The Yorkshire Diamond / Various Architects

The project is an attraction in itself with a striking exterior in the form of inflatable tubes arranged in the atomic structure of diamonds. The 20 x 26 x 10 meter diamond grid volume is mined out to form a cavernous interior space reminiscent of the coal mines of Yorkshire. Light and air shafts pierce the structure providing natural light and ventilation. At night the translucent shafts and outer skin radiate light in all colors and directions like a diamond twinkling in the sunlight. Read more.

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Oculus is a very unusual and unique yacht

Yachts are amazing, they are certainly something to own if you have the right bank balance and that goes without saying. If you love collecting yachts or simply looking at them, just check out the "Oculus". It's far more different than anything we've ever seen floating before. The only way to describe this rather unusual boat is that it 'is representative of the jaw and eye socket bone structure of large oceanic fish and mammals.'

So, you know that if you are traveling in a fish, you are safe. It kind of reminds me of Hemingway's Old Man and the Sea. In case you want to know the details, designer E. Kevin Schopfer says: 'Oculus is the first "design launch" of Schöpfer Yachts LLC. E. Kevin Schöpfer, founder and owner of his namesake company, designed this 250-foot vessel. Designed to accommodate 12 guests in extraordinary comfort and style, Oculus is a long distance cruising yacht capable of speeds upwards of 25 knots. The exterior styling is representative of the jaw and eye socket bone structure of large oceanic fish and mammals. Featuring a dramatic reverse bow configuration, the yacht's armature balances an elegant expression of symmetry and structure.

In addition to the bow, Oculus also features a "low rider profile". This slightly lowered surface allows for new side recreational areas, alternate dockage access and light cruising openness. Lateral retractable side panels close this area when heavier wave action is indicated. The interior features of Oculus focus on a 12 foot high ceiling in the main salon, a cylindrical double height dining room, central stair and elevator tube, and seemingly anatomical ceiling and floor lighting extensions giving definition to the seating areas. The second level is the dedicated Owner's suite.' The Oculus certainly is one unique yacht.

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Tank Street Bridge or Kurilpa Bridge / Baulderstone Hornibrook Queensland & Cox Rayner Architects

Tank Street Bridge is getting a lot of attention as the first large scale tensegrity bridge. The bridge is currently under construction in Brisbane’s inner city. Brisbane is one of today’s fastest growing urban centers in Australia and the bridge is part of the City Centre Master Plan 2006 anticipating an increasing demand for pedestrian areas. It will link the city center to South Brisbane: from Tank Street to Kurilpa Park traversing Brisbane’s navigable river. The construction of the Tank Street Bridge is expected to be completed by September 2009 so that it can be part of Queensland’s 150th year anniversary celebrations.

Architects: Baulderstone Hornibrook Queensland & Cox Rayner Architects




Tensegrity structures belong to a special category of cable structures. They are defined as systems composed of compression components (struts) inside of a continuum of tension components (cables) in a stable self-stressed state (equilibrium) . They are lightweight structures offering higher resistance than other systems of the same weight. Another advantage is their modularity; stable modules can be joined together creating larger tensegrity systems.

From an engineering point of view, the construction of the Tank Street Bridge is a civil engineering achievement. Tensegrity structures are highly complex systems with non-linear behavior. Therefore, the analysis of these structures demands complex computational methods. Additionally, previous tensegrity constructions such as the Rostock tower (Germany) revealed a necessity for high precision. It is also important to mention that there are no widely accepted guidelines for the construction of this kind of structures.

The resulting tensegrity bridge is a network of cables held apart by numerous struts recalling the ropes and spars of sailing ships and boats. Seen from the rivers, struts seem to float over the bridge. They remind sculptures made by the American artist Kenneth Snelson (see “Easy Landing”). Additionally, due to its tensegrity system the bridge offers high transparency with great views over the river to pedestrians. During the night, the bridge will be full of colors. LED lights are chosen to highlight the masts with pastel colors creating a levitating illusion for pedestrians. Different colors will be applied based on the chosen theme creating a contemporary sensation.
Source: ArchDaily

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