The Meter, Golden Ratio, Pyramids, and Cubits, Oh My
(iforgeiron.com)
One of our readers, John Frewen-Lord, speculates that the metre may be the modern version of a measure that was familiar to the Pharaohs.
One of our readers, John Frewen-Lord, speculates that the metre may be the modern version of a measure that was familiar to the Pharaohs.
Why Rich People Don't Cover Their Windows
(theatlantic.com)
Walk down the block of a wealthy neighborhood at night, and you might be surprised by how much you can see. One uncovered window might reveal the glow of a flatscreen TV across from a curved couch; through another, you might glimpse a marble kitchen island and a chandelier. Of course, some of the curtains are closed—but many are flung open, the home’s interiors exposed, like you’re peering into a showroom.
Walk down the block of a wealthy neighborhood at night, and you might be surprised by how much you can see. One uncovered window might reveal the glow of a flatscreen TV across from a curved couch; through another, you might glimpse a marble kitchen island and a chandelier. Of course, some of the curtains are closed—but many are flung open, the home’s interiors exposed, like you’re peering into a showroom.
Railings Made from WWII Stretchers
(wikipedia.org)
Stretcher railings are railings or fences which enclose some buildings in London, England, that were made of repurposed medical stretchers left over from the Blitz during World War II.
Stretcher railings are railings or fences which enclose some buildings in London, England, that were made of repurposed medical stretchers left over from the Blitz during World War II.
The Anatomy of a Durable Execution Stack from First Principles
(restate.dev)
We dive into the architecture details of Restate, a Durable Execution engine we built from the ground up. Restate requires no database/log or other system, but implements a full stack that competes with the best logs in terms of durability and operations.
We dive into the architecture details of Restate, a Durable Execution engine we built from the ground up. Restate requires no database/log or other system, but implements a full stack that competes with the best logs in terms of durability and operations.
Rare Photos from Inside North Korea's 'Hotel of Doom' (2023)
(9news.com.au)
The stranger than strange Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea is one of the tallest unoccupied buildings in the world, and Englishman Simon Cockerell may be one of only two westerners to have ever been allowed inside.
The stranger than strange Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea is one of the tallest unoccupied buildings in the world, and Englishman Simon Cockerell may be one of only two westerners to have ever been allowed inside.
At 100, He's the Last Original Owner of a Frank Lloyd Wright House
(abc7.com)
MOUNT PLEASANT, New York -- In June 1952, Roland Reisley settled into his freshly completed modern house in Westchester County, New York, and almost 73 years later, he still lives there.
MOUNT PLEASANT, New York -- In June 1952, Roland Reisley settled into his freshly completed modern house in Westchester County, New York, and almost 73 years later, he still lives there.
Frank Lloyd Wright's mile high skyscraper proposal (2021)
(onverticality.com)
In the debate over density, architects and planners are split into two camps. The first is pro-density, which believes in dense, centralized cities that function through complex mass-transit systems and clusters of skyscrapers. This is the pro-city crowd. The second is the anti-density camp, which believes in de-centralized, spread-out networks of neighborhoods that rely on automobiles and low buildings. This is the pro-suburb crowd.
In the debate over density, architects and planners are split into two camps. The first is pro-density, which believes in dense, centralized cities that function through complex mass-transit systems and clusters of skyscrapers. This is the pro-city crowd. The second is the anti-density camp, which believes in de-centralized, spread-out networks of neighborhoods that rely on automobiles and low buildings. This is the pro-suburb crowd.
Cell-Based Architecture Explained, with Zombies
(bencane.com)
What do Cell-based Architectures and Zombies have in common? Absolutely nothing, until today, that is.
What do Cell-based Architectures and Zombies have in common? Absolutely nothing, until today, that is.
The Leaning Tower of New York
(newyorker.com)
“Your Honor,” an attorney involved in a 1 Seaport lawsuit explained to a judge, “it’s shaped like a banana right now.”
“Your Honor,” an attorney involved in a 1 Seaport lawsuit explained to a judge, “it’s shaped like a banana right now.”
Eye Contact
(kosayjabre.com)
Why do restrooms stalls in North America have such huge gaps in the door?
Why do restrooms stalls in North America have such huge gaps in the door?
Common Mistakes in Architecture Diagrams (2020)
(ilograph.com)
When creating a technical architecture diagram, your goal is to give understanding to your audience. You want to honestly inform viewers about your system rather than merely make an impression. Mistakes made when creating diagrams can undermine this goal, however. Here are seven common mistakes to avoid when making technical architecture diagrams.
When creating a technical architecture diagram, your goal is to give understanding to your audience. You want to honestly inform viewers about your system rather than merely make an impression. Mistakes made when creating diagrams can undermine this goal, however. Here are seven common mistakes to avoid when making technical architecture diagrams.
Sweden Is Building the Largest City Made from Timber
(time.com)
A yellow crane hovers above a building site in Sickla, a former industrial neighbourhood that’s home to one of Stockholm’s biggest real estate projects. But instead of delivering concrete, it’s manoeuvring giant chunks of wood to construction staff working in sub-zero winter temperatures.
A yellow crane hovers above a building site in Sickla, a former industrial neighbourhood that’s home to one of Stockholm’s biggest real estate projects. But instead of delivering concrete, it’s manoeuvring giant chunks of wood to construction staff working in sub-zero winter temperatures.
Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture
(whitehouse.gov)
I hereby direct the Administrator of the General Services Administration, in consultation with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and the heads of departments and agencies of the United States where necessary, to submit to me within 60 days recommendations to advance the policy that Federal public buildings should be visually identifiable as civic buildings and respect regional, traditional, and classical architectural heritage in order to uplift and beautify public spaces and ennoble the United States and our
I hereby direct the Administrator of the General Services Administration, in consultation with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and the heads of departments and agencies of the United States where necessary, to submit to me within 60 days recommendations to advance the policy that Federal public buildings should be visually identifiable as civic buildings and respect regional, traditional, and classical architectural heritage in order to uplift and beautify public spaces and ennoble the United States and our
A sprawling megacity of multi-level madness
(theguardian.com)
This megacity is like Hong Kong on steroids – a vertically sprawling, astonishing urban phenomenon that can only be understood in three dimensions
This megacity is like Hong Kong on steroids – a vertically sprawling, astonishing urban phenomenon that can only be understood in three dimensions
Icelandic turf houses: Laufas, Glaumbaer and others
(rachelsruminations.com)
Iceland is a place to see natural wonders: mountains, glaciers, craters, and coastlines. With my love of historical sites, though, there were a few human-built things that I also wanted to see. In particular, I was curious about what Icelandic turf houses look like inside.
Iceland is a place to see natural wonders: mountains, glaciers, craters, and coastlines. With my love of historical sites, though, there were a few human-built things that I also wanted to see. In particular, I was curious about what Icelandic turf houses look like inside.
Bioinspired weather-responsive adaptive shading
(uni-stuttgart.de)
Pine cones as a model: Researchers at the universities of Stuttgart and Freiburg have developed a new, energy-autonomous facade system that adapts passively to the weather. The journal "Nature Communications" has published the research results.
Pine cones as a model: Researchers at the universities of Stuttgart and Freiburg have developed a new, energy-autonomous facade system that adapts passively to the weather. The journal "Nature Communications" has published the research results.
Designing the Sublime Boullée and Ledoux's Architectural Revolution
(publicdomainreview.org)
As dissatisfaction with the old regime fermented into revolutionary upheaval in late-eighteenth century France, two architects cast off the decorative excesses of the Baroque and Rococo styles and sought out bold, new geometries.
As dissatisfaction with the old regime fermented into revolutionary upheaval in late-eighteenth century France, two architects cast off the decorative excesses of the Baroque and Rococo styles and sought out bold, new geometries.
Bunkers in Albania
(wikipedia.org)
Concrete military bunkers are a ubiquitous sight in Albania, with an average of 5.7 bunkers for every square kilometer (14.7 per square mile). The bunkers (Albanian: bunkerët) were built during the Hoxhaist government led by the Leader Enver Hoxha from the 1960s to the 1980s, as the government fortified Albania by building more than 750,000 bunkers.[1][2][3]
Concrete military bunkers are a ubiquitous sight in Albania, with an average of 5.7 bunkers for every square kilometer (14.7 per square mile). The bunkers (Albanian: bunkerët) were built during the Hoxhaist government led by the Leader Enver Hoxha from the 1960s to the 1980s, as the government fortified Albania by building more than 750,000 bunkers.[1][2][3]
'Passive house' survives fire in California
(yahoo.com)
The California wildfires are still ravaging the Los Angeles area a week after they started. The stories of residents who live in the area and have lost everything are heartbreaking.
The California wildfires are still ravaging the Los Angeles area a week after they started. The stories of residents who live in the area and have lost everything are heartbreaking.
Antarctic bases went from wooden huts to sci-fi chic(2017)
(bbc.com)
How do you build in the most isolated place on Earth? For decades Antarctica - the only continent with no indigenous population - hosted only the simplest huts as human shelters. But, as Matthew Teller finds out, architecture in the coldest, driest, windiest reaches of our planet is getting snazzier.
How do you build in the most isolated place on Earth? For decades Antarctica - the only continent with no indigenous population - hosted only the simplest huts as human shelters. But, as Matthew Teller finds out, architecture in the coldest, driest, windiest reaches of our planet is getting snazzier.
Some homes withstood the LA fires – architects explain why
(bloomberg.com)
More than 12,000 structures have been consumed by the wildfires raging across Los Angeles, many of them single-family homes that have stood for decades.
More than 12,000 structures have been consumed by the wildfires raging across Los Angeles, many of them single-family homes that have stood for decades.
Why Skyscrapers Became Glass Boxes
(construction-physics.com)
The most common style for skyscrapers in the US (and probably the world) is the glass box — a structural skeleton of steel or concrete, with a skin of non-load bearing curtain wall made of glass and metal (typically aluminum), and without much in the way of decoration or ornament.
The most common style for skyscrapers in the US (and probably the world) is the glass box — a structural skeleton of steel or concrete, with a skin of non-load bearing curtain wall made of glass and metal (typically aluminum), and without much in the way of decoration or ornament.
A well designed ski jump
(dezeen.com)
Zaha Hadid's Bergisel Ski Jump was her first completed major building.
Zaha Hadid's Bergisel Ski Jump was her first completed major building.