Boarding school for Handicapped Children by Marte.Marte Architekten.

Just came across this building by Marte.Marte Architekten in this months Detail magazine. As usual the deailing and finish of materials stands out in their qualities. The elegant cuboid form is broken up with the apparent random positioning of two sizes of windows. The façade is further articulated by the panel edges of the form work to the concrete.

Bill.

Paspels School by Valerio Olgiati.

You could not pick a more dramatic site for this small primary school in the Swiss canton of Graubunden. We were based in Chur when we decided to make the trek to Paspels, but luckily enough with the amazing public system in Switzerland we arrived after two trains and a couple of post buses in good time to explore the locale. Valerio Olgiati designed the school in 1998 and the completed building is an excellent example of contemporary rationalist architecture. The off square plan is divided into four class rooms with habitable corridors and a communal space between. Inset strip windows run the length of one side of each classroom to maximise natural daylighting while a small window is placed at the end of the access corridor for ventilation. The plan rotates vertically which defines each class room as individual. Raw poured concrete to the exterior and internal circulation spaces contrasts with a warm timber that clads each room.

Bill.

Stari Most, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Back in the late summer of 2006 when I was on placement year I went to visit my good friend across in his home country of Bosnia and Herzegovina. One particularly hot and dusty day we took a day trip with his family from the capital, Sarajevo, to a town in south west, Mostar. Mostar is known throughout the world for its bridge, the Stari Most, an impressive stone built structure. When the original was completed in the 16th Century, while the country was under Ottoman rule, it was seen as an important step in engineering that was the widest man-made arch in the world. In November 1993 it made the headlines internationally as it was destroyed during the Bosnian War as part of a systematic decimation of the important crossings of the river Neretva. Plans were drawn up after the end of the war to rebuild the bridge and after 3 years of painful and careful reconstruction the bridge was completed in 2004.

It is interesting that this bridge represents so many of man's qualities and frailties. When first complete it was revered around the world for the engineering prowess and became a proud symbol for the town and people who constructed it. As a consequence it was the ultimate motif in the collapse of Bosnian society when it was destroyed. Literally bridging two communities it is now seen as part of a new country, one that is progressive and welcoming.

Bill.

Notre Dame du Haut by Le Corbusier.

I have been scouring my photo collection of all the interesting places and buildings that I have been fortunate to visit over the past 8 years of study and one particular highlight was Le Corbusier's design of a chapel on the outskirts of Ronchamp. It is one of the finest examples of contemporary religious architecture throughout the world and, I think, one of those places that needs to be visited to fully appreciate the quality of space, light and design that is present. I would hazard to say that it should be a pilgrimage of note for all aspiring architecture students.

Bill.

Sogn Benedtg Chapel by Peter Zumthor.

I don't think Peter Zumthor needs any introduction to someone who has studied architecture as he is so widely respected. His architecture is an entirely sensual experience that is underpinned by an appreciation of the local craftsman that work in the region. Materials, space and light and their close relationships are explored in detail and the finalised building is piece of art. I have been lucky enough to explore the above building (a small chapel built for a remote hill side village in Switzerland) in both winter and summer, and despite the extreme differences in weather conditions the building still sits grounded and understated, quietly providing its function in a beautiful way.

Bill.

Stu Loxley.

Not sure who introduced me to Stu's work but I don't think it matters as I think it is great. I love the soft tonal quality of his work. He does a lot of studies of what may be classed as mundane objects or scenes, but I think this just adds to his understated and quiet output.

Bill.

Space Invaders.

Ross over at iwasjustthinking1984 introduced me to Space Invaders a wee while ago now. They are a collective (maybe) of artist(s) who place ceramic tiles in obscure locations throughout cities around the world. The image printed on these tiles is based on the alien form from the famous video game of the same name. This idea is quite interesting as the finished product does not "vandalise" property in the same way that graffiti is perceived to do and can removed relatively easily. It also taps into the current trend of quirky artistic movements whereby discovering the art is almost more of the cultural high than the piece of art itself. Space Invaders have turned a really simple idea into a global game, a bit like a contemporary version of the I-Spy books which I always seemed to have a copy of when I was younger.

Bill.