Intriguing Earth Architecture 02

Today we feature a construction photo of National Stadium in Beijing which will play host to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games (XXIX Olympiad). The stadium will seat 91,000+ and will feature the opening and closing ceremonies as well as all of the track & field events during the Olympics. In 2002, Herzog & de Meuron teamed with ArupSport and China Architecture Research & Design Group to win the international competition for the design of the Olympic centerpiece venue.

National Stadium Wikipedia
NAi Herzog & de Meuron Web File

NCMoA Plans Major Expansion

The North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh is planning a major expansion to its existing facility that will open to the public in 2009. Currently, the museum has one expansion designed by Smith-Miller+Hawkinson but in this case they have selected New York architects Thomas Phifer and Partners. The design will be approximately 127,000 sf and incorporate some interesting natural daylighting to be engineered, in part, by renowned engineers Ove Arup. An excerpt from the museum's press release helps to provide insight into the design: "The new NCMoA building is a low-lying, single-story pavilion that merges visually with the rolling green surroundings. The building will be clad in satin polished stainless steel panels flush mounted to seamlessly and softly reflect the landscape and changing conditions of the sky and atmosphere to ethereal effect. A rolling roof plane dotted by occuli every 26 feet echoes the pattern of surrounding hills and hints at a path-breaking lighting system within."

NCMoA Full Press Release

Floating Pool Arrives in NYC

Several days ago I received a request to feature a very interesting project that is scheduled to open to the public on July 4, 2007. Jonathan Kirschenfeld the principal of the New York based firm that designed the structure, Jonathan Kirschenfeld Associates, has developed a modern interpretation of a paradigm from New York City's historic past (e.g. the floating public pool). In his own words he states,"The Floating Pool has been designed to create a lively, unexpected urban space. The locker rooms, showers, and snack bar are collected around a raised sun court and dining terrace overlooking the pool." A non-profit organization aptly named The Neptune Foundation originally commissioned the project in 1999. The floating superstructure was built in Amelia, Louisiana from a reclaimed barge and was recently towed and installed at its final location at Pier 2 in Brooklyn Bridge Park.

The Neptune Foundation Link
Project Profile Page

ecAr relaunch

Regular visitors to this blog may have noticed that there have been a few changes to the site. I am beginning to work more with the template in order to create a more 2.0 website. Stay tuned for more changes. Please feel free to leave me any ideas or additions you would like to see with the relaunched site.

Intriguing Earth Architecture 01

Dubai in the fog - Harry Lambert

Although East Coast Architecture is the key feature and tagline for this blog, I could not resist adding new content based on photographic views of Architecture from around our world. In this first installment, we feature a group of photos from Harry Lambert's public Flickr account that show Dubai, UAE. This new weekly series will feature interesting, quirky and visually stimulating architectural images in the hopes of evoking an emotional reaction to our built environment. If you have any comments or suggestions for future postings please leave your remarks under the comments.

Use Flickr

Holl Fires Back at City of Denver

Architect blames city's team - RockyMountainNews.com

As advertised here on October 10, 2006 we have Steven Holl's response to his departure from the Denver Justice Center Project. It should be interesting to see how much the redesign will look like the original Holl solution. The link below is to a Denver architecture blog that contains a more in-depth analysis of the fallout. Feel free to leave your opinion in the comments section.

thartofwhere Link

Steven Holl Out of Denver Project

Architect quits Justice Center project - Denver Post

Steven Holl has apparently had no official comment as yet on his firm's decision to withdraw from the project. Local architecture firm Klipp released a statement in which they stated that the project objectives, "could not allow (Steven Holl Architects, New York) to design a building consistent with Steven Holl's design philosophy." This has got to come as a sense of loss for a city who in the last decade has had a slew of renowned architects propose or design projects within the immediate downtown core. We will await comment from the Holl camp and present it here as it is released.

Related Article Link

Competitions Anyone?

Scion Showroom Design Competition

I have had several competition call for entries come across my desk lately and I will be adding a new sidebar entitled Architecture Competitions to fulfill these requests. The latest comes from car maker Scion and I quote from their competition website, "Scion Floorplan is a competition, open to the design community, where you are asked to design Scion's new dealership showroom. This competition is an opportunity for designers to work with real world design constraints, get noticed by judges working in the design industry, be creative, and possibly win $5,000." The competition submission deadline is November 10, 2006.

Other Competition Links

Ground Zero's New Look

Designs Unveiled for Freedom Tower's Neighbors - New York Times

In the wake of what is almost the 5th anniversary of 9/11 designs finally emerge showing the new Lower Manhattan skyline. But how long will they take to come to fruition? And will New Yorker's be able to accept the new look of Ground Zero? The jury is still out.

Related Article Link