both from Neutelings Riedijk

Jenny Holzer at night on the ceiling of Mies' NeueNationalGalerie, Berlin.

Ian Hamilton Finlay's wall texts (e.g. wave, hard to find images though) often carved into external stone or painted onto interior walls.

Perhaps also look at the simplest architectural text: the ubiquitous street number, or the ephemeral billboard.

H&deM's IMKZ Library:





and their SUVA extension:

the alexandria library in egypt by snohetta

Are you including graffiti? I'd like to see an example of graffiti that actually works well with the architecture.

who says you need to write on walls to make graffiti?

morphosis,, international elementary school, caltrans, university of toronto graduate housing, and other projects too

Eye Magazine, Volume 17 Spring 2008 Issue has an article entitled Public Lettering

It is written by John Berry. It has a number of good images in it including stairwell graphics at the Bloomberg L.P. Headquarters by Paula Scher/Pentagram, a carved wood floor at the Seattle Public Library by artist Ann Hamilton and other interior graphics, the Lucent Technologies Center for Arts Education by Paula Scher/Pentagram, a wayfinding system at the Barbican Centre by Cartlidge Levene and Studio Myerscough and more.

brilliant e.

you going to the aia awards?

Thanks everyone for the help! For me it has been a pain searching for examples.

DjPhil, I find the subject of graffiti, if it is a thoughtful expression, interesting as well. I think a collaboration between a graffiti artist and an architect would produce unique results.

If anyone else is interested in this topic, I suggest you check out the work of Ben Rubin at www.earstudio.com I find both "Four Stories" and "Listening Post" very fascinating. Please share your thoughts.

don't forget Venturi's SAM