Tag Archives: architecture

UK’s Historic Architecture On “Identikit” Collision Course

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David Twohig Living in Wonderland: Urban development and placemaking by David Twohig, Battersea Power Station Development Company Head of Design and Placemaking, offers a unique look at urban development and placemaking and makes the case for a radical change in how this should be approached ~

 

Britain is home to an extraordinarily eclectic array of buildings. From its magnificent public buildings to its iconic skyscrapers and cutting-edge developments, the wonderland that is British architecture defines a nation and continues to shape the lives of those within it.

 

But according to author and expert David Twohig, Head of Design and Placemaking for the Battersea Power Station Development Company, that could all change within 15 years. Twohig, responsible for one of the most high-profile urban regeneration projects of the century, warns that the UK’s cities are on a collision course to be overrun with “bland, homogenous developments”.

 

Global cities including London are in danger of being swamped with “identikit” shopping centres, office towers and sprawling, analogous housing estates as uninspired and cost-cutting developers increasingly seek “one-stop” solutions to the built environment.

 

This, Twohig predicts, will compromise people’s health, wellbeing and general happiness, as well as pacifying a city’s unique identity – a key attractor for foreign investment and economic success.

 

The arguments are laid out in Twohig’s astonishing new book, Living in Wonderland: Urban development and placemaking (Harriman House), which explores the challenges facing urban development on a global scale. Twohig’s argument for change – and the need to explore “non-default” development solutions – is based upon the study of real-life projects in residential, retail and workplace environments.

 

This thoroughly-researched title fills the gap between superficial coffee table books and theoretical academic papers, and has been described as a “must-read” for anyone with an interest in development, architecture, town planning and the urban environment.

 

“Over the next 15 years China is set to urbanise 300 million people and build the equivalent urban area of North America,” Twohig says.

 

“London alone is set to grow by two million people by 2030. This is the greatest period of urbanisation in human history and yet the buildings and places we are designing and developing leave a great deal to be desired.”

 

Living in Wonderland: Urban development and placemaking (Harriman House) is published on March 24, 2014.

 

French modernist residence, Villa Savoy, joins LEGO® Architecture series

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Famous Parisian modernist-style country house, Villa Savoye, is the newest landmark to join the impressive LEGO® Architecture series.

Designed by Le Corbusier in the 1920s, and situated on the outskirts of Paris, Villa Savoye is the first French landmark to be added to the inspirational range. The villa itself is the perfect embodiment of Le Corbusier’s ‘Five Points’ construction principles, featuring a fusion of modern architecture and nature intended to create harmony with the woodland surroundings.

The fifteenth model to join the LEGO Architecture series, this interpretation of Villa Savoye was designed by German architect Michael Hepp in collaboration with the LEGO design team. Just like the real thing, the set features columns, functional roof space, open floor planning, long horizontal windows, and a free façade.

The LEGO Architecture range features ingenious recreations of well-known landmarks and works of important architects from around the world. Full of inspiration for future architects, engineers and designers as well as fans of architecture, the series is stunningly presented. Each set contains a booklet which brings the story behind the building to life, featuring exclusive, archival history, information and photographs about each iconic building, its design origin, its architect and its architectural features, as well as step-by-step instructions on construction. Travel the world of architecture by collecting all the sets in the range.

Become an expert with these Villa Savoye facts:

* Villa Savoye was originally built as a country retreat on behest of the Savoye family (at a cost of 900,000 Francs), but fell into disuse after 1940, entering a state of disrepair during World War II. After being passed on to be property of the French state in 1958, and surviving several plans of demolition, it was added to the French register of historical monuments becoming the first modernist building designated as a historical monument in France, and also the first to be the object of renovation (from 1985 to 1997) while its architect was still living.
* At the time the project started on site no design work had been done on the lodge and the final design was only presented to the client in June 1929. Although construction of the whole house was complete within a year it was not habitable until 1931.
* The house, designed as a second residence and sited as it was outside Paris was designed with the car in mind. The sense of mobility that the car gave translated into a feeling of movement that is integral to the understanding of the building.
* The four columns in the entrance hall seemingly direct the visitor up a ramp. This ramp, that can be seen from almost everywhere in the house continues up to the first floor living area and salon before continuing externally from the first floor roof terrace up to the second floor solarium.
* Throughout his career Corbusier was interested in bringing a feeling of sacredness into the acts of dwelling such as washing and eating. At the Villa Savoye the act of cleansing is represented both by the sink in the entrance hall and the celebration of the health-giving properties of the sun in the solarium on the roof which is given significance by being the culmination of ascending the ramp.

The LEGO 21014 Villa Savoye is available for purchase from 1st August in LEGO brand retail stores, LEGOLAND Stores and online at http://shop.lego.com/. Aimed at ages 12+, the product measures Measures 3.6” (9.2cm) tall, 7.5” (19.2cm) wide and 6.9” (17.5cm) deep, and has a RRP of £59.99.

For more information about LEGO Architecture visit http://architecture.lego.com/

Gensler unveils Design for Museum of Bond vehicles and espionage {Cult}

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LONDON — International architecture, design and planning firm Gensler today, unveiled its design for the Museum of Bond Vehicles and Espionage, which is slated to open in Momence, IL, in 2012, on the 50th anniversary of the first James Bond movie, Dr. No.

The 14,000 square foot museum will house the exclusive collection of the Ian Fleming Foundation, including the world’s largest collection of vehicles used in Bond films. A partnership between the Ian Fleming Foundation, the Kankakee County Museum and the City of Momence, this Gensler-designed museum will also feature cultural artefacts of espionage with exhibits exploring contemporary culture’s impact on the Bond films as well as Bond’s influence on popular culture.

With projections of 20,000 visitors per year, the museum hopes to revitalize Momence, Illinois, a historic border town located 50 miles south of Chicago.

The project itself is a bit of a double agent, says Gensler Design

Director Brian Vitale. At face value, we¹ve designed a showcase for a world-class collection of James Bond vehicles and the culture that surrounds them. But its real mission is to become a powerful catalyst for the revitalization of a once-vibrant city.

With a limited budget, Gensler focused on a single bold design move to make a statement against a simple backdrop. The result is the 007 window (named so because the windows angled jamb resembles a 7), located at the buildings prominent corner. The window does quadruple-duty, providing exhibit display space, signage, a day lit interior, and an iconic backdrop for photographs. The remainder of the building is clad in black horizontal corrugated metal. It’s a mysterious silhouette that reveals very little of the museum’s content, much like James Bond himself, said Vitale.

Get more info at the Museum Of Bond Vehicles Facebook Page