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

Frank Gehry. Guggenheim Abu Dhabi

map: Saadiyat Island, Cultural District, United Arab Emirates
or
map: Saadiyat Cultural District

Quotes & Facts:

- "The site itself, virtually on the water or close to the water on all sides, in a desert landscape with the beautiful sea and the light quality of the place suggested some of the direction.” —Frank Gehry

- The building site also serves as a manmade breakwater configured to protect the island’s pristine north beach zone

- it's the largest museum in a series of cultural institutions planned as part of the Saadiyat Cultural District

- Tadao Ando, Hadid, Nouvel and Foster projects in same island.