Draw, Breathe, Forget the people

beautifulmars:

HiPOD (30 April 2018): Dunes in Slow Motion

    These almost look like waves. (316 km above the surface. Black and white is 5 km across, and enhanced color is less than 1 km.)

NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

archatlas:

Penda proposes Toronto Tree Tower built from cross-laminated timber modules

Plants and trees sprout from the modular units that make up this timber-framed high-rise, proposed by architecture firm Penda for Toronto. Penda, which has offices in China and Austria, collaborated with Canadian company Tmber for the Toronto Tree Tower project. They propose an 18-storey residential block that would stand 62 metres tall, with a modular structure made from cross-laminated timber (CLT).

Wood would also clad the building’s staggered walls, and trees would grow from the homes’ generous balconies. “Our cities are a assembly of steel, concrete and glass,” said Penda partner Chris Precht. “If you walk through the city and suddenly see a tower made of wood and plants, it will create an interesting contrast. The warm, natural appearance of wood and the plants growing on its facade bring the building to life and that could be a model for environmental friendly developments and sustainable extensions of our urban landscape,” he added.

archatlas:

Stephen A. Schwarzman Building 

Images by rcruzniemiec aka archatlas

The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is part of The New York Public Library, which consists of four major research libraries and 88 branch libraries located in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island.

Often referred to as the “main branch,” the Beaux-Arts landmark building on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street houses outstanding research collections in the humanities and social sciences as well as a circulating children’s collection.  The non-circulating graduate-level collections were initially formed from the consolidation of the Astor and Lenox Libraries, and have evolved into one of the world’s preeminent public resources for the study of human thought, action, and experience—from anthropology and archaeology, to religion, sports, world history, and literature.

Text via New York Public Library

archatlas:

The Marty Leonard Chapel

Images by rcruzniemiec aka archatlas

The Marty Leonard Chapel was designed by the world famous E. Fay Jones (1921 - 2004). Jones described his Chapel design as an “instrument for nature’s music as light and shadows move and change throughout the day.” The interior of the Chapel inspires and fulfills the goal of Jones’ design - that visitors will “think their loftiest and best thoughts.”

Although Jones had designed internationally acclaimed chapels and homes for famous clients, he seemed astonished when his name – or his work – was recognized. Although he thought this recognition to be unwarranted, Jones work has been highly commended and praised. Few modern-day architects have received the acclaim and respect that Jones received. Born and raised in Arkansas, Jones expressed his creativity as a youngster by building tree houses in the back yard. He said his course in life was set at a young age when he saw a movie matinee feature about a building designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. As if by fate’s hand, Frank Lloyd Wright later became Jones’ mentor.

Text via Lena Pope Marty Leonard Community Chapel

archatlas:

Kew Gardens celebrates Donald Insall restoration of Temperate House

 After a five-year-long restoration, the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew has reopened Temperate House, the largest remaining Victorian glasshouse in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Covering 4,880 sq m and housing a staggering 1,500 species from temperate regions around the world, this is one of the most striking centres of plant research today. Donald Insall Associates was the project’s conservation architect, as part of a multi-disciplinary team charged with repairing, restoring and bringing the historical building back to life.