#28 Jul/Aug 2009

News and observations

• Construction of Budapest's Metro 4 line once again in full swing (HU)
• Mies's dream comes true on Berlin's Spreedreieck (DE)
• Utopian plans for a new government centre in Sofia (BG)
• Update: Vorarlberg (AT)
• Extension of the National Art Gallery of Lithuania, Vilnius (LT)
• Reality check: Cheese House, Nitra (SK)
• and more…

New projects

• Refuge, Adalvík (IS) by Paolo Gianfrancesco
• Campus conversion, Linz (AT) by Adolf Krischanitz
• University complex, Hasselt (BE) by noA.architecten
• Villa, Bratislava (SK) by BEEF
• Hospital, Espoo (FI) by K2S

Saša Randić: Dealing with Croatia's reality

Saša Randić states that 'relying on form alone doesn't work'. He strives to improve the position of Croatian architects through his strong presence in the national architectural scene. His approach starts with the everyday reality. 'Strategies must come out of the context; architecture does not start from scratch.'

New buildings

• Apartments, Tartu (EE) by Atelier Thomas Pucher and Bramberger Architects
• Residential & retail building, Graz (AT) by INNOCAD
• Metro station, Barcelona (ES) by On-a arquitectura
• House, Graiguenamanagh (IE) by Boyd Cody Architects
• Housing development, Zurich (CH) by Patrick Gmür
• Five residential blocks, Belgrade (RS) by Jovan and Ruzica Saric
• Sports hall, Tartu (EE) by Salto
• Apartment block, Jurmala (LV) by SZK
• Office and architect’s dwelling, Rotterdam (NL) by Architektenburo Kühne & Co
• Housing estate, Poznan (PL) by Aré
• Community health centre, Cartagena (ES) by Amann Canovas Maruri

Metal's metamorphosis

In terms of architecture, metal is a relatively young material and it is really only since the industrial revolution that it has started to play a significant role in architectural design. In fact, the architectural origins of metals lie in industry, in rational production: rolled H, I and U sections, prefabricated sandwich panels and corrugated iron roofing in standard sizes. Leaving aside supporting structures, until ten or so years ago it was mainly 'industrial' buildings that were realized in metal: hangars, garages, power stations, warehouses.The metal architecture of the 21st century has little to do with that industrial past. Since the 1990s, architects have treated metal as a material worthy of being used for major public buildings.

Focusing on European countries, cities and regions

• The fabrication of tradition in Zlatibor (RS)
• A guided tour around Amsterdam's A10 (NL)
• Home: Louis Paillard's Trapeze House, Mountreuil (FR)

Buildings from the margins of modern history

The '25 May' sports and recreation centre in Belgrade is one of Ivan Antic's most significant works and an example of his 'socialist aestheticism'. Built in 1973 to promote the health of Yugoslavia's youth for the well-being of the socialist state, it is now a virtual ruin, in urgent need of renovation.