Issue – 17: A New Dimension
Folds are the basis for infinite variety in the space around us. This is not an astute Japanese insight regarding the art of origami but the basis of modern spatial concepts.
No. 14: Façade grids
The concept is more pertinent than ever when referring to architecture and façades today. A contemporary façade constitutes an individual building element which must not only satisfy numerous requirements but simultaneously fulfill structural, functional and diverse aesthetic demands.
No. 13: Masterpieces
In this issue, we would like to present some impressive masterpieces by well-known contemporary architects.What makes a building a masterpiece? Is it all down to its fundamental concept, to the idea itself, its highly detailed further development or its actual positioning in space and in the environment?
No. 12: Out of the Box
Modern architecture is gradually breaking out of its restrictive “box”. Daring ideas and contemporary design play an increasingly important role in the approach taken to materials, in the transformation of our environment and in the creative linking of new structures with existing ones.
No. 11: Urban Spaces
Perceiving architecture as a social activity, the way American historian Spiro Kostof defined it, is a recurring topic in discussions and debates. How social is architecture? What sort of social responsibility does architecture have? Where do you set the limits?
No. 10: Living Spaces
Architects and engineers are increasingly focussing on the role living space plays in the digital and mobile 21st century. Both our working lives and lifestyle have undergone dramatic changes.
No. 9: Working Spaces
A company’s identity and ethos is communicated by the architecture at its physical location. A building’s architectural statement does not only convey these values to the outside world but also internally.
No. 8: Cultural impressions
In this issue of Forms & Elements we present architecture in the context of culture – museums of art and archaeology are just as valuable cultural witnesses as cemeteries or libraries.
No. 7: Built Identities
In the last decades of the 20th century the term “Identity” became ever more important. Whilst society is subject to an increasingly rapid change, the image of the buildings around us is changing comparatively slowly.
No. 6: Motion
Movement and space are linked to each other, yet only by moving through space does it become perceptible. In architectural space, paths constitute the link between different places.
No. 5: Schools
Can good marks be built? The cognitive and emotional perception of the classroom is deeply anchored in our minds. Good marks probably cannot be built, but a suitable environment can enhance effective learning by contributing to emotional wellbeing.
No. 4: Sustainability
Our earth is about 4.6 billion years old. We humans only experience a very brief interlude on this planet. When talking about sustainability, all the long-term consequences of actions, need to be taken into consideration, not just the initial one.
No. 3: Colour & Composition
Colour works. It awakes associations and emotions. Colour can modify or support the impact of architecture and its application. It can tell a story and put it in a cultural or chronological framework. One more thing: Since events change memories, the awareness of colour and architecture is subject to a constant change. Colour lives.
No. 2: Curvatures
Curvature in architecture denotes an intended bulge of a straight line. It draws off the building’s cool strength. The curvature subordinates single elements to the overall concept of the structure. Let your inspiration run free through different forms and shapes of expressive building envelopes.
No. 1: Contours & Shapes
Our environment is designed through shapes. Elements or sculptures in our environment are defined by their contours.
