Lectures of an Francisco 2012 Architecture and the City Festival

Lectures of an Francisco 2012 Architecture and the City FestivalFestival lectures convene leading minds on issues in architecture, design and urban planning. From design trends to addressing spatial challenges in the Bay Area, experts share their ideas, creativity and visions for our local built environment. Lectures include: Design: It's About Time, a panel discussion organized by the Center for Architecture + Design, that explores our evolving landscape and how design shapes the public realm today. A lunchtime panel discussion on Design in the Media, moderated by Kenneth Caldwell and featuring Kitty Morgan (editor-in-chief, Sunset magazine), Ariel Schwartz (senior editor, Fast Company’s Co.Exist), and Jon Steinberg (editor-in-chief, San Francisco magazine). GOOD Design, a forum that pairs designers with local civic leaders to identify innovative solutions to some of our everyday design problems. Cathleen McGuigan, editor-in-chief of Architectural Record, in conversation with John King, the Chronicle's design critic. An informative session on how to research the history of a building with SF Heritage and an exciting look at the home of the future presented in collaboration with SPUR. Creating professional architectural rendering and architectural visualization for architects and designers

Architecture Design Theory

Every country, even every city has its own architecture style. I have seen different country's architecture through architectural rendering and architectural visualization & 3d architectural animation our artists mcreated. Let's talk about the Design Theory in architecture.

Modernist Design Theory. Modernism in architecture was established in the early 20th century. Le Corbusier's iconic Unite d'Habitation in Marseilles, France, exhibit the principles and qualities of modernist architecture. Reacting against prior ornate architectural designs, modernist architects were interested in creating space and structure that simply provided the space and structure as needed. The idea of a simple building that framed the natural world outside is integral to the architecture of the modernist time period. Often, modernist buildings were referred to as machine versus nature, rather than integrating the building into nature surrounding it. The phrase "less is more" coined by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is implicit in the ideology integral to the clean, simple lines in modernist design theory in architecture.

Post-modernism. A direct reaction to modernism that began in the early 1970s, post-modernism integrates more ornamental and decorative elements into buildings. The architecture itself initially had roots in its modern counterparts, but with more decoration and inadvertent angles. As time has passed, the buildings have become more sculptural and less rigid. The sculptural forms show an apparent reaction to the simple modernist lines, creating a new look and movement. As time has progressed, post-modernist architecture has evolved into more sculptural and playful forms, such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, designed by Frank Gehry, and the Centre Georges Pompidou museum in Paris, France, designed by Richard Rogers.

Contemporary Architecture. Generally describing architecture created in the past 20 to 30 years, contemporary architecture has greatly changed with the times. The advancement of computers, heightened conceptual thinking and insight into recent architectural styles have created a unique style that has not been created with architecture before in this contemporary era. Rooted in post-modernist principles and arguably sometimes existing as post-modernist architecture, contemporary architecture continues to push the envelope, aiming to create something new. While these periods continue to influence and overlap with one another, the modernist, post-modernist and contemporary theories continue to influence each other, evolving from and building off one another.

3D Rendering for Multi Family Apartment Project

In Napa Valley, a 3D rendering was created to provide a better visualized idea of how the community looks like once it is built. It (architectural rendering or architectural visualization) is welcomed by the residents as it brings a 360 3D accurate portrayal designed to a more human perspective and integration of well into the community.

The new Multi Family Apartment Project scored by St. Anton Partners, was just approved by the City Council. There will be 27 unites of residents who are affordable, said by the winner, who will make 50% or less then the area's median income.

Interoperability in Architecture Company

First, BIM means building information modeling. BIM dynamically consolidates all team members' input into one package to produce rich, three-dimensional plans. It optimizes the sharing of electronic information throughout a project, demonstrably reduces construction costs and speeds project delivery. It also enhances scheduling, cost estimating and code checking capabilities.

Architectural design teams use different software packages to produce building designs. While BIM software can deliver seamless and effective interoperability.

Industry leaders have appealed for greater software interoperability at the code level. As of 2010, leading design software producers are expanding interoperability between their software portfolios.

BIM's limited interoperability with other software, as well as its cost, learning curve, and robust hardware requirements discourage many design and construction professionals from using it.

Frontop supplies superb 3d rendering, architectural rendering, architectural visualization and architectural animation for architecture firms.

Coolest University Dormitory in the World (1)

Today I saw the world’s coolest university dorm. That is Tietgenkollegiet, Located on Orestad, a newer district in Copenhagen, Denmark. We have cooperated with several university on creating architectural rendering, architectural visualization and architectural animation for them. University architectures are great, while Tietgenkollegiet is the greatest one. The building was completed in 2006 and was designed by Lundgaard & Tranberg Arkitekter. The building's circular form – a symbol of equality and the communal – is contrasted by projecting volumes expressing the individual residences. Below you will find information about the building and its unique features, along with a complete gallery of both the interior and exterior and of course the incredible communal courtyard. The seven storey structure contains 360 rooms, comprising a total area of 26,800 square meters

Admirable Female Architects

Architects are admirable. Female architects are more admirable. Traditionally, architecture design is men’s profession. Actually, female can also do the job well.

Before I engaged in the architecture related field (architectural visualization field), I realized that even female has the ability to become a famous architect. I thought architecture design is men's profession. I'm absolutely wrong. Female architects are more admirable. Here's a list of 10 female architects that deserve recognition.

Michelle Kaufmann is California-based green prefab home designer. She designed for the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.

Yen Ha and Michi Yanagishita are one of the only Asian-women owned architectural partnerships in New York City.

Winka Dubbeldam is well-known for her contemporary loft renovations. She is the principal of New York-based Archi-Tectonics.

Zoka Zola is Chicago-based architect and has created many award-winning homes.

Zaha Hadid is a British-Iraqi architect. Her design is full of fluid and curvilinear forms. In 2004, she won the prize of "starchitects".

We are proud of cooperating with her on some projects, like Beijing Wangjing SOHO Showroom architectural rendering, Beijing Galaxy Soho 3d rendering, Cairo Expo City architectural visualizations, Sinapore Farrer Court and so on.

Eileen Gray is an Irish architect and designer. She played key contribution to the modernist movement. Her adjustable-height side table is an icon of 1920s design, and her later career produced a small but beautiful collection of homes.

Kazuyo Sejima is this year's Pritzker Prize winner. She creates subtle, minimal buildings and mainly focuses on museums and educational centers.

Jeanne Gang is Chicago-based architect. Her recent green skyscraper, Aqua earned her international attention.

Maya Lin is an American architect and artist. Her work is minimal, but engages the viewer in quiet ways.

Rocio Romero is Missouri-based designer and well known for her minimalist prefab homes.

Tomorrow is International Women's Day

Referring to female architects, the first I thought of is Zaha Hadid architect. She is the first female architect we have cooperated with. We created architectural visualization, architectural rendering or 3d rendering, architectural animation or 3d walkthrough for her architecture design. She is probably the most famous female working in her field today.
Today there are many female architects. Who was the first qualified female architect? That's Architect and publisher Florence Mary Taylor (1879–1969).
Tomorrow is International Women's Day. Architects Sheila Hughes and Melinda Dodson will have a casual breakfast on International Women’s Day and share their experiences of being leading women in the architecture industry. The breakfast will be held at 7.30 am on Thursday, 8 March at Artespresso in Canberra.
Happy breakfast, happy International Women's Day.

Suzhou "Height" Repeatedly Refreshed

Suzhou is China's key scenic tourist city, one of the four China’s key environmental protection cities and also one of the central cities of the Yangtze River delta. Suzhou abounds in pretty girls.
With the development of Suzhou economic development, the city "height" is refreshed again and again. Half of 35 skyscrapers have been started to build.
In the first half of 2009, new area Shangri-la hotel was open. Its height is 232m;
June 17th, in the same year, Suzhou new landmark architecture-Gate of the Orient JinJiHu west bank began to build. Its height is 278m and it becomes the highest building in Suzhou;
During the construction process of Gate of the Orient, global 188 project, not far from the west of Gate of the Orient, occupied the "the highest position";
Within a year, Suzhou International Financial Center come up to the highest architecture. Its height is 450m;
This year Suzhou Central Square will break record and add 50m. The following is Suzhou Central Square architectural visualization/3d rendering.
Architecture becomes higher and higher? What does it stand for? Thinking…

architectural rendering

Odd Architecture in the World

What's the oddest architecture in the world you've ever seen? Strange architecture brings different feeling to a city. Because they are unique and quite different from other uniform architecture, such as tree-shaped hotel, drunk house, upside down house, etc. Architects' imagination is extremely powerful and infinite. Let's see the following architecture.

Chinese character "八" (English is eight) shaped building-Wilson building. It is located in Chicago suburb.

Cracking to two parts museum. At the first glance, you must think it suffered an earthquake. Actually, it isn't a dangerous building, but a museum in Orlando.

This house doesn't have an official name. The wall and ground have a 135 degree angle. One wall connects with the ground. On the roof, a small flavescent chimney looks lovely. Absolutely visual effect.

Chech architecture-dancing building.

Poland architecture-drunk building. It's an accessory building of a thriving shopping center.

Nice architectural rendering, architectural walkthrough, architectural visualization service-Frontop

Imposing Earth House

I came across Peter Vetsch's design-earth house. It's an amazing design and distinctive concept. It makes full use of natural environment and leaves less carbon footprint. A man named BRIAN said like this (not original remarks), when man first walked the earth, they lived in cave and underground houses which provided safety. It seems that we have come full circle with the implementation of earth homes in today’s society. The ecological benefits are simply undeniable! Absolutely right!
I think architecture which has close realationship with environment can get more and more attention.
Our company has created many architectural renderings or architectural visualization and 3d walkthrough for modern architecture which are also very nice, but less imposing compared with earth house.

On Architectural Visualization

With the development of technology, architectural visualization has been developing well gradually. In 1999, experts who participated in the competitive bidding of China national grand theatre design scheme experienced an interesting thing-Designer part didn't demonstrate the scheme with usual thick design drawings and data file, but broadcasted about 5 minutes' architectural animation or architectural walkthrough. In the walkthrough, the outline of the architecture planning and the future scene were presented vividly and visually. At that time, the words "architectural animation" seem very strange to us. The 5 minutes' promotion film is also the same strange as the field. Several yeas later, with the rapid development of domestic architecture and real estate, architectural visualizations are developing consequently.

With the continuous development of media technology, "architectural visualization" products including architectural animation and architectural rendering can be created according to clients' requirement in architectural design and urban planning field, and has been widely applied. It has become an indispensable communication tool, display window and marketing tool.

2011 Top Ten Cultural Structures

2011 is going to past. Looking back to 2011 in architecture field, there are so many things impressed us. Let's see 2011 Top Ten Cultural Structures listed by designboom.com. We can see the listed projects are all designed by world's premier architects. Their works broke out the common architectural appearance. According to the features and characteristics of architectures, combining with their unconstrained imagination and creativity, these famous architects created many stunning works.
1. 'ordos museum' by MAD architects
2. 'london aquatics centre' by Zaha Hadid architects
3. 'guangzhou opera house' by Zaha Hadid architects
4. 'pheonix international media center' by Shao Weiping of BIAD UFo
5. 'spaceport america' by Foster + partners
6. 'yusuhara wooden bridge museum' by Kengo Kuma and Associates
7. 'tel aviv museum of art' by Preston Scott Cohen Inc.
8. 'heydar aliyev cultural centre' by Zaha Hadid architects
9. 'stockholm waterfront' by white Arkitekter
10. 'nanjing museum of art and architecture' by Steven Holl
The architecture images have been shown on
www.designboom.com/weblog/read.php?CATEGORY_PK=9&TOPIC_PK=18183
There are 3 projects designed by Zaha Hadid Architect in the top ten. She's so great. We are proud of having been cooprated with Zaha Hadid in some projects on architectural renderings and architectural walkthrough, like Beijing Wangjing SOHO Showroom, Beijing Galaxy Soho,Cairo Expo City, Sinapore Farrer Court and so on. Frontop has been trying to improve the technology of 3d rendering, architectural visualization, virtual reality, etc. and striving for cooperating with more architects, designers and developers.