Javier Larraz

I don't know much about Spanish architect Javier Larraz (and his website isn't exactly forthcoming), but I'd love to learn more because what I see is really fantastic!

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MODEL DESIGN SPAIN- HOUSE WITHOUT CONTEXT CASA SYNTES BUILT ON AN ISOLATED

DESIGN SPAIN- HOUSE WITHOUT CONTEXT
CASA SYNTES BUILT ON AN ISOLATED

SPAIN- HOUSE WITHOUT CONTEXT CASA
SYNTES BUILT ON AN ISOLATED

HOUSE WITHOUT CONTEXT CASA SYNTES
BUILT ON AN ISOLATED

MODEL DESIGN SPAIN- HOUSE WITHOUT
CONTEXT CASA SYNTES BUILT

SPAIN- HOUSE WITHOUT CONTEXT CASA
SYNTES BUILT ON AN ISOLATED

Master suite is set above the living room, accessed via the staircase which was formed from folded steel section box, change the stairs into abstract sculptures. As an element of lifting a long walk home site, that the steps for forming three terraces, linked by sidewalks and ramps. From the ground level ramp raised to act as a parking lot, set the highest point under the house, perched on a pair of bedroom pilotis.

Architecture's Modern Marvels - #1

As many of you probably know, Vanity Fair recently compiled a list of Architecture's Modern Marvels. And it is really a pretty good list. Probably because they actually took the time to survey real (and prestigious) architects, rather than simply give us a list of the most popular according to HGTV. Since I've been fortunate to visit 6 of the top 21, I thought I'd take the time to write a bit about my experience with those buildings... after all, architecture is really all about the experience.

First up is Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Bilbao, which coincidentally was the site of my first ever architectural pilgrimage. While lately it has been pretty popular to hate on Gehry (I'm as guilty as anyone), it is hard to deny the success of this building.

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One of my closest/oldest friends has lived in Bilbao most of her life, so the summer after my freshman year in college (1998 - just after the building opened), I took a trip to visit her. The trip was mostly social... I wanted to see my friend, but I have to admit I was also excited about the prospect of seeing this building, one that we'd been hearing about in school all year long.

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Even though I've known all my life that I wanted to be an architect, I had a bit of a rough start my freshman year. I just wasn't cut out for the tedium of pencil shading, hard-lining, and precision. Precision had never been my forte, but that was exactly what we were expected to produce. In fact, after a year of hard-lining (of which I was adequate, but certainly not a star), I was beginning to wonder if architecture was meant for me after all.

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That all changed when I visited Bilbao. Along with my friend and her family, we spent the day visiting the museum. Just walking the streets up towards the museum took my breath away. Clearly, this was an icon. The museum had been open for less than a year, but everyone knew that the city was changed forever. The Bilbao effect has since been coined to describe the complete and utterly positive changes on a city by a singular structure.

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We spent the day wandering through the museum. For anyone who ever travels with families, you know how difficult this can be. Trying to accommodate young children, the elderly, and everyone in between can be hard, and more often than not I'm leaving the museum sooner than desired. But, with the Guggenheim, no one wanted to leave.

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We all know that "form follows function" is not how Gehry works. But for some reason, the form and the function of this building are completely interconnected. All of the spaces are appropriately formed from the inside to suit the artwork, while still creating Gehry's sculpture from the outside.

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Do I think it is perfect? Of course not, no building is. But whether or not the Guggenheim Bilbao is to your taste or not, you have to admit that it is a spectacular piece of architecture. This one building does more than most architects' entire careers. It has unity a city, brought (some) prosperity to that city, and become an iconic symbol across the world. It has managed the unique and delicate balance of fantastic form and suitable function. It has helped to advance both the architectural and building technologies - in the field and in the office. And perhaps least importantly to most, but most importantly to me... it helped remind me why I wanted to be an architect, and helped me to return to school completely motivated and totally invigorated.

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A Great Place to Learn

Well, it has been a long week and I'm tired, so pardon me if I'm not totally coherent!

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First off... let me say that I just love this Granada elementary school by Alejandro Munoz Miranda. I have featured a few schools on this site, and they are all actually quite similar. I'm not sure if this shows a common trend or (more likely) a common thread in my tastes.

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I am a big fan of minimal design... Unfortunately, I live in a region that seems to have a physical reaction to the idea of minimal (regionalism and craft are all the rage here). So many architects, designers, and especially clients seem to think that minimal automatically means cold. But, as you can see here... it doesn't have to at all. A minimal structure can still be warm, inviting, an colorful!

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Although I wish the photos included the students actually using the space (why are architects outside of Dwell so reluctant to show people using their buildings?), I can imagine how much fun kids and teachers would have in this building.
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All in all, I really like this project and would love to see it first hand (preferably during the days when students are running around!). Does anyone want to send me to Spain? My bags can be packed immediately! ;)

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Via Spotlight on Design

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How Embarrassing

So, the World Expo 2010 is taking place in Shanghai, and many of the world's best architects have contributed designs. Many countries have hired the best architects found in their own country, while others have ventured out beyond their borders... but most designs have something in common... trying to articulate the priorities and passions of their home country, exuding confidence and creativity. Of course, I say most because the US is one glaring exception. What does our pavilion say about us? We could be locate along any highway in any suburb. We value conformity and corporate culture (which we can directly link to many of the problems plaguing our nation). We don't really have any place for innovation or creativity and we certainly don't value our architects, which is why we hired a Canadian to design a metal panelled representation of an eagle (there is that lack of creativity and ingenuity again).

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Very Frustrating. An expo is not an office park.

US
UK

Spain

South Korea

Portugal

Denmark

Switzerland

Russia

Japan

Poland

Finland

Canada

at the Flower Market

Barcelona has a new flower market... and its lovely. Designed by Willy Muller Architects, its a colorful solution for a colorful problem... where to put all those flowers!

Via Below the Clouds

Edificio de departamentos Galileo

By Pascal Arquitectos via arkinetia

Canoes Landscape

Julio Barreno emailed me this project he recently completed in the south of Spain. Its a storage facility for canoes, but looks to include more than just storage. The very simple and clean structure fits great in the stark countryside... I'd love to see the building in action!

A Killer Pool

I kind of feel like I'm done with infinity edge pools... everybody wants one and everybody has one... so they've lost a lot of the allure for me. But, in the right place, an infinity edge pool is really worth all the extra detailing. This pool (and house) by Corona y P. Amaral Arquitectos is phenomenal. You don't feel like you're perched on the cliff... you actually feel like you're floating in the sky.

Amazing.

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Via Materialicious

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Cinco Jardines

I love these landscape designs by Spanish firm Alvaro de la Rosa. They manage to be quite modern and architectural, while still maintaining the organic nature of the plantings themselves. I particularly love the first image, which is inspiring me to make some plans for our backyard... Although I'd be very interested in knowing how long it took for these projects to grow to maturity. A big difference between architecture and landscape architecture is the end result... At the end of a project, the architecture is generally at its peak architecturally. The building has yet to be turned over to the public, the materials have yet to start showing their wear. Landscape architecture however, is just about the opposite... When the project is turned over to the owner, it is still yet to show its true colors. Often, it takes a few years for the landscaping to properly grow in and to be able to experience the design in its entirety. While these particular designs probably didn't take years to grow... more lush designs will certainly require more time.

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