Inspiring Interiors: Pescados Capitales Restaurant - GonzalezMoix

Image Sourced from plataformaarquitectura.cl

Ok not wholly the interior this time but since there is such a fantastic continuation between the in & exterior I opted to place it among my inspiring interiors.

Pescados Capitales is yet another restaurant (there must be some form of link between food & space) but it’s been chosen with good reason.

I’ve always been greatly moved by monumental architecture, the way in which the modesty of stone & timber is off-set by the sheer strength of scale is something I find demanding yet sympathetic. The monument commands your respect & attention but you’re so emotionally driven toward it, it never really had to ask you to admire it anyway.

This is, rather strangely, how I feel about Pescados Capitales when I look at. Although made from concrete as opposed to stone, it’s got a wonderful feeling of natural simplicity to it. It quietly hints at being something more than a place to eat, sunken into the imposing concrete outer walls, it’s more like entering an ancient south American temple (something quite nicely suggested with the little selection of sea creatures carved into the beams)

Image Sourced from plataformaarquitectura.cl

The interior is a wonderful marriage of the cold & modest concrete beams and beautiful warm timbers, all wrapped in layer of pristine glazing, leaving you to feel that you’re never truly inside yet still protected by the spirits & space of this gastro-temple.

Image Sourced from archdaily.com

Located in Lima, Peru by Argentinean practice Gonzalez Moix Arquitectos, Pescados Capitales for me encapsulates all that I’ve ever loved about architecture. Drawing its inspiration from the ancients, this modern day temple commands your presence with its stark & powerful concrete walls yet rewards your entering with a warm & welcoming interior.

The Gods presence is always felt as the concrete beams cut through & across the restaurant but at least in this Gods temple it looks like he puts on a pretty good spread.

Image Sourced from archdaily.com

Image Sourced from plataformaarquitectura.cl

Head over to http://www.architectureoflife.net/Blog/2304/Pescados-Capitales-restaurant-by-Gonzalez-Moix-Arquitectos.aspx for some fantastic images

Fashion vs Architecture: Meet the Architects – Future Systems

Designing between fashion & architecture doesn’t fall solely to Spatially-Minded Fashion Designers; there is an equally large field of Architects that are enjoying manipulating this ever blurring boundary.

Future Systems (now Amanda Levete Architects) was a strong contender for the fashion architect crown. Aside from the obvious fashion based concepts (Selfridges owes its appearance to Paco Rabanne), their work plays on a certain lightness & fluidity as the facades appear to be gently draped over a structural frame.

National Library of the Chech Republic, Prague Origninal Source: http://www.eikongraphia.com/?p=2287

Then of course there is Future Systems fantastic use of texture & pattern. Whether you like their work or not, one thing that you cannot deny is that nothing in the Future Systems portfolio is boring. Instantly recognisable, the Future Systems space is the Louis Vuitton monogram of the Architecture world. It’s bold & bright yet still somehow minimal with a hint of 60’s mod fashion about it what’s more, is this Future-Fantastic style is carried right through from the Façade to the interior.

Selfridges Birmingham - Sourced from http://www.amandalevetearchitects.com/

For me, it’s no coincidence that Future Systems most frequent works were for Fashion Houses (Namely Comme Des Garcons & Marni), Future Systems work shows a real understanding of fashion & the fashion designers mind. The work is fluid & reflective, hinting toward the fast & ever changing world of fashion as opposed to more solid world of Architecture. Furthermore, Future Systems took a step even closer to fashion by creating a brand, they have a style that’s undeniably their own. Every Future Systems building carries hints & aspects of its predecessors. You could easily take the entire portfolio & transform it into one fluid collection of work that would sit quite comfortably at London Fashion week, if only it would fit on the runway…

 Comme Des Garcons Store New York: Sourced from http://www.amandalevetearchitects.com/

 Selfridges Birmingham - Sourced from http://www.amandalevetearchitects.com/

 Oxford Street - Sourced from http://www.amandalevetearchitects.com/

New Look, London - Sourced from http://www.amandalevetearchitects.com/



Architects of Man – Fashion vs Architecture - Alexander McQueen

My interest in fashion & architecture started with my university dissertation, my curiosity lead me to really explore this curious yet fascinating relationship.

I’ve often felt that Fashion is rather unfairly disregarded by most as some form shallow or even vain design discipline. Objects made solely for the viewing pleasure of the wealthy. However, the more you explore this intricate & complex world, the more you realise that fashion is a vast exploration of humanity & the human form. These aren’t just the clothes on your back; they’re architecture at its most intimate level.

So for me the best place to start is my most favoured designer, Lee Alexander McQueen. Beginning life as a tailor, McQueen’s work is best recognised for its unrivalled craftsmanship. Every garment was constructed to what can only be described as absolute perfection, creating unthinkable volume & space by simply manipulating a 2-dimensional plane of fabric with his hands.

This for me is where the blur into architecture begins. It’s the simple process of taking the human form & building space around it. In places the form is complimented & comforted and in others, the form is manipulated & contorted to initiate some form of response within in the inhabitant.

The Genius of Alexander McQueen was that he was so much more than a designer of “pretty as a picture” clothing; he was a master architect of mankind, he understood every aspect of our bodies & our reality. He knew how to make us feel safe & empowered and then with a simple change in shape, colour & texture; he could make us feel completely exposed. If that wouldn’t make an outstanding Architect then I don’t know if anything would…

Here’s a selection of Alexander McQueen’s Work (Sourced from www.vogue.com/collections), should you find the time I’d recommend a look at “Savage Beauty”, it’s a wonderful book showcasing the very best of McQueen.

Happy World Architecture Day!

Happy World Architecture Day!

To Celebrate here are a few of my favourite things…

Casa Batllo – Image sourced from videosfrombarcelona.com/news/gaudis-word-of-art-casa-batllo-barcelona/

Casa Batllo was the 1st Building that I ever fell in love with at the age of 16, check out

http://www.casabatllo.es/en/ for some fantastic images of this Gothic Fantasy masterpiece.

  

Sagrada Familia – Image sourced from www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/apr/24/gaudi-sagrada-familia-rowan-moore

Again with Gaudi, what can I say he's one of my favourites...

Chrysler Building – Image sourced from britishexpats.com/blogs/gruffbrown/68/Chrysler+Building.html

I'm a huge Art Deco Fan so naturally the Chrysler Building needs to be included 

Architecture for the Feet – Alexander McQueen Armadillo Shoes, Image sourced from hansharling.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/alexander-mcqueen-lobster-claw.html

Fashion & Architecture is my true passion in life, so you can expect a lot more of me exploring this relationship in future posts

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