Complex at the Centre of the Universe

Complex at the Centre of the Universe is pure brilliance!
The CGSociety and NVIDIA were running a competition called the NVArt: Art Space, which was designed to test the vision of artists form around the globe. The entries to this competition are awe-inspiring and grand and yet there could only be one winner. Complex at the Centre of the Universe, an entry from Poland, is majestic in its proportions and brilliant in its conception. Needless to say, it is the deserved winner. Staszek Marek is the man behind this remarkably imaginative formation and his eight years as a 3D modeler and sculptor in the industry are every bit reflected in the Complex at the Centre of the Universe. Turquoise waters surround a beautifully modeled city that itself has been placed on a pedestal as if by a higher being. Technological creations occupy the center stage and yet the concept is in harmony with nature; the model is replete with green parks and gardens. Mark Snoswell, one of the judges of the competition very aptly summarizes it as


The realization of this image is stunning in its scope and imagination with multiple levels of subtle detail that draw you into its world. The artist envisions this complex on a different planet altogether, perhaps one which is quite similar to ours. Or maybe at the back of his mind he has this designed for a time when water levels rise due to incessant warming. Either way this is a beautiful portrayal of a magnificent imagination.

National Museum of the Marine Corps

Architect: Fentress Architects Location: Quantico, Virginia, USA Contractor: Balfour Beatty Construction Project Year: 2006 Photographs: James P. Scholz, Ken Paul, Hedrich Blessing, Fentress Architects, United States Marine Corps and Marine Corps Heritage Foundation

THE FLATIRON BUILDING !!!

Architect: Daniel H. Burnham & Co. Date: 1902 Construction: steel frame which is covered with a non-load-bearing limestone and terra-cotta facade -22 floors, 87m (285 feet) high Designed by the Chicago architect Daniel Burnham, known for his skyscrapers, this steel-framed terra-cotta and stone-clad skyscraper represents the developers' first (and ultimately unsuccessful) attempt to create a new business center north of Wall Street. They built it as a speculative project with the intention of renting out offices to various commercial and financial enterprises. Bearing the influence of architectural trends introduced at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Burnham's eye-catching design combined elements of French and Italian Renaissance architecture in an effort to attract businesses to this formerly residential and retail-oriented neighborhood. The building's triangular plan was a clever response to the awkward site produced by the intersection of Broadway and Fifth Avenue. Its ornate but restrained facade is composed of stone and terra-cotta panels whose forms simulate the effects of rustication. Undulating bays break up the monotony of the building's tall midsection. The overall effect is that of a palazzo stretched to great height. Here, for the first time, the construction of a steel-framed skyscraper was witnessed in its entirety by the general public--a event which generated much response. The building fascinated photographers and was immortalized in the work of Edward Steichen and Alfred Steiglitz.

 This lyrical building remains the New York's oldest skyscraper. Though responsible of the chicagoan innovative Reliance, Rookery and Monadnock buildings, the architect Daniel H. Burnham, by using an exuberant mix of gothic and Renaissance detailing (also known as Beaux-Arts), was accused of retrograde classicism by other avant-garde architects as Louis Sullivan. Notwithstanding, the Fuller, quickly nicknamed the "Flatiron", was a real tour de force, because it was strictly shaped from this particular triangled site, and largely distant from its nearest neighbors. The entire conception is based upon the classical greek column. First, the building is divided in three parts, the base in rusticated buff limestone with copper-clad windows, the main body of pale-colored bricks and terra-cotta with unusual and gracious undulating oriels, and the capital represented here by arches and columns topped by a heavy projected cornice and a flat balustraded roof. The greek column character was enhanced by the rounded prow, creating the illusion of a freestanding colossal column. Seen under another angle, the Flatiron seems to be only a flat wall. For the little story, the famed New Yorker expression, "Twenty-three skiddoo" came to be because the wind drafts created by the height of the skyscraper raised women petticoats, and constables had to "skiddoo" the men who came to peek! 

The Taj Mahal, Agra, India

This is truly the 17^th century ideal fusion of between architecture, engineering and art. The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his third wife. The central structure of the complex and the most popular piece is made of marble with a height of 115 feet (35 meters). The top of the dome features a lotus design, which accentuates its height. This is also emphasized by tall decorative spires that extend from the edges of the base walls.

The central dome is surrounded by four smaller domed kiosks that replicate the center design and allow sunlight to aluminate the interior. The dome and the kiosks are topped by gilded finals. 130 feet (40 meters) tall minarets square the structure. One of the main concerns in those times was the fear of high structure collapsing. That’s why the minarets were built slightly outside the plinth, so that in the event of falling down, they won’t fall over the dome. In all, 28 precious stones were inlaid into the marble walls, including sapphire, crystal, turquoise and many more.

The Colosseum, Rome, Italy

This is the largest amphitheater ever built in the Roman Empire and definitely one of the greatest achievements of Roman engineering. It only took eight years to finish this amazing structure that continues to stand as Rome’s most prestigious symbol for almost 2,000 years now. With a capacity of 50,000, the Colosseum was used for gladiator contests, animal hunts, re-enactments of famous battles and dramas. During the Middle Ages, it was used as a workshop, a fortress, a quarry and even a Christian shrine. Although it was affected by fires, earthquakes and many more forms of natural degradation, the Colosseum is still standing.

Being 615 feet (189 meters) long and 510 feet (156 meters) wide, the outer wall of the Colosseum is estimated to have required at least 100,000 cubic meters of travertine stone. For such a colossal structure, the architects of the Colosseo used access methods similar to those used by the modern stadiums nowadays: more than 80 entrances at ground level were designed and each one was numbered, as was each staircase.

The Great Wall of China

Originally built to protect the northern territories of China from invasions, the Great Wall has been rebuilt and maintained for more than 16 centuries. The wall stretches for 5,500 miles (8,851 km), including some natural defensive barriers such as hills and rivers.

Unlike many other fortifications at that time, bricks and stone were used in the construction of the Great Wall, instead of rammed earth. In the Juyongguan pass, the wall reaches 25.6 feet (7.8 meters) in height and 16.4 feet (5 meters) in width. In some other areas, the wall climbs steep slopes and is completed by watchtowers built up to 3,215 feet (980 meters) above the sea level. It is estimated that while building this amazing fortification, more than 1 million workers lost their lives.

The Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

The three pyramids famous worldwide are located in Egypt, on the outskirts of Cairo. Egyptologists say that these amazing pieces of architecture are approximately 4,500 years old and they are currently considered the oldest monuments constructed in dressed masonry.

The Great Pyramid, the complex’s largest structure, is 756 feet long and 450 feet high. For three millenniums, it was the highest structure in the world. 2,300,000 blocks of stone, each averaging 2 ½ tons in weight were used to raise this fascinating piece of architecture. Although the methods of constructions are still uncertain, it is strongly believed that stones used in construction were quarried in the surrounding areas and then dragged on special created sledges and ramps. Egyptologists estimate that approximately 200,000 people participated in the construction of the Great Pyramid, a record that was achieved only once in our known history.

Strange Architecture: Bridge Design in the Netherlands

The Dutch have a tendency to do things differently. Take their levees, which are giant storm-surge barriers specially made with synthetic textiles to keep the earth from eroding. Their bike paths are placed on equal footing as automotive roads. And their town planning, which merges private and public life by combining terraced houses with amenities like shops and sports facilities, is a far cry from the way American suburbs are planned. 

Then there are Netherlands' bridges. Because of prevalent rivers throughout the country and boat traffic as high as the volume of vehicles on the road, a bridge in the Netherlands needs to be able to quickly raise and lower over relatively small waterways. Your average hinged drawbridge would be too big for most Dutch waterways, and a long, steep bridge would eat up precious resources. Dutch architects answer this conundrum with the tail bridge. A tail bridge can quickly and efficiently be raised and lowered from one pylon (instead of hinges). This quickly allows water traffic to pass while only briefly stalling road traffic. 

The Slauerhoffbrug is one tail bridge that stands out, even in the bridge-happy Netherlands. The bridge, located in Leeuwarden, was designed by Van Driel Mechatronica to be a fully automatic bridge with an ability to sense and adapt to its surroundings. While this technology is not for just any bridge—more traffic requires a more intelligent controller—the bridge is sensibly high-tech for its area, says Bart Ney, a Public Information Officer for the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, which is scheduled to be completed in 2013. "The Slauerhoffbrug is immediately both iconic and utilitarian and allows optimum flow of maritime and automobile traffic," he says. 

The Slauerhoffbrug crosses over the Harlinger Vaart River. "A movable bridge was necessary because a new beltway crossed this canal," van Driel says. Constructed in 2000 from iron and steel, the bridge is raised and lowered 10 times a day by two hydraulic cylinders located in a single pylon next to the bridge. The lift bearing, complete with asphalt and road markings, seamlessly disappears into the road when lowered. The base model of the bridge is a limited turntable bascule bridge, in which the rising section is counterbalanced by a weight, like the Pegasusbrug near Ouistreham in France. Such bridges were built all over the world in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, van Driel says. 

These original tail bridges were composed around the idea of having a fixed center point with rolling units on either side. Van Driel Mechatronica BV created the William Pont Bridge in Zaanstad using more simple measures. Pylons under the center point replaced the left and right rolling elements of the bridge. This small bridge could rest on only one pylon, which is advantageous because it consumes less materials and energy. The Leeuwarden Town Council decided to base the Slauerhoffbrug off these principles. 

The Slauerhoffbrug is built in an L-shape, bending the bearing bars that lead to the deck, with the foundation built beside the bridge. The principal beams and cross girders are absent. This allows a low construction height that increases the lifting height. And in true Dutch fashion, this tail bridge isn't just an engineering feat, but a work of art. It is painted in yellow and blue, representative of Leewaurden's flag and seal. The asymmetrical shape can be seen for miles when the deck is completely raised and locked upright in midair. 


The Slauerhoffbrug, located in Leeuwarden, was designed by Van Driel Mechatronica to be a fully automatic bridge with an ability to sense and adapt to its surroundings. 


The Slauerhoffbrug fits conspicuously into the roadway. 


The Slauerhoffbrug stands tall. 

 


The Pegasusbrug near Ouistreham in France, which was a stepping stone for tail bridges, is a limited turntable bascule bridge 


Ter Aar is home to the first tailbridge in the Neatherlands, the Vijfgatenbrug.

Read more: Strange Architecture: Bridge Design in the Netherlands - Popular Mechanics 

The flipper bridge

In Hong Kong, cars drive on the left while in the rest of China, they drive on the right. If you're building a bridge between the two, you've got to come up with a clever way to switch lanes without disruption or accident. Behold, the flipper:

The only way that could be more cool is if one of the lanes went into a tunnel under the water or corkscrewed over the other lane in a rollercoaster/Mario Kart fashion.

3D Visualization for the Civil Engineer Using Autodesk 3ds Max Design

See how Autodesk civil engineering customers use 3ds Max Design to explore, validate, and communicate design concepts. Video clips from Genivar, Parsons Brinkerhoff, 3d-MG, ARUP, Scott Wilson, Langan, nc3D.com and URS Corporation are shown in this animation.

A Day in the Life - Civil Engineer

A typical day in the life of a Civil Engineer.

50 Strangest Structures of the World

50 Strangest Structures of the World

#PROJECT: "The world biggest hotel, the first 10-star hotel"

The world's biggest and first 10-star hotel!

Trends Ten: 10 astounding green structures stretching out into the blues!

1. MAD Green Creation with Webstar:

MAD is a design firm that often lives up to its acronym and there creations are often perceived as green architecture that is a touch eccentric. But the design of Webstar is really a revolutionary concept for future green cities. This giant floating star can camp above any city in the world and can house a perfect green city of 15,000 people. With its own ability to produce power, utilize resources by recycling them and even a digital cemetery, the Webstar seems too good and green to be real. Simple sensational indeed!

2. Rotating Wind Towers of Dubai:

By now everyone in the world and even beyond knows about the spectacular wind-powered rotating skyscraper designed by Dr. David Fisher. The structure twirls around and uses wind and solar energy to produce power that is sufficient to power another 5 skyscrapers along with power to supports its own residents’ energy needs. This is almost like a giant swiveling structure on a beam at center. To say that this is amazing would be an understatement.

3. Sky Village by MVRDV Architects:

This new and unique structure is a model that can be considered as a blueprint for many eco-structures in the future. Created to perfection by MVRDV Architects, it takes the shape of many blocks called ‘pixels’ being put together like green hubs. The best part of the design is that the building can expand strategically without occupying too much space at the base. Green parks put up in the sky, a concept that could do great for every edifice in future.

4. Precinct 4 by Putrajaya Waterfront:

The Precinct 4 Project by Putrajaya Waterfront in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is more like a city of delightful eco-friendly structures that stand like beacons of green architecture and amazing design. The design is special with green features like terraces, sunshades, natural ventilation and integrated green space and amazing architectural splendor inspired by marine life.

5. Fog Tower:

There is no green structure that in sheer concepts stands singularly alone as this Fog Tower does on the edge of the Atacama Desert. While just a concept for now, this gigantic tower in pristine while aims to harvest land that is barren in the desert by tapping into the fog on the land. The giant screw design progressively collects and condenses fog into water and supplies it down for irrigation. Alberto Fernandez and Susana Ortega have designed a magical white-green tower!

6. Fusionopolis:

Fusionopolis will be Singapore’s most eco-friendly building, what makes it so green is a vertical spine of planting that rises up through the 15-storey building. The building overcomes with its design the challenges that come with growing a fabulous green landscape at that level along with water and irrigation issues. The structure that is to take shape in Singapore will add a new green tinge to the already fabulous skyline of the city.

7. Sinosteel International Plaza:

Once again a project that is designed by MAD Architects, the Sinosteel International Plaza is a project that is far more real, yet as green as the Webstar created by the same designers. The design is modern, eccentric and still green with ample ventilation and sustainable features that are integrated fashionably into the design and form. Construction is underway in Tinajin, China and its impeccable design makes sure that there is no extra energy wasted on insulation.

8. Carbon Neutral Pyramid of Dubai:

A merger in architecture of Ancient Egyptian pyramids and Middle Eastern ziggurats along with modern green features makes these Carbon Neutral Pyramids that are to take shape in Dubai, one of the best green structures in the world. The pyramid shaped structures run on solar power and are completely carbon neutral. They can sustain an entire community of a million people in them and all with nothing but green energy! If the prototype works, then they could well be the cities of the future.

9. Bahrain World Trade Center with Integrated Turbines:

Being the world’s first skyscraper to go for integrated wind turbines, the Bahrain World Trade Center makes on to the list for being the pioneer in green technology and energy. The integrated giant turbines are expected to generate 11 to 15 percent of the whole structure’s power. The three 29m-diameter turbine blades on Bahrain’s iconic landmark are expected to operate approximately 50% of the time. One must never forget the roots of the revolution and for green architecture, this was a big beginning.

10. Municipal Pool Cover Soto del Real in Madrid:

This giant Carbon Neutral green-structure was built in the heart of Madrid to give a sustainable ecosystem to the growing urban community. Designed by Lorenzo Alonso Architects, this green facility is filled with plants and acts as a community center as it purifies air and provides meeting space.

Green architecture is about the judicious blend of form with function and hopefully we have done the same with our list of ten. Every one has a different favorite, but irrespective of personal tastes, each and every one of the buildings in this list and many more that silently spread the green wave and eco-friendly revolution go a long way in making our planet a better place both for us and the future generations!