Porphyrios at Home

On a very recent trip to Athens, a newer building across the street from my hotel caught my eye. It had a scale that matched it's context. It felt comfortable. Upon closer inspection I noticed a mix of materials: stone, metal, glass. It is definitely what I would call modern, and at the same time it was classical. It is logical, while at the same time having fun. This is unusual in a new building. This building had an effect on me. It inspired me to investigate further the potential for classicism in the modern building environment. It is referential without being a cartoon or slave to precedence. It is modern and expresses the structural effect of modern materials without having them pretend to be something they are not. It exemplifies the term "new classicism" for me in that it has re-interpreted historical themes for today.

View from my hotel with the Acropolis in the background (photos by the author)

After returning home I investigated this Athenian structure further and found that it was designed by none other than Demitri Porphyrios, the brilliant Greek architect and theorist. It is the Interamerican Insurance Headquarters Building on Syngrou Avenue in Athens, which is a main boulevard. The building fills a prominent triangular block. The detailing is just terrific. It's glass portion is taught and light while the masonry sections are blocky and stong. It is a nice contrast of modern and classical on multiple levels. All is held together by a proportioning that can be read throughout.

Architectural Heros are few and far between these days... but they DO exist!

Pavilions??

Dezeen's recent feature on pavilions caught our eye for three reasons...  
Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2010 Kensington Gardens, London by Jean Nouvel  photographed by Julien Lanoo.
One:   
OOOOOOOHHH!!!  Look it's RED!!!...




Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2009 Kensington Gardens, London by Kazuyo Sejima & Ryue Nishizawa ofSANAA  photographed by Iwan Baan.
Two:   
I don't know what that thing is in the front, but it is hiding quite a beautiful building and...


Shanghai Expo 2010 Dutch Pavilion by John Kormeling  photographed by Montse Zamorano.
Three: 
OK, WTF?

Modern Faves: The Open Ended Box

Today we are exploring in photo-montage the ubiquitous Modern Architecture element:  

The Open Ended Box.

Some may say it is a reference to early cave dwelling and has a deep seated existence in our unconscious mind. Some say the environment is participating in the architecture by being the "fourth wall". Some say it is the culmination of a "journey" through it to a framed view in the distance, or a view capturing device.  Some may even say it  is aimed at man's hopes and dreams for the future.

Whether on the ground or raised up; singly placed or stacked in mock nonchalance; no matter how beautifully described by written word, we can't get enough of it.... drum roll please, I give you:

The Modern Open Ended Box! (or MOEB in the biz.)

...from the "Screw The City" file

[Parkway Gate by Ian Simpson Architects, 2008 | image source]
 
"In Manchester England Parkway Gate by Ian Simpson Architects. Three towers for student housing exhibit similar forms and facade patterns, but each uses different materials in the solid areas to create a unique identity for each and for variety on the skyline. Not surprisingly the Cor-ten-clad tower exudes a particularly strong presence, especially when it is reflected in the glass of the other towers." 

from A Daily Dose of Architecture, Sunday, October 11, 2009.

Come on people!! These rusty buildings may look "cool", but they meet the city at street level with a THUD. There is absolutely no relationship to the living city, except from a high speed vehicle on the highway. Buildings like this are destroying our cities. Along with the opportunity to create such buildings comes a responsibility to respect the fabric in which they are located. Remember, these were created for use by human beings... They don't have any kind of human scale to relate to. However the ego scale is HUGE!