April 2010
Monthly Archive
[ By Elizah in Architecture & Design, Travel & Places, Urban Images. ]
Reflecting their creators’ desire to step far, far away from the sheepish architectural clones that our culture has grown to accept as “normal”, these outstanding structures are among the unique global jewels that convey a quirky sense of personality tucked within an even more wackadoodle shell. While it may be hip to be square, these slightly left of center buildings demonstrate that marching to the beat of one’s own drummer – whether you’re of the animal, vegetable, mineral or architectural persuasion – is actually a whole lot more fun.
Ferdinand Cheval’s Le Palais Idéal or “Ideal Palace” (Hauterives, France)
Throughout a 33 year period, rural postman Ferdinand Cheval – who lacked any architectural background whatsoever – collected all the individual stones necessary to create his elaborate carved limestone and shell studded structure via pocket, basket and wheelbarrow. Incorporating a bizarre conglomeration of architectural styles inspired by Hindu and Biblical mythology as well as Algerian, Northern European and Chinese elements, he finally completed his outstandingly quirky monument just one year before his death in 1924 at the age of 88. Grottos, flying buttresses and statues of animals collide in what is today one of the most outstanding examples of “naïve art” architecture and France’s most beloved cultural landmark.
Waldspirale (Darmstadt, Germany)
Viennese architect and painter Friedensreich Hundertwasser conceived of this fantastical, U-shaped, multi-earth-toned 12 floor residential building complex which emulates the layers of sedimentary rock that you might see in a jutting outcrop deep in the mountains. Completed just 10 years ago, his “Forest Spiral” features 105 apartments, 1000 different shaped windows, a café/bar, an inner courtyard with an artificial lake plus a diagonal green roof studded with botanical elements such as trees, grass, shrubs and flowers. Built by the Bauverein Darmstadt company, it currently serves as the home base for hundreds of lucky German residents.
Eliphante (Cornville, Arizona)
An exercise in artistically imaginative organic architecture, this dwelling – built into 3 acres of natural Arizona landscape by husband-wife team Michael Kahn and Leda Livant – would likely trigger Seussian envy in Theodor Geisel himself. Consisting of five separate hand-crafted structures linked together by their shared idiosyncratic themes, the main living quarters are housed within Eliphante and connected to a meditation zone, art gallery, bath house, sculpture garden and wading pond. Raw materials were scavenged from the desert and integrated into the homestead with decisive artistic flair along with stone and glass mosaics, wood, tile, plaster and metal sculptures, yielding a one-of-a-kind home that lives, breathes and communes with Mother Nature.
The Ice Hotel (Jukkasjarvi, Sweden)
Quite like short-lived, seasonal treasures such as the emergence of cherry blossoms that are here today and gone tomorrow, Jukkasjärvi’s Ice Hotel exists just 4 brief months out of every year. The nearby Torne River is relieved of tons of its ice, which is then used along with well over 30,000 tons of snow to form the ethereal exterior structure, central supports, shimmering rooms and infamously surreal ice bar. At the end of the spring, what remains is recycled and stored for next year’s incarnation — which is just one of several eco-friendly efforts (including self-generated renewable energy) that add to the hotel’s carbon negative aspirations that they intend to achieve by 2015.
Experience Music Project (Seattle, Washington)
An architectural train wreck or simply just a brilliant collision of our world’s most memorable landmarks? In fact, this Frank Gehry-designed museum – which offers a cultural exploration of science fiction and music within – pays homage to the Gehry Tower, Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and Walt Disney Concert Hall among other works created by the designer’s firm. Of course, critics have referred to it as being somewhat hemorrhoidal in shape and among the most supremely ugly buildings in the entire world, and while it IS risky with its clashing colors, textures and overall architectural identity crisis, the Experience Music Project kind of grows on you after awhile. Perhaps it’s high time for a little extra dietary fiber 
The Sheep Building & Sheepdog Building (Waikato, New Zealand)
Known for its rolling emerald hills dotted with what can only be described as a sea of terrestrial sheep, it’s rather fitting that in a land where wooly creatures out number humans twelve to one that Tirau boasts the world’s only known corrugated iron sheep-shaped structure along with a companion sheep dog version. Housing a wool and craft shop, the sheep building provides a perfect complement to its canine compadre (which happens to be the location of the town’s i-SITE Visitor Information Center). Both are crafted by local artist Steven Clothier, the brains behind “Corrugated Creations” and the reason why this small New Zealand locale is now covered with hundreds of smaller scale but equally quirky iron sculptures.
The Urban Cactus (Rotterdam, Netherlands)
Rising up into the sky like an alien urban desert invader, this 19 floor Rotterdam high rise offers city dwellers an opportunity to get their funk on along with their green thumbs. Conjured up by the visionary design team at UCX Architects, the graduating structure with star-shaped levels enables natural light to stream through the living spaces while also offering residents access to ample outdoor patio areas, all while overlooking the Rotterdam Harbor. Sounds and looks divine!
“Inversion”…Also Known as “The Hole House” or “Tunnel House” (Houston,Texas)
Prior to its imminent demolition, the Houston-based art trio of Kate Petley, Dan Havel and Dean Ruck decided to make the most of a doomed dwelling in a Montrose neighborhood by transforming it into a short lived but very memorable installation called “The Tunnel” or “Hole” house. With its central vortex narrowing into a tunnel that spilled out into the exterior of the structure, local spectators were able to experience their own personal Alice in Wonderland fantasies (or nightmares as the case may be) before the whole thing was leveled in 2005.
The Mushroom House aka Tree House (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Sprouting up in Cincinnati’s Hyde Park section, professor of Architecture and Interior Design Terry Brown – along with his students – hand crafted this one bedroom residence throughout a period of 14 years until its completion in 2006, at which time it was put on the market for $525,000. Sadly, Brown met his untimely demise just two years later in a car accident, but his Mushroom House – constructed with multiple types of metals, tinted glass, ceramics, wood and shell – serves as his most outstanding legacy and one of Cincinnati’s most esteemed landmarks.
Hang Nga Guesthouse a.k.a Crazy House (Dalat, Vietnam)
Tumbling out of the imagination of architect Dang Viet Nga, Hang Nga’s Guesthouse and Gallery is…well…all sorts of crazy, from its rustic tree-like base with spiderweb windows to winding, nook-and-cranny laden interior that promises to keep you guessing at every turn. The artsy designer and daughter of Vietnam’s former president tapped into her entrepreneurial spirit by wisely charging admission to the storybook structure, knowing full well that spectators would happily gobble up its funhouse like details, including seemingly melting interior and exterior facades punctuated by somewhat goofy ‘what are THEY doing here?’ zoo animals keeping a watchful, protective eye upon the premises.
Mind House, Part of Park Güell (Barcelona, Spain)
Spanish Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi, known for his fantastically original architectural works that can be found throughout Barcelona, incorporated intriguing mythological imagery within his Park Güell, including an outstanding colorful mosaic lizard and a sea serpent-shaped bench which took its unforgettable form thanks to the impression of a woman’s curvaceous derriere in the wet clay. Slightly more memorable than his naked buttock design technique is the overall gingerbread-like layout of his enchanting city garden boasting a thicket of 88 twisted rock pillars along with meandering walkways that appear to exist symbiotically with the lush green landscape. Serving as the focal point of the sprawling botanical zone is the Pavilion or Mind House, a rock studded masterpiece with whimsical jesture-like roof crowned by a polka-dotted mushroom shaped turret.
Conch Shell House (Isla Mujeres, Mexico)
Located just 20 minutes away from Cancun, this Carribbean Ocean-surrounded oasis — crafted by Octavio Ocampo — certainly leaves a distinctive impression with its 180 degree ocean views and seashell inspired design. The 5500 square foot dwelling, incorporating concrete as well as structural materials plucked straight from the beach and surrounding region, has no angles…just smooth flowing lines that mirror real seashells. With an interior that is just as alluring as its façade (thanks to creative design details that make the most of real coral and assorted conch shells), Ocampo’s structure – which is available for vacation rentals – offers a true escape into an ocean bound paradise.
Grand Lisboa (Macao)
We’ve all seen the ritz and glitz of modern casinos, so this entry may not seem like it’s treading unchartered waters, however the Dennis Lua and Ng Chun Man-designed structure happens to be among the world’s tallest skyscrapers…so that’s somethin’. An eight-story spherical platform pulsing with ostentatiously gaudy neon lights supports an equally Liberace-like lotus leaf, providing onlookers with seductive eye candy which baits them into gambling their cares and bank accounts away. With 58 floors of 5 star debauchery, the $375 million dollar project is said to be among the most opulent, in part due to the ample bling scattered throughout…such as crystal balls, 580,000 Swarovski crystals, gold leaf accents and the permanent display of a flawless 218 carat diamond called the Star of Stanley Ho.
The School of Art, Design and Media at Nanyang Technological University (Singapore)
Blurring the line between nature and architecture, this 5 story learning institute is an outstanding example of green construction with its fluid, grassy roof which appears to nestle its inner structure with a protective hug. Amid an urban landscape traditionally studded with buildings that automatically conduct heat, CPG Consultants’ award-winning design offers innate cooling properties along with a roof top rainwater harvesting system and smart sensors that only hydrate the greenery when necessary. It almost seems as though the glass, concrete and metal structure is carved into its wooded valley, acting as a natural extension of what Mother Nature was like long before man stepped into the mix.
The Crooked House (Sopot, Poland)
With little elbow room to breathe due to its curious location amid a long string of boutiques and cafes in Sopot’s Rezydent shopping center, it’s not surprising that architect Szotynscy Zaleski’s 4000 square meter cartoonish structure is suffering from a serious squish factor. However, it’s all by design and reflective of the art of Per Dahlberg and Jan Marcin Szancer, both of whom created fanciful scenes that are brought to life in The Crooked House’s off-kilter lines and somewhat saggy overall demeanor. Containing three stories packed to the gills with shops, restaurants, bars and a handful of touristy sites, Zaleski’s most photographed landmark is memorable just as much for its quirky appearance as it is for its sheer artistry and rather pitiful, gravity-succumbing sadness.
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Our buildings are the covers our enterprises – and ourselves – are judged by. These 136 brilliant buildings show, in so many ways, that when it comes to architecture skyscrapers reflect our soaring imaginations.
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[ WebUrbanist - By Elizah in Architecture & Design, Travel & Places, Urban Images. ]
[ By Delana in Architecture & Design, Gadgets & Geek Art, Graffiti & Drawing. ]
No matter how often the huge number of professional Photoshop screw-ups are pointed out to a very amused world, more just keep cropping up. Why is this phenomenon still going strong? Short deadlines are a sure cause, along with this very powerful photo manipulation tool being put into the hands of less-than-experienced graphic designers. But let’s not forget the last-minute change of instructions from a client that results in a highly unusual finished product. For all of these reasons and more, we have an endless source of hilarious Photoshop blunders upon which to feast our eyes.
Legendary Editing Fail
When the top image appeared on Microsoft’s US site, it was mostly ignored as another boring piece of corporate marketing photography. When the bottom image appeared on Microsoft’s Polish site with the African-American gentleman’s head (but not hand) clumsily replaced, everyone noticed. Microsoft quickly took down the offending photo and make a public apology for the apparent racism…but not for their complete lack of Photoshopping skills.
Incomprehensible Anatomy
If you squint and tilt your head – and then forget everything you know about human anatomy – you might see that the two missing legs in this picture are cleverly concealed by the coats on the bench. (The bench, incidentally, looks very sophisticated in this home of four-foot-tall people.) But for those of us who are unable to use our imaginations, it’s obvious that this is a portrait of a loving legless father sitting with his daughter who, due to some freak elementary school science-class accident, has one tiny leg and one (slightly damaged) adult leg.
Another Baby for Brangelina?
We all knew that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie had a whole mess of kids, but the last time we looked there was only one Zahara. InTouch Germany broke the story that the couple actually have twin Zaharas, both of whom can be seen here on a rare outing with their family.
Dominos Uses Anne Boleyn as Model
Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII’s second wife, was said to have six fingers on one hand. Domino’s must be a big English history fan, because they used a six-fingered model for their special “American Idol” pizza boxes. How very worldly of them!
Foot Envy
When Maxim featured the lovely Jennifer Love Hewitt in their May 2009 issue, they apparently felt the TV star’s feet needed a bit of retouching. They simply didn’t look cartoony enough in the original pictures. Their crack team of retouchers took care of that, though, then threw in some improbable shadows and neglected to add Jen’s reflection in the water for good measure.
First Class Fail
This airline would like you to know that they fly to exotic locations. And your adventure begins before you even leave the plane, because there is no landing gear in the front. Passengers are expected to parachute out from a safe distance, because this plane isn’t coming down anytime soon.
Confusing, and Slightly Disturbing
There is just not one thing right about this Coke ad. From the clumsy crop lines to the half-missing grill to the fact that the woman appears to be surgically connected to the bottom half of the seated man’s leg, this is one of the most truly terrible pieces of professional Photoshopping the world has ever seen.
Failure of Presidential Proportions
Not all Photoshop failures are so glaringly obvious. Sometimes you just get a sense of overall wrongness about an image. Take this magazine cover picture of the U.S. First Lady, Michelle Obama for example. She’s a beautiful woman, but apparently the photo editors at Good Housekeeping felt she needed a little facelift. Unfortunately, no one taught them how to decide that enough is enough, and Barack’s wife turned out looking more than a little cartoonish.
Something Fishy About that Furniture
(image via: Sears)
“For Sale: Amazing Gravity-Free Vampire Patio Furniture! Won’t scuff up your floors OR leave a shadow!”
Curious Clothing and Perplexing Purses
In two separate feats of Photoshop magic, Victoria’s Secret have managed to make almost half of a lovely long pink sweater and nearly all of a woman’s handbag disappear.
Thrown Together
Surely there’s nothing amiss in a photograph of four beautiful actresses! Several different light sources, not-quite-right shadows and a heavy-handed airbrusher make these lovely ladies look like they were all standing in separate universes to have their pictures taken, then as an afterthought someone stitched them together.
Raising the Bar
Apparently, having a nude Nia Long simply wasn’t racy enough for Peta’s “I’d Rather Go Naked” ad campaign. But not to worry – their master graphic designers simply plopped her into a fake train car background and invented a handrail for her to wrap herself around. Problem solved!
Anatomy Lesson
Crystal Renn is a beautiful plus-size model with a womanly figure. Seen here in a Lane Bryant ad, though, she looks a bit off-kilter. Specifically, her belly button is all the way over there, above her right hip. Whether someone got a little too happy with the liquefy tool or her body parts were pasted together from several photographs, there’s definitely something off-center about this photo.
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Wayward arms, missing reflections and artificially inflated crowds are just a few consequences of rushed or wholly incompetent Photoshop jobs.
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[ WebUrbanist - By Delana in Architecture & Design, Gadgets & Geek Art, Graffiti & Drawing. ]
[ By Angie in Architecture & Design, Furniture & Interiors, Gadgets & Geek Art, Technology & Futurism. ]
With so much time spent in front a computer, your workstation becomes a big part of your life. Some people go for straight out luxury for work or play. Others people are more concerned with gaming or home theaters, while others need a space-saving workstation. Here are 16 high-tech workstations, or design concept workstations, to enhance your working or playing computer experience.
Globus Workstation
Globus is a molded plastic globe on wheels. It opens to provide seating space in one half and a small adjustable table that functions as a worktable in the other half. The Globus space-saving workstation was meant for small home or office spaces. This workstation comes in a variety of colors.
Coffee Office Workstation
(image credits: dvice)
The Coffee Office workstation might make your cramped cubicle at work seem downright roomy. Designed in the shape of a coffee mug, the inside houses a touchscreen computer, space for your laptop, built-in speaker, and a spot for coffee. This workstation concept is aimed at 2020 when work spaces will be even more crowded. Designer Lucas Vieira intends for these workstations to be located in places with a large influx of businessmen and executives.
Flower Bud Workstation
(image credits: tuvie)
This Flower Bud workstation design concept is aimed at any age and any gender. Designer Won Shik Yu intends to offer comfort and privacy with this adjustable workstation. Both sections slide together into a condensed shell when this workstation environment is not in use.
Corner V1 Workstation
The Vision One (V1) workstation is intended to improve music, gaming, home theater, and working experience. The feet and elbow supports pivot. This adjustable workstation comes in a variety of colors and other upgrades. The most popular upgrade is to a Porsche seat that can have up to 12 functions including power lumbar controls and heat.
Mac-Powered Organic Workstation
If clutter annoys you, then perhaps you might like the Mac-Powered Organic Workstation? With ergonomics in mind, it features an adjustable seat, monitor, and keyboard for increased productivity. There’s no room to have a messy or unorganized desk with this workstation.
Walkstation : WorkSpace Treadmill
If comfy seats are not for you, then perhaps you would like to burn off fat as you work? The Walkstation offers an electric height-adjustable worksurface along with a low-speed treadmill. Few workstations offer the opportunity to stay fit while you work. However, it would make gaming a real challenge.
Rizki Tarisa’s Go Workstation
Rizki Tarisa’s Go workstation is a design concept all about the chair. A winner of the Ideation Award 2010, this multi-functional chair harnesses human pedal-power to juice up electronic devices. This concept furniture is a lounge chair, an exercise bike, a workstation, and a desktop, all integrated in a single unit. The user generates green energy by pedaling the bike.
Young Explorer Workstation
(image credits: dvice)
Young Explorer workstation by Little Tikes could be baby’s first workstation . . . if you cough up $2,600 and want your baby to experience cubicle life. It comes with a 160GB hard drive, a 19-inch screen, and even Internet connection capabilities. The computer goes in the back and blinder-like wings might improve focus and productivity like a tiny cubicle for a child. The keyboard, mouse, and pre-loaded software are supposed to be kid friendly and durable.
Study Bed Workstation
The Study Bed is aimed at dorm students with limited space. It converts from a workstation desk to a bed. It comes as either a single, double, or king size Murphy bed style. When sleeping, the computer is under the bed at floor level. This bed/desk workstation combo costs about $1,859 with no upgraded color or wood options.
Battle-Rig Pro
The Battle-Rig Pro can be a workstation or slick setup for gamers. With the user centered right in the middle, everything is within easy reach. It comes in a variety of colors and the compartments can be a customized. If ever it would need moved, it breaks down into three pieces for transport.
Supine Workstation
(image credits: coroflot)
Designer Alan Harp created this concept workstation for computer users who suffer from neck strain. The Supine Workstation allows the user to easily move from a upright to a supine position by simply shifting their weight in the direction desired.
MIW: My Individual Workstation
My Individual Workstation (MIW) by designer Zeynep Altmisoglu is inspired by a desire to fulfill the “the needs of the industrial product design students.” Her next-gen workstation concept has been designed to provide multiple work surfaces for the industrial product design students. It is Bluetooth enabled so the student can present his project from the ease of this chair. The wheels make it transportable and it can be used for drawing, lounging, or splitting the seat in two for student and professor.
Office Organix ErgoQuest 500
Are there days when you need to work but don’t wish to get out of bed? If so, then the ErgoQuest workstation might be worth considering. The height adjustable workstation is designed for standing, seated, or supine work positions. The work surface has a motorized monitor tilt platform, keyboard tray and arm which allows the tray to tilt through 90°. It provides a range of positions for use in a reclined mode. The table holds up to 400 pounds of equipment from 31° to 50° angles with the push of a button.
Aura Workstation
The Aura workstation provides luxury for the user. Aura offers a 7-way adjustable seating system with inflatable and deflatable cushions, an electronically filtered air-flow atmosphere, a lighting system that reduces eye stain, and a rotation feature that avoids glare. Aura can be programmed to rotate 120° over eight hours.
Gravitonus Workstation
The Gravitonus workstation keeps the user in the most ergonomically optimized position at all times. It features three displays, built-in LED lighting, air conditioning, as well as zone heating of the user’s body. It also has a 5.1 sound system and a subwoofer integrated into the seat back to add a sensation effect. It can be adapted for quadriplegics so that a control unit is placed in the mouth, allowing for breathing, drinking, talking, smoking, and controlling. The price tag is $7,000.
The Emperor Workstation
The king of luxury workstations is by far The Emperor 200. Unless nature calls, you would never need to leave this workstation. The Emperor comes with reclining Recaro seats, three 19 inch monitors, HEPA filters, touchscreen controls, a web cam, and optional PS3. It rotates 360°, has LED lighting, and a BOSE 5.1 surround sound system. If you aren’t sitting, please do so before sticker shock knocks you down. The Emperor 200 costs $39,950.
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Marlon Blackwell, an award-winning architect in Arkansas, designs homes that mesh with their environments to create a unique urban or suburban experience.
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[ WebUrbanist - By Angie in Architecture & Design, Furniture & Interiors, Gadgets & Geek Art, Technology & Futurism. ]
[ By Delana in Gadgets & Geek Art, History & Factoids, Urban & Street Art. ]
All around the world, wherever traffic lights beckon cars to traverse intersections in an orderly fashion, one man keeps pedestrians safe. He is one of the most recognizable figures on the planet and children are taught to respect and obey him from a very young age. He stands as a silent sentinel, a helpful stranger, an essential part of the urban landscape guiding walkers young and old across the street. He has many names, but one of the most common is Walking Man.
He is, of course, the lighted human figure that appears on traffic signals to tell pedestrians when it’s safe to walk across the street. Surprisingly, the Walking Man symbol can differ significantly from city to city in the same country, and even more widely between countries. There are stick men, men wearing hats, men hunched over while they walk – and even walking girls.
The Walking Men Worldwide project is the work of artist Maya Barkai. In 2004, following NYC Mayor Bloomberg’s announcement that the city would start implementing more pedestrian-friendly street symbols, the artist started looking at the city’s walking man. Admiring his character, she got curious about walking man imagery from other cities. She realized that they are somewhat standardized, but still very individual. But no matter where the walking man is or what form he takes, he is always an essential fixture of the city.
Maya put out a call to artists and photographers all around the world, asking them to snap pictures of the walking men in their home cities and send them to her. The responses she received allowed the artist to create her first public showing of the exhibit: a fence around a construction project in Manhattan. It’s a part of the Re: Construction public art project, which aims to make the many construction sites in NYC less visually obtrusive and more friendly.
A small version of the overall project, Walking Men 99 shows 99 walking men images from cities around the world. As she assembled the various images from all over the planet, Maya realized that the walking men each told a story about the urban environment they called home. The 99 figures are walking now around 99 Church Street in Manhattan and will remain there through the end of 2010.
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[ WebUrbanist - By Delana in Gadgets & Geek Art, History & Factoids, Urban & Street Art. ]
[ By Steph in Architecture & Design, Furniture & Interiors. ]
Thin enough to slide under your door yet able to transform into full-size tables, chairs, bookcases and more, flat-pack furniture isn’t just incredibly clever. This modern rethinking of furniture assembly is super-convenient, using slots and tabs rather than tools and fasteners. Best of all, flat-pack furniture is often made from a single piece of material and gets green points for ultra-compact shipping.
Typography-Inspired ‘Chair’ Chair
With all of the pieces in front of you, there’s absolutely no doubt what this collection of flat-pack components is meant to create. Somehow, it just works out brilliantly that each letter in the word ‘chair’ happens to be ideally shaped, with an A as the back, a C as a seat and the R and H serving as legs stabilized by an I.
Flat-Pack Modular ‘Pizza Box’ Furniture
Imagine getting a pizza box dropped off at your door and magically turning it into a full-sized desk. Well, not a pizza box, exactly – more like an insanely clever pack of cardboard pieces that fit together into various configurations. Each set contains five slotted board modules that can be connected with other sets to create all manner of storage space, tables, benches and more.
Packing Boxes Double as Furniture
Let’s say you’re on the move a lot – so much, that it barely seems worthwhile to have any furniture. Enter ‘Move’ – moving boxes that, once emptied of your belongings, can be folded into chairs and bedside tables. “Move is a packing box which can be folded and reused as furniture once it is unpacked,” says designer Janine Perkuhn. “Re-usage and eco-material make Move sustainable and inexpensive at the same time. Corrugated cardboard is bio-degradable, 100% recyclable and yet extremely stable.”
All-in-One Flat-Pack Room
Functional furniture and privacy in a dorm, loft, office or other open living/working environment rarely go together in a way that’s simple and stylish, but this flat-pack room set makes it possible. Two standard-size plywood boards on hinges have perforated sections that fold out to form bookcases, work surfaces and a bed/seating area. Lightweight and easy to move around at will, they can be combined into modular rooms that act as dividers, but retain an airy feel.
Doca Autunno Graphic Flat-Pack Table & Bookcase
(images via: cubeme)
Colorful, fun and lightweight, the Doca Autunno flat-pack table folds together from a single piece of cardboard like origami. Put more than one $65 unit together, and you can create bookcases that are surprisingly sturdy given the seemingly impermanent nature of the material.
Space-Saving Fold-Out Furniture Mat
One of the biggest challenges of small-space living is figuring out how to arrange furniture so that it folds up out of the way, but is also easily accessible. The ‘Land Peal’ fold-out furniture mat by Shin Yamashita packs an incredible amount of function into what’s essentially an area rug. A desk, a chair, a lamp and other furniture components emerge from its folds for a mini-room ideal for the tiniest of living spaces.
Flat-Pack Antiques by Studiobility
Let’s face it, flat-pack furniture is not generally made for those with romantic tastes. It’s modern and minimalist, lacking the decorative details that many people crave. But this set of “flatpack antiques” by Icelandic design firm Studiobility’s curvy legs and subtle raised patterns maintain flat-pack convenience while also offering a little something extra in the looks department.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could forgo the nightmarishly vague instructions and pile of tools, and simply assemble furniture using slots and tabs? This set of flat-pack furniture not only minimizes waste by creating all the pieces out of a single sheet of plywood, but makes them incredible simple to set up.
Fold-Out Table to Small, Light Portfolio
Despite their space-saving abilities, fold-up tables still aren’t exactly easy for a single person to carry from one location to another. This folding desk, display counter or kitchen table by Robert Halsbeck has an intuitive design that utilize the legs as a convenient carry handle, with the whole package no larger than a portfolio.
Green Flat-Pack Office Furniture for 400
How do you furnish a gigantic warehouse of office space for 400 employees – without racking up a whopper of a carbon footprint? A design firm called ‘Because We Can’ came up with an ingenius solution: making the whole kit and kaboodle flat-pack, from conference tables and benches to cubicle hooks and document bins.
Interactive Puzzle-Piece Modular Furniture
Furniture that fits together like a puzzle isn’t just visually stimulating, it’s fun to put together as well – and this plywood furniture series by Paul Bellila even allows you to try your hand at creating some organic and unexpected shapes.
Flat Jack Bookcase Transformation
From three notched sections of X-board to a bookcase in minutes – check out the transformation of the Flat Jack, which is made with 100% post-consumer paper waste. This award-winning design cuts back on materials and drastically reduces shipping weight, earning designer Ross Gardam the Living Edge award for sustainability.
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Prefabricated buildings and flat-pack furniture blend creative designs with sustainable style using portability, modularity and the possibility of mass-production.
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[ WebUrbanist - By Steph in Architecture & Design, Furniture & Interiors. ]
[ By Steve in Gadgets & Geek Art, Games & Gaming, Various Uncategorized. ]
Stained glass… this ancient and ethereal medium combining art with engineering has long been associated with churches, cathedrals and other such houses of the holy. Times have changed, however, and this iconic art form with roots in medieval times is being used today to pay homage to what geeks hold to be holy. From the Middle Ages to Middle Earth, there’s nothing like stained glass to bring pleasure from pane.
Celebrity Saints
You might not find frozen tableaus of St. Elvis, St. Christina Aguilera and St. Mr. T. (“I pity the fool who doesn’t bow down to me!”) in your average house of worship – Elvis is immortalized at the Hard Rock Cafe in Dallas, TX – but you must admit the stained glass treatment gives these not-quite-saintly celebrities a heavenly glow.
Mario’s Mushroom
(images via: Technabob)
Amy Leigh Davis of Radiance Art has warmed the heart of every gamer with this stained glass Super Mario Bros mushroom. Early video game themes and stained glass seem made for each other – must be the blocky 8-bit format with its big ‘ol pixels.
Glazed Arcade
(image via: Infinite Lives)
If the Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade in Portland, Oregon is a shrine to games and gaming, then what better subject for a stained glass window than a classic arcade game? In this case, Dig Dug. Just don’t try putting any quarters in the slot, or Ground Kontrol’s bouncer will ensure it’s Game Over for you.
Window On The East
(images via: 56 Minus 1)
When is stained glass art not stained glass art? When its plastered across t-shirts designed by – who else – Plastered T-shirts. One wonders what the politburo back in Beijing thinks of these stained glass style tributes to icons of Chinese communism Mao Zedong, Lei Feng, and Deng Xiaoping?
Fragile Computing
(images via: Walyou and Boredstop)(images via: Walyou and Boredstop)
One thing the ancients had to do without when planning stained glass windows for the great cathedrals of Europe was CAD – computer-aided design. They would have loved this stained glass case mod from made from Canery wood, copper, and lead, highlighted by stained glass panels on all sides.
Glass With Character
(images via: Geekadelphia, Sevencubed and Laernath/Deviantart)
Video game characters like Pyramid Head from the Silent Hill video game series come alive (in a matter of speaking) when portrayed in stained glass. Just look at his sword… it practically leaps off the page, seeming to glow with reflected and refracted light.
Classy & Glassy
(images via: Northerngeek, Topless Robot and Geek Central Station)
The above selection highlights some of the more interesting ways geek culture can be invoked through the medium of stained glass. While the Optimus Prime stained glass window is surely a photoshop creation, full props go out for the concept and the visual impact factor. As for the delightful Tardis in warm blue, we’re certain Doctor Who would find it well worth making a house call.
Window Wars
(images via: Geek Central Station)
It’s curtains for you, Vader! Alas, it’s also most every window’s fate though it would truly be a shame to mask one iota of this wondrous piece by the appropriately named craftsperson GeekyGlass. By opting for simplicity, the artist evokes the essence of Star Wars’ epic contest of good vs evil.
Heroine Worship
(images via: Through Eyes From Afar)
Another digital creation but awesome regardless, this celebration of “Haruhism” gently mocks the near-fanatical devotion fans in Japan and worldwide have for the anime goddess. Kudos to Snowpuma at Deviantart for composing this meticulous tribute. To quote, “Now with more blasphemy!”
Signing Off
(image via: TV Mercenary)
What better way to close an examination of geek stained glass than with an SMPTE color bar test pattern, often the last thing TV watchers would see after semi-dozing through yet another B-movie (or better yet, an MST3K trashing of one). Glass dismissed!
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[ WebUrbanist - By Steve in Gadgets & Geek Art, Games & Gaming, Various Uncategorized. ]
[ By Steph in Architecture & Design, Guerilla Action & Art, Urban & Street Art. ]
As colorful as life in the city can be, things aren’t always rosy – especially in gloomy, grimy neighborhoods where everything seems to be hard, cold and monochromatic. But if artist Mark Reigelman had his way, we’d all go about our days a bit more cheerfully thanks to unexpected urban art installations that perch glass birds on telephone poles, turn fire hydrants into flower vases and transform bus stops into cozy homes.
After all, there’s something joyous about a bunch of flowers, however humble in their paper wrappings – which is why Reigelman chose to model his ‘wrap planters’ after exactly that shape. 18 of these curving concrete planters line the streets in Cleveland, making up one of his rare permanent installations. Reigelman prefers the spontaneity and freedom of temporary installations, but some are more fleeting than others, like the guerrilla redecorated bus shelter that was torn down by city workers the very next day.
“Some people call it being creative, other call it being crazy,” Reigelman told Inside Out. “I have always been creative(crazy) although I did not realize I could be creative(crazy) for a living until my junior year in high school. Once my art teacher told me, ‘Mark, you can do this as a career’, my whole life changed. I think my exact response was, ‘Ms. B, are you f#*@ing serious?!’”
In addition to urban installations, Reigelman creates gallery pieces that are equal parts product design and commentary – albeit tongue-in-cheek. His ‘Shadows’ series of stainless steel wall-mounted bookshelves in the shape that the books’ shadow would create is subtitled “Assigning Function to Shadows.” To “Happiness is a Warm Gun (Pillow)”, Reigelman adds “Bringing Comfort and Safety Into The Home.”
“Wit and humor are absolutely essential. Honestly, there is not a more important element in my work. Anyone can draw a chair and build the goddamn thing. It’s the intimate life and personality in my work that makes it unique. If you ever hear me in my studio laughing maniacally, chances are I am working on something particularly awesome.”
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Wonderfully creative urban street art. These photographs, taken around town in London and even shown in galleries, are just a small portion of his “little people” collection.
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[ WebUrbanist - By Steph in Architecture & Design, Guerilla Action & Art, Urban & Street Art. ]
[ By Delana in Architecture & Design, Gadgets & Geek Art, Urban & Street Art. ]
Great art is, by necessity, innovative and adaptable. It breaks rules, defies logic, and twists about in ways that we never saw coming. The photography of Miroslav Tichý takes everything we thought we knew about photography and turns it on its head, giving us a catalog of work that is at once carelessly incomplete and remarkably full. Where most photographers treat their work with gentle hands, Tichý threw his in corners, burned it for warmth, stacked it in piles and let it succumb to the elements. But today enough of it remains that we can still catch a glimpse inside the mind of this brilliantly eccentric artist.
MT Inv. no.: 7-(3-)6, courtesy of Foundation Tichy Ocean
Miroslav Tichý was born in 1926 into a turbulent Czechoslovakia. He studied art at the Academy of Arts in Prague and was thought of as a talented painter, but he grew frustrated when the academy stopped providing nude models for his paintings. He dropped out and became isolated, with mental illness and a harsh government both working to squelch his creativity. By the late 1950s he was no longer painting. In 1972, after being institutionalized, the artist’s studio was taken away.
MT Inv. no.: 1-35 and 1-41, courtesy of Foundation Tichy Ocean
After turning his back on the art world, however, Tichý would find a new passion: his own unique blend of photography and drawing. He set out with homemade cameras, often fashioned from discarded materials like cardboard toilet paper tubes, tapes and eyeglasses – and he took photographs of unsuspecting women. He printed the photographs himself with a homemade enlarger, and often embellished them by drawing directly on them with pencil or giving them carefully-constructed paper frames bearing hand-drawn decorations.
MT Inv. no.: OT-244, 3-(8-)23, 2-192, and 3-(8-)22 courtesy of Foundation Tichy Ocean
Tichý’s work is voyeuristic on the surface; he documented the beauty that he saw in Communist Czechoslovakia, embodied in women he saw on the streets. The women tolerated his presence, largely because they didn’t believe the homemade cameras he pointed at them were real. But the images he created of them show the careful artist’s soul that has always resided in the sometimes-unkempt body.
MT Inv. no.: 4-1 and 2-250, courtesy of Foundation Tichy Ocean
The blurry, oddly-framed photographs were exceptionally subversive for their time; long before the Velvet Revolution, artists and students were creating works that exemplified their desires for freedom of expression. Tichý created images that are dream-like but gritty, utterly personal and a little creepy, but deliberate and almost documentary-like in nature. The artist not only admired the forms of these women; he identified with their conspiratorial whispers and giggling confessions to one another.
MT Inv. no.: 3-(8-)15 and 3-(8-)24, courtesy of Foundation Tichy Ocean
Miroslav Tichý is now in his 80s and confronting international attention to his work for the first time ever. For many years his photographs simply lay about, scattered carelessly on the floor and any available surface, until friend and neighbor Roman Buxbaum rescued the body of work. Buxbaum promoted the artist’s work and directed the documentary that is now being shown alongside Tichý’s photographs.
MT Inv. no.: 1-30, 2-232 and 1-32, courtesy of Foundation Tichy Ocean
It would be simple to dismiss this man’s work as the perverted photographs of a lecherous old man, but there is so much more to these pictures of the female form. The deliberate shunning of modern photographic equipment, the secret nature of his snapshots, the complete isolation in which Tichý created his prints and the obscene indifference he showed to his work all contribute to the air of mystery surrounding the body of work.
MT Inv. no.: 3-(8-)27 and 4-(3-)267, courtesy of Foundation Tichy Ocean
Although created with primitive equipment and tossed about for decades like worthless scraps, these photographs all share a strikingly modern beauty. Their folds, rips and stains only add to the suggestion of outsider art. But this trained artist is far from being an outsider; his work is now being admired by people all around the world.
MT Inv. no.: 1-17 and 3-(8-)35, courtesy of Foundation Tichy Ocean
The first show of Tichý’s photography was in the 2004 Seville Biennial. Since then, these beautiful (if slightly disturbing) photographs have been exhibited in shows across the globe. And while it may be difficult to reconcile one’s attraction to these subversive images with the feeling that these women have been somehow violated, it’s important to know that, in the hands of this fascinating artist, the beauty of these impromptu models was never taken for granted.
All photographs used with permission from Foundation Tichy Ocean.
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[ WebUrbanist - By Delana in Architecture & Design, Gadgets & Geek Art, Urban & Street Art. ]
[ By Angie in Architecture & Design, Gadgets & Geek Art, Urban Images. ]
Sculptures are an important form of public art which have morphed significantly over the centuries. They can be created from almost anything and often include found objects which were not designed for artistic purposes. Some sculptures are built from stone and are meant to be as permanent as possible. Others are made to be purposefully short-lived. Then there’s almost a cult of alien-type sculptures which may prove interesting in the future when present day art as is viewed as a historic glimpse into the human race. Here’s 40 modern-day sculptures, ranging from cool to creepy.
Marc Da Cunha Lopes – SKLT
Sculptures can be thought provoking but also manipulated in photography. Photographer Marc Da Cunha Lopes presented a photo series titled SKLT. The images are three-dimensional skeletons of massive creatures within semi-industrial abandoned buildings. The work represents the nature of archaeology combined with how we as humans leave our landscapes “riddled with skeletons of many different sorts.”
Metal: Terminator & Alien Queen
Scaring people, it’s not just for Halloween. In fact, metal sculptures of terminators and aliens can be found in numerous countries from tiny to huge. The life-sized terminator would either be a conversation starter or scare your neighbors. The Alien Queen sculpture weighs in at about 1,200 pounds. 90% of this Alien comes from recycled motorcycle parts. If you think she’s frightening, you should meet her mate.
Alien King
The Alien King sculpture contains over 4,000 unique parts including pieces of a car, a boat, a dishwasher, a motorbike, a television and other recycled steel. Aliens are vicious, primal, horrifying creatures. They “live in a hive, follow a queen to the death, and simply hunt to survive.” The Alien King and the Predator stand over 7 1/2 feet tall.
Star Wars and Aliens
Recycled and repurposed parts have long been used for Steampunk style sculptures. Star Wars stormtrooper, Boba Fett, and another alien were spotted in the Al Jabber gallery at Dubai’s Mall of Emirates.
Metal Junk To Art
Joe Pogan makes animal sculptures from “found metal” objects. He hides interesting objects in his welded art sculptures. Pogan stated, “The stranger the piece of metal the better, since the end goal is an eye-catching, fascinating amalgamation of metal with odd nooks and crannies you can explore for hours.”
San Francisco Toothpick Sculpture
Scott Weaver spent over 30 years working on constructing San Francisco from toothpicks. His sculpture took 3,000 hours, more than 100,000 toothpicks, and cases of Elmer’s glue to build his 9 foot tall city. It has 15 feet of internal tracks to roll ping-pong balls starting at various entrances and all winding their way to the bottom. Weaver turned down a $40,000 offer from Ripley’s Believe It or Not for his rendition of downtown San Francisco.
Underwater Sculptures
Artificial reefs are disguised as sculptures in the oceans. Jason de Caires Taylor’s underwater sculptures literally come to life. In Grenada, West Indies, 26 life-sized figures await divers to view them in their underwater playground. The Vicissitudes were cast from children with diverse ethnic backgrounds now living 14 feet below the surface.
Harbin Ice Sculptures
In Harbin, China, massive ice sculptures were illuminated from both the inside and outside at the 26th annual International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. The ice was harvested from the frozen surface of the Songhua River and then turned into large scale, temporary sculptures.
Shi Jinsogn
Shi Jinsong creates razor-sharp baby accessories. His stainless steel sculptures are part of his Na Zha Baby Boutique exhibition. The sadistic tricycle, cradle, rocking horse, stroller and walker are only the sharp tip of his artistic creations.
Large Lego Sculptures
Nathan Sawaya creates his sculptures out of Lego bricks. These 3-dimensional sculptures range from portraits, large scale replicas and smaller scale Lego brick art. Sawaya suggests a Lego project can be a big as your imagination and your wallet.
Cards
Bryan Berg builds his sculptures from playing cards. He has stacked cards in the U.S., Canada, across Europe, and Asia. This Harvard trained architect broke the Guinness World Record for the World’s Tallest House of Freestanding Playing Cards in 1992 at the age of seventeen. His latest record-holding sculpture is over 25 feet tall.
Creepy & Disturbing Sculptures
Then there’s really creepy, strange sculptures. These by Olivier De Sagazan give voice to the unspeakable. One person’s art is another person’s nightmare. His disturbing sculptures depict the perforation of the body by a foreign element, weapons, and instruments of torture.
Eternal Love
In Victoria, Australia, there is a sculpture at Mt Macedon Cemetery to depict a wife’s eternal love for her husband. In 1930, this was considered risqué. Yet when Laurence Matheson died, his wife commissioned this sculpture as an expression of her undying love for him.
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[ WebUrbanist - By Angie in Architecture & Design, Gadgets & Geek Art, Urban Images. ]
[ By Elizah in Architecture & Design, Environment & Nature, Urban & Street Art. ]
When you’re awarded the highly coveted position of official host city to the world’s latest, greatest and inarguably grandest exhibition fair, you better be prepared to spend some major dinero (or in this case, Yuan) to put on the glitz. At a personal expense of $4.2 billion dollars, China is definitely pulling out the stops for the anticipated 70 million visitors of their upcoming Shanghai World Expo, taking place in the Pudong District along the bank of the Huangpu River from May 1 to October 31, 2010. Their developing nation status should be easily forgotten now that they’re embracing a 21st century cultural and economic sensibility as reflected in their Expo theme “Better City – Better Life”. It will be hard to outshine China’s ambitious pavilion plans, but with 42 additional countries setting up shop for the duration of the event and enormous budgets being earmarked for their own respective architectural spectacles, the proof’s in the pudding. Behold the most eye-catching, heart-stopping, structurally visionary creations that visitors will be treated to when they plunk down their $24 admission fee.
Australia’s Pavilion
Inspired by the colossal and entirely sacred Ayers Rock landmark that juts out of the Northern Territory of Australia, their color-changing “Uluru” pavilion emulates the earthy ochre-red appearance of its namesake due to the gradually-oxidizing steel façade. At an expense of $76 million, the land down under asks its pavilion guests to discover the real Australia through a combination of “ImagiNation” cultural exhibits, interactive displays, artistic representations of their history and…naturally, the indigenous tastes of their distinctive cuisine.
Brazil’s Pavilion
Said to be among the largest of all the pavilion structures this year, Brazil’s rectangular design – created by Architect Fernando Brandão — pays homage to Beijing’s 2008 Olympic Game National Stadium (a.k.a the “Bird’s Nest”). Its “Pulsing Cities” theme acknowledges how Brazil continues to pursue sustainable development while still balancing the livelihood of its residents. The unusual looking design — composed of a metallic framework with thousands upon thousands of recycled wooden pieces interlocking within a mesh exterior — is taken one step further with the addition of a liberal coat of retina-searing green paint. It offers a complementary backdrop to their goal of educating the public about the country’s strategic management of their precious natural resources and dedication to using green energy alternatives.
Denmark’s Pavilion
One of the most notable features of Denmark, which was brought to light during the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, is its bicycle friendly infrastructure – an integral design component in their roof top pavilion. Incorporating 1500 eco-friendly two wheelers for visitors to take advantage of, the Danish Pavilion revolves around the notion that its traditional fairy tales can be appreciated while attendees put their pedals to the metal so to speak. The spiral knot-tied architecture – really just a looping bicycle and pedestrian-friendly ramp — contains a pond at its core as well as the original “Little Mermaid” statue from Copenhagen Harbor.
France’s Pavilion
With a “Sensual City” design scheme, the tres cultural birthplace of impossibly thin supermodel women who perpetually indulge in croissants, gallons of wine and decadent truffles is shelling out $74.4 million to bankroll their water-surrounded, seemingly floating 6,000 square foot structure. Purportedly a “shining example of energy efficiency and recycling techniques,” the airy box-woven design – which contains lush French-style gardens within – is (unlike its brethren) constructed for long term permanence and will be given to China as a gift after the Expo has concluded. Those who appreciate artistic masterpieces will be able to get their fix when France displays works from such masters as Rodin, Millet and Van Gogh, all under its lush, botanical ensconced pavilion roof.
Germany’s Pavilion
Architect Lennart Wiechell is the brainchild behind Germany’s $67 million 6,000 square foot pavilion, which reflects the theme of balance amid cultural identity, globalization, modernization and preservation. With four separate architectural components, the unit as whole appears to be precariously positioned, and yet that’s the whole point of the design – to convey a sense of intrinsic support when all the features work together as a unit. The piece de resistance, located in the “source of power” exhibition hall, is a 3 meter wide, 1.2 ton, noise and movement activated revolving metal sphere studded with 400,000 LED lights.
Great Britain’s Pavilion
Reflecting the relationship between the built environment and what exists untouched in Mother Nature, the outrageously audacious 20-meter-high porcupine-like Seed Cathedral consists of 60,000 narrow 7 meter long translucent fiber optic acrylic rods, each tip embedded with varying seeds that are representative of the ensured future and longevity of mankind. Designed by the innovative, forward-thinking and internationally acclaimed team of Heatherwick Studio, the product of their efforts has to be the most extraordinarily risky yet phenomenally successful example of modern art on an architectural level. Radiating ambient light during the day and a self-illuminating structural glow once the sun goes down, the design even responds to breeze patterns by undulating accordingly, providing a multi-sensory event for all to witness.
Italy’s Pavilion
Have you ever seen a shimmering vision in concrete? Italy’s modular pavilion slabs, embedded with optical glass fibers, yield a 3,600-square-meter structure that appears to be translucent in nature and ever-changing as the sun progresses through the sky. Consisting of 20 unique shapes representative of the county’s distinctive geographical regions and bound together by intersecting lines (or “pick up sticks”), the most interesting thing about this design is that it will be recycled and reconfigured simply by removing the anchoring pieces.
The Netherlands’ Pavilion
Designer John Kormeling’s Dutch Pavilion, entitled “Joy Street”, is a literal figure-eight-shaped assemblage of 26 mismatched yet oddly harmonious structures that come together in cartoonishly cheerful nature. Seemingly plucked straight from the pages of a classic Seussian tale, the artist did his best to embody the classic traditional architectural styles emblematic of his country while also paying close attention to sustainable and eco-responsible factors. Honoring Chinese traditions of luck and good fortune, the eight shaped appearance is just as strategic a design decision as the exterior paint color of decisive, statement-making red (which is in the process of being slathered on).
Poland’s Pavilion
The site of three ecologically treasured circumboreal regions, Poland is known for many unique national treasures — including Maria Curie, distinctive baroque architecture, delectable pierogi — and now they can add their absolutely stunning folk-art inspired 3,000 square meter pavilion to the list. Reflecting the look of traditional hand cut, intricately patterned paper, the exterior of the entirely original architectural masterpiece is composed mainly of laser-cut plywood with polycarbonate, glass, hydro and/or UV resistant panel wall accents which also serve as movie screens upon which Polish cultural films will be shown. It is worth noting that the design team of Wojciech Kakowski, Natalia Paszkowska and Marcin Mostafa earned top honors in the design category of the 2010 EXPO’s architectural pavilion offerings for their eye-catching concept.
Russia’s Pavilion
Yet another imaginative design seemingly torn from the pages of a treasured story book, the inspiration for the Russian pavilion actually stems from the historical patterns found on women’s clothing and the desire to present a magical world as seen through the eyes of a child. When you look past the pleasing textural contradictions, the 6,000 square meter design encompasses one 15 meter tall main structure linked to 12 irregularly shaped red, white and gold 20 meter tall towers (which represent the full calendar year).
Saudi Arabia’s Pavilion
Saudi Arabia’s surreal $146 million pavilion desert scape – believed to be the most expensive among the 2010 World Expo offerings — is distinctive not only for its natural contrasts but particularly for the top deck of its suspended “moon boat” shaped structure. Boasting water features as well as 150 rooftop date palms, it has the extra-added bonus of a 1,600 square-meter cinema screen (about a quarter the size of a soccer pitch), reportedly the largest one on earth.
Spain’s Pavilion
With its steel inner workings and 8,524 multi-colored, waterproofed, woven wicker exterior tiles, Spain’s $2.6 million 8,500 square meter structure is unlike anything else that will be on display at the 2010 World Expo. One of the visual benefits of using rattan covered exterior panels is that an ethereal light streaming effect is generated which also helps to ensure that the inner structure maintains a comfortably consistent temperature. Furthermore, if you look closely at the beige brown and black exterior, you can identify Chinese characters that are representative of natural elements such as the moon and the sun.
Switzerland’s Pavilion
Switzerland’s inspiringly sustainable yin and yang concept, created by Buchner Brundler Architects, is immediately striking due to its exterior biodegradable soybean fiber curtain which breaks down within two weeks after being covered with soil. Incorporating dye-sensitized electricity-generating solar cells, the curtain conveys a forest like appearance that appears to illuminate from within long after the sun has set. The 4,000 square meter pavilion, which cost $18.52 million to execute, even has a rooftop cable car system which leads visitors to a flowering meadow.
Turkey’s Pavilion
Daring to make its competition quiver with intimidation and a severe inferiority complex, the fantastically dramatic 2,000 square foot Turkey pavilion embraces its cultural roots by recreating design elements found in Neolithic “Catalhoyuk” settlements and adhering to a “Cradle of Civilization” theme. Never has a red and beige tinted box looked so good with its built-in animal sculpture, artistic open air cutouts and maze like interior swirl.
The United Arab Emirates’ Pavilion
Always inclined to embrace a ‘bigger is better’ philosophy, the UAE’s 6,000 square foot “Sand Dune” pavilion seems to defy the laws of architectural physics with its somewhat undulating appearance which mimics what might happen if a gust of wind were to lift up a patch of desert sand and help it to take flight. In actuality, the Empty Quarter sand dunes are its fitting artistic inspiration. Interestingly, the north side of the structure allows sunlight to stream in while the south side is impervious so that solar heating is minimized. Even more remarkable is the fact that the country, long criticized for its irresponsible excess and lack of eco-responsibility, is surprisingly breaking down the entire pavilion at the event’s conclusion and reassembling somewhere in the UAE.
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[ WebUrbanist - By Elizah in Architecture & Design, Environment & Nature, Urban & Street Art. ]
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