration tools, to ingenious tools for the developing world (flowers that detect landmines; straws that purify water as you drink; merry-go-rounds that pump water using the energy expended by children at play). As Western-style consumerism spreads to developing countries, we must re-imagine our world -- a process he believes is slowly happening in such cities as Vancouver and Portland, Oregon, and also in the developing world, where new technologies and new forms of collaboration are combining to solve 21st-century problems.

Worldchanging Bios
IT Conversations Article

Intriguing Earth Architecture 18

Mid City Bank, Omaha, Nebraska, USA - Randy Brown Architects

New World of Coca-Cola Museum

Coca-Cola the brand known in over 200 countries the world over recently opened their second incarnation of the World of Coca-Cola in downtown Atlanta, Georgia in May 2007. The design follows guidelines set forth in the USGBC's LEED program but is not registered as such to this date. The project is located in Pemberton Place adjacent to the new Georgia Aquarium and within walking distance of Olympic Centennial Park. Atlanta based Rossler International was the architect-of-record for the building while the Jerde Partnership took the lead design role for the design and master planning. The new museum is now able to exhibit an additional 1.000 artifacts and memorabilia never before seen by the public.



New World of Coca-Cola Link
gadling Article

New Museum Time-Lapse Video NYC, NY

While viewing YouTube we found this interesting time-lapse video of the New Museum of Contemporary Art under construction in New York City due for completion sometime this year.

Here is part of the project statement that can be found at the museum's website:

"...The New Museum is currently building a new, state-of-the-art facility on the Bowery designed by cutting-edge architects Sejima + Nishizawa / SANAA, scheduled to open in the fall of 2007. Over the coming year, the Museum will present programs around the city, and will continue to operate our world renowned store at the Chelsea Art Museum, 556 West 22nd Street (at 11th Avenue)."

designboom Article
Design Crack Blog Article

Edward Burtynsky Speaks At TED

In light of his recently released book Manufactured Landscapes, here is the description for the lecture given by Burtynsky from the TED website:

" Accepting his 2005 TED Prize, photographer Edward Burtynsky makes a wish: that his images -- stunning landscapes that document humanity's impact on the world -- help persuade millions to join a global conversation on sustainability. Burtynsky presents a riveting slideshow of his photographs, which show vividly how industrial development is altering the Earth's natural landscape. From mountains of tires to rivers of bright orange waste from a nickel mine, his images are simultaneously beautiful and horrifying."

*editor's note: due to technical difficulties the TED lecture must be viewed directly here.

Treehugger Interview
Cool Hunting Article