zachi

Kamis, 01 Oktober 2009

H&M, Harajuku Tokyo

^cvander - flickr/cc license
The H&M Harajuku Tokyo store is a fitting addition to modern upscale stores of Tokyo that look to architecture rather than billboards and window displays to sell their products. Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons designed this project, which was completed in late 2008.

A warm entry invites customers inside. The blocks of white and transparencies stack loosely atop each other to form a very clean-looking and adaptable form. The building's form itself portrays the contemporary event that results from collaborative designers.

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^kenjimori - flickr/cc license

^CLF - flickr/cc license

PARIS - fashion week ss 10, day 1, 09/30/09

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

Beyond exciting! A few projects in different countries will allow me to do a dream round-the-world trip across the five continents in the next 80 days! It's what I call blog-trotting...

My schedule looks grosso modo like that:
Oct. 1-7: Paris Fashion Week
Oct. 8-13: Tel Aviv (Israel)
Oct. 15-24: Seoul (South Korea) Fashion Week
Oct. 25-26: Taipei (Taiwan)
Oct. 27-30: Bangkok (Thailand)
Oct. 31: Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
Nov. 1-5: Jakarta (Indonesia)
Nov. 6 - Dec. 3: Australia (Perth, Melbourne & Sydney) and New Zealand (Auckland & Wellington?)
Dec. 4-11: Cape Town (South Africa)
Dec. 12-17: São Paulo (Brasil), Lacoste party
Dec. 18-20: Buenos Aires (Argentina)
Dec. 21-... Back to Switzerland for Christmas

I'll explore many cities and countries for the first time, so your thoughts and suggestions as a local are more than welcome. I'll try to share with you as much as possible of what I see... via this page, my personnal blog, Twitter and hopefully a few Facehunter Show episodes (Reykjavik is getting edited now). See you around!

IDS Center Crystal Court, Minneapolis Minnesota

^Mulad - flickr/cc license by Michael Hicks
The IDS center was designed by famed post-modernist Philip Johnson, and opened in 1972.

This headquarters for Investors Diversified Services still stands as the tallest building in Minnesota. The ground-floor Crystal Court takes the sleek gridded pattern of the dark skyscraper and open them up to celebrate light. These blocks of skylights cascade down into a lobby that has been planted with nature.

There are two "secret floors" that are dedicated to mechanical systems, an innovation back when it opened.

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^Collin Anderson - flickr/cc license

^resedabear - flickr/cc license

Rabu, 30 September 2009

Borneo Bridge, Eastern Docklands Amsterdam

^roryrory - flickr/cc license
This pedestrian bridge designed by IBA connects Spoorenburg and Java-eiland's Borneo quarter of the ‘Oostelijk Havengebied’ in Amsterdam. It was completed in 2000.

This modern take on Amsterdam's famous canal bridges takes four horizontal planes and curves them in different ways to imply movement that is diverse, but moving in the same direction. The wood path provides an experience in context with the docks, but the red suspension steel indicates a significant and modern experience.

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^roryrory - flickr/cc license

^keela84 - flickr/cc license

^morisius cosmonaut - flickr/cc license

Java Island, Eastern Docklands Amsterdam

^laurenatclemson - flickr/cc license
The city of Amsterdam transform their Oostelijk Havengebied from decline into a successful urban renewal project. Various international architects transformed old abandoned port buildings into the most sought after residential buildings in the city.

Sjoerd Soeters's plan for a redeveloped residential section began construction in the 1990s. The island had been abandoned due to less trade after the decolonization of Indonesia, which is where the island gets its name, but the island's history in trade and as a breakwater should never be forgotten.

The post-modern buildings offer a unique living experience, standing right up against the water and in dense street conditions that recall medieval Europe. The vibrant night life of squatters and artists from before the demolition for this project still exist in new theater, restaurants, and concert halls.

Diversity in form is celebrated in these houses, rather than an attempt at unity. This is a vital lesson in rejuvenating old structures: delineate old structures versus new, and bring diverse forms!

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