One of the projects that John Picard also worked on was the BP Helios House. Once again Picard is working with something to do with energy. This piece of architecture particularly is said to be a gas station of the future. I like how Picard has helped look to the future when designing buildings for energy companies or corporations . I love how modern this building looks and I am hoping other gas stations will look like this in the future.
Among Cesar Pelli’s works, Petronas Towers (twin skyscrapers) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is attributed with some of the most praise and commendation of his career. Cesar Pelli’s famous career centered around the creation of grandiose skyscrapers which often were so revolutionary they broke records. Petronas Towers finalized construction and opened to the public in 1998 whereupon they became the tallest skyscraper in the world until 2004. The twin skyscrapers remain the tallest twin skyscrapers in the world to this day. The glass façade of this building was meant to resemble Islamic motifs which is a testament to Pelli’s craft as he deemed that it was his role to provide designs which were created specifically for the needs of those who commissioned them. Cesar Pelli was quoted with saying “The bridge and the upper floors of the towers form a kind of gate, suggesting, particularly in Asian cultures, a portal to a higher world”. Pelli truly held architecture as form of art meant to be explored.
The Pinecote Pavillion continues what seems to be Fay Jones aesthetic stye. An open building that invites the people indoors to feel as thought they are not only in a building but that they are a part of nature. He also continues what seems to be he signature of aesthetically and functional scaffolding.
Although its opening has been delayed until the end of 2020, the Grand Egyptian Museum seems to be one of the biggest and most anticipated cultural openings of the year. This spectacular building, first announced in 1992, is located near the Pyramids of Giza, which the design is modeled off. It will be home to nearly 100,000 Egyptian artifacts ranging from pre-history all the way to the Greco-Roman periods of Egypt. The entire site is bigger than the entire Vatican City. At over 480,000 square miles, the museum will commemorate the architectural feats of the past, while being its own feat in the present day. I personally think the site looks awesome. The mirroring of the Pyramids in its structure, as well as its unique design make it one of the coolest places I have ever seen. I genuinely want to see the project finished and would love to go visit it at some point.
The Wildlife Viewing Pavillion at Tucson Audobon Society’s Paton Center for Hummingbirds was designed by D U S T to celebrate the founders of the pavilion. The site for the pavilion used to be a private residence owned by Wally and Mary Paton. The Paton family would welcome migratory hummingbirds into their garden. The pavilion uses a roof made of steel ribbons that echoes the hummingbird’s flutter. The roof twists when it rains which allows rainwater to fall into the catch basin in order to pollinate the plants. The columns are made of white oak which mirrors the desert landscape around it. The pavilion was made to gracefully age as time goes on. This is a sanctuary for hummingbirds and humans alike. The pavilion celebrates the Paton family and their love for hummingbirds.
This is the last building I looked at by Yvonne. This building isn’t one of my favorite buildings but none of the less is still very cool. Yvonne incorporates the long and many windows throughout the building. To me this building looks like it would belong in some dystopian movie or something like that. The building is just very bland but the shape and different levels of the building a very cool.
The Sky Rose chapel is really a work of beauty. From the exterior to the interior it is truly a work of art. The hallmarks of Fay Jones are all there. The exterior looks lie something out of the future but at the same time still feels traditional. The interior is the same way. It is similar to the Thorn crown chapel but the wood used makes if feel more traditional.
The Tuscon Mountain Retreat by D U S T is a lush retreat situated in the vast expanse of the Saguaro National Park. Surrounded by a seemingly endless supply of Saguaro cacti, the property is gently nestled among them. The clients wanted to reconnect with their roots and the pristine landscape around them. D U S T designed the property to blend in with the surrounding landscape in an attempt to maintain the sightlines of the land around it. The parking area is located roughly 400 feet from the house to promote isolation. From the parking area, there is a pathway of large stepping stones placed in random order. The exterior of the house is made from Rammed Earth, which blends seamlessly into the desert landscape around it. The interior is a very open design that promotes airflow and natural light throughout the home. It is divided into three distinct zones: living, sleeping, and music. To enter each zone, you must exit the zone you’re in and step outside before you can enter the next zone. This forces a connection to the desert outside. All around the home are floor to ceiling glass walls that are able to move, which make the home extremely versatile. This is an extremely well-designed home that promotes both zen and connecting with the environment which is exactly what the clients wanted. The design team at D U S T masterfully executed this project.
Once again Yvonne creates another stunning modern building. This building is definitely my favorite out of all the buildings I have seen from Yvonne. This building is super unique and is unlike anything else I have ever seen. The picture is a little blurry but at the top, there is an open floor to the outside where plants are coming off from the sides. She incorporates her signature theme of tall long windows and many pillars running down from the building. 
D U S T is an architecture firm in Tucson, Arizona, that specializes in modern architecture. The Casa Caldera property’s idea came from the client who wanted an off-grid residence that connected with the surrounding landscape. The property is located in the San Rafael Valley in Southern Arizona which features an extraordinarily remote and arid environment. The valley was frequented by volcanic activity many years ago. The volcanic activity caused the surrounding landscape to be strewn with volcanic rock such as red scoria and lava rock. The site sits only 15 miles north of the U.S./Mexico Border, which is a hotbed for immigration-related foot traffic. Security was a significant cause of concern for the client, as they wanted to feel safe and secure in their residence while still enjoying their surroundings. The architects at D U S T incorporated both the client’s desire to blend in with the landscape and the security concerns in their design process. They did this by expertly selecting elements from the surrounding environment such as red scoria and lava rock and combining it with concrete and water to create the structure for the property. This design process allowed D U S T to address both the desires to blend in and be secure. The result of their work blends meticulously into the surrounding landscape, nestled among the trees and rocks surrounding the shelter. In an effort to address the client’s security concerns on a different front, D U S T used large bi-fold steel doors that match the structure’s exterior color. They allow natural light and airflow in when open and a sense of security when closed. The interior of Casa Caldera is extremely minimalistic but comfortable at the same time. The structure is centered around a “zaguan,” which is a large central hallway. To offset the rough interior walls, D U S T chose reclaimed wood for the length of the zaguan. The reclaimed sassafras they chose creates a sense of comfort and provides a sensory experience with both sight and smell. The structure is compact but contains two bedrooms and a kitchen, dining room, and living room. While the structure is remote, these rooms give it a sense of normalcy and offer some of the creature comforts of home. The site is self-sustainable, which fits the client’s wants and the spirit of the surrounding landscape. The property promotes disconnecting from the outside world and connecting yourself to the desert landscape around you.
