Designed by X-Architect, the floating houseboat sited at Dubai Marina, Dubai. This leisure home is built on top of two catamaran beams to make it stable, and the whole building covers 220 sqm of floor area mixing the use of a concealed kitchen, living room, an informal dining area, bedrooms, bathroom, steering cabin, and terrace.
The Leonardo Glass Cube was designed by 3Deluxe and the project has been completed since 2008. What I like about the project is the unity between the landscape, exterior, and the interior in one rhythm. I think 3Deluxe has implemented its interdisciplinary design concept very successfully into the project.
The glass façade of the building represents not only the interface between interior and exterior, but also the passage to a hyper-naturalistic world with heightened aesthetic appeal. A transparent print slides into the insight or outlook as a subtly visible image plane. The graphically illustrated elements displayed on it were derived from the architecture and the surrounding landscape. They create a subtle puzzle, mingling with the reflections of their models in reality.
Located at Copenhegen, the Elephant House is mentioned as the first zoological building designed by Foster+Partners. The building is constructed with a warm terracotta-coloured concrete and lightweight glazed domes to offers natural light and openness.
Spencer de Grey, Senior Executive and Head of Design said:
“As our first zoo project, we were asked to create a new enclosure for a herd of Asian Elephants in Denmark’s renowned Copenhagen Zoo. We have designed a building that not only responds to the animals’ natural behaviour, but is also a seamless insertion into the landscape that uses the site’s natural properties to provide thermal insulation. We are delighted to learn that the elephants are enjoying their new home.”
Located in Canajoharie, the Arkell Museum adopts concrete and glass as its main structure and facade. This museum welcomes visitor to discover paintings by American artists including Winslow Homer, Childe Hassam, Robert Henri, Maurice Prendergast, and Georgia O’Keeffe on display in the galleries.
Opened since April 2007, the Ithaa Undersea Restaurant still interesting to talk about. Known as the first-ever transparent undersea restaurant in the world, the restaurant sitting five meters below the sea level of the Indian Ocean.
“We have used aquarium technology to put diners face-to-face with the stunning underwater environment of the Maldives”, says Carsten Schieck, General Manager of Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa.
“Our guests always …
Designed by Sanjay Puri Architect, the Fluid House will be located in Mumbai, India with total area of project 20,000 Sq. Ft. The three levels house maximizing the use of glass screen to allow natural light and cross ventilation.
A glass screen wall traverses the courtyard continuing on either side as a divider wall between the structure creating a 4 bedroom bungalow on either sides for two families that would be occupying the house as per the brief.
Located in Hamburg, Germany, the An der Alster 1 Office Complex was designed by J. Mayer H Architects which completed in August 2007. The unique facade is mentioned as the answer to the unique context which is situated at the intersection between the Hamburg’s lively downtown and its urban landscape rich in water and mature trees.
A public park in front of the building continues the design strategy of the facade into the landscape. The ‘eyes’ in the façade and the platforms in the park form places to meet and contemplate.
Continuing what we have talked about the top unique structure mentioned by Syed Mobin Architects, now lets see the third structure, CCTV Headquarters, China. At a modest 234 meters, the CCTV building isn’t going to stand out from a distance. However the design and shape is a crowd stopper to say the least and will be another incredible addition to Beijing’s skyline in time for the 2008 Olympics. The shape, described as a ‘z criss-cross’ results in a very high, seemingly unsupported corner at the front. Let’s hope there’s a glass floor up there.
