Archinect - News

Mark Foster Gage on Gothic architecture past and present

2020-05-19T14:01:00-04:00

Little over a year ago the world nearly lost one of its most recognizable examples of Gothic architecture, as the spire and a sizeable part of the roof of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris burned to ashes. Now the debate carries on about what to do with the damaged building. [...] What does it mean to be "Gothic" anyway? If something is Gothic can it also be contemporary? For such questions we need a little background.

Highlighting the one year anniversary of the disastrous fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, architect Mark Foster Gage takes us on a quick history of Gothic architecture in order to tease out the lessons this historical style can lend to contemporary architectural design.

Wim Delvoye touches up building equipment with a Gothic spin

2019-04-24T20:43:00-04:00

If our recently published article featuring a computer mouse/Eames chair mashup didn't provoke you, this one might just do the trick. With his series of heavy utility trucks outfitted in Gothic ornament, artist Wim Delvoye conceived of a mashup of two elements nearly a full millennium apart.

Cement Truck, by Wim Delvoye

The series likely came about given a genuine similarity between modern automobiles and Gothic cathedrals; unquestionably, both are marvels of human engineering and craftsmanship; one pursued for the appeasement of a higher being, the other for the satisfaction of a consumptive economy.

Caterpillar no. 5, by Wim Delvoye

London: rotting blocks of bullion in the sky

2014-02-01T20:49:00-05:00

A third of the mansions on the most expensive stretch of London's "Billionaires Row" are standing empty, including several huge houses that have fallen into ruin after standing almost completely vacant for a quarter of a century.

Robert Booth visits the North London street where billionaires can buy homes, never live in them, let them rot and still make millions

h/t @bruces