another month of posts - day twentytwo

Buildings that have caught my eye recently:
Dubai, the city which has been developing some incredibly amazing architecture lately. The latest in the works is 'The Dynamic Tower', an apartment building designed by David Fisher. It is an 80 storey building, and each level can rotate 360 degrees at voice command, and power-generating wind turbines between each level making the design more energy sustainable.

The Beijing National Stadium 北京國家體育場 aka the Bird's Nest 鳥巢, has been in the news not only for the unique design but also for the fatalities related to the construction process. The stadium will be where the 2008 Beijing Olympics will be hosting the opening and closing ceremony as well as the main athletics events. It's innovative structure consisting of the web of twisting steel sections that form the roof (hence the nickname Bird's Nest) was a collaboration by architects Herzog & de Meuron, ArupSport and China Architecture Design & Research Group.

CaixaForum Madrid, Spain, is not only for art-lovers (it is an art museum) but also an architectural spectacle. It's designed by Herzog & de Meuron to appear as if the building has been lifted off the ground, and my favourite outside feature of this building is that it has a 24m vertical garden! I've been eyeing the interior designs too and they are just so beautiful.

another month of posts - day eight

I heart China 中國. The country had been on my heart for almost a decade now. Something in me gets really excited when I think of the place. And I'm thrilled that everyone's getting geared up for the Beijing Olympics in August... I can still remember the day (back in July 2001) when it was announced that Beijing was going to host the 2008 Olympics, I was living in Beijing at the time and the whole city was just going nuts over the news. Everyone started buying up English language learning books, the city was being transformed landscape-wise each day, so much so that roadworks could look extremely different within just one day. I love the country's diversity... languages, foods, ethnic groups, geography, architecture, history, etc. It's been weird me living in Perth, and feeling that it's home, yet I'm still drawn to China. Guess I'll keep praying and see how it all pans out. In the meantime I'm getting ready for the Games. I'll definitely be watching the women's hockey as one of my friends will be competing! So proud of her woot woot! I'm currently fascinated and mesmerised by the Beijing National Aquatics Center (北京國家游泳中心) aka the Water Cube (水立方), the building is not only aesthetically whimsical (it was inspired and based on the structured of soap bubbles) but also has incorporated water saving and environment conscious features. A special feature of the building is the 'Bubble Bar' where visitors can touch the bubble membrane of the building... too awesome!

(Photos from Beijing 2008)