Archive for June, 2008
June 26, 2008 at 11:41 pm · Filed under Architecture
Remember Archigram, the futuristic, pop-infused collective from the 1960s? The group that dreamed up magical urban environments like the Walking City and the Plug-In City?
It seems like the spirit of Archigram has emerged once again in the 21st century, this time in Dubai. Italian architect David Fisher has designed a 1,378 foot-tall skyscraper with 80 movable floors, each capable of shifting a complete 360-degree revolution around a central column within three hours or less. Dubbed the Dynamic Tower, the new structure will house a luxury hotel, commercial space and private residences:
Despite its behemoth appearance, the Dynamic Tower touts impressive green design principles. Wind turbines located beneath each floor will allow the tower to generate enough power for itself as well as neighboring buildings. An entirely pre-fabricated construction process will further reduce costs, too.
Fisher shows no signs of slowing down; indeed, he’s hoping to take his skyscraper idea worldwide. The tower is scheduled for completion in 2010, but Fisher is already planning similar structures in Moscow and New York.
http://www.dynamicarchitecture.net/building.html
June 20, 2008 at 5:20 pm · Filed under Music
It’s 92 degrees outside! I can feel the heat in the air! Three cheers for the start of summer and a great weekend ahead: Bruno Pronsato performs tomorrow at the Endup during a day party called Apertura.
After his sweet set with Sammy Dee at Mutek (as Half Hawaii), he’s now making his way up from South America and I am so happy to see him a second time this year. Mark your calendars, this is a summer party not to be missed…
June 19, 2008 at 9:33 pm · Filed under Design
Bold patterns can work wonders on plain walls, as evidenced by Jocelyn Warner’s savvy wallpaper designs. Here are a few to whet your appetite:
June 12, 2008 at 10:49 pm · Filed under Music
Amid reunions with friends and immersive audiovisual thrills at Mutek, Ezekiel Honig introduced me to Nicola Ratti, the newest artist on his Anticipate label.
At last, after nights of hard-hitting techno, Ratti’s From The Desert Came Saltwater comes as a tunefully softer antidote. Its subdued electroacoustic palette — which encompasses trembling guitar and piano lines, as well as pale flashes of field recordings — makes Ratti’s album a lovely choice for the morning after.
June 12, 2008 at 1:15 am · Filed under Architecture, Music, Travel
Events like Mutek remind me of the rip-roaring delight of being young, traveling to exotic locations (like Canada!), and indulging in sights and sounds from the outer fringe. Some festival highlights:
Morgan Packard and Josh Ott opened the week with ambient techno shavings, helix-like visual permutations, accordian drifts and bird whistles:
Barem and Chic Miniature warmed up the crowd on Friday evening at SAT, while artists worked on a large mural:
Half Hawaii shook the packed midnight down at Metropolis:
And Onur Özer unleashed horns onto the crowd on Sunday’s Piknic set. It started to rain, but who could stop dancing?
I also enjoyed a side visit to the Canadian Center for Architecture, where I caught an exhibition on residential case studies by SANAA partner Ryue Nishizawa:
