Discovery of the Day - Chand Baori India

Today's search started as look into Ancient Architecture, mainly to coincide with my other love in life, Egyptology.

However, on the first website I looked upon I was awe-struck by this incredible structure. Situated in Abhaneri, Rajasthan, this 9th century step well is an incredible solution to a water shortage.

Legend tells us that the 100ft deep well was built in the space of one night by ghosts & that they designed their step well with some 3500 steps to prevent people from attempting to retrieve the coins from the base of the 13 storey well.

While the legend certainly holds much intrigue, the actual method of construction holds even greater appeal in my mind. This beautifully constructed well sits like an inverted pyramid in the landscape and is almost impossibly made even more spectacular by the inclusion of an ornately carved temple (built in honour of the Gods for protecting the sacred water source). It’s a fascinating thought to envision how it must have looked during its construction, the organisation for the massive excavation & just how they achieved an almost perfect symmetry.

Chand Baori is a perfect example of why historical Architecture fascinates me so much, its monumental proportions combine with delicately ornate decoration flawlessly to create a space that just overwhelms with emotion & intrigue.
In all of this great world I’m not sure if there are many spaces that could inspire quite as much as standing within Chand Baori. Who would have thought that there was a place that could make the humble wishing well so obsolete…

Chand Baori - Original Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ChandBaori.jpg

A Fantastic Image by Toyaguerrero on Flicker - See the Image (& many more lovely images) at http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyaguerrero/6334175070/ 

Inspiring interiors - Banq Restaurant - Office dA

The real beauty of Architecture is in its diversity; no architect confines themselves to thinking solely outside the box, it's our experience of the inside of the box that keeps us coming back.

Today's feature is one sure not to disappoint.

On first glances you could easily be forgiven for failing to notice the restaurant around you, for in Boston's Banq Restaurant you find yourself lost within some form of manmade cavern, where warm birch stalactites descend from above to conceal what I'm sure is a pricey wine collection.
Banq is one of these rare "new vs old" designs that works so well because the architects have really understood what it means to be sympathetic to the surroundings.
Working within the historical constraints of a former savings bank, Office dA architects chose to design their interior not to fit the banking halls four walls, but instead transforming the void within.

Focusing on the relationship between the floor & the ceiling, Office dA designed a series of Birch ribs that flow through the vertical plane of the space, waving across the restaurant & often pouring down to meet the floor. Cleverly concealing the overhead services whilst still allowing us glimpses into the void above.
What's interesting is the segmented yet solid nature of the ribs, while they appearing to never touch one another or the existing structure (the ribs sit away for the exterior walls & are supported via suspension from above) this golden canopy creates a strong feeling of protection, leaving us somehow feeling enclosed without the negative effects of being trapped. 

Banq is the ideal social space, its design is warm and inviting yet still carries a great feeling of spaciousness. It's a comfortable space, it feels natural & like a real cavern has a real curiosity about it. The ceiling draws you in with it mesmerising waves & dips, leaving you examining every curve to discover the mystery of it formation; I just hope that the menu matches the brilliance of the space around it...

Photo by John Horner, Original Source http://www.archdaily.com/42581/banq-office-da/

Simple Beginnings

Lets start this blog with a little bit about why I'm blogging (& why it's about architecture of all things).

Well it's pretty simple really, I'm an architecture graduate.
I never fully understood where my place was in Architecture, no one ever really quite "got" my designs so I was often left feeling pretty deflated about the whole thing. One thing I always loved though was writing about architecture; everytime I see a beautiful building I just want to write about it.

It hit me one day in 4th year, I fell victim to the mother of all bad crits & was on the verge of giving up when my tutor told me "I think your more of an academic architect" & in that moment I realised why I'd picked the God Forsaken course.

I picked architecture because I loved it; I hated having to design buildings (mostly because most people hated my ideas) but I loved to study them. Writing about architecture is what brings me to life, it's the part that I've missed most since leaving university & it's the reason why I want to start this blog.

So like I said, it's pretty simple, I'm an academic architect (although technically I'm not allowed to say that since I'm not registered/part 3 qualified...gutted) so I'm taking up architecture blogging to reunite myself with my love of studying architecture.

With all of that in mind lets get this blog started with the image that made me want to study architecture...

Lloyds Building - Image Source:

skyscrapernews.com, Copyright Holder - James Newman