Architecture

Whether you think "architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness," like Frank Gehry, or that "architecture is not an inspirational business, it's a rational procedure to do sensible and hopefully beautiful things; that's all," like Harry Seidler, advances in materials and design continue to expand the architect's play book with buildings that reach for the skies and connect us to the earth.

Architecture

Cave-like art museum is buried in sand dunes

Adam Williams November 16, 2018

Following three years of construction, Beijing's Open Architecture has completed a new art museum that is integrated into sand dunes. The UCCA Dune Art Museum is almost totally covered by sand and has an interior made up of cave-like spaces.

The UCCA Dune Art Museum consists of a complex concrete shell that was largely handmade by ...

Architecture

Underwater hotel suite lets guests sleep with the fishes

Adam Williams November 13, 2018

Well-heeled visitors to the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island resort can now book a stay in a one-of-a-kind underwater hotel villa. Named Muraka, it features an expansive curved acrylic roof and allows guests to sleep beneath the waves without getting wet.

Room with an (underwater) view: guests at the Muraka will be given curated menus and have ...

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Google's new office takes shelter inside a historic aircraft hangar

Adam Williams November 13, 2018

ZGF Architects recently completed a new Los Angeles office for Google. The building is actually built inside another building – a massive restored wooden hangar that was once home to the famous "Spruce Goose" aircraft.

The Google Spruce Goose Hangar has a total floorspace of 450,000 sq ft (41,800 sq m), ...

Architecture

Zaha Hadid Architects co-designs new Russian neighborhood

Adam Williams November 9, 2018

Following the Admiral Serebryakov Embankment and Sberbank Technopark projects, Zaha Hadid Architects' Russian takeover continues with a massive new commission in the country. The firm has been chosen with several others to design and build an entire new neighborhood near Moscow.

The new neighborhood is named Rublyovo-Arkhangelskoye and will be located to the west of Moscow

Architecture

On the right track: Calgary's stunning new library is built atop a rail line

Adam Williams November 9, 2018

Snøhetta and Dialog drew inspiration from local Chinook cloud arch formations when designing Canada's Calgary Central Library. The building is situated in a very challenging plot that incorporates an existing light rail track and wows visitors with an eye-catching timber-lined atrium.

The total cost for Calgary Central Library came in at CAD 245 million (roughly US$187 million)

Architecture

Carme Pinós nestles a nature-oriented folding shelter into Melbourne parkland

Nick Lavars November 8, 2018

Each year, the Queen Victoria Gardens in the heart of Melbourne plays host to an eye-catching popup pavilion designed by an internationally acclaimed architect. This time around it was esteemed Spanish designer and educator Carme Pinós who took the reins.

In designing the new MPavilion, Carme Pinós sought to come up with a way to connect ...

Architecture

Residential building made from 140 shipping containers

Adam Williams November 8, 2018

We've covered a lot of shipping container-based architecture projects but this one, by New York City and Naples-based firm Lot-ek, is larger than most. Named Drivelines Studios, it's a residential project in South Africa that's made from a total of 140 recycled shipping containers.

Drivelines Studios is located on an awkward triangular site in Johannesburg

Architecture

Conceptual shelter envisions small living on Mars

Adam Williams November 6, 2018

During a recent Beijing event focused on the future of housing, Open Architecture and Xiaomi unveiled a tiny shelter for Mars. It's all very conceptual and there's no suggestion the dwelling will actually be installed on the Red Planet, but it's interesting to see architects tackle the idea.

The Mars Case shelter is inspired by Henry David Thoreau's book Walden and his experience living ...

Architecture

Sustainable earthquake-resistant skyscraper crowned world's best high-rise

Adam Williams November 2, 2018

Following an international architecture competition, LBR&A Architectos' Torre Reforma has been declared the winner of the International Highrise Award. Chosen from over 1,000 towers built in the past two years, the office building was hailed for its innovative earthquake-resistant design.

Torre Reforma is Mexico City's tallest building and rises to a height of 809 ft (246 ...

Architecture

World's tallest statue opens to the public in India

Michael Irving November 1, 2018

Right on schedule, the world’s tallest statue has officially opened in India. Standing almost 600 ft (182 m) tall, the new Statue of Unity depicts Indian freedom fighter Vallabhbhai Patel, and was dedicated by India’s Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at a ceremony on October 31.

The Statue of Unity, the tallest statue in the world, has officially opened to the public