News Archives | Inspiration
Light
Italian Light
It is not quite a house without the sun
And sun is what we notice, wonder at
As if stone left its hard and quarried state
To be reciprocal to light and let
The fallen beams bound and rebound upon
Shutter and wall, each with assurance thrown
So on descending from the snow we meet
Not warmth of south but houses which contrive
To be designed of sun. The builders have
Instructed hands to know where shadows fall
And made of buildings an obedient stone
Linked to the sun as waters to the moon.
Elisabeth Jennings
This poem comes to us courtesy of Patricia Cook a poet who lives and works in Mount Kisco, New York.
Wednesday | 1 October 2008 | #
OIza (1918-2000)
This entry represents a long overdue tribute.
The architecture of Fracisco Javier Saenz de Oiza was powerful, intelligent, nervous…a continuous whirlwind of ideas, emotion and passion effortlessly flowing form his privileged intellect. For those of us who were lucky enough to be in his presence at least once and learn from his words and teachings, Oiza will always be a reference of what an Architect should be.
Saturday | 5 April 2008 | #
Paulo Mendes. New Pritzker Prize
Brazilian architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha has been awarded the 2006 Pritzker Architectural Prize. After Oscar Niemeyer’s recognition in 1988, the 77 year old is the second Brazilian to be honored with this prestigious award.
His work includes the Brazilian Museum of Sculpture built in 1988 as well as numerous current works abroad such as a social housing block in Madrid, Spain, and a series of buildings for the University of Vigo, also in Spain.
Tuesday | 11 April 2006 | #
Soledar
In the search for the ultimate concert venue, a Ukrainian orchestra made its debut 200 metres underground in a salt mine. The Donbass symphony orchestra played to an audience of 200 in a vast cavern in Soledar, 60 miles north of the Ukrainian industrial base of Donetsk.
The chamber, 30 metres high and 120 metres long, has been cut into a salt deposit thought to have been created when the region was covered by oceans 230m years ago.
Tuesday | 15 November 2005 | #
The Congress Theater
The Congress Theater’s interior is noteworthy for the lavishness, in both space and detailing, of its lobbies and auditorium with its dramatic glowing dome, decorative stone and plaster work, metal chandeliers and sconces, and antique auditorium seating. The theater was officially designated as a Chicago Landmark as of July 10, 2002. Also, the Congress Theater is known to be one of the most intact surviving neighborhood movie ‘palaces’ in Chicago dating back from the 1920s. The theater was designed by Fridstein & Co and built for Bubliner & Trinz, operators of one of Chicago’s largest movie theater chains during the 1920’s.
Thanks to Kelly Simmons and the staff at the theater, STL had the opportunity to wander around its unique interior during closed hours. It was most definitely a stimulating experience for all of us at STL.
Thanks to Jonathan for providing the photos.
Monday | 1 August 2005 | #
Pixel Roller
The Pixel Roller is a new unique tool developed by Stuart Wood and Florian Ortkrass. Both are currently studying Interaction Design and Design Products at the Royal College of Art.
The pixel roller rolls pixels in form of a series of 12 ultra bright UV LEDs situated along its axis that stimulates phosphorescent ink and leave trails of pixels that fade with time. This new tool can roll out any image, video or text at any speed or direction as well as over different surfaces.
Thursday | 23 June 2005 | #
Kenzo Tange (1913-2005)
Kenzo Tange, one of the twentieth century’s influential architects, died at age 91 on March 22, 2005 after many years of distinguished architectural practice.
A recipient of the 1987 Pritzker Prize for Architecture, Tange’s work spanned five continents and included projects ranging from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park to the New Tokyo City Hall.
Wednesday | 30 March 2005 | #
Pre-fabulous
See the latest developments in prefabrication for residential applications at
Design Innovations in Manufactured Housing, February 4, 2005 - January 16, 2006 at the Field Museum.
Good links to images here.
Related:
Urban Habitats competition
Friday | 18 March 2005 | #
Nomadic Museum
Elephants kneel and bathe in Ashes and Snow, an exhibit of Gregory Colbert’s photograph’s at the Nomadic Museum, a temporary assemblage of metal shipping containers, paper tube columns, and fabric roof by architect Shigeru Ban at New York City’s Pier 54.
Wednesday | 16 March 2005 | #
Color and light
A range of artists and architects have created some striking spaces defined by color and light.
Thursday | 3 March 2005 | #
Life during (and after) wartime
See what architects and design/construction professionals are doing during (and after) wartime
Tuesday | 1 March 2005 | #
Iraqi school reconstruction
Since we’re over there anyway, ever wonder how school reconstruction in Iraq is going?
Decide for yourself.
- A Fresh Start for Iraqi Children
- Bechtel Fails Reconstruction of Iraq’s Schools
- School Reconstruction in Al Basrah
Tuesday | 1 March 2005 | #
How not to value-engineer
R. Buckmister Fuller (L) and Norman Foster (R, with watch)
In the article “Why Is Europe Winning?” in the February 2005 issue of Architecture, author Peter Buchanan discusses some reasons that clients turn to European design teams for expertise and innovation.
His observations are mostly balanced, often surprising, and sometimes revelatory.
Thursday | 17 February 2005 | #
Lectures
Stay connected to Chicago design lectures and events with this handy one-stop guide.
- American Institute Architects Chicago Chapter
- Archeworks
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Art Institute of Chicago, Architecture and Design Society
- Chicago Architectural Club
- Chicago Architecture Foundation
- Illinois Institute of Technology
- University of Illinois at Chicago
Tuesday | 1 February 2005 | #
Philip Johnson (1906-2005)
Philip C. Johnson - author, curator, critic, architect, lightning-rod for controversy, and contemporary of most any 20th or 21st century figure you can think of - died today at the age of 98 after recently retiring from architectural practice.
Wednesday | 26 January 2005 | #
Lords of the Ring
Richard Wagner’s Ring comes to the Lyric Opera of Chicago this season. While featuring a dragon’s hoard of gold and women with metal brassieres on flying horses, the opera cycle also features timely views on power, privilege, and faith.
Thursday | 20 January 2005 | #
Technology transfer
‘Technology transfer’ is a fancy term for what you like to do anyway - learn about what other people do so you can do what you do better.
With the increasing need for economy of time, material, and labor, examples in architecure abound, and the work of people such as Charles and Ray Eames and Buckmister Fuller is gaining increased relevance in an era of interchange and collaboration.
There’s even a National Technology Transfer Center encouraging advancement in areas ranging from firefighting to immunosuppressant drug production.
Wednesday | 5 January 2005 | #
Design control, research, and prefabrication
SHoP Architects recently completed the striking Porter House in New York City with a unique process of 3-D modeling and automated fabrication.
Wednesday | 5 January 2005 | #
Paper Architecture
We all know who the 2004 Person of the the Year was. Now see the Time 100: The Next Wave Innovators in Architecture and Design.
Monday | 3 January 2005 | #
Library at Little Rock
Politics and the built environment go hand in hand, but for critique of the first, we’ll leave it to the pundits and anyone else who visits the recently opened Clinton Library by Polshek Partnership Architects, which overlooks the Arkansas River in Little Rock.
Visit the Clinton Presidential Center website.
Wednesday | 15 December 2004 | #
Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo has been located at the Metropolitan Kiba park in Koto ward since March, 1995. The edifice, green in the background, incorporates performance with light and water. It also uses materials such as stone, metal and wood effectively. This is certainly a place worthy being called the Palace of Contemporary Art .
Wednesday | 15 September 2004 | #
Seattle Public Library
Rem Koolhaas’ Seattle Public Library recently opened and there’s a nice slideshow of images on the Library’s website.
Tuesday | 3 August 2004 | #
The LV Home
The LV Home Kit makes modern design easily attained and affordable. The Kit’s detailed plans, instructions and videotape, pre-assembled components and materials expedite the on-site construction process while ensuring you get the design you desire.
Thursday | 22 July 2004 | #
