Jean Nouvel Wins 2008 Pritzker Prize

Jean Nouvel wins the 2008 Pritzker Prize.

Pictured is Torre Agbar built in 2003 and open in 2005 in Barcelona, Spain. "A unique feature of the building is its nocturnal illumination. It has 4,500 LED luminous devices that allow generation of luminous images in the facade. In addition, it has temperature sensors in the outside of the tower that regulate the opening and closing of the glass blinds of the facade of the building, reducing the consumption of energy for air conditioning."

Denver Architectural Firm Recognized as Best in Recreational Design

Denver-based Ohlson Lavoie Collaborative, an architectural leader in recreation, fitness and aquatics, has won a pair of 2008 Innovative Architecture & Design Awards from Recreation Management Magazine.

The Health and Fitness Center at Washtenaw Community College was designed to deliver the latest breakthroughs in sustainable design. OLC architects wanted to establish a functional facility that promotes healthy living for both the students on campus and the local residents who will be members. Some unique characteristics of the facility include lights that go on automatically when daylight falls below a certain level; floors and carpets made of non-toxic renewable materials; and a reflective white roof that reduces heating and cooling requirements. The WCC building is positioned to become the first gold-certified LEED™ building for health-and-fitness west of the Mid-Atlantic U.S.

via eMediaWire

Denver Architecture Firm of the Week 3/26/08 - Sean Garrett Architecture

I've decided to showcase Denver's local architecture firms in a weekly blog post. In my recent search for an architecture position (email me), I've been researching many great firms in the Denver area and I'd like to highlight the recent work and philosophies of some of these companies.

This week I've chosen an architect whose office is located very close to my home and that drew my attention a while back with his Green House competition win in Chicago (pictured on the left).

Sean Garrett Architecture

From SGA's website;

"The Qualities we value…Each new building is but a single contribution to the larger built and natural environments that we inhabit, and each individual design and construction project either reveals and reinforces the qualities we value or conceals and degrades our sense of place. Whether cityscape or landscape, SGA strives to identify the critical components and characteristics of each place and design architecture that responds appropriately to the individual, community, culture, and environment. The incorporation of green, sustainable, and energy-efficient building technologies is part and parcel to SGA’s design process."

Current projects include the Charlie's on Colfax redesign with a new front facade. From SGA's website; "SGA’s proposed addition and renovation to Charlie’s Bar responds in part to a loss of patronage resulting from Colorado’s Clean Indoor Air Act. The over-height, sloping, exterior screen wall secures a new outdoor patio that isolates smokers from other patrons while preserving a visual connection to the nightclub interior. The tall, colorful wall takes its cues from the nearby mid-century modern architecture and doubles as a new building façade that masks the existing structure. "

Sean Garrett Architecture

Future City Designs

These are great ideas and future buildings for city centers.

Evolo Skyscraper Winners 2008
Clean Technology Tower in Chicago by Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill
Sustainable Towers in Malaysia by Studio Nicoletti Associati
Highline 23 in NYC by Neil M. Denari Architects
Anti-Smog in Paris by Vincent Cllebaut Architecte
What will the future be in 2008? We are almost there...
or are we? Back to Future!

Design Unveiled for Clyfford Still Museum

via Denver Post via Archinect via Artdaily.org

Lots of discussion about the design on Denver Infill Blog