Karel Janů

Czech Modernist Villa Volman newly restored

Villa Volman

Why was this Modernist house a short distance from Prague neglected and ignored for decades?

5th January 2018

By greyscape

@Barbican_City_of_London

If you could visit a library, borrow a book and th

If you could visit a library, borrow a book and then cross the hall to immediately see the film, what book would you choose? How about Midnight Cowboy, novel by James Leo Herlihy - film directed by John Schlesinger.

There was a reason for the question …

Originally called Kronstad Kino, this is an excellent example of Norwegian functionalism in Bergen.

The architect was Ole Landmark. Clearly the building wears the mantle ’landmark’ rather well:) Work began in 1936 with the original idea to share the site between a cinema and public library, how smart an idea is that! However the plan was interrupted by world events and it was eventually completed in 1946 (library having disappeared from the drawing board).

It operated until 2005 when it was sadly closed, the world had moved on and multiplexes supposedly reflected the public’s favoured cinema experience.

After several changes of hands Forum Scene AS took control of the site in 2019. Today the interior has been restored and it operates as a concert hall.

Photo with thanks to @godarkitektur

At risk, the Ringway Centre in Birmingham. Over to

At risk, the Ringway Centre in Birmingham. Over to @c20society C20’s Senior Caseworker, Coco Whittaker to explain why preserving this icon matters. With thanks to @space.play for photos. Follow these two accounts and @brutifulbirmingham for updates and how best to play your part protesting :
‘C20 strongly opposes the irresponsible proposals to demolish the building, which is a hugely important survivor of the post-war reconstruction of Birmingham by the city’s architect and designer of the Grade II listed Rotunda, James Roberts. It is included on Birmingham’s Local List of heritage assets at Grade B, which includes buildings ‘that are important in the city-wide architectural context or the local street scene and warrant positive efforts to ensure their preservation’. The Ringway Centre has enormous potential to be adapted and expanded, without the need to resort to total demolition, as per the developers’ current plans.’

In memory of Zvi Hecker (31 May 1931 - 24 Septembe

In memory of Zvi Hecker (31 May 1931 - 24 September 2023).

We’ve been fans of Zvi Hecker from the early days of our exploration of brutalist architecture, his creativity is perfectly illustrated by this striking 1971 synagogue near to Mitzpe Ramon designed with Alfred Neumann. Located in an area of stark natural beauty on the northern ridge of the Ramon Crater in the Negev Desert, Israel, it’s a brilliant example of brutalist architecture. What's so interesting about the facade of this building is that as well as being super pleasing to look at, there seems to be a clever twist to this geometric architecture, it is as if the hexagons look like the Star of David. Or maybe it's imagination gone wild. It's accessible by invitation only as its on private land. According to a visitor, the triangles let in air and a small amount of light into the interior.

Hecker was a prolific and constantly creative architect. Known for his interest and emphasis on geometry and asymmetry, he was born Tadeusz Hecker in Kraków, Poland. He grew up in Poland and Samarkand and began his education in architecture at the Cracow University of Technology. Emigrating to Israel in 1950, he studied architecture at the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, graduating in 1955. At the Technion, renowned Israeli architect Eldar Sharon was a classmate, and Alfred Neumann, already well established in architectural circles was their professor.

Photo with thanks to Zvi Hecker Architect for this image

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