happy 2012 and welcome back to the ZINC sense blog. we’re going to kick the year off right now with the january project(s) of the month: frozen music-the stephen hawking centre at the perimeter institute for theoretical physics.
if you are ever in toronto, ontario, with a day to kill, you may want to drive to the community of waterloo. there is plenty to see (and do) in toronto, but waterloo may take you on a visual journey that is rare in an age where communities everywhere are trying their hand at the architectural-icon-as-attraction-idea.
once in waterloo, drive to the centre, located along the banks of a meandering river- specifically at 31 caroline street north. it will take you a little while to get there from toronto (depending on your driving habits), but the drive will be worth it if you would like to see not one, but two incredible buildings connected by the talents of two amazing firms.
the arch daily website has an incredible spread on the first part of this building. it was designed by the powerhouse firm saucier and perrotte architects. (http://www.saucierperrotte.com/ and the arch daily link is located at: http://www.archdaily.com/12293/perimeter-institute-for-theoretical-physics-saucier-perrotte-architectes/). the design sensibility is pure mastery of form followed by striking details -all rendered with the rarest of architectural qualities; restraint. not to oversell this firm, but saucier and perrotte have this touch that lies somewhere between poetic massing that approaches the monolithic, and a dozen Dixon Ticonderoga # 2 pencils.
teeple architects designed the second part of the centre. do yourself a favor and check out the washed out image of the centre on their site at http://www.teeplearch.com/. the images above are of the teeple addition to the perimeter institute. all four are from old vm friend, gilbertson photography. (www.gilbertsonphotography.com) the panels are flatlock panels in quartz zinc, and were installed by the craftspeople at flynn canada. (www.flynn.ca)
whereas saucier and perrotte celebrate the work in a quiet manner, teeple architects also celebrate the detail -the normally quiet or the small moves, if you will, within the larger massing of the addition. only they do it with the exuberance of a howitzer. everywhere one looks at this addition, the joy, the simplicity of the moves, is celebrated and served in suprise after closer-inspection-surprise. the joy is in the looking. and then looking again. the lines invite the eyes to explore, move, dance, twist, jump, and finally rest. what could have easily been a heavy, heavy hand has managed to recognize the significant, and has given it form.
we can, and probably should, go on and on and on about all of the other cool people and cool details involved with and in this project. all of that and the work of the institute, and the teaching that takes place there, and the mood and vibe of the intellect that oozes out of every corner and crevice of the centre. we could talk about the history of the institute and how it is indirectly tied to the pioneers of the smart phone. we could talk about all of that and more. but we won’t. at least not during this initial design salvo shooting across a northern sky. instead, we invite you to drive up there and stop and look for yourself. perhaps call in advance. why?
because this is a building composed of two buildings. forgive the weak poetic license and the waxing poetic, this building (these buildings) bring it out -in droves. like the ying and yang, or any other symbol that has a visual balance, the two parts of the centre work together while maintaining their own identities. all of that and because it is worth it.
enjoy. -vm
Source: www.zincsense.com
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