The Torre Glories , once known as the Torre Agbar , designed by French architect Jean Nouvel is seen as a symbol of modern Barcelona. The skyscraper is located in the Poblenou neighboruhoud which was once the industrial center of Barcelona, Spain. Today the Poblenou neighbrhood is encompassed by the young, urban elite with working spaces, art studios, etc. When desgining the tower , Nouvel was said to have rejeteced what a typical North American skyscraper is said t look like and instead was inspired by the different symbos of the Catalan culture and the Monsterrat mountain range. The skyscraper is known as a popular spot on New Year’s in Barcelona due to its light display every year. The Torre Glories is able to produce over 16 million colours across the face of the builidng with its 4,500 LED lighting devices incorporated into the structure. Anther feature within the skyscraper is the temperature control system. The skyscraper depends on a ” network of temperature sensors placed on its outside surface to regulate opening and closing of window blinds”. This design increased energy effieincy and also won the Green Building Award in 2011.

The Torre Glories quickly became one of the most famous buildings in Barcelona when it was finished in in 2004 and opened in 2005. The skyscraper consists of 38 floors and is 545,655 square feet. The building also represents a water fountain that is constantly changing its appearance after the building was built by the Grupo Agbar a waterworks company. It will continue to be on the most popular sites to see in as it illuminates the skyline of Barcelona making it hard to miss.

Construction on the Hekla Tower began in May of 2018 after receiving the permit to build in June 2016. The tower designed by French architect Jean Nouvel is said to be completed in early 2022. The tower is designed to be 220 meters-high and located in the business district of La, Defense. One of the main aspects of the tower is that it will majorly alter the skyline of La Defense; the tower is said to bring a new sense of equilibrium and offer impeccable views. Nouvel says the tower is heavily influenced by the Rose de Cherbourg construction project. The tower is a collaboration between Nouvel and AG Real Estate and Hines, which primarly focuses on the construction of large head offices. The idea for the tower was for it to be a prismatic composition made of glass an metal, to have a mass effect of brightness, shade, and transparency. The purpose of the tower was to create work and convivial sapces, while also included an amphitheater, perfromance halls, bars, resturants, and gyms.

An impressive 76,000 square feet, Nouvel also focused on the aspect of sustainability when designing this project. As the tower is built based on a system of triangular panels, the top-end of the tower is occupied by a roof garden that will then by shaded by the triangular panels and given room for natural growth. The tower meets multiple requirement of the LEED, HQE, and BREEAM environmental certificates. The skyscraper was also designed to incorporate TWIN elevators in order to improve energy efficiency, free up floor space, and increase transportation capacity. The TWIN elevators are meant to go above the high standards of the tower as sustainability is seen as one of the main priorities in the project. By 2022 the project is set to be complete and be a main site to see in La Defense.

Australian Architect Glenn Murcutt with the help of architect Hakan Elevi, worked on designing this Islamic Centre in Melbourne for close to 10 years. Completed in 2016, this Islamic center was designed for the growing Islamic population in Melbourne, providing a mosque and community center. The center itself is designed to show off the lantern lights on the ceiling and its interior’s unique design. Coming off of Glenn Murcutts Pritzer Prize win, this was his next major project worked on. His early sketches of the mosque are something of an art in it itself as well.

Located in Berowra Waters, Australia, this inn was designed by renowned Australian architect Glenn Murcutt. Upon researching this inn, I found that one of its unique qualities is that it is only accessible by private ferry. The inn itself represents the cutting edge fine dining of Australian cuisine and is often open to the public. Notably, for Glen Murcutt, this piece of architecture won him the Pritzker Prize in 2002. If I am ever in Australia, I hope to see this inn and try its Australian cuisine.

In 2016, Zaha Hadid revealed her winning design plans for the world’s first sustainable football stadium set to be built in Gloucestershire, England. The stadium will be constructed primarily out of sustainably sourced wood, and will be the focal point of the developing Eco Park. In contrast to existing stadiums, Forest Green Rovers will have its seating platforms and floors made out of timber, whereas these elements are normally made from steel and concrete. By utilizing timber for such a large portion of the build, the stadium is expecting to become carbon neutral or even carbon negative solely from its building materials. Wood, is not only naturally occurring and recyclable but it is also has the lowest amount of embodied carbon in any building material. It is easy to see why this stadium will have the lowest carbon-footprint by just looking at the material difference. 

This sustainable stadium also has a breath taking design, complete with Hadid’s signature curvaceous exterior. The stadium is roofed with a transparent material that will benefit the stadium by allowing turf growth but also preserves the surrounding landscape by softening and blending the structure.

Dumblane, in the historic Tenleytown neighborhood of Washington D.C., is one of Stickley’s many American Craftsman style homes. This house is named after Dumblane Manor, a Federal style manor across the street. The area was later converted into an all-girl Catholic school under the name Immaculata Seminary. Dumblane is clearly inspired by the popular Arts and Crafts Movement, here, showcasing the talent of American craft builders in the sturdiness of the building.

Gladstone Houses, in Shasta County, CA, are a prime example of classic American Craftsman Architecture. Whether or not Stickley actually played a role in the building of these houses is of debate, but I thought it was still a good example to include because, if not Stickley’s work, it is very derivative if his style. It is also such a good practical example of the style that I found it necessary to include.

The Gladstone Houses were built for the accompanying Gladstone Mine community by the owner of the mine in 1909. There were two different styles of home, an Upper House and later-built Lower Mansion. I could only find pictures of the Upper House, but the Lower Mansion was described as having an L-Shaped floor plan with a triple-intersecting hipped roof, which had a gentler slope than the steep hipped roof of the Upper House.

The St. Charles Hotel was designed by James Gallier and is located on St. Charles Ave. This is important since it was the first large building outside the prominent area that ended at Canal Street. It was a grand Greek Revival building completed in 1837. The hotel brought prominence to the area, growing its wealth and culture. There were six Corinthian columns on the façade, skirted with marble steps and topped with a dome. At the time the dome was only smaller than the Capitol in Washington. In the dome was a gallery surrounded by ionic columns and a view of the city. The hotel was destroyed by a fire in 1851 and rebuilt with almost an identical appearance. It was modernized and enlarged to accommodate more guests. In 1894 it burned again and was rebuilt with a Breaux Arts appearance famous for its lit mezzanine. In 1974 it was demolished and later replaced by Place St Charles tower in 1984.

The original architecture was grand and drew not only wealth and elegance, but also the culture of the city as an expanding site. It became a stop for all notable city visitors and events such as Mardi Gras. It built what became the American Sector of New Orleans. Gallier used the power of architecture to bring people together, promote the city and commerce, and produce something that the locals make into something so grand it can only be experienced there.