Jean Nouvel’s Architecture – Pritzker Prize

19 August, 2011 No Comments

-Agbar Tower- Barcelona, Spain.

The tower is illuminated with thousands of LEDs (light emitting diodes) synchronized.

These LEDs create an interesting color effect such as Blau-Grana (blue and maroon), among the many other possible combinations, since this system allows to use multiple colors while consuming 80% less energy than conventional bulbs do.

- The new National Museum of Qatar, in the Middle East, presents a design that follows the lines of the natural stone referred to as the desert’s rose stone. Within the new design he incorporated the old museum. The Museum, currently under construction, is scheduled to open to the public in 2013.

The Pritzker Architecture Prize rewards architects who show, through their projects, great creativity and who build functional and high quality construction buildings, thus contributing to enrich humanity.

Among the architects who receive this annual award presented by the U.S. Company HYATT, we find Jean Nouvel (France 1945) who was awarded with it in 2008.

Mr Nouvel welcomes every new project without any preconceived ideas, which is why each of his works differs from his previous projects. However, there are common elements throughout his work such as transparency, light and shadows, and the search for the harmonious integration of his work with the surrounding environment.

An underground paradise hotel in China

26 February, 2010 No Comments

Hotel Songjiang near Shanghai, China, is a tourist paradise which has also won the award for best architectural design of hotels 5 *****.

This Jochman Martin’s architectural project, from Atkins study (also creators of the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai), requires builders to have a great imagination to exploit the particular field: a huge quarry with a wall where the river flows, whose peculiarity is that a waterfall flows through the exterior structure, as it is part of the walls of a “throat” where water accumulates. Its structure is steel and glass, simulating another waterfall, like those in this quarry.

The Songjiang Hotel is set amidst a landscape virtually untouched, the source of inspiration has been the respect for nature.

The environmental air is reflected in that its elements reach a minimum energy and environmental impact (eg green roofs in areas above ground level and the utilization of geothermal energy).

It has 400 rooms, of which some overlook an aquarium. It also has a gym and pool.

In this hotel we have three environments:

1. Underwater.
2. From inside the quarry, with rocky cliffs and natural waterfalls in the background.
3. A ground level, with the building at his feet.

The opening is scheduled for 2013.

It will be the inauguration of one of the most impressive architectural works whose complexity and combines stunning images for any lover of nature & modern architecture.

The Songjiang Hotel will be in the category of the most emblematic hotels in the world today.