Architecture

May 19, 2022

Art Nouveau: The Ornate Architectural Style That Defined the Early 20th Century

At the turn of the 20th century, a new architectural movement swept through Europe, creating some of the most spectacular monuments in history. From about 1890 to the start of World War I, Art Nouveau architecture swept across the continent, making use of new technologies for a highly ornamental, elaborate style. When we think of paintings by Gustav Klimt or Alphonse Mucha, we’re touching on the Art Nouveau aesthetic.

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May 8, 2022

Innovative Performing Arts Center Design Rises up Like a Colorful Volcano

Thanks to an innovative design that marries the formality of the opera with the informality of island culture, Heatherwick Studio won a competition to design the Hainan Performing Arts Centre. Hainan is an island province located at China's southernmost point and this new landmark takes its cues from the surrounding landscape. The colorful volcano-shaped canopy accommodates three performance spaces that will give life to a new cultural quarter in the city.

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April 29, 2022

Brilliant Beauty of Mosque Ceilings Around the World in One Twitter Thread

If you’ve never been inside a mosque, you might not realize what spectacular beauty lies within. The interior artwork is breathtaking; many mosques are covered from floor to ceiling in vibrant color and intricate tilework. It’s a testament to not only human creativity but our capacity to show love and devotion through visual art. These places of worship are spaces where Muslims spend time throughout the week in prayer, studying, or simply resting and reflecting.

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March 26, 2022

Cultural Heritage Museum in China Has a Design Inspired by Ancient Bronze Mask Eyes

The recently released design for the new Sanxingdui Ancient Shu Cultural Heritage Museum is almost as mysterious as the stories within. Proposed by MAD Architects, it's also being called The Eyes of Sanxingdui. Comprising six wooden structures, the design is meant to merge with the landscape of Guanghan City in China’s Sichuan province. The forms of these buildings are inspired by the almond-shaped eyes of bronze and gold masks from a Bronze Age Sanxingdui civilization.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.