Frank Gehry’s design of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, has launched a new age of stunning architecture.
Other examples include the Burj al-Arab hotel tower in Dubai (sailboat appearance), the new Milwaukee Art Museum (resembling a bird in flight) and the addition to the Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto (on stilts, high above the existing structure).
Thomas Willis Wright, Daniel Liebeskind, Norman Foster and Santiago Calatrava are also among the great new professional practitioners. Their structures serve many purposes, but one of the primary ones is to “Take Your Breath Away” – hence the term TYBA projects.
Such buildings can provide considerable economic stimulus for their cities and/or regions. First, they act as a tourism magnet. Second, they can be a key strategic element employed by city fathers to stimulate other development. The overall effect is to raise civic pride.
While some of these projects spring out of the private sector, others are in the public domain, often being of a cultural or academic nature. In addition to government funding, or as separate undertakings on their own, there can be considerable endowments from private individuals to proceed with such projects.
These philanthropic efforts will encourage generous and competitive offerings by other wealthy individuals.
The bottom line is that great architecture can be an uplifting experience on several fronts.
****
For my first book, “Two Scoops” Is Just Right, please click here for the paperback version and here for the Kindle e-book version.
For the sequel, “Three Scoops” Is A Blast! (with the award-winning “Size of the Skip”) click here for paperback and here for Kindle.
For “Four Scoops” Is Over The Top (containing Hemingway short-listed “Caboose Follies”) click here for paperback and here for Kindle.
And finally, for my latest book, “Five Scoops” Is An Addiction!, please click here for the paperback and here for the Kindle digital version.
Also, I would love it if you joined me on Twitter (Alex_Carrick), Facebook and/or LinkedIn.
