Yle has posted an article about Is This for Real? / Onko totta? -project. Some of the utopian ideas we presented at the Tampere Art Museum 80th Anniversary Jubilee Exhibition are actually becoming reality, can you guess which? The story also features the video used in the installation.
James Murphy has this great idea of turning the cold NYC subway turnstile beeps into something beautiful. Brilliant!
This great biomimetic water harvesting installation is inspired by Namibian fog-basking beetles, Ethiopian basket-weaving traditions Warka trees. It is made of bamboo, bioplastic and fiber ropes and is easy to build with simple tools. For more information, visit the project’s web page warkawater.it
Our balcony apple tree survived the harsh Finnish winter. Apparently the thermo pot really does work. Hooray!
BIG and Heatherwick Studio have joined forces to design new California headquarters for Google. It will be interesting to see how this Frei Otto meets the Eden Project meets Under the Dome will come to life. It will be quite a challenge to turn vast parking lots and mundane business parks into an ecological, inspiring and flexible neighbourhood as described in the video. It is interesting how different headquarters designs of the contemporary giants are: Facebook+Gehry, Apple+Foster and now Google+BIG&HS are headed into totally different directions with their designs. They share very similar ideas about an ecological campus of the future, but the approach and execution are quite different. Ultimately time will tell which vision transforms into reality the best. Different as they are, certainly all of these companies have the resources to make it work. Let’s just wait and see!
Tampere has a brilliant new bookstore/record store/hangout called Miekkakalapasuuna (Swordfishtrombone). They have a neat selection of records and books to browse while sipping a cup of coffee provided by the shop. They also have a very friendly and helpful staff. Be sure to check this place out at Satamakatu 5, Tampere!
Lexandru Oprita and Laurentiu Constantin from Romania have won the architectural competition for the Santa Claus Logistics Center. The winner received a 10-week internship at Snøhetta and a €1000 cash prize. Check out more at the Unbelievable Challenge competition page. Merry Christmas everyone! Images courtesy of The Unbelievable Challenge
The fabulous One Central Park has been selected as the Best Tall Building Worldwide by the Council of Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Designed by Ateliers Jean Nouvel, PTW Architects and Patrick Blanc, this Sydney high-rise hybrid boasts beautiful, large green walls. The building also has an array of motorised mirrors to direct light to the park that would otherwise be overshadowed by the building. Wow!
