Architecture & Web Art

Archive for the ‘Utopia’ Category

If you have a passion for cars you may have heard about James May. The guy is producer and co-presenter on one of Britain’s best TV Shows, Top Gear. Also known as Captain Slow, James is more than just a guy with a passion for engines. He also loves LEGO and to prove that he’s serious about it, after beer with the “mates” he decided to build — entirely from LEGO pieces  — a real two-storey house, where he’ll live upon completion. Located in the middle of the Denbies Wine Estate, in Dorking, UK, the building is going to use 3 million colorful bricks, will feature a Lego toilet and LEGO furniture. – via

In 1976, Centre Pompidou in Paris, designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, turned the building inside out and made utility ductworks part of the architectural expression. It was unprecedented thus a breakthrough in the field of architecture.

In 2010, we will have gone through a long period of rapid technological advancement and the amount of infrastructure in a building will have dramatically increased to the point that technologies are today’s basic building blocks. For Shanghai Corporate Pavilion at the World Expo, we would like to manifest this observation in our design: the interior spaces of the Shanghai Corporate Pavilion, which are shaped as a series of free, flowing forms, will be no longer enclosed by walls of the static kind but a dense, cubic volume of infrastructural network, including LED lights and mist making system, which are capable of changing the appearance of the building from one moment to another as programmed through computer.

Home renovation is on the rise for obvious reasons; so many well made architecturally and geographically desirable homes are reaching the age of needing a serious face lift. Metropolitan Home recently featured the stunning mid-century (1960) Eichler House of Marika Sakellariou renovated by architects Lucian Rosciszewski and Marek Slosar who updated while respecting the roots of the homes interior and exterior. The mostly white interior and open floor plan is a breath of fresh air and compliments the natural landscape which is highly visible thanks to a transparent wall revealing the dining room, the kitchen, the living room and the master bedroom. Keep your eye on the well coordinated furniture and accessories that adorn this clean modern home renovation, especially the Aspen Sofa from Jean Marie Massaud from Cassina shown in all white. Here are some of the beautiful photographs by Shaun Sullivan featured in Met Home.

Construction has begun on the Shard, a skyscraper that will be the tallest building in Western Europe and will provide amazing views of London. Designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop (who was also responsible for the California Academy of Sciences), the Shard was inspired by towering church spires and the masts of ships that once anchored on the Thames. The new mixed-use development is located in the heart of London Bridge Quarter and will sit adjacent to the London Bridge Station, one of the busiest train stations in London.

The 72-storey building in the London Bridge Quarter will contain premium office space, a world-class hotel, luxury residences, a spa, restaurants & cafes, retail space and a 15-storey public viewing gallery. On the ground level, public piazza, restaurants and cafes will be open to the public with places to rest and changing art installations. Access to public transportation via bus line, train and underground will be directly on site. Previously at that location was the 1970’s Southwark Tower building on Bridge Street, which has already been demolished to begin construction on the new tower.

Royal Botania offers a sensual and relaxing place to suspend your self above the earth and relax away from the rest of the world. The “Kokoon” shelters you from the surrounding hectic distractions to be alone or with someone special for some really valuable time. Royal Botania has a simply awesome collection of outdoor and patio furniture fit for the most luxurious resorts or right next to your own swimming pool. See more of he Kokoon hammock lounge and find a Royal Botania dealer here.