Design Debate

So sad to hear of Frank Gehry’s passing. At 96, though, he has left quite a legacy. He was perhaps best known for the otherworldly Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, a building that transforms as the light changes, softly undulating yet also sharp and metallic. The Guggenheim was revolutionary when it opened in 1997, heralding a new era in computer-led design. It helped transform the northern Spanish city into a major tourist destination, giving rise to what became known as the ‘Bilbao effect’. Of course, it was not everyone’s cup of tea. This was architecture that shouted, perhaps a little louder than the works it housed. But you cannot deny the impact Gehry’s style had on the architectural world. Born in Canada to Jewish immigrant parents, he changed his surname from Goldberg to Gehry in response to antisemitism. His roots remained a strong part of his identity. He moved to Los Angeles, initially working as a lorry driver before studying archite...

I kind of love this idea. A collection of the world’s weirdest buildings has been published by Hoxton Mini Press . It’s the antidote to the rather soulless boxes that keep popping up. I seem to drive past a new estate every day and can’t help feeling the lack of individuality. Sometimes you just want to see something that makes you stop and go ‘wow’! Okay, so in a best-case scenario, you get architecture that challenges your perception of what is possible: something that elevates a space, answers problems and poses questions. But sometimes I would settle for the quirk factor, something that makes me take a second look. This little book has some impressive buildings that twist and turn and assert their presence on the ground where they sit, but I think I love most the ones that make me crack a smile. The Portuguese house squished almost painfully between two rocks, the teapot gas station and the wo...

Well, this is a rather clever garden shed. Designed by Byró Architekti , it is a multipurpose retreat that serves as a library, gathering space, shelter from the rain and extra bedroom. In winter, it can also be used as a greenhouse for potted plants. Located in a garden enclave around 20 minutes from the centre of Prague, the pavilion was built on the foundations of a dilapidated cottage. Its best surprise is the front façade: timber shutters fold back to reveal a translucent polycarbonate wall, which lifts upwards to open the room completely to the garden and create a sheltered outdoor area. The exterior is clad in blackened spruce, while the compact interior contains custom shelving, a ladder and a sleeping loft. Steel cables, pulleys and counterweights make the entire front panel light enough for one person to raise. A photovoltaic panel on the roof provides the building’s basic electricity and lighting. ...

I love how pristine this home is, but also how it embraces texture and imperfection. There is something quite wonderful about painted white brick. I don’t know why, but it gives me an instant sense of calm. Cape Schanck House by Studio Goss sits on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula in Australia. There is something almost Roman about it to me: an elegant villa with weight and permanence, softened by light and landscape. The design makes practical sense too. This is an exposed coastal site as well as a family home, so the house needed to feel robust. I think it is perhaps the exterior and landscaping I love most. Every angle feels considered. The interior stays true to the same idea, with plenty of whitewashed brick on display. The house has been designed to let light play across the surfaces, with dappled shadows becoming part of the architecture. Slabs of marble, warm tim...

Oh, I kind of love these paintings, just slivers of life preserved in all their vibrant beauty. You can feel the sun on your face, the textures of the wooden surfaces, grass underfoot and bask in the wonderful everyday. Bobby Bowers of Melbourne, Australia, seems to capture a nostalgic suburbia that feels comforting and cosy. I love the titles too, ‘What Night Is Bin Night?’ and ‘A Shake Of A Lamb’s Tail’. Just lovely. The acid yellows and verdant foliage speak of a different world to mine, and I love to visit it through his works of art. Originally found at The Design Files . You might also like Tables of Colour Soaking up the Atmosphere of Clare Caulfield's Artworks Drawn to the Art of Trees