Herzog & de Meuron. Elbephilarmonie Hamburg

map: Am Kaiserkai 20457 Hamburg, Germany

I just read about this philarmonic that's under construction in the pro-"new architecture" city of Hamburg. Herzog & de Meuron's studio is one of my best, and this building shows why. Because it's different. Different from the rest and different from themselves. H & dM's innovative creativity keeps them far from stylish "brand-architect's" that found a proper language that undisguiseably seems to suit in any city.

The project is installed atop a red brick 1963 warehouse

check the lighted cranes reminding people of what is to come (idea of scenographer Michael Batz) and turning a construction site into a tourist attraction

• Elbephilarmonie official site
• info at Dezzeen
• @ archdaily

Arquitectonica. Icon Brickell Tower

map: 501 Brickell Av. Miami, Florida

Local Miami studio Arquitectonica, in collaboration with Yoo by Phillipe Starck, are responsible for the design given to this 3-tower mixed use complex just a bridge-cross from downtown and on Biscayne Bay's waterfront.

The whole composition consisting on distinctive outlined blocks in an irregular sequence, added to the use of dark glassed windows is what I call creative resolution for a high rise building.

That's why the first time I saw the building from the bridge that connects Key Biscayne to the land I wondered who could have designed such a thing. An interesting mass that changed Miami's skyline, as you can see in my pictures below (taken during construction in May 2008). The Icon is far to the left, with cranes still on the rooftop.

• Arquitectonica official site
• The ICON official site
• Starck official site

Frank Gehry. IAC Building

map: 555 west 18th street, New York, New York

Here's one of the most interesting buildings I came across last October: Gehry's IAC Building, his first made entirely in glass. What impressed me is the faceted white facade that dominates the view from blocks away.

I believe the design was inspired in the movement of the waves, since the building is in Hudson River's waterfront

behind stands Nouvel's Residences at 100 11th Av

The public lobby was designed as an event venue, and is home of the world's largest video projecting walls

The white color of the glass is what most caught my attention. As I looked closer I discovered that the colored "degradé" effect was caused by the distance between these tiny white dots

view from 19th st. In the corner, Gehry to the right, Nouvel to the left

more info at www.iacbuilding.com

Jean Nouvel. Residences at 100 11th Ave

map: 100 11th Ave, New York, New York

In Chelsea's waterfront, Jean Nouvel's 2nd building in NY is right in front of Ghery's IAC headquarters

Here is a selection of pictures I've taken by october 2010

The balconies on the lower floors are disguised behind the steel structure, creating an intriging layout of gardens. This view from the entrance is much more interesting than the street view

These are the stairs to the entrance

The side facade and the front ones have two different languages. I didn't like this, it lacks authenticity, the facade acts like a mask and the building looses it's strength.

• see more of my own New York pictures

• read critic by Paul Goldberger @ The Newyorker

World Trade Center. Progress on the web

Check out www.wtcprogress.com for the latest on WTC site construction. Delivered by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Testing is already underway in one of the memorial pools waterfall.