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4/28/11

Denver International Airport, Colorado


Perez Architects and Fentress Bradburn Architects designed the Denver Airport, completed in 1995. It is the largest international airport in the United States.

The white tensile fiberglass tent structures are reminicent of the Rocky Mountains. The pedestrian bridge that links the terminal and concourse uses the same tensile principle. A great deal of art was invested in the project, frankly spooky art, like the Mustang sculpture that accidentally killed its creator during completion. A solar farm of 9,200panels proves 3.5kw of electricity yearly. The swirling layout of runways has been criticized for not taking into consideration approach patterns and weather conditions.

A bungled automated baggage system contributed to the project going massively over-budget. Santiago Calatrava is currently working on a Hotel and train station for the airport.

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4/25/11

Virgilio Barco Library, Bogotá Colombia


Rogelio Salmona designed the Biblioteca Virgilio Barco in Bogota Colombia. It was completed in 2003 just a few years before Salmona's death.

Lawns of greenery, great strips of colorful mosaics, and flowing pools of water fill the rooftops in between skylights and walkways. The layers of bookcases swirl like terraces around deep lobbies with task lighting throughout the spaces. These circular spaces face the beautiful hills. The building's approach slopes down into the earth. Structure gradually accumulates overhead until it assumes a grand composition with full utilization of negative spaces. Truly a triumph of Modernism, this project has unnoticed by the critics. It is central to a cultural and recreational staple for the country.

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4/22/11

AGO Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto Canada


Frank Gehry oversaw the design for the new Musée des beaux-arts de l'Ontario in 2004.The museum was founded in 1900 and received this extensive $254 million renovation for its growing collection.

The Dundas Street facade is a wonderful curving form of glass, steel frame, and wood structure. The Grange Park wing is a blue titanium and glass box with a steel swirling pathway poking out. This theme of swirling pathways is seen in Walker Court. A wood spiral flows above the room and winds up through the glass ceiling.

Existing buildings and a low budget constrained the design, but actually resulted in a very imaginative and fascinating form. He can't seem to get away from his wavy ribbon structures, but does take a small step in a wonderful direction.

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4/21/11

Yas Marina Hotel, Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates


Hani Rashid and Lise Anne Couture of Asymptote Architecture designed the Yas Marina Hotel in Abu Dabi in the F1 Ya Marina Circuit. The two 12 story towers are set within the racing track and linked by a monocque steel sky bridge. Islamic tradition inspired the sweeping steel and glass skin. LED lights complement the softly pivoting structure. By day the white and blue tint match the luxury yachts in the harbor. The Formula 1 racing scene also helped inspire this form. The hotel has 500 rooms with a total 85,000m2.

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4/20/11

Cathedral El Miguelete, Valencia Spain


The Cathedral of Valcia's Tower of Miguelete was completed in 1429, built by Andrés Juliá and others. It housed a 10 ton bell cast in 1532, which was replaced by speakers. The current building replaced a mosque, which had replaced a Visgoth church, and claims to hold the Holy Grail.

The octagonal Gothic tower rises 51m and attaches to the angular archivolts. A mixture of styles clash together as different parts arose over the years. The urban fabric around the edifice has come to interact with it in interesting ways. The whole thing loosely unifies to a crucifix shape.

The Romanesque portal shows Old Testament scenes and the seven men who brought to Valencia 700 women to marry the first Christian settlers. The second portal shows the twelve apostles, and a rose window of a six-pointed star is above. Meetings for irrigation rights were held here weekly. Students of Leonardo Da Vinci fashioned the main alterpiece. Gaspar Gregori designed the gallery of arches Obra Nova.

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4/19/11

Dancing House, Prague Czech Republic


Vlado Milunić with help from Frank Gehry, designed the Tančící dům in downtown Prague, on the waterfront of Vltava River. It was completed in 1996. It stands on one of Prague's most prominent streets.

The idea was a Deconstructivist rendition of a dancing man and woman (Ginger Rogers and Fred Astair). The glass and concrete panel form certainly stands out in this city's unique ancient atmosphere. It stands out on its own, the only other variation being Art Noveau houses in that area.

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