Architecture Preview #1

Eden Project, United Kingdom

1. Who is the architect (the person who built it)?

The architect is Nicholas Grimshaw.

2. When was it built?

The building was completed in May of 2000, but it first opened in March of 2001. 

3. Where is it located?

It is located in St Blazey, Cornwall in the UK. 

4. Is it a private building or can you visit it?

Yes, people can visit the Eden Project. It is a popular attraction to visitors in Cornwall. 

5. Is there information on how much it cost to build?

It cost around 141 million euros to build, and it generated 1.1 billion euros in spending by tourists. 

6. Is there a reason the building was created or the history of the building itself?

The Eden project was built to preserve plants and show that they are important to people. Grimshaw was inspired to build it by the Climatron dome in the US.  

7. Why did you pick this building? (write at least a paragraph on this question)

I picked this building because I have heard a little and seen some pictures of the Eden Project, but I didn't really know much about it. I think that the project is a really good way to show the importance of plants. Also, the Eden project was the place that a James Bond movie was filmed. 

Turning Torso, Sweden 

1. Who is the architect (the person who built it)?

The architect was Santiago Calatrava.

2. When was it built?

The turning torso was completed in August of 2005 and opened in November of 2005. 

3. Where is it located?

The turning torso is located in Malmo, Sweden. 

4. Is it a private building or can you visit it?

It is open to visitors, and the building is used for office space and some residential space. 

5. Is there information on how much it cost to build?

The budget for the building was 550 million swedish crowns, but it ended up costing about 1.5 billion swedish crowns. 

6. Is there a reason the building was created or the history of the building itself?

I'm not sure why the building was created, it was probably just for office space or other things that can buy the space of the building. The model behind the building is based off a human body in motion. 

7. Why did you pick this building? (write at least a paragraph on this question)

I picked the building off the list because it sounded cool. I picked it once I saw the picture because it is a really spectacular building. I used to want to be an architect for my career, so I know that a building like this would have been hard to design and build. It goes against the rules of most tower buildings, and that's what I like about it.  

Cubic Houses, Netherlands 

1. Who is the architect (the person who built it)?

The architect was Piet Blom.

2. When was it built?

 The cubic houses were built in the 1970's. 

3. Where is it located?

The cubic houses are in Rotterdam, Netherlands, but there are also other cubic houses around the world.

4. Is it a private building or can you visit it?

The cubic house show room is like a museum which you can visit for a small fee. 

5. Is there information on how much it cost to build?

I couldn't find out how much these houses cost to build since they were built about 40 years ago. 

6. Is there a reason the building was created or the history of the building itself?

The houses were created because they solved some of the urban planning problems of the country. The houses were built so that they would be able to stand over a busy road. 

7. Why did you pick this building? (write at least a paragraph on this question)

I chose these buildings because they look really cool. Although I can see the problems about living in these houses forever, they would be really cool as hotel rooms. I would stay in a hotel like this if I went to the Netherlands.   

The Longaberger Company (The Basket Building), USA

1. Who is the architect (the person who built it)?

The building was built by the architects NBBJ, but it was originally thought of by Dave Longaberger. 

2. When was it built?

The basket building opened in 1997. 

3. Where is it located?

It is located in Dresden, Ohio in the United States. 

4. Is it a private building or can you visit it?

I am pretty sure that it is a public building, because the buyer is know for transforming buildings into residential space. 

5. Is there information on how much it cost to build?

The basket building cost about $32 million to build, but it was sold for about $1.2 million.

6. Is there a reason the building was created or the history of the building itself?

The reason that this building was built to look like a basket is because it used to be the headquarters of the Longaberger Company, which makes maple wood baskets. 

7. Why did you pick this building? (write at least a paragraph on this question)

I picked this building because it looks so freaking cool! It's a giant basket that serves as a work place! I would love to work in a really cool office like this one. I think that it was a great idea of the company to make their headquarters to look like their product, since it promotes their business. 

National Centre for the Performing Arts, China 

1. Who is the architect (the person who built it)?

The architect is Paul Andreu.

2. When was it built?

The performing arts centre was completed in July of 2007 and it opened in December of 2007.

3. Where is it located?

It is located in Beijing, China.

4. Is it a private building or can you visit it?

It is a public building that a lot of sports events are held. A lot of people come to watch the sports and other events that are held here. 

5. Is there information on how much it cost to build?

The performing arts centre cost about 3.2 million yuan to build. 

6. Is there a reason the building was created or the history of the building itself?

The National Centre for the Performing Arts was cerated as a place for events, like sports and theatre, to be held. 

7. Why did you pick this building? (write at least a paragraph on this question)

I chose this building because it looks a lot like the Eden Project domes, with all of the windows. I think that they could have been build in a similar way. I also chose this building because it is a really cool place, and it has a lot of venues. I chose the picture that I did because it shows the Olympic rings, which is interesting.