Will Aslop. Ontario College of Art & Design


After reading interviewed British architect and artist Will Aslop, I couldn't help posting his work. 
COLOR as architectural element, DEMOCRACY in the process of elaborating the project and SELFISHNESS in the final decision making, describe his architecture and the way he moves.  
In my previous post, regarding Herzog & de Meuron's works, I wrote about their constant innovation and how they reinvent themselves in each project. This is what Aslop says, and I quote him as to deepen my thought:

"I like architects who always defy people’s expectations. It doesn’t mean I like what they do, but when their work is done, it will have presence, and it will be a strong part of the fabric of what the city could be. For example, I like Jean Nouvel’s work because I don’t know what he is going to do next. But if you show me a site where Zaha Hadid is going to build, I can try to predict how that building is going to look and, chances are, my prediction will be 70% accurate."









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Herzog & de Meuron. Elbephilarmonie Hamburg

map: Am Kaiserkai 20457 Hamburg, Germany

I just read about this philarmonic that's under construction in the pro-"new architecture" city of Hamburg. Herzog & de Meuron's studio is one of my best, and this building shows why. Because it's different. Different from the rest and different from themselves. H & dM's innovative creativity keeps them far from stylish "brand-architect's" that found a proper language that undisguiseably seems to suit in any city. 

The project is installed atop a red brick 1963 warehouse



check the lighted cranes reminding people of what is to come (idea of scenographer Michael Batz) and turning a construction site into a tourist attraction 




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Arquitectonica. Icon Brickell Tower

map: 501 Brickell Av. Miami, Florida

Local Miami studio Arquitectonica, in collaboration with Yoo by Phillipe Starck, are responsible for the design given to this 3-tower mixed use complex just a bridge-cross from downtown and on Biscayne Bay's waterfront.
The whole composition consisting on distinctive outlined blocks in an irregular sequence, added to the use of dark glassed windows is what I call creative resolution for a high rise building. 

 That's why the first time I saw the building from the bridge that connects Key Biscayne to the land I wondered who could have designed such a thing. An interesting mass that changed Miami's skyline, as you can see in my pictures below (taken during construction in May 2008). The Icon is far to the left, with cranes still on the rooftop.


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Frank Gehry. IAC Building

map: 555 west 18th street, New York, New York 

Here's one of the most interesting buildings I came across last October: Gehry's IAC Building, his first made entirely in glass. What impressed me is the faceted white facade that dominates the view from blocks away.

I believe the design was inspired in the movement of the waves, since the building is in Hudson River's waterfront
behind stands Nouvel's  Residences at 100 11th Av

The public lobby was designed as an event venue, and is home of the world's largest video projecting walls


The white color of the glass is what most caught my attention. As I looked closer I discovered that the colored "degradé" effect was caused by the distance between these tiny white dots


view from 19th st. In the corner, Gehry to the right, Nouvel to the left

more info at www.iacbuilding.com

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Jean Nouvel. Residences at 100 11th Ave

In Chelsea's waterfront, Jean Nouvel's 2nd building in NY is right in front of Ghery's IAC headquarters

Here is a selection of pictures I've taken by october 2010




The balconies on the lower floors are disguised behind the steel structure, creating an intriging layout of gardens. This view from the entrance is much more interesting than the street view

These are the stairs to the entrance
The side facade and the front ones have two different languages. I didn't like this, it lacks authenticity, the facade acts like a mask and the building looses it's strength.


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World Trade Center. Progress on the web

Check out www.wtcprogress.com for the latest on WTC site construction. Delivered by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Testing is already underway in one of the memorial pools waterfall.


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