Currently under construction, the Dawang Mountain Resort is another product of the unique modern work of Coop Himmelblau. Located in Changsha, China, this building has a curvature that almost looks like the structure is swaying in the wind. Although not complete, the Dawang Mountain resort has shown through planning that it will offer the surrounding area a beautiful portrait of true modern architecture.

Located in Cleveland, Ohio, “The Icon of Sound” will be used for the Rock Hall of Fame upon completion. This modern array of architecture offers the viewer/visitor a unique taste of true art. The uneven curvature accompanied on The Icon of Sound draws viewers eyes to the building, causing more people to take note of the magnitude. Even though the building is not yet completed, this will be a spectacular addition for Cleveland.

Although it may seem quite unorthodox for a church, the Martin Luther Church offers visitors a new look while practicing age old teachings. Combining this modern array of architecture with traditional practices offers viewers the best of both worlds. Located in Hainburg, Austria, Himmelblau has brought a new look for church goers to a more modern sense of the surrounding.

The “House of Bread II” is a beautiful array of modern architecture. Located in Asten, Austria, the House of Bread II is used for a place to host events or celebrations. The augmented shape that is cast upon the exterior offers a unique look into what Coop Himmelblau is trying to portray. Although very technical in nature, the House of Bread II speaks with emotion when exclaiming the passion of the architect with every angle.

The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is located in Bentonville, Arkansas and was designed by Moshe Safdie in 2011. This museum is located in the middle of a 120 acre forest and sits on the water’s edge with multiple bridges and platforms that connect to each other as they take you around the museum. This museum makes you feel like you are one with nature as there are large glass windows, outdoor platforms, gardens, and even hiking trails right outside the museum. This museum was built to admire the art within but also the beauty of the Arkansas wilderness outside.

Living in Oklahoma my entire life, I have never been to Arkansas even though it’s only a few hours away. I can only imagine how beautiful this museum is in real life. I appreciate the blending of nature and the seamless positioning on the water front.

The Serena Del Mar Hospital designed by Moshe Safdie is located in Cartagena, Colombia and is currently under construction. This hospital was built with the patients in mind by using a serene color palette, rooms that look out onto a beautiful lake, and a bamboo garden in the heart of the hospital. Each room is positioned so they will receive ample sunlight at any given time during the day. Once construction is completed, the hospital will have a total of 409 beds.

I think this hospital, once completed, will be the blueprint for hospitals around the world. There have been many studies that show how nature can improve health and even speed up healing. With the combination of open windows, a bamboo forest, and 360 views of mother nature, this hospital shows how patients can have a better healing experience.

Sky Habitat is a residential building in Singapore designed by Moshe Safdie. Sky Habitat is technically two different towers that are connected by three sky bridges. On the sky bridges, one can find a pool, gardens, and communal sitting areas. Each apartment has access to an outside terrace. The unique shape of the towers and the addition of sky bridges allows for constant sunlight and a nice breeze to pass through. Moshe Safdie shows the importance of outdoor living and community in this residential building.

I think this residential building was designed with community in mind which is very unique. Most residential buildings I’ve experienced are very bland and were built to where there is enormous separation between those who live there. The sky bridges allow for easier access from one building to the other. This can make for a more wholistic living experience as you aren’t strictly separated from one another as much.

Habitat 67 is an urban housing project designed by Israeli-Canadian architect, Moshe Safdie. Located in Montréal, Québec, there are 158 residences within that range from one bedroom to four bedroom living spaces. Each unit has a roof garden and there are common spaces for children to play throughout the building. Each living space is unique and feels like a single-family home but in a condensed urban environment. Habitat 67 is a creative solution to high density living situations.

I really enjoy the juxtaposition of this housing project. Every unit is facing a different way and overall is very pleasing to look at. The unsymmetrical shape of the building is unique and has allowed for creativity in a housing project that would normally not be there.

The National Museum of Qatar, located in Doha, Qatar “aims to be a destination for people from around the world that reflects the contemporary spirit of Qatar” ( Nouvel). The museum was inspired by the desert rose which is a mineral formation where minerals crystalize and resemble rose petals. The structure is made of a steel frame that includes a waterproof superstructure supporting interlocking discs. Nouvel was inspired by the idea of the desert rose and how nobody knows the the inside of a desert rose looks like, he then ” created a typology of intersections that makes you question what is inside it”. The structure is an impressive 52,000 square meters and not only encompasses the rich history of Qatar, but the modern city it has turned into. The museum includes gallery spaces, an auditorium and two restaurants.

The museum’s visitor route is approximately one mile and the route includes level changes beginning on the upper floor and leading back down the route. With the concept of the museum Nouvel wanted to create a dialogue between art and information. In order to do so , Nouvel collaborated with the Doha Film Institute to incorporate movie projections along the route. The projections accompanied by a soundscape give the visitors a sense of what the environment was like in Qatar from busting market towns, to the pearling industry to the underwater environment. The museum encourages exploration in order to continue telling the stories of Qatar and grow the country in the promising future.

One Central Park located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia has a 1.6 billion dollar price tag attached to its name. One Central Park was created as the first stage of the Central Park project. This project was created as a “state significant project” after the political climate in New South Wales began changing and the state governemnt approved the plan. One Central Park , a 69,000 square foot , 34 story residential tower is encompased by the buildings green facade and vibrant landscape. Nouvel states ” By miming what can exist in Australian nature, we are proposing a new form of high-rise living in direct contact with nature. ” The tower is is known as one of the most environmentlaly efficient towers in Sydney with its multiple sustainable strategies.

Approximately 50% of One Central Park is covered with a variety of exotic climbing plants; where the idea came after collaborating with botanist Patrick Blanc. The structure also includes a vertical garden system which includes hydroponic walls and planting panels on the structure surface. With over 35,000 wall plants on the structure, there are over 350 different species that are found within the plants. These plants are able to survive without soil by having the vertical garden hang off the wall , and then having light carbon dioxide water dispersed to the plants. One Central Park was awarded ‘2014 Best Tall Building in Asia and Australia and ‘2014 Best Tall Building in the World’. The Central Park Project continues to be known as an urban renewal of Sydney as it gets praises for its sustainability and size.