Monday, 25 July 2011

Torre Caja Madrid Tower, Spain


This building, another one of Norman Foster’s designs, acts as the new headquarters for Caja Madrid, the largest bank in Spain, and is located in the Cuatro Torres Business Area in Madrid. This is the tallest building in Spain boasting 45 floors spread out of 250 meters. The structure uses a combination of materials to emphasize solid and transparent areas of the building.
The way that offices protrude from the steel frame inspired me when folding polygonal shapes in the paper folding exercise.


 
Foster & Partners, “Swiss Re HQ, 30 St mary Axe, London,” accessed July 25 2011, http://www.fosterandpartners.com/Projects/1177/Default.aspx

30 St Mary Axe (The Gherkin)

30 St Mary Axe, commonly referred to as the Gherkin, is a skyscraper in London’s main financial district. Due to its ingenious design the triangular skin of the structure allows for a column free floor space, enhancing the breathe taking views of the city below and allowing more light to enter the building. Similar to the City hall, Norman Foster designed this energy conscious building with a focus on curvature and transparency.

During the paper folding exercise this building inspired me with the curves and ‘twists’ created in my paper model.









Foster & Partners, “Swiss Re HQ, 30 St mary Axe, London,” accessed July 25 2011, http://www.fosterandpartners.com/projects/1004/default.aspx

http://www.completeofficesearch.com/provider/office/c40c5c53d5e2243a90aa61f942bceed4.jpg

http://weluv.it/explore/the-gherkin-30-st-mary-axe/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/thegherkin30stmaryaxe/london-gerkin-ian-muttoo.jpg

http://plus.maths.org/issue42/features/foster/gherkin_inside.jpg
http://www.wedding-news.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Gherkin_l.jpg

Sunday, 24 July 2011

City Hall

City Hall, designed by Norman Foster, is located on the south bank of the Thames River. With a similar shape to a distorted egg, City Hall was designed to have a reduced surface area in order to improve energy efficiency, boasting a sustainable building which produces very little pollution. With its curvaceous shape transparent materials City hall contrasts the surrounding London architecture, Tower of London and Tower Bridge, which demonstrate straight edges and solid stone materials.

The curvature of this building inspired the curved folds made in my paper models.


Foster & Partners, “City hall, London,” accessed July 25 2011, http://www.fosterandpartners.com/Projects/1027/Default.aspx

http://images.mathieuetcoralie.com/London-CityHall/CityHall.jpg
http://www.hughpearman.com/articles3/cityhall.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinrp/246608912/sizes/o/in/photostream/

Spore Creatures





Creature Creator

Paper Folding & Modeling

Model 1





 Model 2
 


Friend's Model