Horizontal House – Contemporary Architecture in Italy

This white Horizontal House is on a flat landscape with an endless beauty of the outside. Located in Cuneo, Italy this house presents in clean and smooth line with pure white color of the exterior and interior.







Open walls, clear glass windows, and wide glass doors invite the surround view to come in and fill the interior. Outdoor patio is designed with natural hardwood floor and several floor cushions. An interesting architectural structure of the exterior continues to the interior design which is also presented in white shade. Taking the modern and minimalist concept, the interior is decorated with touch of hot red, stone and big flower pots. Large windows ensure the natural light to fill in and open-concept floor plan leads us to move from one room to another easily. Wood floor becomes a great combination with white shade and make the house looks clean. The kitchen looks very stylish with horizontal windows in wood frame. This awesome Horizontal House very stands out in both exterior and interior design.

Bechtler Museum

Clad in a glazed terra cotta tile that lends it an orange hue and a sleek feel, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in Charlotte, North Carolina, shows Swiss architect Mario Botta shifting subtly from his signature brick and stone.

A mortar-free terra cotta rain screen clads the essential forms of the small museum. The massing block of a fourth-floor gallery reaches out over an entry plaza below, underpinned by a column wrapped in a double-tapered sheath of tiles.



The building's exterior surface combines flat, single-thickness tiles with tiles of triangular cross section, forming textured patterns and creating a play of light and shadow throughout the day. In using the terra cotta, Botta has described his concept of the building as a clay mass carved out by light.

The museum opened on January 2, 2010, as only the second building of Botta's in the United States, after SFMOMA (1995), although his work has flourished in Europe and Asia in the meantime.

Botta says he maintained the open area in an Italian piazza style to give people on the street a sense of being part of the structure. He also aimed to create the feel of a welcoming Southern front porch. Throughout the 36,500-square-foot (3,400-square-meter) building, one gets the sense of being integrated — aware of and able to see what's going on, both inside and out, from all four levels of the building.

Exedra Nice Hotel

Italian architects Iosa Ghini Associati have completed a bar, breakfast room and conference centre for Boscolo Exedra Nice hotel in Nice, France.


The interior features tree-like columns and wood-paneled walls.
The bar is made of Corian and the floor of the conference centre is dotted with red, glass inserts.
Here is some more text from Iosa Ghini Associati:
The concept that informed the project was to create a contemporary version of the Belle Époque lines of the lavish historic envelope. Comfortable materials were used to merge the two styles, evoking the rich atmospheres of Italian style. A recurring design element is the lighted surfaces and installations along the walls and ceilings on several floors, underscoring the space’s qualities.
The bar space on the ground floor is positioned to be immediately visible, distinctly evoking nature and its gentle, harmonious lines.

The sculptural bar counter finished in white Corian welcomes guests in an appealing atmosphere of Burma teak boiserie walls and lighted ceilings. The colors of the breakfast room are warmer, including teak wood floors, concealed lights of warm hues and boiserie. The buffet counter’s material dialogues with the large colombino stone fireplace, the space’s true focal point.
The conference center maintains the use of harmonious forms, adding a Venetian-style floor with red glass inserts that physically asserts itself in the rooms. However, its style is more dynamic, in keeping with the kind of work done inside.

The Colosseum in Rome

The Colosseum is probably the most famous landmark in Rome. Built in the 1st century AD, this great arena could seat 45,000 spectators and was the largest Roman amphitheater in the world.



It hosted gladiatorial combats, spectacles with wild beasts and possibly the execution of early Christians. Throughout the Middle Ages, the Colosseum was believed to be a place of martyrdom and was therefore regarded as a sacred place.



History

Construction on the Colosseum began under Emperor Vespasian (69-79) and was completed under his son Titus (79-81) in 80 AD. It was built on the site of an artificial lake created by Nero in this valley between Rome's many hills, in front of his Domus Aurea palace.



The arena was then known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, after the family name of the emperors who built it. The name "Colosseum" was not used until 7th century, and derives from the colossal statue of Nero that once stood here. After Nero's death, the statue was transformed into a representation of Helios, the sun god. It remained standing until the Middle Ages, when it was probably melted down for its bronze.



The amphitheatre was used for gladiatorial combats, mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. The inaugural festival of the Flavian Amphitheatre, which was the largest amphitheatre in the world, lasted 100 days, during which over 5,000 wild beasts were killed in the arena.



The arena was restored in about 230 AD by Emperor Alexander Severus (222-35). The statistics of those who met their deaths at the Colosseum during another festival, held in 240 AD, are staggering: 2,000 gladiators; 70 lions; 40 wild horses; 30 elephants; 30 leopards; 20 wild asses; 19 giraffes; 10 elks; 10 hyenas; 10 tigers; 1 hippopotamus; and 1 rhinoceros.



The Flavian Amphitheatre was damaged by fire and earthquake several times but was continually restored until the end of the 5th century. Gladiatorial combats were outlawed by the Christian emperor Honorius in 407 and fights with wild beasts were banned in 523. After this, the arena went out of use.



According to the bishop and church historian Theodoret, Honorius was moved to ban the bloody spectacle of the gladiators because of a simple monk named Telmachus:

A certain man of the name of Telemahus had embraced the ascetic life. When the abominable spectacle was being exhibited, he went himself into the stadium, and, stepping down into the arena, endeavored to stop the men who were wielding their weapons against one another.

The spectators of the slaughter were indignant, and inspired by the mad fury of the demon who delights in those bloody deeds, stoned the peacemaker to death.

When the admirable emperor was informed of this he numbered Telemachus in the army of victorious martyrs, and put an end to that impious spectacle. (Theodoret, Ecclesiastical History 5.26)



Telemachus is the only Colosseum martyr of whom there is any evidence. The long-held belief that scores of Christians met their deaths here in the 1st to 3rd centuries has no evidence to support it and may only be a legend.

However, it is perfectly possible there were martyrdoms here, since Christians are known to have been executed in other Roman amphitheatres, such as the one at Lyon and in the Circus of Nero on Vatican Hill (see St. Peter's Basilica).



The belief that Christians were martyred here was a fairly early one, as reflected by the response of Pope Gregory the Great (590-604) to the Byzantine emperor's request for some Roman relics: among the relics given was a bag of sand from the Colosseum floor.

The Colosseum fell into disrepair shortly after its closure in 523. In 526, the barbarian Totila and his forces destroyed parts of it in order to take the valuable bronze clamps that held the stones together. After that, Romans freely helped themselves to the great arena's stones in order to build their houses.



In this period the Colosseum was also used as a Christian burial ground. Early Christian tombs have been found in three areas around the amphitheatre: in the foundations on the north and east sides and on the exterior ground near the present entrance.

In the Middle Ages, the Colosseum was situated on the most important pilgrim route in Rome, which led from St. Peter's to the Lateran, and a small suburb grew up around it. In this period the great arena was thought to be a Roman temple to the Sun because of the Colossus statue of Nero-turned-Helios that stood next to it.



In the 13th century, the Colosseum was fortified and occupied by the Frangipani family and the suburb around it became a prosperous area of Rome. However, the area later fell prey to malaria and was abandoned.

Looting of the stone continued on-and-off until the 18th century, when Pope Benedict XIV (1740-58) declared the Colosseum sanctified by the blood of early Christian martyrs and added Stations of the Cross to the arena. After this it was restored and excavated, a work that continues to the present day.



Romantic travelers of the 18th and 19th centuries were smitten with the great ruin of the Colosseum. Among these were Charles Dickens, who wrote in 1846:

It is the most impressive, the most stately, the most solemn, grand, majestic, mournful sight, conceivable. Never in its bloodiest prime can the sight of the gigantic Colosseum, full and running over with the lustiest life, have moved one heart, as it must move all who look upon it now, a ruin. God be thanked: a ruin!



What to See

The exterior of the Roman Colosseum is made entirely of travertine, stretching 527 m around and four stories high. The arches of the second and third stories were originally filled with statues. There were 80 entrances, with the two principal ones reserved for the emperor and his entourage.

The interior is made of brick, tufa and marble; little of the marble survives today. The central area, the arena, was covered with a great wooden floor and canvas to make it waterproof. Over this was a layer of sand to absorb blood - in fact "arena" derives from the Latin word for sand. The floor is now exposed down to its underground passages, where beasts and gladiators awaited their fate, and crossed by a modern walkway.



The arena was surrounded by a 5m-high wall to protect spectators from attacks by wild beasts. At the top of the wall was the podium, on which the imperial party and other VIPs had their seats.

Near the site of the imperial box is a cross, which replaces an earlier one set up to commemorate the Christians who were believed to have been martyred here.



Above this was the cavea, or seating area. This was divided into three tiers: the lowest for knights; the middle for wealthy citizens; and the top for the general population. In total the Colosseum could hold up to 45,000 spectators.

The base of the Colossus statue of Nero, after which the amphitheatre is named, can be seen between the Colosseum and the nearby Temple of Venus and Roma.

Festivals and Events



The Pope leads a torchlit "Way of the Cross" procession to the Colosseum each Good Friday.

Roman Pantheon Architecture

Roman architecture is renowned in whole world and there is long history to boast on the finest architectures in Rome. There are many masterpieces in Rome that are built long ago. The buildings and historical monuments in Rome are center of attraction for the travelers. Tourists visiting the capital city cannot miss the fascinating buildings which are still awesome to watch. Roman Pantheon is one of the finest architectures in Rome which was built long years before but it was damaged many times. Government took the charge to develop it again and make it building of cultural heritage.


Following pointers throw light on the Pantheon:

1. Pantheon is huge construct and wonderfully maintained by the Romans. You can see the different views of the building from various sides. Pantheon means temple of Gods and it is one of the edifice of religious importance. It is the building which is constructed by the Romans and it exists from nearly 1800 years.
2. The architecture of this building is magnificent to define. Doorway which is the entrance of the building is made up of bronze and it is of 40 feet height. There are many doors made up of bronze and are about 20 feet in width. There is a dome of 20 feet diameter. Light enters from the dome and make the area bright.
3. Interior of Pantheon is designed magnificently and it is rounded architecture with many designs on the walls. The great width of the dome and spacious area make it wonderful. Many things are made by the recent rulers but Marcus Agrippa was the first person to construct the real building and since then many times renovation took place.
4. There are many carvings in the interior of the monument and you can still see the old bronze doors which are left after so many disasters. Material used for the construction was very strong and it is the reason why we are able to see the building still in that place. Bricks were used for constructing the building in those days and now stones were also used for making the building strong and attractive.
5. There is too much wait on the pillars but the design of Pantheon is awesome architecture which is responsible for making pillars holding the wait from long time. Pillars are very strong and pressure of building has been reduced greatly by great engineers. Marble is used for making floor which is quite beautiful and make it attractive.

Romans feel proud of the massive master pieces of architecture and Pantheon is one of the best in the world.

Rooms with a changing view: Skyscraper that revolves

THE Dynamic Tower, a slender, shifting skyscraper of rotating, energy- self-sufficient luxury apartments, was presented in project- form in New York on Tuesday by Italian architect David Fisher (left), before it goes up in Dubai.

The innovative, 1,378- foot building features pre-fabricated apartments that spin a full 360 degrees, at voice command, around a central column by means of 79 power- generating wind turbines located between each floor. This building will have endless different shapes (artist’s rendering, above). The apartments, ranging from 124 to 1,335- 12,917 square feet, will take between one and three hours to make a rotation, and will cost from Rs 14.8 crore to Rs 144 crore. The skyscraper, which will cost Rs 2,800 crore to build, should be up and running by 2010.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

The Leaning Tower of Pisa (Italian: Torre pendente di Pisa) or simply The Tower of Pisa (La Torre di Pisa) is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa. It is situated behind the Cathedral and it is the third structure in Pisa's Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square).

Although intended to stand vertically, the tower began leaning to the southeast soon after the onset of construction in 1173 due to a poorly laid foundation and loose substrate that has allowed the foundation to shift direction.

The height of the tower is 55.86 m (183.27 ft) from the ground on the lowest side and 56.70 m (186.02 ft) on the highest side. The width of the walls at the base is 4.09 m (13.42 ft) and at the top 2.48 m (8.14 ft). Its weight is estimated at 14,500 tonnes. The tower has 294 steps. The tower leans at an angle of 5.5 degrees. This means that the top of the tower is 4.5 meters from where it would stand if the tower was perfectly vertical.