In the Pacific Northwest, many of the structures I love blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscape, while SW structures I like tend to stand out boldly. I adore both types of work, it’s just different. I suppose it depends on your mood. Today, I’m feeling a little stand out. Hence, the Hummingbird…

This beautiful curvy structure, originally known as the Townsend Residence, is located in the eastern saddle of Mummy Mountain (AZ), and was designed by the amazing Will Bruder. Brunder, of Will Brunder + Partners designed the Hummingbird with an array of colored resins, glass, steel, concrete, aluminum and various wood. It’s a large home (downside) but still chock full of goodness like intertwined circles, curvilinear geometry, natural light, resin window squares, and pivoting glass doors. Not to mention the surrounding mountain views. 

Ah – light delight. This bath view above is a great example of how natural lighting and organic colors were used in this home. Fans of Brunder seem to hail the Hummingbird as a best-of sort of work. It is beautiful, but while I like this structure, I’m not sure I’d say it’s the best Brunder design because that’s too tough a call. Seriously this is a stunning architecture co. You have to visit Will Brunder + Partners to see all their great work.

You can also cut to the chase and view stats and many more lovely images of the Hummingbird at AZarchitecture. It’s worth a click.

+ AZarchitecture

+ Will Brunder + Partners

Post from: Blisstree

Hummingbird of Mummy Mountain

But first Cardillo. He sent me some shots of his House of Convexities near Barcelona – and like all his work, this house is amazing.

It’s so unusual for the landscape. Very offbeat. I love how, from this view, it’s in line with the range. That’s pretty cool. Along with the photos Cardillo sent his own description; which is really neat, so let’s look at that…

“If architecture is music in stone can its “limbs” dance? Architecture only remains still in pictures. In real life its natural state is one of transition. Both man and light move within it.

Inside a house among coarse Mediterranean glades and corrugated stone walls, a slanting light, pierced by innumerable narrow repeated blades, inscribes and describes the walls with its impermanent, mutable hand. How many possible stories will this light tell over the course of a year?

A curved wall jokes with the light. The light bathes the wall, but reaches the moment and the place in which, going beyond the curve, it takes a tangent, deciding what will be lit and what will be dark. And this movement suggests the indefinite, mutability, shading, ineffability.

Thus architecture becomes light interpreted through the “limbs” of the architecture. Like shadows of flesh on flesh, whose forms are both definite and defining.”

“A curved wall jokes with the light!” I’m thinking this is one architect who is a poet as well. Maybe a second job is in order. From the view above the idea of layout might be a little baffling, but this layout shot below allows the design to make more sense.

To see the interior, and more of the description, jump to the next page…

My favorite, well, one of my favorite things about Cardillo’s designs are all the curves. Each of his structures that I’ve seen have these swooping, gentle curves, and it’s so soothing. Your eyes want to follow the lines. For example, check out the swoop below; all I’m thinking is whoosh…

More description:

“Here, as in a Flamenco dance, the body breaks up, invading the space moving through its potential articulations without, however, defining the void, or, interpreting the many possibilities of moving within it: fleshy and sensual, but equally incisive and precise. Secret but luminous. Closed but open to a multitude of possibilities. A body inside another body. Compressed, suspended and continuous in its curvilinear trajectory.

And yet, as in a Flamenco dance, the development of movement, its indefinable ardour, is made real by the successive instant. That solemn, still instant that seems to challenge eternity.

Thus, smooth, tall and still, a wall opposes silence. And such stillness paradoxically supports the preceding movement, giving sense to its being.”

Wait until you see this image:

What the flip!? I love it. I haven’t ever seen an interior quite like this one before.

Like Cardillo’s other designs, this one is innovative, makes use of great colors (I always like the subtle hues going on), and full of creative light. If you’re interested in seeing more, check out the following posts:

Other Cardillo designs:

• Birnbeck Island
• Vaulted House
• Home in Erice
• Ellipse house – maybe my favorite

[All photos courtesy of Antonino Cardillo]

Post from: Blisstree

Flamenco y arquitectura