a personal online sketchbook

CARchitecture 1: Porsche

2010-08-10T22:09:00.002+01:00

I came across this wonderful Porsche Museum dedicated to exhibiting the history of the corporation. The exterior of the building did not appeal to me, but the interior, and particularly the details on the stairs were breathtaking. Credit have to be given to the photographer Michael Schnell, however, for capturing such elegant shots of the building.

The interior of the exhibition hall is designed to "convey a sense of arrival and approachability", guiding the visitors throughout the different spaces. It is located in Stuttgart, joining the Porsche plant and the Porsche Center at the historic birthplace of sports cars bearing the Porsche logo since the 1950s.

Promenade

2010-07-08T15:23:00.001+01:00

Promenade is a word that I came across several times within the past few days without really knowing what it means. The definition in the dictionary says "a leisurely walk in a public space or a social activity", and the intervention by OAB in Benidorm's sea front is a perfect visual aid of what the word means.

Benidorm was developed in the 1960s as tourist oriented with the construction of hotels and skyscrapers along the coast. Before the intervention, a long stretch of the seaside (1.5km) ran parallel to a four lane road and ground level parking spaces. (Unfortunately, this is how the beaches surrounding our beautiful island of Bahrain look at the present time) In the 70s, it was covered with paving and the sea views were obstructed with a 1.2m high concrete balustrade which provided access to the sand every 200 meters.

The intervention was aimed to improve the seafront facade by creating a coherent access to the beach and a visual relationship between the sea and the city. A method that proved to be much more successful for tourism than invading the seafront with high rise buildings. The new "promenade" serves as a transition between the skyscrapers and the beach. The structure consist of walls of white concrete with terraces, garden plots, stairs and ramps, animated by a joyful interplay of coloured tiles. The concave and convex shapes and surfaces are inspired from the waves and cliffs. The result is not only a transitional space, but an area with its own lifestyle allowing for play, leisure and meditation.

The Beauty of Architectural Drawings

2010-07-01T13:07:00.000+01:00

Found these wonderful plan and section drawings which I just had to post here. The drawings are of a conceptual house designed for a competition by Greek architects. For more info click here...

Design as Reform

2010-06-27T19:10:00.004+01:00

I wonder what makes a Manhattan based design studio like RUX think of entering a mosque design competition after designing a condom wrapper and a vodka bottle, and amazingly winning the competition.

The competition is called Design as Reform and is arranged by Traffic, a Dubai based art and design practice founded in 2007 which includes a store, gallery and studio. In the second edition of their competition, the focus was on design through the reapplication of existing Arab forms, preserving authenticity of the Arab culture in the age of mass production and exportation. The competition, open to both students and professionals, has been divided into four categories that address different aspects of the urban landscape of everyday Arab life, which consist of a mosque (architecture), majlis (interior design), a pattern (graphic design), and a public installation (experimental design).

The mosque winning entry has a very interesting idea behind it, although it is one of those unpractical ideas that can only work inside the imagination of a designer, and not real life. The idea is rather than designing a mosque as a building with doors and walls, the mosque here is an urban plaza. Designed as a "developer's tool", this public space orientated towards the qibla, would extend this "sense of community" towards the surrounding buildings. Although a romantic idea, as the category falls under architecture, I am afraid that it does not address key issues, most obvious is climatic considerations. The project also assumes that a mosque has the single function of serving as a space for praying, where in fact in most mosques, lectures are given, children are being educated in religion, and many mosques have adjacent halls for special occasions like weddings and funerals.

Most importantly, as the competition aims for preserving the authenticity of the Arabic culture, the idea of a public square is not really that common in the urban fabric of Arab cities. Public outdoors spaces, like a market for example, are usually narrow and shaded by surrounding buildings. I guess the main reason for ignoring these issues is the fact that the design strategy was to serve as a "developer's tool"!

The majlis entry was another interesting one, one which I thought was much more successful in addressing the theme of the competition. Designed by German interior designers 22 Quadrat, the project is called "white space" and combines a minimalistic aesthetic with references to the Islamic tradition of abstract art. The building provides separate divisions for men and women yet with the flexibility of being opened up.

Alila Villas Uluwatu

2010-06-24T12:23:00.000+01:00

As it is summer time yet here I am stuck in Manchester with nothing to do other than work and watching football, I thought about looking up some exotic holiday destinations. I came across this breathtaking resort called Alila Villas Uluwatu in Bali designed by Singapore based architects, WOHA.

The resort comprises of a 50 suite hotel with 35 residential villas, which start from around US$ 725 for a 1 bedroom villa and up to US$ 3300 for a 3 bedroom cliff side villa. The design fuses vernacular architecture with modern design, combining traditional Balinese pavilion architecture and rural landscapes with modern treatment of space and form. The hotel rooms are designed as inhabited gardens where sleeping eating and other relaxing activities take place. The villas are designed as pavilions linked by bridges across water gardens.

A key element in design approach was ecological sustainability. The design focused on preserving the site by avoiding cutting and filling the natural contours as well as maintaining all large trees and site vegetation. Materials are all sourced locally; either from Bali or the neighbouring island of Java. Craftsmen form Java and Bali worked on the interior furniture, which further promoted local materials.

Besides the recommended sustainable approaches such as water recycling, natural cooling, and low energy lighting, the resort also promotes nature awareness programs for guests, involves local community in activities outside of the resort as well as employing surrounding villagers.

The message that the resort aims at is that luxury does not mean excessive consumption, but instead delight and enjoyment of the natural beauty and sense of place... Through showcasing local skills, materials and vernacular elements, it confirms the local people's opinion that they live in a marvellous place that should be cherished and maintained.

More info can be found here and check this out for a wonderful flickr set

M'Afrique

2010-06-21T12:34:00.002+01:00

M'Afrique is an interesting exhibition that was inspired from Africa. Even though it took place a year ago in Milan, with all eyes on Africa at the moment I guess it is appropriate to show some of the contemporary culture of this continent from an artistic point of view.

Commissioned by Moroso, the exhibition was designed by Stephen Burks and took place in Moroso's showroom during Milan design week. The goal was to show the true colors of the African continent through works of contemporary art, photography, architecture and design. Many contributed to the exhibition, including acclaimed architect David Adjaye. But what caught my eye were the bright colourful furniture, handmade with African techniques. If only more and more companies promoted their products in such an artistic fashion. Here are some pictures of the exhibition...

More info can be found here and here and here

Qatar 2022 World Cup Bid

2010-06-19T23:55:00.016+01:00

When I first heard about Qatar's bid for hosting 2022 FIFA World Cup, I have to admit that I wasn't very thrilled about the idea. Even though I am a huge football enthusiast, having the most anticipated and most watched event in the whole world a little more than 40km away did not appeal to me. From the articles that I read, it seems that most people are concerned about the heat of the summer and how it will affect both players and fans, but my reservations are not about the weather. I'd rather watch the world cup on TV being held in a place like Mexico, Russia, or even Australia; a nation with some sort of history in the world cup, a country that qualified at least once. I am sure Qatar has a lot to offer, after all I think Qatar's opening ceremony and organization of the 2006 Asian Games were amazing. But should hosting the world cup be based just on capability?

One could argue that Bahrain were given the opportunity to take part in Formula 1, so did Abu Dhabi which also hosted the FIFA Club World Cup, without any connection to the sport whatsoever. And Qatar certainly have shown their capability in their development of the Education city, Aspire academy and other projects, and in the following images I think they certainly showed their will to succeed in this bid. Whether this will be enough to make for a special atmosphere to host the world cup, I still have my doubts.

The official bid consisted of 5 stadiums, 3 brand new and 2 existing ones that will be renovated. However, I have came across several images of other proposed stadiums but I included only 1 that caught my eye.

Al-Shamal Stadium

I am not the sort of person who saves best for last, so here is my favourite bit of Qatar's bid. A brand new stadium with a capacity of 45,120. The stadium's shape is derived from the "dhow", a traditional fishing boat used all around the Arabian Gulf, and will be built near the Bahrain-Qatar Friendship Bridge.

Al-Khor Stadium

A new stadium as well, with a capacity of 45,330 and inspired by the shape of a seashell. One notable feature is the retractable roof providing shade for both spectators and players.

Al-Wakra Stadium

The brand new 45,120 capacity Al-Wakrah stadium will be located in a sports complex that will consist of an aquatic centre, spa, sports facilities and a mall, located near the future route of the Doha express way.

Al-Gharafa Stadium

The existing 21,175 capacity Al-Gharafa stadium will be expanded to 44,740 seats with temporary modular elements forming an upper tier. The facade will be made up of ribbons representing the nations that qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, a gesture symbolizing the values of the tournament; mutual friendship, tolerance and respect.

Al-Rayyan Stadium

As in the case of Al-Gharafa Stadium, the existing Al-Rayyan Stadium with a seating capacity of 21,282 will be temporarily expanded to 44,740 seats using modular elements to form an upper tier, which will be removed after the tournament. The stadium is designed with a special "media facade" membrane that will act as a screen.

Tameem bin Hamad Stadium

Inspired from Qatar's culture, the stadium takes the shape of a traditional Bedouin tent, called in Arabic "Beit Al Sha'ar". It will have the capacity of 65,000 seats. However this stadium is not included in the official website for Qatar's bid.

For more info check out the official website for Qatar's bid and the flickr set for more images

Red Bull

2010-06-06T23:17:00.006+01:00

As a hardcore red bull addict, downing 2 cans a day is normal for me. So after stacking a wall full of cans I had this idea of doing something sculptural with them. I thought I would google red bull and see what I'd get, and to my astonishment I stumbled into this amazing Art of Can campaign that seems to have been going on for years.

The Red Bull Art of Can is a "nationwide hunt for creativity and is open to everyone". Exhibitions have been held since 1997 throughout the US, Europe and as far as New Zealand. The rules are simple. Buy a can of red bull, enjoy it, and instead of throwing it away do something creative with it. And it seems like artists are relishing the idea.

Red Bull have been having a fantastic marketing strategy. I guess it began with the slogan Red Bull gives you wings and it just spiralled aggressively. Besides sponsoring and owning numerous sports teams, it established the Red Bull Air Race and owns 2 F1 racing teams.

After disappointing seasons at the beginning, one of the teams, Red Bull Racing managed to climb up the constructors championship ladder. The team was leading this year's championship, but an incident between the two drivers while competing for the First and Second positions cost them dearly and at the moment the team is a point behind in second place.

From a simple beverage drink, this company managed to influence sports, engineering and the arts. I wonder what's next for them?

The pictures in this post are from the Red Bull Art of Can Exhibition that took place in London at 2005, more can be found at this flickr set.

Couchitecture

2010-05-31T22:41:00.009+01:00

Check out these wonderful posts about cardboard architecture, which consisted of an entertaining/comedic analysis on "cardboard fort architecture". The critics, who make up an American architectural practice called Build LLC, were fascinated by this underrated design methodology that goes back to every architect's basic instinct, back to their childhood design and build urges, which "helped us figure out the ABCs of design and construction... that helped us get where we are today. " It sort of reminded me of the projects we used to get as first year architecture students, projects like creating an architectural dish or a 1 pound tower.

These posts were very entertaining, but an earlier series on what they called "couch cushion architecture" really made my day. Just like the cardboard series, this couch series examines a more primal example than cardboard boxes as a material, and that is interior furniture. The analysis of each project consisted of light commentary and a mark on each project. Here are some of the submissions along with their evaluation as given by the critics:

A brilliant synergy between the weighted foundation and the light tensile structure, this project impressed us with its attenuation of structure and bright interior spaces. The courtyard and formal entry are also well thought-out and provide a clear means of way-finding.

Grade A+

The A-frame’s sound structural properties and ease of construction have long since proven their architectural merits. We applaud the use of red shag carpet as a departure from what would otherwise be a mere pedestrian form.
Grade: B+

This whimsical project draws inspiration from the classic Tuscan stone towers of Italy; where a taller tower symbolized an owner’s power and prosperity over neighboring structures. Unfortunately the design falls short of greatness with its lackadaisical cushion placement and poor choice of plaid.

Grade: C

While typically the stacked foundation technique leads to a stable and impressive base, this particular application seems dubious. Fraught with apparent labor strikes the project is rumored to have developed irreconcilable technical inadequacies and unresolved scheduling conflicts.
Grade: D-

Good God gentlemen, you’re a mess! You need walls, you need a roof. Get to work man!
Grade: F

Sea Orbiter

2010-05-28T18:29:00.004+01:00

It is often said that we know more about outer space than we know about the ocean, which makes up around 71% of our planet. So it is natural to hear that the technology for exploring the ocean base, which goes as deep as 11km, is as advanced as the technology used for outer space expeditions, if not more.

Recently, French architect Jacques Rougerie have designed a prototype called the Sea Orbiter, which should help scientists in exploring our oceans. This incredible project have garnered the backing of several international agencies including NASA. The Sea Orbiter is a huge floating vessel, with two thirds of this 51m high sail shaped structure submerged under water, allowing continuous underwater observation, twenty-four hours a day.

World Cup

2010-05-16T14:35:00.005+01:00

FIFA World Cup Trophy.

It hasn't been the best of times in my life lately, with too many distractions keeping me away from taking care of this blog. But as the most watched and anticipated sporting event is knocking on our doors, I felt like I had to say something about it. Well, at least from an artistic point of view.

The world cup trophy is perhaps the most beautiful sports award I have ever seen. Perhaps even the most beautiful award at all. Maybe even the most amazing sculptural piece ever made. Unlike its predecessor, also known as the Jules Rimet Trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy have really stood the test of time in terms of its aesthetics, and perhaps even contributed in increasing the popularity and possibly even the status of the World Cup as the ultimate sporting event across the world. Being a sports fan generally and football particularly, nothing have ever captured me as much as the beauty of this trophy.

This significant sculptural piece was designed by Silvio Gazzaniga, who hails -as one might predict- from a nation with a strong passion to the arts, football, fashion, and even though its irrelevant, food. The Italian sculptor from Milan designed the concept and collaborated with a Milanese trophy and medal manufacturer, GDE Bertoni, in its production and are still in charge of its maintenance in behalf of FIFA. The company's other notable trophies include the UEFA champions league, UEFA cup, UEFA super cup as well as many other trophies, perhaps most notable for its beauty is the new Arabian Gulf Cup.

Where the older trophy was a representation of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, this trophy represents the "joy and greatness of the athlete in the moment of triumph". According to the artist, the shapes of two athletes are reproduced through lines that rise spirally from the base to open on top to contain the world, outlined in an amazing dynamic tension of the body of the sculpture, which symbolizes the athletes effort and exertion while expressing harmony, simplicity and peace.

The trophy at 1974 when it was first awarded.

Saudi Arabia Pavilion for Shanghai Expo 2010

2010-04-30T19:52:00.012+01:00

I haven't been a good blogger as of late. But when I saw the design for Saudi Arabia's pavilion for Shanghai expo in Arch Daily blog and the comments that followed, I started writing my comment until I noticed that it was getting a bit longer than I expected. So I decided to drop everything else and post my comment here on this blog and simply post the link to it.

The Saudi Arabia Pavilion

I am from Bahrain, not Saudi Arabia, but still from the same Arabian Gulf (or Persian Gulf as the West like to call it). It is safe to say that people from that area share the same culture, mentality, and perhaps even taste. After seeing the design of the pavilion I have to say that I thought to myself that this is a typical combination of Western complete lack of sensibility and Arabian blind eagerness and naivety. It 's a very shallow and superficial design for a pavilion. And if that reflects anything, it would reflect the shallowness and poor artistic taste of the designers rather than the values of a whole society, which many people seem to be eager and happy to say.

It is clear that the bowl (which is attracting most of the criticism) itself is not inspired from Saudi Arabia but from Chinese tradition which represent good luck, which is stated in the video. And it is supposed to be a gesture symbolizing the friendship between Saudi Arabia and China. What is supposed to reflect the Saudi culture here is the Islamic decorations on the surface of the bowl, the palm trees and tent, which, in my humble opinion, does not reflect what the pavilion is intended to display. According to the official Expo website, "The pavilion showcases the Arabian wisdom in creating wonderful city life in spite of the severe natural environment without rivers or lakes." I mean just look at the delicate details in the mashrabiyas of Jeddah and how they respond to the environmental and social needs of the society. Look at the playfulness of the bright colors of the vernacular architecture at the south of Saudi Arabia in the harsh Arabian Desert. Or you can even ponder at the magnificence of the engraved temples of Mada'in Saleh which date back to the Nabataean Kingdom. I am sure one of these architectural examples would have inspired a better pavilion design.

Mashrabiyas in Old Jeddah

UAE pavilion

I said earlier "Western lack of sensibility" because I was assuming that the pavilion was designed by some European or American firm just like Foster designed UAE's pavilion, which I liked by the way. So I tried looking up who designed the pavilion, hoping to provide the evidence for those who jumped at the opportunity at criticizing a whole culture at the sight of few pictures of this pavilion. I did run into this blog though, which says that the pavilion "is a collaboration between architects from China and Saudi Arabia". And it was at this moment that I thought to myself again, "Now how can I prove those people, who are saying nasty things about our neighbours' artistic taste, wrong?"

I decided to look up other Arab pavilions, after all I was hoping to maybe visit this expo. Unfortunately I found out that most of the other Arab pavilion were very traditional and straightforward. As if the emphasis was not on being creative in design but more on building informative miniatures of what those nations are like. Again, I thought to myself, "This is very disappointing, I am sure that Arabs are better at architectural design than this. What can I show to prove this? Other than the magnificent mosques and palaces in Andalusia, Egypt and Turkey that existed for hundred of years, which are reflections of Islamic design more than Arabic?"

I remembered my visit to Venice Art Biennale. There I encountered two Arabic pavilions, UAE and Egypt. Now these are pavilions of art works, not architecture, but good taste can manifest itself in both I guess. The UAE pavilion wasn't that interesting with its models of modern developments in Abu Dhabi. But the Egyptian pavilion was an amazing experience. So I looked up the Egyptian pavilion in the Shanghai Expo, and yet another disappointment. Yes it was what can be called "modernly" designed, but I didn't feel that it will touch the visitors the way the art pavilion in Venice did.

Egyptian pavilion

Egyptian pavilion in Venice Art Biennale

So what am I trying to get to? I guess I am trying to rationalize the hideous Saudi pavilion and here I am posting an irrelevant picture of the Egyptian pavilion from Venice Art Biennale. Some comments written about Saudis lack of taste where just simply annoying, although I have to admit that I understand why many would say such a thing in this particular instance. So I was just hoping that this post could open some people's eyes and see Saudi Arabia without the negative connotations that are associated with it in this day and age. Yet I ended up digging myself in a deeper hole. But I still stick to my initial argument that the poor pavilion design reflects the poor artistic taste of the designer, and maybe the people who gave the thumbs up for it, not the values of a whole society.

Painted Alive

2010-02-10T12:40:00.007Z

Note: This post contains pictures that some might find offensive and/or may not be safe for work.

I got this email of a tiger picture which I found very interesting. After doing some research, I found that this painting was created by American artist Craig Tracy to raise awareness for Save China's Tigers campaign. The American is a body painter whose works provide amazing eye deceiving displays. When I first saw the tiger picture for example, I thought it was a normal painting on a canvas. But as the process of the painting is revealed, the image of this extraordinary wild animal slowly reveals itself as three women.

Check out this video to see the three models get transformed into a Chinese Tiger.

Another interesting piece I found in Tracy's gallery is called Immaculate. A painting involving a married couple with the theme that "some unions are set in stone." The main display, the married couple, disappear within the background which is also the foreground.

Save China's Tigers Campaign Painting

Painting process

Immaculate

Manchester United and Architecture

2010-01-29T11:50:00.007Z

These are two things I am really passionate about: Manchester United and Architecture (In order of preference). So when I came across this article, I was really delighted. Gary Neville, has never been among my favorite united players, since he is no Cantona or Giggs. But knowing that he has applied to build a flower-shaped eco-friendly house in Greater Manchester, brought him a bit closer to those legendary figures.

Inspired by the Skara Brae, Make Architects have worked in this project for 3 years and just recently submitted the planning application. The project, if granted permission, will be built underground in the shape of flower petals within the landscape. In the heart of this underground "bunker" is the kitchen, with wings for working, sleeping and entertainment.

There are not many images of the project available, since it have just been released in the press I guess. But this is one house I'll be keeping an eye for.

Update:

According to the BBC, Gary Neville's plans for his eco-house which have been dubbed as the "Teletubbies house" have been rejected by Bolton Council. Even though officers from the council recommended its approval, the proposed house provoked opposition from some local people and committee members.

The objections were mainly on the 39m high wind turbine for its noise pollution as well as the fact that the proposed site lies on a greenbelt which must be protected. Some even stated that the environmental claims by the Manchester United star are exaggerated.

In Detail

2010-01-16T09:00:00.001Z

A door in Mecca

I stumbled upon this very nice picture of this door detail on flickr. My fascination with door details in Islamic architecture started when I bought a diary few years ago, which had a similar detail of a door on its cover taken from The Mosque of Sultan Hasan in Cairo. The intricate complexity of the decorating patterns haunts me whenever I find myself standing in front of door with such delicate beauty.

The door in Sultan Hasan Mosque in Cairo

Nationalism

2009-12-27T09:16:00.001Z

As I returned to Bahrain for a quick holiday, I noticed that there was a re-branding wave across the country which caught up with BTV and Batelco logos, perhaps commemorating the 10 years passed since our King came to the throne.

Amidst all the advertising boards on the highways, I was captivated by Batelco’s add near Seef Mall, which had the above picture; two hands, one red and the other white, coming together forming the flag of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The way in which the hands interlock with each other is very forceful, whenever I try it, I do have to force the knuckles through until there are no gaps. Yet the resulting bind is equally unbreakable. I almost sense that I need more force to take my hands away from each other than bring them together. Is there a political statement behind this gesture? Well Arabs generally like to bring politics in everything, so I might be reading way too far into it if I said so.

Nevertheless, the image is strikingly beautiful, whenever I pass the billboard on the highway it stays in my head throughout the journey. The brightness of the colors and the texture of the human hand’s skin made it a beautiful abstract piece of art. This is the first time that I actually saw the beauty of our national flag.

Inverted skyscrapers/Inverted pyramids

2009-12-09T11:33:00.000Z

Iberia Quarries, Portugal.

Vermont Marble Quarries, Vermont.

Rock of ages, Vermont.

As I was looking through a beautiful book of photographs called "Earth", I came across this wonderful set by Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky, whom I posted about long time ago.

The set is entitled "Quarries", and the concept emerged from the idea of the landscape as architecture. According to the artist, when looking at buildings made of stone, what comes to mind is an inverted cubed architecture on the side of a hill, an interesting landscape where stones would be taken out of the quarry one block at a time. As the artist puts it, "Openpit mines, funneling down, were to me like inverted pyramids... the idea of inverted skyscrapers."

Billboard Living

2009-11-30T19:12:00.009Z

Billboard Living is a project by Dolf Robertus displayed at the Graduation Show of the Design Academy in Eindhoven. The concept of the project is to turn advertised corporate logos into housing, animating the adverts by inhabitants. So a Mac's logo would be animated by people using Mac laptops or ipods. Dove logos will be animated by people taking showers. And my favorite, a "Playboy" logo will be animated by nudity.

What attracted me about this is the drawings, or presentation sketches. I am a huge fan of caricatures, specially architecturally related caricatures. And the technique used here is very elegant. The sketches are simple, with the appropriate detailing required, without loosing the fantasy or the humor aspect of the project.

For more info about it, look here.

Trees and Architecture ii

2009-11-27T14:26:00.003Z

Project: Tree of Knowledge Memorial
Architect: m3architecture
Location: Barcaldine, Australia

Here is another project involving a tree. Perhaps not as exciting as the previous one. Nevertheless an interesting one. This is a pavilion design by Australian architects commemorating the site where the Australian Labour party is said to have been founded in 1891. The pavilion frames the remaining part of a dead tree that is considered a historical landmark, which was poisoned in 2006. The dead tree is surrounded by "18 metre-high cube-like structure of hanging timber batons, intended to mimic the shape of the tree’s canopy in 1891.

More info can be found here.

Trees and Architecture i

2009-11-26T18:24:00.002Z

Project: Yellow Treehouse Restaurant
Architect: Pacific Environment Architects
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Completion Date: December 2008

If this isn't the best advertisement in all time I don't know what is. The idea of this treehouse project started as an advertisement for Yellow Pages. Now this is a company that print out billions of phonebook directories around the world annually, with each book containing hundreds of pages, despite the fact that more and more people are starting to use online phone directories. You wouldn't really call it eco-friendly, would you? So I guess that is the reason behind this advertisement, to enhance their image in a modern society that is obsessed with the sustainability trend.

The idea behind this "reality" TV advert, as you can see from the youtube video link and their website, is to prove that whatever you want to do, you can do it relying solely on yellow! To make it challenging, the chosen project was: "A restaurant. 10 metres up a redwood tree."

All products and services were sourced through Yellow Pages listings (the book, online and mobile) to build this treehouse restaurant on an enormous Redwood Tree which is over 40m high and 1.7 diameter at the base.

The tree-house concept is reminiscent of childhood dreams and playtime, fairy stories of enchantment and imagination . It’s inspired through many forms found in nature -the chrysalis/cocoon protecting the emerging butterfly/moth, perhaps an onion/garlic clove form hung out to dry. It is also seen as a lantern, a beacon at night that simply glows yet during the day it might be a semi camouflaged growth, or a tree fort that provides an outlook and that offers refuge.The plan form also has loose similarities to a sea shell with the open ends spiralling to the centre.

The selected site and tree had to meet a myriad of functional requirements -18 seated people and waiting staff in relative comfort complete with a bar; gaining correct camera angles with associated light qualities for filming the adverts, web cam and stills, have unobstructed views into the valley and entrance to the site and structural soundness . The final selected tree is one of the larger trees on the site and sits above a steep part of the site which accentuates the tree’s height. Kitchen/catering facilities and toilets are at ground level.

The Architectural component embodies a simple oval form wrapped ‘organically’ around the trunk and structurally tied at top and bottom, with a circular plan that is split apart on the axis with the rear floor portion raised. This allows the approach from the rear via a playful tree-top walkway experience, slipping inside the exposed face of the pod and being enchanted by the juxtaposition of being in an enclosed space that is also quite ‘open’ and permeable to the treetop views. There is also a ‘Juliet’ deck opposite the entrance that looks down the valley.

The construction of this amazing project took 66 days only! The restaurant is located on a private land, so the consent granted for this project was to permit diners onto the site only. Unfortunate for the sightseers who were just fancying a glimpse of this wonder. So for those who are interested in visiting this building, you will have to book in advance to dine there for an unforgettable experience.

More info and pics can be found here

MATSYS

2009-11-25T17:28:00.001Z

An intriguing BLDGBLOG post pushed me to look up some of the works of San Fransisco based design studio Matsys.

The design studio "explores the emergent relationships between architecture, engineering, biology, and computation" in addition to investigating "methodologies of performative integration through geometric and material differentiation."

As part of his MA dissertation in Emergent Technologies and Design at the Architectural Association, Andrew Kudless, an architect and founder of Matsys, researched a "honeycomb system that is able to adapt to diverse performance requirements through the modulation of the system’s inherent geometric and material parameters", which then can be industrially produced for use in architectural applications. You can see this clearly in his works Honeycomb Morphologies, Sature Chair and C_Wall.

Honeycomb Morphologies, 2004.

Suture Chair, 2005.

C_Wall, 2006.

P_Wall, 2009.

My fascination with Matsys' work might have something to do with the fact that I am always captivated by anything related to light filtration. However, it is the above P_Wall project that I really admire, which takes a different direction from the light filtering cellular structures above it. (I am sure I have posted something about it earlier but can't find the post!)

The two materials that are experimented with here are plaster and elastic fabric, to produce evocative visual and acoustic effects. It is "inspired by the work of the Spanish architect Miguel Fisac and his experiments with flexible concrete framework in the 1960-70s". An earlier version of this (P_Wall) is first exhibited in Banvard Gallery, Knowlton School of Architecture in Ohio at 2006. The picture above is of a commissioned version that is further developed and exhibited at The San Fransisco MOMA.

Next up is Sietch Nevada, a futuristic prototype project based on the "first planetary ecology novel" Dune. You can see this project as a continued development of the honeycomb and cellular structures experimentation. Or perhaps an application of those experimentation in architectural and urban planning. This prototype stems from the idea that water banking will be "the fundamental factor in future urban infrastructure in the American Southwest." Towns that once relied on "the promise of endless water via the powerful Colorado River... have increasingly begun to create underground water banks for use in emergency drought conditions" as droughts are becoming more frequent, possibly because of the heavy agricultural use and global warming.

The form of this urban prototype is derived from the performance of urban life based on storage, use and collection of water. "A network of storage canals is covered with undulating residential and commercial structures. These canals connect the city with vast aquifers deep underground and provide transportation as well as agricultural irrigation. Cellular in form, these structures constitute a new neighborhood typology that mediates between the subterranean urban network and the surface level activities of water harvesting, energy generation, and urban agriculture and aquaculture. However, the Sietch is also a bunker-like fortress preparing for the inevitable wars over water in the region."

Eid Spirit

2009-11-24T19:45:00.005Z

As Eid is approaching, I would like to take this opportunity to say Eid Mubarak to you all. For this wonderful occasion, I thought I'd post this amazing painting by Ali Akbar Sahiwala, a friend and an architecture student that I believe one day will be among the "starchitects" that future generations will look up to.

I think Mecca has a unique spatial characteristic that is captured beautifully in this painting. As you can see from the painting above, and the aerial view below, taken by photographer AbdulRahman Roslan (I think), the white marbles that cover the floors and most of the walls, the white ihrams of pilgrims and the intense lighting system within the holy site illuminate this space adding to its grand status. Of course as a Muslim, I believe that there is a divine intervention that contribute to the captivating light within this holy site.

Venetian Moments

2009-11-15T13:09:00.007Z

Gondola Ride: Since gondolas are one of the main symbols of Venice, I thought it would be worth it going for a ride. This enthusiastic gondolier who was eager to pose for any camera that flashed in front of him made this Venetian moment worthwhile.

Bridge of Sighs: Locally known as Ponte dei Sospiri, the bridge connects the old prisons to the Doge's palace. It is said that the name comes from the suggestion that prisoners would sigh at their final view of beautiful Venice out of the windows of the bridge, before being taken down to their cells. During my visit, the scaffolding of restoration works on the surrounding buildings were covered with advertisements. That and the transformation of the place between day and night made this a special Venetian moment to me.

Lightly Monumental at the Egyptian Pavilion. La Biennale di Venezia - Giardini della Biennale.

The Egyptian Pavilion was the climax of my quick expedition in the Venice Art Biennale. The pavilion contained the works of self-taught Egyptian artist Ahmad Askalany and Egyptian painter, who abandoned medicine for the sake of art, Adel El Siwi. Maie Yanni, a qualified doctor who currently manages art and design ventures and promotes unknown Sudanese artists to give them international recognition and visibility, describes the pavilion's experience beautifully in this article.

She says, "Upon stepping into the Pavilion the viewer is greeted by eight monumental figures by Askalany akin to deities welcoming us into a sacred temple... The temporal dimension is emphasized by the upward structural progression. Both sculptures and paintings are monumentally big and recall the "little people" who built gigantic and great things. Thousands of years on and these magnificent historical creations still watch over us unmoved by earthquakes and the tides of change."

Moonlight (Venice, March 10, 2009). La Biennale di Venezia - Arsenale.

Created by Spencer Finch, the American's "artworks attempt to re-create his subjective impressions and scientific observations of light and color. His works take many forms, but what unites them is an attempt to transpose culturally significant or privately important moments or sites to a gallery setting."

Querini Stampalia Foundation: I saved the best for last here. This building by Carlo Scarpa is one of the many buildings that I read and heard so much about and always wanted to visit. Even though I had high expectations of it because of all the hype, the building exceeded all my expectations and was an absolute delight and the highlight of my trip to Venice. The way Scarpa's new editions to the building comes so close yet always distinguished from the old structure was so detailed that made me walk the entire exhibition with a smile on my face. I don't remember I was ever so pleased with a building like this one. The pictures I saw of the building on books and magazines, even the ones I took don't give this magnificent building justice. I thought I'd post this picture of the steel gate anyway since it was the best picture I took of the building I guess.

Greetings from Venice

2009-11-10T23:43:00.009Z

This is my first day in Venice. And after a long long, really long day of walking around the city, nothing feels better than soaking one's feet in warm water. Anyway, I just had to buy an internet voucher for an hour to post this picture, which for me summarizes Venice.

What really attracts me in this romantic city is that even though it is crowded by tourists, it is really peacefully quite in here. It’s really an amazing sensation to stay in a vibrant city without hearing the chaotic noises of trains, planes and automobiles. Except for the occasional honk of a motorboat turning on a canal or the waterbuses, which you only hear when they are really close to you.

For my first day in Venice, I am captivated by the sound of the water knocking on the buildings and the beautiful scent of the sea which I love so much. Here I leave you with few words in Arabic describing the city, for those who understand Arabic:

في ديرة من أحلى المدن الإيطالية ... قعدت فيها أربعة أيام وشوية
فينيس بالإنجليزي وبالعربي البندقية ... عرفت فيها معنى الرومانسية

Wave deck

2009-10-19T16:48:00.005+01:00

Project: Simcoe Wave deck
Location: Ontario, Canada
Architect: West 8
Completion date: 2008

Coming from an island surrounded by water yet with very few available beaches, I found this project very interesting. It is a great way to create a lively and fun public space as a waterfront with having to reclaim large amounts of sea water, destroying the few marine life we have left.

This is Simcoe Wave Deck, one of four unique decks planned for the Waterfront Toronto. It is a wooden wave deck that features an informal public amphitheatre-style space with impressive curves that soar as high as 2.6 metres above the lake. Inspired by the Canadian cottage experience and the shorelines of Ontario’s great lakes, the wave deck is meant to give urban dwellers a feel for life at the lake.

More pics can be found here.

Broken Promises

2009-10-11T16:39:00.000+01:00

"Broken Promises", Damian Ucieda Cortes, 2007. Scanned from Portfolio.

My parents always told my that I have a really weak memory of my childhood, since I can't remember most of the stories they say about me when I was young. But I can't help but seeing myself in this picture, as I remember many times being in this little kid's position.

Just look at the position and direction of the bodies of the mother and daughter, opposing each other in incredible intensity that can be seen all over their facial expressions, more so in the kid's face. I can only imagine the silent treatment that these two are going to give each other for hours after this moment!

W

2009-10-07T18:27:00.003+01:00

Project: Walter Towers
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
Architect: BIG

As a person very fond of calligraphy and graphic design generally, I was really thrilled when I stumbled upon this building. The "W" may stand for the name of the tower, but according to this blog post here, the Danish architects leaves the interpretation of the letter to us, which I find very amusing. Does it stand for wow just like the luxurious W Hotels? Does it stand for weird? Wonderful?

Nevertheless, as beautiful as the graphics of the letter "W" may appear on that building, there are technical reasons backing up the shape of the building. The cut on ground level allows pedestrians to cross the site, an important factor since the first four floors are for commercial use. The cuts in the top levels, which are residential in use, allow for air and views. With 27 floors the ‘W’ should reach a height of 80 meters. I couldn't find when is this building going to be completed or if even they started its construction, but this is one building I'd like to visit when it's done.

Living Fabrics

2009-10-06T20:18:00.008+01:00

New York-based Vienna-born photographer Bela Borsodi has breathed life into product photography. His unique method transforms products from what could be called lifeless objects into fun characters that can speak out to the viewer. He works with all sorts of products, and in some cases mixes his photography with animation and caricatures. I only chose the works that I found from this website, with the theme of shaping clothes into faces and animals. To me, this is really inspiring because now I see clothes as a new medium that can be experimented with. Instead of giving away old clothes now I see them as a source for sculptures, or better yet, toys for children. For more of his work check this out.

Here are some in the wilderness:

Papers

2009-10-05T22:49:00.007+01:00

Peter Callesen is a Danish artist who started his education in an architecture school before venturing into an arts school. His most interesting works, which have been dominating his art lately, is with white paper in different objects, paper cuts, installations and performances. As the artist's puts it:

"A large part of my work is made from A4 sheets of paper. It is probably the most common and consumed media used for carrying information today. This is why we rarely notice the actual materiality of the A4 paper. By taking away all the information and starting from scratch using the blank white A4 paper sheet for my creations, I feel I have found a material that we are all able to relate to, and at the same time the A4 paper sheet is neutral and open to fill with different meaning...

The paper cut sculptures explore the probable and magical transformation of the flat sheet of paper into figures that expand into the space surrounding them. The negative and absent 2 dimensional space left by the cut, points out the contrast to the 3 dimensional reality it creates, even though the figures still stick to their origin without the possibility of escaping. In that sense there is also an aspect of something tragic in many of the cuts."

I really enjoy the beauty in the different scales that these works take on. As well as the variations in the complexities of the cuts; where some works consist of a simple shape cut, others are far more complicated than that. I leave you with pictures of some of his works.

White Hand, 2007 (A4)

Traces in Snow, 2005 (A4)

The Impossible Meeting, 2005 (A4)

Nature's Maze, 2005

My God, My God, 2009 ( Framed A4)

The Core of Everything, 2006

The Roots of Heaven, 2009

Roberto Cavialli

2009-10-02T12:27:00.010+01:00

I was looking at "Architecture Interieure Cree" magazine, the "Maisons 2009" edition, when I stumbled upon this beautiful house titled, "Lanterne florentine... magique". Of course not being able to understand French, I had to google it and that is when I found that it was Roberto Cavalli's.

Project: Roberto Cavalli Residence
Location: Florence, Italy
Architect: Italo Rota

The villa was designed for the Italian fashion designer with the colors of the home being able to change to match the personality of the home owner. Located on the hills of Florence, the villa's screen's floral pattern blends the light with the plants creating a beautiful colorful landscape. Check out the magazine for better pictures.

As I looked up Cavalli's designs out of curiosity I also noticed that he had an interesting yacht designed for him by Cantieri Baglietto. The yacht, purple in color as is the villa, is 41 meters long with a top speed of 35 knots and priced as 20 million British pounds. Eight guests can sleep comfortably in this beautiful yacht which has a crew of 4 people.

Info about the yacht is copied from here, where you can see Sharon Stone caught by a paparazzi enjoying Cavalli's yacht.

Its another world in there!

2009-10-01T11:08:00.002+01:00

Well no matter how many people have said it before, you will never really understand that there is a completely different planet under the water surface until you explore that wonderful planet. I guess the thing I really enjoyed is this special bond that forms between us, the visitors, and those curious welcoming creatures in all of their forms. That and the sensation of breathing underwater, seeing colorful organisms like never before, and so many other things made me find in diving what I couldn’t find in any art or sport. Well, I just got my PADI Open Water diving license and didn't get to go to any exotic places yet. I only managed to dive here in Bahrain where the visibility is a little more that 2 meters. I saw a little jellyfish, a turtle, baby sharks (Nowa'eer as we call them in Bahrain and some say ther are baby sharks) and few other fishes that I recognized from Finding Nemo. But I still had an unforgettable experience. I can't wait until I get some real diving fun!

Here are some pictures from flickr, I thank all divers out there who shared their photos with the rest of the world.

Brain corals. Obviously called that because of their texture and spherical shape. If only buildings were built with materials as fun as that.

Moon jellyfish. They are often thought of as scary poisonous eewy geewy creatures that are associated with peeing, but they can be really beautiful too.

Curiosity is one of the traits I find really attractive about those little fish, which we found some in Bahrain. I don't know about curious sharks though.

I definitely don't want to be in a position to take a photo like that ever. Ever! However, sharks are not as scary as the media made us believe. As my instructor told me before I began the course, there are more deaths caused by toaster electrocution per year than there are shark attacks!

Caves and underwater forests are few example of the breathtaking landscape you will encounter.

Henna Guitar

2008-12-02T19:23:00.006Z

Henna has decorated young women’s bodies in social and holiday celebrations since "the late Bronze Age in the eastern Mediterranean". Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus and Zoroastrians, among others, all celebrated marriages by adorning the bride, and often the groom, with henna.

I stumbled across this Henna decorated guitar on Flickr which took my breath away. Perhaps seeing it in photos and not live in front of my eyes helped a lot in avoiding the nasty smell of Henna which I can't understand how women can stand it. However, the beautiful floral pattern very delicately cover up the edges of this wonderful musical instrument in a graceful manner that would block the smell waves from entering your brain and focus on the visual and maybe the audio aspects of the instrument. Check out the artist's website and Flickr account for more pictures.

Tracing Shadows

2008-11-20T20:20:00.002Z

Here is a very interesting art display by American photographer Michael Neff called "The Chalk Series". The following is the artist's discription of his work...

These images capture the quiet, empty world of night, when parking lots lay fallow, when meters are allowed to rest and sidewalks can breathe. In tracing the fugitive contours of shadows cast by the patient lights of the night, I draw the attention of the nighttime passerby and reveal what the night holds. In this way I am sharing the night city with its daytime inhabitants and making visible something that is normally hidden. I photograph these drawings because, rendered in chalk, they themselves are fugitive and may only last until they are hosed down in the morning. I want to draw attention to what is likely overlooked, or perhaps so familiar that it is essentially invisible.

One Thousand and One Dreams

2008-11-18T20:45:00.001Z

Note: This post contains nudity and may not be safe for work, if you are easily offended and/or under 18 please avoid looking at the following pictures.

Married couple Moroccan artist Yasmina Alaoui and Chilean photographer Marco Guerra have created this captivating series called "one thousand and one dreams". Inspired by the legendary tales of A Thousand and One Nights, the photographic series combines nude photography with delicate ink drawings, otherwise known in other cultures as henna.

Here the human body form is treated as a medium for complex geometrical and floral decorations. In some artworks these decorations would gradually disappear to the background. In other works, the decorated bodies stand out in contrast with the plain black background, a method which effectively emphasizes the shadows created by the sensual curves of the human body.

From what I read about the series I am not sure if the bodies were actually painted and then photographed or if they were photographed first and then digitally painted. Either way, the end result is mesmerising and can only evoke a strong feeling of admiration.

A cool gadget

2008-11-15T17:01:00.000Z

I found this cute design by JVC revealed in the 2008 Tokyo Designer's Week. Its called Kirikabu speakers, which are made of renewable materials, can be assembled into different shapes and even grow a tiny bonsai tree on it.

More info here and here

A Special Fountain

2008-11-13T19:30:00.002Z

This is an amazing fountain in Japan, according to the title of the video found in YouTube. The best part starts at 1:48. Watch the entire video though, I find it very relaxing, especially with the nice water rhythm the different shapes create.

The pink and blue project

2008-11-06T21:06:00.002Z

According to a recent study by scientists at Newcastle University, the difference in colour preferences between men and women has biological and not cultural roots. It goes back to ancient times when women were primarily involved in gathering fruit and vegetables, while men were involved in hunting. Fruits and vegetables are edible when they are ripe, and this often means when they are bright hued, generally red or green. Blue, on the other hand, is a direct reference to blue sky, the sign of good weather and therefore auspicious for gathering food and water. The information collected by researchers shows that males prefer colours in the blue-yellow range, while females instinctively go to the red-green hues, and especially pink.
“The Pink and Blue Project” is achieved by JeongMee Yoon on a different context yet could very well be a visual guide to the research. Children are photographed in their rooms, surrounded by their clothes, toys and accessories with their faces lost in a maniacally orderly multiplicity of objects.

Text and pics from Zoom magazine.

Boom Town

2008-11-02T01:59:00.002Z

This is the Dubai sandwich: at the bottom, cheap and exploited Asian labour; in the middle, white northern professional services, plus tourist hunger for glamour in the sun and, increasingly, a de-monopolised western market system; at the top, enormous quantities of invested oil money, combined with fearsome social and political control and a drive to establish another model of what modern Arabia might mean in the post-9/11 world. That is the intriguing question: can Dubai do what Libya, Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, or almost anywhere else in the Arab world you might like to mention, have failed to do? Is Dubai, in fact, the fulcrum of the future global trading and financial system? Is it, in embryo, what London was to the 19th century and Manhattan to the 20th? Not the modern centre of the Arab world but, more than that, the Arab centre of the modern world.

Read more here

Arabesque

2008-10-31T21:18:00.007Z

Here is my new favorite book, which made me immediately go and buy a dozen of calligraphy for dummies-like books to learn the fundamentals of this amazing art of calligraphy. The book talks mainly about the subject that I once touched upon in the last post of my calligraphy series.

Published by Gestalten and edited by Ben Wittner and Sascha Thoma of eps51 and Nicolas Bourquin of onlab, the book contains excellent examples of the "globalization of graphic design" which allowed for merging different cultures into a new graphic blend. Besides the wonderful pictures that you can look at for hours before going to bed, there is this impressive font that you get for free if you buy the book. The new font is called Talib OldStyle, an English type that is based on Arabic alphabetical visual characteristics. The font belongs to the Talib Type group of fonts developed by eps51. Here are few examples for you viewing pleasure.

Check this out for an interesting interview with the people behind the book.

Formula Zero

2008-10-28T17:43:00.003Z

The LA Auto Show's Design Challege this year have witnessed some amazing entries from Audi, BMW, Mazda, Toyota, as well as other manufacturers. But Mercedes have came up with this amazing concept that could be the begining of a really interesting sporting event, which they call Formula Zero.

The main goal is not simply to finish first as in most other motorsports, but with how energy efficient the winner is. Each team would be allocated the same amount of stored energy and it is left to the teams and drivers to manage the variables to win the race. The winner, therefore, is determined by total elapsed time combined with the energy efficiency factor.

The Formula Zero Racer is loaded with technology designed to extract the maximum thrust from the electric hub motors, aero-efficient solar skin and high-tech rigid sail... Incorporating luxury racing with the thrill of Formula One, the track dynamics of the bobsled or luge, and the grace and efficiency of yacht racing.

More info here and here.

Twists and Turns

2008-10-27T16:52:00.002Z

A while ago I went on about the building business being a team sport. Now I saw this incredible building and those thoughts came straight back to me.

This is the UNIQA Tower in Vienna, designed by Austrian architect Heinz Neumann and completed at 2004. It sits on a canal and creates a physical link between the city's old and new sections. According to the architect, “the building shoots up spiritedly, emotionally, opening out and almost playfully. Its shape absorbs the impetus of the UNIQA logo and transforms it into architecture, with interior and exterior openness dominating.” Its a good looking building when it was finished but it wasn't as incredible as it is today.

What makes the tower amazing is the LED light installation which transformed the tower into a landmark in Vienna thanks to its interactive facade. Completed 2 years later, the installation is designed by lighting designers Licht Kunst Licht, installed by LED display manufacturer Barco, with German digital artists Mader Stublic Wiermann working on the artistic animation.

The facade's double skin allowed for the placement of the LED modules that receive electronic data on the structural grid, creating interplay between the architectural and technical elements of the facade. Thus, the building is not a giant electronic billboard like the ones you see in Manhattan or Las Vegas; it is a "constantly modulating architectural form." First, the electronic data corresponds to the architectural structure of the tower, but then it twists and turns repeatedly to detach itself from the concrete shape of the building introducing new virtual layers that dynamically interweave with each other.

Here is a cool video on YouTube and here you can find more colorful images.

For more info check out this and this.

Wanted... Red tiles on a glass facade !?!

2008-10-26T19:46:00.005Z

Found this amazing photo while browsing flickr and tried to look up the building for ages without any luck at all. Someone said in the comments that it might be a "Bank in Aviguda Diagonal in Barcelona" but that doesn't lead to anything. Does anyone out there know what’s the name of this cool building?

Edge of Arabia

2008-10-23T15:58:00.010+01:00

Edge of Arabia is an exhibition organized by Offscreen Education Programme and located at SOAS Brunei Gallery, University of London. Its supposed to "shed new light on the largely unknown contemporary art culture of Saudi Arabia". The main theme of the exhibition is "the complex and diverse identities of 21st century life in the Middle East". An interesting exhibition that is definetly worth visiting. As an architect, there is one particular piece that really stood out for me, and that is a tiny brochure that contained the art works of Mohammed Farea, who happens to be an architect too.

Perhaps what appealed to me is the colorful architectural presence in his work. The stylized buildings may be inspired by the traditional buildings of Najd region in Saudi Arabia, yet ever since I saw these works I couldn’t stop thinking about this book that I casually browsed once about the region of Asir. The vernacular architecture of Asir is mesmerizing in its wonderful and colorful frescoes that decorate the mud brick houses, which are also echoed in the bright colors of men's clothing, giving them the nickname of "flowered men". So I decided to go back to the library and scan few photos to add them to my collection. The book, "Impressions of Arabia" by Thierry Mauger, is a photographic demonstration of the region's architecture, frescoes and lifestyles of the people which are influenced by each other.

What makes the vernacular architecture of Asir so special is that while in other regions of the peninsula decorations are carried out mainly inside the house; here the decorations are spread throughout the entire house, inside and out, appearing on the facade too. The beauty in all this to me lies in "the division of labor which is determined by competence and gender". Men would be responsible for the hard labor of building the houses, and women are responsible for the more delicate task of decorating the house. Thus, the frescoes are not seen as works of art only but as a reflection of the skills and personalities of the women of the house. In these fresco decorations, women found a way to express their "domain" in a masculine culture that requires women to withdraw from the public eye. So it comes as no surprise to know that this is a skill that requires apprenticeship and is passed from mother to daughter, just as masonry is passed from father to son.

Bare mud and multicolored fresco, a typical facade of Bilad Qahtan, Sinhan.

The colorful frescoes carry on from the facade to the interior stairs.

The majlis is the most special room in the house and thus most decorated one as well.

Fresco creation requires team work as shown by this mother and her 2 daughters.

Portrait

2008-10-16T18:21:00.009+01:00

My obsession with mashrabiyas and anything with the slightest relevence to them is clearly evident in the number of posts published here on this blog about the subject. The latest addition is this installation called Portrait by designers Fredrikson Stallard at Somerset House in London. To me it carries a striking resemblance to the Dairy House located (ironically) in a town called Somerset in the UK.

The structure is constructed out of steel and represents wood grain. Light is introduced to the structure in a wonderful way that creates positive and negative spaces during day and night, an interplay that defines the external characteristics of mashrabiyas as well. In daylight the steel sections that represent the wood grain are the dominant feature. At night, however, the spaces in between will glow in a remarkable yellow illumination, representing the colors of the champagne brand that the installation is created for, Veuve Clicquot.

Why is Islam scary?

2008-10-13T20:22:00.001+01:00

I am not sure if this is even a word, but is Europe afraid of being "Islamicized" again? The Muslim world was successful once in controlling a major part of the Iberian Peninsula for more than 7 centuries, which have left a fundamental presence on what is now known as Spain. That being said, this was only possible after long years of wars and battles. Today, however, "Islamicization" is re-emerging in a different way. Islam is spreading throughout Europe by the integration of Muslim immigrants in European countries for generations now. Their participation in the economical and even political development paved the way for Islam to become an accepted part of the European culture.

Now these are rough figures taken from Wikipedia, but with around 1 million Muslims in Spain, 1 million in Italy, another 1 and half million in the UK, 3 million in Germany and almost 6 million in France, some non-Muslims will naturally get scared. And if the numbers themselves are not enough, the government aid and protection for the Muslim minorities in many European countries is ringing alarm bells all of Europe.

Perhaps the latest sign of this is the approval of building Germany's largest mosque in Cologne. Situated 2 miles away from Cologne Cathedral, the largest Gothic Church in Europe maybe even the world and a UNESCO world heritage site, the amazing mosque is designed by architect Paul Böhm whose specialty is church design. When asked whether he is personally religious, the architect answered:
Religious, yes, but I am not a practicing believer. And I am also not a Muslim. I am often faced with this question. Yet, you don't have to be a criminal to build a prison or be sick to build a hospital! Instead, what is important is the art of empathizing with the needs of those who will later use the building being designed.

The opposition that the mosque is facing is incredible. Some people are seeing it as a threat since it may become a symbol of power while others see it as a positive sign of integration. Personally I don't see a big deal in building a mosque, especially when it is so elegantly designed. But again I am biased.

More info can be found here

Recycling ideas

2008-10-09T16:29:00.001+01:00

Here are some recycling ideas which like many others have caught my attention:

1- Cardboard boxes
Created by French architects 0-S as temporary installation at Hotel Saint-Côme in Montpellier in Southern France, its an extruded portico of boxes with playful holes that allow light in and views out.

2- Plastic bottles
Built by American artist Jasmine Zimmerman to raise awareness of the alarming problem of plastic waste, this open-roofed greenhouse will be exhibited in empty lots, rooftops, parks, and vacant buildings to help spread the word.

Rubber House

2008-10-04T21:33:00.001+01:00

This Kaaba-like building is the University of Sheffield's new music studio designed by Carey Jones architects and delivered by Jefferson Sheard Architects.

The studio is enveloped in black rubber, the first of its kind in the UK, as a reflection of its acoustic requirements. The 450sqm building is 3 stories in height, rubber sheets are stretched and fixed over the top 2 levels then decorated with stainless-steel studs creating a quilt effect.

More info can be found here

F1 at night

2008-10-01T18:14:00.000+01:00

Check out these great photos of the first F1 race at night in Singapore.

NYC skyline additions

2008-09-28T16:29:00.005+01:00

Here are two recent additions to New York City's skyline:

Herzog & de Meuron residential tower on 56 Leonard Street...

and OMA (Rem Koolhaas)residential tower on 23 East 22nd Street.

Personally, H&dM's tower looks more interesting, yet OMA's has a better relationship to the main street, at least that what the renderings show.

Ironic or Prophetic???

2008-09-26T13:54:00.002+01:00

Here is a brochure image for the WTC created at 1984. More can be found here.

Banksy

2008-09-14T02:49:00.005+01:00

One of the famous Banksy's graffiti, which the people of Bristol voted to keep.

Another typical satirical Banksy's graffiti, or as he likes to call "outdoors art".

An anonymous artist, or a glorified vandal according to city councils that have to clean up after this guy. Either way, Banksy is a British graffiti artist whose identity and biographical details are uncertain. Yet his "interventions" has left a mark on the underground world of many cities, which are documented and exhibited in many galleries that are visited by the likes of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Banksy's work is mostly satirical pieces of art on topics such as politics, culture, and ethics, presented in a distinctive stenciling technique combined with some catchy graffiti writings.

A excellent idea that Microsoft can use against Mac, to strike back at their stupid "Mac vs PC" campain.

More info here

Art for Palestine

2008-09-12T06:49:00.000+01:00

This is another picture that I discovered among my unsorted downloaded images. I tried to retrace my steps to remember where I saved this picture from with no positive result. Anyway I thought I might as well post it here as it is a great symbolic piece that pretty much sums up the situation that our Palestinian brothers are in.

Véloce

2008-09-10T01:03:00.000+01:00

As I was browsing the 2008 Monaco Yacht Show Top 10 Concepts, I came across this striking project by BMT Nigel Gee called Véloce, a 130-meter pentamaran concept developed for high speed application and aimed at the large yacht market. Unlike the 40-m Signature Series by Norman Foster, the appeal of this concept to me is that it maintains its maritime characteristics albeit with an unconventional approach.

In an interview in Super Yacht World magazine, Foster said, "I wanted people to go WOW when they see this yacht, not just acknowledge it as something pretty." However, my reaction to the design was not a "wow", it may have been something more like a "hmmm". I mean it is unique but the design with its balconies, staircases, grills across the entire side walls, the arch form of the boat is very building-like, and perhaps it looks like it longs to be part of the land rather than the sea. The Véloce on the other hand simply look much more comfortable in the middle of the ocean than parked in the marina. Something that yacht enthusiasts, I imagine, would appreciate more.

More info here and here

Indian Pink

2008-09-07T03:24:00.002+01:00

This may be a bit too girly for my taste... still I have to admit that this is one clever and catchy ad campaign by Hermes. This particular shot stood out for me... the pink huge high heel shoe, the colorful flowers and the gigantic painted nails create this playful contrast against the hard wrinkled gray skin. But more importantly is the way the elephant's leg is bent... it looks to me so feminine that surely there is no way this is a male elephant.

More can be found here.

Ground Zero: Little People in the City

2008-09-06T10:15:00.003+01:00

A new form of street art by "Slinkachu", consisting of tiny hand-painted miniature installed in all sorts of public spaces, mirroring our own lives. Although they might look to some as the musings of 5 to 10 year old kids, these street art installations are photographed in different scales, uncovering the city landscape in unexpected ways, depicting the general feeling of being alone in a large city. Scale here is the key factor in which both installation and photography of the artwork manipulates our perception to reveal this hidden micro-world and to evoke our feelings and senses.

A new book entitled "Little People in the City" has been published documenting these experiments, which is now on my to-buy list. Here are some photos of an installation for the Nuart event at the Rogaland Kunstmuseum in Stavanger, Norway, which again shows a great way of playing and experimenting with scale.

The Green Blade

2008-09-05T11:55:00.001+01:00

Jean Nouvel is set to build another iconic building, this time in the far west. Selected by SunCal Companies, the residential landmark is located in 10000 Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles.

The building’s façade is a distinctive luminous/transparent glass integrated with a vertical landscape. It is supposed to be a green project that will earn itself a LEED Silver certification. 10000 Santa Monica Boulevard, will be an iconic gateway to Century City. It is situated on a now-vacant 2.4-acre site and will reenergize the area by bringing 177 new residences to what was once an office building and a restaurant.

According to Nouvel, the concept of the project stems from the idea that “21st century contemporary architecture must express the art of living in a particular place at a particular time.” Thus, the building will extend the horizontal landscape vertically. This is achieved as the residents will experience the city from behind the plants that surround their homes, manipulating the foreground and background.

The background will consist of a striking landscape as each home will face in two directions. The higher floors will also reveal downtown districts lights and the Santa Monica Mountains. The foreground however will gradually open up to the background as vegetation enters the home transversally in the form of interior gardens planted by the residents. The interior space of each unit extends out beyond the glass line onto a planted balcony landscape. The plants grow hydroponically, without soil.

“The green blade is thin, eleven times higher than it is wide. It tries to prove that it is possible to tame height by simple pleasures like reflections, shadows, and vegetation vibrating against the depth of faraway horizons.”

Lilypad City

2008-09-04T00:59:00.006+01:00

Series showing the phases of the city's construction

It seems that Belgian architect Vincent Callebaut shares my love for Kevin Costner's Waterwold, as evident in his design for Lilypad City. The city is designed for the year 2100 or so, and would accommodate up to 50,000 ecological refugees, who are called "Atoll dwellers" in the movie, after the polar ice caps melt and flood the whole planet.

The floating structure is inspired by giant lily pads, hence the name. The city takes up the challenge of reaching a positive energetic balance with zero carbon emission. This is achieved by the integration of all the renewable energies; solar, thermal and photovoltaic energies, wind energy, hydraulic, tidal power station...

The heart of the city will be a central lagoon of soft water collecting and rain water purifying. Around it will be located three marinas and three mountains dedicated to the work, the shops, and the entertainments. Each "mountain" will be covered by planted housing in suspended gardens crossed by a network of streets with organic outline, creating a harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

Fish-eye view of the city

Lilypads along the coast of Monaco

Shanghai's Italian Pavilion Competition

2008-09-03T09:52:00.002+01:00

Scanned from L'Arca magazine, this is the 3rd place winner of the Italian pavilion Competition for Shanghai Expo 2010, which I thought looks like a better scheme than the 1st place winner.

The project is constructed around a shell, which is composed of a set of stratigraphic sheets evoking temporal succession, a metaphor for how Italian urban fabric was formed... Twenty sheets, the same number as there are Italian regions, with three "glass" stanchions placed between them and room to display Italian design on the inside, structure the pavilion's basic layout... The building is developed around a plaza-space, which is slowly revealed to visitors as they walk along the corridors constructed in the distorted space between the stanchions, like the streets of an old town centre in some Italian city leading to the carefully guarded hub or municipal square... The aim to respect and reflect the nature of its Chinese context means the Italian pavilion actually looks like a filtering structure open along the sides to allow people to see across to the other side of the river, where part of an old Shanghai neighborhood is still very much live.

Update: More can be found here

More Container Architecture

2008-09-02T01:42:00.001+01:00

Loop de Loop from anarchitecture on Vimeo.

Loop-d-Loop is a design concept by NL Architects for yet another innovative way for shipping container re-use.

[It] could serve as information booth, as exhibition space, as a ‘ride’, as ‘view generator’, as cafe, as site canteen... After sometime Loop-‘d’-Loop can be taken apart, transported elsewhere and be reassembled in a new way: a continuous process of destruction and renewal. It’s appearance always reminiscent of the building site, blending in in a twisted fashion.

Spite

2008-09-01T12:44:00.001+01:00

Spite noun
1. a malicious, usually petty, desire to harm, annoy, frustrate, or humiliate another person; bitter ill will; malice.

Can such an ugly feeling generate beauty?

Well, legend has it that Ferruccio Lamborghini, provider of the agricultural machinery that drove Italy’s post war reconstruction, was the recipient of poor customer service from another more established Italian manufacturer. Lamborghini was insulted after complaining about a clutch problem, indicating that a “tractor manufacturer was not qualified to criticize such a highly acclaimed sports car”. Resolving never again to own a car with a prancing horse, the engineer set about creating a rival.

The result was not only in the logo of the car; a charging bull made up of the inverted colors of Ferrari’s prancing horse. Lambroghini became the main counterpart to Ferrari in the Italian sports car business. This began with the Miura in 1966. Named after a Spanish ranch whose bulls have a proverbial attack instinct, the car soon was beloved of film stars and tycoons.

Lamborghini continued producing amazing sports car that rivalled Ferrari, with a tradition of naming cars after famous Spanish fighting bulls. The latest addition was the Murciélago which means "bat" in Spanish. It comes from a bull that survived numerous sword strokes and fought with such passion and spirit that the matador chose to spare its life, a rare honor.

The latest, most powerful and expensive Lambo is the Reventón, which only 20 lucky people will own as reports indicate that no more than 20 examples will be manufactured. Reventón means "burst" in Spanish, and it is named after a bull who was best known for killing a famous bullfighter.

A Team Sport

2008-08-31T07:36:00.001+01:00

The Pritzker Prize is often regarded as the Noble Prize of architecture, and is awarded annually to a living architect "honouring his contributions to humanity and the built environment." In this interesting article, Witold Rybczynski seems resentful of the idea that Architects get all the glory when a building is complete, which is further endorsed by this prestigious award.

The author points out that buildings are the result of teamwork. Architects today work with armies of engineers and specialists responsible for everything from structure and electricity to acoustics, lighting and energy conservation. In addition, construction has become so complex that responsibility for design and building is usually split between design architects and executive architects, who prepare construction documents, supervise the building process, and often make critical design decisions on the building site.

The fact that architecture is a team sport is what makes buildings so interesting. Art is often chiefly the reflection of an individual sensibility, but architecture tells us something about the society that produced it, its technology, its values, its taste. In that sense, building buildings is more like making movies than creating personal works of art.

The Oscars are awarded in many categories including best picture, director, screenplay, leading and supporting actors, sound mixing, visual effects and the list goes on. Should the Pritzker Prize in the same way acknowledge the efforts of glass, concrete, steel specialist companies? Should they acknowledge the efforts of acoustic and lighting consultants? What about structural and M & E Engineers? Project managers and quantity surveyors? The CLIENT? Although there are different awards given from different organizations honoring those consultants, specialists and engineers; wouldn’t it be better for the building business to bring all those fields together under one umbrella, like the Oscar did in the movie industry, to strengthen the fact that architecture is a team sport?

Seperated at Birth

2008-08-29T14:35:00.000+01:00

For more actor/architect twins, check this and this out.

Ron Arad's Rotator

2008-08-27T10:23:00.003+01:00

Here is The Rotator, a bathtub that can be rotated into a shower. Not really sure about the practicality of it, it does seem like lots of fun though. Click here for more of Ron Arad's cool designs.

Designer Yachts

2008-08-25T11:39:00.000+01:00

I read in this post a very interesting sentence that is stuck in my head so much that I feel a strong need to write it down to stop repeating it to myself:

"Whether the polar ice caps melt or not, some of the world’s wealthiest people will remain stylishly afloat in their luxury yachts."

Sea Reclamation

2008-08-24T18:24:00.001+01:00

Here is what I thought an interesting way to protest against the ridiculous amount of land reclamation going on in our part of the world that is chasing away our delicious fish.

Danish artist, Nikolaj Recke extended the German coastline by 10 meters by digging a hole into the beach shore. The sand from the intervention was stored in a bag and placed as an exhibit in a temporary gallery held in 2006. A year later he dug another similar hole, only this time in the US. The stolen part of the US was sent to Europe by US postal service and was exhibited somewhere in Europe in a white bag.

City of Silk

2008-08-21T12:11:00.005+01:00

Construction has began on the incredible City of Silk (Madinat Al-Hareer in Arabic) which is located not far from Kuwait City, the capital of Kuwait. The project will require 25 years to be completed. UK based architectural firm CivicArts are teaming up with engineering giants Atkins and Kuwaity real estate company Tamdeen Group along with other legal, financial and technical consultants to realize this amazing development that might truley be one for the historic records book.

The city takes its name from the Silk Road, the most enduring trade route in history which connected Far East Asia with Europe through the Middle East. It is often stated that this route was opened with the unification of China under the Han dynasty at 139 BC, although some argue that it even existed 1000 years beforehand. It stretches around 6,400km and cuts through some of harshest deserts and around the highest mountains in the world. Since commodities were transported by caravans, it was relatively easy for pirates and thieves to attack which made them a major threat. The economies of scale, harsh conditions and security considerations meant that caravans rarely travelled through the whole route; instead they would stop at a town where other traders would buy their commodities and transport them to another town until it reaches the other end of the route. Thus many towns have flourished because of its strategic location along the Silk Road.

In addition to silk, people traded with gold, ivory, exotic animals and plants, but silk was considered to be the most remarkable of all the precious goods and hence the name of the road. In fact there were several routes that traders took from China to Europe and vise versa and not one single road as the name implies. The route reached its golden years in the 7th century during the Tang dynasty. After the end of the Tang dynasty and the rise of Islam started to affect Asia, trade along the Silk Road subsided. The rivalry between the Christian and Muslim worlds only helped in further diminishing trade along the route. However, trade relations resumed as Muslims played the part of middlemen after the end of the crusades. Sea routes to China were explored at this time, eventually holding a more important place than the land route itself as they became less profitable.

The Mongols took advantage of the conflicts between the Christians and Muslims and were able to split the Muslim empire and take control over central Asia up to the Mediterranean at the 13th century. The unification of those states under the Mongol Empire allowed for interaction between cultures of different regions. Once again the Silk Road was revived as it became a path for communication between different parts of the Empire, and trading was continued. However the decline of the route soon came as the Mongol Empire disintegrated, the Islamic Empire gained its power, the Ming dynasty took control over China, and most importantly the silk route by sea developed even further.

The Silk Road linked nations from China to Spain, Russia to Africa together, and the strategic location of Mesopotamia at the heart of this trade route enabled it to become a center of learning, prosperity, and well-being. For centuries, people of different faiths, nationalities, ethnicities and values met to learn, share, and explore new ideas in Mesopotamia.

This historic context of the City of Silk is so immense that it will surely shift the political and economic aspirations in the Middle East. The city is planned to accommodate 700,000 people (which is almost equal to the population of the whole Kingdom of Bahrain) and should create nearly 430,000 new jobs. It will take up approximately 250 sq km, roughly the same size as Scotland's capital, Edinburgh, and cost around $132 billion.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Bahrain have been enjoying their architectural boom for sometime. Perhaps because of the damage on Kuwait in the Gulf War and the political instability in Iraq, it could not enjoy that boom as it had to rebuild its infrastructure. But now Kuwait is ready to shift the investors' focus from the south end of the Arabian Gulf to the northern end as Iraq begins to attract attention.

The city will include a new bridge across Kuwait Bay called Jabir Al Kabir Bridge linking the city with the country's capital. A new Sea Port that will become a grand new port for Kuwait, Iraq, and Iran. A new Airport that will become part of the global network of international cargo, passenger, services and information being shipped around the world. It will also include business, culture, and leisure developments surrounding a new National Park and Wildlife Reserve.

The cosmopolitan city will contain four city centers. Finance City will be the center of business, international trade, finance, and commerce. Leisure City will be the center for resort hotels and holiday retreats. Culture City is an attempt at restoring the region's reputation as a center for scholarly research, archaeological pursuits, and creative activities with the construction of art and historical museums for the visual and performing arts. Last but not least Ecological City will be located at the center of the City of Silk and will include a grand Wildlife Sanctuary and Nature Reserve. All of the four centers will be woven together with an intricate system of parks, gardens, lakes and ponds to create one integrated community.

Furthermore, the project will echo the historic Silk Road by building a rail network that will connect Kuwait to Damascus, Baghdad, Iran China, and surprisingly ISRAEL, as the country aims at increasing links between the two countries. If this project does see the light, it might very well mark a new beginning for a Golden Age for the Silk Road. The Arabian Gulf could very well accommodate the biggest centers of the world, Dubai at one end, and Kuwait at the other.

More info can be found here and here and here

Olympic Fever

2008-08-19T15:24:00.009+01:00

A Chinese family forming the Olympic rings at home.

The Beijing Olympiad is approaching its end after a spectacular and thrilling event. This Summer Olympics revealed the great capability of the People's Republic of China in leading the world in both the human race and the technical race too. This is demonstrated by the technology used in the grand opening ceremony, the construction of amazing venues, and the Chinese dominance in winning gold medals.

On another note this Olympics stands out perhaps as the media and public attentions were focused on the swimming events, in which numerous world records were broken. Perhaps most importantly is Michael Phelps new record for the most Olympic gold medals won at a single Olympiad by winning 8 races as well as setting a new record of 14 gold medals, the most Olympic gold medals won by an athlete. On another personal note it was great to see the flag of my country shine and our national anthem heard as Rasheed Ramzy gave the Kingdom of Bahrain its first Olympic gold medal ever by winning the 1500m running race.

That aside, I have to say that the highlight of the tournament for me as an architect was seeing history being written in two beautiful venues that can only inspire athletes to give their heart and soul to be crowned on such wonderful grounds. First of which is the Beijing National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, designed by Swiss firm Herzog & de Meuron (perhaps the only architectural firm in the world today with no website). The second venue is the Beijing National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube. Designed by Australian firm PTW Architects, the smooth bubbly cube sits perfectly in front of the Bird's Nest.

The Water Cube and the Bird's Nest during the opening ceremony.

However, despite the magnificence of the opening ceremony, I felt that the design theme for lighting the torch was not the most dramatic one I've seen. The ceremony took into consideration the importance of the human factor in most parts of the ceremony but neglected the most important moment that is lighting the flame. Although seeing a man run in the air around the venue and spend energy in order to light the cauldron is a testament to the importance of the accomplishments of human beings, it somewhat felt like a shallow move since the work is done mechanically by suspended wires and technical controls which takes away the thrill of the margin of error that accompany any human physical activity. Perhaps to clarify my point, it lacked the drama that the 1992 Barcelona Olympics had the moment the torch was lit. Antonio Rebollo, a Spanish archer comes with a bow and a single arrow, lights the arrow with the Olympic flame, stands firmly and confidently focused on one thing, and without any hesitance, shoots the arrow over the cauldron which lights up in flame, and during the whole time everyone was asking the same questions... Is he going to get it?? What happens if he misses?

Another dramatic moment comes to my mind is when Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani lit up the flame in the opening ceremony of the Doha Asian Games. The sheikh, or knight, is seen on top of an Arabian horse, an animal idealized in the Arabic culture, walking towards a steep and slippery runway. The knight approaches with full confidence and leaps toward the runway racing so high up the ramp to light the flame. Somewhere along the way the horse starts panicking, turning his head away, scared of the height and wanting to go back. Yet the knight reassures the horse that they are in this together until the end, and the horse hesitantly abide his knight. And then in an extremely theatrical scene, the horse slips, but the knight remains confident, and pushes the horse through the last 3 or 4 meters of the ramp reaching the top safely after a journey that showed all spectators what a close relationship that a man and an animal could have.

Here are some wonderful pictures of the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympiad.

The Graphics of Calligraphy (4/4)

2008-08-03T06:53:00.002+01:00

Integrating calligraphy with graphic design

Smoking awareness poster by Tahamtan Aminian, an Iranian graphic designer.

Although calligraphy may be a form of graphic design, the relationship between the two disciplines is being pushed to test new possibilities. This relationship is not merely limited to the creative execution of paragraphs, quotes and/or words as to impress an audience... calligraphy here is used as a design method which drives the artist in visualizing a concept as well as a design element that is fundamental in communicating an idea. Here you find Islamic calligraphy being used as an integral part for marketable representation in commercial and cultural industries.

This new integration of Islamic calligraphy into the graphic design of posters, book covers, brochures, logos and advertisements marks yet a new development phase of calligraphy in the Islamic world. As the art of Islamic calligraphy began with the Qur'an and literary works, moved on to figural representation, and arrive at the modern artistic movements, it is now beginning a new journey in the commercial world; a new trend that may have developed from Iran.

[The] brilliant calligraphic background in Iranian arts enabled the New Generation of Iranian graphic designers to present a new and different typographical attitude to the world. Typography is a website showcasing Iranian graphic designers dedicated to introducing this new style of calligraphy to the western world. Artists around the Arab world are beginning to experiment with this emerging style too, which can be seen in collaboration efforts between Iranian and Arab artists in websites like khatt.

Perhaps the best examples I've seen so far in this field are the posters of Mehdi Saeedi, an award winning designer. Here are few examples:

Posters for Islamic Design Exhibitions

Posters for Musical Festivals.

The Graphics of Calligraphy (3/4)

2008-08-02T09:52:00.009+01:00

Calligraphy and the influences of modern movements

Modern painting of Persian calligraphy.

In a post about Arabic calligraphy, the writer argues that Arabic calligraphy is largely ignored outside the Middle East and it did not enter the mainstream culture. A comment to that post raises an interesting point, that is Arabic calligraphy is seen quite often on the signs and buildings we see everyday in the newscasts about deaths in Iraq, and unfortunately, we see it on the websites of fundamentalist terrorist groups... right next to the videos of beheadings. In the popular subconscious, these sorts of images have been linked to the emotions we feel over what's going on in the Middle East lately, and... it's very unfortunate that this has happened.

In my opinion the reason that Arabic calligraphy as an art did not enter the mainstream culture extends beyond the religious and political association of Arabic calligraphy. It is because the development of Arabic calligraphic art as we know it today came as a result of a search for cultural identity.

As stated in a previous post, the desire of Islamic artists to create pictures was a current that proved to be too strong to dam. So it was inevitable that Arab artists would soon leap into the world of figural representation as the taboos began to loosen up. Since by this time churches have already been converted to mosques and vise versa, the cultural clash between the Islamic and European worlds have opened the gate for Arab artists to adopt European artistic movements and theories and apply them to local scenes found in the Arabian culture. Arabic artists have adopted the classical styles and were satisfied with going as far as the techniques of Impressionism lead them. However, Arab artists did not experiment with the more abstract modern movements such as Cubism or Surrealism until the 1950s. And when they did so, questions of Identity and cultural preservation started arising... especially at a time when Arab countries were fighting for independency from European colonization.

So as a response to the western invasion of the Arabic culture and social life, the 1950s witnessed the re-emergency of calligraphy as a way for establishing an artistic style that is clearly recognized as a local art. For this reason, it could be said Islamic calligraphy have been greatly influenced by the modern movements of abstract art, or the mainstream culture, instead of the other way around. This, in my opinion, caused Islamic calligraphy to be contained within the Islamic world because it still remains as an approach for the search of a threatened cultural identity.

That being said, Islamic calligraphy is starting to penetrate the mainstream culture lately. It is not until the 70s that the first exhibition for this new emerging style has been set up in Baghdad. Before that, there were individual efforts in experimenting with the mixture of calligraphy and modern art that does not necessarily feature Qur'anic verses, but poetry or literary works with themes like love and peace. As it gained popularity, exhibitions of this new style were arranged beyond the borders of the Islamic world, in Europe and the States. And now we can see Arabic calligraphy in the form of tattoos on people like the Portuguese football player Simao and the Swedish football star Ibrahimovic. Or as shirt designs like the one American comedian Robin Williams is wearing, which says "I love New York" in Arabic.

More info can be found here... and now here are some contemporary Arabic calligraphy works:

Painting by Hassan Massoudy of a quote by Al Hallaj which says: "My heart has eyes that see only for you, and it is completely in your hands." Note that the word "heart" is highlighted.

Another painting by Hassan Massoudy of a phrase by Khalil Gibran which says: "Will my heart become a tree laden heavily with fruit that I can pick and give to others?" The word "fruit" is highlighted.

Love and Hate by A1one a Persian artist/anarchist.

Love/Eshgh also by A1one, whose work represent the intergration of calligraphy and graffiti

A1one's solo show in Tehran, 2008.

The Graphics of Calligraphy (2/4)

2008-08-01T08:46:00.003+01:00

The development of Figural Calligraphy

In a very interesting essay by Robert Hillenbrand studying the works of Jila Peacock, the author gives an introduction about the development of Arabic calligraphy that I would like to summarize here:

It could be argued that calligraphy has been less subject to... the dominance of ideas from outside the Islamic world than have all its sister arts, from architecture to painting, from pottery to carpets. And the main reason is the high regard that calligraphy is held throughout the Islamic world and its association with the Qur'an. The flexibility and curvilinearity of the Arabic script can employ symmetry, echo, antithesis and other devices which can develop in any direction. This is aided by the special features of the Arabic script which include the interplay between angular and curved letters, capacity to handle compression and prolongation equally, the absence of capital letters producing visual unity, ease of adaptation to large and small scales, accommodation of shifts from the baseline to upper register, as well as apparent characteristics of dynamism, energy and rhythm.

The delight of constantly expanding the boundaries of expression explains why so many contrived scripts were invented in the course of centuries... this began with purely abstract forms and patterns created by careful placing of individual letters or blocks of text. These attempts soon lead to more radical experiments with calligraphy... which involved figural designs or zoomorphic elements. The earliest attempts to do this is often debated but it is more likely to have been originated somewhere near the eastern Iranian world in the twelfth century. This tendency started with incising faces onto the thickened upper shafts of the tallest letters... these faces could be an eyebrow, an eye and a mouth with a neck below... now the shafts of the taller letters have morphed into legless bodies, they interact with unmistakable humor... patting each other on the shoulder... shaking hands... Thus the upper storey of the inscription is shot through with narrative while its ground floor spells out a message of good wishes and happy life.

The next step in the practice of bringing living creatures into calligraphy is related to a loosening of earlier restraints and seems to have originated in the Iranian world. This new mode was not a matter of script metamorphosing into living forms which are also readable letters, but of using script to delineate such forms. This practice established itself only relatively late in Islamic art, when the taboos outlawing religious iconography had lost some of their power... It developed in... Ottoman Turkey, India and Qajar Iran... [and] was known as early as 1458.

An example scanned from the book "The splendor of Islamic Calligraphy" showing an early fusion of calligraphy and floral decoration that soon lead to more radical experimentation.

A traditional example of zoomorphic calligraphy by Hassan Musa.

The first verse of Surah Al-Feel (The elephant, 105) which translates to: Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with the possessors of the elephant?

A hoopoe by Jila Peacock formed by one of Hafez poems, a Persian poet whose statue in Iranian literature is equivalent to Shakespeare in English literature.

Hillenbrand ends his introduction to the context of calligraphy with these comments that I thought were spot-on:

In many of these calligraphic images, one senses that writing is being pushed to its furthest limits so as to make it express unnaturally what it cannot do naturally... These arcane images offer striking evidence as to the slightly perverse outlets into which Islamic artists channeled their frustrated desires to create religious pictures. It was a current which proved too strong for Islamic orthodoxy to dam.

Source for essay link and more info can be found here

The Graphics of Calligraphy (1/4)

2008-07-28T05:48:00.004+01:00

As part of working on a project that requires the integration of Arabic Calligraphy, I had to do some research about the subject, which turned out to be very interesting... So this post will be the first of a series about Arabic Calligraphy starting from its traditional background to its contemporary art form.

Background

Its important to appreciate the significance of language in the Arabic culture to understand the development of Arabic calligraphy. Arabs consider language an art form which is evident in their deep love and respect for poetry. For this reason, the miracle that was given to our prophet Mohammad (SAW) is the Qur'an. Even the best of the best poets in the Arabian Peninsula could not compete with the grandeur of the language and rhythm of the Qur'an, thus admitting that this book is not the creation of any man, but a god.

When the prophet died, the Qur'an was passed on from lip to lip by people who have memorized the whole Qur'an. Many of those people were killed in battles, which alarmed the Muslims. As a result, to preserve this miracle the Sahaba requested from Abu Bakr Al-Sideeq (the Caliph) to compile the Qur'an to prevent it from being lost. The Qur'an as we know it today is credited to a later Caliph, Uthman ibn Affan, who verified the text and published the Qur'an in writing 18 years after the prophet's death.

Furthermore, it is worth noting that the first verses that were delivered to the prophet (SAW) were the following:

Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created,
Has created man from a clot.
Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous,
Who has taught (the writing) by the pen
Has taught man that which he knew not.
-Surah Al-Alaq (The Clot, 96: 1-5)

This is the starting point for the development of the Arabic calligraphy. Arabs felt the need to master the art in which the words of God would be seen and read. And so the journey of developing the script system that we know it today began, based on the integration of "artistry and scholarship", representing the power and beauty of abstract lines in which energy flows forming the letters and words.

As the Islamic empire expanded towards the non-Arab speaking world, the Arabic calligraphy became an "abstract expression of Islam". This lead to two important factors that changed Arabic calligraphy, the first is the need to reform the written script into a clear and universal manuscript in order for non-Arab Muslims to learn the Arabic language. This is done gradually by the introduction of dots, vowel signs, and other marks known as "Tashkeel", usually written with different colors to be distinguished. The second factor is the introduction of new regional calligraphy. This is mainly influenced by the integration of Arabic calligraphy into non-Arabic cultures forming new calligraphic styles, most notably those that were formed in Persia and Turkey.

9th-10th century Quran in Early Kufic style, Iraq

11th century Quran in Eastern Kufic style, Iran

Styles

Kufi: This is perhaps the oldest calligraphic style which was developed in Kufa in Iraq, hence the name. A number of variations have been introduced to this style. It is characterized by its pronounced angularity, geometrical construction and being considerably wider than it is high. Because of its adaptability to ornamental form, it remains favorable for use in exterior and interior decorations.

Thuluth: This is a cursive script that was formulated during the Umayyad Dynasty. The name means "one third" which is supposed to be the proportion between straight lines and curves. It is characterized by its curved letters with barbed heads, elaborate graphics and it is popular for being used in inscriptions, titles and headings.

Naskh: This cursive script is considered the most popular calligraphic style used. Derived from Thuluth, it was probably redesigned during the Abbasid Dynasty. It is relatively easy to read and write; it uses short horizontal stems, equal vertical depth above and below the medial line, and generally well spaced.

Riq'a: Derived from Thuluth and Naskh, it is a simplified modern cursive style and considered the easiest script for daily handwriting. Letters are similar to those of Thuluth but are smaller, rounded and densely structured with short horizontal stems, and barbed heads are never used.

Ta'liq: Also known as Farsi, it is a cursive script developed by the Persians. This style is considered the native calligraphy among the Persian, Indian, and Turkish Muslims. A lighter and more elegant version of Ta'liq, called Nasta'liq, has been developed by combining it with Naskh. Ta'liq and Nasta'liq are both used extensively in Persian literary works but not for the Qur'an.

Deewani: This style is developed from Ta'liq by the Turks during the Ottoman Empire. It is excessively cursive and its letters are unconventionally joined together. Deewani also developed an ornamental variety called Deewani Jali. The spaces between the letters are filled with decorative devices which do not necessarily have any linguistic value.

Applications

As pictorial ornaments were forbidden in Islam to prevent Idolatry, geometrical patterns and calligraphy became the main decoration elements. For this reason, artists have applied those two elements outside the world of elegant books and into architecture and many crafts such as rugs, woodworking and pottery. But calligraphy have been a decoration element long before Islam, and perhaps the best example for this is the Mu'allaqat (The Hanging Poems), a group of seven long poems written by the best poets of the pre-Islamic period. Those poems were written in gold and hung over the Kaaba as a decoration, showing a very early application of calligraphy as a decorating element.

Today, calligraphy stands as an art on its own, establishing itself as a subject for artists that is open to experimentation. Many artists are specialized in this field and are creating works with innovative approaches to calligraphy in the hopes of developing this art further. More on this will come in the following parts.

The calligraphy decoration of the "kiswah", the cover of the Kaaba

Calligraphy decoration on the entrance of the Taj Mahal

More info can be found here and here and here

The Fractured Monolith

2008-07-22T12:48:00.002+01:00

Here is The Fractured Monolith by Vincent Callebaut Architects, a 4 stars hotel with a congress center located in Belgium.

Festival of Speed Art Displays

2008-07-21T15:11:00.006+01:00

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is an annual festival featuring a variety of historic motor racing vehicles. The festival started in 1993 in order to bring motor racing back to the Goodwood estate, a location steeped in British motor racing history. Since 1997, the festival honors a car manufacturer company each year.

Audi Art Display '99

Ford Art Display '03

Each year a different artistic display is installed in front of the Goodwood House. And just like Tilke's monopoly over designing new F1 circuits, Gerry Judah have been commissioned each year to design a new jaw-breaking sculpture starting with Ferraris in 1997.

Mercedes Art Display '01

Renault Art Display '02

This year's art display is an incredible artistic piece dedicated to Land Rover, celebrating the company's 60th anniversary. The naturally-rusted steel sculpture is 34m high, weighs 120 tonnes, and features five different Land Rover models. The form of the sculpture seems to be inspired by the rough mountainous landscape that these five cars are designed to endure.

Land Rover Art Display '08

Tate 2

2008-07-21T10:31:00.006+01:00

Early design proposal for London's Tate Museum

Revised design proposal

When I first saw the images of the proposed extension for the Tate museum in London by Herzog & de Meuron, like many others I was not convinced, which seems to be the main reaction of many people as well, based on most of the articles I've read about it. However, the proposal was granted planning permission with conditions and the main one is to change the facade material.

The revised proposal in my opinion is way better than the first and looks very intriguing. The new brick extension design fits the area more appropriately than the earlier glazed design; it maintains its twisted shape and got rid of the cantilevering boxes that distort the twist. This twist, in my opinion, is the attracting point of the design since the existing Tate museum is a long rectangular building that needs a new twist to revitalize the area, which the architects took literary.

Police in Sheikh Zayed Road

2008-07-20T22:18:00.001+01:00

An exciting proposal for a performance in Dubai's Sheikh Zayed Road by Christian Sievers. The performance will have police cars racing in a circle with lights flashing and sirens blaring. I wonder whether people would appreciate this artwork during the rush hours??

Check this out for another cool installation by Sievers.

Mosque of Algiers

2008-07-19T17:45:00.004+01:00

Project: Mosque of Algiers
Architect: KSP - Engel and Zimmermann Architects
Location: Algiers, Algeria

A new mosque with the capacity of 20,000 (or 40,000) and a minaret that will be more than 200 meters high will be built by 2012 to the east of the historic center in the Bay of Algiers. Built as part of a new urban development, the mosque may be third largest in the world after the mosques in Mecca and Madina with the minaret being the tallest in the world.

The mosque will be a center uniting cultural, religious and educational institutions. And perhaps the main feature of the design is the dynamic minaret. It will be open to the public and will include a museum, research institutions and a viewing platform at the top.

Peekaboo

2008-07-15T15:50:00.004+01:00

As I was browsing my picture library I found this incredible photo. It’s either an old traditional Yemeni castle or a tower house. Either way, what attracts me to the picture is how it captures the beauty of traditional Yemeni architecture and life. Openings are very limited in traditional Yemeni buildings for climatic and social reasons. Yet wherever they occur there is a great amount of beauty that can be found, whether in the careful and detailed design of a window or the artistic decorations of a door. In this picture the opening is literary an opening, a gap between those magnificent stones that are animated by their different color, texture and size. Yet the human interaction is enough to fill this simple and empty gap with life and captures the attention and admiration of any person passing by.

Note: I think I found the photo in flickr.

Flowers from Madrid to Lisbon

2008-07-14T15:14:00.004+01:00

The Avenida de Portugal is the first stage of the redevelopment project along the Manzanares River after transferring the M-30 highway in the centre of Madrid underground. Officially opened in May 2007, the project is designed by Rotterdam based architects West 8 along with several local offices.

This 6 km grassy boulevard is intended to achieve "an imaginary trip to Portugal." The design takes the shape of abstract flower patterns, inspired by the blossoming cherry trees along the route from Madrid to Lisbon. In addition, traditional Portuguese calçada paving is laid out in a cherry flower pattern to create the illusion of walking on a carpet of flowers.

The redevelopment project will bring to the area green public spaces as well as removing the nuisance and redundancy of the highway traffic, creating a much more comfortable space for pedestrians. The amount of the cherry trees planted (around 700) shows a great respect for this plant that is culturally fundamental to the site. It also provides shade for pedestrians and people sitting in the continuous benches.

More info can be found here and here and here.

Fearless

2008-07-07T21:35:00.005+01:00

The rise of property development along the coast of the Arabian Gulf dramatically increased the demand for luxurious yachts and boats. The creation of 1500 marinas in Dubai alone, along with hundreds, maybe even thousands, of other marinas in neighboring countries lured many people to become watercraft enthusiasts. The emphasis that we are witnessing on waterfront development, land reclamation and the crazy man-made islands that are quickly changing the face of the region are establishing the warm Middle Eastern seas as a tourist attraction that will soon rival the prestigious Mediterranean and Caribbean marinas.

Like everyone I always admired the beauty of expensive toys. But lately I find myself buying boat and yacht magazines. It is not because of all the luxurious waterfront development that is rising which requires complementary water toys. And no its not because I have the financial capability to invest in such assets. Its because of this particular jewel that I ran into by coincidence while reading a Porsche magazine. This jewel is the result of a joint effort between Porsche Design Studios and "high-end builder" Fearless. Its called Fearless 28 (as in 28 feet long) and has a V10 Dodge Viper engine with 550 horsepower. The seats, controls and upper deck design is inspired by the Porsche Carrera GT.

This beauty is the first of a range of yachts designed by Porsche Design Studios for Fearless. I always say that I don't want to be very rich with loads of money that I don't know what to do with, but now I definitely want to afford this toy which apparently cost only $300,000.

City of Shadows

2008-06-15T19:03:00.001+01:00

Here is an interesting gallery by Russian photographer Alexey Titarenko. What really attracted me about this gallery is how the density of the crowds looks like smoke polluting the city, and how small details like hands stand out. Amazing !!!

Dairy House

2008-06-13T13:49:00.005+01:00

Following the last post regarding the revival of traditional old crafts, here is a great example of how "sustainability" can be achieved by the integration of such crafts.

Project: Dairy House
Architect: SCDLP
Location: Somerset, UK
Completion Date: 2006

This small 186 square meter house within this 850 acre estate, almost £500k, 2007 RIBA Design Award Winner is a conversion of a former Dairy to a retreat house. Originally the client wanted to rent the house, but as the project progressed the client decided to keep the house as a retreat. The design was to combine privacy and seclusion with openness to the wider landscape. The result is a similar concept of the Arabia Mashrabiya, in the form of layered oak and laminated glass which produce an eerie, filtered light.

Sustainability, which is integral to the design, is not only in the choice of materials and technology, but comes in the form of social sustainability as well. The oak is stored in sheds in front of the Dairy House. Catling regional hired workers who live within 20 miles of the site: a carpenter who built the extension, a glass laminator responsible for adherence to the expansion of layers of glass, and a stonecutter who restored the brick walls and walkways and fashion pool of slate mined locally. All of which reduced the transportation costs greatly.

In addition, Pilkington donated the glass for the extension as the technique used has not been tested before, and the project would have been unaffordable without this. The glass blocks sit on rubber gaskets which in turn sit directly on the timber. A foam seal sits on the surface of the blocks to form a weatherproof movement joint, clear silicon forms a final weather seal. The oak retains the waney edge on the outside; the inside is finely sanded. Similarly, the blocks of laminated glass are left rough on the exterior, and are polished on the interior. The structure was built up of the prefabricated pieces on site.

More info here and here and here

Old Crafts Revival

2008-06-03T22:28:00.001+01:00

A "mashrabiya", "mauchrabeya", "moucharabieh" or however you want to spell it is not only a special characteristic of Arabic architecture, but a testament to the skill and brilliance of the Arab craftsmen in woodworking. On the other hand, weaving is a textile art that is considered an essential part of many cultures extending from Turkey to China, which is evident in the numerous forms and styles of oriental rugs. So it doesn't surprise me when those two magnificent crafts combine together to produce amazing artistic displays.

Arzu Firuz is a freelance designer born in Istanbul and working in France. Influenced by oriental artisanship, she brings us a blend of historical and traditional references with modern elements and materials. Examples of her products are the above Canvas Moucharabieh and Wooden Rugs, a modern interplay with materials and functions of different traditional elements.

Tribute to the Champions

2008-05-23T18:22:00.001+01:00

They did it again... and they'll do it again!!!

Containers

2008-05-19T20:39:00.001+01:00

The widespread of recycled architecture have resulted in many interesting buildings. One of these buildings is the Freitag's office tower in Zurich. The beauty of this skyscraper is that unlike other container architecture that are modified and painted thus hiding their true nature, this skyscraper embraces the weariness and dirtiness of the container giving it more character and authenticity.

Orquideorama

2008-05-04T19:27:00.000+01:00

Here is the amazing botanical garden in Medellin, Colombia that was renovated by Plan B Architects. Its a wooden mesh work of modular “flower-tree” structures that weaves its way through the garden’s heart.

The theme is to allow the structure to grow in the same way that a garden seeds and develops. This lead them to design the installation as a series of interconnected modular structures (14 in all) specialized for a variety of functions including event halls, butterfly reserves, and flower gardens. This repetitious cellular weave fittingly resonates the organic structure of a honeycomb.

More info here and here

Cool Photography Blog

2008-04-23T19:13:00.000+01:00

Checkout this interesting photography blog

Hoops Pavilion

2008-04-16T19:07:00.001+01:00

Here is an enchanting pavilion in New York made of 1000 plastic hoops attached with plastic ties, and supported by a thin steel structure. The structure is designed by Korean architect Minsuk Cho of Mass Studies in Seoul and provides a setting for a series of evening events. I really think that such structures livens up public squares and encourage interaction of pedestrians, something that we see a lot in the west not so much at our part of the world.

This is a video of the construction.

Playing with the City

2008-04-08T20:48:00.002+01:00

Here is another fabulous add... Funny how its always the cheap cars that come up with the best and cleverest ideas for advertisements... I know they do need to give extra motivation for people to buy their cars but I guess the main reason is that they aim to avoid concentrating on the car itself since it won't have that much to offer... instead they need these elaborate story lines to spice up their products.

Legendary Cities

2008-04-01T12:51:00.004+01:00

I never visited Yemen, but every person I know who did said that it is like travelling back in time. Whether you are in Sana'a the capital of the country or other villages perched on top of mountains and steep cliffs, you feel like you are part of a portrait in a page of an old legendary book like One thousand and one nights. The fact that the old city of Sana'a is now on the UNESCO world heritage list is great to assure that the cultural and architecture heritage of this city will be preserved.

The city by day

...and by night

Personal note: Apologies to all the great photographers of Flickr from whom I borrowed their photographs without their knowledge.

Peugeot kicks Ferrari's @$$??!!

2008-03-25T20:36:00.007Z

The 2007 Peugeot Design Contest had an interesting theme; P.L.E.A.S.E. innovate. The P.L.E.A.S.E. stands for:

P leasurable
L ively
E fficient
A ccessible
S imple
E cological

The winner of the competition provided an incredible design that took my breath away... I just hope Peugeot can wait a couple of 10 years until I can afford such a beauty... Screw Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin and any other sports car.... this is definitely the car I'm buying in my mid-life crisis.

The second winner was kind of cool too although it looked very conceptual and not very practical to me... more of the contest entries can be found here, here and here.

Ladder

2008-03-22T22:14:00.003Z

Ladder is a wood sculpture by David Nash realised at 1989. What really attracted me is how the form of the ladder resemble a living creature with arms and legs that seem to be in motion, bringing back life into what used to be a living being. It kind of looks like those giant talking trees in Lord of the Rings.

"In his environmental art, David Nash from Wales has concentrated on wood and makes use of existing natural features. He has created works with the theme ladder all over the world, in Japan, England, Ireland, as well as Karhusaari, Espoo. The sensation of ascending and descending expressed by the verticality, the transition from one space to another, are recurring themes in Nash’s art. For him, a growing tree, as well as a ladder, are like the Biblical Jacob’s ladder; they embody the connection between heaven and earth."

Cultural Capital of the world???

2008-03-18T19:50:00.007Z

I like to vote for Abu Dhabi to be the cultural capital of the world in 2012. By that time, the city would have been blessed by the likes of Ando, Hadid, Gehry, and Nouvel. By that time museums that carry names like "Louvre" and "Guggenheim" and perhaps "MOMA" would have been completed and open for the public. The city would be home to one of the F1 races as well as a Ferrari theme park.

But the real reason for my choice is a wonderful architectural jewel designed by none other than Jean Nouvel; The Louvre of the Desert.

Approachable from land and sea, the design concept seems to take the form of a city. Hidden or protected under a dome with leaves-like openings, light filters through gently creating a romantic metaphor for an oasis of priceless exhibits in the desert of Abu Dhabi.

Images found here

Performers House

2008-03-16T14:23:00.003Z

Project: The Performers House
Architect: Schmidt Hammer Lassen
Location: Silkeborg, Denmark

"Performers’ House is located in the centre of Silkeborg, at the heart of the Paper Mill’s revitalized industrial history. A historic building is to be transformed, and a new building designed. Spacious performance areas, teaching rooms, a canteen/restaurant, a student café, student accommodation, housing for teaching staff. On the ground floor internal folding walls and red curtains that can be opened and closed provide endless potential for varying interiors. The façade too is versatile: shutters on the main stages fold up and can be slid to one side and the large glazing elements be opened up to the town. Music is thus rendered audible and the theatrical performance visible to passers-by. Between the existing Boiler Building and the new building, a plaza will be created that ties the two together."

The Best Resort in the whole World !!!

2008-03-13T02:05:00.003Z

Project: Al Jais Mountain Resort
Architect: Rem Koolhaas/OMA
Location: Ras Al Khaima, UAE

An magnificent resort that could bring Ras Al Khaima up to rival Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE. Still in its concept design stage, the resort consists of scattered cities along a pathway that exploits the best of the mountainous landscape without compromising the amazing natural setting. It also includes a high-tech habitable bridge and a dam along with terraces and public plazas. The contrast between the modernist white cubes decorated in Arabic geometrical patterns, and the dark mountains may very well mark this resort as the number one getaway vacation destination in the world.

More info here and here and here.

Eco Cities... A Continuation of an Arabic Tradition

2008-03-12T19:07:00.007Z

As an Arab who believes strongly in the continuation of traditions in all aspects of life from fashion, music to architecture; yet open to contemporary aesthetics that will help strengthen the traditional values of this culture... I am really thrilled with where these projects are going.

Abu Dhabi's zero carbon, zero waste city by Norman Foster

Ras al Khaimah's Eco city by Rem Koolhaas

The concept of the mixed used, high density, walled city is a traditional urban strategy that existed long ago. Perhaps the main incentive to such structure is to create a strong defensive and well protected city at a time were unfriendly visitors with destructive intentions were very common in a region that have always witnessed conflicting interests. That aside, such cities allow for a pedestrian friendly environment in a harsh unbearable climate. The shadows cast by buildings on the narrow streets formed by the high density protect people from the glaring sun. The structure of the city also enforces the sense of community, the interaction of neighbors and trade which achieves a self sustaining city.

Recent projects in the GCC countries all aim to achieve those objectives that lead to a self-sustaining community. During the past few years we've seen many mixed used urban development with extravagant schemes such as the Palm Islands in Dubai and Financial Harbor in Bahrain and many more. And even though the element of regional and cultural identity have always been an important factor; none of the projects I've seen have hit me in the right spot like the above projects by Foster and Koolhaas. Just by looking at one of the greatest examples of human settlements in one of the oldest civilizations in the world, Shibam in Yemen, you will understand my infatuation with those schemes and how I see them as amazing modern interpretation of traditional Arabic architecture.

The walled city of Shibam in Yemen

Brazilian Penguins

2008-03-05T16:32:00.005Z

50graus.org is an anonymous website concerned about global warming. It's trying to urge people to think/discuss global warming and its effects away from the political/commercial/organizations trend.

One of the activities carried out to show their concern is public installations. This is an installation in Sao Paolo of Ice Penguins. The Penguin population have declined by 50% and one of the main reasons is the increased temperature which reduced Antarctic sea ice. Placing these ice penguins and letting them melt down until they disappear completely is truly a very moving display of what could actually be a reality one day.

Graffiti Architecture

2008-03-04T19:37:00.007Z

Graffiti is often regarded as an act of vandalism... but how can you frown upon such an artistic display that can produce magnificent architecture as shown above?

This is the first condominium designed by Herzog & de Meuron in the US. And what a piece of architecture it is. The cast aluminum gate is inspired from graffiti that New York is famous for. It's carried through the interior of the building suggesting a "random, haphazard, and variegated vernacular of the downtown New York streetscape". More details can be found here and here.

I can't help but notice the presence of graffiti in some of their other notable projects. Perhaps most clearly in their Flamenco cultural center in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.

In this project, the Gypsy tradition of the Flamenco, Arabic Calligraphy and New York Street Culture Graffiti tags come together to form the pattern of the facade screen as represented in the below diagrams.

Another project comes to mind is the Cottbus University Library in Germany shown below. The glazed facade on this building is animated by texts in different languages and alphabets that have been superimposed in so many layers that they are no longer legible, but still appears as an unmistakable pattern of written signs.

Although there are other projects with similar facade patterns, they are not necessarily "graffiti inspired". An example of that is Tree Village Campus in Beijing, China. The idea behind the project is to develop a pattern specifically for this project which is used at multiple scales; from the master plan to the floor tiles. The pattern is derived from superimposing grids of streets which then appear as tree structures when seen at a facade scale.

The above project is the National Stadium for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing too. The pattern here is made up of structural elements supporting each other. The result is that the facade appears as a bird's nest or a tree and its roots. It is also a mechanism to achieve sustainable design allowing natural ventilation for the stadium.

I Shot The Sheriff... Bahraini Style

2008-02-26T02:00:00.004Z

"I shot the Sheriff... But I didn't shoot no deputy. Oh no noooo!!"

Oh yeah... nothing is better than the irony in hearing the Bahraini Police Force playing the legendary Bob Marley song.

Bambooo

2008-02-20T23:26:00.003Z

Project Description: Show & sales room of Qinadai International Mansion
Architect: AZL-Atelier Zhanglei
Location: Qingpu, Shanghai

Located right at the crossing of two streets, the show room with only 150 square meters is the sales office for the development project under construction on the same spot. This tiny project consists of five rooms. Three rooms are made with glass blocks, one with stone and one is made of wood. Functionally the three glass block rooms are the sales office, while the stone box is for exhibiting the model and the wood box contains the restroom. On the other hand these three materials are used for the facade of the tower buildings. The separation between the sales office and the pedestrians is also made with a wall of glass blocks, while the bamboo batons on the outside create the transparent boundary of the building, seen as the edge to the curved profile of the street.

Nazari Wall

2008-02-20T02:44:00.000Z

The Nazari wall is one of the ancient archeological remains of the Islamic presence in Granda, Spain. A large section of the wall was destroyed by an earthquake in the 19th-century, which remained as a void until Antonio Jiménez Torrecillas designed an intervention not long ago.

Local and national heritage regulations dictated that the new wall should be capable of demolition in the future without damaging the original construction. This required designing special foundations that kept the old ones and designing a wall that is stable but also demountable. The architect chose granite slabs to accomplish the last, dry stacking them in a manner that creates interest both inside and out.

Influenced by "old military fortifications, the spirit of secret passageways and night patrols", there are two small openings on either side of the 40 meter wall allow access from one side of the wall to the other, via a narrow passageway between the two stacked granite walls. Torrecillas wanted visitors "to negotiate a world of light and darkness that is a part of the myth of underground Granada." Combined with the numerous apertures in the two walls, this space captures something of that essence without immediately recalling any specific historical form.

The intervention in Nazarí wall is the first step in a large urban design that will preserve the surrounding area.