Super-Islands
The city block is a fundamental element of urbanism. The Ancient Romans called a city block an insula, or “island”, which is also how the Catalan language refers to it: illa (Curiously, Castilian Spanish uses the word manzana, or “apple”). In densely built up cities
Super-Islands
The city block is a fundamental element of urbanism. The Ancient Romans called a city block an insula, or “island”, which is also how the Catalan language refers to it: illa (Curiously, Castilian Spanish uses the word manzana, or “apple”). In densely built up cities
Temporary Permanence
Earlier this summer, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the reconstruction of Mies van der Rohe’s German Pavilion for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition, a row of freestanding columns was erected in front of the Modernist icon. The colonnade is itself a temporary reconstruction –and very liberal
Temporary Permanence
Earlier this summer, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the reconstruction of Mies van der Rohe’s German Pavilion for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition, a row of freestanding columns was erected in front of the Modernist icon. The colonnade is itself a temporary reconstruction –and very liberal
Contemporary Ruins II
Further to my last post, here is another Spanish contemporary ruin by a Pritzker laureate: Toyo Ito’s spa near Torrevieja. The construction site was ordered shut down in 2004 by the Spanish Coastal Authority for infringing the coastal setback requirement of a
Contemporary Ruins II
Further to my last post, here is another Spanish contemporary ruin by a Pritzker laureate: Toyo Ito’s spa near Torrevieja. The construction site was ordered shut down in 2004 by the Spanish Coastal Authority for infringing the coastal setback requirement of a
Contemporary Ruins
As is well-known, Spain’s recent building boom-turned-bust has left behind a legacy of halted construction projects that are now in a state of decay. While most of these contemporary ruins are banal and rather ordinary buildings, there is also a small
Contemporary Ruins
As is well-known, Spain’s recent building boom-turned-bust has left behind a legacy of halted construction projects that are now in a state of decay. While most of these contemporary ruins are banal and rather ordinary buildings, there is also a small
Built-In Obsolescence
The other day my printer suddenly stalled, even though it was working perfectly for once. Strange warning lights started blinking, and they were definitely not the familiar signals indicating a paper jam or the need to install –yet again– fresh ink cartridges. After consulting the manual, it
Built-In Obsolescence
The other day my printer suddenly stalled, even though it was working perfectly for once. Strange warning lights started blinking, and they were definitely not the familiar signals indicating a paper jam or the need to install –yet again– fresh ink cartridges. After consulting the manual, it
Everyday Camouflage in the Countryside
The building above looks like a military installation of some sort, right? After all, it’s got a camouflage pattern on the façade. But no, its roof would also be presumably camouflaged if it were a military installation, which, as the satellite
Everyday Camouflage in the Countryside
The building above looks like a military installation of some sort, right? After all, it’s got a camouflage pattern on the façade. But no, its roof would also be presumably camouflaged if it were a military installation, which, as the satellite
A World Apart: Architectural Autonomy as Artistic Freedom
“An artist can make a cart with square wheels, but an architect can’t.” —Louis Kahn Artistic Freedom What are architecture’s disciplinary limits? How much freedom of expression is possible in architecture? Why can an artist make a square wheeled cart,
A World Apart: Architectural Autonomy as Artistic Freedom
“An artist can make a cart with square wheels, but an architect can’t.” —Louis Kahn Artistic Freedom What are architecture’s disciplinary limits? How much freedom of expression is possible in architecture? Why can an artist make a square wheeled cart,
