What is being done with architecture outside of the US.
These are not your father’s Bronx Projects - boxes with holes buildings
Or the socialized, blight sameness of an old Soviet block ghetto.
I WANTED TO BE AN ARCHITECT
As a youngster and an artist, I could draw…I really could draw anything and everything. I used to spend hours dreaming of futuristic cities enclosed in domes and designs that were far too advanced even for the architects of the day and there were some very talented ones like my idol: Niemeyer in Brazil.
As I grew older I had to put to practical use my drawing abilities so I studied drafting and design. I eventually became a technical illustrator once I had my college degree in a totally unrelated field: Languages.
I worked as an illustrator and had respectable success at it…that is until CAD came along and replaced the artist. I then fell back into what I was trained to do: teach languages.
But even in those days of my adolescence I used to think of how boring, how unimaginative and conformist the architects of America were. I would look upon the “projects” and could not help to equate them to the Soviet “block buildings” I thought that the democratization of America had also brought with it conformity and mediocrity. From the first suburban developments in the late forties called Levittown to the present day skyscraper that resembles a square box with holes 
in it.
I always thought that America could do a lot better and my theory has proven right…those projects, those buildings were obsolete two or three years after they finished constructing them and we have seen how they have been blown up by demolition crews to make way for more of the same.
This type of building being built is not surprising at all considering that in America what matters is the bottom line and one has to get the biggest bang for the buck and build everything on the cheap. Never mind the comforts and conveniences, forget about aesthetic values and the lifting of the human spirit through architecture, art and the surroundings.
Whenever I hear the word “normal” or “conform” I associate it with mediocre architecture.
This is the future staring at us in the face…but it is not in America
The laminated wood skyscraper is an interesting concept envisioned for Brazil, where deforestation is such a crippling issue. Using laminated wood construction, Tomas Kozelsky, Patrick Bedarf, and Dimitrie Andrei Stefanescu showcase the ultimate in sustainable design for the heart of the Amazon.
What happens to the rigs when the oil runs out? Well, Ku Yee Kee, Hor Sue-Wern from Malaysia say turn the structures into habitable living space. Which is exactly what they've done with this design, which relies almost exclusively on all kinds of green energy to keep it powered.
The Hamburg Skyscraper had to fit into a strict set of municipal guidelines. A mixed-used complex that combines hotels, offices, and housing in one place, along with comfortable public space, the design keeps it isolated from traffic noise. Architects: Julia-Elise Hoins, Arnd-Benedikt Willert-Klasing, David Blezinger, Nikolaus Türk
This shipping container skyscraper by Luca D'Amico and Luca Teslo consists of an exoskeletal framework into which modular shipping container homes are set. Every 100 feet there are large platforms that create a micro city inside the skyscraper complete with parks, walkways, and other outdoor spaces.
Already nostalgic for the loss of our once pristine landscapes, this building revives them - at least for agricultural use. Lee dongjin, Park Jinkyu, and Lee Jeongwoo envision the vertical farm for South Korea with spiraling platforms of grass fields.
Potentially one of the most visually interesting, the Porifera Skyscraper in Paris harvests solar, wind, and kinetic energy and has plenty of space for hydroponic gardening. By Nicolas Jomain and Boriana Tchonkova.
Rochambeau Cyrille, Bertin Joel, Herizo Randrianarison designed Vertical Paris with that city in mind. It was no easy feat given the city's historical context - so this building strikes a deal that balances the past with the present. Included are quaint Parisian parks, shops, housing and cultural facilities.
André Serpa, Bernardo Daupiás Alves, Egle Bazaraite, Jutta Rentsch, and Marco Braizinha from Portugal have conceived this absolutely stunning Voronoi Skyscraper. The concrete honeycomb building nurtures everything we need in an urban environment, including a vertical transportation system, residential units, offices, shops, and entertainment.
This attractive skyscraper reduces the need for pollution and transportation by integrating vertical farms into the skyscraper. In a world of 9 billion people by 2050, the term rural will take on a whole new meaning - hence Rural Skyscraper. By Zsuzsanna Kiss-Gal, Gergely Kiss-Gal, Margo Petro, Peter Debreczeni
The Montpellier Skyscraper was designed in the context of France's notorious medieval city. Included in its repertoire are solar panels, water harvesting, hanging gardens, and wind turbines. Architects: Eric Gangaye, Frédéric Velaye Andy, Alvin Pakeeroo, Yann Terrer, Thomas Liaigre
The city of Lima, capital of Peru has a population of 10 million people - a melting pot of cultures resulting from colonization, immigration, and indigenous influences. This South American capital transforms salt water into potable water and creates agricultural opportunities. By Luis Longhi, Christian Bottger, and Carla Tamariz.
They Hydrothermal Skyscraper in Taipei heals the nearby river while using it to extract heat from the transportation infrastructure. A very dynamic building by Wendy Teo Boon Ting and Linda Hagberg in the United Kingdom.
The Underground Metropolis in China turns a dirty habit into an underground city by converting old coal mines into livable spaces. By Fan Shuning and Zhang Xin.
The Urban-Agro structure for Jerusalem takes into consideration that Israel's holy city has virtually no room for expansion. By combining city life with agriculture, the Israeli architects Michael Leef and Tahel Shaar solve the dual problem of population growth and dwindling natural resources.
SOURCES:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/11/15-mind-blowing-skyscrapers_n_847427.html#s263074
This also appeared in part at: http://kylerklnh.blogspot.com/
