Stockholm Arena

This arena has housed concerts with Whitney Houston, Rod Stewart, and Lady Gaga. The stadium, which seats 16,000 occupants comfortably, is not the most massive feat.

But it is the most interesting.

A far away glance shows the Ericsson Globe (as it is called in Stockholm) to be something akin to an observatory. The main difference is that the Ericsson Globe, while “old” in terms of time, has a new addition – a path laid out on the exterior of the building that allows smaller globes to glide on the outside.

Each globe, called SkyView, can hold up to 16 passengers at a time. A trip to the top of the globe is three minutes, while a round-the-globe trip is twenty minutes.

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Plus House |Japan Architecture|

If this is what you thought a modern, forward-thinking urban apartment would look like in Paris…

You’d be wrong.

This beautiful two-level concrete villa is situated in the Shizuoka Prefecture on Japan’s main island Honshu. The two-structure villa is built in such a way that from above, it forms a cross or a plus sign – hence, the name Plus House.

The husband and wife architect team that dreamed up this weekend villa are also the founders of Mount Fuji Architects Studio, and stems from their love of mountaineering. 

The home, which is clad entirely in concrete and marble and features water from nearby hot springs in the kitchen and baths, has a romantic play on light and sits on a mountaintop overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

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Torre Bicentenario I & II

Dutch firm ONA, headed by Rem Koolhaas, designed this concept building in anticipation for the two hundred year anniversary of Mexico’s independence.

Although once believed to be completed by September 19, 2011 (the date of Mexico’s independence), this concept project was cancelled in 2007 due to building restrictions, irregular funding, and corruption among the city officials at that time.

Not to worry, for ANOTHER Torre Bicentenario is in the works, aptly named the Torre Bicentenario II. Architect Hector Tagle Nader and the developer Group Adelac are estimating a completion date of 2012, almost a year after the landmark 200 year anniversary.

The completed structure will have 6 underground levels, a hotel, restaurant, and offices. It will be 70 stories high and will be the forth highest building in America and the tallest building in Mexico City and Latin America (hovering at 225.6 m).

The estimated cost of this building would be around US$800 million, partly due to the massive amount of security measures included. It will be equipped with the latest seismic shock absorbing equipment due to the high amount of seismic activity in that area. The money is reportedly coming from private investors.

Elbe Philharmonic Hall Getting A Facelift

 

Germany is one of the most beautiful places in Europe. And with my love for music and architecture, it’s no surprise that I fell in love with this construction project.

The project being shown is the Elbe Philharmonic Hall in Hamburg, Germany. Basel-based architects, Herzog and de Meuron, constructed this tent-like glass structure on an already-existing heavy modernist warehouse. The structure, which is looking to house concert halls, restaurants, bars, apartments and a luxury hotel, is scheduled for completion in 2011.

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LUMI Rainwater Tanks

The Aussies are always combining style with eco-conscious design.

Full Tank, an adjunct from a Melbourne-based architectural firm, is one of the first environmentally conscious design firms. As such, they built this style-conscious rainwater tank.

That’s right, I said rainwater tank. 

If you live in any big city, you know by now that rainwater tanks help save on water by taking the rain that falls off buildings, purifying the water and then sending it straight back to the building.

Only problem is, the tanks are mostly ugly and unappealing. So Full Tank came up with LUMI, which illuminates during the day and at night, and comes in an array of cool colors.

Someone tell me that these tanks will soon be available in America, because I want one.