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In the world of architecture, libraries are among the very special buildings because  they require the architect to design not only for humans but also for BOOKS! and their very special requirements in terms of natural light and the overall building conditions (acoustics, temperatures, humidity, etc). There is something so beautiful about the combination of books, natural light and human occupied space that creates a spirit to every library ( libraries with great design off course) . Now my love for library designs is combined with my admiration for Dutch designers MVRDV. This group of designers are without doubt one of the current pioneers in architecture with their SIMPLE design for efficient functionality. Their latest work “The Book Mountain” is a great example of my point about this firm. First of all, I think for the first time, I see a library that has centralized the stack of books and arranged everything else around it. The decision of the architects for this arrangement is definitely based on the context of the building. The adjacent buildings of the library  are mainly the traditional brick buildings with pitched roofs and the architects have taken advantage of these rigid and bold buildings by literally taking their silhouettes and turn them into a new typology. This has resulted in a building with solid brick base topped by a glass pyramid which has a “mountain” of books in its heart. The transparency through the pyramid into the books creates a very tempting feeling to every passerby inviting them for a visit to the library. I think the response to the context, and attention to the arrangement of different functions in the building is a genius act and must be admired. Please do not hesitate to read more about further details on the project here.

Great Hotel Design : The Nolitan

I love the design of the Nolitan hotel by New York based architects Grywinsky + Pons.  Located on a corner site, the architecture emphasizes the dynamics of the site by the solid/void relationship on the facade. The dynamics and simplicity of the exterior continues to the interior that are full of life and energy.  I think the attention to detail and the connection of the exterior/interior makes this project very successful.

YarnBombing or Knit Graffiti

I have always been fan of street art; it just creates a very special dimension to the Urban environments. “YarnBombing” or “Knit Graffiti” is a new street art movement  which started in Texas in 2005. The aim is to cover different objects in the streets in knitted material. I love the soft,warm and colorful look that this type of graffiti adds to the urban spaces. It is filled with energy and life; something very much needed in the modern cities.  Feel free to read more about it here.

Wendy is here!!

I was really amazed when I came across Wendy; a temporary urban installment at Museum of Modern Art and MoMA PS1 in New York.  The incredibly talented young designers of the project, HWKN (Hollwich-Kushner) aim to push the boundries of architecture by introducing a structure that is ecologically and socially friendly. Wendy is setup inside a scaffolding with streched arms made of a “fabric treated with a ground breaking titania nanofilm to neutralize airborne pollutants”. During summer 2012 Wnedy would clean” the air to an equivalent of taking 260 cars off the road.” Beside cleaning air, the arms of Wendy would shoot out cool air, water and music while creating shade for the visitors during the summer.

Structures like this truly define what architecture should be in our time; beside the typical functions, architecture should address ecological and social needs of the modern communities. Another great characteristic  is being  temporary; a structure that responds to needs of the user during a specific season and after that it could be easily removed and replaced by another structure that functions according to the needs of the users.  Such structures would bring a great deal of energy and life to the urban areas with their visual aesthetics as well; something that changes seasonally and renews the face of the city every time.

This project is really special to me because it is very similar to my fifth year final project. Like Wendy, my project also explored the possibility of installing temporary urban structures suspended inside scaffoldings. My project aimed to link existing buildings while offering temporary activities to the users. You can read more about my own project here (http://www.behance.net/gallery/Bani-Yas-Scaf-uilding/1416777)