The Design Gesture

Author: Pooja Swain

  • Interesting Peep into a Tudor House Design: An Off-Grid Experience

    Interesting Peep into a Tudor House Design: An Off-Grid Experience

    Tudor Architecture

    Tudor architecture refers to the era between 1485 and 1558 when artisans created complex two-toned manor buildings with a mix of Renaissance and Gothic-style features. This transitional form continued to appear in communities throughout England until Elizabethan building seized hold around 1558.

    The Tudor architectural style represents the culmination of Medieval buildings in England, particularly during the Tudor period (1485–1603) and beyond, as well as the tentative introduction of Renaissance architecture to England. It is most commonly used to describe the style employed in structures of considerable distinction in the time roughly between 1500 and 1560, rather than the Tudor reign as a whole (1485-1603).

    It was based on the Late Gothic Perpendicular style and was replaced in residential architecture by Elizabethan architecture around 1560. “Tudor” has become a name for forms like half-timbering that characterize the few structures remaining from before 1485 and others from the Stuart period in the much slower-moving styles of vernacular architecture. The Tudor style was popular in England for a long time in this form. Nonetheless, ‘Tudor style’ is an ambiguous style classification, with its implicit ideas of continuity throughout the Tudor dynasty’s reign and the false sense of a style split with Stuart James I’s arrival in 1603.

    Tudor architecture eventually faded from prominence. The design style wasn’t revived in America till decades later.

    Tudor House Architecture

    Tudor houses are also known as Tudor Revival, Mock Tudor, or Jacobean buildings, are multi-story brick houses with extensive portions of half-timbered white stucco cladding that give them a medieval look. Tudor houses features steeply pitched gabled roof design, ornate chimney pots, small multi-paned windows, and woodwork entrance doors. Tudor houses include plaster walls, archway entrances, ornate ceilings, and wooden features on the inside.

    Tudor House
    Photo by Countryliving

    Tudor house designs are beautiful and draw inspiration from old English architecture. They seem like something out of a fantasy book. Since Tudor houses were built with expensive materials like timber and stone, with intricate embellishments that made them too expensive for the typical American homeowner, they were popular with well-to-do households from the mid-nineteenth century until World War II. Old Tudor homes are most commonly seen in historically rich areas, although today’s less expensive building methods and materials allow current inexpensive housing to have a touch of Tudor flare.

    Defining Elements of Tudor House Design

    Tudor houses are instantly recognized and have been there for what seems like an eternity. They’ve been an iconic home design in North America since the 19th century, charming, detailed, and traditional. These mansions are defined by numerous attractive characteristics and have a long and illustrious history. Let’s look at how to recognize one and what makes them so unique.

    There are a few distinguishing traits that all Tudor house designs share. They contain steeply sloped gable roofs, brick or partly brick exteriors, masonry, stonework, and frequently leaded glass windows, all of which are reminiscent of gothic architecture. To be considered a true Tudor house design, it must be constructed with high-quality resources and workmanship.

    It’s crucial to notice that the external architecture of these residences was prioritised over the interior design. The interior of the house is not a perfectly symmetrical blank white box to decorate, as it is in some other architectural forms. With varied room heights, slanted passageways, and little natural light, they are asymmetrical. This property, on the other hand, is ideal for people searching for a home that resembles an English manor and may appear magnificent on the inside and out.

    Defining Elements of Tudor House Design
    Photo by Homedesignnow

    Decorative Half-Timbered Exteriors

    The exposed timber beams are the most distinctive characteristic of a Tudor House. They are often black in colour, with bleached bricks interspersed between them. The load-bearing framework of the Tudor house is formed by these beams, which are an important structural feature. Because architects and builders lacked the means to use stone, half-timbering was required to construct several levels in a house centuries ago. They created the classic Tudor façade by building timber frames and filling them with stucco, leaving the wooden supports visible.

    Building Materials

    Stucco, stones, bricks, and timber are among the materials used in Tudor house design. The first level of a Tudor house is generally made of stone and bricks, while the higher levels are made of plaster and woodwork. Bricks were not a common commodity in the 15th century; rather, it was luxury item utilised by the wealthy in their dwellings. The Tudor house is categorized based on the materials used in its construction.

    A rich Tudor house design use substantial brickwork as a filler between timber beams that were plastered and subsequently painted was distinct, whilst the middle class and poor homes relied solely on plaster.

    Entrance Door

    A prominent entrance door that is not in the middle of the Tudor house is common. To stand out from the rest of the home’s exterior, doors may feature arches or ornate concrete detailing. The entrance of a Tudor house frequently includes an uneven arrangement of different architectural components. Some of these elements are meant to provide aesthetic value, while others are there to improve safety. To avoid weather damage, thick masonry is utilised to recess the door or project a window or roof over the door.

    From gothic and opulent metal fittings to beautiful glass inlays, the decorations and aesthetic aspects are varied. Cut stone, board-and-batten doors, and arched entrances are all frequent characteristics.

    Window

    Since many Tudor house design feature casement windows, the windows of a Tudor house are also easily identifiable. The windows are usually arranged in three or more rows and are generally framed with wood or metal. Typically, the windows are split into rectangular panes and sometimes in a diamond pattern. The windows in the main gables are generally symmetrically placed.

    Landscaping

    A wealthy estate or home’s landscaping and design are usually important features. In the big manors, the Tudor house design adds geometrical landscaping as a highlight. The usage of immaculately tended and harmonious gardens became another means of displaying the owner’s societal affluence.

    Landscaping
    Photo by Houzz

    Tudor House Architecture – Interiors

    Ceilings

    Tudor house ceilings resemble cathedral designs. For the ceilings, either box beams or fake beams are used. Nowadays, faux beams are used to give the interior a contemporary aspect. The exposed exterior beams are also a standout characteristic of Tudor house design. Some homes have bricks on the lower floors with a beam on the top level, while others have beams from the ground to the ceiling.

    Floorings

    Earlier Tudor houses had dirt floors, which were later replaced with stone or wood. Wide plank oak floors, brick, and stone were the most common types of flooring at the time. Wool rugs were used to cover the floors. The majority of modern homes now have stone floors. Stone flooring has a very appealing and beautiful appearance.

    Rooms

    Tudor house designs have rooms that are square or rectangular in form. In several nations, this room is also available in an H-shape plan.

    Walls

    The external stucco and railing were duplicated on some internal walls, but the rest of the walls were built of stone and plastered over with wall paneling. Wall paneling in squares or rectangles was the acme of Tudor design. These were mostly composed of dark-stained wood. In what is known as wainscot, the paneling spanned the whole wall height or two-thirds of the height. Tudor house’s design included plastered walls that were generally whitewashed and several shades of blue and green were popular accent colours.

    Tapestry

    As insulation and ornament, the houses’ walls were draped in intricate tapestries. The materials, size, and quality of the tapestry were also design features used by the homeowners to demonstrate their social riches. The tapestry’s pricing was determined by three factors: the materials used, the weaver’s talent, and the fineness of the weave. The silk and silver thread tapestry was perhaps the most costly.

    Windows

    Windows

    Due to the availability of glass, Tudor houses were the first to have glass windows as a standard feature rather than an extravagance. The windows are generally long and thin, with wooden frames. To enhance the amount of natural light coming in, the windows were grouped together. Tudor house design had casement windows with a sash that opened outwardly to allow for proper ventilation. Diamond latticed glass with lead casings was used in the windows.

    Fireplace

    In the past, fireplaces and chimneys were quite common. The majority of the houses had these structures. The major motivation for fireplaces was the extreme cold of the period; they were used to keep people comfortable in the terrible winter. It may also be used to prepare meals. There were two fireplaces in the house, one in the living room and the other in the kitchen. Members of the household used to gather near the one in the living room to keep warm while the one in the kitchen working on the dinner.

    Photo by Architectural Digest

    Multiple Floors

    The top storey of Tudor houses gave greater space and allowed for the installation of different rooms. They were able to build fireplaces on the upper level and construct additional private rooms for the family because of the progress in the structural system. The bottom floor had communal spaces such as the kitchen, dining room, and great hall, while the top floor included a private bedroom and washrooms. However, because there was no sanitary mechanism in place, garbage was simply tossed out the window.

    The masonry and brick take up a lot of room in these structures, which is reflected in the interior. As a result of the thick walls and leaded windows, there is sometimes a shortage of natural light. This implies that the interiors of the Tudor house must match the exterior’s heaviness. A good Tudor house design must make sure interior décor materials don’t conflict with the medieval stone and brickwork. Bronze and tapestries are opulent, traditional materials that work well in the interior.

    Tudor House Architecture – Roof Design

    The steep gabled roof design, frequently interrupted with tiny dormers and covered in slate, was a defining feature of Tudor house design. A supplementary side or cross gable was commonly added to the main gable. Verge boards, which can be plain or intricately carved, were frequently used to decorate the extremities of gable roofs. The gables on a few versions featured parapets, which are extremely English.

    Slate roofs and tiny dormers are common roofing materials. The home will most likely feature gables on gables to create a visually appealing façade by breaking up the shingles. On the upper storey of the home, the gable roof serves to offer lofty ceilings. The gable adds to the fairy tale cottage-style house ambiance by tying all of the external components together. Slate, clay, thatch, or tiles were the most common materials.

    Common Characteristics of Tudor House Built by the Rich

    Common Characteristics of Tudor House Built by the Rich
    • A floor plan in the shape of a ‘E’ or ‘H’
    • Earlier in the era, great homes used brick and stone masonry, occasionally with half timbers on higher levels.
    • Recycling of earlier mediaeval stone, particularly following Henry VIII’s Monastery Dissolution. Some monetary structures have been repurposed into homes.
    • From the mid-century, curvilinear gables, influenced by Dutch forms, became popular.
    • Big glass displays in windows many feet long; glass was costly, thus only the wealthy could afford multiple large windows.
    • Depressed arches in ecclesiastical and noble design, particularly in the early-middle era Hammer beam roof design continued in use for grand halls from Medieval period under Henry VII until 1603; were more decoratively made, sometimes with geometric-patterned beams and corbels carved into animals
    • Except for big windows, most windows are rectangular, and drip moulding is frequent above them.
    • From the period of Henry VIII through Elizabeth I, classical elements like as round-headed arches over doorways and alcoves, as well as conspicuous balustrades were popular. Large brick chimneys, typically capped with thin ornamental chimney pots, were common in upper middle class and higher residences.
    • Wide, massive stone fireplaces with extra-large hearths are designed to accommodate bigger gatherings.
    • Inside cooking fires, massive ironwork for spit roasting.
    • Galleries that are long
    • Tapestries serve three purposes: they keep the cold out, they decorate the inside, and they demonstrate riches. These may contain gold or silver thread in the most affluent households.
    • Inside and out, the mansion is adorned with gilded details.
    • Large gardens and enclosed courtyards were a hallmark of the wealthy’s homes, with geometric landscaping at the back.

    Common Characteristics of Smaller Tudor House

    • In market towns and cities, simpler square or rectangle floor designs are used.
    • Farmhouses have a modest fat ‘H’ form and remnants of late Medieval construction; it was less expensive to modify than to completely rebuild.
    • Roof with a sloping roof design and roofing materials such as thatching or slate or, more rarely, clay tiles
    • Throughout the time, cruck framing was used.
    • For the purpose of functionality, hammer beam roofing have been maintained (remained common in barns)
    • Cross gables that are prominent
    • Doors and windows that are tall and narrow
    • Window panes in the shape of a diamond, usually with lead casings to keep them together.
    • Dormer windows from the late era
    • Instead of all stone and wood, use flagstone or dirt flooring.
    • Top floor jettied to enhance interior space; extremely prevalent in market towns and larger cities
    • In cities, there is often little to no space between buildings.
    • There isn’t much landscaping behind the house, although there are a few tiny herb gardens.
    • The poorest classes resided in hovels, which were one-room wattle-and-daub huts with a somewhat different meaning than today. The majority did not have a copyhold on the property they occupied and were renters on another man’s land; facilities were minimal, consisting of a place to sleep, eat, and prepare.

    Types of Tudor House Design

    Original English Tudor

    During the reign of the British kings in England in the 15th century, the original English Tudor began. The original English Tudor house was designed for the affluent, but commoners didn’t adopt a more humble form of Tudor construction until a few decades later. With the typical dark brown and white exteriors, the same construction method, namely half-timbers, could be seen both inside and outside the home. Tudor houses took a long time to build and required a lot of effort, so by the 16th century, the design had lost favor in England.

    Some common characteristics of the original English Tudor house are massive stone chimneys with elaborate stacks that soared above the roof, steeply pitched roof design coated in roofing materials such as straw thatch, slate, clay, or tiles. Certain English Tudor homes had ground-to-ceiling beams, whereas others simply had wooden beams on the top floors and bricks or other materials on the lower floors.

    Exposed wooden beams can be found in virtually every room of the home. The exteriors are made of stone or brick. The house flooring was originally built of stone but was subsequently replaced with wood. Rooms in English Tudor houses were frequently square or rectangular in form. Some were even in the shape of an H. The ceiling was significantly lower than in typical English homes.

    American Tudor Revival

    American Tudor Revival
    Photo by Architectural Digest

    The American Tudor Revival is a faithful reproduction of the Tudor house design, with original half-timbering and stone or brick walls on the first level. The top levels were stud-framed and decorated in ornamental stucco and imitation woods.

    The Astor House in New York, which was erected by a businessman with the same name in 1914, is the most renowned Tudor Revival style architecture. It has elaborate chimneys, a steeply pitched roof, and a brick façade. Over the years, the structure has been meticulously repaired while keeping faithful to its original design. The Adams Building in Quincy, MA, is another well-known Tudor Revival style house that was the first of its kind in the United States. The structure boasts the classic Tudor high roof design and ornate half-timbering.

    Small Tudor Cottages

    Because a full-size Tudor home was prohibitively expensive to construct, Americans in the Northeast and Midwest resorted to building or renovating tiny Tudor cottages. Many of these old grand homes may be seen in the United States alongside Stick-style and Victorian residences, with many of them having been completely renovated and no longer displaying the distinctive half-timbering.

    It is usually one and a half storeys tall, with a rectangle or square floor layout and steep roofs that descend close to ground level. Tall and ornate chimneys, multi-paned windows, and brick or stone entrances are some of the traditional Tudor house design features present in this type of house architecture.

  • The Growth in Architectural Photography: Past, Present and Future

    The Growth in Architectural Photography: Past, Present and Future

    A photograph captures a moment otherwise gone and depending on who is looking at it, a photograph may convey a variety of tales. Even though an image does not tell a story, it is valuable to a person since it is associated with memory. When you try to introduce this usage of an image into a sector like Architecture, Architectural Photography where art, design, and science are all technically balanced, you’ll need a pre-defined function and description.

    In today’s image-obsessed world, we consume a lot of architecture through photos rather than actual spatial encounters. The benefits of architectural photography are numerous; it helps individuals to gain a visual knowledge of structures that they may never have the opportunity to visit in their lifetime, resulting in a useful resource that allows us to broaden our architectural vocabulary.

    What is Architectural Photography?

    The term “architectural photography” refers to photography that focuses on structures in general. Shooting exteriors and interiors of buildings, as well as bridges, other structures, and cityscapes, are all the possibilities included. Architectural photography is concerned with the accurate representation of a three-dimensional environment on a tiny flat area.

    Architectural Photography is also evidence of the interaction of two closely related but somewhat distinct disciplines, whose interplay has become increasingly entangled in recent times: while architects and historians continue to use photographs as indexical records of artifacts, buildings and sites are becoming increasingly identified with their photographic image as a result of the emphasis placed today on architecture as a form of mass communication.

    While it is easy to aim a camera at a building or a bridge and take a picture, capturing architecture is an art form. It’s easy to dismiss architectural photography as merely capturing buildings, but there’s a lot more to it. Architectural photography is concerned with capturing not just the architecture and precise portrayal of a structure, but also the aesthetic appeal of the pictures to the spectator.

    A photographer who specializes in architecture creates rather than captures photographs. To capture the beauty of structures, architectural photographers need extra skills and methods, such as perspective control to capture full areas and understand when and where to locate the images.

    Two Types of Architectural Photographs

    Exterior Photographs- Simply put the photos taken of the exterior part of any built environment are referred to as exterior architecture photography. Exteriors have a lot of natural light, which makes photographing them simpler. Exteriors may generate radically diverse, gloomy, and dramatic outcomes depending on the vagaries of nature.

    Architectural Photographs
    photo by Xiang hu on Unsplash

    Interior Photographs- photos taken of the interior decor of any room are referred to as interior architecture photographs. Interiors are more difficult to photograph because the amount of ambient light accessible from windows or skylights is typically restricted, and often filtered, as in cathedrals with brilliant stained glass windows. The use of additional illumination in the form of a flash aids in the precise capturing of interiors.

    A Brief History

    Architectural Photographs

    Buildings offer a lot more than just providing us with a roof over our heads. They’re also pieces of art and cultural icons. Architectural photography began as a method to chronicle structures, but it has now grown into a varied art form. Photography of architecture has a long and illustrious history and in reality, view from the Window at Le Gras, the world’s oldest surviving image, was taken in the 1820s! The media has been popular for many years, which is unsurprising given the importance of architecture.

    The origins of architecture photography may be traced back to the 1830s, with William Talbot and J.L.M. Daguerre being widely acknowledged. During that period, the Elevation Approach and the Perspective Approach emerged.

    The Elevation Approach is, as the name implies, comparable to a blueprint or plan. It is a viewpoint obtained by approaching the topic from the front and producing a two-dimensional picture of the structure. This was intended to look like a sketch and to show as many details as possible.

    The Perspective Approach stresses the third dimension. Typically taken from a vantage point in the corner or at an angle. The goal is to depict how the structures appeared and to include some surroundings. This approach enables the photographer to be a little more creative and adventurous.

    Architectural Photography
    Photo by Victor on Unsplash

    Evolution and Impact of Architectural Photography Today

    Architecture is one of the most dynamic art forms carved into the fabric of human civilization, from the Giza pyramids to the temples of Ancient Rome, from a suburban home to a towering contemporary skyscraper. Since no two structures are similar, and no two perspectives provide the same image, architecture is a favourite subject for photographers.

    Architectural Photography has evolved in many ways and so has its purpose. The earlier architecture used to be photographed as it was a more convenient option, a subject that could stand still for as long as the photo needed to be developed then it went on to be used by magazines and other printing media but today it has become a hobby, passion and career option for many architects and photographers. People invest in heavy gears and equipment to photograph and edit pictures of evolving architecture as well as the buildings from the past. Many even take it upon themselves to professionally educate about architectural photography.

    Architectural photography
    Photo on Unsplash

    In the age of social media platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook, architectural photography plays a pivotal role in showcasing the beauty of structures to a global audience. Architects, photographers, and even enthusiasts use these platforms to share stunning visuals of architecture, allowing aspiring students and design enthusiasts to explore the intricate details of buildings without leaving their homes. Aspiring photographers may also find opportunities to sell their work, including cheap canvas prints, to a wide audience through online platforms.

    Documentation and Interpretation

    Architectural photography is more than simply a casual attempt to picture a structure. By the 1860s, architectural photography had established itself as a valuable visual medium, and by the mid-twentieth century, architects had begun to frequently collaborate with photographers. For one reason or another, buildings have become highly appreciated photographic subjects. They reflect cultural importance and reveal societal trends, which is an essential aspect of photography and its recording function.

    From Fascist architecture in Italy to structures in the Soviet Union, leaders of totalitarian regimes utilized architecture to symbolize authority and domination. These are merely contemporary examples, but the ancient ones — cathedrals, temples, and castles – are much more evident.

    Is there a better method to ensure that these monuments are preserved than to photograph them? Time and change are captured by architecture photographers. They recognize, in a sophisticated way, the synthesis of the ancient and the new, the neoclassical and the modern. They support architectural design and stage sets, but they also capture spontaneous events that occur in and around buildings and landscapes, revealing their actual character.

    Architectural photography
    Photo by Format

    Architecture photographers employ a variety of approaches, some of which have been used since the beginning. They utilised view cameras to provide a controlled perspective, with the focal plane of the camera perpendicular to the ground. Photographers nowadays mostly utilise digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLRs), which provide a variety of lenses, depth of focus, and perspective adjustment choices.

    Architectural Photography as Career Option

    A skilled photographer can capture any environment and make it look like a canvas painting, but architects understand the value of lines and shapes, it raises itself uniquely when an architect pursues the art of photography. While photographing buildings and locations across the world is the most prevalent pastime, that doesn’t imply there aren’t professions in this sector. The field is tiny yet specialized.

    With the majority of advertising and marketing taking place online, architects, designers, institutions, hotels, tours & travels, and real estate developers demand high-quality images to help get clients in the door. They want photos to demonstrate the quality and diversity of their work on websites or in portfolios. How many people have made hotel or Airbnb reservations after seeing the photos? Almost anything nowadays.

    Builders require images to market their inventory; students need photographs to learn about the building through presentations or drawings; fine art and architectural shots are sold in art galleries and on digital media such as Shutter stock, stock photos, and numerous other web portals and personal blogs. As the saying goes, if you want to learn something, read an old book.

    Whether it’s for a business or a designer, low-quality pictures represent the identity. Despite having intended emotions or an aesthetic touch, people instinctively link terrible pictures with a poor company or design quality, sullying the brand and marketing. Software such as Photoshop, Lightroom, and filters may be used to fine-tune images until they resemble reality as much as possible.

    All of this creates a demand for architectural photographers that have been trained or have extensive experience. All began as freelancers, and today many have their own businesses and employ experts. Many institutions offer online or in-person architectural photography classes, and there are several free tutorials accessible.

    Will it help earn your bread and butter?

    Most architectural photographers are not paid on an annual basis or work full-time, they are engaged on a project-by-project basis. The amount charged is also determined by where one lives and the customer. They may charge a set cost to deliver a folder of building or interior photos, or they may charge per visit and then give a bundle containing multiple rendered images. It all depends on how much time they need to spend preparing, shooting, and editing, and each photographer charges differently.

     Need for Architectural Photographers

    Images are immediately registered and processed in the brain with incredibly short attention spans in today’s image-obsessed world. A tale is given every step of the process, from photographs to walkthroughs, videos to reels. The before and after photos we view to assist us to understand how a location is altered, eliciting an emotional response inside us.

    Every company must advertise itself. Your images must retain the integrity of your brand whether they are utilized for print advertising, marketing brochures and materials, personal website, or just Instagram and Pinterest. First and foremost, you want to keep your brand’s individuality. Is your firm more formal or more laid-back? A skilled photographer who specializes in your business will set up the photographs properly. Whether your photographs are of products, people, architecture, or cuisine, a professional photographer knows how to emphasize the greatest aspects of your product.

    Second, you’d like your real photos to appear stunning. People have an unspoken association: if the photographs are terrible, the product is bad or the company does not care enough to have decent photos or both. As a result, even the greatest staging may be ruined if the lighting isn’t correct or the angles don’t reflect the proportions of the object while still evoking emotions and an aesthetic notion.

    Professional lighting can make or break any picture. Colour, depth perception and other factors can be influenced by lighting. Certain characteristics can be highlighted by bright lighting, while faults might be concealed by purposeful shadows. This is also true in terms of architecture and design.

    The objective is to keep the colours and lighting as they were intended by the architect and interior designer. It is critical to assess the space at various times of day to discover how typical light (natural or artificial) interacts with the area. The finished output should appear entirely real as if you are standing right there. Taking use of the natural shadows in these places should always be a good idea.

    Post-production is also an essential part of the process. A competent architectural photographer should be able to utilize a variety of ways to repair any flaws in the original photos while keeping them looking entirely natural.

    Future

    Another thing that changed throughout the digital age was that had an unavoidable impact on architectural photography. Modeling and rendering experts use 3D tools to create pictures that properly depict the argument over whether reality is unreal or the simulation is too lifelike. Almost every architectural firm creates renderings to picture their ideas before they are completed, so that investors and the general public may predict how they will look in the future.

    Architectural Photography
    photo by Sebastian Svenson on Unsplash

    When confronted with these approaches, photography appears to adopt a weird posture, ranging from blatant imitations to total illusions. It can be utilized as a complement to the render, assisting in the creation of illusory pictures that resemble reality, or as a contemporaneous stream that carries something that renderings seldom do – a hint of imperfection.

    Technically, I believe that both are significant and that if the renders surpass the expectations of the pictures, the photographs may be included in the project’s As-built stage, which will serve as a visual record of what was suggested vs. what was achieved.

  • Streetscape: Some Spectacular Streets That Have Become A City’s Identity

    Streetscape: Some Spectacular Streets That Have Become A City’s Identity

    Streetscape Architecture is the city’s backbone. The streets are the finest area to stroll all day long if someone wants to learn about the culture of a city. Streets are an important part of a city’s civic life and overall town planning. As a result, streetscaping has become a decisive factor in a city’s development. The term “streetscape” is used to underline the significance of streets in a city. Any city’s streetscape depicts the natural constructed architecture of the street, which adds to the space’s experience quality.

    Streetscape as a term

    Is used to characterize the street’s built and natural fabric, and is regarded as the place’s design quality and visual effect.” This planning idea recognises that streets are public property on which everyone has an equal claim in social gatherings. Streetscape Architecture is an important aspect of the community realm since they aid in the definition of mobility. It also expresses a sense of community and possibility. 

    The way people perceive and interact with their neighbourhood and the built environment around them is significantly influenced by the streetscape. It can be inferred that streetscapes are an important part of a city’s aesthetic value, economic activity, health, and sustainability and that their aesthetics have a significant impact on public spaces where people interact.

    However, streetscapes are more than simply a tool for improving a person’s experience or a city’s road network; they also formulate a set of recommendations for building sustainable urban design principles and a city of the future. Our daily lives are shaped by the streets we walk, but they also have an impact on our collective national identities. On a smaller scale, the government has commissioned some of the world’s most beautiful and inventive streets, but residents have had significant participation.

    With diverse components such as bollards, street furniture, and lighting, streetscape architecture can also make a political statement and be the reason behind city development in India. Democratic characteristics such as non-hostile terrain components and open markets support a country’s radical identity and political position. Hong Kong’s streets, for instance, have changed dramatically in response to shifting political and social circumstances. Thousands of demonstrators recently tore up the grey metal railings that had been a common sight on Hong Kong’s streets to use as barricades.

    Apart from creating a more user-friendly street, Streetscape also contributes to the development of a sense of identity among its residents as well as a way of extending the country’s ideals. Buenos Aires, Argentina’s La Boca district. The picturesque Spanish street, with its many flowers and white-washed walls, is extremely distinctive of the region and embodies everything it is renowned and loved for. This community, which includes European immigrants who became dockworkers, reflects its main value creativity through its physical construction.

    Streetscape: An Identity of a City

    Identity is a psychological phrase that relates to one’s self-image, or the defining trait or attributes that determine one’s identity. The streets have the power to convey information about their surroundings and culture. It contains the city’s or people’s distinctive characteristics. We will remember the streets we passed through and the memories associated with them, no matter where we were or where we travelled years ago.

    Why should Architects Care?

    Capturing life in a city is crucial for architects and urban designers. Because public spaces are the lifeblood of every city, the designer cannot afford to ignore the image they project. Any streetscape design should include not just how to improve the aesthetics of the roadway but also how to make it more sustainable. Because the streets are public property, the users must have a sense of belonging there. 

    As a result, the term streetscape refers to an important urban design element that has the ability to transform a simple road into a bustling hub. When landscaping or renewing a roadway, take in mind the components that contribute to a healthier atmosphere.

    Some of the most Beautiful Streets in the Same World

    There are different types of streets. Take, for example, the bustling Caminito in Buenos Aires’ La Boca district, which serves as both a photo op and a reminder of how the city was developed in the nineteenth century. Streets, on the other hand, do not need to teach you about history or be painted in Technicolor to be charming. Some are known for their beautiful natural features, such as the cherry blossom tunnel in Bonn, Germany, which only appears for a few weeks each spring. The street architecture listed here is some of the world’s most beautiful.

    Moscow, Russia

    streetscape
    Source

    Along with Paris, Tokyo, New York, and London, Moscow is one of the world’s five most lit cities. In Moscow, the number of locations with architectural and aesthetic illumination has doubled in the last nine years, reaching over 2,000. 

    Local and tourists alike frequent five streets in the city centre: Nikolskaya, Bolshaya Dmitrovka, Kuznetsky Most, Stoleshnikov Pereulok, and Kamergersky Pereulok. They were decorated with LED garlands a few years ago that flickered with thousands of lights, providing a joyful mood despite the weather or seasonality. Experts inspect the light fixtures on all five streets every day, repairing what has to be fixed, replacing bulbs, and adjusting the garlands’ geometry.

    Nikolskaya Streetscape is home to the world’s longest LED garland, which spans about 92 kilometres of the starry sky and is practically within grasp. In 2017, the fixture was fitted. Nikolskaya became a mecca for football lovers from all over the world in 2018 when Moscow hosted the World Cup.

    The fans were so taken with the magnificent installations that some of them snatched the LED bulbs as mementos while standing on each other’s shoulders. This, however, had no effect on the joyous mood because utility engineers and electricians quickly replaced the missing parts with new ones maintaining its streetscape architecture.

    Quebec City, Canada

    quebec
    Photo by AD

    Quebec City has a compelling case for being the most gorgeous city in Canada. It’s made much more difficult to defeat by streetscape like Rue du Petit Champlain. Unique boutiques and bistros line this quaint, European-inspired boulevard. During any season of the year, this picture-perfect location is very delightful.

    Recife, Brazil

    recife

    Recife is Brazil’s eastern edge major city, and the lovely Rua do Bom Jesus is located in one of the city’s easternmost areas. The vibrant street architecture is flanked with tall palm palms and is steeped in history. The Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue, erected in the 15th century, was the first synagogue built in the Americas. Visitors can still view the structure.

    Paris, France

    Paris

    Montmartre, in Paris, was home to some of the world’s most famous cultural figures around the turn of the century. Many renowned residents of this once-bohemian area were Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Pablo Picasso, and Amedeo Modigliani.

    While Montmartre retains its artist community character, fashionable boutiques have crept in, transforming it into one of Paris’ most beautiful neighbourhoods with the prettiest street architecture. The Rue de l’Abreuvoir and Rue des Saules, in particular, are a must-see location. The colourful structures and ivy-covered walls, which can be located right behind the gigantic landmark Sacré-Cur, are a photographer’s delight.

    Águeda, Portugal

    street architecture

    The Umbrella Sky Project in Gueda began in 2011 as part of the annual gitagueda Art Festival in Portugal. When the weather gets hot in the summer, a few of gueda’s small streets have colourful umbrella canopies that provide shade to the pedestrians below and a scenic streetscape.

    Pretoria, South Africa

    south africa
    Photo by AD

    If you’re thinking about visiting South Africa, late September to November is a good time to go. In South Africa, that’s when the wonderfully lovely jacaranda trees blossom. With purple branches draping over the streets, any drive or stroll around Pretoria (which, like Johannesburg, seems to have trees growing out of every corner) is sure to be unforgettable. Fun fact: Although the jacaranda is native to Brazil, the first one was grown in South Africa in the late 1800s.

    Kyoto, Japan

    japan

    Tetsugaku no michi is a 1.2-mile-long street in Kyoto, Japan. The cherry-tree-lined route winds alongside a waterway and past Ginkaku-ji temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Tetsugaku no michi is best visited in April, when the road’s overhanging trees are in full bloom.

    York, England

    england

    Shambles, a streetscape in York, England, has been lined with buildings since the 14th century. The lovely timber-framed buildings sway and hang over the cobblestoned roadway below. 

    Cordoba, Spain

    cordoba

    Calleja de las Flores is a short streetscape that leads to a plaza in the Andalusian city of Cordoba. The lovely Spanish street is quite typical of the region with its abundant flowers and white-washed houses.

    Chefchaouen, Morocco

    Morocco

    A small city in northwest Morocco, Chefchaouen, is known for its various tones of blue. The city was founded in 1471 and was formerly used as a fortification for Spanish exiles. Many Jews moved to Chefchaouen over the years, carrying with them the ancient notion that wearing blue dye would remind people of God’s strength. Visitors should take a trip down Al Hassan Onsar, Rue Outiwi, and the narrow stairs leading up and down Rue Bin Souaki for the most realistic experience and a delightful Streetscape architecture view.

    Bonn, Germany

    germany

    The lovely tunnel produced by the trees surrounding Cherry Blossom Avenue in Bonn, Germany, attracts tourists and photographers for two to three weeks each spring. The trees make for a natural streetscape that looks breathtakingly beautiful.

    Lijiang, China

    china

    The 1,000-year-old Old Town in Lijiang, China, is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its organised canals and walkways. For some of the more outstanding streetscape views, take a stroll down Qiyi Street Chongron Alley or Wuyi Street Wenzhi Alley.

    Istanbul, Turkey

    istanbul
    Photo by AD

    Balat, a Turkish bohemian village, is known for its tiny, sloped cobblestone lanes, the most famous of which is Kiremit Street architecture. It is surrounded by brightly painted homes and shops, which add to the neighborhood’s appeal. Balat, which was once the Jewish neighbourhood, today houses a mix of churches, mosques, and synagogues, all of which are interspersed among cafés and stores.

    Boston, Massachusetts

    boston

    Beacon Hill would be the most picturesque neighbourhood in Boston if there could only be one. Beacon Hill was founded in 1795 and is known for its steep, narrow alleys lined with classically American Federal–style (and a few Victorian) row buildings. Perhaps because it is a stylish representation of Colonial Boston, Acorn Street is one of the most photographed streetscapes in the city. It’s also only a few minutes’ walk from Boston’s gorgeous Public Garden.

    London, England

    england
    Pinterest

    London’s mile-long Portobello Streetscape was once merely a 19th-century rural path connecting the rich Portobello Farm with Kensal Green in the north and what is now the colourful district of Notting Hill in the south, before becoming one of the world’s most-visited street markets. However, in the second part of the 1800s, the road began to develop in reaction to the sweeping homes that were springing up all around it.

    In Conclusion

    The streets are a constant source of visual conversation, with a wide range of voices vying for our attention. However, the country is defined by all of these many voices. Streetscape components all play an important role in a country’s identity, both historically and in terms of its future vision.

  • Architecting the Metaverse: Important Role of Architecture in Virtual Environments

    Architecting the Metaverse: Important Role of Architecture in Virtual Environments


    What is a Metaverse?

    The term “Metaverse” was coined by Neal Stephenson as a successor to the Internet and represents Stephenson’s vision of how a digital world might evolve in the near future. It was derived from a 1992 sci-fi novel called “Snowcrash.” Movies like “Blackmirror” and “Matrix” may give you an idea of what life in the metaverse would be like, where anything we can conceive can exist and we can constantly connect to the metaverse to expand our real lives with amazing experiences.

    Science fiction is where most people get their ideas about the Metaverse. The Metaverse is often depicted as a virtual “jacked-in” internet — a manifestation of true reality but one grounded in a simulated (often theme park-like) environment, similar to that depicted in Ready Player One and The Matrix. While these types of experiences are likely to be part of the Metaverse, they are constrained in the very same way that films like Tron depicted the Internet as a literal digital “information superhighway” of bytes. 

    It was difficult to imagine the Internet of 2020 in 1982, and much more difficult to describe it to individuals who had never “logged” onto it. The Metaverse is a difficult concept to convey. Core characteristics, however, can be identified. 

    metaverse

    Metaverse is believed to be

    • It never “resets,” “pauses,” or “ends,” it just keeps on endlessly. 
    • Be synchronised and dynamic – while pre-scheduled and self-contained events occur, just as they do in “real life,” the Metaverse will be a living experience that lives in real-time for everyone.
    • Allow for an unlimited number of concurrent users while still giving each user their own sense of “presence” — everyone can be a part of the Metaverse and engage in a certain occasion at the same time and with their own sense of agency. 
    • Corporations and individuals will be able to create, own, invest, sell, and get compensated for a vast array of “labour” that generates “value” that is recognised by others. 
    • Be a hybrid of the virtual and real worlds, private and public networks/experiences, and open and closed channels.

    Provide unparalleled data, digital items/assets, content, and other interoperability across each of these experiences — for example, your Counter-Strike gun skin might be used to paint a pistol in Fortnite or presented to a buddy on/through Facebook.

    An automobile created for Rocket League (or even Porsche’s website) might be carried across to operate in Roblox in the same way. Today’s digital world operates as if it were a shopping mall, with each store having its own money, unique ID cards, proprietary units of measurement for items like shoes or calories, and various dress rules, among other things.

    Be inhabited by “data” and “insights” developed and managed by a vast array of contributors, some of whom are self-employed people, while others may be spontaneously organized organizations or commercialized businesses.

    What does it mean for Architects?

    The Digital Economy’s Rise in the Big Picture

    The global economy is shifting dramatically from the real to the digital, and the integration of the two has increased dramatically since the worldwide pandemic. 

    Several physical retail establishments have shuttered their doors, while fashion houses such as Balenciaga have chosen to present their latest collection in a video game. Commercial real estate owners are straining as tenants leave or downsize their workplaces, while video conferencing providers such as Zoom have soared in popularity as the virus spreads.

    covid
    Photo by GQIndia

    COVID-19 has altered our workplace culture, fastened the rise of e-commerce, and changed the way organisations run, whether we like it or not. Gaming, fashion, Hollywood, and cryptocurrency are among of the first industries to develop metaverses. There will be no other choice but to participate in the new release. You won’t be able to survive as a business if you don’t do this.

    In the Digital Economy, An Architect’s Identity Crisis

    In the physical world, architects are already dealing with an identity crisis. We used to be the master builder, possessing all of the necessary construction knowledge and skills. However, in today’s industrial society, many majors such as structure, mechanical, electricity, budget, and construction management have been separated from architecture, leaving the remaining portion to be mostly form-making, visualisation, close cooperation, and so on, with a scarcity of key technologies.

    “Architecture is a time-consuming profession.” The simplest architectural endeavour takes at least four, five, or six years, which is far too slow for the current upheavals.” According to Rem Koolhas, a Pritzker Prize-winning Dutch architect, one of the profession’s shortcomings is its failure to adapt to today’s shifting technological and social climates. Technology is progressing, and “outsiders” in the IT world are attempting to restructure or reinvent the AEC business. We need to adjust to adapt, from industry to academics. 

    The metaverse is a new playground in which architects and other interested parties can participate. What more value can we add to the game if we are competing against game designers or developers?

    Architect as a Link Between the Real and the Virtual

    Architects have been in charge of building physical environments for ages. We have a firm knowledge of the projects because we are acting as the project manager to engage with all disciplines to deliver projects to end-users, whereas other consultants are more likely to be familiar with only a portion integrity of the entire picture.

    Architects can operate as a bridge between the actual and virtual worlds, thanks to the growing trend of developing Digital Twins in the AEC business. “In construction, engineering, and architecture, a digital twin is a dynamic, up-to-date replica of a physical asset or collection of assets — whether it’s a building, a campus, a city, or a railway — that brings together design, construction, and real-time operational data,” according to Autodesk. Decisions are simulated, predicted, and informed by digital twins.”

    Architects could use simulations to construct virtual versions of real-world scenarios in order to “test drive” unassembled structures. A digital twin is a model of a structure that uses data from connected sensors to tell its storey throughout its life cycle.

    In the metaverse, there will be several applications that house digital clones or scan data such as point clouds and photogrammetry of real-world locations. Simply be imaginative in how you use the materials and how you create interactions and experiences across both domains.

    Need for Social Responsibility in the Virtual World

    Architects are strong communicators and listeners. To understand what clients and communities desire, we start by listening a lot. Apart from servicing clients, architects are more likely to prioritise social effect and responsibility in order to better serve a community as a whole. 

    Culture manifests and expresses itself through architecture. Prior to conceptual design, we attempt to comprehend a specific cultural background, which includes languages, place memory, and lifestyles. While the metaverse is not geographically bound, its users come from a variety of cultural backgrounds, and we may create “vernacular” metaverses that are rich in diversity and cultural inclusion.

    Importance of Architecture

    “Architecture stands with one leg in a 3,000-year-old world and perhaps another leg in the twenty-first century,” says Rem Koolhas. Our occupation is shockingly deep because of this almost ballet-like flexibility. You could argue we’re the very last profession with a memory, or the last profession with antecedents dating back 3,000 years that still exhibits the value of those long journeys today. I believed we were in the wrong location to deal with the present at first, but what we offer the present is memory.”

    History is a mirror in which we see fresh facets every time we look at it. Architecture’s values have changed over time. From the Romans’ “Stability, Utility, and Beauty” to Ruskin’s “The Seven Lamps of Architecture (Sacrifice, Truth, Power, Beauty, Life, Obedience, and Memory)” in the nineteenth century.

    From Le Corbusier’s “Toward an Architecture,” which ushered in modern architecture in the twentieth century by eschewing ornament and embracing pure form as the new spirit of the industrial age, to Christopher Alexander’s “Pattern Language,” which had a significant impact on software engineering.

     In this digital age, do we need to identify new architectural values? My dear readers, I’d like to pose a question to you. We can construct a brilliant unmaterial metaverse if we can better define and implement the value of architecture.

    The metaverse is in the process of forming and changing. Are you eager, dear fellow architects?

    Meta Modernism Architecture

    Meta Modernism Architecture is an architectural ideology and trend based on fresh and novel virtual architecture design technology in multiple Metaverses. 

    It is basically an architectural movement, to describe Meta Modernism Architecture. A movement dedicated to spreading their distinct expressions across different metaverses, including particularly fascinating connections with Decentraland, such as staging a PolkaWorld event. 

    Charlie Sun and Yen are the architects at the forefront of the Meta Modernism Architecture movement. Charlie Sun, the creator of Meta Live Studio, is a ten-year architect and designer. Yen is a metaverse architect that started working in this industry in 2019 and has created virtual galleries for well-known artists and collectors like ArtGee, Hackatao, and The Shanghai Gallery.

    Introducing the Meta Modernism Architecture team’s pieces that will be on display at The Gallery

    Meta City: The team is optimistic about Decentraland’s future, with an ever-growing number of users, events, and structures. We’ve constructed a simulation for the metaverse metropolis of the coming years as professional architects and urban planners! 

    Metarchitect Studio: The metaverse architectural studio employs the Genesis voxel concept, which is a hovering digital unit that continually generates new architecture. It is a Metarchitects’ manifesto, a depiction of Metaverse spirits, and a gallery of Metaverse architecture language, where you can explore the Metaverse’s various architectural forms.

    Vault Hill Office: A Metaverse within a Metaverse is Vault Hill Office. Consider the Vault Hill Office to be the Decentraland metaverse’s experience centre. By introducing traditional architectural design into the metaverse, this invention focuses on merging real-life design with utility. It includes three unique floors, the first of which is a public atrium, the second of which is a private space, and the third of which is a rooftop that provides a fantastic view of the surrounding area.

    Shanghai Gallery: One of their esteemed investors and partners, Yin Cao, the creator of Digital Renaissance Foundation, has a gallery in Shanghai. The Shanghai Gallery promotes the belief in the inherent goodness of combining art and technology in the present day. 

    Floating Monument: From afar, a stone voxel, a floating realism monument. The sturdy facade and recessed windows evoke mediaeval city walls, although the floating stance can be misleading.

    Cyberpunk Factory: A factory with a punk facade and pixel core aimed at revealing the confluence of blockchain and metaverse spirits, which came in 10th place in the Aatheria Builder Contest.

    The NFT Craze and Future of Design Profession

    Would you buy a virtual building if someone tried to sell one to you? A virtual building, to be precise. Not anything that can be built in the real world or that you can enter, but an image or a movie that you can watch. This is essentially what’s being recommended as architecture enters the world of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which have swept the globe.

    NFTs have major implications for the future of digitalisation and commoditisation of the unbuilt environment in the design profession, which is constantly seeking to redefine what it means to be an architect. 

    Despite the fact that NFTs have been present since 2013, their popularity has recently exploded, or at least gained the attention of the mainstream media. Bidders are interested in owning a piece of virtual originality due to the excitement, novelty, and disruption around digital purchases.

    NFTs are intended to provide you with something that can’t be duplicated: ownership of work valued at the price you pay for it via blockchain. It’s seen as the next stage in fine art collection, as well as a new frontier in terms of what we deem to be art, how we value it, and how we exhibit it.

    You can make as many copies of a digital file as you want, but there is always only one original. It’s akin to how the Mona Lisa is shown in the Louvre, except the image has been replicated all around the globe.

    The popularity of NFTs is due to technology, which has created a virtual world where items may be collected. 

    A 3D artist named Alexis Christodoulou recently sold his renderings as part of an NFT auction. The collection sold for roughly $340,000 as a package of nine animated videos that blur the line between the built and natural worlds. 

    Nifty Gateway, one of many online portals that offer digital goods, listed a set of “virtual furniture” for nearly half a million dollars. The furniture was designed by Andres Reisinger, a 29-year-old Barcelona-based artist, and consisted of couches, drawers, and an office chair that were auctioned off to bidders who could then use the furniture to build surroundings.

    nifty gateway
    Photo by Archdaily

    Mars House designed by artist Krista Kim, was the first ever digital house to be sold on the NFT marketplace. 

    mars house

    And very recently CEEK shared on twitter about the H&M virtual store being proposed that would provide a shopping experience in the Metaverse without using a gaming platform and solely being an online store. As H&M already has some stunning digital fashion out we can sure hope a virtual store in the making. 

    virtual store
    Photo by indiatoday

    Some NFT designers on Instagram to take inspiration from:

    1. Adrian Moram
    adrian moram
    @adrianmoram on Instagram
    • Ezequiel Pini
    Ezequiel Pini
    • Alexis Christodoulou
    3. Alexis Christodoulou
    • Andrés Reisinger
    NFT

    While some say that NFTs are only a “bubble” that will ultimately “burst,” rendering these digital images obsolete, there will undoubtedly be long-term effects on the art world and the wider design industry as more and more artists and designers enter the unknown future of this online market.

    First and foremost, NFTs pose a question about ownership. In the architectural industry, ownership of a rendering, or image, is often assigned to a design firm rather than a single member of the design team. While the initial challenge may be determining who makes money on an NFT, it may provide opportunity for smaller offices that focus on more theoretical work to generate additional revenue.

    This has the potential to change how we value architectural works in general. Architects are frequently treated as commodities, and their work is reduced to a simple transaction of services. Instead of experiencing the pressures of clients and dealing with the financial limits of a project, creativity will be recognised more and the ideas that currently limit architecture will shift, altering the entire profession and making architecture even more democratised.

  • 10 Best Examples of European Houses Around the World

    10 Best Examples of European Houses Around the World

    Unlike any other region, Europe has had a significant impact on architecture. Europe has a vast architectural legacy that reaches back to ancient times and has aided in giving unique answers to difficulties faced by diverse European nations. Art deco, art nouveau, De Stijl, modernism, futurism, brutalism, deconstructivism, and postmodernism were all influential in early twentieth-century European architecture. Facades, columns, and pilasters, arches, vaults, domes, windows, and walls built of brick or stone are common features of European house architecture.

    Examples of different types of European Houses

    More than anything else, architectural style determines how a home appears and feels. There are a variety of house architecture types in Europe, each reflecting the trends, affluence, and sometimes just the general mood of the age in which they were created and built.

    Some common characteristics of European house design are rooflines with sharply pitched hip or gable roof design and irregular massing, decorative aspects such as half-timbering, intricate windows, and brick or stonework are utilized in combination with brick, stone, and stucco.

    European house architecture has evolved tremendously but some features unique to its style remain the same and listed below are some European houses to learn more about this style of house architecture.

    Buckingham Palace

    Buckingham Palace
    Photo by Pinterest

    Home to the monarch, Buckingham Palace is a remarkable example of Neoclassical French Architecture by john Nash. The Buckingham Palace was designed in the 19th century, in an era that undoubtedly produced masterpieces, with modifications and renovations continuing until the 20th century.

    History

    The location at Westminster in London had a mulberry plantation and the Duke of Buckingham’s mansion, which was eventually demolished to make way for King George III and Queen Charlotte’s new house architecture. However, their son George IV had a vision of making that basic house into a masterpiece, and he enlisted the help of John Nash and his team of architects. The crew began work on the remodeling in the 1820s and was heavily influenced by the post-Rococo architectural trend known as “Neoclassicism.” Following Queen Victoria’s ascension, the palace was designated as the official London residence of the British monarch in 1837.

    European House Architecture

    The King was enamored with French Neoclassical design, and the palace’s front façade displays those elaborate elements. The symmetry in elevation, which is supported by lofty powerful columns, is a wonderful example of neoclassical qualities. The façade, which is made of Portland stone, is undeniably spectacular, with a refined and uncomplicated appearance that is agreeable to the eye.

    Buckingham Palace

    The palace is significantly bigger, with a floor area of 77,000 square metres and a height of 24 metres making it even more impressive. It has a total of 775 rooms, including 53 bedrooms,188 rooms for staff, and more than 90 offices. The Music Room, Drawing Room, and Throne Room are among the many rooms, each with its own function. The interior areas are decorated in a Belle Époque cream and gold colour scheme, with scagliola and blue and pink, dominating. 

    Buckingham Palace
    Photo by Vogue

    With various extensions occurring over the years, the palace evolved into a square layout with a quadrangle in the centre and two stories.

    The Present

    The palace is currently the residence of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, as well as the Duke of York and the Earl and Countess of Wessex. Apart from being a dwelling, the palace also serves as an art gallery, housing the Royal Collection, which includes precious artworks and furnishings. The Queen’s palace and art collection are not her personal property; they belong to the country.

    Buckingham Palace
    Photo by RTF

    The structure is an architectural marvel that symbolizes the beauty and grandeur of bygone centuries, in addition to being a historical and political marvel. Buckingham Palace has had its own path; there is plenty to see, learn, and be inspired by. The palace is indicative of a wide range of emotions, from citizens hoping to catch a sight of the Queen from the balcony to an architecture student awestruck by this regal grandeur.

    House in Ostrava

    House in Ostrava
    Photo by Archdaily

    The House in Ostrava was created by ti2 architekti and is based on the log style of European house Architecture. A log house, often known as a log cabin, is a conventional dwelling made of unmilled logs that are structurally similar to a log house. The phrase “log cabin” isn’t used by modern builders because it usually refers to a smaller, more rustic log structure, such as a summer cottage or a hunting cabin.

    House in Ostrava
    Photo by Archdaily

    House in Ostrava is a modern twist on the log-type European house design that was erected in 2019 in the Czech Republic’s city of Ostrava and spans over 277 square metres. The house is fashioned like a thin, long figure that follows the undulating terrain. The bottom floor has three different height levels, and the house’s technical amenities are located in the basement.

     The design is based on a rigorous zoning system for the day and night sections. The sloping roof design is about 30 metres long, with inner spaces ranging in height from intimate 2.3 metres to expansive 3.5 metres. The Facade is made up of metal trapeze plates that are vented. There are apertures on the longest facade sides, and the elementary block shape is connected by another volume consisting of a subterranean staircase.

    Rustic Red and Yellow Country House

    Rustic Red and Yellow Country House
    Photo by homestratosphere

     It is a classic European house design with open floor plans, arches, hip roof design with European roofing materials like clay tiles and stone-clad walls showcasing a country house architecture located in Windsor. It’s a seamless amalgamation of old-world ideas and modern technology, offering its owner a 4-bedroom plus loft (6-bedroom septic), 6.5-bath farmhouse that blends into the typical Vermont backdrop.

    Rustic Red and Yellow Country House

    The property has it all: a stunning 21+ acre setting with views of rolling meadows, Rush Meadow Valley, and Mount Ascutney, as well as endless stone walls, apple trees, a cascading river, and two ponds. 

    On the surface, it’s classic, yet on the inside, it’s hip with the first floor of the European house being open, with huge windows and high ceilings, plenty of light, and views from every window. A two-bay garage, carriage house party barn, wood room, and yoga studio are among the facilities that are connected. The three-season carriage barn’s enormous glass door opens to the stone terrace, and a massive stone fireplace and soaring ceilings make this a spectacular gathering spot for family and friends, with a nice guest suite on the second level.

    Rustic Red and Yellow Country House

    Kozina House

    Kozina House
    Source

    This European house was built in a historical section of a small South Bohemian town that, despite its neglect, has a strong aura and potential. This European house is concealed from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding traffic in the little tranquil lanes next to the green patch of Kozina Square, although only a few feet separate the owners from the town centre with stores, services and offices, schools, cinema, theatre, and train station.

    Kozina House
    Source

     The restored house is seen as a viable alternative to suburban houses that obtrude on the landscape in an excessive manner. It has all the characteristics of a European house design on the outside and a minimalist and modern approach to the interior. It includes white stone encased walls and wide windows on the outside, as well as a gable roof style with orange clay tile as the roofing material.

    Archways play an important role in interior design. This house has a fairly large living room with an attached outdoor terrace, an attic with children’s rooms and a playroom, a bedroom with its own bathroom, a garden with fruit trees, two parking spaces, and a spacious workshop with a car lift on a slightly smaller plot of land. Two adjoining houses are connected to form a residential building.

    Banja House

    Banja House
    Source

    The view from this European house, which is located in the hills of southwest Serbia, opens up to the valley over the Lim River and the neighboring countries of Montenegro and Bosnia, and Herzegovina. The house is ideal, nestled close to nature on a hill surrounded by pines, Swiss stone pines, and larches. It hasn’t been occupied since 1992, due to the fact that it was left unfinished. The proprietors have indicated a desire to create a bright, inviting hideaway here 30 years later.

    After three decades, GOLE GmbH – Architecture Office was able to bring this silent witness to a turbulent time into the present. The wish for an expansion for a new future was realised by dramatic, yet precisely dosed initiatives. The canopy was cut back to the facade, individual windows were relocated, and the facade was insulated for the first time. The role of the ground floor is reflected in its name: here is where things are fired and canned, cooked, and produced.

    On the first level of this House Architecture, a piano nobile with a small kitchen and bedrooms was constructed. Here, the window frames have been transformed into nature-inspired picture frames. The heat is stored in the new stone slab floor throughout the day and released at night.

    The top-level was transformed into a light-filled loft with a 360-degree view of the woods and valley: naked walls and soothing views. During huge family get-togethers, relatives are hosted here twice a year.

    Two Story 5-Bedroom Georgian Home

    Two Story 5-Bedroom Georgian Home

    As the name suggests it is a Georgian-style European house and some of the common qualities found in the Georgian-style house architecture are termed infinite in their variations, including symmetrical, centre-entry façade two-story houses and an infusion of the two-room-deep center-passage floor plan.

    Some unique features in this particular house – Front external image with hipped roof design, elaborate columns, and wrought iron railings around the main door. Right outside is the view with balconies and a stairway leading to a kitchen with a french door. A double garage and arched windows can be seen on the left side of the house. Hipped and gable roof design, as well as an airy patio with a trellis roof, may be seen from the back. The living room and family room are separated by a carpeted stairway. The family room features many arched windows and is entirely open to the kitchen and dining area.

    Ranch Style California Home

    Ranch Style California Home
    Source

    European house architecture has influenced designs all over the world and this California ranch-style house is one such example. The ranch house architecture is noted for its long, dense ground profile and minimalistic nature, which employs a limited number of interior and outdoor decors. This home combines modernist ideals with working ranches to create a relaxed and easygoing atmosphere. 

    Ranch style was popular among the postwar middle class from the 1940s through the 1970s, and it was first built in the 1920s. Although this design was able to be exported to other countries, its popularity diminished in the late twentieth century as the neo-eclectic house style grew prominent.

    This California Ranch is a single-story house that has a neutral and minimal aesthetic in order to provide a cozy atmosphere for its owners. Ranch staff houses are known to be earthy and blend with the tones of nature and this house serves that just right. This house shows a sloping roof design and basic square windows which is common in this style.

    Milton Slater Brown House

    Milton Slater Brown House
    Milton Slater Brown House

    The Milton Slater Brown House is a splendid example of a Queen Anne-style European house that was vastly popular between 1700 to 1714 and then there was a revival in the 19th century.

    This Queen Anne-style house has abandoned all pretenses of symmetry in its house architecture. The sharply pitched roof design is a complicated fusion of hipped and gable roofs, chimneys, dormers, and turrets, and is often irregular in shape. Bay windows protrude from the side walls in an apparently random pattern. Although porches contribute to the asymmetrical look, the main facade of a typical Queen Anne House usually has a gable that dominates the elevation, giving it a singular focal point.

    The house’s details are an intricate blend of shapes, textures, and colours. There are a variety of walling textures, similar to the Stick Style House, with clapboard treatments, shingle patterns, and moldings. Spindles, brackets, finials, and columns are frequently used in combination. Queen Anne’s aesthetic impact was enhanced by the use of bold, rich, and bright hues. Along with a myriad of designs this house has three different roof designs including a dome-style roof over a room.

    This house has a complex blend of shapes, textures, and colours in its detailing. There are a variety of walling textures, such as clapboard treatments, shingle patterns, and mouldings, much as there are in the Stick Style House. Spindles, brackets, finials, and columns in various combinations are also popular. Bold, rich, vivid colours gave the Queen Anne visual punch, thus paint schemes add to the cluttered look.

    Pennycroft House

    Pennycroft House
    Photo by Archdaily

    Pennycroft is a stunning five-bedroom family home built on a semi-rural property on the outskirts of Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, to replace an outmoded 1930s house architecture. To adhere to the strict regulations in a designated ‘Area of Special Character,’ the design is a contemporary interpretation of local Arts and Crafts architecture that references successful architectural elements of the era while providing a solution that better suits the needs of modern-day family living.

    A substantial brick base perforated with a series of holes supports a ‘clear storey’ with timber details above. The new construction consists of two structural elements: a massive two-story structure that houses the majority of the house and a vaulted single-story living area. A sleek glass bridge connects the two volumes, allowing them to be read independently while physically connecting to form an L-shaped footprint that frames the back garden.

    Bovingdon handcrafted red brick with lime mortar, sourced locally, wraps around the entire lower floor, resulting in a classic, high-quality finish. A rhythmical arcade of deep timber reveals with glass and timber infill spans the entire upper floor. All of the wood is FSC certified Douglas Fir that has been treated to keep its original, deep amber colour. This arcade can also be interpreted as a clerestory, which illuminates the facade from within at night.

    An off-center glass gable disturbs the rhythm on both sides of the volume, rising to a steep apex placed within a high-pitched roof design that echoes the form of historic Arts and Crafts structures. These exquisite gables are essential to focus points both inside and externally, emphasizing the location of two huge timber doors on the front facade, which serves as a welcome primary entry to the dwelling below.

    Blackwater House

    Blackwater House

    Photo by Archdaily

    Platform 5 Architects designed Backwater in the Czech Republic replaces an outmoded bungalow on a headland in an isolated lagoon in the Norfolk broads, giving practice director Patrick Michell a family home. 

    The home is divided into three low-rise sections with a slanted roof design that echoes the functioning boat shelters that are common on the Broads. To portray the form as an abstract folded plane, the roof design and side walls were coated in blackened timber shingles on the outside.

    The timber shingles on the front and back elevations of the house architecture are kept untreated to weather and give a warm textured appearance. Timber boarding has been employed on the bottom as a roofing material on the waterside elevation to produce a refined look that matches the internal woodwork.

    The greatest architectural drama is held for the waterside elevation, which is a straightforward manifestation of the three pitched bays that have been slightly faceted around the terraced ramp. The materiality of the neighbouring houses is contrasted by the timber shingle veneer, which is starting to weather back to offer a sympathetic presence against the trees and river.

    For interiors, a basic plan allows for flexible living and fits family life by allowing diverse activities to take place at the same time via timber sliding doors. A huge kitchen and dining area is located in the centre bay, which flows into a double-height living space separated by a steel-clad fireplace. The third bay houses the house’s three bedrooms, which are separated across two stories and joined by an extraordinary spiral staircase that rises from the entrance hall.

  • Colourful Urban Architecture: 15 Global Cities in Vibrant Colours

    Colourful Urban Architecture: 15 Global Cities in Vibrant Colours

    Cities have decorated their constructed environments with eye-catching and fascinating colourful schemes throughout human history. Colours have risen in the urban environment to combat environmental factors such as heat and sun gain, as well as to build what has now become a tradition. These cities have drawn the attention of visitors as well as architects and urban planners who have been charmed by the vibrant streetscape that greets them.

    When we think about cities, colour selection isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. In fact, we hardly observe architecture in today’s fast-paced world. In the concrete metropolises we’ve been accustomed to, few buildings and structures stand out. Cities, on the other hand, do not have to be associated with grey. Chefchaouen is difficult to conceive as a rainbow metropolis or as a completely blue town. Around the world, there are a plethora of vibrant cities waiting to be discovered.

    Let your imagination wander to the vivid locales of far-off places if the grey of mid-winter gets you feeling a little down. A vivid photo can spark wanderlust like nothing else, and some of the world’s most attractive towns are bathed in sage, lavender, blue, and other vibrant hues. The colours of a place may leave a lasting impression on our travel experiences, whether it’s a street with every hue of the rainbow or an entire town done out in monochrome blues or pinks. It also makes your trip photos the envy of all your pals, thanks to Instagram.

    I have compiled a list of the most vibrant cities around the globe, with a focus on lesser-known gems. Sure, there are a few obvious choices on this list, but there are plenty of sherbet-coloured towns that will hopefully inspire and leave you yearning for more.

    Cities of Colour

    Mehrangarh Fort
    Photo by Curbed.com

    Jodhpur, India, is a meandering maze of blue-box dwellings, all nestled beneath the majestic Mehrangarh fort. The indigo hue stands out against the bordering desert and is especially beautiful at night.

    To distinguish themselves from the rest of the community, the priestly caste of Jodhpur, India, painted their homes blue generations ago. It wasn’t long until the remainder of the old city, Brahmins and non-Brahmins alike, followed suit and painted their houses blue. Despite the fact that the city has grown well beyond its original boundaries, its core is almost exclusively indigo.

    Colorful architecture
     Photo by TheCoolist

    Today, if you ask a few people in the neighbourhood about the colour decision, you’ll get a lot of different responses. Some think the blue keeps their dwellings cool in the blazing Indian sun, while others claim it fights off bugs. The effect is stunning, regardless of the cause. Travellers visiting Jodhpur may see one of the world’s most colourful cities, with each brick, beam, and wall coloured in this cool, soothing style.

    Jaipur, India

    Hawa Mahal
    Hawa Mahal

    While many towns have been painted blue, Jaipur in Rajasthan, India, is one of the few places on the planet where the prevailing colour is pink. According to legend, in 1876, King Sawai Ram Singh had the city painted pink to prepare for the visit of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria to India. Since then, the entire city has remained terra-cotta pink, much to the joy of Instagram-obsessed tourists.


    Panjim, Goa, India

    FountainHas
    FountainHas on OutlookIndia

    The significance of Portuguese culture can be found in Goa’s culture, gastronomy, and architecture. Portuguese architecture was distinguished by its use of immaculate white buildings or the use of white to highlight openings on colourful façade. Many of the buildings in Panjim are coloured in vivid colours, including blue, green, yellow, orange, and red, with white frames surrounding their doors and windows.

    FountainHas is a well-known street in the city with a row of brightly coloured structures sequentially placed. The colourful variety of the many structures reflects the Goan culture’s unconventional, joyful, and free spirit.


    Cultural Village, Busan, South Korea

    Gamcheon Culture Village
    Gamcheon Culture Village by lonelyplanet

    Gamcheon Culture Village, in the Korean seaside city of Busan, is the perfect blend pretty and chaos. The former slum is a hodgepodge of pastel-coloured dwellings nestled into the side of the mountain.

    After an artistic makeover in 2009, when students chose to light up the neighbourhood with ingenious touches up the stairs, down the lanes, and around the corners, this historically rich mountainous slum became a tourist destination. It’s now a vibrant, eccentric town of Lego-shaped residences, cafes, and galleries, perfect for a walk and a few selfies.


    Yazoo City, Mississippi

    Yazoo
    Source


    A small town in Mississippi, Yazoo City, is as distinct as its title implies. Even though it is only 10 square miles in size, it has enough to offer to make a visit worthwhile. With a name like Yazoo City, pull over simply to look at the name, which is derived from a local river. Yazoo City is a flourishing community in Yazoo County, Mississippi, despite a terrible fire in the early 1900s and a catastrophic flood in 1927.


    La Boca, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    La Boca
    Source

    La Boca is well-known for its distinctive multicoloured wooden houses. The neighbourhood is actually home to artist colonies that perform on the streets. It is most renowned for its tango dance performances. El Caminito, or “the little walkway,” is a hub where tourists from all over the world can come to enjoy the street shows, buy trinkets and souvenirs, or just take in the scenery and admire the shanty houses.


    Oia, Greece

    Colourful Urban Architecture: 15 Global Cities in Vibrant Colours Cities have decorated their constructed environments with eye-catching and fascinating colourful schemes throughout human history. Colours have risen in the urban environment to combat environmental factors such as heat and sun gain, as well as to build what has now become a tradition. These cities have drawn the attention of visitors as well as architects and urban planners who have been charmed by the vibrant streetscape that greets them. colourful,cities,jodhpur
    Photo by curbed.com

    Every day at dusk, the small settlement that looks to be carved into the edge of a crater and totally painted in white glistens and dazzles. Old houses were all painted white, mostly to reflect sunshine and keep interiors from becoming too heated.

    The village includes tight corridors, alleyways, and steps with white walls and blue window and door shutters, which add to the village’s attractiveness and complement the surrounding hills and ocean. This picturesque village, located just a few kilometres from Santorini, is a famous tourist destination where visitors come to marvel at the island’s pristine and breathtaking landscapes.

    San Francisco, USA

    San Francisco
    Photo by TheCoolist

    San Francisco, despite its reputation as America’s most culturally progressive city, is home to a spectrum of colours. The variegated paint style that changes from door to door reflects the vivid architectural individuality of this closely packed peninsula metropolis. The Painted Ladies, a row of houses in San Francisco’s Lower Haight district, are one of the city’s best-known works of art, although vibrant colours can be spotted all throughout the city.

    Tokyo, Japan

    The aesthetic of Japan’s capital is quite distinct. This colour scheme incorporates the bright neon of Tokyo’s advertising as well as other vibrant hues. It’s difficult to imagine a city with more colour than Tokyo, and this palette captures that vibrancy against the city’s famous inky night sky.

    Tokyo
    Source

    Tokyo is among the world’s busiest and most colourful cities, with a population of over 9 million. Countless of neon signs and an atmosphere that never sleeps can be found in areas like Kabukicho, a famed entertainment and bright district.


    Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

    Old San Juan
    Photo by TheCoolist

    If colour were an addiction, addicts would have long since fled to Old San Juan. Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, is a vibrant kaleidoscope of colour in every aspect, a city with a culturally rich legacy shared by the Taino natives and European explorer descendants.

    The architecture in Old San Juan varies from one step to another, with some being warm and primary and others being bright and pastel. The blue bricks that pave the alleys of this UNESCO World Heritage Site were transported over from Spain piece by piece during the 16th century. Its people are as colourful, diverse, and lovely as the colours that adorn its streets, and their welcome is something that everyone should experience.


    Chefchaouen, Morocco

    Morocco
    Photo by Travel Inspires

    Chefchaoen’s environment is reminiscent of Jodhpur in India, with its many tones of blue. Historic buildings, painted in various colours of cyan, powder blue, and periwinkle, frame the cobblestone walkways and alleys.

    The “Blue Pearl of Morocco” is named from the various shades of blue that appear to cascade down the hill. The city is a lovely maze of ramps and stairs, nicely framed against the homes and buildings. 

    Some say the city was painted blue by Jewish refugees fleeing Hitler, while others say the colour of combat mosquitoes. One popular theory is that the city is designed to resemble the sea, which it does quite well, situated between the hill and the sea.

    Singapore

    Little India, Singapore

    Little India in Singapore is one of the most colourful areas in the country, whether you visit the Sri Veeramakaliamman Hindu temple or the Chinese House of Tan Teng Niah. Colors of many hues can be found on beautifully patterned structures or in the little colourful figurines that adorn the facades of holy sites.


    Procida, Italy

    Italy
    Photo by curbed.com

    Procida, Italy, is less well-known than Cinque Terre, but this off-the-beaten-path island off the coast of Naples is just as lovely. Sherbet-coloured buildings tower above dazzling waterways, flanked by narrow lanes. The most vibrant hues may be found in Marina Corricella, where legend has it that fishermen used vivid colours to distinguish their homes from the sea.


    Guanajuato, Mexico

    Colourful Urban Architecture: 15 Global Cities in Vibrant Colours Cities have decorated their constructed environments with eye-catching and fascinating colourful schemes throughout human history. Colours have risen in the urban environment to combat environmental factors such as heat and sun gain, as well as to build what has now become a tradition. These cities have drawn the attention of visitors as well as architects and urban planners who have been charmed by the vibrant streetscape that greets them. colourful,cities,jodhpur
    Photo by arch2o

    Guanajuato, Mexico’s silver city, is known for its cultural and mineral significance during the colonial period and afterwards. The Guanajuato silver mines were the most productive in the world for 250 years, producing 30% of all silver produced. As the mines were being investigated, a city grew up around them, as seen by the colonial-era architecture. Yet, from one end of town to the other, the spirit of Guanajuato is mirrored in the hue of those structures, which range from light to dark.

    The vibrant city of Guanajuato, like the other cities on this list, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is one of Mexico’s most attractive cities, with narrow alleyways, Baroque and neoclassical architecture, and the red and yellow Cathedral Basilica Nuestra Seora de Guanajuato.

    Juzcar, Spain

    Spain

    Photo by UnusualPlaces

    Juzcar, located 113 kilometres from Malaga and 25 kilometres from Ronda in the autonomous province of Andalusia, has become a popular tourist destination and one of Spain’s most recognisable settlements. The lovely hamlet, which was once a classic white village, was transformed into the world’s first and only official Smurfs village. 

    Juzcar turned all-blue in the summer of 2011 as a promotional effort for the Smurfs movie, while other places donned blue for religious or practical reasons. Despite the fact that the change was intended to be temporary, the idea was so effective in drawing tourists that locals voted to preserve the unique coloration.

    Colour and architecture have a way of inspiring people to explore deeper, feed their hunger for knowledge, and marvel at beautiful things. These are just a handful of good cities that have become popular tourist destinations and centres for photography, travel, and art over the years and continue to entice visitors with their bright beauty.

  • Squid Game: A Vivid Glance through an Architectural Perspective

    Squid Game: A Vivid Glance through an Architectural Perspective

    The Squid Game, the first South Korean series to achieve international success, has broken yet another record for Netflix. The suspense is, in fact, the tv series of the moment, and it is capturing the attention of the entire world with its suspense. Its evocative settings and finely tuned locker room have already become cult-like, inspiring admiration and curiosity in many. 

    Squid Game isn’t just Netflix’s most popular non-English-language show in the world; it’s also the network’s most-watched tv series ever (warning: minor spoilers ahead if you haven’t seen it yet). The incredibly popular dark and violent series directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk shows a group of 456 deeply in debt people who compete for 45.6 billion won (approximately $38 million USD) in the prize pool, although if they end up losing, they succumb. The South Korean series depicts mass socioeconomic competition as a high-stakes game with only one true winner and thus, only one surviving member.

    Squid Game, a fresh take on the “battle royale” genre (called after a Japanese film of the same name), employs a variety of candy-coloured backdrops to depict a crucial dichotomy between childhood innocence and disillusioned decadence. Each set presents a new emotion or psychological trigger for the participants to struggle with amid all the uncontrolled violence, and architecture plays a major role in generating an oppressive, fear inducing ambiance.

    Dorm

    Squid game
    Dormitory

    Players awaken in a massive area that is part school hall, half jail atrium after being taken away from their daily lives. Multiple stories of bunk beds circle a vast open space in the centre, designed like grandstands in a stadium or perhaps the Colosseum, anticipating the space’s development from sleeping quarters to gory warfare in subsequent episodes. Pictograms on the tiled walls relate to the games themselves, which are gradually exposed to participants as the bunks are dismantled throughout the season.

    Playing dormitory

    Photo by Archdaily

    The player dormitory is likely the most telling depiction of the capitalist socio-economic hierarchy addressed throughout the series, as it is the first place the participants encounter after their abductions. The rising bunk beds are set in receding stages to ensure that all contenders remain in the workers’ field of view, reducing the players to objects heaped atop one another for ease. Ladders are the most common mode of vertical transportation, serving as a clever metaphor for everyone’s intrinsic desire to rise through society’s ranks.

    Those at the top of each rung live in constant terror of the fury of those below them, with no way out without the help of their ‘lessers.’

    Dangling Piggy Bank

    Dangling Piggy Bank

    The candidates’ end-all, be-all throughout the competition is the translucent piggy bank dangling from the space’s ceiling – essentially the driving factor behind the contestants forsaking their humanity and revolting on each other in quest of the great riches guaranteed to the final victor. The space is gradually emptied of bedding as the game advances, displaying diagrams with clues from each previous round while pounding home the loss of the slain competitors.

    Staircase

    The intermediary space competitors must travel through to access the arenas has already become famous, and is arguably the most stunning architectural space in Squid Game. Hwang claims that M.C. Escher’s famous Relativity lithograph inspired this towering labyrinth of staircases, and the similarities are striking. The maze-like design of these places instils a sense of dread, as if one could lose their bearings — or even their grasp on gravity — at any point.

    The labyrinthine staircase room offers tall ceilings, staggered linearity, and varicoloured flights, a dramatic contrast to the gloomy, warehouse-like qualities of the player dormitories. The hall is equal parts ambiguous and disorienting, regarding both the vibrant colours and geometric sensibilities of Ricardo Bofill’s now-iconic housing complex La Muralla Roja (The Red Wall) in Spain, as well as the gravity-defying world of M.C. Escher’s famous lithograph Relativity.

    Its function as a transition zone – between the dreary sleeping quarters and the whimsical environs used to stage each game – exemplifies the desire for otherworldly escape that drew each player into the desperate and miserable convention of souls participating in the game. Unfortunately, their imaginations are cut short by the dreadful fate that awaits them at the conclusion of each brief contact with this universe.

    The protagonists are pushed forward like proverbial “lambs to the slaughter” with a little awareness of their destiny, but are allowed a little reprieve to gasp in wonder at set designer Chae Kyoung-amazing Sun’s craftsmanship.

    Nearly all the photos in this space are taken from a fixed angle, almost as if looking from a security camera placed near the top. Some clever transitions take you to the point of view of one of the ‘square’ enforcers, who is watching the game alongside the Front Man, giving it a voyeuristic feel.

    Playgrounds

    Red light Green light

    Red Light Green Light
    Red Light Green Light

    In the opening episode of the series, an expansive ground inspired by rural cornfields sets the atmosphere for the Red Light, Green Light game. The space evokes surveillance systems in penitentiaries, with walls riddled with apertures for firearms to eliminate unlucky contestants, and is centred on the now-iconic but still unsettling animatronic doll equipped with motion tracking cameras – whose every word and movement spells the difference between life and death for the players.

    This location returns for the game’s concluding level, bringing the story full circle while stage was set for the show’s struggle of principles to play out. The Red Light, Green Light area isn’t even the first playground-themed location to appear in the show’s plot.

    Honeycomb Game

    Honeycomb
    Honeycomb Game

    The gigantic jungle gym that serves as the background for the dalgona challenge reduces the players’ viewpoints to that of small children who have been thrust into a large and terrifying environment. This zone, which is surrounded by sky blue walls with crayon drawings of dappled clouds, is the setting for some of Squid Game’s most suspenseful moments, and its weird sense of scale adds to the unsettling atmosphere that dominates the second challenge.

    Tug of War

    During the tug-of-war game, the arena takes on a simpler appearance, resembling an industrial crane with a lift attached to one end and the gantry broken in half, acting as bridges from which the losing team would hang on for dear life. The floor markings and directional indications all have a similar appearance, painted alternately in black and yellow paint.

    The bright yellow gantries that support the platforms resemble the construction toys that we’ve all seen children play with. Wide angles distort the players’ scale, making the entire structure look like an architectural scale model and reducing them to tiny, toylike figurines. The contestants of the Squid Game are once again marginalised by their surroundings.

    Marble Village

    Marble Village
    Marble Village

    In Game 4, participants are forced to play a life-or-death game of marbles with a partner in a typical Korean alleyway. The environment evokes sentiments of nostalgic cosiness associated with childhood, generating an unsettling impression for both players and observers, given the impending violence and death that half of the participants are aware of. Park reminisced, “It was such a detailed set.” “If you look attentively, you can see detail in the marble, rusty gate, and even the door-plate.”

    While having adults play in a succession of children’s games in a death match would be an unhealthy sadism, having the same done in a section of their childhoods, reconstructed precisely as they were years ago, would be an ounce more. Squid Game gets the psychology of it all right, and this section is an apt reminder of how intelligent production design helps that set in, taking viewers through a multitude of feelings, even if deceptively, before striking the gut punch.

    Glass Bridge

    Glass Bridge Game
    Glass Bridge Game

    Who’d have guessed that architectural materials would be featured prominently in this year’s most popular television show? It is true, believe it or not: In Game 5, players must traverse a bridge constructed of glass panels, with only half of them being tempered. A player will surely die if they tread on a non-tempered pane. The bridge is hung within a theatre-like environment, complete with flashing lights reminiscent of a circus or a Vegas casino.

    Given that several ‘VIP’ spectators will be present for this game, the architecture has been regarded as a performance. 

    The space particularly lights up during the antepenultimate episode, during the glass bridge game, and is ornamented in a carnival-like, circus-like fashion. The latter analogy could be relevant given the VIP room’s intended gaudy design. The games in this phase are staged as a show for VIPs, replete with spot and flood lighting. Here, too, a deeply underlying industrial style serves as the bridge’s structural core, rising above a condemned pit, where all but three of the last players perish.

    Waiting Lounge

    The contestants gathered in the waiting lounge, which had geometric curves, before the game began. Architect Zaha Hadid‘s sketching references to contemporary architecture or Santiago Calatrava architectural designs appear to have inspired this zone, which features a white, dazzling setting. The area where players must wait before Games 3 and 4 is striking for its complete dearth of colour, in contrast to the multi-chromatic environments that characterise much of Squid Game.

    VIP Room

    The VIP room has an unusual design, with a gloomy ambience and lavish settings. The setup included miniatures of various creatures and a large screen in front of which they delighted in deviously watching the players play the fifth game. These figures were painted with a variety of animal prints to match the Animal Kingdom theme. Some of the human characters are, in fact, real people!


    Worker Rooms

    Worker rooms
    Worker rooms

    The isolated chambers for each of the ostensibly faceless and unidentified workers behind the game could be regarded as a sterile refinement of a ‘machine for life,’ eerily reminiscent of the capsule units in Kisho Kurakawa’s famous Nakagin Capsule Tower in Ginza, Tokyo.

    The units are an ideal mechanism for inducing unwavering obedience and adherence among the workers, trying to strip their individuality down to a simple number. They are cramped, monk-like in their décor, and infused with rigid order. In fact, the players’ attitude of dread toward the workers is maintained by retaining anonymity. Only Hwang Jun-adventures ho’s allow these ant-like warriors to be humanised, since they are viewed as throwaway cogs in a greater machine beyond their comprehension.

    Front Man Floor

    The lair of the show’s principal antagonist, clad in reflective diamond-patterns (also seen in the Front Man’s characteristic mask), is a study in ostentatious opulence, centred on a giant flatscreen console that hosts broadcasts of the game’s many levels. The elevator doors open into a hallway with Art Deco-inspired geometric patterns that sit beneath a series of magnificent glass chandeliers.

    Doors on either side of the passageway entrance into a bedroom space with an antechamber that functions as an archive for game records from prior editions. A brown Chesterfield-style sofa in the main living area serves as the Front Man’s throne, from which he oversees the actions of his underlings and the game’s broader operations.

    Squid Game is a remarkable example of how architecture can used to evoke a wide range of feelings, from nostalgia and delight to discomfort and terror. Squid Game is a poetic reflection on the loss of innocence, as well as a political satire on capitalism’s corrupting impact. The show’s cultural significance is undeniable, thanks to Chae’s ability to use architecture as an interesting storytelling instrument.

  • Best Interior design YouTube channels for Interior Design Enthusiasts

    Best Interior design YouTube channels for Interior Design Enthusiasts

    We are all guilty of binging random videos on YouTube for awfully long hours. It’s a one-stop destination for both entertainment and learning. Since most videos are 10 to 20 minutes long, viewers don’t get bored and stay entertained. On a personal note, the Interior design YouTube channel has been my go-to place to get ideas for home décor, renovation, and redecoration videos to learn some tips, tricks, and DIYs for redecorating my room now that I have been cooped up in this place since the pandemic.

    Impact of Good Interior Design

    Interior design space planning is no more reserved for the rich rather it is becoming a practice for many homeowners to modify the house and make it their own. Initially, the point of hiring interior designers was to transform their houses into luxurious spaces inspired by hotel room design and movies but today it has become a form of self-expression.

    When someone puts their heart into designing and customizing a space to create a pleasant environment for themselves, it automatically transforms into their own. Home is where we spend most of our time relaxing and we must feel like we belong there and what better way than personalizing it to fulfill our needs and also showcasing our personalities doing it.

    A well-decorated interior space has a strong impact on an individual’s mood. Waking up to a beautiful space immediately brightens up our morning and a dull space can make us feel gloomy as well. Colour of the walls or plants in the room every tiny thing has an impact on our minds. Architecture and design play an important role in every building and atmosphere.


    A well-designed restaurant welcomes more customers than the others. Having a thoughtfully curated space is one of the most important marketing factors today. Be it a shop or a spa, any space seems more welcoming if it looks aesthetically pleasing.

    Interior design YouTube channel
    Photo by Hunker

    Being surrounded by beautiful images on Instagram and Pinterest showing the amazing interior design for different spaces has people interested in bringing some style and chic into their homes which has led to an increase in demand for interior designers. Many people want to avail the services of designers and don’t find it an unattainable luxury anymore. Personalizing a space is a form of self-indulgence and that is how it is being treated now.

    How does a Interior design YouTube channel come into play?

    It will be an understatement if I say that social media is used as a source of inspiration for creative projects. Social media can compel someone into taking an action they have been procrastinating for ages. Platforms like Youtube are not only used for entertainment and taking inspiration from, it is a go-to space for someone who wants to learn a particular thing and costs nothing to be precise. People look up basic how-to’s and DIYs as well things like creating an app and computer programming, ideas for home décor, etc.

    As for professional interior designers or someone interested in the field, interior design Youtube channels have videos by professionals to teach basic to advanced forms of interior design. It has videos dedicated to the nitty-gritty of decorating a house as well as videos planning and designing interiors for commercial buildings.

    Designers who want to broaden their knowledge on software like sketch up, lumion, 3ds max, etc can also learn from this one platform that too in the comfort of your home, on the palm of your hand, and also at your own pace.

    List of Interior Design YouTube channels to learn and take inspiration from

    Whether you want to learn professional skills or take inspiration for your own interior design space planning or just simply want to stay in touch with interior trends, it can be a mind field when figuring out where to start and with over 300 hours of content uploaded every hour on YouTube, it can be a task finding the right kind for you.

    YouTube algorithm definitely helps in recommending channels and videos that might interest you however it will take time to adapt to your current interior and architecture obsession but not to worry, I have got you covered in this article that lists some of the most viewed interior design youtube channels to follow if you are an interior design enthusiast.

    Three Birds Renovations

    Three Birds Renovation
    Three Birds Renovation

    How it all started

    Three friends Bonnie, Lana, and Erin who have known each other for over 20 years and have been through all the thick and thin, came together in 2014 and decided to quit their regular jobs and started Three Birds Renovation in the pursuit of doing things they loved and leading a fulfilling life with more family and friends time. The leap of faith they took eight years ago resulted in them owning a successful business and gaining a set of loyal followers for their interior design Youtube channel, who learn a great deal about renovations and interiors from them.

    House 14 by Three Birds Renovation
    House 14 by Three Birds Renovation

    Design Style and Projects

    Bonnie is the creative director and the mind behind all things design. She is a self-taught interior designer who has a good eye for color schemes, furniture styling, floor plan but most importantly tile styling. Her design style includes a lot of natural light and a neutral color scheme with modern furniture and gold accents. She incorporates a lot of arches in architecture and design. Every single thing about the project is carefully curated and assembled by Bonnie herself be it the art prints or the light fixtures.

    Their style can be labeled as Scandinavian with a hint of country and definitely luxurious.

    House 9 By Three Birds Renovation
    House 9 By Three Birds Renovation

    They have a total of 14 completely renovated projects that are documented and aired on TV as well as their Interior design YouTube channel and their blog. They do not leave any details and try to explain as many of the steps involved as they can. One of the three women sit down and explain some concepts of interior design like choosing a colour for the room or picking out building materials etc. in detail in almost all of their episodes.

    One of the projects you must watch is Bonnie’s dream home where they go above and beyond to design a stunning forever home with grandeur and space for her family, dogs, and cows. This design alone has 3 different dining spaces, a master suite, a guest cottage, 2 different kid’s rooms, and many more. House 14 by Three Birds Renovations

    House 9 By Three Birds Renovations
    House 14 By Three Birds Renovations

    Educational Projects

    Three Birds Renovation has also started two different online programs, The Reno School where they teach planning, designing, budgeting and everything else you will need to know for renovations and second is their Styling School where you will learn about the art and science of styling a room to not only look aesthetic but also be fully functional. Following them will give you some great ideas for home décor.

    Educational Projects
    Educational Projects

    The Sorry Girls

    The Sorry Girls
    The Sorry Girls

    Story

    Becky Wright and Kelsey MacDermaid are the brains behind The Sorry Girls. They started their journey in this creative world back in 2010 and their channel mostly focused on decorating dorm rooms as they first met in college, small DIYs, and knitting tutorials but slowly their interior design Youtube channel grew to become this successful brand that people resonated with and took inspiration from. Today The Sorry Girls is a full-scale digital media brand that is known for DIY projects, sustainability, and interior design.

    Studio makeover by The Sorry Girls
    Studio makeover by The Sorry Girls

    Design Style

    Their architecture and design style is not very specific rather ranges very wide, from 50s inspired retro room makeovers to Scandinavian interiors to DIYing room dividers and mirrors. There is a myriad of projects in this channel to look up to, some eclectic designs and some with muted tones. But to put into words, their designs are very student and dorm-room friendly with many DIYs. Their style inclines towards bohemian design but is not limited to it and most of their designs are inspired by Coachella and deserts.

    The Sorry Girls
    Photo by The Sorry Girls

    Projects

    The Sorry Girls provide their viewers with an abundance of DIY projects and make the complicated work look amazingly effortless as well as great ideas for home décor. They have transformed lofts into studios and a backyard into Arizona inspired patio. Their creativity has no limits and they specialize in making sure everyone feels they could do all the projects and interior design space planning themselves.

    Arizona inspired Backyard Patio
    Arizona inspired Backyard Patio

    The project I would recommend browsing through is Kelsey’s Scandinavian basement bedroom makeover. It differs from the rest of their projects and is a complete renovation project where she changes almost everything and shows us how to make any space habitable and aesthetic. Not only does this series have ideas for home décor and renovations but she DIYs a chest of drawers from scratch.

    Arizona inspired Backyard Patio

    What else to look forward to

    Along with interior design space planning and DIY projects, they also upload videos related to fashion and lifestyle. Anyone who wants to see budget-friendly makeovers they can do cooped up at home with limited availability of things since they are bored of their everyday environment in this pandemic must visit their YouTube channel for ideas, inspiration, a starting point, or just for some entertainment.

    Retro Eclectic Cabin by The Sorry Girls
    Retro Eclectic Cabin by The Sorry Girls

    Mr Kate

    Mr Kate

    Kate Albrecht is a self-taught interior designer, an actress, and a very talented individual. She and her husband Joey Zehr started their Inter design YouTube channel where they renovate, redecorate, make those complex DIYs look awfully simple, and give viewers amazing ideas for home décor.

    There is a possibility of these faces looking familiar to you and that’s because they have redesigned many famous Youtuber’s homes like liza Koshy, Superwoman, Jeffree Star, and tons more in their popular series “OMG we are coming over.” Along with interior design videos, she also makes styling and lifestyle videos.

    Design Style

    It’s all Kate when it comes to interior design for changing the look of a space. Her style ranges from bohemian to minimalist. What she values is client satisfaction and therefore has no signature style. Her channel has a plethora of ways to change a space which anyone can do, professional interior designer or not. Her approach is very inclusive and believes everything has a creative side.

    Liza Koshy's Rooftop
    Liza Koshy’s Rooftop

    Projects

    She has a lot many projects to keep binging on YouTube and each project is unique with a variety of colors and designs. To name a few of my favorites, epic two-tone room makeover where she transforms one single room into a studio for two different individuals with polar opposite tastes.

    Two-Tone Room Makeover
    Two-Tone Room Makeover
    Two-Tone Room Makeover

    The second one will be Superwoman’s bedroom transformation where she DIYs a painted lyric wall. She uses the darkest shade of pink in this room and made it look super chic. The architecture and design of this room were totally transformed by the end of the video.

    Lastly, you have to check her “OMG we bought a house” playlist to get some amazing ideas for home décor as this is the series where they buy a vintage house with deep orange interiors and make it into a classy, elegant, and stylish house with white interiors

    Mr. Kate
    Mr. Kate

    Mr Kate has recently launched their furniture collection which has stunning vintage and quirky pieces to check out for your own interior design space planning.

    Lone Fox

    Drew Scott
    Drew Scott

    How it started

    Drew Scott made his first online presence with a blog named Scrappy Happiness where he posted about men’s fashion and had a YouTube channel under the same name with similar content. After graduating college he worked in a home styling store as a sales representative which taught him a great deal about interior design for homes that lead to a series of DIY videos which garnered him thousands of views.

    This made him start an interior design YouTube channel under the name Lone Fox in 2018 where he talked about interiors and taught budget-friendly DIYs. In just 3 years he has over 12 Lakh subscribers and a successful interior store running.

    Lone Fox

    Design Style and Projects

    Drew Scott focuses on changing any space in a budget and shows his viewers many options to renew a room by making small changes. He has a lot of videos talking about the dos and don’ts for various rooms and interiors. He also changes his interiors very frequently, according to different seasons and festivals but keeps it under budget. He gives informative ideas for home décor.

    Drew’s style is very mid-century modern where he uses jewel tomes with neutral colour schemes to make a room look elegant yet modern and functional.

    Bedroom makeover by Lone Fox
    Bedroom makeover by Lone Fox

    He believes in doing all the work himself which will assure him quality work and save the extra buck. In his own room makeover, he did all the work including painting the walls, putting up wood panels, and adding the furniture.

    Lone Fox

    If you are bored of waking up in the same room day in and day out, you must check his room transformation videos. From changing a piece of furniture to changing a room, he has videos that will answer all your questions.

    XO Macenna

    XO Macenna
    XO Macenna

    Macenna started her creative journey through an Interior design YouTube channel in 2018 and made videos related to DIYs, thrift flips, and room makeovers. She focused on renovations that were appropriate for rental homes and small-budget DIY. Along with redecoration and room makeover videos, she also puts out informative content regarding décor tips and budgeting tips for renovations.

    Projects

    Her projects are warm-toned and will give off an autumn vibe. She makes videos based on seasons and festivals as well. There are many DIYs where she changes interior design for Halloween and Christmas. Macenna’s room makeover does incline towards the mid-century modern style and some are contemporary and minimal.

    XO Macenna

    She recently bought a house and took it upon herself to renovate the entire space to make it her home. The series recently came to an end so you can binge-watch it all at once and get your creative side shine later with her ideas for home décor.

    XO Macenna

    Macenna also makes videos dedicated to styling coffee tables and bookshelves which show how we can bring a big impact with small changes in a room.

    XO Macenna
    XO Macenna

    She also makes guides for beginners that provide great ideas for home décor to make renovations easy. Her viewers will definitely enjoy and take away lessons that will be insightful and useful. She also makes videos where she goes shopping for décor and explains the entire process from planning to budgeting to finding stores and finally shopping.

    Open Door by Architectural Digest


    Architectural Digest is one of the leading magazines around the globe that feature the best of architecture and design, interior styling, art, and lifestyle news. It features the works of renowned architects and how their designs have an impact on people and the planet.

    Open Door
    Photo by Architectural Digest

    Open Door by AD is a series on YouTube where a team from Architectural Digest visits celebrity homes and they guide us through all the details and interior design space planning of their home. This series has a total of 85 episodes currently and you can find your favorite celebs taking us on a tour of their home. Viewers can expect everything to be glam and extravagant.

    Open Door is a showcase of homes that ooze creativity and is a reflection of the personalities of those celebrities in an artistic form. Some renowned names like Robert Downey Jr., Dakota Johnson, Kendal Jenner, and J Balvin are featured in this series who have ultra-luxurious homes in the midst of nature. Not just homes but some famous tv sets too are shown in this series.

    The Cut by New York Magazine

    The Cut is an interior design YouTube channel that shows us outrageous and unusual designs. The films are short but detailed and will not disappoint. They showcase some eclectic designs that will entertain their viewers and leave them wanting more.

    Wendy Goodman takes us through New York’s most unique interiors that have their own character and a touch of eccentricity. These videos are less than 5 minutes long and highly informative so the viewers don’t get bored and stay subscribed for the next one.

    Inside Kelly Behun’s apartment in the Clouds
    Inside Kelly Behun’s apartment in the Clouds

  • Art Deco Architecture: Captivating Designs and Innovations of 21st Century

    Art Deco Architecture: Captivating Designs and Innovations of 21st Century

    What is Art Deco?

    The word ‘Art Deco’ or Art Deco Architecture applies to a design era that flourished in the 1920s and 1930s in the United States and Europe. During the 1920s and the Great Depression, this short-lived movement inspired fashion, art, home furnishings, and architectural forms. As a result, the aesthetic sought to strike a balance between grandeur and utility.

    Between 1925 and 1940, Americans embraced Art Deco residences as a welcome shift from the eclectic and revivalist attitudes that had before it. The style gets its name from the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs in Paris, which served as a showcase for new ideas. The aesthetic was mostly one of applied embellishment. Hard-edged, low-relief motifs; geometric shapes such as chevrons and ziggurats; and stylized floral and sunrise patterns adorned the buildings. Among the archetypes of the Art Deco lexicon were shapes and ornamentation influenced by Native American artwork.

    Art Deco in Architecture

    The art deco style expanded from Europe and Britain to the United States, where it became popular for modern-era building types such as workshops, airports, cruise liners, theatres, pools, commercial complexes, department shops, power plants, and factories.

    There were similarities to Modernism, such as the use of clean lines and minimal decoration, but the style also suited itself well to structures linked with entertainment, creating elegant interiors for hotels, restaurants, and luxury flats. Neon strip lighting was frequently employed to emphasise the streamlined aspect of the designs, and mirrors were used to accentuate and reflect.

    Art Deco architecture
    Photo on Unsplash

    Buildings, hotels, cinemas, and other structures were all adorned with iconic Deco patterns such as zigzags, sunbursts, Egyptian motifs, and other geometric patterns in the name of aesthetics. Postwar society was rapidly infatuated with the style because it embodied all that was modern, affluent, and beautiful.

    The 1920s were a time of excitement and hope, and the general public welcomed this new style with open arms. It exemplified the country’s thriving prosperity. Unfortunately, architectural purists and reviewers despised it.  They scoffed at the modernistic use of Art Deco ornamentation, which they considered as commercial. They felt there was too much flash and not enough purpose.

    History

    Several significant art forms of the early twentieth century were influenced by Art Deco. Cubism’s geometric forms (Art Deco has been dubbed “Cubism Tamed”), Constructivism’s and Futurism’s machine-style forms, and Art Nouveau’s cohesive approach are among these foundational influences. Parisian Fauvism may have influenced its vibrant colours. Classical Antiquity, as well as Aztec and Egyptian art, influenced Art Deco. Art Deco, unlike its predecessor Art Nouveau, was entirely decorative and had no philosophical grounding.

    The “Roaring Twenties,” the Great Depression of the early 1930s, and the years leading up to World War II were all covered by the Art Deco style, which was adopted by architects and designers all around the world. It fell out of favour in the late 1930s and early 1940s, when it was perceived as excessively extravagant and flashy for the wartime economy.

    The first revival of interest in Art Deco happened in the 1960s, coinciding with the movement’s influence on Pop Art, and then again in the 1980s, coinciding with a rise in graphic design interest. A variety of jewelry and fashion advertisements featured the look.

    Characteristics of Art Deco Architecture

    • Shapes that have been broken up. Vertical lines that were angular and pointed upward and outward were used to construct several facades. A series of steps up to a point capped off these triangle formations.
    • Geometric detailing with ornate embellishments. A building was decked up with various patterns and ornate embellishments. Chevron, pyramids, stylised sunbursts or florals, zig-zags, and other geometric shapes are some of the most popular Art Deco themes.
    • Detailing that is consistent A designer or architect would use identical Art Deco components on both the outside and interior of each building to ensure that the overall theme was constant.
    • Building materials that are both modern and traditional Stucco, terracotta, ornamental glass, chrome, steel, and aluminium were all used in the construction of Art Deco structures.
    • Colour contrasts are used to great effect. The Art Deco period is known for its use of vibrant, luxurious hues. To enhance contrast, buildings used bold hues such as black and white or gold and silver.
    • Geometric windows with a decorative theme. Geometric patterns adorned the windows and doors. The windows were frequently arranged in a long, horizontal row and might be made of glass block or a series of opaque glass inserts.
    • Spires and parapets are common architectural features. Building corners were frequently embellished with tower-like constructions, giving the appearance of opulence to a simple square structure.

    Art Deco vs Art Nouveau

    Art Nouveau, like Art Deco, is an ornamental style used in building, interior design, jewellery, and illustration. Both styles were prominent in Europe and America, but Art Nouveau was more popular between 1890 and 1910, while Art Deco peaked in the late 1920s and early 1930s.

    Art Deco architecture

    Art Nouveau emphasized nature, and things often were shown as flower stalks and buds, vine tendrils, insect wings, and other delicate natural elements, with asymmetrical sinuous lines. Art Deco, on the contrary, emphasized geometric lines and streamlined forms while celebrating the modern machine.

    Art Deco in Interior Design

    From subtle touches to all-out glitz, a premium Art Deco decor may be designed to fit any room. In our guide to each of the Art Deco interior design aspects, we’ll go over the colours, textures, and patterns that are distinctive of the style.

    Art Deco in Interior Design
    Source

    Art Deco Design Elements

    Colour

    Because a uniquely Deco appearance will almost always include elements of silver, black, and chrome, it’s crucial to keep this in mind when selecting the rest of the room’s colour scheme. Bright and deep yellows, reds, greens, blues, and pinks are commonly utilised in typical Deco interiors to accentuate these high-shine metallic or black Deco features.

    Softer colours, such as creams and beiges, combine well with silver or chrome accents and are a lovely complement to the polished wood and lacquer finishes that are also distinctive of the Deco period.

    To achieve an Art Deco-inspired effect, employ either a dark or light colour palette, depending on the room. Dark walls, when paired with light objects with metallic elements, may create a lush and inviting environment that is ideal for a living room or dining area. Large swaths of mirror and a scattering of high-shine metal accents can be used to emphasise the sensation of brightness created by lighter-coloured walls.

    Materials

    Art Deco artworks are made of a variety of materials, but they always have a rich, glossy, or reflecting surface. Wood is either highly polished or given a glitzy lacquer finish. Enameled furniture was a crucial feature in luxury Art Deco design, and it was available in a variety of colours, which include pastel and deep tones, enabling more individualized Art Deco interior design aspects?

    Mirrored surfaces are frequently used in Art Deco interior designs, which work in tandem with metallic features and materials to improve the sensation of light and space in a space. A geometric or sunbeam-shaped mirror with strong ties to the Deco style will serve as a focal point in the space. A mirrored wall, such as the magnificent, gridded version in the London townhouse by Cochrane Design, may be used elsewhere in the space and has the aesthetic and utilitarian appeal that Art Deco design is known for.

    Art Deco lighting was often constructed of glass and chrome, which is still a popular combination today, so there are many possibilities within the Deco design to pick from. Look for angular or geometric forms, symmetry, and a high-shine finish.

    Pattern

    Because pattern is so enthusiastically welcomed in Art Deco interior design, it is typically the focal point of Deco interiors, making it an essential ingredient in obtaining the Deco aesthetic. Leaves, branches, and feathers, as well as trapezoids, chevrons, and zigzags, stylized animals and nudes, sunbursts, and jagged, stepped, or pointed edges suggestive of high-rises, were all popular Deco interior motifs.

    Furniture

    Furniture
    Source

    A modern interpretation of Art Deco style maintains the streamlined, aerodynamic, symmetrical, geometrical, and futuristic aesthetic of conventional Deco design, but incorporates more modern materials, dimensions, and furniture.

    Inlays in contrasting – and often sumptuous – materials like ivory, brass, and mother of pearl are frequently used in Art Deco items. The method of inlaying one material into the other is a way to generate the strong, geometric designs that are so distinctive of the Deco style, as well as a way to obtain an impression of luxuriousness through the artistry required.

    Notable Art Deco Buildings

    Around the World

    Chrysler Building, New York

    This 319-meter art deco skyscraper is a Manhattan attraction. It is one of the world’s most well-known examples of art deco architecture. With its tiered crown and striking decoration on both the inside and outside, the Chrysler Building admirably exhibits art deco elements.

    Chrysler Building, New York
    Photo on Unsplash

    Eastern Columbia Building, Los Angeles

    Eastern Columbia Building, Los Angeles
    Photo by elledecor

    The Eastern Columbia Building, dubbed the “Jewel of Downtown,” was constructed at a time when Los Angeles had a 150-foot height restriction, but allowed an exemption for the glitzy clock tower. Deeply recessed bands of paired windows and spandrels with copper panels are divided by vertical columns, emphasizing the Eastern Columbia Building’s vertical focus. Sunburst patterns, geometric designs, zigzags, and artistic animal and plant motifs are among the many elements that adorn the façade

    National Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Brussels

    National Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Brussels
    Elledecor

    Although work was halted owing to the two World Wars, this Art Deco-style chapel was erected to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Belgian independence. The building, which has a green copper dome, was finished in 1969 and was considered an iconic landmark in the country.

    Bryant Park Hotel, New York

    The structure, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is a mix of Gothic and contemporary design. It was renovated into the Bryant Park Hotel, as we know it, three years after it was built. The building’s firmness and fire are symbolised by the black brick façade with opulent golden decoration, marble, and black mirrors.

    Bryant Park Hotel, New York
    Photo by Elledecor

    Breakwater Hotel, Miami

    Breakwater Hotel, Miami
    Breakwater Hotel, Miami

    The Breakwater Hotel was built in 1936 by Yugoslavian architect Anton Skislewicz and is nestled among a row of Art Deco buildings on Ocean Drive in Miami, Florida. While the hotel has subsequently been repainted in brighter colours in order to boost business, original Art Deco aspects like regularity, ziggurat patterns, and symmetry remain as a testament of the refinement Art Deco can offer to even the most unanticipated settings.

    In India

    Some of the world’s most stunning Art Deco buildings include New York’s Chrysler Building, Paris’ Palais de Chaillot, and Miami’s Delano, but what about Mumbai’s Eros Cinema, Empress Court, and India Assurance Building? With more than 200 Art Deco buildings, Mumbai is the world’s second-largest collection behind Miami. The much-celebrated architectural style originated in Paris, spread throughout Europe and the United States, and eventually made its way to India, where colonisation brought not only British rule but also new ways of seasoning, behaving, and designing, transforming the face of a city that began as a coastal village.

    Mumbai’s Art Deco towers aren’t as majestic as New York’s Chrysler Building from the Jazz Age. Conversely, they are reminiscent of Miami’s relaxed “tropical deco.” The significance of Mumbai’s Deco, as Unesco acknowledged, lies not in the narrative of a single body, but in the spirit of the ensemble. This fabric depicts the birth of contemporary Bombay, as it was called at the time.

    Listed below are some of Mumbai’s popular Art Deco buildings.

    Regal and Eros Cinema

    Regal and Eros Cinema
    Photo by NYTimes

    American film firms frequently supported or owned Mumbai’s Art Deco theatres. Regal is the city’s oldest movie theatre, having opened in 1933 with “The Devil’s Brother,” starring Laurel and Hardy. The theatre was created by British architect Charles Stevens, whose father Frederic Stevens notably constructed the Gothic wonder of the Victoria Terminus, in a perfect representation of the changing times (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus). The Regal was the first ever structure to have an underground carpark, neon lights, and a water fountain.

    With its cream-striped red-sandstone exterior, ziggurat roofline, and sumptuous foyer painted with classical and Indian friezes, the Eros cinema, completed five years later, is more visually arresting. (The interiors were created by a Czech émigré, Karl Schara, while the structure was designed by Indian architect Sorabji Bhedwar.) The Rendezvous of the East, a ballroom and café, were previously part of the 1938 cinema. However, because the Eros is closed, you’ll have to travel to the Regal to see a movie, which means you’ll be more likely to see anything from Bollywood than Hollywood nowadays.

    Shiv Shanti Bhuvan

    Shiv Shanti Bhuvan is one of a row of Art Deco apartment buildings that border the Oval Maidan’s green, gazing over to the University and High Court’s Victorian spires. The area’s historic status was achieved as a result of this clash between two eras and styles.

    Shiv Shanti Bhuvan
    Photo by AD

    Several flats in this building are among the city’s oldest and maybe the most cosmopolitan. You’d think they were mocking the imperial grandees across the cricket field as many of these new residential units have names like Empress Court and Windsor House.

    Shiv Shanti, a street corner building with a yellow-and-green colour scheme and a stack of “eyebrows,” or concrete weather shades, projecting over the windows, is one of the most stunning. The entryway has a frozen fountain style, which was popularised by the French designer René Lalique in the 1920s.

    New India Assurance Fort

    The city’s Art Deco theatres ooze old Hollywood, and the city’s residences are both useful and attractive. The Art Deco office towers, on the other hand, are strong and nearly classical, as befitting their usage by banks and insurance organisations.

    The New India Assurance, which was established in 1936 and is located in the city’s Fort area, features higher vertical lines supported by two classical-style figures. N. G. Pansare’s sculptural reliefs idealise labourers such as farmers, potters, ladies spinning cotton, and carrying water pots. Indian embellishments may also be found on adjoining insurance buildings, featuring elephant sculptures and Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity.

    New India Assurance Fort
    Photo by nytimes

    Soona Mahal

    Soona Mahal

    Marine Drive is a short walk from the Oval and is known as the “Queen’s Necklace” because of the arc of lights around the coastline at night. The names of the buildings here represent their location — Oceana, Riviera, Chateau Marine — or the fact that they are owned by Indians. Maharajas and entrepreneurs possessed some of them at one time.

    The Sidhwa family created and still owns Soona Mahal, which is named for the present owner’s grandmother. Curved balconies and strong vertical lines are hallmarks of the Deco style. The spherical turret on the roof, which is reminiscent of a ship’s bridge, is in line with the nautical elements of the architecture. The structure, which was designed by G. B. Mhatre, an influential Indian architect at the time, housed a popular jazz club on the ground floor. It’s now a music venue and pizzeria, and it’s the ideal site for a beer while watching the sun set over the Arabian Sea.

    As a celebration of progress, business, and machines, Art Deco was formed. It is a timeless and important ornamental art and architectural movement. The Art Deco Movement’s golden phase was a moment of transition, when conventional techniques were blended into current contemporary structures. This trend continues to influence designers and architects all around the world. Though the style as a whole fell out of favour with modernity, many designs retain certain Art Deco elements.

  • Runway Set Design: Fascinating Transformation of Ideas into Art

    Runway Set Design: Fascinating Transformation of Ideas into Art

    Architecture has evolved into a spectacular art form. The designs for the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Qatar National Museum are as much scenography as they are architecture, according to Nouvel. The rise of designers like Thomas Heatherwick and Bjarke Ingels, who lack the existential sorrow and social consciousness of their predecessors, are pushing architecture toward a form of urban embellishment, dressing up corporate monoliths as fictitious public play places.

    This has been going on for some time now. In the 1990s, for example, Jon Jerde’s malls effectively mixed film-set fantasy with stark commercial consumerism, and Zaha Hadid’s skyscrapers obliterated the distinction between depiction and actuality.

    What is Set Design if not Architectural Design for Fashion Shows and Films?

    A synthesis of architecture, interior design, and the visual arts Set design necessitates technical understanding, as well as a creative edge and excellent visualisation skills, which architects have been trained for during their undergraduate years.

    Set design, often known as production design, is the process of creating a temporary desirable setting for a fashion show, film, theatre, or even an event. The disparity between architecture and set design is that architecture is essentially about erecting structures that last for a long time to represent a region, whereas a set is erected for a shorter period of time, perhaps even less than a day, to represent a real or hypothetical location for a runway event, movie or other kind of show.

    Other than representing a place, a set can be used for a variety of purposes. It can be employed to elicit a mood, an illusion, or a thought. From Zaha Hadid to Frank Gehry, a number of well-known architects have worked on set designs.

    When Creating a Set, Why is Architecture Important?

    Set Design is a discipline of architecture that focuses on the production of physical locations where the acts of a staged event take place, such as fashion runways, film sets, theatre dramas, or even event stages.

    Despite the fact that the set’s purpose is only temporary, the goal it serves can only be realised if the person constructing it is aware of how to make it as realistic as possible. Although not all set themes necessitate architectural knowledge, the vast majority of them do, whether it’s composing parts for a historically accurate theme or constructing a set that is cost-effective.

    runway setdesign

    Set designers used to be either architects or artists, but today is the twenty-first century, and specialised courses for mastering the art and engineering of set design are now accessible. The field of set design is enthralling. Architects are drawn to it because the set design has less constraints than architecture. Set design, like architecture, is a combination of art and engineering that requires mastery of both. 

    Set design entails a wide range of tasks, including experimenting with fashion, trends, research, capturing the spirit, understanding history, copying or reconstructing settings and artefacts from the past as needed, sketching, graphical illustration, and product design. Set designers use a variety of media to create their sets.

    Evolution in Set Design

    For a long time, stage scenery and architecture have been linked. The stage set architecture piqued the interest of Rome’s pioneer architects during the Renaissance, Baroque, and Rococo periods. The theatre served as a metaphor for reality, allowing forbidden themes to be discussed openly.

    An intensified arena in which thoughts regarding societal aspects such as politics, morals, and ethics might be explored with a liberty not available in the real-world space of the town square. Set design has fallen out of favour since the end of modernism, when the Bauhaus, German expressionists, and Russian constructivists all employed theatre to promote their radical aesthetic beliefs.

    The first widely discussed set designs were those of Greek and Roman theatres. The audience gathered around a circular space that served as the acting area. It was then cut out onto contoured slopes to concentrate the natural sloping seating in a focal place. A semicircular acting space at the Roman theatre, on the other hand, had an ornamental background that could be modified as a set. Set design played a role in this scene.

    Runway Set Designers to Follow

    A set or scenic designer is a creative mind who strives to imagine settings or bring someone else’s philosophy to life and apply it. Scenic design, theatrical design, and stage design are all terms used to describe set design.

    Set designers are frequently mistaken for production designers. Production designers are the director’s eyes, bringing every concept to life. They’re in charge of things like costumes, sets, makeup, and lighting. 

    The set designer’s goal is to grasp the screenplay and scenario in order to create a working environment for the artist. Let’s delve a little deeper to understand the significance of a set designer’s presence.

    The individuals behind the exaggerated worlds we see in cinema and the innovative shows in the fashion business are set designers. They are designers who utilise their imagination to create settings that create lasting impressions on people’s minds.

    Let’s look at some amazing runway set designers you can follow for inspiration. 


    Alexander de Betak

    Alexander de Betak
    Photo by CNN

    De Betak, dubbed “the Fellini of Fashion,” is a french fashion and furniture designer. His best known works- Dior has a mirrored patio at the Louvre, and Roberto Cavalli has a Moroccan riad-like environment.

    Alexandre de Betak, the “King Midas” of fashion events and scenography, is the founder of Bureau Betak, a creative firm known for putting on spectacular runway shows, installations, and exhibitions that has been in operation for over 25 years. At the age of nineteen, he staged his first fashion show in Madrid for Sybilla Sorondo, a fashion designer.

    He now stages and produces nearly every runway show during fashion week, including Kenzo, Chloé, Fendi, Isabel Marant, Christian Dior, and Saint Laurent, among many others.

    He pushed the Musée Rodin to let him create crystal ice tunnels inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia, he built a massive mirrored box around Moscow’s Red Square for a Christian Dior presentation, and he moved designer Raf Simons’ Spring-Summer 2018 collection to the streets of New York’s Chinatown.


    Rem Koolhaas

    Rem Koolhaas
    Photo by Smithsonian Magazine

    Rem Koolhaas, a Dutch architect, is the director of the Office of Metropolitan Architecture (OMA/AMO), a research and design company that “applies architectural thought to areas transcending architecture.” Universal Studios, Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, Heineken, Ikea, Harvard University, and the Hermitage are just a few of the clients who have worked with OMA.

    One of its defining moments is its long-term partnership with the Italian luxury label Prada. The “epicenter’s influence” inside the retail business is attributed to this collaboration. For more than a decade, OMA has worked closely with Miuccia Prada on set design for her catwalks.

    Gary Card

    Gary Card
    Photo by RTF

    Gary Card is a multimodal artist, illustrator, and set designer who isn’t afraid to use bright colours in his work. He is among the few designers who achieve international acclaim during the first ten years of their careers. 

    Louis Vuitton, Kenzo, Nike, Lady Gaga, Gucci, the Sanderson Hotel, Dazed Magazine, and other high-end clientele have helped him establish himself as a designer. 

    To name a few of his works that found him fame: HYSTERICAL at the Phillips Berkeley Square space, Moschino (Autumn/Winter 2017), Kenzo (Autumn/Winter 2018), and Gucci Window Installation

    Esmeralda Devlin

    Es Devlin

    Es Devlin is a stage designer and an artist. Her large-scale performance sculptures and surroundings, which are a play of music, light, and language, represent her strong convictions about humanity, and she is renowned for designing large-scale performative sculptures and environments that are a play of music, light, and language. 

    Her art has been featured in the Netflix documentary series Abstract: The Art of Design because it is so emotive and inspiring. The London Design Medal, three Olivier Awards, a University of Kent Doctorate, and a UAL Fellowship have all been bestowed upon her.


    Stefan Beckman

    fashion designer
    Photo by AD

    Stefan Beckman is a fashion production designer and art director located in New York, and the proprietor of the Stefan Beckman Studio. His company has completed a variety of creative projects for well-known fashion designers seeking video and photo shoots, fashion presentations, runway events, or exhibitions. 

    He’s famed for his museum-quality exhibition settings and exaggerated ingenuity in turning fashion presentations to life. Chanel, Fendi, Adidas, Zara, Calvin Klein and Louis Vuitton are some of his notable clients that found him fame.

    Some Outrageous Runway Set Design

    For aeons, the fashion week circus has been an international event, a pop-culture phenomenon that draws millions of people to watch designers present their latest collections, models strut their stuff on the catwalk, celebrities perch immaculately on the front row, and editors dart from city to city several times a year. The four major fashion capitals, Milan, Paris, London and New York are on the news for months with some spectacular fashion show sets being planned all over these places.

    Is it because of or despite their transience that runway show settings have such a strong hold on us? In any case, these embellished stages, which are part art installation, part time travel and telekinesis instrument, are likely to transform a simplistic catwalk into an extravagant occurrence, transporting its audiences through time and space – and every once in a while into otherworldly settings – via clever, and often intricate builds, as well as the smoke and mirrors that lighting and an excellent playlist offer.

    Let’s look at some of the best fashion show sets we have seen in fashion weeks.


    Chanel’s Life Sized Snow Village

    Chanel
    Photo by The Space

    Chanel has shown us some of the most dramatic sets in the history of fashion weeks, ranging between vintage train stations to recreating a rooftop in Paris inside the Grand Palais and even going as far as designing an airport terminal and naming it Chanel Airlines and to top it all of there even was a Chanel supermarket for one of Late Karl Langerfeld’s show. 

    At Chanel’s AW19 show, the Grand Palais was converted into an alpine village, with models walking down a snow-covered catwalk. 

    Guests stood on benches in the front of wooden chalets set against a landscape of snow-capped forests and hills. Chanel skis were bolstered in piles of snow, and smoke curled out of chimneys. 

    It’s the latest in a long line of spectacular catwalks from the fashion house, which has previously used tropical waterfalls, lush forests, and even a supermarket as backdrops.


    Fendi’s Glass Maze for Paris Show

    glass maze

    Kim Jones created a shimmering glass maze in Paris for his star-studded runway for his first Haute Couture outing as the Artistic Director of Fendi. 

    Inside the Palais Brongniart, Jones commissioned Bureau Betak to create a labyrinthine theatrical set made up of large glass ‘cases’ arranged in the shape of two Fs. 

    Spotlights above produced glistening reflections in the panes, giving the exhibition a mythical quality in keeping with the English fashion designer’s theme.


    Prada F/W 2021

    prada
    Photo by Prada

    Prada is beguiling people’s sense of touch with what it claims as a ‘inviting and tempting’ sequence of locations in the absence of being able to attend its F/W 2021 menswear show in Milan. 

    The show, named ‘Possible Feelings,’ was held in a complex of textured rooms built by Rem Koolhaas and AMO and included faux fur walls and chilly marble and plaster flooring. The firm’s focus paralleled that of the collection, which incorporates a variety of materials such as leather, bouclé, and tweed.

    Yves Saint Laurent

    SS22 Show

    doug aitken


    Doug Aitken created an interactive mirrored pavilion among the lush trees and foliage of Venice’s Isola Della Certosa, which served as the runway for Saint Laurent’s SS22 menswear show. 

    The Parisian fashion house commissioned Aitken’s interactive sculptural environment, Green Lens, for its first actual catwalk since the pandemic began. The interactive installation, which also serves as a stage, will remain in place on the Venetian island throughout July.


    Paris Fashion Week

    outdoor event
    Source

    The Eiffel Tower, which was once again the dazzling backdrop for Anthony Vaccarello’s runway show, which was inspired by Paloma Picasso’s larger-than-life figure, marked Saint Laurent’s return to real-life shows. 

    The outdoor event took place on the banks of the Seine, beneath Gustav Eiffel’s iconic monument, which was lighted in full colour during the show, much to the delight of the audience. 

    His Bureau Betak-designed pyrotechnic show concluded in the thunder of a ‘waterfall,’ toying with light, shadow, and all in between.

    Jaquemues Recreated a French Village

    paris event centre

    For his AW19 runway presentation in Paris, designer Simon Porte Jacquemus imagined up a South of France village. 

    The vividly coloured street set was created by Bureau Betak inside the city’s Paris Event Centre, and was designed by Till Duca and Samuel Begis. There was a bakery, a flower shop, and a green grocer’s on the premises. Apartments with terracotta tiles, wooden shutters, and billowing curtains were constructed above the stores.

    Fendi’s Neon Light Set in Milan

    flourescent entrance
    Photo by The Spaces

    Despite the fact that Men’s Fashion Week is largely digital, Fendi’s Milan show was nonetheless a celebration, thanks to its nightclub-style catwalk and brilliant neon light show. 

    The set was designed by Bureau Betak and echoed Silvia Venturini Fendi’s autumnal collection’s vibrant colour splashes. Fluorescent entrances dotted a mirrored runway, flashing with a colour algorithm synced to Not Waving’s show soundtrack. 

    Light-boxes were incorporated onto the space’s ceiling. They changed colours to match the models’ monotone outfits as they passed through the entrances below.


    Dior’s Mirrored Cave

    dior

    For Dior’s spring show, displayed at the Musée Rodin in Paris, Bureau Betak creates a mirrored pavilion. The interior of the pavilion is stark white and concrete, with clusters of mirror pieces creeping along the walls, as well as along the floor and ceiling. The artisans had to install over 80,000 mirror shards by hand throughout the interior, with the highest concentration at the far end, giving the runway’s entrance the sensation of a frozen paradise.

    The mirrors created a bright space when the Dior models arrived and moved about the runway’s central bench seating, taking up and reflecting the bold colours of Chiuri’s Dior collection throughout the room. The mirror’s reflections danced on the walls above the seated viewers due to the dim illumination.


    Christopher John Rogers

    Sauras+Garriga
    Photo by Fashionista

    Christopher John Rogers was inspired by private salons of Paris’s high society—where fashion displays took place in the early twentieth century—for this Focus-produced show, which was sparked by a study on the essence of what a fashion show used to be.

    The Sauras + Garriga design team picked dazzling chandeliers and thick curtains, which add to the theatrical experience of traditional fashion presentations while providing a lavish backdrop for his dramatic, cascading outfits.

    Louis Vuitton

    louis vuitton

    For Louis Vuitton’s autumn 2012 show, a locomotive—a genuine one, created specifically for the occasion, complete with steam—pulled into the Louvre’s Cour Carrée. The train, which was navy blue with the name of the *maison* in distinctive gold lettering on one side, conveyed models who were received by porters carrying their baggage (LV began as a trunk company, after all). They were meant to conjure romantic thoughts of bygone trip splendour, as was the collection.


    Anya Hindmarch

    anya hindmarch

    Anya Hindmarch’s set featured a zig-zagging runway with protruding triangular peaks glued into place to resemble alpine snow tops. It showcases contours and the end result was spectacular.