Going spherical
The world is round. That's not news, I know, but architects really seem to have caught on to the idea. Maybe it's a 21st century thing? Take a look at the designs for the Cybertecture Egg, a giant office space created by James Law Cybertecture International in Mumbai. They fly in the face of the rectangle, and the Egg is not alone.
In fact it (above) looks a little like a familiar British landmark knocked sideways. Norman Foster's Gherkin (below) opened in London five years ago, and ever since then the design world seems to have gone spherical.
Also dubbed 'The Egg' is the National Grand Theatre in Beijing, which opened in December 2007. Designed by Paul Andreu Architecte Paris, it's an ellipsoid dome surrounded in a mirror-like lake.
Which demonstrates how well it merits its nickname.
The Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, designed by DP Architects and Michael Wilford & Partners, opened in Singapore in 2002 and boasts a pair of domes.
Prickly rather than smooth, the domes have been compared to 'two copulating aardvarks'. How lovely.
If you hear of any other great new spherical buildings, do let us know. RM
2009 Jan 24
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