Denver Art Museum

Denver Art Museum

The Denver Art Museum got its start in the early 1890s as the Denver Artists’ Club. The museum was opened on 14th Avenue Parkway and has been expanded several times. One of these expansions was to add a center for children’s art activities that was added in the early 1950s. The museum today boasts 356,000 square feet that includes collection gallery space, three temporary exhibition venues and an auditorium. If you are looking for pieces of art made with non-toxic glazes, you can find it at the Denver Art Museum.

The Frederic C. Hamilton Building that opened in 2006 is a sight to see. This 146,000 square foot building replicates the peaks of the Rocky Mountains and geometric rock crystals found in the foothills of Denver. The building is covered in 9,000 titanium panels that reflect the sunshine beautifully. The North Building has more than one million reflective glass panel tiles on the building’s exterior. These panels complement the castle-like facade.

 

This extraordinary museum is also internationally recognized for its family friendly environment. On the second Tuesday of every month you can bring your child, ages 3 to 5, for art-making, story time, scavenger hunts and more. Each time you bring your child to the play date there is a different theme. Your child can choose from many different mediums to work with that are all stored on the ware cart. The Denver Art Museum’s website also has a section dedicated to children. Your child can visit their website with you and learn to make different art projects. These range from paper chains to fun masks to creating Indian carvings.

Your children can also visit the museum while they are in school. The museum offers two different types of field trips for students: guided tours and self-guided tours. Both of these options are geared towards all grades K-12. The guided tours are excellent for those who are interested in learning more about the pieces they see. These tours are great for the younger ones as it helps keep their concentration focused on one thing at a time. The self-guided tours are great for the older students who can browse at their leisure. Whether your family members are art experts or not, the Denver Art Museum is a great place to take in culture and to learn about different artistic mediums. Your children can learn about things such as kiln ventilation, sculpting and glass making. You are all guaranteed to have a wonderful time!

Courtesy : www.trign.com

Santiago Calatrava: Peace Bridge in Calgary, Canada

Calgarians using their bridge for the first time

                   

The city of Calgary in Canada has welcomed its newest addition spanning the bow river, the 'Peace Bridge' by Valencian  architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava. The single span helical footbridge gently arcs across the water, sheltering users with a glass roof along its 126 meter length. Adjacent to the Prince's Island Park in the Downtown district, the structure will provide pedestrians and cyclists with connecting routes between the urban center and memorial drive. Pathways defined with curbs separate modes of movement, allowing bicycles to maneuver safely within a central bike lane and foot traffic travels along the elevated sidewalks placed on either side.

The rounded cross section of the cover and platform is generated mathematically with two clearly defined tangential radii to create an internal and experiential space formed by the crisscrossing of the steel exterior leaves openings which have been selectively screened with a fritted glazed panel to protect form rain and snow. Pigmented a vibrant red, the framework generates a landmark presence for the area, accenting the trees and grass-covered landscape, especially during autumnal foliage. Linear lighting is integrated into the structure and handrail, producing a downward way-finding illumination. Its delicate presence is reflected within the water below.

'Peace Bridge' by Santiago Calatrava, Calgary, Canada

Separated pedestrian and bicycle paths

Aerial rendered view

Side view of the bridge with the downtown beyond

Courtesy : www.designboom.com

Great buildings, before they were great

Flatiron Building, New York

One of the greatest moments of an architect’s life is watching your design creation/monster rise out of the ground and come into existence. It’s always lovely to see great buildings, but somewhat sad if you never got to see them in their half completed state.

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

Over at www.oobject.com they have put together a list of American monuments under construction. Whilst these are not all technically buildings, nor great for that matter, it is something else to view them in this time of life!

Gateway Arch, St. Louis

Enjoy!

Courtesy: habitables.wordpress.com

Murphy/Jahn: Pentomonium Towers - yongsan international business district

'Pentomonium towers' by Murphy/Jahn, Seoul, Korea

Chicago-based practice Murphy/Jahn has sent images of the 'Pentomonium towers', a high-end residential building for the western side of the Youngman international business district in Seoul, Korea. The pair of towers are set diagonal to each other and connected with a bridge at the midpoint and gridded rooftop canopy, reaching 320 meters tall. The slender profile emerges from a small square footprint, minimizing the number of units on each level while maximizing seclusion offering dwellers an urban living experience previously only found with individual homes.

The scenic southwestern views are enhanced by internally shifting the vertical circulation cores towards the northeastern elevation. The resulting U-shaped configuration may be subdivided, maintaining their outward perspectives while penthouses use the entire floor. The enclosure then shifts between the neighboring residences, forming bay windows, balconies and winter gardens. At the perimeter, a screen of vertical and horizontal bars within a 5 meter tall by 3 meter wide modular grid aligns the geometries between each of the buildings. The exterior surface serves as a structural framework, provides shade and additional privacy. Four-storey high parks are carved into the sides at various heights, offering residents recreational areas and lounges. Operable glass panels allow for manual adjustments to the interior climate.

Upward view of the towers

Sky Park

Super villa at the rooftop level

At night

Courtesy: www.designboom.com

NH architecture: saltwater coast

 'Saltwater coast' by NH architecture, point cook, Australia

Within the ocean-side town of point cook, Australia, 'saltwater coast' is a lifestyle and recreational facility for local residents by Melbourne-based practice NH architecture. In close vicinity to Port Phillip Bay, the building is carefully integrated into a reinterpreted beach context to support bird migratory patterns within the encompassing cheetham wetlands, a delicate ecological area. Attempting to counteract suburban development, this landscape solution is an investment in public infrastructure within the community driven center.
 

A lap pool, spa, gymnasium, multi-functional space, tennis courts and cafe provide a venue to focus on health of the body while strengthening neighborly relationships. Clad with timber staves, the gently angling external form opens towards adjacent parks and the horizon. a partially covered outdoor promenade protects the pool area, opening to the landscape. Cuts and manipulations to the facade reveal glass and dark-bronze framed windows.

Overall view looking south west   

Overall view looking south

Lap pool looking North West

     

Northern facade of north-south wing with outdoor cafe seating below

Courtesy: www.designboom.com