Bendy towers and upturned houses: The architecture you wish existed —
Impossible Buildings by Victor EnrichTwo slides elegantly extend out of the second and third floor of an apartment building; a floating stairway props out of a block of flats...leading nowhere; an office tower at least 20 stories high is split down the middle, opening up to the sky like a huge concrete flap.
These buildings don't exist but they are challenging the ways in which we think about our cities. Playing with the boundaries between fact and fiction through design, photography, illustration and sculpture - a range of artists are re-imagining the possibilities of built landscapes. Lukas Feireiss, editor of a new book, Imagine Architecture, spotlights the mind-blowing art using reality as a playing field for the impossible.
By Monique Todd, for CNN
Impossible Buildings by Victor Enrich
Using 3D architectural visualization, artist Victor Enrich transforms drab tower blocks and apartments into flexible structures that bend, twist turn inwards and protrude outwards. By fusing photography with digital manipulation, Enrich creates dreamworlds where the familiar takes an unexpected turn.
Using 3D architectural visualization, artist Victor Enrich transforms drab tower blocks and apartments into flexible structures that bend, twist turn inwards and protrude outwards. By fusing photography with digital manipulation, Enrich creates dreamworlds where the familiar takes an unexpected turn.
Impossible Buildings by Victor Enrich
The artworks in Imagine Architecture constantly challenge the idea of functionality; in fact, many don't look fit to inhabit. However Feiriess is keen to highlight that architecture isn't just about meeting basic needs. "Both boring and exciting architecture are always an expression of its time and act as the self-representation of a certain culture -- willingly or not."
Architecture, it seems, constantly mirror the world back to us. "The shape of our cities, even today, reflect certain power structures, and represent, so to speak, an image of the world."
The artworks in Imagine Architecture constantly challenge the idea of functionality; in fact, many don't look fit to inhabit. However Feiriess is keen to highlight that architecture isn't just about meeting basic needs. "Both boring and exciting architecture are always an expression of its time and act as the self-representation of a certain culture -- willingly or not."
Architecture, it seems, constantly mirror the world back to us. "The shape of our cities, even today, reflect certain power structures, and represent, so to speak, an image of the world."
Impossible Buildings by Victor Enrich
More than just a backdrop to our daily errands, deceptively mundane buildings often provide the springboard for experiments that challenge the way we live. "Architecture—understood in the broadest sense—has become a highly influential form of imaging in the visual arts. Be it as images of buildings and cities, built or unbuilt, real or fictional, hypothetical or actual," says Feireiss.
More than just a backdrop to our daily errands, deceptively mundane buildings often provide the springboard for experiments that challenge the way we live. "Architecture—understood in the broadest sense—has become a highly influential form of imaging in the visual arts. Be it as images of buildings and cities, built or unbuilt, real or fictional, hypothetical or actual," says Feireiss.
Constructs by Laura Kicey
Artist and photographer Laura Kicey takes photos of unique and striking buildings during her worldwide travels and assembles them together in a single image, creating striking façades of colorful and diverse structures.
Artist and photographer Laura Kicey takes photos of unique and striking buildings during her worldwide travels and assembles them together in a single image, creating striking façades of colorful and diverse structures.
From the Knees of my Nose to the Belly of my Toes by Alex Chinneck, Photography: Alex Chinneck & Stephen O'Flaherty
British designer Alex Chinneck treats houses like fabric, pulling and draping the façade of buildings as if they were bed sheets. Seemingly sturdy and concrete builds transform into delicate, fragile structures.
British designer Alex Chinneck treats houses like fabric, pulling and draping the façade of buildings as if they were bed sheets. Seemingly sturdy and concrete builds transform into delicate, fragile structures.
Flying Houses by Laurent Chehere
Inspired by the world of film and comic books, Laurent Chehere suspends imaginary buildings in the sky -- freeing architecture from its ground roots. The exchange between art and architecture, it seems, is one that inevitably spawns ideas for the new. As global metropolises continue to grow tall and wide, artists are daring to explore what land developers continuously ignore. "The city offers a multitude of creative opportunities for alternative engagements far beyond the conventions of architecture and city planning," says Feireiss.
Inspired by the world of film and comic books, Laurent Chehere suspends imaginary buildings in the sky -- freeing architecture from its ground roots. The exchange between art and architecture, it seems, is one that inevitably spawns ideas for the new. As global metropolises continue to grow tall and wide, artists are daring to explore what land developers continuously ignore. "The city offers a multitude of creative opportunities for alternative engagements far beyond the conventions of architecture and city planning," says Feireiss.
The Architecture you wished existed —
Flying and Floating by Robert OverwegPhotographer Robert Overweg sees the future of architecture in combat computer games. His photographic series, "Flying and Floating," captures the virtual world and it's uncanny representation of reality. In Overweg's universe, the limits of gravity and practicality cease to exist.
The Architecture you wished existed —
Landed by Ian StrangeDespite first impressions, this gothic-style house did not fall from the sky. In fact, "Landed" is a site-specific installation that was constructed in front of the Art Gallery of South Australia as part of the 2014 Biennal of Australian art. The house was actually a recreation of the artist's home in Australia.
It's the magical space "between the possible and the impossible" that truly steers the future, says Feireiss. "It's a space and place where the future can be discussed before it happens. Artistic invention happens through such imagination."
The Architecture you wished existed —
Unité by Thomas SachsConstructed from Foamcore (a strong lightweight foam material), Bristol board (an uncoated paperboard) and White-Out paint, Unité is a large scale replica of The Unité d'habitation - a housing block located in Marseilles. This sculpture happens to be the world's largest replica of the famous housing unit.
Interacciones by Dionisio González
Interacciones is a series of retouched images where nature is fused with architecture. The result are futuristic habitats that stun with their realism, like the geometric tree house pictured.
"Many artists today do not accept cities as they are", says Feireiss, "but create their own spaces, their own environment, and thereby their own cities. By doing so, novel ways of negotiating the potential of spatial practices can be discovered. "
Interacciones is a series of retouched images where nature is fused with architecture. The result are futuristic habitats that stun with their realism, like the geometric tree house pictured.
"Many artists today do not accept cities as they are", says Feireiss, "but create their own spaces, their own environment, and thereby their own cities. By doing so, novel ways of negotiating the potential of spatial practices can be discovered. "
Interacciones by Dionisio González
However city architecture, Feireiss poses, isn't to be left to artists and developers. If we are to improve our lives, we need to recognize its colossal influence."Our entire life is literally embedded in built environments," says Feireiss. "We are constantly surrounded, affected and shaped by architecture -- whether consciously perceived or unconsciously experienced."
However city architecture, Feireiss poses, isn't to be left to artists and developers. If we are to improve our lives, we need to recognize its colossal influence."Our entire life is literally embedded in built environments," says Feireiss. "We are constantly surrounded, affected and shaped by architecture -- whether consciously perceived or unconsciously experienced."