The Avenue on Portage by 5468796 Architecture
Photography by James Brittain
A tour of the Barbie Dreamhouse in Berlin, Germany:
The life-sized Dreamhouse offers visitors the chance to try on Barbie’s clothes in her walk-in closet an enjoy a tour of the living room and kitchen.
Did we find any parties? Not exactly: the house is a bit quieter than the usual stereotype.
Photos: REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch
Have you ever gotten excited about a fenestration pattern? If you’re unfamiliar with the word, fenestration is really just a fancy way to say window*. But when you find yourself talking about the fenestration pattern, you’re inadvertently talking about more.
Photos of Patterns and Repetition Spotted During Urban Exploration
Take a look at photographer Jared Lim‘s portfolio, and many of his photographs might look to you like they’re the product of liberal Photoshop Clones Stamp usage. They feature repeating shapes, colors, and patterns found in various cities’ urban environments.
Based in Singapore, Lim is an urban explorer — he calls himself a “wanderer” — and says he has always been drawn to geometry, lines, curves, patterns, and abstract designs.
Thus, architectural photography has been a natural fit for him ever since he picked up a camera. While traveling to different cities around the world for his travel industry job, Lim captures things that catch his eye in monochrome, in color, and on the street.In an interview over on Chase Jarvis’ blog, Lim says he does minimal editing on his images:
I try to get my composition and lighting right during shooting so as to minimize the amount of post correction work. Post work mainly involves correction of lens distortion and perspective, because I am rather meticulous in my composition. I love strong colors and most of my work reflects that.
Installation in the Greek pavilion of the 2012 Venice Biennale, by AREA Architecture
AREA’s Athens Charting installation at the 2012 Venice Biennale - Greek Pavilion unites four Athens city blocks into one, giant public space, in the form of a 3.3m x 2.5m paper model. Part urban survey, part spectacle, the model is entirely hand-drawn with blue ink on white paper. Representing the city as a continuous surface that is, nevertheless, heterogeneous and culturally inscribed, the model seeks to engage the dynamic and rapidly changing context that characterizes Greek cities today.
Mornington Beach House by Clare Cousins Architects
Design Team: Clare Cousins, Tara Ward, Jessie Fowler
Photographer: Shannon McGrathThe brief was to provide additional accommodation to an existing 1970’s Merchant Builder’s home in Mornington, Victoria. Located on a sloping block, the existing single storey house is sited well back on the block with limited access to ocean views. Rather than demolish or renovate the existing building our approach was to keep the building in tact and design a new pavilion to sit adjacent to the original at the front of the site. The new pavillion includes a new master bedroom wing with living room and deck for outdoor dining that captures broad views of Port Philip Bay. Planning regulations permit only first floor structures that are located over car parking or storage areas which informed the elevated ‘stilt’ design. Timber construction is used holistically both internally and externally while an enclosed circulation stair clad in translucent polycarbonate connects the original to the new structure.
The Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects.
It is located in the center of the ‘factory of the world’, the capital of Guangdong Province (Canton) on the north bank of the Pearl River. The opera house was opened in 2010. The complex consists of several large softly shaped polyhedra, reminiscent of large boulders. The architect speaks of ‘pebbles in the river’.It is a complex structure made of steel and concrete, combined with in glass and sheet metal. With its expressive character and its spectacular architecture, the building emphasizes the city’s drive to claim global media attention. Located in the center of a business district, public spaces are placed between the different buildings. The enormous concert hall and a multifunctional hall are accessed via generous ramps and stairs.
Green Marin County Residence Design by Dirk Denison Architects.
