Watercube, National Swimming Center is a unique waterpark in Beijing that was designed by PTW architect group. I think the outside of the building is very interesting and cool because the walls look like huge bubbles and change color at night. I think the color changing bubbles gives the building a fun appearance which attracts and amazes people nearby. When I saw this building for the first time, I could imagine it as a fun and popular place friends and families go to hang out at during a nice summer day or fun night cap. Even the structure outside the building brings people together as it has an open area with lights and water fountains in the ground kids can play in. I also find the bubble looking walls interesting because it easily allows natural sunlight into the building and brightens up the inside the waterpark. A positive aspect to this natural lighting, is that it allows people to enjoy the indoor waterpark and not have to worry about getting sunburn. Although this building seems very fun and exciting, I can also see the clumped bubble design to look very busy and distracting. Since there is a water park and recreational facility inside, I view that the bubbles may be too much for such a busy and active place.
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John Vallance Recital hall
This project by PTW Architects is one of my favorite ones that I came across on their website. When I first clicked on it, I thought it was a basketball court but was surprised to see that it was actually a recital hall. The hardwood flooring is very nice and adds a sense of formality and grace to the room. The big open space with arches in the ceiling make it feel like a grand entrance way to some big mansion, and it makes the performance seem even more important and cool. I also like how the seats go around the stage so that people can get different perspectives on the performance unlike most recital halls that the audience is just directly in front of the stage only. The geometric designs on the wall adds depth to the open area and their unique design makes this a really cool and interesting building.
Herzog & de Meuron
Mike Pullin
This is another one of their unique designs. This is ’56 Leonard’, named after its address in Manhattan, NY. Aside from the obvious different puzzle like appearance of the tall skyscraper, another major difference is how it is a little skinnier and not the standard rectangular form in comparison to many other traditional skyscrapers. It is even recognized by its jenga-like block look where some of the upper floors are offset giving it such a unique look.
Herzog & de Meuron
Mike Pullin
Herzog and De Meuron is a Swiss firm started in 1978. They have completed buildings that include small residential homes all the way to internationally recognized unique structures. Seen in this photo is the iconic ‘Bird’s Nest’ National Stadium in China that hosted the 2008 Olympic Games. The unique design has fascinating features both inside and out that make this such a cool building. Much of the inspiration that went into it was from nature. While originally designed to have a roof, that was eventually abandoned and the finished design is recognized all over the world.
Devon Energy Center
Construction of the Devon Tower, a 50 story skyscraper in downtown OKC, was completed in October 2012 and it immediately became the most recognizable building in OKC and a major attraction for the community.
I have mixed feelings about the Devon Tower. I personally do not like primarily glass structures, and I don’t find the tower visually appealing. But, when I had to decide on a building to write about it was the first one that came to mind. I am aware that the Devon Tower is OKC’s most recognizable building and I think the building is beautiful inside, but for me the most important aspect of the building is what it represents. OKC never really had a skyscraper until this building, and we still don’t have another prominent one. When NBA broadcasts show the city skyline before returning to the game, the Devon Tower is the only prominent building in sight. I think that the tower represents OKC attempting to modernize its downtown, and it is an example of a skyscraper in a city that overshadows other buildings without looking menacing or too out of place.
Gallogly hall
I remember anticipating the construction of Gallogly Hall as I was around it constantly. I was able to see it in person and outside during certain phases which made it a much more interesting experience. I worked at the AME Machine Shop, which is directly next to Galllogly Hall so I was constantly reminded about its phase in construction. When it finally was finished, I remember thinking that it had a clean exterior design, but I also thought it was fairly boring. Although, the interior was very open and modern looking it and the utilization of glass was great.
I enjoyed that the university still pays homage to the Cherokee gothic style of architecture that the campus embodies. Once I walked in all the natural light flooded in and the central staircase stood out. I remember loving the gradient of frosted glass on the staircase which was such a nice interior feature. I also thought that the amount of study spots was impressive for how open each of them felt. It’s interesting to think about my initial thoughts and how my thinking now goes directly to the architect’s intent now. The intent can be seen clearly through the functionality of the building. I’m interested to see how the building ages and I hope to see more buildings like it in the future.
Jean Nouvel – The National Museum of QAtar
Designed by Architect Jean Nouvel, he has proven to be one of the most highly qualified architects in the world. The National Museum of Qatar was designed in three different economic miracles which Jean really tried to focus on. These three are “the story of the peninsula, exploration of the coastal and desert lifestyles, acceleration that gave the kingdom became in just a few decades.” This insane museum was designed to have the consumer walk through different volumes, providing a random, yet surprise for what is to come next! The museum takes about two hours to complete and ends by the Royal Palace. When I first laid eyes on this building/museum I was shocked at its large scale and how random yet architecturally beautiful it is. It almost looks as if it’s a bunch of random plates are scattered around the floor!
Beijing National Stadium- Herzog & de Meuron
Located at the Olympic Green in the heart of Beijing, China is the Beijing National Stadium. Herzog and de Meuron designed the stadium in 2003, and it was complete in 2007. The stadium is nicknamed “The Birds Nest ” because the steel beams that hold the structure up look like twigs on a bird’s nest. The design was originated from the study of Chinese Ceramics and used steel beams to hide supports for the retractable roof. Herzog and de Meuron designed this stadium similar to their Allianz Arena in Germany, but with a focus on Chinese Culture. That is what impressed me about this work. It was built to display Chinese Culture to the entire world. This stadium might not be getting as much use as it did in 2008, but still serves as a reminder of the importance ceramics play in Chinese life.
St. Basil’s Cathedral Moscow
Mike Pullin
So one of the fun things about the cathedral is how recognizable it is to people of all ages, wether you’ve been there or not. One of the first times I showed some of the pictures of my visit to my kids when they were little the response was priceless, and it turns out a common theme about this building. The first thing they said was ‘ wow it’s an ice cream cone building!’ . So from that point on that’s what we called it until they got older. As it turns out it’s somewhat common for people to reference the cathedral like that. It always fascinates me how architecture can influence your life, and it doesn’t always have to be some grand ‘wow’ moment, it’s all the little moments that you share with friends or family and the architecture provides the backdrop.
St. Basil’s Cathedral Moscow
Mike Pullin
In this picture you can get a small idea of the proximity of the cathedral to the Kremlin. Being right at the heart of Red Square with all of the history that occurred there just made the moment even more substantial . With all of the changes that were happening in the world at the time we were acutely aware of the significance of our being there after our two countries had experienced decades of the Cold War. The friendships I made there are some of the best I’ve had in my life. That’s a major reason why this building is so special to me.
