Arco Architects

08/09/2021

***ICONIC BUILDING OF THE MONTH***

Designed by famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1934, Fallingwater is quite possibly the most famous private residence in the world. But why?

Well, the unique design makes it look like the house stretches out over a 30ft waterfall, with no solid ground beneath it.

This isn't the case, obviously, but the innovative design captured everyone's attention when it was finalized in 1939.

It became famous instantly and is now a national historic landmark. It's so cool you can even get a Lego version of the architectural masterpiece!

12/07/2019

***ICONIC BUILDING OF THE MONTH***

The Jay Pritzker Pavilion, an outdoor amphitheater in Chicago's beautifully landscaped Millennium Park, was designed by Frank Gehry. The plans presented challenges from the very start, given that the city of which it is a centerpiece had height restrictions on buildings in the park, which is part of the larger Grant Park. To get around this, the city classifies the bandshell as a work of art.

The pavilion is home to the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and the Grant Park Music Festival. It seats 11,000; 4,000 in fixed seating within the bandshell and 7,000 on the lawn, beneath a stainless steel headdress. The sound system and overall design are meant to replicate an indoor concert experience.

The Pavilion, named for its benefactor, a member of the Hyatt Family of hotel renown, opened in 2004 and, the following year, was recognized as one of the most handicap-accessible parks not only in the United States, but in the world.

01/07/2018

01/03/2018

Iconic Building Of The Month😎😎😎
Each month we select one of the most famous iconic buildings in the world and explain a bit about why it deserves to be in the list…
The Sydney Opera House is widely regarded as one of the greatest architectural works of the 20th century.
The innovative design came from architect Jørn Utzon. He was relatively unknown until January 29, 1957 when his entry to the international competition for a national opera house at Bennelong Point, Sydney was announced the winner.
The beautiful building is comprised of three groups of interlocking shells, which roof two main performance halls and a restaurant. A masterpiece of modern architecture, the opera house has become an iconic symbol of both Sydney and Australia.

16/01/2018

Iconic Building Of The Month😎😎😎
Each month we select one of the most famous iconic buildings in the world and explain a bit about why it deserves to be in the list…

At first, Frank Gehry wouldn’t hear of designing a building in Las Vegas, Nevada. But Larry Ruvo, of Southern Wine and Spirits of Nevada, wanted to do something memorable for his beloved father, Lou, who had died of Alzheimer’s Disease, so he had approached the renowned architect. Larry had co-founded Keep Memory Alive, the foundation to support the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, 1.5 km from the Las Vegas casinos. Its mission is to treat patients with brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s. This was a purpose close to Gehry’s heart because Huntington’s had deeply affected one of his close friends. So Gehry said yes.

According to Gehry, he was “trying to make a building that people will want to visit, remember, talk about, and enjoy, and ultimately will want to partner with us at the Center to help cure some of the neurodegenerative diseases.”

Memorable it is. The stepped exterior is covered with stainless steel shingles and features 199 windows, no two of which are alike; this exterior “skin” is set apart from the two buildings within. These two primary wings of the Center represent the two hemispheres of the brain, with numerous and simple connectors between them. Below is a rentable event space serving as a place to create memories as well. Its LED lights are used to striking effect at night.

22/11/2017

Iconic Building Of The Month😎😎😎
Each month we select one of the most famous iconic buildings in the world and explain a bit about why it deserves to be in the list…

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the most remarkable architectural structures in Europe. Most famous for its tilt, the tower began to lean during construction. The tilt happened when soft ground on one side was unable to properly support the structure's weight. Building work on the tower began in 1173 and went on for over a whopping 300 years. There has been much controversy surrounding the true identity of the architect behind the tower. The design was originally attributed to artist Bonanno Pisano. But, studies have also implicated architect Diotisalvi.

17/10/2017

Iconic Building Of The Month😎😎😎
Each month we select one of the most famous iconic buildings in the world and explain a bit about why it deserves to be in the list…

The Australian National Maritime Museum does its job well. Though complex in design, there is a simplicity to the exterior that evokes the billowing sails of a ship. Standing at Darling Harbour in Sydney -- Australia’s oldest city -- the Museum both symbolizes and exhibits the site’s role as the cradle of the nation’s maritime history.

Darling Harbour long served as an immigrant and commercial hub. It accommodated, too, the cargo transport demands of the railways of New South Wales, where it is located. Container shipping, however, proved too much, increasing the importance of Botany Bay and elsewhere. The area fell into disuse. Then came plans for the nation’s bicentenary and a grant to revitalize the Harbour. Today, the Museum and Sydney Aquarium form a gateway to a recreational and tourist destination.

From inside, visitors to the Museum are able to see the port’s activity through glass walls. Designed by Cox Architecture, the vaulted ceilings and series of balconies allow for exhibits that range from the America’s Cup yacht to model ships. Displays recognize the original occupation of the site by the native Gadigal people. Anchored nearby are several in-water museum ships, including the replica of HM Bark Endeavour, commanded by Lieutenant James Cook when he charted New Zealand and discovered the eastern coast of Australia.

01/09/2017

Something that could be done anywhere...

Logically named the ContainHotel after its structural components, this small, mobile, and environmentally-conscious hotel offers an alternative escape for modern travelers looking to push the boundaries of traditional accommodations.

01/09/2017

Iconic Building Of The Month😎😎😎
Each month we select one of the most famous iconic buildings in the world and explain a bit about why it deserves to be in the list…
London's most iconic building St Paul's Cathedral was designed by English architect Sir Christopher Wren. Sitting at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, its famous dome is one of the world's largest, measuring nearly 112 meters high.
The original church on the site was founded in the year 604 AD. Work on the present English Baroque church began in the 17th Century by Christopher Wren as part of a major rebuilding program after the Great Fire of London.
Wren started working on St Paul's in 1668, his designs for the cathedral taking a decade to complete and the actual construction taking a further 40 years. St Paul's has played an integral part of London life ever since - as a dominant element in the city's skyline, as a centre for tourism and religious worship, and most recently as a focal point for anti-capitalist protests.