Architectoid

THE MASTABA This could be the grandest of all of Christo 's projects ever complete. This massive ziggurat looking structure is actually composed of 440k oil barrels painted in various shades of yellow, orange, and red. The structure when complete will be taller than the Great Pyramids of Egypt . This project is a hilarious identity for the oil rich country of UAE and the city of Abu Dhabi . Construction Details for welding oil barrels together: Related Articles: Let There Be Light - James Turrell Artist Patrick Dougherty Referenced Link: http://www.christojeanneclaude.net/projects/the-mastaba http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2012/nov/24/christo-mega-sculpture-abu-dhabi http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2012/11/24/christos-next-project-a-giant-pyramid-like-sculpture-in-abu-dhabi-photos/

The apartment that Graffiti built in Melbourne. ITN Architects worked with local graffiti artist Prowla to design the "Hive" spelled out on the side of the building. I suppose that this design could be considered stylistic, what's next gangnam style architecture? Check out this elevation of the building: Related Articles: Graphic Design Action Video Parking Garage Architecture Ice Cube on LA Architecture Referenced Link: http://www.dezeen.com/2012/06/22/the-hive-apartment-by-itn-architects/

3M VHB Tape  is an acrylic foam tape that allows for air tight and waterproof movement because of its viscoelasticity . Its so strong it is compared to rivets because of its intense holding power for a variety of materials. Related Articles: Superhydrophobic Surfaces Biomemetic Architecture Super Uniforms for Sports

Googie Architecture - Part 2 from Sunny & Mild Media on Vimeo . Another find from the vault. This look back is a film about post-war America's coffee shop Googie architecture in Los Angeles. Features an interview with Bob Wian of Bob's Big Boy. Alan Hess in front of the oldest McDonald's stand in Downey. Eldon Davis (I think) at NORMS. Architect John Lautner designed the first Googie coffee shop on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angels in 1949. The characteristic futuristic features of the coffee shop set off an architectural trend and was coined " googie architecture " by Author Douglas Haskell . Googie's Coffee Shop 1949 by Architect John Lautner, Photo by Julius Shulman Related Articles: Space Age Architecture Ice Cube on LA Architecture Metropolis II

Interesting construction from the past seems like the end results could have been executed better.  The design techniques are interesting use in  concrete construction . The original structures were developed in the 1960s by inventor Architect Dante Bini. Currently the system is being re-designed and tested by the inventor's son Nicolo Bini through his company Binishells. The image above is the system 2 structure on binishells website that has a triangular coffered ceiling that evokes the sheats-goldstein residence by Architect John Lautner . Related Articles: Space Frame Dome Concrete Canvas Structures Shotcrete Construction Goldstein Residence  

The Bob Hope Residence is rumored to be on the market for an asking price of 45 million. The 1973 residence is a 22,000 sft  6 bedroom home in an affluent area of Palm Springs, CA designed by Architect John Lautner . Related Articles: Sheats Goldstein Residence Palm Springs Architecture Elrod Residence Curbed LA Referenced Articles: http://mosslerproperties.com/blog/the-dolores-and-bob-hope-estate http://www.swrnn.com/2012/11/18/palm-springs-home-of-bob-and-dolores-hope-on-the-market-for-45-million/ http://salmanagah.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/2008-hammer-fellows-dinner-john-lautners-hope-residence-and-elrod-house/

Interesting video however the narrator doesn't have all of his facts right. It was Frank Lloyd Wrights love  Martha Borthwick that died in Taliesin from an axe murdering servant who set fire to the home. Frank Lloyd Wight could not marry Martha because his first wife Catherine refused to divorce Wright. The home is on the market for 4.75 million in Sante Fe, New Mexico. Related Articles: Frank Lloyd Wright Video Frank Lloyd Wright Taliesin West Student Shelters

Through the art of horticulture techniques called  pleaching   Architect Mitchell Joachim proposes to grow homes weaved together by tree branches. Swedish American farmer Axel Erlandson opened a horticulture attraction called the "Tree Circus" in 1947 outside Santa Cruz, CA. The tree circus displayed trees that he taught himself to shape using pruning, grafting, and bending into amazing geometric designs. The trees have since been moved to Gilroy Gardens to preserve them for future enjoyment by visitors. Axel Erlandson's Basket Tree in Bofante Gardens in Gilroy, California Related Links: California's Gold - Tree Circus TED talk Mitchell Joachim Related Articles: Lava Tube Architecture Inspiration from Nature Biomimetic Architecture

Ted Talk with Doris Kim Sung explores the use of disimilar metals laminated together that react and bend when the temperature changes. The change in bending of the metal facades would allow for a building to open itself for air circulation as temperature rises and close itself off to airflow as temperature falls. Related Articles: Dynamic Facades Wind Power Kinetic Facade Facade Projection

Straw Bale House instructional video made in Sweden. Related Articles: Straw Bale Construction Earth Bag Construction Video Bamboo Construction Cobb Construction

I recently uploaded a video that I've edited of a series of time lapses of a trip to Yosemite in April of 2012. Yosemite National Park Nature Notes Videos: Wildflowers  Waterfalls Wilderness Half Dome Snow Maps Tuolumne Snow Line Frazil Ice Rock Fall Big Trees Glaciers Ranger's Club Horsetail Fall Moonbows Sky  Islands Black Oaks Water Yosemite Night Skys Granite Related Articles: Yosemite Valley Images Yosemite Stars Yosemite Frazil Ice Video

Stainless Steel Credenza fabricated for concrete office table Many of our projects at Nicholson Architects require the expertise of different construction tradesmen. Our finished projects require quality craftsmanship and is the reason I acknowledge our longtime metal fabricator Ramsey Daham of Breakform Design for providing the diligence for making our visions come to fruition. Lowering Bernar Venet Sculpture into a final position. Duncan Nicholson Coffee Table Furniture fabricated by Breakform and Giroux Glass Price Skyspace : Elliptical Bronze Portal fabricated by Breakform Design Glass Rail Hardware Aluminum Candelabra Related Articles: Concrete Desk and Stainless Steel Credenza fabricated by Breakform Design Satin Stainless Steel Finish at Sydney Apple Store Concrete Bar Takes Form Referenced Links: Breakform Design Website http://www.archdaily.com/89789/step-up-on-fifth-brooks-scarpa/

Self Healing Concrete mixture would allow the concrete to fix cracks that are inherent when building with concrete. Cracks typically form in concrete during the drying process and are an area of weakness that allows for moisture to seep deep into the concrete and corrode the reinforcing steel causing spalling. Related Article: Concrete Desk Concrete Parking Garage Architecture Concrete Canvas Fabric-Formed Concrete Referenced Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20121303?ref=nf

Mies Van Der Rohe's Fansworth House is considered a significant piece of Architecture and this video examines the history and the importance of this building. Currently the home is owned and operated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) , but it was an interesting story of how that came to be. Related Articles: New Glass House Joseph Eichler Residences Less is More