de Young Museum by Herzog & de Meuron: The Copper Killer
The de Young Museum designed by Jacques Herzog & Pierre de Meuron is both underwhelming and overwhelming. The structure’s interiors are underwhelming at best, and there are few spaces on the interior that capture the same spirit that is embodied by the structure’s unique exterior appearance. The exterior form and treatment of the structure’s skin is overwhelming. The materiality, texture and the building’s seductive physique are used to create a building that one cannot help but to stare at. The de Young Museum is simply beautiful, its copper skin is unmatched in scale and execution, but the local and regional ecosystem must pay a great cost for its unique beauty. … continue reading de Young Museum by Herzog & de Meuron: The Copper Killer
Miami School of Architecture by Bernard Tschumi
The Miami School of Architecture Building (also known as the Paul L. Cejas School of Architecture Building) was designed by Bernard Tschumi. It is a visually exciting building, and was one of the many highlights on a recent architectural pilgrimage that I made to Miami. This project is one of three must see buildings on the Florida International University campus, the other two structures are designed by Robert Stern and KPF, and if you can believe it the Robert Stern designed structure is the best of the three architectural gems hidden on the campus. … continue reading Miami School of Architecture by Bernard Tschumi
Bloomingdale’s Meet Kevin Kennon Architects
Images of contemporary architecture do not necessarily come to mind when thinking about the architecture of Orlando. While Orlando is not the architectural capital of the United States, there are actually a great number of buildings in the Orlando area that have been designed by architects of varying styles, different eras, and degrees of fame. Although great examples of contemporary architecture do exist in Orlando, I did not think that I would find a high design contemporary structure at the mall, but that is exactly what I found shortly after moving to this city. … continue reading Bloomingdale’s Meet Kevin Kennon Architects
The Color of Money (part 1)
If you are an architect, it is not often that you think of architects and money. No I am not talking about the lack of money that you can expect to make as an architect, but architects on money. In the United States the canvas of money is often reserved for politicians by politicians. The closest thing to an architect featured on an American dollar would be Thomas Jefferson who is featured on the useless two dollar bill, but why not Frank Lloyd Wright? I borrowed a book from a friend of mine, and when I began to read the book an envelope of money fell out of the book. I was amazed to see that the money was not only beautiful, but featured the work and faces of influential modern architects. … continue reading The Color of Money (part 1)
