iDesignArch | Interior Design, Architecture & Interior Decorating eMagazine
Interior Design, Architecture & Interior Decorating eMagazine
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque in Brunei is a stunning Royal Islamic Mosque located in the capital city Bandar Seri Begawan.
The building merges Mughal architecture with Italian styles, and is an example of modern Islamic architecture. Situated in an artificial lagoon on the banks of the Brunei River, a stone ceremonial barge is prominently displayed in front of the mosque.
The Dancing Building or Dancing House in downtown Prague, Czech Republic, is a non-traditional and unique piece of architecture. The nickname Dancing Building or Fred and Ginger, given to the Nationale-Nederlanden Building, reflects the shape of the building which resembles a pair of dancer. The unusual architecture was designed by Croatian-Czech architect Vlado Milunić in co-operation with Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is an imposing religious and national landmark in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Initiated by the late president HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque’s architectural design is a blend of Moroccan and traditional Turkish with many global features.
Designed by architect Piet Blom, these unusual looking residential Cube Houses located on Overblaak Street in Rotterdam in The Netherlands are based on the concept of “living as an urban roof”. The houses are tilted 45 degrees in a hexagon-shaped pylon. There are 38 small cubes with two super-cubes all connected together. One owner decided to open a “show cube” due to the curiosity of passers-by making this something of a tourist attraction. A Dutch hostel chain Stayokay converted the larger cubes into a hostel.
The Community Bookself is an intriguing piece of architecture at the Public Library in Kansas City, Missouri resembling a book shelf. This striking façade, which runs along the south wall of the Central Library, features book spines measuring 25 feet by 9 feet, and showcases 22 titles reflecting a wide variety of reading interests suggested by readers.
The Redwoods Treehouse located near Warkworth, north of Auckland, New Zealand was part of an advertising campaign for the Yellow Pages. This treehouse restaurant on the edge of a redwood forest was designed by Pacific Environment Architects, Ltd. Access to the Treehouse is provided by an elevated tree-top walkway built using redwood milled on site. The vertical fins and slats are built from sustainably grown pine and poplar.
The Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea has a bizarre history and is a symbol of the extravagance of the totalitarian state. The 105-storey pyramid-shaped hotel began construction in 1987 with planned completion in 1989. After several delays, work was halted in 1992 when the building had reached its full height.
Without windows, fixtures or interior fittings, the building sat unfinished for the next 16 years due to a lack of funds, concerns for its structural integrity, and amid food shortages in North Korea. For years, the North Korean government didn’t even want to acknowledge its existence despite its looming presence.
Since 1837, Buckingham Palace in London, England has served as the the official residence of Britain’s sovereigns. For those who receive an invitation to Buckingham Palace, they first enter into the Grand Hall and up the stunning marble stairs of the Grand Staircase. The Throne Room today is used for special occasions such as for Royal Wedding photographs. The grandest of all the state rooms is the White Drawing Room which serves as a Royal reception room for The Queen and members of the Royal Family before State occasions.
