Fête des Lumières, Lyon Light Show 2008

more information

flickr

see it at google maps

Urban proposals by MAD,BIG,INABA,MASS Studies

Urban proposals for Ansan, South Korea..by MAD , BIG ,INABA , MASS Studies ..

more information..

Building the Gherkin

Building the Gherkin dvd introduction..
designed by Norman Foster ..
film by ican films ..

official site..
previous post for more information..

Bahrain World Trade Center

Bahrain World Trade Center..designed by Atkins ..
rest of the documentary: 3 4 5

more information..
and here ..
official site

flickr


see it at google maps

The Oval opens

Richmond Olympic Oval, designed by Cannon Design, opened today to the public for the first time. There will be other events tomorrow as well. Visit official website for more event info.

The major feature is, of course, the roof - it has one of the longest clear spans in North America. A tribute to the Salish art, its roof shape is the stylized heron's wing that occurs in their graphics. This building in particular is expected to be 2010's "Bird's Nest".

All in all, only one more competition venue is left to be completed - the curling rink. Read more about the oval and other venues at CBC.

A few more pictures:

Winners!

renderings of Our Lady of Assumption by Patkau Architects

Patkau Architects have gotten two out of four Canadian Architect Excellence Awards. One for Hadaway House in Whistler and one for Our Lady of Assumption in Port Coquitlam. Also, Michael Barton of UBC received a student category award.

These images and more: Patkau website

Image Post: Gair Williamson

I think his work is amazing. Let's review:

taxi

salt cellar

sala

dwell

Colin Campbell

and, of course, Case Study 547

These images (and more): www.gwarchitects.ca

"Where is the Square?" Update

Image by Vancouver Traveler

Vancouver Public Space Network has posted up the competiotion brief for "Where is the square?" a couple of weeks ago. The brief and a few other supporting files are on their website.

The best parts of this competition are the absolute freedom in locating "the square" - as long as it is in Vancouver proper - and that the entry is open to anyone who wants a go at it.

The entry forms are due on January 30th and the designs are due on March 20th.

The Opus

The Opus,Dubai..by Zaha Hadid ..

more information..
official site ..

previous video..

flickr

The Spirit of Architecture

The Spirit of Architecture,CNN ..The program also features interviews with Norman Foster,Zaha Hadid,Wolf D Prix[Coop Himmelb(l)],Oscar Niemeyer,Massimiliano Fuksas..

Not your usual cookie-cutter houses

Vancouver Special and Creative Room organized a gingerbread house extravaganza (source). Vancouver architects and designers have created baked goods that are being auctioned off to benefit the homeless of Vancouver - click here to bid. In no particular order, here are the houses (click to enlarge):

D'Arcy Jones

Stantec

Shape Architecture

University of BC School of Architecture
and Landscape Architecture

Measured Architecture

Busby

Bricault Design

Bruce Carscadden

All are on view at Vancouver Special as well.

Update: the link to bid is fixed - good luck bidding!

Art Gallery of Ontario

Art Gallery of Ontario,Toronto..by Frank Gehry ..

more information..
and here ..
official site ..

flickr

see it at google maps

Holcim Winner

A Vancouver project picked up one of the Holcim awards this year (source). Larry McFarland Architects' North Vancouver Outdoor School received an acknowledgment prize for its carbon-neutral and zero net energy design - more can be found on the firm's website about this school. It was chosen from a pool of 5000 projects.

A site section and a schematic section of the school:

Sønderborg Harbor Masterplan

Sønderborg Harbor Masterplan,Denmark presentation..by Frank Gehry ..

more information..
official page ..


see it at google maps

Upcoming: Focus of Binning Residence

A neat event, put on by the Land Conservancy of BC which I LOVE :

• Focus on B.C. Binning Residence - The House, The Artist, and The Architecture: Presented by the Land Conservancy of B.C
• Friday, Nov. 21
• 2968 Mathers Crescent (that is - at the Binning House!), West Vancouver
• Doors 7 p.m., presentation 7:30 p.m
• Light refreshments will be served
• Cost: $75 + GST with $45 tax receipt
• For registration and information call 1-888-738-0533 or visit www.conservancy.bc.ca

In addition to the Binning House, the Conservancy also owns Baldwin House by Arthur Erickson and they rent it out currently at a rate of $275/ night - if anyone is coming to Vancouver (*cough* Burnaby) this is a fantastic alternative to a hotel.

On now + Upcoming: Surrey Art Gallery

These events are worth a trip out to Surrey. Surrey Art Gallery is located at 13750 -88th Ave (604-501-5566) and has put on an interesting show: "Sustainable Architecture in Canada" featuring 55 projects. It includes:

• 41º to 66º Regional Responses to Sustainable Architecture (still making its way around the country) until Dec 21
• Building Green: A B.C. showcase (sounds very promising - must remember to go! ) until Dec 14. Featuring Whistler Sliding Centre among others - image above.
  
• Regenerative Architecture: Visions of the Future. Imaginations run wild until Dec 21.

What's more - Manufactured Landscapes by Edward Burtynsky Jan 17-March 22 focusing on BC shots, not yet exhibited in this province. A must, of course. Here is one of his lovely B.C. shots which might or might not be in the exhibit:

Image Post: Patkau's Shaw House

The house completed in 2000 is located in Point Grey was built for John Shaw. It is one of the Patkau's best works earning many distinctions among them : GG 2004, AIA Hon 2005, and Record House title in 2002. Enjoy:


Plans and sections ( the sections are truly incredible!)


Sorry about image justification - will fix it later at some uncertain time... Meanwhile click on images to enlarge. Photos by Paul Warchol; drawings by Patkau Architects.