Mound, hearth, enclosure, roof, and column. The way we see it, Gottfried Semper and scholars already figured out what makes honest tectonic form. We're looking for the element that satisfies our primitive urge to value architecture that's good.

January 5th 2012

25 notes

Capela Árvore da Vida
by: Cerejeira Fontes Architects - Imago Atelier de Arquitectura e Engenharia
in: Braga, Portugal

This hefty timber chapel located inside the existing Conciliar Seminary of Braga serves as a small space for mediation and worship for residents.  Called the “Tree of Life Chapel”, we love the way the 20 tons of wood appears weightless, while still feeling like it would offer a warm, intimate embrace.  The elevated platform and slatted enclosure pulls people up and inside to the central gathering space.  It’s constructed without fasteners and stacked in a way for both natural light to enter and for a soft glow to radiate outwards.  We sure hope its visitors have counted their blessings for such a stunning space, but given the user group, we’re guessing that’s probably not an issue.

Posted at 2:54pm and tagged with: mound, enclosure, hearth, wood, braga, portugal, Cerejeira Fontes Architects, architecture, chapel, design, worship, meditate, interior, religious,.

Capela Árvore da Vidaby: Cerejeira Fontes Architects - Imago Atelier de Arquitectura e Engenhariain: Braga, PortugalThis hefty timber chapel located inside the existing Conciliar Seminary of Braga serves as a small space for mediation and worship for residents.  Called the “Tree of Life Chapel”, we love the way the 20 tons of wood appears weightless, while still feeling like it would offer a warm, intimate embrace.  The elevated platform and slatted enclosure pulls people up and inside to the central gathering space.  It’s constructed without fasteners and stacked in a way for both natural light to enter and for a soft glow to radiate outwards.  We sure hope its visitors have counted their blessings for such a stunning space, but given the user group, we’re guessing that’s probably not an issue.

August 18th 2011

23 notes

pavilion in the woods
by: parque humano
in: valle de bravo, mexico

It’s not often we find a structure that encompasses all of Semper’s elements, and look quite contemporary in its execution.  This small retreat/meditation shelter sited along a path of trees, changes based on the path and intensity of the sun. The architecture comes to life by the presence of time, and users experience the change firsthand.

Posted at 4:25pm and tagged with: mound, hearth, roof, enclosure, pavilion, woods, parque humano, mexico,.

pavilion in the woodsby: parque humanoin: valle de bravo, mexicoIt’s not often we find a structure that encompasses all of Semper’s elements, and look quite contemporary in its execution.  This small retreat/meditation shelter sited along a path of trees, changes based on the path and intensity of the sun. The architecture comes to life by the presence of time, and users experience the change firsthand.

February 2nd 2011

1 note

hat tea house
by: A1Architects
in: Ostrava, Czech Republic

So this is what happens when you take a traditional Japanese tea house and place it in an entirely different environment, in this case Middle Europe.  The elements are all present, and constructed of local materials that will age as the structure does.  We’d very much like to drink a cup of tea here, but for some reason, wouldn’t say no to a nice czech beer on a warm summer day either.

(Source: dezeen.com)

Posted at 8:12am and tagged with: mound, hearth, roof, enclosure, tea house, czech republic, stone, wood, oak, architecture,.

hat tea houseby: A1Architectsin: Ostrava, Czech RepublicSo this is what happens when you take a traditional Japanese tea house and place it in an entirely different environment, in this case Middle Europe.  The elements are all present, and constructed of local materials that will age as the structure does.  We’d very much like to drink a cup of tea here, but for some reason, wouldn’t say no to a nice czech beer on a warm summer day either.

November 18th 2010

woodpile
by: noa biran and roy talmon
in: manitoba, canada

Posted at 3:29pm and tagged with: hearth, canada,.

woodpileby: noa biran and roy talmon in: manitoba, canada

October 24th 2010

2 notes

Tye River Cabin
by: Olson Kundig Architects
in: Skykomish, Washington

Here’s a slick looking cabin described by the designer as a “wooden tent on a platform that opens to the forest and the river.”  Located east of Seattle, Washington, the small  building has a cast in place concrete core with a wood/glass panel wall system .  It emphasizes all four of Semper’s elements.  The building responds to the context, ultimately blurring the threshold between indoors and outdoors, which is an elegant way to create a large space while maintaining a small footprint.   Though we wonder how often the cabin is experienced that way, especially given the frequently rainy and cold months in the northwest. 

Posted at 9:22am and tagged with: mound, hearth, enclosure, roof, residence, united states,.

Tye River Cabinby: Olson Kundig Architectsin: Skykomish, Washington Here’s a slick looking cabin described by the designer as a “wooden tent on a platform that opens to the forest and the river.”  Located east of Seattle, Washington, the small  building has a cast in place concrete core with a wood/glass panel wall system .  It emphasizes all four of Semper’s elements.  The building responds to the context, ultimately blurring the threshold between indoors and outdoors, which is an elegant way to create a large space while maintaining a small footprint.   Though we wonder how often the cabin is experienced that way, especially given the frequently rainy and cold months in the northwest.