The Most Iconic New York Skyscrapers

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There is no doubt that the Big Apple is one of the most iconic places in the world. There is something for everyone in NYC, from its bright lights and towering structures to its vast array of cultural attractions. For architects like Joe Cianciotto, the city is a sight to behold due to its skyscrapers, which are a testament to human innovation and engineering prowess. Discussed below are some of the most iconic buildings in the city.

Empire State Building

This tower on Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street is synonymous with New York. It is one of the first skyscrapers in the city and was the tallest building in the world upon its launch in 1931. The Empire State Building has a unique Art Deco design, with its spire resembling a ship's mast.

Chrysler Building

Chrysler Building is another Art Deco masterpiece located on the East Side of Manhattan in the Turtle Bay neighborhood. As noted by Joe Cianciotto, it was the world's tallest building for 11 months before being surpassed by the Empire State Building. Its crowning glory is its spire, adorned with radiating metal sunbursts.

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One World Trade Center

The highest building in the Western Hemisphere, One World Trade Center, is located at the former World Trade Center complex site. It has a height of 1776 feet, which is a symbolic reference to the year when the United States Declaration of Independence was signed.

Flatiron Building

One of the tallest buildings erected in 1902, the Flatiron Building gets its name from its triangular shape. It is situated in the borough of Manhattan on Fifth Avenue and was originally named the Fuller Building. According to Joe Cianciotto, the structure received plenty of criticism when it was built, with people making bets as to when it would fall down. It has stood the test of time and is now considered one of the most iconic skyscrapers in NYC.

Top Places to Visit to See Ancient Egyptian Architecture

If ancient Egyptian architecture piques your interest, there are several sights that you can visit to catch a glimpse of some wonderful examples of this type of architecture. Joe Cianciotto lists some of them below.

Giza pyramid complex

The Giza pyramid complex, also called the Giza necropolis, is one of the most famous legacies of ancient Egyptian architecture. It is located in Cairo, Egypt, and includes the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure. The complex also has several other smaller pyramids and tombs.

It is perhaps the most notable example of the architectural style’s heavy use of granite and limestone. Because wood is rare in the region, the most commonly used materials for construction in ancient Egypt were sun-baked mud brick and stone.

Temple of Karnak

The Temple of Karnak is located in Luxor, Egypt. It is one of the biggest temple complexes ever built. It was constructed over a period of more than two thousand years. The temple complex contains many different temples, including the Great Temple of Amun, the Temple of Khonsu, and the Temple of Ptah. It also has a number of other features, such as an avenue of sphinxes and the famous Hypostyle Hall.

Joe Cianciotto explains that the 100-hectare complex is particularly notable for its use of columns made of sandstone and brick. The complex has 139 columns in the Hypostyle Hall alone, which is the largest number of columns found in any ancient Egyptian building.

Abu Simbel Temples

The Abu Simbel temples are located in Nubia, Egypt. Pharaoh Ramses II built them in the 13th century BCE. The complex is made up of the Temple of Ramses II and the smaller Temple of Hathor.

The temples are most famous for their massive statues of Ramses II. These statues are over twenty meters tall and depict the Pharaoh seated, wearing a double crown to symbolize Upper and Lower Egypt.

This ancient monument has become a model for modern engineering, notes Joe Cianciotto. Aside from its magnificent exterior, the Abu Simbel temples have several colossal statues lined up inside.

A run-through on Greek architecture

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The Greeks take great pride in their architecture. While their temples were the proper places to worship their gods, these were also a testament to their culture and society. These impressive temples were built on the highest point of each city in Greece and the captured lands in the Mediterranean. Joe Cianciotto.

Greece’s glory days can be found in the remaining structures in Turkey, Italy, and Sicily. Among the many good reasons these structures are still standing is that they are solidly built on marble and limestone. Moreover, these amphitheaters, temples, and other public structures were made of marble and limestone and glued together by iron pins and bronze, making the structures resilient to earthquakes. Joe Cianciotto.

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Greek architecture has three classical orders: the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. The three orders refer to the construction and design of Greek and Roman columns, which are still used to this day. Doric is the other that has the shortest and most straightforward footing, having a vertical fluting and a flared capital. Ionic columns are lankier, having volutes on the capital that are scroll-like, standing on a decorative foot.

The last order and most complex one, the Corinthian order, has tall and thin features, including a decorative foot. It has acanthus leaves and volutes on its capital. Many of today’s structures carry the attributes of the three Greek architectural orders. Although countries and cultures may have revolts throughout generations, architecture remains the bridge between cultures and nations. Joe Cianciotto.

Should you pursue a career in architecture?

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Architecture deals with the designing and building of structures and buildings using art and science. The discipline is concerned with the interior and exterior of structures, as well as the environment these are built upon. It strives to improve the lives humans and other living creatures.

There are many factors to consider when it comes to pursue a life in architecture. A career in the field would require one to attend university to study architecture. Obtaining a degree in the discipline is no easy feat. Individuals who have a knack in math, science, and design generally do well studying architecture. It’s important to note that lacking in these areas does not disqualify one from getting into architecture and pursuing a career in it. Joe Cianciotto.

Individuals who love to build things have a place in architecture. Architecture school demands students to be constantly building and producing designs to build their passion and discipline to create. It encourages students to think outside the box, come up with

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innovative ideas, and develop architectural solutions to mundane problems. The study reveals what a student is capable of and offers them opportunities to hone their skills in the industry. Joe Cianciotto.

Becoming an architect requires three lengthy steps: complete proper education, gain professional experience, and pass the Architecture Registration Exam. One might take longer than others when completing these steps, but the journey is always worth it. The world of architecture is home to creative, kind, and driven individuals. Studying architecture will afford one chances to make the world a better place to live in.

Joe Cianciotto.

The design philosophy of Norman Foster

Joe Cianciotto looks to Norman Foster as a major influence along with Frank Lloyd Wright and Ieoh Ming Pei. Today, he will discuss some of the renowned British architect’s design philosophies that also prove to be influential in his own view about design and architecture, as well as his own view about creativity.

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Biography

Let us look briefly at the life of Norman Foster’s. He was born in 1935 in Manchester, as the only child of a working class family. His interest in architecture started when he was a teenager, influenced by Le Corbusier, one of the fathers of modern architecture. Although he had to leave school at 16, he still pursued architecture by enrolling in Manchester University School of Architecture at the age of 21. He found success and eventually found Foster+Partners at the age of 32.

Design philosophy

Joe Cianciotto considers Norman Foster’s pioneering efforts with structural expressionism and ecological design as evidence of his design philosophy, which involves integration, regeneration, adaptability, flexibility, technology, and ecology. He once described architecture as “a balancing act of integrating and somehow responding to all the needs of a project,” in which he meant the “...material and measurable; as well as the spiritual and intangible,…” He also believes that a good architect should have “an open mind, energy, an appetite for hard work, a willingness to explore new solutions and push boundaries.”

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“Architecture is an expression of values.”

Norman Foster’s most famous philosophy is best expressed through his project with the Reichstage in Berlin, says Joe Cianciotto. The good thing about this philosophy is how architecture was able to communicate a city’s past and present character. Symbolism, if need be, is responsible to bring a design idea into a sketch of how a concept might be achieved. The iconic glass dome of the Reichstag represents that moment when the German people found their reunification as well as their place in parliament, as depicted by Norman Foster.

Thoughts on architecture and Building Information Modeling

 

By now, many people may have already heard about BIM or Building Information Modeling. It is a 3D approach in designing buildings, which also incorporates 4D (time) and 5D (costs). This is currently the standard software in some architectural offices around the world. Except that there are still a few who still employ the 2D CAD or Computer Aided Drafting. In this article, architecture expert and design enthusiast Joe Cianciotto shares some of his insights in the melding of architecture and BIM.

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Complicated forms and supertall structures dominate today's landscape. It is increasingly becoming more prudent and wiser for architects and engineers to take advantage of BIM. Also, the industry itself is becoming more collaborative. Architects and engineers coordinate even more closely, pointing out conflicts, even at the schematic phase.

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According to Joe Cianciotto, architects, at the onset, exercise some liberty in the design stage. As the design develops, the structural elements and utilities come into consideration. A good designer takes note of these things early on. If incorporated in the design process, a BIM model helps the design team detect conflicts with other trades. For example, structural elements such as columns and beams were found to be at odds with a design feature. Sometimes, even the ductwork of air conditioning systems has a great chance to affect the ceiling height of a hallway below.

Two BIM software currently used worldwide are ArchiCad, developed by Graphisoft, and Autodesk Revit, currently offered by Autodesk, the developer of AutoCAD. Both software differ slightly in their interface. If you are an architect more familiar with SketchUp, it is also highly encouraged to learn these two leading BIM software, especially when planning to take up more involvement in the architectural practice.

Architecture and design trends you can look forward to in 2019

The year 2019 is fast approaching. Experts in the field of architecture and design are expecting new directions that will influence projects in the coming months. If you're curious of what the future of the industry looks like, here are some of the trends we're looking forward to:

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Rethinking open space designs

In the past years, open space designs have been gaining popularity in commercial and residential spaces. This year, instead of just designing without dividers and barriers, experts are seeing a shift with how people conceptualize open spaces. This year, even without walls and dividers, designers will be more creative with differentiating the various parts in a home or an office. Instead of the usual plain design, the pros will start to incorporate artistic elements and features to better organize a place.

Widespread use of sustainable materials

Experiencing the effects of climate change has led to the use of sustainable and environment-friendly materials in construction projects. When it comes to commercial structures, acquiring certifications from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) have been a requirement in recent years. Even in residential spaces, more people are choosing these cost-effective recycled and sustainable materials.

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Integrating technology in the structure

The arrival of IoT and other innovations have made it possible to integrate technology into a home's design. From appliances to entertainment devices, having a "connected" home is now possible. While it's easier to obtain the technology these days, architects and designers are still mastering ways on customizing spaces for these additions.

With these trends, we can look forward to modern designs that will prioritize comfort and safety.

Joe Cianciotto here. Welcome to my little corner of the internet. I work as an architect and enjoy classic, superhero blockbuster, and indie mumblecore movies. Visit this page for similar reads.

Emerging architecture trends for 2018

2017 has been a good year for architects, and 2018 is just right around the corner. As with any other industry, the architecture industry faces new challenges and opportunities each year. As 2017 is coming to an end, let’s examine the emerging trends in architecture for 2018: 

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Public and private spaces come together 

More and more people gather in urban areas, so the prices for real estate increase as cities today face a space crunch. This can result in long traffic jams. Because of this, cities combine public and private spaces and have designated fixed spaces for residential, commercial and industrial. 

Increased use of high technology in construction 

The rise of 3-D-printed construction projects has opened many doors of opportunities for architects. 3-D printing technology is now past the apprenticeship stage and is ready to make a huge impact on large-scale development. Holland is the prime example of this, as it produced the world’s first 3-D printed concrete bridge. 

At one with nature

2017 is the year the world focused on the need to pay close attention to the state of the environment. That’s why in 2018, we will see more architectural projects planned with the environment in mind. Apple’s new headquarters was a good example being completed last September. 

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Hi, Joe Cianciotto here. I live for buildings, gadgets, and blockbusters. Follow me on Twitter for similar updates.