Here’s some pics of the soon-to-be-famous Brent Knoll House, built in Melbourne Australia. Cool Hunter featured the house, and the pictures are from them:
On May 25, 2010, In architecture, By Wes
On April 23, 2010, In architecture, By Wes
Nicknamed the Bird’s Nest, and host of the 2008 Olympic Games.
On April 21, 2010, In architecture, By Wes
One of the world’s most sought after, championed, highly paid and densely sculptural architects, Renzo Piano, has a wealth of breathtaking building, but one of our favorites here at Basis is the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. Built underground for the most part, featuring and living roof and a”flooded” basement, fully integrated into the ecological world of San Fran, and flatly stunning to look at, it’s a real treat.
On April 20, 2010, In architecture, By Wes
One of the outdoor spaces gracing the newest and slickest in condo-living; 40 Bond in New York City.
The ultimate in design and art living luxury, and a living space with a possible destiny as one of the defining buildings in New York living space architecture.
On April 19, 2010, In architecture, By Wes
On April 6, 2010, In architecture, By Wes
Built in 1923, this is the hotel that withstood that years 8.3 magnitude earthquake, taking only cosmetic damage. The hotel stood for nearly 50 years before constant earthquakes, alluvial mud and advanced, safer, earthquake-resistant technology mandated it be rebuilt. The facade and pond were re-located, and stand as monuments to the magnificent original building. It was this earthquake and this building that inspired one of architecture’s most famous telegrams. Baron Kihachiro Okura sent it after the massive earthquake, and Wright was quick to let it slip into the hands of American journalists:
Hotel stands as monument to your genius. Congratulations.
On March 22, 2010, In architecture, By Wes
In the wake of Sunday night’s historic health care vote in the House of Representatives, here’s one of the finest (and finest-designed) hospitals in the UK’s NHS system: Evelina Children’s Hospital in London.
Here we see the lobby. The facility re-opened with this re-design in 1999, and doubles as a teaching hospital for nearby King’s College. Here’s a view of some of the teaching facilities:
Wouldn’t we all like to study in a room like that? Now, this is a childrens hospital first and foremost, and the design for the beautiful building extended to hospital rooms and play areas for the children who’ll be using it:
This futuristic slide is called a helter skelter. Here’s a hospital room:
The abundance of light available in the room is healthful as well as mood altering; and the room is just gorgeous on it’s own.
The current American bill doesn’t come close to creating a government-run not-for-profit system, but, as you can see from our allies’ NHS hospital, there’s nothing to be afraid of (unless you fear children and architecture, and in that case, run screaming).
On March 16, 2010, In architecture, furniture, By Wes
Hat Tip to The Cool Hunters for featuring this magnificent store (VitraHaus) on their blog. Check out the very cool stacked-house style of architects Pierre de Meuron and Jacques Herzog, and reflect on how much more fun it must be to shop in Europe.
Come on in, stay a while, buy some stuff…
On March 15, 2010, In Film, architecture, By Wes
Here’s a Russian-doll type of post; a new building in Chicago (urban architecture capitol of the world) that isn’t just a showcase of great design itself, but is also meant as an incubator for design students and their work.
The brand-new Media Production Center at Columbia College Chicago, complete with sound stages, up-to-the-minute editing facilities, and first rate sound and video equipment:
What lies within...
The MPC is just one of about a dozen Columbia College building scattered throughout the south loop of downtown Chicago. Beyond it’s outward beauty, the building is also LEED certified, and has a lovely green roof; as in vegetation grows upon it, creating energy and serving as natural insulation (which the press file has no photograph of, bizarrely).
And they built it just in time for my graduation! In May 2009! Blerg.
On February 26, 2010, In architecture, furniture, By Wes
If you follow this blog for any length of time, you’ll very soon become acquainted with my extreme obsession with everything Jefferson. There are a lot of things you can say about the man; Great Writer, Great Scientist, Great Inventor, Great Philosopher, Great Statesman, Great President, Great Naturalist, Great Musician, etc. But one thing you can say about him that resonates particularly well with us here at Basis is Great Architect, Great Designer, and Great Decorator. Behold Monticello, the greatest private home built in America. (Note to haterz: I said Fallingwater was the most beautiful, not the greatest).
It took Jefferson decades to build Monticello. He kept changing his plans, re-working them to incorporate new duties, new family, and new architectural models and ideas imported from his travels and extensive reading all over the western world (fun Jefferson fact; Jefferson’s personal library, donated to the government, was the foundation of the Library of Congress. The man was well-read) . He especially loved the dome in conjunction with Georgian symmetry.
He would use the dome again in his design for the world famous Rotunda at the University of Virginia, the “House that Jefferson built.” He also designed the original classrooms, grounds, and housing. The man was a stud.
This is Jefferson’s bedroom. He cut out a space in the wall for his actual bed, neatly bisecting the room into two spheres; his office and living quarters. Visible is his magnificent desk, itself featuring some extremely cool design. (That’s another post. Oh, you think this is all the Jefferson you’re getting this week? Please.)
Another gorgeous room. The furniture, the french doors, the busts and views; really breathtaking in person. A trip to Monticello is never a wasted trip, btw.
Here, finally, an aerial view of this part of the property:
Monticello, a regal and lyrical name, means “Little Mountain” in Italian. The man spoke languages.
Tune in on Monday for more Jefferson fetish objects! See you then! Oh, and just because we’re such pals, here’s some UVA architecture titillation!
