stone shelter

Located on the coast of Vestfold in the southern part of Norway, the summer house replaces an older building on the site. Planning application stipulates that the project had to be adjusted to the site's terrain terms of scale, material, shape and color. Built in the existing stone walls, the elongated house is cut into the rocks to shelter against the wind. The Architects, JVA have also built new walls by blasting the rock formation on the site itself. The house is cladded in treated Kebony wood to increase its durability against the salt water.

mad men

Mmmm...Mrs. Robinson.

Who could ever forget The Graduate. The thought of a mature women removing her clothes and seducing you while her husband do not even suspect anything. Dark and inspiring. What interest me about the film is that they soon realise that they have nothing to talk about and learned that she was forced to give up college and marry someone she didn't love when she became pregnant with Elaine. She also thought him to relax and enjoy himself while he is young. All this makes me wonder why the youth is wasted on the youth? Do I make any sense at all?

Of course, the film isn't just about an affair but also a secondary tale of how far a jealous mistress would go to length to maintain control. In all, it is a tale of an unexpected love, sexual lust, jealously, unjust maternal protection and naive hope. The image of Benjamin's smile gradually fades to an enigmatic, neutral expression as he gazes forward down the bus, not looking at Elaine while she seems unsure, looks lovingly across at Ben but notices his expression and turns away with a similar expression as the bus drives away. Classic.

adulating concrete

Now, I'm not a hater but sometimes we Architects tend to over think while conceiving an idea. So much so that, we describe it with over engineered words. Villa Bio by Enric Ruiz Geli in Barcelona is one such project. I'll let you decide for yourself - 'concrete is a liquid material. The concrete as liquid material solidifies and creates a “liquid” topography on the façade. The platform enters into liquid state, mutant, with a covering of natural plants, an interior landscape of glass (stone) with plotters of digital renders… A BIO architecture'

varying jurisdiction

The Vatican City is under tremendous pressure to clean up its act. How was I to realise that my 'religious Architectural Posting' would coincide with the biggest international taboo incident since 'The Joy of Sex' was published in the 70's. Good lord! In view of these recent reports, I've decided to educate my fellow readers with the age of consent for various countries in the world:

• Albania - 14
• Andorra - 16
• Austria - 14
• Belarus - 16
• Belgium - 16
• Bosnia & Herzegovina - 14
• Bulgaria - 14
• Croatia - 14
• Cyprus - 17
• Czech Republic - 15
• Denmark - 15
• Estonia - 14
• Finland - 16
• France - 15
• Georgia - 16
• Germany - 14
• Greece - 15
• Hungary - 14
• Iceland - 14
• Ireland - 17
• Latvia - 16
• Lithuania - 14
• Luxembourg - 16
• Malta - 18
• Monaco - 15
• Norway - 16
• Poland - 15
• Portugal - 14
• Romania - 15
• Russia - 16
• Slovakia - 15
• Slovenia - 15
• Spain - 13
• Sweden - 15
• Switzerland - 16
• Turkey - 18
• UK - 16
• Scotland - 16
• Vatican State - 12

Yes folks, you read it right. Vatican State - 12!! Who said religion is boring and predictable...

smokin'

The Field Chapel is a project by the students of an Advanced De-sign/Build Studio, Illinois Institute of Technology College of Architecture in Chicago. The project was intended for an ecumenical church co-operative in Boedigheim, Germany. Like all chapel, the task was to design a place of spirituality - Surprise Surprise! The site is situated on a hill between the villages of Boedigheim, Seckach and Großeicholzheim and can only be reached by foot or by bicycle. Saying that, the structure can be seen from afar.

The whole construction of the chapel follows a traditional building method and its simple shape is related to both the Biblical Temple of Solomon and the vernacular tobacco-drying barns found in the surrounding region. The entire wooden construction rests on 8 steel moment-frame anchors, which are sized to expose a thin gap between the massive brick platform and the timber structure. These joints make the heavy building appear to hover weightlessly above the ground plane. The 3-meter high building base seems monolithic, and the full-timber diagonal bracing that lends the structure its stiffness is hidden from view – initially by diagonal planking that is an integral part of the structural system, then ultimately by the 50 mm wood siding that covers the entire first level.

saturday blues

Drinkin' again and thinkin' of when, when you loved me
I'm havin' a few and wishin' that you were here

Makin' the rounds, accepting a round from strangers
Bein' a fool just hopin' that you'll appear

Sure, I can borrow a smoke, maybe tell some joker a bad joke
But nobody laughs, they don't laugh at a broken heart

Oh, yeah, I'm drinkin' again, it's always the same
That same old story
After the kicks there's little old mixed-up me
Tryin' to lose a dream that used to be

Look at me, I'm drinkin' again, drinkin' all over town
Yeah, I'm drinkin' again

metaphoric bird

Dove of Peace is the name of this Protestant Church in Ordos, Inner Mongolia. Made of concrete and white crepi, the design of the church is inspired by the site's topography. What more can I say about it? Hmmm... Oh yes, the people behind this tranquil space is Sunlay Design Office. I can't think of anything else to say so I guess that's it. Happy Friday people!

it is what it is

Listen, there is only so much church Architecture I can talk about without boring myself to death. Not that religion is boring but it's just too much. Most of the concepts behind religious buildings are much the same i.e. 'house of prayer', 'feeling alive', 'calming', blah blah blah...

I don't know why we have to explain building and make it sound more interesting than it is. Well, we Architects, Architectural bloggers & Reviewers pretty much have to be blamed. Sometimes, we (collective WE) are just trying too hard to sound smart and intelligent. Why a building such as this church can't just BE a church and not to be explained and theorise until the whole life is sucked out of it.

So, let me intro you to The Church Parish Complex, Zagreb, Croatia designed by Roman Vukoja & Robert Križnjak. And this time, let's forget the BS about 'the architectural idea is emphasized by the play of light and shadow, as well as the sacrality of space. The whole substance of architecture (wall, column, ceiling) makes the architecture enliven in the context of interrelations of lights'. Enough is enough.

All this makes me wonder, maybe that's why people get confuse with religion, too many people out there trying to make them feel good about themselves in a selfish way without considering what religion is all about. Thus all the hate and intolerance comes from. Shame on you! There, I've spoken my peace. Guido out.

wooden serenity

Beton Architects (Marta Rowińska & Lech Rowiński) was commissioned to build a church on the bank of Vistula River, near a small village in Tarnów, Poland. In Poland it is quite uncommon for a private investor (a well-known Polish writer) to commission such a building. Constructed entirely of wood with no windows except for a high glass wall, the church serves as a place for meditation and prayer for the villages. The wall of glass behind the altar creates a viewing point towards a river. Small asp chops (laid in pattern) is used for the external facade.

bar / bat mitzvah

There are several levels to the observance of physical and personal modesty (tzniut) according to Orthodox Judaism as derived from various sources in halakha. Observance of these rules varies from aspirational to mandatory to routine across the spectrum of Orthodox stricture and observance.

• A prohibition on dwelling on lascivious or immoral thoughts.
• A prohibition on staring at members of the opposite sex, particularly at the reproductive anatomy.
• A requirement to keep most of one's body clothed in respectable clothing.
• A requirement to avoid the company of uncouth individuals and avoid frequenting places where an atmosphere of levity and depravity prevails.
• A prohibition on looking at pictures or scenes that will be sexually arousing.
• A prohibition on touching a person of the opposite sex, especially in a lingering arousing manner (shaking hands very quickly in greeting between sexes is a point of dispute, and depends on one's rabbi's halachic decision). See Negiah.
• A prohibition on wearing the clothing of a member of the opposite sex.
• A prohibition on looking at animals copulating.
• A prohibition on erotically hugging (chibuk) or kissing (nishuk) one's spouse in public.
• A prohibition on sexual contact or touching between spouses when the wife is a niddah (menstruant) or has not immersed in a mikvah following the niddah period.
• A prohibition on seclusion with a person of the opposite sex who is not a spouse or close relative (Yichud).
• A requirement that men and women be separated during prayer, dancing, and on certain other occasions (Mechitza)
• A prohibition on hotza'at zera levatala -- "secreting semen in vain" by men. There is no equivalent prohibition for women since there is no secretion. However, masturbation by women is considered by most Rabbis to be a lewd act and is thus included in the general commandment "And you shall be holy".
• A prohibition on sex between men, or with any type of animal, or with a corpse.

And of course, the synagogue is in Munich, Germany.

looking into the glass

Today is one of those days. I often question what I'm doing with myself, doesn't everybody? People say things they don't really want to say. I'm suddenly aware why I'm a recovering alcoholic. Sometimes the drink is better at numbing the pain than everything else. I haven't indulged myself like today since 2003 and I know why I shouldn't make it a habit. Things are really bad at the moment but I've been optimistic all this while. Unfortunately, there is only so much you can lie to yourself before the shit hits the fan! And today, the SHIT HIT THE FAN!! I don't recommend my behaviour because I'm sure to some of you stable people out there, I'm just a fucking pathetic Dick-Wad but I don't give a shit! I've just finished 2 bottles of whisky in an hour - Honest. Glenmorangie and J&B is the perfect help during my time of solace - I'm not proud of this at all, believe me. The memory of my drunken nights and blurring days are rushing back to me. I was a wreck then and I'm following the same path now.

I'm sure you readers will laugh and think that I'm such an unstable Mother-Fucker but honestly, keep your high horse opinion to yourself until you understand what I'm feeling. You don't understand until you're in my situation! Fuck you!! Try drinking 2 whole bottles of hard liquor neat and still be sober and thinking what the right thing you should do next although you are so fucked-up and depressed but you can't show how you feel. Try it!! I know, you Mother-Fuckers out there thinking, whatever Guido, you're just fucked-up. You know what, Fuck you all!!!

What makes it worse is when you have a loved one worried about you. What do you say? Sorry, I'm just fucked! I'm not the best person for you right now, I'm sorry or you just keep quiet. Inevitably, you have to confront her and your failures will affect her. That's what makes it harder because you don't want to fail her. Not to someone you love. It burns through your heart and you can't forgive yourself.