Category Archives: Architecture

The Architect Who Saw the Future

01 Thursday Dec 2016

Posted by in Architecture

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Gateway Arch, St. Louis, Missouri. The steel arch was built in 1963.

Gateway Arch, St. Louis, MO

My first memory of Eero Saarinen‘s work was going to the top of St. Louis’ Gateway Arch in June 1970, when I was 10 years old. Having grown up in suburban Detroit, I later remember gazing at the futuristic looking Design Dome and Watertower at the General Motors Technical Center in Warren, Michigan.

Eero Saarinen: The Architect Who Saw The Future, the Season 30 finale of THIRTEEN’s American Masters series, premieres nationwide on Tuesday, December 27 at 8 p.m. on PBS (check local listings). The film follows Eric Saarinen — Eero’s son, who also served as the director of photography and co-producer — as he visits the sites of his father’s work, including Dulles International Airport; the Gateway Arch, St. Louis; and the TWA Flight Center, John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York. Shot with the latest in drone technology, the film showcases the architect’s body of timeless work in stunning 6K for the first time. (TAP TO WATCH PREVIEW)

More photos of Saarinen’s work:

The Design Dome at the General Motors Technical Center in Warren, Michigan opened in 1955.

The Design Dome at the General Motors Technical Center in Warren, Michigan opened in 1955.

The reflecting pool and UFO-like 14-story stainless-steel water tower at the General Motors Technical Center

The reflecting pool and UFO-like 14-story stainless-steel water tower at the General Motors Technical Center

 

The TWA Flight Center opened in 1962 as the original terminal designed by Eero Saarinen for Trans World Airlines at New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport.

The TWA Flight Center opened in 1962 as the original terminal designed by Eero Saarinen for Trans World Airlines at New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Grounded Architecture

12 Tuesday May 2015

Posted by in Architecture, Environment

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Caption 1 tk here 111

The cabin’s asymmetrical roof is covered in grey slate.

Zecc Architects, along with interior designer Roel van Norel, designed a compact “recreationhouse” in the Dutch province of Utrecht. The cabin’s clean, modern design creates a strong connection to the surrounding woods and features privacy shutters that change its look. Photography by Stijnstijl. All images courtesy of Zecc Architects.  (MORE)

The shutters are opened during the day, illuminating the space within with natural light.

The shutters are opened during the day, illuminating the interior with natural light.

The movable shutters can be shut during the evenings when privacy is required.

The movable shutters can be shut during the evenings when privacy is required.

One long room contains the bedroom, kitchen and dining area.

One long room contains the bedroom, kitchen and dining area.

 

Never Forget: Photographs by Nick Broda

11 Tuesday Sep 2012

Posted by in 9/11, Architecture, Manhattan, New York City, Photography, World Trade Center

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Tribute in Light from a Hoboken, New Jersey rooftop, September 7, 2012. Photograph by Nick Broda © 2012

9/11 Memorial, South Pool, September 8, 2012. Photography by Nick Broda © 2012

9/11 Memorial, North Pool at dusk, September 8, 2012. Photograph by Nick Broda © 2012

Freedom Tower at dusk, September 8, 2012. Photograph by Nick Broda © 2012

View of Manhattan looking south from Empire State Building, 86th floor observation deck, September 8, 2012. Photograph by Nick Broda © 2012

Statue of Liberty and Manhattan skyline from ferry, September 9, 2012. Photograph by Nick Broda © 2012

New Jersey and Manhattan skylines from Liberty Island, September 9, 2012. Photograph by Nick Broda © 2012

Hearst Tower: Architectural Treasure

05 Monday Mar 2012

Posted by in Architecture, Design, Magazines, Manhattan, Media, News, Publishing

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One of my favorite buildings in New York City, Hearst Tower opened in 2006 and was designed by architect Lord Norman Foster, renowned for his ability to design modern additions to historic structures. In the case of Hearst Tower, he has created an exciting interplay between the historic base and the new tower while maintaining the integrity of both buildings.

In its latest production, Treasures of New York goes on a private tour inside Hearst’s world headquarters. Timed with Hearst Corporation’s 125th anniversary, the film also highlights Hearst’s history and growth into one of the America’s largest diversified media and information companies. Treasures of New York: Hearst Tower premieres Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. (ET) on WLIW21 and Thursday, March 8, 2012 at 8 p.m. on THIRTEEN. (MORE)

Hearst Tower, the Manhattan headquarters of Hearst Corporation is the first commercial office building in New York City to be recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for achieving both LEED Gold for new construction and LEED Platinum for the operations and maintenance of its existing building at 300 West 57th Street.

The Interior Plaza is home to two magnificent pieces of art designed to complement the soaring, glass-lined space: Icefall, a three-story sculpted water feature, and Riverlines, a monumental fresco by acclaimed environmental artist Richard Long of the UK.

 

 

 

A Rennie Mackintosh-Inspired Logo

24 Wednesday Aug 2011

Posted by in Architecture, Logos, Quotes, Typography

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A logo doesn’t sell, it identifies. A logo derives its meaning from the quality of the thing it symbolizes, not the other way around. A logo is less important than the product it signifies; what it means is more important than what it looks like.

— Paul Rand

Logo for The Gate, luxury condominium residence, Hoboken, New Jersey: BoJoda Design. Typeface: ITC Rennie Mackintosh.

I designed this logo for Jenniann Barile, developer of The Gate, a 10-unit Arts-and-Crafts influenced luxury condominium apartment complex in Hoboken, New Jersey. Charles Rennie Mackintosh was a Scottish architect, designer, watercolorist and sculptor. The font is ITC Rennie Mackintosh, which was inspired and developed from Mackintosh’s impeccably hand-lettered architectural renderings, posters, book jackets, etc. Ms. Barile traveled to Glasgow, Scotland with principal architect Dean Marchetto, where they studied Mackintosh’s work. Marchetto reinterpreted Hoboken’s traditional forms by incorporating elements from the great Arts-and-Craft’s architect’s designs. The Gate’s brick facade and vertically punched windows are a nod to Hoboken conventions; its black lintels and modern rooftop cornice pay homage to Mackintosh. The building has won several awards, including the Residential Architect Design Award. The building, as one judge said, “understands history rather than mimicking it.”

The Gate, 1320 Bloomfield Street, Hoboken, New Jersey

The Gate's entrance door

Casa G — Architecture As Art

21 Sunday Aug 2011

Posted by in Architecture, Art

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The G House in Valle Real, Zapopan, Mexico was designed by architect Ricardo Agraz. Agraz studied the solar paths of the terrain and incorporated a series of slots in the ceiling. These allow a sharp flow of light lines that work as a solar watch where time passes by. It’s a beautiful house; a prime example of architecture as art. (MORE)

Casa G, 2009. Agraz Architects. Construction: Salvador Aguirre Cordero; Photo: Mito Covarrubias

Casa G interior. Photo: Mito Covarrubias

Casa G interior. "The inside of the house drains into the outside, giving space and kindness to the suburb." Photo: Mito Covarrubias