Thursday, May 10, 2012

Architecture Preview

Sagrada Familia, Spain
1. Antoni Gaudi was the architect.
2. Ground breaking began in 1882 but the building isn't finished, projected to be finished in 2026.
3. It is located in Barcelona, Spain.
4. It is a public church, with frequent tourists and visitors
5. The construction budget in 2009 was 18 million euros
6. The basilica was the inspiration of a Catalan bookseller, Josep Maria Bocabella. He gave the project to Francisco de Paula del Villar, who than retired from the project in 1883, when Gaudi took over. Gaudi radically changed the plans and the design. 
7. My aunt and uncle visited the basilica and Barcelona on a trip a couple of years back. When I heard of the project I was very interested because of the enormity of the project. There have been huge cathedrals and feats of architecture in the past, but this one takes place in the present day. I find it interesting that we are able to witness the monument's construction until it is projected to be finished in the 2020's. I hope to visit the building some day, possibly when it is finished. I'm not particularly religious, but I love to see amazing feats of architecture, especially as its being built during our time.

La Pedrera, Spain
1. Antoni Gaudi designed the building, while Josep Maria Jujol designed the decorations of balconies and windows, as well as some of the plaster ceilings. 
2. Construction took place from 1905 to 1910 under Gaudi, and then it was considered to be officially finished in 1912
3. Barcelona, Spain
4. It is open to the public
5. There is no information about the cost of building the structure.
6. It was created for Roser Segimon and Pere MilĂ 
7. Like the Sagrada Familia, it was designed by the same architect Antoni Gaudi. The building itself is extremely unique, because of it shape and its decoration. I picked this building because I like the work of the architect, and I also like its shape. My aunt and uncle took pictures of the building when passing by. 
 
Eden Project, United Kingdom
1. Nicholas Grimshaw
2. Construction was finished and opened to the public in March of 2001
3. Cornwall, in the United Kingdom
4. It is a public building
5. There is no specific information on the cost of the building except for a total investment of 130 million pounds.
6. The buildings were created to simulate biomes across the world.
7. I picked this building because I was very interested in it's purpose, as well as its shape. I've always wondered if there was ever a project that existed like this. Also, in my sophomore year, I had to do a project in Chemistry in which we had to figure out the logistics of building a sustainable dome like this on another planet. 
Habitat 67, Canada
1. Moshe Safdie
2. It was built for the World's Fair held in 1967, from April to October
3. Montreal, Canada
4. It is a public building
5. $22,195,920 was spent to complete the entire project, approximately $140,000 per living unit.
6. The building was created for a Worlds Fair, in order to exhibit new ways of building living areas
7. I thought the design was very unique and creative looking, as it was a new way to view close living quarters. I like the idea that the structure is vaguely like a labyrinth, and every "ceiling is a garden" for the rooms on top of one another.


Cubic Houses, Netherlands
1. The architect was Piet Blom
2. Three test versions were built in 1974, with 18 being built in 1977 located in Helmond. In 1977, 55 were designed but only 39 were built in Rotterdam.
3. There is one batch located in Helmond and one in Rotterdam
4. You can visit and live in these homes.
5. There is no information on the cost of construction
6. The buildings were designed in order to convey the concept of "living as an urban roof," high density housing with sufficient space on the ground level.
7. I picked this building because I like the idea of the dense living space on an elevated level, as well as the interesting shape the apartments take. Its a very different concept of living than other forms, even though living in there might be a bit restrictive and difficult.

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