Tweaq explores Nordic Design



Week 7 - Denmark/ Sweden

Welcome to the North. Denmark and Sweden are the leading countries in living and design. This can be seen in these half timber houses which are estimated to be built around the 18th hundreds and are still standing today not to mention people still living in them.

 

Located in Gillileje - Denmark. Straw roofs are still popular in Denmark and was used in the olden days for insulation during the cold Months. Still very effective to this day.

This view is off a courtyard in the town of Malmo - Sweden. Even though this building may have had minor renovations throughout its life, its still supported by the original timber frames(painted black).

Roskilde Domkirke is a cathedral of the Lutheran Church of Denmark.

This church was constructed during the 12th and 13th centuries and incorporates both Gothic and Romanesque architectural features in its designs. The cathedral has been the main burial site for Danish monarchs since the 15th century.

 

This is a view of the ceiling which shows some of the detail seen within the church. Its amazing to think what they could build and design so many years ago.

 

Turing Torso located in Malmo- Sweden:

 

 

HSB Turning Torso is the tallest skyscraper in Sweden and the Nordic countries built in 2005 and rotates 180 degrees for the bas to the top. The tower reaches a height of 190 metres (623 feet) with 54 storeys - 147 apartments, relax/lounge/spa/gym, wine cellar followed by around-the-clock concierge service 365 days a year.

Egeskov Castle:

 

 

 

Built in the early 15th hundreds, this castle is Europe's best preserved Renaissance water castle.

Amalienborg residence:
Home to the Queen of Denmark, not to mention the future King and Queen - Frederick and Mary

 

Amalienborg was originally built for four noble families; however, when Christiansborg Palace burnt down on 26 February 1794, the Danish royal family bought the palaces and moved in. Over the years various Danish kings and their families have resided in the four different palaces.

This is an image of 4 new modern apartments built in Denmark with a view of the ocean. Example of why Denmark is so recognised for its design. In the 1960s, Danish architects entered the world scene with their highly successful Functionalism which is still used today.

Lego representation of Nyhav - Denmark. Even though Denmark is mainly known for their design, some would argue they are even more recognised for their lego!

Another famous building technique that Denmark is known for.

Thanks again for reading our Blogs. Stay tunned for next week as we visit our last historic design stop in Alsace - France.

SINGAPORE - Worlds Tourist Capital

Week 6 - Singapore

Singapore has been described as a cosmopolitan city with a exciting mix of culture, arts and architecture!

A well know tourist attraction is Singapore's mascot "Merlion" at Merlion Park near the CBD. This impressive sculpture designed by Alec Fraser-Brunner represents the national personification of Singapore. Very effective, not to mention impressive!

MARINA BAY SANDS. This is defiantly a site for everyone.
Developed by Las Vegas Sands and designed by Moshe Safdie this hotel is billed as the worlds most expensive stand alone casino property.

Card decks was apparently the initial inspiration for the design of the building which contains a casino, 3 x hotels (side by side) with 2,500 rooms and suites, a 200,000 square foot Art and Science museum and convention centre which is capable of accommodating 45,000 people. WOW!

This is an image taken of only a small part of the interior. Feng shui consultants were used during the design process of this building and engineers described the integration of the varied and advanced technologies as the 'most difficult to carry out in the whole world"

A huge part of Singapore is known for their development in iconic landmarks located in and around the main city. This is a great example of this.

This is the ArtScience Museum located right near Marina Bay Sands. The architecture is said to be a form reminiscent of a lotus flower and is designed by Moshe Safdie. It is most commonly referred to as "The Welcoming Hand of Singapore" which I think can defiantly be interpreted from this image. The design concept for each finger demotes various gallery spaces sporting skylights at the fingertips which are included as sustainable illumination for the curved interior walls.

The Helix Bridge. This is a pedestrian bridge linking the Marina centre and Marina South made of fritted-glass and perforated steel mesh. This bridge is said to weigh about 1700 tonnes in total. The major and minor helices spiral in opposite directions as you walk through. I'm glad I didn't have to put all these pieces together.

Jump on our facebook to see more images from the remarkable city of Singpore.

Also don't miss out next week as we finish Tweaq's design tour of the world in Denmark.