Archinect - News

Federico Babina's architectural flag illustrations deconstruct the notion of borders to imagine an alternative world

2024-06-14T13:27:00-04:00

Today is Flag Day in the United States and in celebration of the country’s first adoption of the national flag as a symbol of unity in 1777, we’ve decided to present some of the select architecturally inspired works of the Italian-born graphic designer Federico Babina.

Babina describes his approach: “I like trying to explain the world I see through different techniques of expression.” Indeed, as Jasper Johns' own six-decade experimentations in vexillography showed us, flags are as much cultural symbols as they are communication devices to be manipulated by various (and sometimes opposing) parties in order to accomplish different political and social aims.

Federico Babina's architectural flag artwork

Babina crafts his own versions of national standards using elevations, section drawings, plans, and silhouettes that are sometimes representative of each country's endemic architecture to give forms which, in turn, fit into the visual field to create imaginative counternar...

Winners of the Archibet giveaway

2015-01-12T18:48:00-05:00

In our most recent giveaway, Archinectors had a chance to win a copy of "Archibet" by architect and illustrator Federico Babina, whose popularity has grown due to his quaint illustration series that combine his love for architecture and drawing.

With only 26 letters in the English alphabet and hundreds of iconic architects, Archinectors got to pick which architect they would want to see illustrated in the Archibet.

The lucky winners are:

IvanaSeizova
Olaf Design Ninja_
nnazemi
Jordan Fay
Mr_Wiggin

Congrats! A big thanks to all who participated.

"Archibet" will be widely available from Laurence King Publishing starting January 20.

Win a copy of "Archibet" by Federico Babina!

2014-12-26T13:00:00-05:00

Architect and graphic designer Federico Babina has become popular for his whimsical illustration series that fuse together his love for architecture and drawing. This includes his "Archibet" series, where famous modernist and contemporary architects like Alvar Aalto, Luis Barragán, Herzog de Meuron, Quincy Jones, Mies van der Rohe, and Zaha Hadid are rendered as each letter of the alphabet in their signature architectural styles. Starting on January 20, Archibet will be widely available as a binded collection of postcards through Laurence King Publishing.

But guess what, five Archinectors can get their hands on a copy of Archibet before it's out in stores.

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY: First, have a look at the entire Archibet series here. Then in the comment section below, say which architect and for what letter that you would include in the Archibet.

Giveaway ends January 2, 2015. Five winners will be selected at random. Good luck!

"Archimusic" renders famous musicians into characteristic buildings

2014-06-17T17:12:00-04:00

Illustrator Federico Babina from Barcelona looks to some of the world's most influential musicians in his latest series, "Archimusic." Depicted in Babina's signature whimsical style, he architecturally renders 27 familiar names in various music genres like J.S. Bach, Miles Davis, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Björk, Freddie Mercury, and Radiohead.

Maybe these drawings can spark a few creative notes (pun totally intended) of inspiration.

The buildings surely emphasize the enduring fame of these musicians, with some of them even resembling their physical appearances. Based on mere sightreading, the few measures of notes right below could also perhaps be a hint at the musician's musical personality.

Previously on Archinect news:
"Archibet": if architects designed an alphabet...
André Chiote illustrates the role of iconic buildings in the "urban collective memory"

"Archibet": if architects designed an alphabet...

2014-01-10T19:35:00-05:00

The Barcelona-based illustrator responsible for Archicine and Archipixel, Federico Babina, has created a whimsical alphabet in the style of 26 particularly inspiring architects. For Archibet, Babina modeled each letter after an architect with that shared initial. The Guggenheim wraps around a leg of "W" (is for Wright); wood and colorful panels form a grid in the shape of an "E" (for Eames). The references are as diverse as the architectures, but Babina's style beams overall as colorful, retro, almost Saul Bass-ish.

Seeing the alphabet all together as a composite "Archibet City" is another surreal treat, and a snapshot of architectural history.

You can check out the rest of the Archibet and all of Federico Babina's work here: http://federicobabina.com/