The Wayne Lyman Morse United States Courthouse was designed and built by Thomas Mayne and his firm Morphosis in 2004. It was the hope of Mayne and his firm to break away from the traditional designs of courthouses in America that often came off as monotonous and simple. Mayne focused on giving the courthouse a modern design that reflected the importance of the decisions and proceedings that occurred behind the walls. He did this by placing the courtrooms so that they appeared to float around the building instead of the traditional model which was to hide them away in simple office buildings. Steel surrounds the pavilions containing the courtrooms and this creates a visual appeal that fits right into the static nature of Eugene’s urban design. Views of the surrounding mountains allow people to see outside into the surrounding environment, unlike traditional designs that create a closed-off, isolated and intimidating presence. This allows for light to penetrate and pass through the building which reflects time passing by and the gravity of decisions made.

https://www.morphosis.com/architecture/2/

EVE is a planned high-density community of Earthships. It is designed for up to 25 residents to live, work and grow their own food. This project only addresses the issues that Michael Reynold has worked on through his previous Earthships projects, such as power, water, sewage, and comfort, but it also attempts to address economic issues through community-level planning. 

This was an ambitious project for Reynolds, as he had to go through a legal process to develop the site and to gain the right to pursue experimentation with methods of sustainable living and architecture without having to go through the conventional permitting process. 

The building design takes on the legacy of his previous Earthship project through the use of recycled bottle and glass materials and the stained glass-like aesthetics. 

The design of the building reminds me of Sagrada Familia by Antoni Gaudi. The large opening that allows lighting, and colorful glass design seem to create a similar spatial experience as cathedrals with ornate glass windows. The repeating arch structure with organic curves also resembles the designs by Gaudi. The sacred and symbolic atmosphere seems to match the function of this new community project as a sanctuary for Earthship projects.

Another building that was designed by Thomas Mayne is 41 Cooper Square in New York City. The building was built in September 2009 and houses a variety of rooms such as modern laboratories, classrooms, studios, conference rooms, lounges, galleries, and an auditorium. All of these sections are state of the art and highly desired by the public for use. Some of the institutions present in the building are the Albert Nerken School of Engineering, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Louis and Jeannette Brooks Computer Center. The building is also viewed and measured as the cream of the crop when it comes to being sustainable and environmentally friendly. In 2010 the U.S. Green Building Council awarded 41 Cooper Square the LEED Platinum rating which is the highest rating a building may receive based on the structure’s green features which reduce energy use while also improving the environment surrounding it. It was the first Academic building in New York City to achieve LEED platinum status. Mayne clearly did a fantastic job designing this building and his work serves as an example to architects around the world who wish to build environmentally friendly buildings in highly populated cities.

https://cooper.edu/about/history/41-cooper-square

This was the first self-sufficient and sustainable public school in Argentina. The Earthship project was started and completed in 2018. The architect, Michael Reynolds worked with Una Escuela Sustentable, an organization that helps construct sustainable public schools in Latin American countries. The organization commissioned Reynolds because they had their mission in common to build sustainable architecture. The building was built from recycled materials, including 2000 car tires. This project was one of the largest projects that Reynolds had taken on with the building stretching for about 3,000 square feet. However, it still follows the core 6 principles of Earthship including the use of repurposed or recycled materials, solar or thermal heating and cooling, rainwater harvesting, and sewage treatment. The school also has a food production area. Reynolds design ensures energy, financial, and even food sustainability of the school located in a remote area.

A new model of Earthship was built in Japan as part of the project during the first Earthship Biotecture Academy in Asia, in which the leading architect, Michael Reynolds, taught his design principles, construction methods, and philosophy through the construction process. The project was completed in November 2018. The construction period was just one month. 

This Earthship project is made of recycled materials. It is also a complete off-grid structure with a capacity to supply water and electricity on its own. 

The project was initiated in a response to the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, where many people realized the importance and issues of energy use. The structure opened as a guest house to offer opportunities to experience a fully self-sustained lifestyle. 

I liked this project because it exemplifies Michael Reynold’s design principles and philosophy: the use of recycled material, efficient use of solar energy and light, passive heating, and cooling that does not require AC or heating appliances. At the same time, it incorporates local design tradition through the use of locally sourced wood materials. The stylish interior finish also creates a more comforting and inviting feel. 

This building was started in 2018 and is approaching completion. The building was proposed in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria which devastated the island of Puerto Rico. The little village primarily consists of 5 doms surrounding an open place in the middle with natural shade given from the buildings and plants surrounding it. Following Michael Reynolds’s philosophy on the use of materials the buildings are made from reused glass, soda cans, and clay, materials that for many others would be considered waste. Like all other Earthships created by Michael Reynolds, the buildings do follow his six design principles. Those are: rainwater collection, effective utilization of solar energy (including solar panels for electricity) reused materials used in the construction, passive heating and cooling systems through the design and material use, independent sewage treatment/containment, and lastly that they should produce food.

I find myself liking this building since unlike a lot of the other Earthships the scale is smaller and there is a stronger focus on creating a space for a community and for gatherings. Additionally, I think the effective use of exterior space between the buildings elevates the design.

This may be one of my favorite projects by Lake|Flato Architects. The Holdsworth Center in Austin, Texas is almost like a small little community. It was designed to be a retreat center and to promote reflection, thought and dialogue. Just by looking through the images of this center, I can definitely say that if I myself would go on a retreat there, it would absolutely promote these things. This large center is built in the middle of a wooded area with great views. I feel like you would definitely feel like one with nature and wildlife here. Like many of Lake|Flato’s projects there is a large use of heavy timber. The use of the wood ties in all the buildings to the trees and surrounding landscape.

Last but not least is the home and studio that Wright designed for his family at the age of 22 located in Oak Park, Illinois. The original structure was built in 1889, but modifications were made, like an added dining room, playroom, and kitchen. In 1898  the Studio and Connecting Corridor were built. What I like the most about this home is how he incorporated sharp edge structures, like the pointed roof, with irregular shapes that have edges like that of an octagon. The windows are tall and dark, and the section on the left side of the house is basically just a wall with siding. Although this place appears dark and mysterious, there is something cozy and intriguing about the life that grew inside.

Centennial Tower was designed by Kevin Roche in 1997 but was later renewed by architect Thom Mayne in 2015. Mayne added an interlinking coat of metal windows that reflect the sunlight giving the building a distinct postmodernist look to it. The added pattern changes as it goes up the building creating different degrees of reflected light as the building rises. I enjoy this building because it almost seems like an optical illusion, especially In the picture above, as the top of the building presents itself as see-through or a part of the sky. People looking up will be the only ones to see this and I think that is a powerful message because you want buildings to seamlessly fit into the natural environments that they occupy. Before Mayne added this awesome feature, the building was bland and had little flavor which took away from the other surrounding buildings.

Up next on my top 4 favorite works by Frank Lloyd Wright is the Still Bend home built in 1940  in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. My favorite part about this structure is the alternating layers seen on the outside. Portions of the house appear bigger and unbalanced with other areas, making it look unique. As before, the organic style is seen through the brown colors and plentiful use of wood. The horizontal theme paired with large glass windows looking out towards the back patio makes this an ideal hangout place, especially on the back porch. Even the eve lights hit the home perfectly making it seem warm, cozy, and inviting. Wright described this as his “Dream home.”