A Weekly Dose of Architecture Books

Sesseljuhús in Sólheimar, Iceland by ASK Architect, 2002 The following text and images are by ASK Architect for their design of Sesseljuhús in Sólheimar, Iceland. Sesseljuhús is a house built at Sólheimar in Iceland in commemoration of Sesselja Hreindís Sigmundsdóttir. The building will be taken into use on July the 5th 2002, on what would have been Sesselja's 100th birthday. Sesselja was the founder of Sólheimar, she established a children's home and organic farm there in 1930. Now, over 70 years later, Sólheimar is a thriving eco-village with approximately 100 inhabitants. Over the last 15 years various environmentally friendly buildings have been constructed at Sólheimar. Sesseljuhús is by far the largest and most challenging project undertaken so far. The house will function a...

Ogilvy & Mather in London, England by Buschow Henley, 2001 The following text and images are by London, England's Buschow Henley for their design of Ogilvy & Mather 's offices in London's Canary Wharf. Ogilvy & Mather moved from central London to Canary Wharf in 1991 at the start of the economic downturn in the UK. Each department was allowed to stake their individual claim for space creating an ad-hoc layout on the largest single office floors in Europe. The result was highly segregated departments connected by a series of disorienting circulation routes which left staff inclined to stay put rather than venture into 'alien' territory. Initially, we undertook a three month research study for Ogilvy which, resulted in a universal desire to challenge the status quo of departmental division, an...

Sofitel Hotel in Chicago, Illinois byJean-Paul Viguier, 2002   As the concrete frame of the Sofitel Hotel in the Gold Coast area of Chicago climbed higher it was apparent that the Midwestern city would finally have a remarkable contemporary (late 20th-century) building to call its own, even if its designer needs to cross the Atlantic to book a room. Open since early summer 2002 the 478-room hotel, by the Parisian architect Jean-Paul Viguier is a striking, yet sensitive design that fits into the city's context with ease that raises the question, "Why aren't more buildings like this?" As Chicago finds itself mired in an environment of new buildings sporting the typical reactionary garb of brick, stone and painted concrete, ...

Exhibition Hall in Paris, France by Architecture Studio, 1998 Often with an exhibition hall commission the architect's job is limited to creating simple, column-free spaces, that allow for large exhibits within neutral surroundings, and clad the exterior in an interesting manner. Architecture Studio 's design of an Exhibition Hall in North-Paris, France is not an exception, but its treatment of interior and exterior surfaces sets it apart from its counterparts. The architects developed their design from the exhibition hall's intention to feature innovative products under the conditions more "tempting" than the typical exhibition hall. With a focus on innovation the use of new materials and new technologies informs the expression of the facade. The undulating, copper-clad facade appears softer than the actual ...

Zachary Residence in Zachary, Louisiana by Studio Atkinson   The following text and images are by New York City's Studio Atkinson for their design of the Zachary Residence in Zachary, Louisiana. The Zachary House utilizes the vocabulary of traditional agrarian architecture of the southern United States and attempts to suppress the apparent hand of the architect for a deeper connection to the Southern culture and landscape. Built as a retreat for a recently retired couple, the house is divided into public and private realms by a deck, which serves as an exterior room defined by a tree canopy. Roof and walls are covered in the same materials, and windows and doors are suppressed visually, as a means to make poetic connections to both the local and universal. A removed chimney anchors the house and the ‘dogtrot’ conf...

Private Residence in Teton County, Wyoming by Stephen Dynia Architects Their office located in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Stephen Dynia Architects designed this Private Residence in the state's Teton County. The natural beauty of the site is evident in the view at left, the small residence barely peeking above the surrounding treetops. In response to these conditions the architects responded with a design that combines "thoughtful, innovative design solutions with thorough and precise technical services." With dramatic views of the mountains the exterior wall is primarily glazed, allowing the client a protected gaze upon the landscape. In certain areas the glass slides away to allow the outside to enter into the comforting abode. Also the concrete slab the house sits on continues uninterrupted outside the hous...

Yokohama Ferry Terminal in Yokohama, Japan by Foreign Office Architects, 2002 Images contributed by kurt handlbauer , copyright (c) 2002. Click to enlarge. In 1994 London's Foreign Office Architects won an international competition for the Yokohama Port (now Ferry) Terminal in Yokohama, Japan. The innovative design treated the terminal as landscaped surface, both inside and outside, acting as an extension of a nearby park. With its recent opening, coinciding with the finals of the 2002 World Cup games, the terminal is one of the first large-scale built works of "architectural landscape" spawned by recent advances in computer technology. Positioned on an existing pier along Yokohama's waterfront, the architects envisioned the building as a chained sequence of movement. One's experience would differ on each visit ...