Chicago Would Have Been My Sixth Pick
BusinessInsider.com has picked their twenty-five favorite city skylines in the world. The site ranked them with Hong Kong coming in first. Going through the list, I picked my five favorite ones but ordered them differently
Here are my five favorite urban skylines. What are yours?
1. NEW YORK CITY
2. HONG KONG
3. SINGAPORE
4. SHANGHAI
5. CHONGQING
Architizer.com has explored the plans of architect Zaha Hadid Architects to build a transit center in Saudi Arabia. The site describes this new daring architectural proposal:
Zaha Hadid Architects‘ proposal for a new intermodal transit station for the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, at first glance looks something like a cruise ship with a sharp prow cutting through the desert. This was part of the inspiration, in fact, as the sine waves that roll across the façade and organize the interior are derived from complex wind-generated waves of sand.
The waves also symbolize the bustling activity that will fill the station: Serving three new metro lines, as well as a monorail, the King Abdullah Financial District Metro Station will be handling thousands of people a day, especially since Riyadh has doubled in population to 5 million since 1990.
Perforated façade panels contextualize the station as well as provide much needed shading from solar gain, demonstrating that the screen trope for dealing with Middle Eastern situations is far from exhausted. Since the station is near a busy highway, it makes sense that its exterior expression would be a bit hard, but the interiors are fully equipped with the typical sumptuous oil state décor of white and gold.
Miami is continuing to put itself on the 'architecture map' with a proposed new Convention Center development. The entire project will encompass 52 acres and include the Convention Center, Latin Museum, Theater and private residences. If this ever gets to be built, it will be a new national landmark to visit.
Denver Art Museum
Last week New York society attended the Met Costume Institute Ball with the theme being 'punk-rock'. That has inspired Architizer.com to find buildings that lean themselves to a similar look! They picked those with jagged edges, studded, spiked and sharp. Here are their selections.
Antwerp Law Courts - Belgium
United Kingdom Pavilion In Shanghai, China
Esplanade -Theatres on the Bay in Singapore
United States Air Force Academy Chapel In Colorado Springs
VM Houe in Copenhagen, Denmark
Wendy in Queens, New York City
Architizer.com has published stunning images of urban areas around the world. The reflections in bodies of water are pure works of art. Enjoy them!
Brooklyn continues to be the 'happening place' in New York City with new restaurants, galleries, bars, music venues and spectacular hotels. Among the best is the new Wythe Hotel along the waterfront in the Williamsburg section of the borough. A renovated 1901 old factory has been turned into a 70 room hotel.
Many of the rooms have extraordinary views of the Manhattan skyline. The bar on the roof has become a favorite with many Brooklynites! Here is how the team running the hotel describes itself:
Located in the heart of Brooklyn, Wythe Hotel is an 8-story hotel on the Williamsburg waterfront. Built in 1901, this former textile factory has been meticulously converted into a 72-room hotel offering service and amenities yet to be seen in the borough, while the building’s industrial character – like its concave corner entrance, original pine beams, masonry, arched windows and cast-iron columns – has been beautifully preserved. Renowned Brooklyn restaurateur Andrew Tarlow, of Marlow & Sons, Diner, and Roman’s, manages the hotel’s expansive food and beverage program. Venues include Reynards - a ground floor restaurant and bar with a wood-fired oven and grill, courtyard seating, and a daily menu featuring market-driven American fare and seasonal cocktails, and Ides - a 6th floor bar and terrace with stunning Manhattan and Brooklyn views. There are various event space as well, including a main event hall, a private dining room, large guest lofts and 60-seat screening room and bar. Throughout the hotel, guest rooms feature 13’ high original timber ceilings, oversized windows, radiant heat concrete floors, seasonally sourced mini-bar offerings, custom amenities and works by local artists. Many rooms, including band rooms, bunk rooms and suites, boast floor-to-ceiling views of the Manhattan skyline and East River.
Niagara Mohawk Building - Syracuse, New York
Of course the entire country is waiting to see if the latest adaptation of the The Great Gatsby is worth the price of a movie ticket. The book, set in 1922, once again has climbed to the top of the bestseller's list. Architizer.com, in honor of the film's release, has picked fifteen great examples of buildings from that era that are excellent examples of art deco architecture.
Here are my five favorites.
Griffith Observtory - Los Angeles, California
Union Terminal - Cincinnati, Ohio
Eastern Columbia Building - Los Angeles
Colony Hotel - Miami
Some of the most daring and fantastic architecture has come out of China. Now fans of exciting new buildings know that some of the most ugly buildings also come out of China. Mail Online has picked some of those buildings for our amusement (or horror!).
A number of new hotels have opened up in the last year but one of the most exciting ones has to be the new Banyan Tree on the Bund in Shanghai. Located right on the river with magnificent views, you will have the full luxury hotel experience. The more expensive rooms have their own small 'pools' (more like large soaking baths) in the room with the view before you.
The hotel has 118 rooms and 23 spectacular suites. By its sharp design, every room is gifted with a perfect view. The hotel is being marketed as Shanghai's first 'urban resort' with full spa facilities.
Soumaya Museum
Don't you hate it when fun holidays fall on a Sunday?
Today is the Mexican celebration (that has spread to the United States) of Cinco de Mayo. That is the day that a greatly outnumbered Mexican Army defeated French troops at the 1862 Battle of Puebla! It is considered one of the greatest battles in Mexican history.
Now it is a good excuse for Mariachi bands, marguerites and Guacamole dip and chips!
Architzer.com has picked 10 great examples of Mexican architecture. Here are five of them.
Observatry House
Cerro del Obispo Lookout Point
Nestle Factory
Musevi (Elevated Museum of Villahermosa)
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