Practice

Some of the greatest cultural buildings in modern history have been defined by stone, from the trave rtine tiles of Richard Meier’s Getty Museum to the great carved walls of Snøhetta’s Bibliotheca Alexandrina. The material is loved by architects the world over for its contrasting qualities of solidity and flexibility: its innate permanence is countered by…

Last month, we looked at some truly artful three-dimensional representations of architecture by Alli ed Works, showing how abstract compositions of forms and material juxtapositions can help inspire great buildings. However, there remains a valuable place for a more traditional form of model-making in the profession. A carefully crafted diorama can make for a powerful communicator…

Kicking off today, London’s 100% Design promises as always to be a feast for the eyes. If you’re in town for the show, but have a very limited window of time, consider checking these finds — as well as London Design Festival installations — off your list. BUILDING PRODUCTS Alusid ALUSID, Stand EB769100% Design marks…

Blending the influences of Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier, and Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Meier an d Partners Architects could be considered the ultimate conduit of 20th-century modernism in contemporary practice. The American firm’s distinctive aesthetic is immediately recognizable and stands as a present-day ode to those modern masters in contrast with a plethora of…

“Funnily enough, I think Sir John Soane might have liked the Digital Age,” says Robert Stern, Founde r and Senior Partner of Robert A.M. Stern Architects, referring to the neoclassicist architect as perhaps the “first modern architect,” one who had both “a firm grasp of history, especially of Classical Rome” and “a sense of his own…

From whimsical doodles to intricate illustrations, the only limit on the potential of pen and paper is an architect’s imagination.

An owner and design principal of Seattle-based Olson Kundig Architects, Tom Kundig quickly built a r eputation as an innovator in residential design in the 1990s, a reputation that continues well into today. He’s since diversified his body of work to include cultural, hospitality, and commercial projects, all of which share an industrial aesthetic and, a…

When a space is in need of a pick-me-up, a little color or shimmer can go a long way. With regards t o the latter, a plethora of recent products offer metallic finishes on every level, from highly reflective and light-catching to subdued and subtle. Here’s a look at seven such products that can help reinvigorate…

The ceiling has progressed from a simple surface above one’s head to an opportunity to create a dramatic backdrop or even focal point thanks to a slew of products and materials that are highly adaptable or modular — as well as the vision of the architect or interior designer, of course. (Or, in the case…