Namur, Belgium

Namur Belgium, a hidden gem in western Europe. This beautiful blend of the old world and new is perfectly married in this city that was solely designed for pedestrian and houseboat access. With the ancient roman citadel as its crowning Jewel, and the Sambre and Muese rivers dividing the city in two parts, one can’t find a better, more charming urban setting. If you’re looking for the regions native cheeses and wines or are wanting a 100 year old map of Europe, all can be found within a 5 minute walking distance of your home. Truly, American cities can not compete with the charm, history and easy functionality of European towns like Namur.

A Swiss Hobbit House

I can’t think of a better example of blending the landscape with architecture than a hobbit home. Hobbit home are inspired by the Lord of the Rings books by J.R.R. Tolkien, when originally they were originated from the hill dug homes of the Vikings. This home was designed by the architects SeARCH and Christian Muller for modern homeowners who have an appreciation for unusual architecture. The home blends perfectly with its surroundings while still having a streamlined, minimalist interior, as well as a central patio that is built into the hill that provides the entire wall of windows.

Source

Contemporary Houseboats

Architects “+31” designed this houseboat, Waterville De Omval, to serve as a contemporary alternative to houseboat living. Given that more and more people are choosing to live in houseboats across Europe and the world, this is one of the many designs that are available to home buyers.

Source

Moving Architecture?

Architect Jagnefalt Milton proposes the  Rolling Master plan. This plan consists of using existing railroads as the base for new buildings that would be able to roll back and forth from location to location depending on the season or temperature. Crazy.

Source

Design without Function… Why?

It is harrowing to me how unbelievably egotistical designers can be. Why would you ever design a huge, multi-million dollar structure or facility and give absolutely no consideration to the function of that building/ space or the people who will use it? It is a designers responsibility to provide a space that does not impact the environment in a negative way (that includes the removal of existing vegetation) and meets the needs of the users in a fundamental and inspirational way. Never will it ever be said that a man can design anything as remotely beautiful, functional, aesthetically pleasing, and emotionally healing as a tree. It will never be true that St.Petersburg in Russia or the Empire State Building in NYC has one millionth the beauty and function of a Russian Olive or a lilac. So why is it thaat every man who has achieved anything (or hasn’t… achievement doesn’t seem to be the issue always) can’t seem to remove their own head from their own rear end and take a small dose of humility to realize that they don’t know everything, that man kind is unbelievably flawed and we will never ever ever ever be able to create a perfect design.

It comes down to this – Design for function, look to nature for aesthetics and please stop thinking that you are anything more than a person, imperfect and equal to the the rest of us scum of the earth. If not, we may have to deal with more designs like this…

Skopje, Macedonia

Source

Never Built Soviet Architecture

The Architecture movement of the Soviet Union, although devastating, produced some ambitious Architecture. It is striking the amount of similarities there are between America’s Modern Architecture Movement, the USSR’s Architectural influence and the few (thank goodness) buildings an monuments that remain from the Nazis of WWII. Here are some images of Structures that were never built but proposed by the Soviet Union.

I am going through this phase of fascination with Soviet Architecture. It is striking the amount of similarities there are between America’s Modern Architecture Movement, the USSR’s Architectural influence and the few (thank goodness) buildings an monuments that remain from the Nazis of WWII. Here are some images of Structures that were never built but proposed by the Soviet Union.

Source

The Most Beautiful Metro in the World

Built in Tashkent  by leading architects and artists from Uzbekistan, this metro is the only subway in Central Asia. It is also the 7th metro to be built by the USSR and was built to also function as a bomb shelter. Each station is beautifully decorated with mosaics and sculpture with materials such as metal, glass, granite, marble, or carved alabaster.

Source

Oslo Urban Development

This is a really cool video on current urban development in Oslo, Norway. It is great view into European Urban development and the ideas that are only accepted in Europe. Also, how they work with the density of the city while still considering the impact development has on the environment is beautiful.

“Friendship Hotel”

Built during the during the Soviet era, this spaceship was once a great source of fear for CIA. They believed that it housed some form of weaponry of mass destruction and that the term “Friendship” was simply a ruse. It is located in present day Ukraine.

Source

USSR “Palace of The Marage”

During the height of the USSR, soviet members were not allowed to be married in a church, therefore the birth of the “Palace of The Marage” or the marriage house. This building is located in Tbilisi, Gergia and is still being used to house weddings, although marriages can now take place in churches as well.

Source