Saturday, December 6, 2014

Today's ArchiPic #115: Angkor Wat

Former capital of the Khmer Empire and the largest religious monument in the world, Angkor Wat is a massive temple complex located in what is now Cambodia.


    Construction was started in the 12th century A.D. during the Khmer Empire under King Suryavarman II.  The name "Angkor Wat" can be literally translated to "Temple City" or "City of Temples".  Its architecture is known as Khmer, a type of architecture that started to become more complex in the 12th century.  Most of the visible structure is made out of sandstone, a material that the Khmer architects started to use more often in their buildings as they became more skilled.  Although, the material used to bind the sandstone blocks together has yet to be discovered!

    Animals such as elephants were used to hoist blocks into place.  Pulleys and bamboo scaffolding were also used during construction.  The structure itself took more sandstone to complete than the Great Pyramid of Giza, and almost every surface, from roofs and ceilings to columns and lintels, are hand carved.


    The five spires symbolize the five peaks of Mount Meru, which is considered a home of the gods in Hinduism and Buddhism.  The whole complex itself is meticulously designed to reflect the religion of the time.




>> Read more about Angkor Wat on Wikipedia.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

HOUSES 101: Ennis House

Tonight, on Houses 101: 
A residential structure in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, the Ennis House is the last remaining "textile block" home made by Frank Lloyd Wright.


    When I first saw this on Architectural Digest, I was very surprised.  I did not know Frank Lloyd Wright built such houses.  Built in 1924, and influenced by Mayan architecture found in Uxmal combined with the type of structure seen in an Italian villa, the Ennis House obviously sticks out in the Los Angeles landscape.


    Construction was supervised by Wright himself, but countless structural instabilities caused the price to quickly increase.  The building is made from over 27,000 perforated concrete blocks meaning the concrete has small, thin holes through it.  It consists of two buildings that collectively add up to 10,000 square feet of space.  This is a massive house!


    The inside of the house is intentionally designed to allow plenty of sunlight through during the daytime, something Wright loved to include in his structures.  As for its overall design:  
"Its idiosyncratic aesthetic has attracted filmmakers for decades, most notably inspiring environments in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner (1982) and the 1959 film House on Haunted Hill"   - Architectural Digest

    Because of the home's design, it is prone to cracking and instability.  Before it had been completed, Wright's concrete was cracking, and the use of decomposed granite to color the concrete led to complications in the mix that caused it to deteriorate faster than normal.

According to Wikipedia, "The house was included as one of the top ten houses of all time in Los Angeles Times."  Aside from this, the Ennis House is currently under many national historic organizations aimed at preserving it as a historic landmark.  It's a very cool house, and something I would have to see if I'm ever in California!
 Sources:
>> Architectural Digest 
>> Wikipedia 

Friday, October 17, 2014

Today's ArchiPic #114: Château de Versailles

    
    Today's ArchiPic is the beautiful Palace of Versailles in France.  Designed in 1624 and only twenty kilometers from Paris, this palace was first used as a hunting lodge for the French monarch Louis XIII.  The next hundred and fifty years would turn the chateau into a major icon for 18th century French art. 

     Hall of Mirrors, Palace of Versailles

    By the time of Louis XIV, Versailles had become the center of political power for France and a symbol for absolute monarchy under the divine right of kings, but after the French revolution in 1789, this powerhouse became unimportant in political affairs for that period.  It now serves as a museum for the history of France.

References:

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Dazzling Designs: The 360 at Founders Plaza

Welcome to yet another installment of Dazzling Designs, a series where I show off unique and innovative architectural designs from around the world.  Tonight we will be looking at the Founders Tower in Oklahoma City, formerly known as The 360 at Founders Plaza.


    Standing at 275 feet (84 m.) with 17 floors, this luxury condominium tower used to be an office space in the 1960s.  It is apparently a "Googie-style" skyscraper, which is a style of architecture that I never even heard of until I saw Founders Tower.  The Googie style is actually a form of modern architecture popularized in the 1940s through the 60s when the United States was starting to get involved with spaceflight.  The condominium is one of Oklahoma City's most well-known landmarks and was renovated from 2007-2008.  It also includes a revolving restaurant--the second building in the nation to have one.


    This building was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's Price Tower, which is in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and the Space Needle in Seattle.  It definitely fits Wright's style!  Small balconies protrude out of the building all the way from the 3rd floor to the 14th.  Past the 14th floor, you'll see wider balconies.  On the 20th floor, you will see the restaurant, which apparently does not revolve anymore.


    My favorite part of this building is its exterior design.  After looking at more pictures of "Googie" architecture, I am starting to enjoy and understand it more.  This style definitely meshes with Frank Lloyd Wright and the way he designed his buildings.  The interior is just as beautiful as the exterior.  It has a great contemporary feel to it.  It looks like some Googie elements are also on the interior.  Take a look at those lights below.  They look pretty Googie to me!  There's also plenty of structure and decoration included inside the building.

"Imagine the luxury.. Imagine the convenience.. Imagine the extraordinary views... Imagine the urban lifestyle...  Imagine calling Founder’s Tower home."
                                                                                     - Founder's Tower Homepage

References:
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Founders_Tower_Oklahoma_City
>> http://www.rbaarch.com/portfolio.php
>> http://www.founderstower.com

Friday, September 12, 2014

Update 9/12: Cathedral Finished, Moving On

This is an update post for September 12th, 2014.  It has been a whole summer since I posted!  The cathedral is finished, and I'll be moving on to different things on this blog.
  • As of early July, the cathedral project known as Barbarossa has been completed.  It turned out to be one of the most difficult feats of Minecraft architecture that I have personally done since I started playing Minecraft in 2011.  Although it was difficult, I learned many new things through the process.  It's my favorite build yet!  The completed structure has been showcased on a YouTube video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOl0YZ0ORgM
  • If anyone wants to watch the whole build process as I construct each part, feel free to check out my YouTube playlist also:  Minecraft Architecture Playlist
  • And for those of you wanting to actually walk around and look at the cathedral up close, I have uploaded the world save to Dropbox.  Download it here: Barbarossa World Save



Saturday, May 10, 2014

Minecraft Architecture: Barbarossa Cathedral

Cathedrals have always been the type of architectural masterpieces that I truly admire.  These works of art use some of the most structurally complicated designs in the world.  In Minecraft terms, building a large cathedral correctly takes time, planning, and a solid knowledge of the fundamentals used in real cathedrals.  For the past five days or so, off and on, I've been designing and constructing my first true cathedral.  (This is still a major work-in-progress.)

See the finished version in survival and explore my cathedral (with world download!) here:

    
    After creating a new world on our Minecraft survival server, I decided I wanted to build a cathedral.  I've always wanted to construct one of these massive beasts, but it is insanely difficult.  I went through many designs and prototypes until I was able to make a foundation that was "small" enough for me to start a good cathedral.  Most of you probably know that cathedral floor plans are made in the shape of a cross.  After searching for "Cathedral Floor Plans" on the internet, I was able to get a good idea of how to start.
 


    Roughly, the building as a whole is 31 blocks wide and 53 blocks long  Before I made the walls, I built up the wood frame to outline the building and get an idea of where I was going.  Before these wood frames were in place, I constructed a simple outline in the shape of a cross that I planned out in a special paint program.  The cathedral has three towers: the two bell towers in the front and the third tower in the center-back part of the nave.  

  
    The roof is made out of dark oak wood planks and stairs with the spruce wood frame every so often.  Each segment is separated using these frames.  On top of the frame are fences that give the whole structure a more ornate and intricate appearance.


    These walls are decorated with wooden archways and reinforced with a mix of stone brick stairs and polished andesite.

      


    Rose windows are an important and essential part of a cathedral.  Mine includes three rose windows: one on the front and two on either side of the nave.  To create a fairly realistic appearance, I used an assortment of colored glass in a pattern.  For this cathedral, I used blues, reds, purples, and greens.


    At night, the cathedral is very beautiful.  The torches on the wood frames outline the important parts of the building, like the roof and archways.  These lights make the whole thing sparkle.  


     The third tower in the back consists of many layers.  I added a stone archway in the front of each window to add some character and detail.


    So far, this is the progress in the survival world.  Our spawn is in a massive valley and this cathedral fits perfectly in it.  I've completed the wood frame, placing over 1,400 spruce wood logs in the process.  Over half of my time is spent gathering resources for this, and since we just started, ladders and dirt are essential to access the high vantage points on the cathedral.  I named the new world after the largest land invasion of a country in history.  So as the title of this post suggests, this is Barbarossa Cathedral.  I've recently uploaded a YouTube video showcasing the progress I've made, and I'm planning on making many more!  I'll be keeping this blog up-to-date also.


References:
>> Minecraft Survival - Episode 2: The Cathedral
>> Previous Minecraft Architecture Post

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Update :: May 6, 2014

I'm currently working on a massive architectural project on our Minecraft survival server.  I won't spoil anything yet, but by this weekend expect some content from me on my blog and YouTube page.  Although, I will give you a hint:

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Skyrim Architecture :: High Hrothgar

Welcome to the next installment of my Skyrim Architecture series, where I scout the Skyrim world in search of the most beautiful structures and landmarks Bethesda's award-winning franchise has to offer.

     Picture from: primagames.com

    The elusive monastery of High Hrothgar sits upon Tamriel's biggest mountain.  Literally the "Throat of the World", this mountain is immense, and climbing the seven thousand steps to the doors of the monastery is no easy task.   "It is here the ancient Greybeards reside, living in absolute silence to better attune themselves to the voice of the sky"  (The Elder Scrolls Wiki).  Aside from their mysterious secretiveness, the architecture is fascinating.

     Picture from: zuckerspinne (deviantart)

    More complex than an Imperial fort, this monastery is quite expansive and it's fortification is impressive.  It's made out of massive gray stones with intricate carvings and crown molding  (if you can call it that).  The front of the structure has two stairway paths leading to the ornately decorated doors along with a single watchtower in the center.  The whole building is obviously extremely sturdy, withstanding intense winds from the top of the mountain.

    Picture from: elderscrolls.wikia.com

    The picture above is a piece of concept art showcasing the exterior courtyard on the back side of the complex.  The archway on the top-left is part of a path that leads up to the very top of Throat of the World, where the dragon Paarthurnax resides.  High Hrothgar's supports and archways are deeply entrenched into the mountain's rocky cliffs and again are very sturdy.

    Picture from: tespostcards.wordpress.com

    On the inside, High Hrothgar is equally beautiful.  The whole inside of the monastery is very dark, and the walls are lined with a dark (almost black) stone.  The picture above shows the main meeting place of the Greybeards when something important arises.  Banners hang from the ceiling covered in Dragon language.

     Picture from: tespostcards.wordpress.com

    Lastly, is a picture showing one of the side hallways linking different rooms and corridors.  I love how intricate the carvings in the walls and ceilings are.  Overall, this monastery is beautiful.  Whether that be on the inside or outside, it is definitely something extremely unique.

References:
>> The Elder Scrolls Wiki 
>> Previous Skyrim Architecture Post

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Archilego :: Fallingwater!

I'm back with a new Archilego post, my LEGO architecture series that showcases recreations of famous landmarks and buildings around the world...made entirely out of LEGOs!

     
    Over the past three years, I've showcased Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpieces countless times.  After reading the biography on him way back in seventh grade, I saw a wide variety of his work, but my favorite was definitely Fallingwater, a house in the forests of Pennsylvania that uses a waterfall as the focal point of the home.

    Wright initially planned on building it around the main waterfall, but he later decided to build Fallingwater on top of it!  He didn't want the family to just look at the waterfall...Wright wanted them to live in it.  Using the terrain as his canvas, he created an amazing structure that emphasizes the beginning of a new era in modern architecture.  Wright was the pioneer of this new era. 

    Picture from: Urban by Design Online
 
      Of course, you can easily expect that a house this famous would be turned into a LEGO project, right?  Yes!  Designed by Adam Reed Tucker, this set has 811 pieces.  You can buy the LEGO set yourself for roughly $100...and build it yourself.  What more could you ask for? :D

References:
>>  Fallingwater (blog post)

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Blog Update :: April 10


   I was searching on Google for "Abstract Dog" pictures.  I found this one and decided to make it my new profile photo!  I think it's pretty sick!

   *As for a blog update, expect new posts very soon.

Monday, February 3, 2014

Skyrim Architecture :: College of Winterhold

Welcome to the next installment of my Skyrim Architecture series, where I scout the Skyrim world in search of the most beautiful structures and landmarks Bethesda's award-winning franchise has to offer. 

    Ah yes!  The College of Winterhold...a beautiful piece of Skyrim architecture.  The building itself looks as if it holds a secret society inside its doors, which in some ways, it truly does.  Before we delve into its architecture, let's briefly discuss the college's history. 

    In the 4E 122, a massive storm in the Sea of Ghosts destroyed most of the city, and yet the college was mysteriously left untouched by the storm.  Since then, many people of Winterhold still blame the mages of the college for causing that storm.  On a side note, papers in the college library are supposed to prove its age, dating back 700 years .  It is also speculated that the college is even older than that, possibly dating back to the Merethic Era.


    The College of Winterhold sits on a massive cliff of ice and rock on the north-east coast of Skyrim.  In the central courtyard sits a statue of the first Arch-Mage of the College, Shalidor.  This courtyard serves as a hub to access the different facilities of the college itself, as seen in the picture below.  (The people that built this planned it very well!)  The exterior windows also offer a great view of the coast, creating surreal vantage points.
 


    There are many hidden tunnels with a prison and storage (known as the Midden) underneath the main building.  I've been in there myself, and let's just say it's slightly creepy.    


    I personally love the layout of the building.  There are many circles implemented into its design with many ways to access the different parts of the structure.  The exterior design itself reminds me of the Gothic architectural style--this castle in Wales is a great example:



    As for the interior, the designers used massive gray stones.  (Not sure exactly what they would be.)  Inside the Hall of the Elements (picture below), there are countless archways and columns that make a beautiful circle design.  (If you didn't notice, I really like using circles in architectural designs.)


    The College of Winterhold is a remarkable piece of architecture, and possibly one of the oldest structures in Skyrim.  Its beautiful archways, towers, and circular designs are impressive, and it's definitely very interesting to study.  As for my explanation of the pictures, I feel like they can explain themselves much better than I can, and with most Skyrim architecture, I believe it is mostly up for interpretation.  Either way, Skyrim is beautiful, and I'll be searching for more structures to cover in the future.

References:

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Minecraft Architecture :: Stoa of Doric (Video)

I finally got around to completing that YouTube video I promised in November!  :D
Before watching this video, I suggest checking out my blog post on the stoa:


See you guys soon!

*Also: I call myself Southpaw on YouTube.  It's pretty much my second name.  (Yeah, I'm left-handed.)

References:

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Today's ArchiPic #113 :: Salisbury Cathedral

     Salisbury Cathedral | Pictures from Wikipedia

    Today's ArchiPic is the Salisbury Cathedral in Salisbury England.  It was built in 1258 and represents Early English architecture.  This church contains the world's oldest working clock, dating back to AD 1386 and is simply one of my favorite cathedrals.  It has a very ornate structure with many spires and designs that are evident with the Gothic architectural style and has been depicted in many works of art--most notably by John Constable.  (The first picture above is one of his most famous paintings.)

Sources:
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salisbury_Cathedral

*I'll be finishing up that YouTube video I talked about very soon, possibly by this weekend.  I'll post it on this blog once it has been uploaded.  I will also be posting more frequently for the time-being.