I'm back, with a new design on hand. Probably one of the most interesting ones of the year thus far. The brief was to create a sacred space within the dense urban environment in Port Elizabeth central, Parliment Street.

My approach was to create a space that one can feel at peace, welcome, wanted and leave feeling completely fulfilled. To create a garden space within the dense urban environment where people, not only can visit for sacred reasons, but also a space where one can detach oneself from the urban lifestyle and be completely fulfilled within a green landscape that hides behind strong vertical planes.

The UK Pavilion has to be one of my favourites at the Expo 2010. To me, it signifies impossibility through inspiration. Developed by UK’s leading creative talents, Thomas Heatherwick, the centrepiece of the UK pavilion is a six storey high object formed from some 60,000 slender transparent rods that act like fibre-optic filaments, and quiver in the breeze.



Have a look at the link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq_GVcApKDQ&feature=player_embedded#!

For  those still dealing with precedence study for the Library extension in Goven Mbeki, this will certainly be an interesting building to analyse.

The Royal Ontario Museum by Daniel Libeskind , provides a wonderful opportunity for dramatic new architecture and the creation of a great public attraction. The centrality of the site intensifies the profound relationship between history and the new, between tradition and innovation.

The historical buildings, complemented by forward-looking and bold architecture, form an ensemble which regenerates the urban significance of the Museum, solves the complex functional issues, and dramatically improves exhibitions, facilities, programming and amenities. transforming the entire museum complex into a world-class destination. The expansion and renovation project is known as Renaissance Rom.

Follow the link bellow for a complete analysis
http://www.daniel-libeskind.com/projects/show-all/royal-ontario-museum/

Those wanting to get behind the mind of Daniel Libeskind, take a few minutes and have a look at the link below. His profound passion for architecture is truly remarkable and it is a vivid expression throughout his designs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8w4UQL6aI0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q18yrrGNas&feature=related

For the next 184 days, the most expensive exhibition in the world FINALLY takes off. The Expo opened to the public this morning and is expected to draw 70 million people over six months to the national pavilions, designed to reflect the urban sustainability theme of "Better City, Better Life." . The world unites for an Architectural show down in China.



For a complete view of all the exhibits, see the link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t02giLzaj4w&feature=related

Being Portuguese, i couldnt resist but to share this with you.

This Portugese firm Kaputt!'s web page, is basically a splash page, but it's quite an interesting one. A slideshow of hands on a scanbed next to model photos gives us the firm's contact information and "cast of characters."

The images associate the hand of the architect with the architectural creation, an immediate relationship that seems often splintered these days. The names take this relationship one step further, by marking the skin with that which can only be handwritten, not typed and printed on a computer.