It seems, that architecture in Dubai (see our previous update) sprouts every possible shape and form known to man - plus reaches to the lofty heights in new and proposed high-rises - but this one is probably the strangest of them all:
The Wave Tower, Dubai
A-Cero (Joaquin Torres Architects) firm in Madrid, Spain, has designed and proposed a high-rise tower for the Dubai waterfront. The project has been already mentioned in specialized press, but we think the design is particular and sexy enough to captivate anyone who is slightly interested in architecture.
The first skyscraper for the Dubai Waterfront, the latest and biggest of the urban developments on the UAE coast, has been named The Wave Tower.
"It stands like a stylized stem with a light torsion, creating the elegant movement that characterizes the form of the shape of the building. The base has the form of a pointed arch with smooth bends, imitating the waves in the Gulf Sea.
The structure is solved with "V" form unions between the different parts in the plan view, its center space is occupied central core by the installations and elevators. Interior sky gardens are present in all the common zones, distributed on different floors, improving the air quality and working as natural temperature regulators."
Location: Madinat Al Arab District, a zone under development that is expected to become the new downtown and central business district of Dubai. Height: 92 floors, 370 meters Materials: Double skin facade made of silk screened glass for solar control. Uses: Mixed use (commercial, offices and high end residential).
The same architectural firm A-Cero created very imposing street-level GIBO project in Madrid:
Looks like the previous project will nicely complement already almost finished Pentominium by Trident International Holdings in Dubai. Just look at the view on artificial island archipelagos - from a swimming pool, or open bar:
(images credit: Trident International Holdings)
This is officially the highest condominium tower in the world.
Ecological Tower in Siberia
Foster & Partners revealed designs for the ecological tower in Siberia, Khanty Mansiysk: an elegant crystalline form, which blends well with the epic Siberian landscapes.
"280m tall tower is faceted like a cut diamond, designed to maximize daylight through the winter months, reflecting and refracting natural light to illuminate the interior spaces." (more info)
Crystal Island, Moscow Russia
Same company Foster & Partners is proposing a mixed-use unique structure 450m high only 7.5 km from the Kremlin: "The building’s form spirals upwards in converse directions to form a diagonal grid, and the spiraling geometry extends throughout the project into the park."
Two Disc Skyscrapers for Baku
South Korean Heerim Architects firm has proposed two towers for Baku, capital of Azerbaijan and the largest port on the Caspian Sea. "Full Moon Hotel" will symbolize the full moon of its name, and will be located across the bay from "The Crescent Hotel" (height: 158m, 32 floors) - (more info & images here)
Over in Germany: Fantastic Ball Shape
European Central Bank in Frankfurt will have a somewhat recognizable shape of a coin, designed by United Architects. This proposal might turn out to be too radical for the tastes of highly conservative bank, but it's still spectacular competition entry: (more info)
Even Stranger Shape: Euroscraper
Euroscraper (by Munoz Villers) has a strangely looping form, which apparently reduces resistance to wind, and provides better light for green spaces inside. Again, this is only award-winning entry in the competition, but we are rooting for it mightily, wishing such fantastic (and audacious) structure might some day be built. (More info)
The following buildings and structures can not be called skyscrapers, but we get excited to see them in concept stage, a testament to current abundance of creativity in modern architecture:
The Scala Library, Copenhagen
Another proposed European project: a "Turning" Tower in Copenhagen, designed by BIG. The tower's shape will integrate well with other prominent spires and cathedrals of the Old City. (More info)
Highly Individual "Portrait" Architecture
Airport Hotel & Conference Center for Stockholm, Sweden, designed by the same company BIG, looks like a portrait, or face engraving, floating over the forest.
Apparently the lighting of various "faces" is dynamic, and can be changed almost on a whim:
Very cool apartment building complex is proposed by the same company for Kiev, Ukraine:
We will continue to highlight the most creative architectural projects, let us know about the ones that came to your attention.
The Panzer driver's mask is not a gas mask - It's to protect the face from spall (splinters of metal that fly off the inside of the armour when it is hit hard). The lower section is made of chain mail
i never knew burning man was real..i saw it on "malcolm and the middle." i love this website! its only been a day and im almost done lookin at evrythin, i think..if u can reply..how old are you??
PS Gas masks don't do a thing against radioactivity or nuclear fallout, I don't know where you get that from.
True, gas masks don't do much at all for protection against fallout, but they do for mustard gas and other corrosive gases.
The cultural conflation of gas masks with nuclear fallout probably comes from seeing them used during wartime (mustard gas).
I came across a 1961 booklet published in Canada (with a forward by Prime minister Diefenbaker) titled "11 Steps to Survival' that outlines how to survive a nuclear explosion. Gasmasks in this case don't protect against fallout, but *do* help to filter out some of the heavier particles cast into the air by the detonation.
Great images, thank you! the other unknown credit (the black and white image above the burning man-one) is by Francisco Matas Rosas, Mexico City. http://www.franciscomata.com.mx/portafolioinicioi.html
Nice post. Cool images. Also, Romulus, you are incorrect. Modern gas masks filter out radioactive particulates from fallout, but only when used with a proper filter. But a gas mask alone will not save you from radioactivity, you need a full set of correct protective clothing AND a gas mask for that.
"Romulus said: PS Gas masks don't do a thing against radioactivity or nuclear fallout, I don't know where you get that from."
I believe that the second horse picture is incorrectly labeled. The horse appears to be wearing a simple "nose bag," a canvas sack filled with grain that enables the horse to eat on its breaks from work while it is away from a manger or pasture.
The Heroin that we know and love today was actually created by the Bayer company (the same aspirin one!). It was marketed as a cure all pains drug and sold openly. Things went downhill for that product shortly after...
Amazing the heroin - many narcotics had in previous incarnations some "medicinal" purpose. A wasted patient is probably quite a quiet patient! Not teriffic.
The SUVs wrecked by a tank were a stunt done by an Russian Jeep dealer, for extra money on the trade in the people had to surrender their old SUVs to this event.
On the sign it says "Jeeps are not afraid of tanks" which is a remake of the slogan “Tanks are not afraid of mud” that often is written on Russian trucks.
What stunning images of Iran! Thanks for sharing these - I now have a profoundly different (and better) view of this country, and her people and the beautiful scenery. I think my perceptions of Iran were of a hot and dusty desert country - I am ashamed of my ignorance - but pleased to have learned something new.
I really enjoy reading your picture blog. I have no idea where you find all these images. Thanks for putting in the work though, they make my day. Iran is a beautiful country...even if Ahmadinejād is a little crazy
I can only agree with Nick, stunning pictures of what is obviously a beautiful country. I am sure that the vast majority of the people there are the same as in every other country, happy to live their lives bringing up their children. Time for us all to think about what is good in the world, and that is most of the people, not the very few how are ruining it for us all.
To the anonymous idiot who said "even if Ahmadinejād is a little crazy"
You obviously just don't get it you clown. If Iran has been so seriously misrepresented to you as it obviously has before now, doesn't it occur to you that their very popular (by our standards) President has also been misrepresented?
Ahmadi Nejad has been lied about endlessly. If you bothered to research a bit you will find he is a very decent, wise and well spoken president. He has NEVER threatened anyone, let alone Israel, his words have been twisted by Zionist controlled corporate press and the constant claim he threatened to wipe Israel off some map, is pure unadulterated bulldust.
If you want crazy you maniac, then how about reading some of Bush or Cheney, or indeed most of the present crop of US presidential candidates ramblings. Then go read the text of the excellent and reasoned letter Ahmadi Nejad personally penned a couple of years back, to Bush and which of course was also misrepresented. They even lied about its length which was NOT fourteen or seventeen pages but a just a handful of well written and very inspiring prose.
The ignorance of so many people these days is astounding, frightening and not a little disgusting!
By the way I have always known what a beautiful country Iran is, I have a number of Iranian friends who long since told me of it. The thought that such philistines as American pig dogs and their nasty lackeys might destroy and harm such a country and race fills me with loathing. As an Australian it is even self loathing.
F**K, where do I get off this crazy bus!
To the blog owner thanks for shining a light into the darkness of western minds, for what little good it will do.
I'm from Canada and let me tell you I have the same difficulty telling my friend they should not refuse to visit a great country, with marvelous scenery to see, only because of there politics. And this great country is U.S.A. Sadly, I'm not joking. But I'm sure I will enjoy my trip to the Grand Canyon in march.
Beautiful land! God's land. If only there weren't religons!
However, I noticed you photo'd an Armenian church - please tell me how many people attend masses there?
And also, please tell me, how come you have photos mosques? Aren't you featuring landscapes - NOT islamic works? Note, the artwork originates from pre-islamic times, from classical Persian civilization - nothing to do with today's shiite scum.
Hi With so many thanks for giving us the opportunity to look at theses delightful pictures of Iran , I must notify you that the 5 the picture dose not belong to Iran. I may ask you to kindly remove it from the list ! Regards Behnam
I've always known the area to be naturally beautiful [along with a thousand other places on this earth]. I've long been a huge fan of Iranian films [check them out]. But the reality is that it is not a safe place to travel. Yes, I know that most written about the area is a beat up. But the dangers in visiting these places for westerners, along with it's neighbours, is real. Congrats again on another fab series of pics, I look forward to your site everyday.
You're lack of information astounds me. I have lived in Iran and have all of my family there, but have gone to college here. Let me set it straight. Ahmadi Nejad is a pig for lack of better uncensored words. He has screwed Iran ever since he gained power. There is a reason why no one in Iran is able to access the video of Ahmadi Nejad's promises of what he would do when he came into power. For example, giving out free oil to Iranian citizens. Right now, as of Thursday, February 28 2008, Iranians are in terrible shape. You obviously have some corrupt friends as the only people who are pro-government have some kind of family, financial, or religious link. Sorry I get pissed off thinking about my homeland getting screwed.
I'm an American and I can see that Iran is a very beautiful country, more so to me because I love the mountains and the cooler climate they give.
This is pretty country and many of its inhabitants are decent people. It just happens to be ruled by a despotic regime. In that vein it's similar to Germany. Germany is also a beautiful country with a decent populace that also once upon time had been ruled by a despotic regime that eventually threatened the world's stability. And back then, many people thought Hitler himself was a decent, intelligent man who hugged puppies and adopted babies and liked to dance and twirl in the rain. Only hindsight would prove to us what a monster he truly was. The same will probably hold true for Ahmadinejad (who really is just a figurehead) as well.
We're seeing history repeat itself, and once again the Jews are the scapegoat. What a shame.
Maybe if the iranians spent more time making this wonderful art and maintaining their beautiful country instead of funding the killing of Jews it would be a better world.
I had the pleasure of being in the country for 1 1/2 years compliments of the US Army. The Shah was in power then. Most of my time was spent in the country. I got to know the rural people. I feel that they would compare to most all of the rural people that are in the USA. I hope that the changing of the politics haven't changed the inherent kindness of these people.
Such a great country,,, really beautiful!! Well for those who don't know.. Desert is found only in the Gulf and African Areas in the Middle East.. So if you found those pictures beautiful then i guess you would find Lebanon Marvelous!! Lebanon is an Arab Country of a beauty that competes Switzerland with a great sea
It is really stupid to discuss politics here in this blogg. Why people don't just enjoy the magnificently pictures posted here. Thats is what this blogg is for. This is really a amazing country which I hope can visit soon. It doesn't matter which kind of religion they adopt but respect it by all foreigners to it. Every country has its up and downs and we are not here to judge it but just admire the most amazing sceneries that nature and mankind have done. If we want to discuss politics there are many bloggs out there for this purpose, just respect other peoples work. If other people already recognized that they didn't know Iran was a such beautiful country why criticizing then.
For the owner of this blog you did a great job posting these pictures.
Sorry to all for speaking of politics! But as an Iranian I must tell some words to you; especially if you have read words of the other Iranian commenter, the Rabbit one! Iran is a beautiful country as you can see. And it is a historical country of course. Even in holy book the name of our old kings mentioned who had have a fair manner of doing things. Today the problem with Iran is islamic fundamentalism. Those Iranian hate even Iran itself! Can you believe it? The governments of Iran with presidency of Ahmadinejad are making a dam (named Sivand) to destroy some of our old pre-islamic constructions (named Pasargadae)! Can you believe it? This is happening in Iran. If you do not believe me see this:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sivand_Dam! And do not believe anyone that telling you the governments in Iran are any kind of good! Cheers!
You're bullshiting. Ahmadi Nejad HAS made repeated threats against Israel, and none of it is media hype or "zionist" propaganda. I could just as easily said that everything Bush and Cheney have said was twisted by propaganda. If YOU have done any REAL research, and not just listened to your Iranian friends or read Iranian sources, you would see this. But you're too ignorant to see it, and too anti-American to see any other point of view. Don't hit me with that "show proof" forum-retort BS because arguments like yours don't need proof, just opinion, and any proof i'll dig up you'll dismiss as "propaganda."
People outside Iran get a very limited perspective of this country; they only ever hear about it when Ahmadi Nejad has made a new threat (or repeated an old one) against some nation (usually Israel). In much the same way, you, an Australian, experience America only through television; a brief injection of an outside culture, a background noise in your Australian life. You got as much ability to judge as an American does.
Iran is a beautiful country, and its a shame the political climate makes it difficult for people to experiencing it. As in Israeli I can't travel there (I heard Israelis visited Iran with a European passport) though I would very much like to.
Thanks for beautiful pictures, But where is the 5th image, for other Uramanat images, go to this location, www.worldisround.com/articles/73022/photo2134.html
To Rabbit: I think you should calm down and cease to speak in such an aggressive manner. Furthermore, who sais Ahmadinejad is so popular? Just because you are shown scenes of tens of thousands of hysteric Iranians in rural provinces from south to North and West to East, cheering their president during his frequent visits to the provinces? Is that enough to convince you that he enjoys the support of the majority of Iranians? Well I have news for you! Don't ever rely on the number of people you see taking to the streets to determine statistics as far as how many of a population are pro and how many are anti. Iran has 70 million inhabitants, and if one to two or three or even four million should take to the streets in support of Ahmadinejad, it does not by any means necessarily indicate that he enjoys the support of the majority! All you need to do is to stroll around and talk to people in Iran, and you will find that they're not fond of either Ahmadinejad, U.S./Zionist warmongers, or the ludicrous Iranian "opposition" in exile. The Iranian people want a strong, independent, advanced and progressive Iran, and peaceful relations with all the countries of the world.
I recommed all people who are interested in an ancient and most spiritual civilization, to visit Iran, and you shall see what many foreigners have already discovered which is a lovely, fascinating country with the friendliest and most generous people in the world. No people in the world can match the Iranians when it comes to kindness, hospitality, generosity and helpfulness.
Thank u for the pictures.This is an iranian girl who is in love with her country.I am not going to speak much about politics because I hate politics and politicians all around the world!The majority of them are fool stubborn liars ,no difference where they are from.Iran IS beautiful and SAFE to the guests.Iranians are still kind and warm.They do not want to destroy any where.They do not whish to fight.They just want to live their lives.Do not believe in that puppet president please and do not call him iranian for God's sake.I beg you not to call him Muslim as well.He is not our president.People in Iran suffer but the life is going on and iranians like other people live.that's not that bad yet!we'll survive!COME AND VISIT IRAN AND BE SURE NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO YOU EVEN IF YOU ARE A WESTERNER! browse tehse ones too: www.iranchamber.com www.destinationiran.com/UNESC0_List.htm
...And one more thing!Have you heard of Cyrus the great Cylinder kept in UN?if you haven't,search a little on google and you will sympathize with people who first spoke about the human rights and now are accused of being terrorists!
Iran is a nice place worth of being seen.There are bewildering numbers of different landscapes from dessert to woods and plains and mountains.Like it's nature,there are lots of different people living there too.It is a multicultural,multilingual and multireligious country.Even there live many jewish people and so do christians,muslims and the followers of anciet religions like zardoshties. Thwy have been living in peace for many many many years.
iran is a special place. to me it is the heart of the world,the center of the middle east, to the west europe, to the east asia, to the south africa, north russia, surrounded by other cultures and mixed with all types of people and colors. as far as shiite scum, islam is not scum, i personally dont believe in religion but islam is a pretty decent religion whatever you may think. its extremists that have turned it inside out. as for the art work and masques that came out of it, it shows the intricacy and focus and beauty "through" the religion. im just happy i can look at something so beautiful that humans created. these are geometric patterns that can be viewed in so many different ways, like the world- you can look at it in so many different perspectives and no one is really wrong. and yeah im iranian and yeah iran is kinda getting screwed but ill tell you one thing, america helped kick out the shah for some stupid oil that the world won't even need in our "green friendly" future. i may not enjoy what the country is undergoing but i dont want such beautiful things and so many good people destroyed and forgotten. hope for america. hope for iran.
Yes Ahmadinejād is a maniac. Yes the country is ruled by a bunch of fanatic theocrats. Yes I will not go there and support these people with my precious currency. However, the country Iran as a such really has huge potential. The cultural richness, the beautiful nature, the natural resources and the many well educated intelligent people could make Iran one of the greatest nations on earth. Sadly, has become one of the most dangerous countries on earth, threatening its neighbors with nuclear destruction and supporting various terror activities.
"Oh! , it's a beautiful country with mountains and trees...Ok..we should not go to war with them, but i previously thought it was a desert and people deserved to die. We must stop our leaders into duping us into believing that."
There is an abandoned town called Uravan in Colorado. In the '50s they mined uranium and vanadium (hence the name). When this ceased, everybody left and it became a very "hot" spot due to the radioactive pools, and mill tailings. It became a Superfund cleanup site, and has since been "cleaned" but I visited it in the late '80s prior to this and wandered through abandoned houses, stores and buildings. It was kinda spooky, yet fascinating and probably a bit dangerous as it was posted "radioactive".
There's a web site where you can find pictures and the whole story about it.
Computer Space was THE first commercial coinop video arcade game, designed by Atari founder Nolan Bushnell. The second photo you have is of some recently discovered Soviet-era video games that never made it out of that country. All of the other photos are obviously electromechanical coinop games. The scoring reels on the cabinets give that away.
Not to spam, but if you need a little help with a video game history article, I conducted interviews with Ed Logg (Asteroids), Al Alcorn (Pong creator), and a couple of others that might help. Just visit my blog page at http://www.briandeuel.com and check the links. Another page to check out is http://www.orubin.com. Owen has some great stories in his mailbag from 1976-1984 era Atari (he was a game designer there).
Another excellent article from an excellent site. Thanks!
The astrolabe was a portuguese invention from the early period of maritime discoveries (mid-15th century), and derived from an arab navigation device. The name, latin in origin, means roughly «star-measurer».
In the late decades of the 16th century (circa 1580-87), queen Elisabeth I of England, ordered sir Francis Drake to plunder the portuguese naval schools of Lagos and Sagres, in the Algarve region, at the time under spanish occupation. There they found the astrolabes, which they replicated, and another then strange device - the calculating or slide rule, invented by the portuguese mathematician Pedro Nunes, around 1550. It was not until well into the 17th century that the british Edmund Gunter replicated the slide rule, just after the publication of the logarithmic tables by John Napier.
The evolution of the astrolabe gave birth to the sextant (one-sixth of a full 360º astrolabe).
Astrolabes were an invention of the Hellenistic culture of Alexandria about the time of Christ. The earliest surviving descriptions of how to make them date from the 3rd Century AD. The actual earliest examples are Arab, from about the 8th Century AD.
Like much of Western culture, it was lost during the Dark Ages and reintroduced into Europe from the Islamic culture of Spain in around the 8th Century.
Well, Chiropetra, you are right up to a point. The astrolabe mentioned by Chaucer was not... an astrolabe. In fact, it was the instrument devised by the greeks and adopted by the Arabs, which they called «kamal» or «balistl» (meaning height), and the portuguese of the 15th century called «balestilha». It was a crude instrument, similar to a crossbow, with a ruler on the longer end.
It was based on this instrument that the portuguese devised the actual astrolabe, circular in shape and more practical to use.
But, both the kamal and the real astrolabe were usually called «astrolabes», hence the misunderstanding.
There were lots of these instruments found in wrecks around the portuguese coast, both arabic and western.
These pics are too much fun! Thanks for sharing. I'll probably write a post about it and link to your site in the next week or so. My readers would love this stuff.
My fave is the portable stereo in the kitchen, where the homemaker looks more pleased about her cutting-edge technology than she does about her Christmas dinner.
Not too surprised to see Chrysler had invented the automotive record turntable... For a long time Chrysler invented many neat things... Two others that come to mind quickly are the automotive alternator (1959) and I believe they invented the portable window mounted air conditioner.
I saw a program on the ship crash the other night (Shockwave: History Channel). The on site bridge operator was intoxicated and working alone. He thought the ship had passed and began lowering the bridge.
There were no deaths in the accident. The helmsman dropped to the floor as they hit the bridge and the wheelhouse was sheared off inches above the floor, leaving him untouched. The ship, of course, was destroyed and its hull has been cut down to make a barge.
Bridges in the area are now controlled remotely from a central location with closed circuit cameras to verify that traffic is clear.
Sergio: what is the source of your information. As far as I know, this photograph is NOT a winner of the world press photo. In fact, there's only ONE sport's related photograph that ever won this competition and that was way back in the 60s (it was taken during a football match in the rain).
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Where is the turning torso?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turning_Torso
At least worth mentioning IMO.
The Globe too:
http://www.arkema-inc.com/index.cfm?pag=723
What about the "Marilyn" tower in Mississauga?
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2006/03/29/tor-condo-tower060329.html
also avaz twist tower in sarajevo/bosnia / herzegovina
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/9485/attrg6.jpg
http://www.sa-c.info/updateImg/avaz_twist_tower_wSZICim.jpg
These buildings are pretentious, hideous and inhuman.
I forgot to add: fascist. I am reminded of the Hitler/Speer's 'visionary' plans for Berlin.
Len, you might like the "hobbit" houses then better - see here
Ecological tower in Siberia, Khanty Mansiysk - is crazy project! All population of city is 65 000 persons. Around - a wild taiga.
they are some kickass buildings
>also avaz twist tower in sarajevo/bosnia / herzegovina
It is just a skyscraper, and while it may be big news in Bosnia and a marvelous nationalism piece for you, we have many in developed countries.
Also, this is about MOST ELEGANT PROPOSED SKYSCRAPERS
The Avas does not fit the category of "proposed"
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