Inspiration

While the design of bridges usually lies within the realm of civil engineers, many architects can’t resist getting involved with this specialist branch of infrastructure. The linking of two landmasses inspires visions of instant urban renewal, forming a literal and symbolic connection between communities and providing all kinds of socioeconomic benefits along the way. Bridges…

Russian architecture is dramatically transforming, evolving from its Eastern Slavic roots and Kievan Rus’ traditions to modern works that examine new relationships between form, materials, and public space. While structures like Saint Basil’s Cathedral and the Kremlin are known the world over, these buildings hardly reflect the emerging Russian design culture and the majority of…

Quick! Name three ways to improve a building’s energy efficiency. While the most obvious solutions a re often expensive and highly visible — upgrading windows, replacing old kitchen appliances, and installing a building automation system — the biggest gains often run just below the surface. Closed-cell spray foam insulation products, like Icynene’s ProSeal, are just that:…

Designing with streaks of light that seemingly cut through a space or define edges is becoming more sophisticated as luminaires and the technologies behind them do. The effects can be anything from ethereal to edgy and futuristic (regarding the latter, think “Tron,” the original 1982 film). Whatever the ambiance or energy you’re trying to imbue…

As Pei Cobb Freed and Partnerscelebrates the 60th anniversary of its founding this year, the interna tional firm is showing no signs of slowing down in its progress with significant commissions across the globe. This week, the practice revealed designs for a new high-rise building in Shenzen set to form a soaring landmark at the gateway…

Not traditionally considered a leader in local cuisine, London’s newly burgeoning restaurant scene h as placed the English capital on the foodie map. Compared to Paris, Rome, and other European culinary destinations, the London food scene hasn’t always had a stellar reputation. However, over the last decade, the city has seen a shift from the traditional,…

Some of the most memorable graphic works by midcentury architect and designer Alexander Girard live on in upholstery textiles, etched glass, and art panels. Starting today, they’re also being offered in a customizable stationery line, both printed and digitized, through Paperless Post. The popular etailer of invitations, greeting and holiday cards, and notecards has launched…

More than perhaps any other city in Canada, Toronto has called upon the stars of the architectural w orld to solidify its status as a center of cultural and artistic significance in North America. Ever since Will Alsop’s outlandish OCAD Sharp Center for Design was completed just over a decade ago, the big names have been…

In the past few decades, in addition to the traditional role of collecting, preserving, and sharing collections, galleries and museums are increasingly becoming involved with supporting local, national, and international communities. Beyond exhibition spaces, cultural institutions house a myriad of mixed-use spaces, including process labs, artist-in-residence wings, and immersion rooms. Given that today’s cultural institutions…