level

Though not necessarily in that order.

For the past several years, the morning rush hour traffic in Dubai has consisted mainly of the ubiquitous white buses used to transport the army foreign workers from their modest camps out onto the city’s building sites.

Though obviously slowed a little by the stalling of new developments, there are still a huge number of sites running at full speed. Even after officially opening in January, the Burj Khalifa is still inhaling thousands of workers every morning via an ant’s trail of blue, beige and yellow overalls, snaking out of the carpark entrance and across several intersections to the drop off point a few blocks away. By 7.00am, all the hired help is inside at work, the traffic changes to upscale sedans and shiny 4WD’s, all carrying the suits and ties of corporate Dubai.

In Dubai, the amazing Burj Khalifa is locked in a constant battle against the endless coating of dust that blows in from neighbouring construction sites. Lower levels around the Armani hotel and the private apartments seem to have taken precedence on the cleaning roster for the moment. At certain times, the crisp reflections from the glass and stainless steel take on a voluptuous, milky glow.

Ready for Your Close Up, Your Highness..

Further away from the tower, the silky reflections help define the shaping of the stacked forms. adding to the overall feeling of verticality.

It is only when you get close up to the base of the tower that you can really appreciate the complexity and richness of detail in the facade. The individual reflections off the stainless steel elements and their reflection in the glazing, all contributing to an almost liquid appearance as the sun clips the horizon.

Just finishing up around the base of the tower are the 11 story office building to the west and residential clubhouse to the east. These smaller buildings, shaped to fit within the swirling geometry of the site plan, are enlivened by the addition of delicate sunscreens.

Midway along the densely populated Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, Skidmore Owings & Merrill’s 61 story Rolex Tower has just been completed. At dusk, the animated facade lighting performs a subtly captivating dance while the crown lights up to create a new glowing beacon along the busy thoroughfare.

The AIA San Francisco Chapter has announced the 2010 winners in their annual design program. Congratulations are in order for several of our clients who received accolades for their recent work.

Excellence in Architecture

Merit   UC Merced Science + Engineering Building   EHDD

Merit   Poly International Plaza, Guangzhou     SOM

Merit   2010 Post Street     Kennerley Architects

Citation   Tea Houses    Swatt I Miers

Citation   Mission Bay Block 27 Parking Structure    WRNS Studio

Historic Rehabilitation

Merit    Piers 1,3 and 5    Tom Eliot Fisch

Interior Architecture

Merit    Honighaus   Ogrydziak/Prillinger

“Would you like a high floor?” the front desk clerk politely asked.

“Erm… is that a question” I replied, puzzled by the idea that anyone would prefer the lower option.

After all, I’d chosen this particular hotel in Hong Kong for the sole reason that it offered a rather splendid view down the fragrant harbour towards two of my favourite charges. The International Finance Centre by Pelli Clarke Pelli in Central and across in Kowloon, Kohn Pedersen Fox’s International Commerce Centre.

Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t quite what I had hoped but rather mundanely, more what I had expected. Still, a little ray of sunshine managed to creep down along the waterfront, shifting the tones in my favour on an otherwise gloomy outlook.

After months of inactivity, presumably while numerous tests were done on the structural integrity, a tower crane has appeared on the burnt, rusting carcass of the TVCC.

The building was set ablaze by wayward (and illegal) New Year’s fireworks in February 2009. Just a few weeks ago, the site manager who had procured the fireworks for the illegal show was sentenced to seven years in jail. Nineteen others involved in the deadly blaze were jailed for periods ranging from three to six and a half years.

Sometimes that specific place you want to put the camera is just out of reach. And if not just out of reach, then perhaps just a little in harm’s way. So it was no surprise to find ourselves out standing in the oncoming traffic to catch a distant view of the almost completed China World Trade Centre Tower 3, designed by Brian Lee of Skidmore Owings + Merrill. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Brian on a number of his recent projects including Beijing New Poly Plaza, Lenovo Beijing and Guangzhou Poly International Plaza.

Currently the tallest building in Beijing, China World Trade Centre Tower 3 is expected to open to the public later this year. With a luxury hotel on it’s uppermost floors and a retail podium connected through to the adjacent Kerry Centre, the new tower will provide a focal point for the expansive development around this new Central Business District in Beijing.

From a distance, the slowly tapering facade carries a delicate balance between the vertical  and horizontal elements. Closer up, the undulating pattern of the glazing become more pronounced and the facade takes on a more crystalline appearance.

Now that the dust has settled on reconstruction along the Bund, the local lads are out in force again with their kites, catching the early morning breeze off the Huangpu.

The refurbishment of the promenade, undertaken by NBBJ and partner firm Chan Krieger Sieniewicz was completed in time for the opening of the Shanghai World Expo on May 1st. As the day progresses, the Bund promenade becomes a major drawcard for tourists and local alike.

At dusk, the lights on the classic facades of the Bund provide a stoic balance to the brash sleekness of the glass and steel towers of Pudong.

Having gazed across the mighty Huangpu over the past decade or so watching the skyline of Pudong emerge from the fields, it has been most interesting to see what was once a bizarre anomaly, slowly approach the very definition of normality.

Of course, the iconic Oriental Pearl Tower completed in 1995, could never be considered normal so is appropriately, still out there on it’s own after all these years.

After several years in rented premises, The Architecture + Design Museum in Los Angeles has finally found a permanent home on WIlshire Boulevard adjacent to the LA County Museum of Art. As part of their gala opening and fund raising event, I was invited to participate in the building of a 3D structure from a supplied kit of parts. The pre-cut kits were sent out to a cross section of designers, architects, and artists, ensuring a wild mix of responses.

In trying to think of a way to incorporate some photographic element to my response without it appearing like a blatant advertising opportunity, I was drawn to the irony of constructing a blatant advertising opportunity but with a twist.

Co-incidentally, I had photographed a well-loved LA landmark which happened to have my name on it. So it seemed the obvious image to stick on the billboard.

With the concept firmly etched in my head, I started on assembling the piece from the appropriate kit parts. It was during this process of construction, while unsuccessfully attempting to control the hair trigger on the newly acquired hot glue gun that I was reminded of my strong childhood dislike for building models. Throwing a few LEGO bricks together was totally cool. But messing with the heads of pins, a tube of Airfix glue and the tail section of a B-17 bomber just never really worked out for me. Besides, left to it’s own devices, the glue gun seemed quite capable of extruding a passable sculpture all by itself.

So while the A+D piece got there in the end, I dare say I’m better suited to manipulating 3D back into 2D rather than the reverse.

The opening gala was a great success with over 500 guests attending throughout the night. Here I was squeezed in behind Richard Meier’s exquisitely assembled piece.