Dezeen Debate features Manhattan skyscraper that heralds “the end of messianic Miesianism”
The latest edition of our Dezeen Debate newsletter features visuals of the 520 Fifth Avenue supertall skyscraper in Manhattan. Subscribe to Dezeen Debate now.
American architecture studio Kohn Pedersen Fox has unveiled images of a supertall skyscraper that is currently being built in Midtown Manhattan.
Commenters analysed the structure, with one praising the “contextual design approach” while another questioned: “Can we declare this day the end of messianic Miesianism?”
However, a commenter thought the design “kind of falls apart when you look at the details.”
Other stories in this week’s newsletter that fired up the comments section included Rafael Viñoly Architects’ plans for a vineyard-covered airport terminal, a pavilion designed for The OWO hotel in London and the news that Elon Musk’s company Neuralink has implanted a brain chip into its first human patient.
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SketchUp is a 3D Modeling software inspired by hand drawn sketching. Its simple interface and smart commands allow architects to bring their designs effortlessly within the three-dimensional world. The software’s dynamic components enables users to generate precise and detailed models that can be later documented in 2D drawings. Additionally, SketchUp’s extensive 3D Warehouse offers a vast repository of pre-built models, textures and components as well as an array of additional plug-ins, significantly accelerating the design workflow.
Renowned for its advanced 3D modeling capabilities, Rhinoceros excels in its ability to create highly detailed, organic, and complex 3D models with precision and versatility. The software employs NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines) modeling, allowing architects to sculpt smooth, free-form surfaces and create intricate geometric forms. Its familiar “type-in command bar” makes it easy for users to navigate Rhino’s 3D modeling tools. Finally, at a time when 3D scanning has become the leading method for architectural surveys, Rhino’s revolutionary new tool “ShrinkWrap” turns point cloud data into solid, editable meshes.
Autodesk 3ds Max is a pivotal tool for architecture 3D modeling and rendering. It has a robust set of polygonal modeling tools and parametric modeling features that enable non-destructive editing, allowing for easy experimentation and design exploration. Still, 3ds Max’s greatest asset is its architectural visualization capabilities. The software delivers high-quality architectural renderings through flexible toolsets for texturing, shading and lighting and even animating architectural scenes.
Designed by Oregon-based firm Waechter Architecture, this carefully crafted project involved the adaptive reuse of a historic school building into a boutique hotel, with the addition a ring of minimalist cedar cabins and a unique, polygonal bath house containing a series of relaxing pools, changing rooms, a sauna, a kitchen and two massage rooms.
One of the most critical considerations for the spa’s design was how the interior and the exterior spaces could be seamlessly connected, providing shelter for visitors while also maintaining both a visual and a visceral connection with the hotel’s stunning natural surroundings.
The use of LaCantina doors were key to the success of the project, as Waechter explained: “In many ways, these doors were the most important single component of the entire project. After seeing the system and learning about other successful installations in this dynamic context and climate, they seemed to be an ideal choice.”
The finished project is an exemplar in adaptive reuse architecture and spa design, creating a perfect destination for those looking for a scenic getaway in the Pacific Northwest. As the architects concluded: “Through its composition and pairing of historic and new architecture, the Society serves as a model for how buildings can reconcile the needs of a sensitive site, visitors, and the local community, and maximize connection to the surrounding landscape.”
Perched on a downsloped lot, this 6,000 square-foot house maximizes views with strategic placement of the entry and master suite. The L-shaped footprint incorporates an in-ground pool. The street view features a grounded elevation with a privacy wall, floating second floor, and cedar louvers for visual interest.
Designed by Jim Olson, this family estate seamlessly integrates architecture, interior design, art and landscape into a unified whole. The central “home base” living area serves as the core, with views extending in four directions across reflecting pools, gardens, and the Santa Cruz Mountains. The estate includes auxiliary buildings and outdoor living areas, made to blend into its verdant surroundings. The 3.5-acre site is divided into two interconnected parts, with cultivated areas featuring old-growth olive trees, a vineyard, and a succulent garden.
Nestled amongst the natural rock outcroppings, and native Oak and Manzanita trees, the RidgeView House sits atop the western edge of the Vaca Range overlooking St. Helena and the Napa Valley. Perched on a ridge, it offers valley views to the west and forest views to the east. Every room utilizes doors, windows and materials to integrate inside and outside spaces, maximizing views and bathing the interior in natural light.
The C-Glass House, a 2,100 square foot retreat in northern California, stands on a wind-swept site with a panoramic view of Tomales Bay and the open ocean. Designed with inspiration from Philip Johnson’s Glass House and Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House, it also draws from California legacies like Elwood and Koenig. Unlike earlier ‘vitrines in a garden,’ this glass house on the west coast prioritizes its environment, using framing, cantilever, and directional enclosure to capture the beauty of the surroundings.
