Dubai and the towers

Why does Dubai seem to get all the interesting buidlings, or more to the point why is it that only Dubai seems to actually build these interesting additions to its skyline. This is how it should be, a skyline that looks interesting and changes

The Dynamic Tower will constantly change shape and rotates using wind power. It will give the occupants whatever view they like whenever they like.

It also looks like there are plans for a tower is Moscow - this puts my previous statement into slightly invalid territory, but I would maintain the fact that Dubai is buidling these things whilst the rest of the world simply plans.

• Dynamic Architecture
• BBC News - with animations

Eiffel redeux

Adding a thrill aspect to the tower, or a spider’s web

• Trend Hunter

lilyfield house

lilyfield house

Originally uploaded by saar40

Yes, there was a point in posting this. I like the lines and the design is somewhat of a merge between modern and “traditional” design. I just like the lines.

• Via Archidose

Crystal Island

If they build it, it stays up, and they fill it then I might, finally, be tempted to visit Moscow.

• Inhabitat
• The Guardian

Prague, Parliament Building

Prague, Parliament Building

Originally uploaded by DeMeggers

I prefer this shot. I guess the distance from one side of the river to the other is shorter, plus the subject matter is simple and compact without being cluttered in the foreground (or even background). Yes, its probably on an angle but then most of my shots tend to lean one way or the other (even with a spirit level). But still this is more interesting (in my view).

Other peoples’ houses

For at least the last few years, maybe longer, The Daily Telegraph has been part of a competition for find the best home building and renovations done in the UK. I’d like to think of it as the complete antithesis of the tat and eye corroding designs that the general “house builders” of the UK seem to get away with (and charge huge buckets of cash for).

Most important of all it does show that with a little imagination, and not so many buckets of cash, that new, or renovated, but certainly exciting houses can be built in the UK. These example are nothing short of inspirational, fabulous!

• The Daily Telegraph

Beijing International Airport

When you have lots of cash to spend, and lots of people to do the construction, then why not build a new airport. It would be unfair to compare the idea with other international airports (ok, lets try London), but this design is very cool. My only observations are that the airport needs Maglev (like Shanghai but better planned out to actually go somewhere useful), and there is no way there will ever be enough darkness for the place to look like this. Very interesting designs though

For all the designs and a bigger version of the above visit Foster + Partners
I’d recommend having a look at the projects pages too - current projects

The Cheesegrater

London already has the gherkin, soon it will have “The Cheesegrater”. Architecture is London certainly is going the right way. [Daily Mail]

Green Roof

via Treehugger, this is a great site all about Green Roofing spaces. I can only imagine what it would be like landing in a city and just seeing green spaces below. Some of the tram lines in Prague have grass covering the tracks, so if you combined this by also getting rid of cars from city centers you would effectively be reclaiming city spaces back from concrete and tarmac. Add to this solar (and wind) energy collection then the city becomes a lot more people friendly. Bottom line is I not only like the site I like the idea

• Green Roofs

Euroscraper

Euroscraper