Jonathan Woodroffe’s Post

𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲. Beauty is my and our passion at Philipp Architekten. We love to design places, buildings and spaces that are first and foremost "beautiful". Our greatest intention is to restore the importance of beauty in architecture, to bring it back into balance with function, which has been extremely exaggerated by "form-follows-function" over the last 100 years. In my opinion, good architecture manages to combine function and beauty in equal measure. Just like Villa Philipp, a bespoke residence that perfectly combines both, incorporates people and seems to merge with nature. A beautiful place where you can be and recharge your batteries, a place you never want to leave. 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 | 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗸𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗗𝗔

This is a worthy read, but I am afraid it wrongly frames the subject. Modern architecture can be amazing, if done right. This is rarely the case in $$ minded US, but internationally, modern buildings are still inspiring. And contrary to here in the US, common people like them! This is true in Europe and Asia, and from what I see in magazines, also in Latin America. Where the modern vs. traditional difference really matters is urbanism. Modern urbanism as in 'everything for the car' is just universally hated by almost everybody but loved by investors, and so everything that is associated with modern cities gets a bad name. About 40 years ago, Europe turned away from modern urbanism and again embraced traditional walkable cities, albeit with cutting edge modern buildings. And the world followed, except for the Anglosphere, lead by the US. Investor lead development is strongest in the Anglo countries, and there the conflict between traditional city and modern city rages the most. England for instance has great old cities but also modern attempts with skyscrapers, and although their buildings there are better than what we are usually building in the US, those areas are not held in high regard by the general population. The problem is the modern city, not modern architecture! https://lnkd.in/gsJC4YnH

Something for the weekend: Having just messaged a friend who missed out on her shortlisted bid to design the next Australian architecture pavilion at Venice, I’m reminded of the shortlisted bid I made with Graham Bizley for the 2014 British Pavilion - that was ultimately won by those tasteful dudes - Sam Jacob, Sean Griffiths and Charles Holland with A Clockwork Jerusalem. As Graham had already made the move from hectic Hackney to his own rural idyll in Somerton he very much led our bid, and it’s interesting to re-read via the tab below his recollections and some of the questions we set out to address at Venice: – How has the identify of the British landscape changed between 1914-2014? – What is the appeal of functional buildings? – Why are traditional features in the rural landscape more valued than modern equivalents, and - Does a conflict exist between those seeking to protect their notion of a rural idyll and those embracing modernity? Ten years on, as Tash and I tentatively dip our city toes into the beautiful waters of 1920s Bossington, while it is clear that the cosy and decorative rooms we are recreating are vastly different to the starkly modern and unadorned spaces we inhabit in Bristol - (https://lnkd.in/ee5KX-pZ that may simply be a down to my aging taste?) - what is most profound is just how different life actually feels between the two places. I’ll enjoyed pondering this difference for the next decade, but for now I’ll just state the obvious by highlighting the impact that spaces and places have on our soul - and vise versa. Read Graham’s blog here: https://lnkd.in/eSNTYE7u

Discover the leading names in residential coastal design. 🌊 Ocean Home Magazine just revealed its 2024 Top Coastal Architects! Dive into the full list to see who’s shaping the coastlines with their exceptional projects. Read the article for the top talent in coastal architecture!

🏙 Not all future homes have to be made entirely of glass and metal. We are excited by the idea that we have a role to play in shaping the new designs and retrofitting of houses, workplaces, community spaces, and heritage buildings to better align with the environment and our lifestyles. This will look different for each of us, and we find that prospect immensely intriguing. 🌲Here's one example of a home that is styled to work with, not against, nature. 🦋 📍 Far End, residential 📐 Peter Feeny Architects 📷 Rafael Debreu and Ondrej Mundl. #ecoconstruction #homesofthefuture #ecoarchitecture

Adaptive reuse for residential or commercial use: Carefully designed projects transform religious buildings into apartment complexes, shops, or offices, contributing to community revitalization and economic development. Read more 👉 https://bit.ly/4bV59CP #weareboldera #sustainabledesign #sustainability #heritagetoronto #heritagearchitecture #architecture #adaptivereuse

🏬🏗️April 11, 2024|Architecture, BIG SEE Architecture Award 2024 – Winner, Bulgaria, Residential – housing A "stretch" that lasted about 4 years! So happy and thankful we finished it successfully! 🥳🥳🥳 Of course, a successful finish does not mean I did not have to learn so many new things about construction, architecture, design, investments, housing market, relationships, etc. Some "NOT" new and "NOT" surprising stuff I learned: - quality takes time - good materials - good masters of the art of building (usually not easy to find) - even if you do it for the first time - you can still do it very well - PATIENCE I was only one of the participants and I hope I could contribute what was needed. Chief masters involved in the project include: natif.bg + Ivaylo Rashev & Ivaylo Slavov Cobalt Studio, Kamen Petrov AREA, Julia Raycheva

Rehabilitating Heritage Buildings In the ever-evolving landscape of modern architecture, there exists a delicate balance between progress and preservation. As cities grow and societies evolve, the need to construct new structures often collides with the desire to safeguard the remnants of our collective history. This is where the art of rehabilitating heritage buildings comes into play, offering a harmonious blend of the old and the new, a testament to our ability to honor the past while adapting to the present. Heritage buildings are more than just mere structures; they are living chronicles of our cultural journey, embodying the stories of those who came before us. Each stone, each timber, each intricate detail whispers tales of the architects, artisans, and inhabitants who breathed life into these edifices. Preserving these architectural marvels is not only an act of reverence but also a means of ensuring that our roots remain firmly planted, even as we reach towards the sky. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gDDXU7Vq

With an estimated 370,000 listed buildings across the country, England’s rich architectural heritage offers a unique blend of historic buildings. For property developers, these buildings present both a challenge and an opportunity. To ensure their future use, retrofitting is often required. Retrofitting historic buildings is not just about preserving character but also about enhancing their functionality to meet modern efficiency standards. However, retrofitting within the historic environment comes with its own considerations where bespoke solutions are often required to balance preservation and modernisation. We take a look at what is allowed, and the latest advice and guidance.

#Pre-war buildings hold a special kind of charm, especially in #HudsonCounty. There are also a lot of #challenges for renovations! Tammy Craig-Smith discusses how to preserve the soul of this architecture in ROI-NJ https://lnkd.in/gZUGaAyF