Flatiron Building, 23rd Street, New York.

The Flatiron Building, which when constructed was called the Fuller Building, was one of the tallest and oldest skyscrapers in New York City.





It was completed in 1902. The building, at 175 Fifth Avenue in the borough of Manhattan, sits on a triangular island block at 23rd Street, Fifth Avenue, and Broadway, anchoring the south (downtown) end of Madison Square, is 85 feet (87 meters) tall.





The neighborhood around the building is called the Flatiron District after its signature building.

Future Architecture : Floating Ecopolis for Climate Refugees

According to the less alarming forecasts of the GIEC (Intergovernmental group on the evolution of the climate), the ocean level should rise from 20 to 90 cm during the 21st Century with a status quo by 50 cm (versus 10 cm in the 20th Century).



As a solution to this alarming problem architect Vincent Callebaut came up with this ecotectural marvel that could serve as a luxurious future retreat for 50,000 inhabitants seeking refuge from rising waters due to global warming. He believes the world will be desperately seeking shelter from the devastations of climate change, and hopes the auto-sufficient amphibious city will serve as a luxurious solution. To bad that right now we are close to 7 billion people and this luxurious future retreat is just for 50,000 inhabitants ( just for rich people ).



Vincent Callebaut called this project "Lilypad", but this ecotectural marvel is also called as "Floating Ecopolis for Climate Refugees". The whole structure is covered in green walls and roofs, the top portion covered in grasses with the inner portion featuring a palm oasis, and the under portion serving as a bed for natural sea planktons and oceanic plants.



Finally if you were already planning to reserve a place to this luxurious future retreat stay calm, because Vincent Callebaut hopes that "Floating Ecopolis for Climate Refugees" will make the transition from design to reality around the year 2100.

Architecture Design of Luxury Private Nurai Residence in Dubai

If you living or traveling to Abu Dhabi at Northeast of Abu Dhabi city constructed new luxury private residence called Nurai. Here we would like to see architecture side of this luxury house. below is further information tell about Nurai luxury house.



The 130,000-square-meter island is about to be transformed into an achingly glamorous and luxurious resort and exclusive private residential estate, comprised of one boutique luxury hotel resort with 60 suites, 31 beachfront estates and 36 water villas.

The mammoth project is a collaboration between New York based Studio Dror, led by Dror Benshetrit, that has designed the residences, and the Paris-based firm AW2 are responsible for the design of the hotel.



The sheer scale of the project is awe-inspiring. The incredible multi-storey water villas alone will span 515 square meters each, and comprise three bedrooms, four bathrooms, a private rooftop garden with spa pool, private infinity pool, multiple decks, outdoor barbeque area, gourmet kitchen and concealed service quarters.



As for the private Seaside residences (which are sure to be snapped up by Saudi Princes and oil sheiks because they will probably be the only ones who can afford them), the five-bedroom, six bathroom estates span between 3,000 and 6,050 square meters.

Each Seaside estate will include a private beach and garden, rooftop garden with spa pool, infinity swimming pool, indoor reflecting pools, concealed service quarters, entertainment patios, outdoor dining areas, chef and show kitchens, and outdoor showers.



The resort is due to open in 2010 and the prices for the residences start at €20 million.

Le Corbusier: The Art of Architecture

Easily regarded as one of the most adroit architects of 20th century, Le Corbusier was a relentless designer, urban planner and writer dedicated to industrializing almost every city he came across.

This spring The Barbican - London’s colossal multi-arts venue - is hosting an all-encompassing showcase of Le Corbusier’s work, a survey which will include an abundance of original models, interior settings, drawings, furniture, photographs, films, tapestries, paintings, sculpture and books designed and written by the architect himself. More of a celebration than an exhibition, the festivities include concerts, films, guest speakers and a photo competition all in his honor.

Barcelona Chair

The Barcelona chair was exclusively designed for the German Pavilion, that country's entry for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929, which was hosted by Barcelona, Spain. The design resulted from collaboration between the famous Bauhaus architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and his longtime partner and companion, architect and designer Lilly Reich, whose contributions have only recently been acknowledged. An icon of modernism, the chair's design was inspired by the campaign and folding chairs of ancient times.


Lilly Reich began working for the Deutscher Werkbund in 1912, an organization whose raison d'etre was to focus specifically on the German design industry, its quality, evolution and promotion. Reich was responsible for designing and organizing many of the Werkbund's international exhibitions, and in 1921 became the organization's first female member.
Reich and van der Rohe met in the mid-1920s and collaborated on many of these exhibition design projects until he departed for the United States in 1938. While Reich always deferred to van der Rohe in public, the reverse was said to have been the case in private. While it is naturally difficult to apportion the contributions that each made to a particular design, it is interesting and poignant to note that van der Rohe never again produced any furniture designs after their partnership ended, nor had he designed any furniture beforehand. His first patent on a furniture design was issued in 1927 and his last in 1937.
Reich's affiliation with the Deutscher Werkbund and her architectural work with van der Rohe on their exhibition design and furniture design made them the natural choice for the Commission to design the German Pavilion in Barcelona.

Luwig Mies van der Rohe worked in an architectural firm before turning his hand to furniture, and good job he did as we wouldn’t have the fabulous Barcelona chair as seen propping up the bums of the entrepreneurs on Dragons’ Den. He was actually the director of the Bauhaus from 1930 until it closed in 1933 when the war kicked in and he scarpered to the US.

"A chair is a very difficult object. A skyscraper is almost easier. That is why Chippendale is famous."--Mies van der Rohe, In Time magazine, February 18, 1957

Current production
Knoll manufactures the frame in two different steel configurations, chrome and stainless. The chair is almost completely hand-laboured. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's signature is stamped into each chair. Unauthorized reproductions proliferate worldwide and are sold under different marketing names.

Barcelona Bed : Mid-Century Furniture for the Bedroom

Probably the most admired modern furniture style in history is the Barcelona concept by designer Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.I doubt there is anyone who has not seen or relaxed in the Barcelona chair that exudes a mid-century classic chrome and leather in a most timeless modernistic design. The Barcelona Bed collection draws from van der Rohe's aesthetics with a headboard and frame that are upholstered in soft, full grain aniline leather offering a stately and formal appearance. Expertly tailored, the individual leather squares are sewn together using the capitonne technique, detailed with piping over each seam and then buttoned to create a tufted appearance. Length: 86.5" Width: Q=64" K=80" Headboard Height: 42" Headboard Depth: 4" Frame Height: 12".

BANQ Restaurant

Wallpaper magazine voted it as the best new restaurant. Banq restaurant is located at the base of the old Penny Savings Bank, in an early 20th century building abandoned for years in Boston. After the building's reconstruction two segments emerged, the front area programmed to be a bar and the larger hall which would serve as the dining area. The architect's managed to overlap any structural problems and create a fancy restaurant out from an abandoned place. Find out how inspiration can help a project find its place in the world's best restaurants list.

Text by the Architects :



Located in the old Penny Savings Bank, Banq is a new restaurant located at the base of the old banking hall. Divided into two segments, the front area on Washington Street is programmed as a bar, while the larger hall behind serves as the dining area.



The design of the space, however, is conceptualized around another division, on the z axis, between the ceiling and the ground. If the ground needs to remain flexible as a result of fluctuating activities of the restaurant space-- two seaters, fours, and sixes, among a range of other organizations related to parties and other events-- then, the ceiling contains fixed programs that are part of the building's infrastructure-- the structure, drainage, mechanical equipment, sprinkler system, lighting, and other the acoustic systems. To that end, we have developed a striated wood-slatted system that conceals the view of the mechanical, plumbing, and lighting systems on the longitudinal axis, while offering a virtual canopy under which to dine.



The geometry of the wood slats conform to each equipment above, but are also radiused in order to smoothen the relationship between other adjoining equipment, creating a seamless landscape. The columns and the wine storage, in the middle of the hall, serve to uphold the fiction, and appear to be suspended from the ceiling. if the longitudinal axis emphasizes the seamless surface, then lateral views offer striated glimpses into the service space above, and demystify the illusion.



To underline this strategy, certain areas of the ceiling "drip" and "slump", acknowledging the location of to place exit signs, lighting features, and other details. Below the ceiling, the functional aspects of a dining space are fabricated with warm woods and relaminated bamboo amplifying the striping affect already at play throughout the space. Striations of the ground, the furnishings, and the ceiling all conspire to create a total effect, embedding the diners into the grain of the restaurant.



Acknowledging the historical setting of the building, the ceiling hovers away from all interior walls and instead finds its support in suspension from above. Nearly running the entire width of the space, each rib of the undulated ceiling is made from unique pieces of three-quarter-inch birch plywood adhered together in a scenario that likens to a puzzle; only one possible location for each unit, formulating the continuous member. These continuous members are fastened to the main structural ribs running perpendicular to the lattice, tracing both the overall ceiling topography and the steel supports of the base building.



Spacing between the visible ceiling ribs is variable; compressing and releasing to maintain visual densities of the overall surface as seen from different angles.

Inspiring Architectural Pictures - Unique Contemporary Building in Monaco

I am often amazed at the ingenuity of architects and designers as they challenge our concept of shape and space. This unique shaped contemporary building is located in Monaco where it resides in a prestigious area steeped in history. This four-story building is planned to have a café at its first level and offices above. On the fourth level is to be an office where the honorary consular of Monaco will reside offering a grand place to meet and greet dignitaries and important guests.

Part of the scope of this project was that Monaco wanted to create a sense of urbanism as it is has slowly eroded over time. According to the architect firm, McBride Charles Ryan, this type of project is rare. I applaud the government for getting behind such a wonderful contemporary architecture project. I am sure that this building will be a sight-seeing stop for tourists.

For me the most striking element is the incredible shapes throughout the structure. The office interiors even continue this theme, having wonderful sloped ceilings, interesting shaped walls, and cool window designs. Designers know how hard it can be to decorate a space that does not fit conventional thought. It will be wonderful to see some pictures of the interiors once they are completely furnished.