... haven’t
you noticed, as you walk around the city, that of the
buildings that populate it some are mute,
others speak and still others, the smallest
in number, actually sing?
Today the inauguration of Ravello's Auditorium Oscar Niemeyer will take place. The setting is the charming Costiera Amalfitana (Amalfi Coast) where you will find this work by one of the biggest names of architecture in the last century: Oscar Niemeyer. The brazilian architect, best known for his buildings in Brasilia, is still in great shape at the age of 103. The project began in 2000 and despite all the hardships and oppositions that in Italy where created, it has finally been brought to completion. The event will start with three inaugural days containing classical and pop music, dance and cinema, and ample space dedicated to cultural exchanges, reflections as well as an expected homage to Oscar Niemeyer, all without forgetting the refined pleasures of gastronomy. Everything that a modern and elegant auditorium as the Ravello's Auditorium Niemeyer has to offer will be exhibited to the public during these three days.
Wolf D. Prix, Design Principal and CEO of Coop Himmelb(l)au presented the design for the Energy Roof in Perugia, Italy. Energy Roof is part of the research project "Walking through the History" of the University of Perugia. Beside the archaeological study this research comprised also the creation of an architectural icon. Energy Roof serves as canopy along Via Mazzini in the center of Perugia and at the same time creates the entry point to the archaeological underground passage leading through the history of Perugia. The passage connects the city center with the mini metro station Pincetto. Historical documents show the existence of the old Etruscan city wall in the area below Piazza Giacomo Matteotti which Coop Himmelb(l)au proposes to excavate as part of an underground public gallery space exhibiting the history of Perugia. Openings in the ground of the Piazza Giacomo Matteotti visually connect the underground passage with the Energy Roof.
Circle Bath, opening of the first hospital designed by Foster + Partners
January 17, 2010
CircleBath is Foster + Partners’ first hospital and the first in a programme of new independent hospitals which offer a radical departure from orthodox approaches to hospital planning. After a period of commissioning, CircleBath is expected to open to patients in February. The compact design encourages a sense of community and well-being with facilities more comparable to a luxury hotel rather than a traditional hospital. The three-storey hospital is set into the hills on the edge of protected green belt nine kilometres south east of Bath. It is planned around a central light filled atrium, promoting a sense of orientation and intimacy that is commonly lacking in larger hospitals. Spencer de Grey, Head of Design at Foster + Partners, commented: “There is a wealth of evidence to suggest that a well-designed hospital environment can reduce recovery times and contribute to better outcomes for patients, while providing a more attractive workplace for medical staff. This is Foster + Partners’ first hospital building and its design is democratic, putting the patient at the heart of the system in a space that does not feel institutionalised and instead takes advantage of the rural setting, the light and the views.”
ARCHITECTOUR.NET
On-line Journal & International Contemporary Architecture Database anno IV/4th year, I semestre/1st semester, n. 1/2010
ISSN 1974-4552
Essays
Auditorium Oscar Niemeyer in Ravello, Italy
CircleBath
