In The Loop

Courtesy Chicago Style by Dark-Alamez

Chicago, Illinois - (BTT) The term "Chicago Style" may bring up visions of deep-dish pizza for some and well-dressed hot dogs for others, but for those who don't have food on the mind, it may also extend to the world of architecture. While finished a little late to officially be a part of the Chicago School, it had been "only" 27 years since the Cubs last won a World Series when these beauties were completed.

Big in Japan

Courtesy Downtown Dojo and Japanese Restaurant by Joshua R.

Little Tokyo - (BTT) Despite the small size, this building packs a real one-two punch. Grab a seat in the first floor restaurant or spar against a certified black belt in the dojo above.

Inspiration of the Day - 8/26/11

Courtesy Wainwright Building by msabeln

St. Louis, Missouri - (BTT) It's sometimes easy to forget that while certain building types seem commonplace now, there was a single landmark example that started it all. When Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan completed the Wainwright Building in 1891, they not only created one of the first skyscrapers ever built, but also the standard by which all future ones would be judged.

Animal Style

Courtesy In-N-Out Burger by mista_carrot

SoCal - (BTT) Don't confuse this place with that other red, yellow, and white chain that sells hamburgers unless you're looking for a fight - this is the real deal. The secret menu may be public record now, but the faithful don't seem to mind having more people speak their lingo in line.

Running Lean

Courtesy 16 Wide Modulars by awesometaylor

Tinytown, USA - (BTT) Wanting the luxuries of the big city but lacking the space in which to do so, the residents in this town were caught in quite a dilemma. Over the squabbling and bickering in a recent town hall meeting, a voice in the crowd shouted "Why not just make every building half as wide?" and suddenly all was right with the world.

Inspiration of the Day - 8/19/11

Courtesy Chilehaus by seschi

Hamburg, Germany - (BTT) When Johann Friedrich (Fritz) Höger completed  Chilehaus in 1924, it became not just the poster child of German architecture and Brick Expressionism, but of Germany as a whole. Literally.

All Aboard!

Courtesy Great West Train Station by Matija Grguric

The Old West - (BTT) Mosey on over to the Great West Train Station the next time you need to take an iron horse to Albuquerque. The sand green clapboard siding plays well visually with the wood pergola, as well as the nearby cacti.

The MOXA System

Courtesy MOXA by BrickArt!san

Courtesy MOXA by BrickArt!san

Developed by BrickArt!san of Flickr, the Modular Expandable Architecture (MOXA) system was created for modular floor construction in skyscrapers, framework, and other uses. Not only does it look nice, but the design is fairly simple and, most notably, strong.Check it's other uses over on the photo pages (pictures are links.)

Any Way You Slice It

Courtesy New York Pizza by notenoughbricks

Queens, New York - (BTT) While the thought of a California pizza chain opening its doors in New York City might seem blasphemous to some locals, New York Pizza has had no trouble finding customers in an extremely competitive market. Mangia!

LEGO, Video Games, and the Recession

I have been thinking a lot about this lately, so I figured I mine as well post something about it. These are all my personal opinions, so I hope it gets you thinking!

With fears of another recession looming around the corner, I was curious to know how you as the readers felt about LEGO as means of stimulating the child's mind while trying to save your money in a tough economic period. Is that how you see it? Have the prices of LEGO sets discouraged you from buying them recently? 

I see it this way. LEGO essentially pays for itself in the long term. What could be seen as a basic building toy for youngster can evolve over time as that same kid realizes new building techniques and the fact that LEGO is much more than a toy, but rather a hobby.

For much of my life, I have grown up with video games, and of course LEGO. I managed to balance the time between them, usually drawing inspiration from one another. Sure the video games were great, but as I grew older, I realized how utterly pointless they really were. It's a fictitious sense of accomplishment, with nothing to show for except hours and hours logged into staring at a screen.

Sure, some may say that these video games are stimulating, which they are. But in most cases, based solely on my own experiences and encounters, they create a sense of irritability and impatience. Kids are easily sidetracked and seem to become lackluster in focus. Again, that's just from what I have witnessed from other kids growing up. What do you think?

LEGO, on the other hand, focuses the mind into creativity, problem solving, and imagination. Suddenly, all sorts of variables come into play as one tries to determine the right height, length, width, color scheme, weight, and overall style of what they're building. Not to mention the limited number of pieces they have available. It builds patience and rewards a sense of accomplishment when something is finally built.

Anyways, those are my thoughts on the matter. I'd love to hear what you have to say about it. Hope you enjoyed the read!

Chris

Spit and Polish

Courtesy Kamienica pod Sowa by Diabel

Poland - (BTT) This tenement building, taking its name from the owl in the crown, is never at a loss for renters. The immaculate exterior has never looked better, proving this building possesses that rare feature few apartment hunters ever see - a landlord that actually cares.

Inspiration of the Day - 8/12/11

Courtesy William Watts Sherman House by Salve Regina University

Newport, Rhode Island - (BTT) Although predominantly known for creating buildings in the architectural style bearing his name, Henry Hobson Richardson's William Watts Sherman House, completed in 1875, is considered one of the pioneers of the Shingle Style. Stanford White, at that time a draftsman at Richardson's office who worked on the project, later helped evolve the style further after breaking away and co-founding McKim, Mead & White; a firm that will no doubt get their own inspiration entry one day.

Off In Denmark

Courtesy Danish Town House by =Done=

Denmark - (BTT) Americans would think it was an old fire station, but this is actually a quaint little town house somewhere in in Denmark. With a garage just big enough for a smart car and a husband still walking apprehensively towards his own dog after three years of ownership, who wouldn't want to live here?

New Categories Page

Well...not exactly new, but it moved. Instead of a ways down the right sidebar, the categories tab is now removed and replaced by a stand alone page on the main navigation bar across the top of the page, right next to the home page.

Here's the link: Categories Page

Hope you like it!

Chris

Model to Masterpiece

Courtesy Taiwan Building by eggmax430

Taiwan - (BTT) Concept models for a new high-rise are being developed for a new building to go up in Taiwan. Developers are anxious to see how it turns out, but have been reassured after seeing the model. One top official noted, "It brings along a sense of power and authority. The design is top notch and I can't wait till it gets built."

Parisian Beauty

Courtesy Le Maison de Many by valgarise

Paris, France - (BTT) Le Maison de Many, with its intricate detailing on the front facade and iconic weather vane on the roof, features an interior that is as equally stunning. C'est magnifique!

Inspiration of the Day - 8/5/11

Courtesy Hilversum Town Hall by TeunvandenDries

Hilversum, The Netherlands - (BTT) Proving great massing trumps all, Willem Marinus Dudok's Hilversum Town Hall, completed in 1931, shows a surprising amount of depth despite the limited palette and simple details.

Going forward, I plan to pick a different architect every week and post one of my favorite buildings from their career. I do actually look to these precedents when creating my own projects, and hope they provide you the same inspiration.

A Gold Roof Please

Courtesy Tibet by Matija Grguric

Tibet - (BTT) A temple was built up in Tibet this past week. The gold roof shocked visitors, but the locals claimed it was just from a nearby mine and that it wasn't really worth anything.

Urban in an Instant

Courtesy July's Buildings by Rob Bender

The New Side of Town - (BTT) Sprouting up seemingly overnight despite looking like it has always been there, this group of seven buildings offers a little something for everyone. By combining man's need for affordable housing with  his desire for overpriced caffeinated beverages, it's little wonder why everyone has been flocking to the area.

Inspiration of the Day - 8/2/11

Courtesy Baden, Baja-Austria (el arte de las fachadas de Baden), Hauptplatz by Josef Lex

Baden, Austria - (BTT) Is it just me, or is this building built at two different angles?

Streets of Lisbon!

Courtesy Lisbon by migbarroso (when public)

Lisbon, Portugal - (BTT) Take it easy on the rooftop or have a drink at the local cafe. Lisbon has it all. There's enough going on to keep you entertained for awhile at least. Looks like the economy got the best of old Hagrid now that all the Harry Potter movies are done with...