Yes is More

Copenhill Waste-to-Energy Plant, Image from BIG

On December 6th of 2021, BIG's CopenHill Amager Bakke project was named World Building of the Year at the World Architecture Festival. The project exhibits BIG founder Bjork Ingels' philosophy of hedonistic sustainability by combining a power plant project with a ski slope, hiking trail and climbing wall.

Ingels points out that architecture often varies between two opposing extremes; "an avant-garde full of crazy ideas, originating from philosophy or mysticism; and the well organized corporate consultants that build predictable and boring boxes of high standard." Ingels and his firm focus on a third way which they describe as "a pragmatic utopian architecture that creates socially, economically and environmentally perfect places as a practical objective."

One of my favorite of Ingels' projects is the 82 foot-high Mountain Dwellings built in the Orestad district of Copenhagen. By arranging apartments in a diagonally sloping scheme, the mountain themed complex provides spacious apartments with each including a 1000 square foot south-facing terrace. After completion in 2008, it received several prestigious awards including the World Architecture Festival Housing Award,

Mountain Dwellings, Image by BIG

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The Price is Wright

Before Terri and I left Bartlesville, Oklahoma, we stopped to see the Price Tower which is the only realized skyscraper designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. We found it to be an unusual and uniquely beautiful structure.

In designing the Price Tower, Wright was inspired by the shape and structure of a tree. Like a tree trunk, the central elevator shaft supports the entire structure. The 19 floors of the building branch out from the central core and the outer walls are clad in patinated copper which creates an effect similar to leaves.

The tower currently houses the Price Tower Arts Center which focuses on art architecture and design. It is was designated a National Historic Landmark by the United States Department of the Interior in March of 2007.

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