Unique Buildings

Unique Buildings


I report unique buildings that introduced each other.


1st presenter, Natsuko Ishizaki.
She introduced about Super Dry Hall.
First, Super Dry Hall was planned by French architect, Filip Sterk. He designed not only architecture, but also other industrial things.
Second, Super Dry Hall is in Tokyo, next to Asahi beer tower.This is the building hold by Asahi beer that famous company in Japan.
Third, as the biggest feature, there is a big yellow monument on roof of Super Dry Hall. Also, this is planned by Filip Sterk. This image is flamme d'or, meaning " burning gold fire". It's unique shape, but I think it is near that strange or funny.
In addition, Natsuko Ishizaki have been to here when she was a high school student.

Left: Asahi Beer Tower   Right:  Super Dry Hall

2nd presenter, Kotaro Iwamoto.
He introduced about Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong.
First, this tower is built in 1990, and planned by Ieoh Ming Pei. He is an Chinese American architect.
Second, he told us about materials and the shape. Bank of China Tower is flame of trass made by steel. As you can see, the walls is blue half mirror glass and very high buiding. This is the first
building that over 300 meters high in Asia. This tower is imaged the town of  Hong Kong like bamboo that growing fast.
Third, he told us a story that is very interesting including some meanings. This tower uses feng shui. I don't believe such that, however, surprisingly, the company, Bank of China  developed after build this tower. Not only that, rival bank that HSBC decline after that. I don't know if it is because of feng shui, it's very curious.

Bank of China Tower

HSBC

3rd presenter, Nina Uemura.
She introduced Kansas City Public Library in Missouri of  USA.
First, this library is characteristic that very library. Outer walls are 22 book covers of each book. All these books exist in real. Actually, these 22 books are selected as books that represent Kansas city by citizen. For example, Silent Spring of Rachel Carson, A Tales of Two Cities of Charles Dickens, Charllotte's Web of E.B. White and so on.
Second, this library won many awards thanks to this good idea. I think many people enjoy this space not only reading. I 'd like to been this wonderful library someday.



Kansas City Public Library

4th presenter, Ayumi Kai.
She introduced Miyasiro town Kasahara elementary school in Saitama.
First, this school is two-storied and rein forced concrete construction.
Second, surprisingly, this school image is palace of dragon king. As you can see, it is very fantastic world that like dream. Red of main color makes us feel the exciting atmosphere. This like the set of  something movie, however, it costs a lot of money to build this school.

Kasahara elementary school

Third, this school was planned supporsing to education of bare feet. Students can walk in school area with bare feet. I wish to spend in this wonderful school.



Kasahara elementary school

 

5th presenter, Aoi Kakiiwa.
She introduced Dynamic Tower in Dubai.
First, Dynamic Tower is planned by David Fisher who is an Italian architect.  For the first time when he announced this tower's plan, people felt big impact. I'll tell you the reason later.
Second, this tower is 80 storied and 420 meters high. In addition, each floor of this building turns independence and free. This is the reason. Therefore, as you can see in the picture, this tower is differnt shape everyday. When I saw this tower for the first time, I thought this is science fiction.
Besides, there are 80 pieces of solar power cells on roof, and 79 pieces of horizonal type wind turbine between each floors to generate electricity.These are very great device, but it costs big money for maintenance.



Dynamic Tower

6th presenter, Rie Kato.
She introduced Royal Ontario Museum in Tront in Canada.
First, half of this museum built by Frank Dalling in 1912.  Unfortunately, this museum was temporary closed. However, 2003, this museum had construction of big expansion and renovation planned by Daniel Libeskind. This construction was did with leaving old museum, and add an inovative design building. It seems be complex. Later, this was opened again.
Second, Royal Ontario Museum is the 5th biggest museum in North America currently. There are 79 thousand exhibitions.

Royal Ontario Museum
Left is built in1912, and right is built in 2003.

7th presenter, Satomi Konishi.
She introduced Oklahoma located in Amsterdam of Netherland that is an elderly housing.
First, this is built in 1997, and planned by MVRDV.This is an group of architect in Rotterdam of Netherland, and MVRDV is initial alphabet of three mamber's names.
Second, the biggest character is the shape that some rooms are sticking out and the color. These rooms are on chanti lever and sticking out to North side.
Third, there are 100 rooms, and many people lives here. Thanks to this characteristic shape, Oklahoma is famous in the world.

Oklahoma

8th presenter is me, Yukino Jojima.
I introduced about Cube House in Rotterdam, the Kingdom of Netherland. This is an apartment building that has 38 rooms and known as symbol of Rotterdam.
I told about this architecture by 4 main points.

First, I explained about the city of Rotterdam.

This is the 2nd largest city of Neitherland. Though, other cities in Netherland have many antique streets, Rotterdam has don't have a lot. There are remarkable mordern architecture and buildings. This has an important and historical reason. In 1940s, during World. War. Ⅱ, Rotterdam had big damaged by Nati Germany's aerial attacks so there are more modern architecture such Cube House than antique that.

Second, I introduced about architect of Cube House.

In 1984, Cube House is planned an architect Piet Blom. He was a Dutch architect and studied at Amsterdam Academy of Building-Arts. He was selected as the Dutch Prix de Rome recipient in 1962. In addition, he is one of the representatives of the movement Structuralism. It is kind of method, in architecture, they tried to create dynamic structure that is capable of change and growth. Also, Cube House is built in Structuralism.

Third, I explained about detail of Cube House.

Cube House is built as a plan of wharf redevelopment. The most special feature is the shape of cubes leaning at 45degrees. This Cube House's concept is to create a village like peaceful forest in center of town that can be happend something dangerous. Besides, surprisingly, there is high way under this architecture, so Cube House play a role of bridge.

Forth, I told the current situation and what I think about this house.

As you can see, this shape has big impact, so this is printed on general guide books. Then, too many people visit here as sightseeing. Although Cube House is just an apartment, one is to see room for them. By the way, almost people who visit here with comparative seem to think that Cube House isn't apprppriate to live. For example, there are leaning walls that makes us feel pressure, and can't put book shelves. Also, there are too steep stairs. This is why, Cube House is still advertising of tenant. If you're interested in, how about living here?

Cube House

 

9th presenter, Yuki Tanoue.
He introduced Capital Gate in Abu Dhabi of United Arab Emirates.
First, this building is 160 meters high and has 35 floors. Almost floors are used as office or hotel. This is diamond grid structure that is stong for wind and earthquake.
Second, this building leans 18 degrees. It is more than 4 times of Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. This is listed in Guiness World Records as a most leaning building in the world. Besides, this is first tower building in Middle East.

Capital Gate

10th presenter, Shota Hashimoto.
He introduced Fenwey Park in Boston in Massachusetts of USA.
First, Fenway Park is a studium for baseball, and has another name, Green Monster. Why Fenway Park is called Green Monster is because of left stand. Left stand is built to prevent being out ball, and 11.3 meters high.
Second, there are some seats that we cannot see ground because of poles.  Fenway Park is built in 1912 so this maybe one of characters of old studium.

Left stand

Fenway Park

11th presenter, Rana Furusho.
She introduced Marina Bay Sands in Singapole.
First, these building are a resort hotel, 200 meters high, 57 storied and leans 57 degrees.
Second, surprisingly, there is pool named Sands Sky Park on the tops of these building. This is highest pool in the world, and means ship. It is very beautiful view from pool.
Also, these building are not only hotel, there are convention cener, shopping mall, casino and so on.
I wish to go this resort after being rich someday. Maybe I cannot be in pool because I'm acrophobia.



Marina Bay Sands

 

View from pool

 

I think it is important that how to tell the unique character of each architect in this presentation.  Everyone explained using only sentences or picture of architect, but it is difficult for us to understand all meanings. Therefore, I think for me, it is good to use other illustrations that help us understanding what presenter means. It is also important that presenters try to tell what they mean with easy to understand. Using too difficult words is meaningless when we want to tell something.
I'd like to do better presentation next time.