Cubes in Modern Architecture

It is an undeniable fact – highlighted in 2004 ‘Content’ by Rem Koolhaas too – that ‘shape is easy’. It is recognisable; works with our subconscious; and in the case of Platonic solids like cubes shape is also a philosophical notion with numerous connotations – starting from symmetry and regularity; stretching as far as our reflections take us. Cubes in particular are also ‘easy’ to build but we believe their importance in architects’ minds stays on the abstract plane. There seems to be a certain inherent relationship between cubes’ geometry and the notions of perfection and clarity of structure. Thus, it is close to the highest honour among buildings to be cube-shaped, conspicuously derivative of cubes, or at least bear a cube name.

This is a guest post from Antonina of OpenBuildings - a community-driven and openly editable encyclopaedia of buildings from around the world. 

Jakob + MacFarlane: The Orange Cube

image: Roland Halbe

70F Architecture: Pet Farm

image: Luuk Kramer

MAKE Architects: The Cube

image: MAKE Architects

Bohlin Cywinski Jackson: Apple Store

image: Apple Store

Tabanlioglu Architects: Dogan Media Centre


image: Thomas Mayer

SANAA: Zollverein School of Management and Design

image: Hisao Suzuki

Sou Fujimoto Architects: Wooden House

image: Iwan Baan

 

 

Tham & Videgård Arkitekter: The Mirror Cube Tree Hotel

image: Tham & Videgård Arkitekter

Rintala Eggertsson Architects: Boxhome

image: Sami Rintala

Piet Blom: Cube Houses

image: mikerogers at panoramio

Antonina is an architect who has recently joined the OpenBuildings team to take over Community Outreach. Believes in interdisciplinary approach to architecture and everything else, fascinated by Japanese and Dutch design, typography and all things inspired. OpenBuildings is a community-driven and openly editable encyclopaedia of contemporary and conceptual architecture from around the world that exists as a website and application for iPhone, and recently - Android, which enable users to find, learn about and share nearby buildings of architectural merit.

 
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Comments

  • Tadd Mencer December 30, 2011

    Some of those are cool … others made me say out loud: Resistance is futile.

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