Architecture preview

National Centre for the Performing Arts, China

1. Who is the architect (the person who built it)? Paul Andreu

2. When was it built? December 2001-July 2007

3. Where is it located? No.2 West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng District, Beijing

4. Is it a private building or can you visit it? Public (opera house)

5. Is there information on how much it cost to build? 3.2 billion CNY

6. Is there a reason the building was created or the history of the building itself? "Paul Andreu countered that although there is indeed value in ancient traditional Chinese architecture, Beijing must also include modern architecture, as the capital of the country and an international city of great importance. His design, with large open space, water, trees, was specially designed to complement the red walls of ancient buildings and the Great Hall of the People, in order to melt into the surroundings as opposed to standing out against them."

7. Why did you pick this building? (write at least a paragraph on this question)

I picked this building because of the modern looking architecture facade that has a very warming interior design. It also looks like an egg (food). I like eggs. This building change my perspective of China. I've seen the building style in China and it certainly does not have many modern style.

Burj Al Arab

1. Who is the architect (the person who built it)?
Tom Wright of Atkins

2. When was it built?
Construction began in 1994 and was opened later in december 1999

3. Where is it located?
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

4. Is it a private building or can you visit it?
a public hotel

5. Is there information on how much it cost to build?
650 million USD

6. Is there a reason the building was created or the history of the building itself?
Tom Wright's client want the hotel to be an iconic symbol for the city Dubai.

7. Why did you pick this building? (write at least a paragraph on this question)
The shape of this hotel is very creative and fun. I picked this hotel because of it's exterior shape and choice of location. I wanted to see the interior of the building to see what it looks like inside. This hotel seem like a major attraction to visit Dubai and enjoy the pretty view of the sea. I love how they surround the hotel with body of water and make this hotel look like a sailing ship.

Sculptured House, USA

1. Who is the architect (the person who built it)?
Charles Utter Deaton 
2. When was it built?
1963 
3. Where is it located?
Genesee Mountain, Jefferson County, Colorado 
4. Is it a private building or can you visit it?
a private housing 
5. Is there information on how much it cost to build?
Over 5.5 million dollars 
6. Is there a reason the building was created or the history of the building itself?
Charles said "On Genesee Mountain I found a high point of land where I could stand and feel the great reaches of the Earth. I wanted the shape of it to sing an unencumbered song." 
7. Why did you pick this building? (write at least a paragraph on this question)
This building makes me wonder about the insulation of the house. Do they need double glass doors to keep the heat inside? The location of this building is at a high top of a mountain and it must be very cold, while the glass is a type of insulator doesn't really help keeping the heat inside the house. Mainly i was attracted to pick this building because it looks fictional.

 

Turning Torso, Sweden

1. Who is the architect (the person who built it)?
Santiago Calatrava

2. When was it built?
Construction started in the February of 2001 and it was completed in 2006

3. Where is it located?

Malmo, Sweden
4. Is it a private building or can you visit it?
a residential building

5. Is there information on how much it cost to build?
Budget was originally mentioned to be 550 millions swedish crowns but figures such as 850 millions have been mentioned but others say the bill ended at 1.5 billion swedish crowns

6. Is there a reason the building was created or the history of the building itself?
The re-establishment of a recognizable skyline symbol of Malmo's blue collar roots since the removal of Kockurns Crane in 2002.
7. Why did you pick this building? (write at least a paragraph on this question)
The design of it reminds me of a tornado. The pentagon base being rotated as the height of it increases make this residential building look unique and interesting. I was wondering how they balance Turning Torso up. Was it hard to calculate the slope vector of it's rotation?

Guggenheim Museum, Spain

1. Who is the architect (the person who built it)? 

Frank Gehry

2. When was it built?
1997
3. Where is it located?

Abando, Bilbao, Spain

4. Is it a private building or can you visit it?
A pubic art museum of modern and contemporary art

5. Is there information on how much it cost to build?
100 million to construct it, another 20 million was invested in it's endowment, then was increased to 118  million dollars due to it's success.

6. Is there a reason the building was created or the history of the building itself?
Basque government suggested Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation that it would fund a museum to be built in Bilbao. Foundation selected Frank Gehry as an architect and Thomas Krens as it's director. Krens encouraged Gehry to design something daring and innovative.
7. Why did you pick this building? (write at least a paragraph on this question)
The museum's exterior design is just brilliant. Gehry manages to design something extraordinary with a curvy facade that appear random while it catches the light and visitors.