China’s Richest Village Building Lavish Skyscraper
A construction worker looks at a golden bull weighing one ton with a worth of 300 million yuan ($46.9 million) in the hall of a skyscraper under construction in Huaxi village, the richest village of China, located in East China’s Jiangsu province. The 328-meter-high 74-storey skyscraper cost more than 1.5 billion yuan and is scheduled to go into operation in October, 2011 to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the village. It ranks as the 15th tallest skyscraper in the world and the eighth tallest in China. (CFP) Continue reading »
Origami Cave Puts a Stylish Spin on Emergency Shelter
Australian architecture firm LAVA exhibited its inhabitable “Origami Cave” as part of The Emergency Shelter exhibition, which was held in Sydney earlier this month. The exhibition featured architects from around the globe including Ateliers Jean Nouvel, PTW Architects, Tonkin Zulaikha Greer, Cox, Koichi Takada Architects, Sou Fujimoto and Terunobu Fujimori. Each architect was asked to create a shelter that would not only protect people from the elements during an emergency situation, but would also provide a space that was secure and comfortable in the aftermath of a disaster.
Sydney architecture firm LAVA has recently exhibited its inhabitable “Origami Cave” as part of The Emergency Shelter exhibition (image by LAVA) Continue reading »
Most Awesome Wall of Air Conditioners Appears in Fuzhou, China
The outer wall of the Fuzhou Dalijiacheng Building is densely covered with air conditioner compressor units, the entire building’s outer wall having over 500 air conditioning compressor units attached in total and still increasing, and has been called the most “Air Conditioner Wall” in Fuzhou history by city residents. Continue reading »
Cute Chinese Cargo Van Apartment
A car owner in Kunming, China has converted a cargo truck into a mobile home. There is 8.5 square meters of usable area, and one can cook, sleep, go online, and watch television in the car. This mobile home including the vehicle and renovations cost under 130,000 yuan, and because of its low cost and comprehensive features. It features a small kitchen with a sink and electric stove, bunk-beds, refrigerator, flat screen TV and a computer. (chinaSMACK) Continue reading »
Chinese Drug Maker’s Deluxe Office Building Comparable to Imperial Palace
“This is not Versailles; this is office building of 6 Pharmaceutical Factory of Harbin Pharmaceutical Group!” September 5, a group of luxury office building photos of Harbin Pharmaceutical Group spread in major Chinese forums, according to the post person, its lavish degree surpassed magnificent imperial palace,” Photo shows the main building’s decoration is Versailles style, in the corridors are wood carvings, and assembled with gold foil, each angel is vivid.” These photos are found from the medicine factory’s official website. Continue reading »
Libyan Leader’s Life of Luxury Overrun by Rebels
A Libyan rebel fighter walks inside the house of Saif al-Islam, son of Libyan fugitive leader Moammar Gadhafi in Tripoli. Normal life began returning to the Libyan capital Tripoli, almost a week after rebels swept into the city. (Ciro Fusco / EPA) Continue reading »
Richard Branson’s $70 Million Caribbean Mansion on Necker Island
Branson first became aware that some of the islands in the British Virgin Islands were for sale in 1979. In 1978 he went to the British Virgin Islands for a holiday in order to investigate the prospective real estate. On first observing the islands, he envisioned using them to put up rock stars for his record label. Upon arrival, they were given a luxury villa and travelled around islands for sale by helicopter. Continue reading »
Singing Ringing Tree
The Singing Ringing Tree is a wind powered sound sculpture resembling a tree set in the landscape of the Pennine mountain range overlooking Burnley, in Lancashire. Continue reading »
The New Sava River Bridge in Belgrad
Serbian state officials attend a ceremony as workers building the new Sava River Bridge in Belgrade near the Ada Ciganlija river island connect the river banks of Belgrade and New Belgrade. The first vehicles will cross over the bridge on December 15. (Andrej Isakovic—AFP/Getty Images)
‘Slinky Springs to Fame’ Bridge Built in Oberhausen, Germany
The new “Slinky Springs to Fame” bridge is illuminated at night in the western German city of Oberhausen. The 350-meter-long bridge was designed by German artist T. Rehberger. (Roland Weihrauch/AFP/Getty Images) Continue reading »
Six Shortlisted: Buildings up for the RIBA Stirling Prize
The shortlist for the Royal Institute of British Architects (Riba) Stirling Prize has been announced. Among the nominees is the new Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-Upon-Avon. The newly renovated building combined Elizabeth Scott’s grade II listed theatre facade and foyer with a larger theatre and a 1000 seat thrust-stage auditorium. (BBC News) Continue reading »
Magic Architecture of Stéphane Malka
It was first through graffiti, a technique he adopted for over 10 years, that Stéphane Malka discovered the city and its untapped potential. He then began studying architecture in his home town of Marseilles before completing his studies at the school of Paris-la Villette. Continue reading »
How One Japanese Village Defied the Tsunami
The man on the picture is Kotaku Wamura, who died in 1997 at age 88.
Until March 11, 2011, – he did not live, but it turned out to show the big tsunami a big “fuck”: being from 1945 to 1987 the mayor of the Fudai town, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, he has invested more than $ 30 million in building a protective wall height of 16 meters, which saved the lives of more than 3000 people. Nearby villages have decided that 10 meters is enough, and were washed away into the ocean. Continue reading »
Man Cave With a View
Alexandre de Betak’s (a French fashion and furniture designer) house in Majorca was built with indigenous materials by local artisans, but the results, like the terra cotta R2-D2 ashtray, are out of this world. Photographs by Jason Schmidt. Continue reading »
MVRDV Architecture Bureau for the China Comic and Animation Museum
Hangzhou urban planning bureau has announced MVRDV winner of the international design competition for the China Comic and Animation Museum (CCAM) in Hangzhou, China. MVRDV won with a design referring to the speech balloon: a series of eight speech balloon shaped volumes create an internally complex museum experience of in total 32.000m2. Part of the project is also a series of parks on islands, a public plaza and a 13.000m2 expo centre. Construction start is envisioned for 2012, the total budget is 92 million Euro. Continue reading »
Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura in Barcelona
In 1973 Ricardo Bofill, famous Spanish architector, discovered a cement factory, part of an industrial complex from the turn of the century, comprising over 30 silos, underground galleries and huge engine rooms. He decided to transform it into his head office. Continue reading »
Cubicle? No. That’s Bubblicle!
“Bubble” office space created by French architecture bureau Christian Pottgiesser Architecturespossibles for Pons+Huot architecture company. Continue reading »
Tiny Houses of Japan: More with Less
The Japanese have long endured crowded cities and scarce living space, with homes so humble a scornful European official once branded them rabbit hutches. Continue reading »
Bioclimatic Architecture
Eco-sustainable architectural projects by Alexander Remizov. Continue reading »
Alberto Vieyra’s Cool Furniture
Omg. Polygon-inspired furniture by Alberto Vieyra.
Let the Louvre Commence! Louvre Abu Dhabi, UAE.
A ceremony attended by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan marked the start of construction at May, 26 at the site of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the first universal museum to be built in the capital city. In recognition of the importance of the event, the two world leaders accepted a time capsule for the museum from children of both the UAE and France. Continue reading »
MCF Academy
In 2010, MCF plans to open the first school in post-war Liberia that will offer free education, including room and board, to 200 students. The MCF Academy is designed by acclaimed architect Winka Dubbeldam, principal of the world-renowned firm Archi-Tectonics, NYC. Dubbeldam unveiled her plans for the academy (see more images, below) at the MCF Fashion Week After Party on February 20, 2009. To realize this dream, MCF Academy needs your support.
Your House on Trees? Yes, It’s Possible!
Amazon Tree Houses was formed in 2007 by Derek Saunderson, a Joiner and Treehouse builder with over twenty years experience. His aim was to bring the craft of treehouse building back from the accountants and sales-men, and put it firmly back in the hands of the crafts-men who’s passion for treehouse building shows in their skill and commitment for creating beautiful natural structures. Continue reading »
Pritzker Prize Goes to Peter Zumthor
Peter Zumthor is the 33rd laureate to receive the prize, which consists of a $100,000 grant and a bronze medallion and is awarded at a different architecturally significant location each year. This year’s ceremony is to be held on May 29 in Buenos Aires.
The project most closely associated with Mr. Zumthor is the spa he completed in 1996 for the Hotel Therme in Vals, an Alpine village in Switzerland. Using slabs of quartzite that evoke stacked Roman bricks, Mr. Zumthor created a contemporary take on the baths of antiquity.
