Postmodern architecture icon: Piazza d'Italia. Virtual tour in google streetview

This building is one of the many postmodern icon featured in the world of modern architecture. Using the idiom of modern architecture combined with various elements of classical architecture in eclectic style, this architecture was to bring back the memory of the past to the future, in a context that can be accepted as a filler of 'emptiness' as a result of modern architecture that is too functional. This is because, the old buildings in the immigrants settlement complex from Italy needed a touch a new life for the building does not reflect the culture of Italy. 



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In the postmodern world, sometimes a building needed to appear its identity in a way like this, because it has an identity that can not be provided by the uniformity of modern architecture. In Piazza d'Italy, elements in the architecture that grew up in Italy, appear to be part of the new refreshed piazza of the complex, such as the emergence of the doric collumns, Corinthian, and ionic and placed in an informal way, in almost a humorous way connected to the elements of the new sculpture.

Building in the Piazza is a gateway to enter the complex and residential area that the recipient has a cultural identity. Its plan form a circle, with a pool, and derivative 'flat' map of Italy in the pond that shows the close relationship between Sicilian people and sea water.



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The existence of this architecture in the Piazza, can be categorized as Sculpture, where the architecture appears as a fragment of the past that are withdrawn again in the context of modern living and located in a place far from Italy, as will reconnect fragments of memory in new clothes.

Sagrada Familia by Gaudi; visual tour. Google streetview architecture collection

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Sagrada Familia (1883 - ) is one of the biggest and most glorious Gothic church at its time. Modern architecture is modernized by Gaudi in more complicated, bigger, with more than 12 towers. The average height is 100m, the central part is bigger and taller. The work is still in progress, even until now. Sagrada Familia was first designed by Franciso Paula del Villar in 1882 in a cross formed plan. The next year Gaudi took over the work and change it into his design.


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Because of this very ambitious project, Gaudi died in the year 1926 from being hit by a tram car in front of the church. Sagrada Familia has 4 towers already with work still in progress. Gaudi's design is full of ornaments, making some debate whether he was a sculpturer or decorator, rather than an architect. There are many natural forms like the forms of trees, stones, caves, stalactide, and other natural forms.

Moving view of Frank Gehry's building design in Paris. Google streetview architecture collection

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This view is Frank Gehry's design of American Center in Paris, with building that contains curves and tilted angles like Guggenheim Bilbao. From this Google streetview the facade shown here is the 'almost normal' view from Rue de Bercy, the street of the view. While the curves and tilted angles are on the opposite side of this view.

Gehry state that the curves and tilting volumes are to express 'a dancer lifting her tutu'. When it was still American Center, is said to have financial problems and being closed. Then the French Government acquired the building and relocate the Cinematheque from Palais de Chaillot to the site. The building was then renovated with respect to Gehry's design on the exterior.


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Santiago Calatrava's Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències, built in 1996, but still one of the most photogenic building in the world

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If there are few buildings in this world that will look good in Google streetview, this is one of them, and luckily google car was able to be close enough thanks to the Poente de Monteolivete, a street that is in the middle of the two very interesting building complex. A very monumental building by Santiago Calatrava; Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències. This is a museum of arts in Valencia, Spain. Despite its structural genius, Calatrava design a building that is photogenic from every side of the building complex.



The "city" is made up of the following, usually known by their Valencian names:
El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía — Opera house and performing arts centre
L'Hemisfèric — Imax Cinema, Planetarium and Laserium
L'Umbracle — Walkway / Garden
El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe — Science museum
L'Oceanogràfic — Open-air oceanographic park
Surrounded by attractive streams and pools of water, it and the surrounding areas of the "city" are typically used as a relaxing place to walk day or night, with an open air bar outside El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe during the evening (especially during events).

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; street view google map architecture collection

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This San Francisco Museum of Modern Art was designed by Mario Botta, where he uses simmetry as method of organization, for the plan and for the exterior building. The main facade is symmetrical and presents a volumetric hierarchy. There is an atrium inside this building for natural light.

When seeing the streetview image above, it seems like the facade can not be enjoyed from near the building, but we have to go to certain distance to see the whole image of the building. There is a gap between two buildings in front of it used as public space where we can see this museum in best view. But not from this streetview by Google  ;)

Zaha Hadid's Contemporary arts museum, Ohio; street view google map architecture collection

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Start today, I will make collections of now-architecture buildings and famous architects made with Google streetview. This is the first, Zaha Hadid's Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. This work made her the first woman receive Pritzker Price

Zaha Hadid at the time she was choosen for pritzker Prize in 2004, caught the attention of the jury's, with her great acclaim, ideas and energy that showed greater promise for the future.

There are various of exhibitions held in the art center, including photography, video, film and live performances, and also many performers and artists from all continents.

"The public lobby, where everyone enters, is downtown and central to the city so people who are just walking around can go in and have a coffee downstairs or hang around the lobby or go upstairs to quickly see a show. It is a very accessible building.
It's not a compact building and there is a degree of transparency on the ground and above. So it's not only how we use it, but also how we pass through it.
Every time you confront the space you have a different experience".
Zaha Hadid