Jean Nouvel wins the 2008 Pritzker Prize!

Architects in the News:

French architect Jean Nouvel wins the Pritzker Prize.
Known as the Contextualizer, he blends his designs into urban fabric and is a master of light and form. This is the highest international award given to an Architect.

A Belated Obituary to the Late Sir Arthur C. Clarke

Sir Arthur C. Clarke is best known for his book 2001:A Space Odyssey and lived on the far-away exotic island of Sri Lanka. I remember as a little girl seeing a picture of the island where Sir Clarke made his home and had a certain longing to visit this lush place which seemed so fresh in its botanical greenness. If it was a place Arthur C. Clarke called home, then it was probably a fantastical and other-worldly place that I would want to see and experience for myself. To this day I still hold onto this dream of seeing Sri Lanka, simply because it was the home of the beloved SF writer. It was also the home of renowned architect, Geoffrey Bawa, but that is for another post.

In an interview, Clarke stated: "We science-fiction writers never attempt to predict. In fact, it's the exact opposite. As my friend Ray Bradbury said, 'We do this not to predict the future but to prevent it.'".

Arthur C. Clarke influenced Carl Sagan and other scientists with his book, Interplanetary Flight. Clarke was a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. He died at age 90.

Star Wars according to a 3 year old.

Happy Birthday Mister Rogers! He would be 80 today.

Mister Rogers: "Won't You Wear a Sweater Day?"

I'm starting a Cleanse tomorrow!

My boyfriend and I are doing a Cleanse for ten days. We are starting tomorrow. He has wanted to do a cleanse since Jan. 1st - a post Holiday scarification of our bodies so it could rebuild itself with healthy cells, but I wasn't so sure.

He mentioned the program in The pH Miracle by Dr. Young.

He told me how great and energized I'd feel afterwards.

He's told me how he's done it before and knows the invigorating results first hand.

Then, last Sunday I found out a dear family friend who I've known my whole life, was diagnosed with Bladder cancer. The next day, I found out another friend died suddenly of a heart attack at age 45. My father was told by his doctor that he has Atrial Fibrillations and needs to have his heart defibrillated. My dad has difficulty walking up the stairs of his home.

Now, after seeing the effects of poor diet on the health of the people around me, I am REALLY motivated. It is time to do spring cleaning for my body and soul. And what is even better, is that I have a wonderful loving partner by my side who will support me and be with me during this period of renewal and rebirth. The pattern of coffee, cream and toast in the morning will be the hardest to break. The mid day snack or cravings for cheese will be difficult, but I'll succeed! I will do it and it'll be great.

I am excited!

Now, let's start the Cleanse.

Singular Soaring Tower

This is why I love Design and Architecture. It is for beautiful and exquisite buildings such as Norman Foster's new design for downtown Moscow. It is called Crystal Island.

When it is built in 5 years, the structure will be the biggest in the world. The base is like a lotus flower that spirals up 1500 feet to a delicate spire on top. It is monstrous without being intrusive. Like Mt. Fuji, it will be a dominant figure on the Japanese skyline. Like Mt. Hood, it will be a destination for Portland city dwellers. It will certainly be a most impressive wonder of Design, Architecture and Engineering.

Foster + Partners

Jean Nouvel Designs for Century City

Amazing French architect Jean Nouvel is designing a 45-story residential tower in Century City.
It harkens of the John Hancock building in Chicago. I've been impressed and inspired by Nouvel's work since 1991 when I visited his Musée de l'Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris.

View of tower from street

Condo Interior

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