#29 Sep/Oct 2009

News and observations

• Galindez Embankment, Bilbao (ES)
• A10's exhibitions in Maastricht (NL): Rien ne va plus & Reading Europe
• Zaha Hadid's MAXXI, Rome (IT)
• Update: Kosovo
• Reality check: Rossignol international headquarters, La Buisse/St-Jean-de-Moirans (FR)
• and more…

New projects

• Urban design, Korçë (AL) by Bolles+Wilson
• Kindergarten, Kutina (HR) by Roman Silje
• Palm grove lookout, Elche (ES) by STAR
• Urban design, Almere (NL) by MVRDV

Rudy Riciotti: Insolent sensitivity

Being an architect means building and writing, says Rudy Ricciotti. And indeed, his projects, which have won a range of prizes, speak as loudly as his bold statements. The way he sees his work? 'A pious figure loaded with Armagnac; an icon to colourful sexuality; a bullfight gone wrong that ends well...'

New buildings

• Apartment building, Tallinn (EE) by Kosmos
• Multi-functional hall, Soignies (BE) by L'Escaut with Bureau d'études Weinand
• Stadium redevelopment and research centre, Nantes (FR) by FGP
• Library, Prague (CZ) by Projektil Architekti Studio
• Farewell chapel, Krasnja (SI) by Ofis
• House, Esposende (PT) by Arquitectos Anónímos
• School extension, San Piero a Sieve (IT) by Fabio Capanni
• Day centre, Riga (LV) by Lejnieku projektēšanas birojs and 8 a.m.
• Mixed-use complex, Rotterdam (NL) by KCAP
• Music studio with apartment, Ilidza (BA) by Normal arhitektura
• Psychiatric clinic, Rodez (FR) by Lacombe/De Florinier Architectes

Light effect

The inherent changeability of natural light has inspired generations of artists and architects. The subtle changes in light over the course of a day and in different weather conditions prompted Claude Monet to paint Rouen Cathedral over and over again. Each of the nine paintings he made of the building between 1892 and 1894 reveals a completely different picture and different colours, varying from brown to lilac, blue and red. Architect Ben van Berkel of UNStudio was so impressed by the sight of the sun setting over the waters of the IJsselmeer that he attempted to capture this experience in the faceted, ton-sur-ton orange facades of the Agora Theatre in Lelystad. As such, the introduction of artificial lighting, which was such a blessing for ordinary people, can be seen as actually quite restricting for designers.

Focusing on European countries, cities and regions

• European architecture after 1989
• Built, unbuilt and dreamt: an architectural tour of Madrid (ES)
• Office: medusagroup's warehouse conversion, Bytom (PL)

Buildings from the margins of modern history

World War II divided Adalberto Libera's career into two distinct periods. After the prewar flirtation with Fascism, a key postwar work is the office block on Via Torino in Rome, in which the arbitrariness of the figurative gave way to a more analytical composition.