Category Archives: Architecture

Chicago Inaugurates the Library of the Future

Posted on May 26, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

Last week the University of Chicago opened the exciting new Joe and Rika Mansueto Library. Looking much like a partially buried crystal egg, the Grand Reading Room of the facility is outfitted with Low-E glass that ensures plenty of daylight, … Continue reading →

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Glamorous London (circa 1880)

Posted on May 23, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

 

Posted in Architecture, Europe, Libraries, Photography | Tagged | 1 Comment

Apple Celebrates 10 Years

Posted on May 21, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

This week Apple celebrates the 10th anniversary of their retail store operations. To mark this earthshaking event, here’s a look at some of Apple’s most noteworthy and iconic outlets around the universe.

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Antwerp Throws a MAS Bash

Posted on May 14, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

Antwerp, Belgium’s great port city and best kept travel secret, started a three day celebration bash yesterday to launch its audacious new MAS museum. The spectacular 10-story museum, which takes its name from the Dutch acronym for Museum on the … Continue reading →

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New York: Model City of the Future

Posted on May 7, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

The Audi Urban Future: Project New York envisions a new city based on award-winning concepts from the their Urban Future Award — hosted at the 2010 Venice Biennale — including the winning entry by J. Mayer Architects Berlin. The concepts … Continue reading →

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Seville the Beautiful

Posted on May 1, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

I have not been to Seville for a few years, but I’m anxious to get back to see the newly completed Metropol Parosol project. One of the world’s largest wooden buildings, this beautiful series of undulating umbrellas of interlocking wooden … Continue reading →

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How High Is Too High ?

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

Saudia Arabia’s Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal, the despotic nation’s construction czar, has just approved the construction of the world’s tallest building in the coastal city of Jeddah. The “Kingdom Tower”, designed by architect Adrian Smith, will be a full … Continue reading →

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Boutique Hotels at “good value”

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

The folks at Butikk hope to become the go-to site for qualitative information on “good value” design/boutique hotels around the world. Their proclaimed aim is “beauty, but not at any cost.” They currently list just a few dozen properties, but … Continue reading →

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Who Needs Postcards ?

Posted on March 30, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

Artist Bryan Lee Madden has been creating some amazing cityscapes and scenes on pocket Etch-a-Sketch models for the last two years:

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Where’s the Next Pop-up Restaurant ?

Posted on March 26, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

Beginning this April 1st, a clever pair of pop-up restaurants  commissioned by Electrolux, the Swedish appliance company, will appear around Europe briefly perching on iconic monuments, buildings and mountains. The restaurant “Cubes”, designed by Italian architects Park Associati, feature laser-cut … Continue reading →

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