Building Art: The Not So Subtle Art of Architecture
Art is around us all of the time, as designers, and it is easy to see the artistic nature or our surroundings leaking into our design works. The subtle interpretive elements that bring a piece of art alive seeping into the functional frameworks that construct the basis for our creations, until they begin to slowly meld the flow and the feel of the design with the artistic. We see it happening all the time, and it is an exciting, and often times, inspirational occurrence. An especially exciting place to see this artistry crop up is in architectural design.
Of course design of all kinds has to meet a level of functionality as is brilliantly discussed over on The Difference Between Art and Design, but we always expect more function from our architectural structures. Forgetting how wonderfully artistic these needs can be met. In this post we take a look at the more artistically crafted architectural designs, from concept to reality, as long as there is an artistic edge! Still serving their functions brilliantly, and innovatively changing the landscape of the world in which we inhabit. So take a look at the following showcase below.
Building Art
Architecture by b.
Paula Nogueron
Individual Inspiration
[C]space DRL10 Pavilion by NEX Architecture
System for Living by David Eskenazi
Dwelling-house. Reconstruction by Anna Filodor
Stockholm Nordic Crescent by D’arc.studio
Pedestrian Bridge by Viva Archetcture
Counter Reformation Art and Architecture Museum by Amy Latten
Grab the Feed
I think people miss the staggering number of parallels shared by web design and architecture. Both have to produce a product that straddles the fence between aesthetic and function, both have to figure out solid foundation and structural elements while being aware of technological implications (methods & materials) as well as “building codes (SEO, Accesibility) and best practices. There’s a reason so many titles in the web field include the word “architect,” and why programming borrowed the concept of Design Patterns from architecture.
The parallels are there on a high-level; but you cannot compare to that extend..
Architecture is subject to real-life dynamics, web design is not.
Mistake in architecture can kill people, mistakes in web design can mostly annoy people. Web design is more subject and victim of one-year trends and throw-away culture.
Web design may not be life or death but it is certainly subject to real-life dynamics, unless by real life dynamics you were literally referring to physics. Haha. The fact that you’re building something that people interact with is what _makes_ it subject to real-life dynamics. Furthermore, if the web design umbrella is to include things like web applications and cloud/redundant, scalable infrastructure, then things can _certainly_ become as complicated as a building.
Great point Will, it’s not a correlation I made even after putting this post together. I’ll have to start looking to architecture for web design inspiration!
HAH! This is great! I live in Seattle and have seen some crazy architecture (Rem Koolhaas’s architecture for the Seattle Public Library is my favorite. Follow this Link for a great picture http://urbalis.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/seattle-public-library.jpg ).
Growing up in a small beach town I never really had the opportunity to see such amazing architecture. I always admire people that can work within what architecture limits them with.
Since I’ve never really lived in a place with great architecture either, I love visiting cities with outstanding and interesting architecture. I’ve never been to Seattle but now you’ve made me really want to visit! The library is amazing!
Great Post Angie!
Architecture is probably the number one inspiration for me. Sometimes when I need a little creative spark, thumbing through great designs like these visually conjure up cool ways these can be incorporated online through CSS or unusual visual elements. Thanks for such great articles, love it.
Thanks Kimberly! I’ve always loved architecture but for some reason never really looked to it much when I needed inspiration. I’m not sure why, I guess I just labeled it as being so far above what I do. I’ll definitely be changing that now.
Web designers, computer programmers please please stop referring to yourselves as ‘architects’. You make it very difficult to search for real architects on the internet.
Jon, I am a bit lost… The post is about Architecture and buildings.