ideal-city

[ ] A Proposal for Taichung Gateway Park_DOGMA & Andrea...

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 08:08:22 -0400

[ ] A Proposal for Taichung Gateway Park_DOGMA & Andrea Branzi_2011

= SWIMMER_REM KOOLHAAS_1981

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 19:24:49 -0400

= SWIMMER_REM KOOLHAAS_1981

[ ]BOULEVARD OF THE HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE_ HANS DIETER...

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 19:18:39 -0400

[ ]BOULEVARD OF THE HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE_ HANS DIETER SCHAAL_1970

[ ] Stadtblocks in einem vergleichbaren Maßstab_O.M.Ungers_1976

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 07:45:21 -0400

[ ] Stadtblocks in einem vergleichbaren Maßstab_O.M.Ungers_1976

[ ]Open hand_LE Courbusier_1952_India

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 07:40:18 -0400

[ ]Open hand_LE Courbusier_1952_India

:: Chandigarh Master plan_Le Courbusier_1951_India

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 07:39:28 -0400

:: Chandigarh Master plan_Le Courbusier_1951_India

[ ]Suntop Homes_ Frank Lloyd Wright_1939_Pennsyvania The...

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 07:12:00 -0400

[ ]Suntop Homes_ Frank Lloyd Wright_1939_Pennsyvania

The Quads Remember how in my last Usonian post I remarked that FLW never quite hit the “below $5,000” cost for a modest home? No? Well go there now and read about it. Anyway, that statement isn’t quite accurate. In 1939, FLW embarked on a project in Ardmore, PA (suburb of Philadelphia) to build a series of “Quadruple Homes”. The idea is similar to a twin or duplex home, except that each home would be turned 90 degrees to its neighbor—thus, one unit faced north, one faced east, one faced south, one faced west. Otherwise, the units were identical. By putting four houses together, FLW was able to reduce the external surface area, thus reducing the most expensive part of the house. The total cost to build one four-unit building was $16,000—$4,000 per unit. The amazing thing about the Suntop Homes is that the building does not look like a multi-family dwelling—it gives the appearance of being a large, modernist home.

View of the Suntop Homes soon after construction, 1939The Design—Truly Usonian
Like the other Usonian homes, the Suntop Quads have many built-in furnishings. The units have a flat roof, and feature board-and-batten walls. There are many windows on the exterior walls to draw attention from the fact that each unit has two party-walls. Each unit contained a carport (for one car) on the ground floor. Unlike most other Usonians, the Suntop homes each have a partial basement (for utilities) and are three stories tall—see below for floorplans. Wright managed to squeeze a remarkable amount of space into each of these units—four bedrooms, an eating area, a generous living room, and a nice terrace on the “penthouse” level.

Successful?
Originally, four structures were planned for a total of sixteen units. Pressure from the borough of Ardmore to limit the amount of “high density” housing prohibited the project from moving forward. The one structure that was built remains today, with all four units being used for their original purpose. There was a fire in one unit, which has since been altered. Some of the carports have been enclosed to add family rooms. These units periodically come up for sale—recently, one came up for rent at a cost of $1800 per month—my how the definition of “affordable” has changed! Wright tried to take this quad home model and use it for a development of government-sponsored housing in Pittsfield, MA, but political pressure from local Massachusetts architects led the project to be awarded to an architect registered in that state.

http://instanthouse.blogspot.nl/2011/09/suntop-homes.html

[ ]Price Tower_Frank Lloyd Wright_1952_Oklahoma

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 07:04:52 -0400

[ ]Price Tower_Frank Lloyd Wright_1952_Oklahoma

[ ] Johnson Wax Building_Frank Lloyd Wright_1936_Wisconsin

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 07:00:00 -0400

[ ] Johnson Wax Building_Frank Lloyd Wright_1936_Wisconsin

[ ] Urban park_superstudio_1970_Modena

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 07:55:00 -0400

[ ] Urban park_superstudio_1970_Modena

:: Map of Rome_Pope Sixtus V_1588

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 20:12:26 -0400

:: Map of Rome_Pope Sixtus V_1588

[ ] LAKE SHORE DRIVE APARTMENT_MIES VAN DER ROHE_1948_CHICAGO

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 19:57:55 -0400

[ ] LAKE SHORE DRIVE APARTMENT_MIES VAN DER ROHE_1948_CHICAGO

[ ] BARCELONA COLUME_MIES VAN DER ROHE_1929

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 19:50:11 -0400

[ ] BARCELONA COLUME_MIES VAN DER ROHE_1929

[ ] Casa-dello-studente_Giorgio Grassi_1976_Chieti, Rome

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 19:38:26 -0400

[ ] Casa-dello-studente_Giorgio Grassi_1976_Chieti, Rome

[ ] LENIN TRIBUNE_EL LISSITZKY_1920 In 1924, El Lissitzky...

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 19:07:14 -0400

[ ] LENIN TRIBUNE_EL LISSITZKY_1920

In 1924, El Lissitzky sketched a special tribune to enable Lenin, the leader of the world proletariat, to make public addresses. Lissitzky sent his drawing named Lenin’s Tribune to an exhibition of stage designs.

By the time El Lissitzky completed his project Lenin had died and had no use for the tribune. The photograph of Lenin with his hand overstretched was glued to El Lissitzky`s drawing.
The difference between a project and a drawing can be great indeed: a project can be realized; a drawing shall be kept. The difference between a tribune and a mausoleum is the same.
The tribune designed by El Lissitzky became an icon of the Modernist movement. Leninism became a dogma. When both were subjected to revision, it became clear that invigoration socialism was more difficult than updating Modernism.

[ ] Library Groningen_Giorgio Grassi_1992_Groningen. NL

Sun, 23 Sep 2012 17:26:29 -0400

[ ] Library Groningen_Giorgio Grassi_1992_Groningen. NL

[ ] Wall House#2_John Hejduk_1793_2001_Groningen - Panorama...

Sun, 23 Sep 2012 16:43:27 -0400

[ ] Wall House#2_John Hejduk_1793_2001_Groningen

- Panorama view

http://www.sphericalpanoramas.com/wallhouse/index-new4.html

- www.wallhouse.nl

Website is currently under-construction, above panorama view will be in website soon.

V ACCUSING ARCHITECTURE_VOLUME 31_VINCENT VAN...

Sun, 16 Sep 2012 07:53:00 -0400

V ACCUSING ARCHITECTURE_VOLUME 31_VINCENT VAN VELSEN

Architecture has historically been a profession based on well-established principles, passed down from master to apprentice. These principles however have become ever more evasive, volatile and changing. Each successive generation casts away the principles of their predecessors and declares their own. Different movements and styles stake their claim to what is the ‘right way to build’.

This has led to a highly accusational tendency within the culture of architecture; young architects are trained to be adversarial and have thick skins. What does this mean for guilt in the profession?

If forced to always be on the offensive what room is left for honest introspection and self-evaluation?

Architects, ever ready to accuse others, have rarely confessed guilt of their own.

:: ROMA INTERROTTA_1978_BY 12 ARCHTECTS I Piero Sartogo II ...

Sun, 16 Sep 2012 07:20:00 -0400

:: ROMA INTERROTTA_1978_BY 12 ARCHTECTS

I Piero Sartogo

II Constantino Dardi

III Antoine Grumbach

IV James Stirling

V Paulo Portoghesi

VI Romaldo Giurgola

VII Venturi and Rauch

VIII Colin Rowe

IX Michael Graves

X Rob Krier

XI Aldo Rossi

XII Leon Krier

"Don’t even think about turning. Just turn your head or your body and let the plan come along..."

Sun, 09 Sep 2012 17:36:00 -0400

““Don’t even think about turning. Just turn your head or your body and let the plan come along for the ride. When you take aim, fly the bullet into position.””

- ! Rem Koolhaas: Conversations with Students