Whether it reflects the purpose or function of a structure, serves as a contrast with the surrounding architecture or even complements the local environment, a building’s shape is most of the time, for better or worse, its most striking visual element. Stacked plates, plant canopies and dragons inspired some of our favourite shapes, while others were designed on the grounds of environmental concern, historical imagery or quite simply – and superbly – following the silhouette of the site.
1. Basque Culinary Center by Vaumm
When designing the structure of a culinary school in San Sebastian, Spain, it was only fitting that architects at Vaumm looked to stacks of plates and bowls for inspiration. Iñigo García Odiaga of Vaumm says, ‘From a conceptual point of view, volume generation is based on the scale work between the iconographical image (piled up dishes) and the building itself.’
2. Tbilisi Public Service Hall by Studio Fuksas
Overlooking the Kura river in central Georgia, glass geometric cubes sit below the mushroom-like canopies creating a perimeter around the large public service hall by Italian architects .
3. Hongzhu Housing Sales Centre by Lab Modus
The two-storey structure, designed by Lab Modus, rests on a long and narrow plot of land. According to architect Kevin Chang the concept was inspired by the shape of China’s ancient lucky animal – and symbol of success and luck – the dragon.
4. Cardinet-Quintessence by Périphériques Architects
An innovative, crown-shaped building by Périphériques Architects, Cardinet-Quintessence is the result of forward-thinking design and innovative solutions for the combination of aesthetics and sustainability.
5. CINE 32 by Encore Heureux
Inspired by the architecture of early 20th-century European cinemas, the vintage feel of the exterior, together with the signs designed by French artist Bonnefrite, lend it a characteristic cinematic identity that adds to the personality of the location.
6. Moore Studio by Omar Gandhi
A simple but slightly distorted gable design makes up this house/studio on the side of a hill in Hubbard, Nova Scotia. Canadian architect Omar Gandhi departed from a straightforward idea and adapted it to the sloping site, the need to optimize daylight intake and provide open and spacious interiors.
7. The Hague Municipal Office by Rudy Uytenhaak Architectenbureau
A new triangular structure in The Hague, The Netherlands, is an unmistakable landmark for the city, housing a municipal office, meeting centre, library and 49 apartments. Located in an area of the city which is being redeveloped to give it a more dynamic atmosphere. The goal is to create a small open ‘city within a city,’ with free-standing buildings placed like ships throughout.
8. Glasgow Riverside Museum by Zaha Hadid & Capita Symonds
The museum is located in the city’s harbour development area, which used to be full of industrial shipyards. Its roof is an incredible 2,500-tonne sheet of steel and zinc that has no supporting columns. Resembling somewhat a wave, it symbolically connects the city and its waterfront.
9. Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland by Farshid Moussavi
Cleveland’s new Museum of Contemporary Art is a glossy, augmented hexagon. Spanning 3158-sq-m, the building rises four stories and is defined by a mirrored black stainless steel coat covering its six faceted sides.
10. Bicentennial Civic Center by Lucio Morini & GGMPU Arquitectos
About 700 km northwest of Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires, a jagged civic center with rhomboid-shaped apertures reconnects the River Suquía and adds a dash of new to the old city of Córdoba.
