Displaying items by tag: Architecture

The Museum of Architecture, Art and Technology (MAAT), which opened in Lisbon to the public this past weekend, offers 7,000 square meters of new exhibition space. British architect Amanda Levete dug down, instead of building up, in order to not block out river views and create new open space to attract the local populace, resulting in the gleaming white stone roof functioning as a public park. Visitors can gaze out over the river, famous for turning gold in the setting sun.

San Diego’s month-long architecture and design festival, aptly named Archtoberfest, kicked off last week. More than 65 tours, exhibitions, lectures and street fairs will be a part of this 3rd annual edition. Highlights include the San Diego Design Film Festival, awards ceremonies, art crawl tours, and lectures from master architects.

Jai & Jai Gallery has become an essential hub for the young architecture scene in Los Angeles. Their 350-square-foot exhibition space is sandwiched between a barbecue smokehouse and a former vintage music store in Chinatown, and it is rapidly becoming a loci of experimentation for the next generation of designers.

In a new project called Building Our Islands, photographer John Maher aims to encourage people on the Western Isles to engage with the islands’ built environment through workshops, art, and photography. This project is being held as part of Scotland’s Festival of Architecture 2016. Maher is documenting dozens of buildings on the Isles, highlighting both historic and modern architecture set upon landscapes unlike any other in the world.

What distinguishes a chair designed by an architect rather than a furniture designer? Whey would an architect want to design a chair? These and many other ideas are explored in “Chairs by Architects” (Thames & Hudson).

Few architects have had such a profound effect on contemporary culture as Frank Lloyd Wright. Not only did he change the face of modern living forever (you have him to thank for open floor plans, carports, and air conditioning), his work continues to inspire new generations of designers and design lovers alike. Just this fall, Opening Ceremony dedicated its entire Fashion Week collection to the almighty Wright. Part of the reason that the architect’s influence remains so pervasive, is the abundance of Wright-designed structures that remain intact and open to the public throughout the country.

1. Huge price cut for New York castle overlooking the Hudson. Originally listed for $6.5 million, this palatial abode recently dropped to a cool $4.95 million. Located 25 minutes from Manhattan, the sprawling six-bedroom stone castle offers jaw-dropping views of the Hudson River. The residence features imported 16th-18th century European rooms and architectural elements as well as the finest contemporary amenities such as top-of-the-line appliances, a new slate and copper roof and central air. While it’s hard to compete with that stunning exterior, the castle’s interiors are brimming with opulent details, including hand-carved French Rococo panels, massive chandeliers and marble finishes.

The monolithic concrete that forms some of our most creative 20th-century architectural heritage is in danger of disappearing. Brutalism, that heftily named form of modernism that favors right-angles and a palette with the colors of a storm, is facing demolition and decay around the world, whether the Birmingham Central Library in England demolished this month, or Chicago’s Prentice Women’s Hospital torn down last year.

1. How about Richard and Dion Neutra’s architectural masterpiece?

Designed by the seminal Modernist architect Richard Neutra and his son, Dion, this serene residence blends seamlessly with its surroundings. Built in Los Angeles’ Tarzana neighborhood in 1972, the architectural gem sits atop a nearly 3-acre expanse of land, providing 360-degree views of the stunning San Fernando Valley. The 5,500-square-foot estate features four bedrooms, vast walls of glass, and a luxurious outdoor area complete with a swimmer’s pool, a hot tub, and unique designer water features that surround the home’s exterior.

The Yale Center for British Art will reopen to the public on May 11, 2016, after completing the third phase of a major building conservation project. Visitors to the renovated building will experience a stimulating new installation of the Center’s unparalleled collection of more than five centuries of British art, largely the gift of the institution’s founder, Paul Mellon (Yale College, Class of 1929).

The Long Gallery, located on the fourth floor, will be wholly reconfigured, returning to the architect Louis I. Kahn’s original conception of a study gallery, with over two hundred works installed from floor to ceiling across seven bays.