Top 30 Architecture Posts in 2008 H1

Architecture has always been one of the most alluring categories of design.  Some believe that architecture represents the pinnacle of man’s achievement.

This delicious gallery features the top 30 architecture posts and innovations in 2008, based on our traffic information.

This is one of many features in our new FREE Micro Trend Reports section.

Top 30 Architecture

1. Redesigning the Eiffel Tower - Serero Project (GALLERY)

Serero Architects have won the open competition to redesign any of the Eiffel Tower’s public reception and access areas as a celebration of the 120th birthday of Gustave Eiffel’s original creation.

Serero’s… [More]

2. Alien-Themed Architecture - Giger Bar (VIDEO)

Artist Han Rudi Giger, better known as H.R. Giger, is recognized worldwide as one of the foremost artists of Fantastic Realism as well as his famous work on the pop culture film series, Alien. Now Giger… [More]

3. Gravity Defying Houses - Daring Architecture

It’s really hard for me to believe that the second house from the top clockwise is not a Photoshop product. The house, which is located in the Ukraine, is being supported by a single cantilever. That is… [More]

4. 7 Floors & 7 Stars Below Sea Level - Istanbul Underwater Hotel (GALLERY)

This seven floor underwater hotel will give its guests a new view of the famous city of Istanbul. It is due to open in 2010, and will coincide with its Culture Capital of Europe nomination and lay down… [More]

5. Mile-High Eco-Tower - 500 Floor London Building (GALLERY)

Here is another plan for a super-high skyscraper, this time in Europe’s very own London.

The eco-friendly building, which will be 500 stories high, could house 100,000 non-height-fearing people as well… [More]

6. Wheel Shaped Hotel - Dubai Promenade (GALLERY)

Dubai property developer Nakheel announced the construction of the world’s first wheel-shaped hotel this week.

The Dubai Promenade is a new waterfront community in development, and one of these buildings… [More]

7. Redneck Mansion

Just because you’re a redneck, doesn’t have to mean you can’t live in a mansion. Just look at this nifty dwelling; it’s a pretty unique, self-made living complex. 

It’s composed of several trailers,… [More]

8. $2 Billion Homes - Antilla is World’s Most Expensive House (FOLLOW-UP) (VIDEO)

Nearly a year after our first post, we have more info about the personal skyscraper being built by Mukesh Ambani, the head of the Mumbai-based petrochemical Reliance Industries. He is also the fifth richest… [More]

9. The Ring House - Best Private House (GALLERY)

This weekend house has been voted the Best Private House in the Wallpaper Design Awards 2008, and it is obvious to see why. The work of architects Makoto Takei and Chie Nabeshima (TNA), this weekend house… [More]

10. 5 Spectacular Swimming Pools (GALLERY)

These are some of the world’s most impressive swimming pools which are, for the most part, in hotels and resorts. The article I am borrowing this from, had listed 13 swimming pools but due to space constraints,… [More]

11. Mushroom House - Zube’s Whistler Toadstool (GALLERY)

In July I saw an HGTV profile on a man who lived inside a mushroom in Canada on the show World’s Most Extreme Homes. I wasn’t able to get any names, making research difficult.

Months later, I was finally… [More]

12. Dubai’s Next Man Made Island - The Universe

Seeming trying to prove that too much is not nearly enough the Dubai developer of “The World” has just announced plans to build the “The Universe” which they will squeeze in between “The World”… [More]

13. Vertical Farming (Part III) - Toronto Sky Farm (GALLERY)

There are several vertical farms proposed from major cities around the world. We’ve already told you about the one being built in Las Vegas, now here’s one that’s been proposed for Toronto.

SKYFarm,… [More]

14. Death Star Inspired Hotel - Full Moon in Azerbaijan

Officially, they’re calling it the “Full Moon” - everyone else is calling it the Death Star. Yep, in our very own galaxy (specifically, Baku, Azerbaijan), the construction of Star War’s most famous man-made… [More]

15. Top 21 Architectural Monsters - World’s Tallest, Biggest Buildings

Since I’ve started writing for Trend Hunter, it seems we’ve covered, “the world’s largest” or “tallest” building several times. On each occasion, after getting ready to file it as duplicate, I have discovered… [More]

16. Top 100 Solar Inventions - Part 2: Architecture & Power Plants (SUPER GALLERY)

The power of the sun is incredible, and with Earth Day coming up, we thought we’d highlight some of the top innovations in solar technology. This is part two of the solar cluster, featuring 30 solar powered… [More]

17. Luxury Creation In Cancun - NIZUC Resort Residence Spa (GALLERY)

Set in 28 private beach-front acres the NIZUC Resort Residence and Spa is the creation of the ‘masters of hospitality’ Adrian Zecha and is sure to raise the bar even higher in the travel and vacation… [More]

18. Absolute Tallest Building - Hyder Consulting’s 5,250 Ft Structure

It will be the largest, tallest skyscraper in the known universe and no, I’m not referring to the 2,655-foot-tall Burj Dubai, an unfinished, wanna-be world-record-holder.

I’m talking about the unnamed,… [More]

19. Eco-Luxury Architecture - $15 Million Orchid House (GALLERY)

This is the design of a sustainable, eco-friendly house shaped in the form of a bee orchid. The house, which is called The Orchid and is located in the UK, uses geothermal heating and an underground pump… [More]

20. Mile-High Tower (UPDATE) - Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (GALLERY)

The big building competition in the Arabian Peninsula is really heating up with a really ginormous tower just announced for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Although we revealed this project would be under construction,… [More]

21. Luxury Steel Box Home on Stilts - Delta Shelter (GALLERY)

When you think of the weekend cabin, most people will think of one made from logs, wood, or stone. The Delta Shelter is the creation of Tom Kundig, of the Seattle architects Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen.… [More]

22. Upside Down Stores - Viktor & Rolf in Milan (GALLERY)

No matter how long I look at the pictures, they still blow my mind. Everything defies logic and reason.

Famous for their unconventional and unorthodox designs, Victor & Rolf’s latest store in Milan further… [More]

23. 9 Zaha Hadid Designs + Guggenheim Hermitage Museum (SUPER GALLERY) (GALLERY)

Trend Hunter has featured numerous designs by the talented Zaha Hadid. Here we present you with her latest design that won a competition to design the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum in Vilnius, Lithuania.… [More]

24. Semi-Submerged Eco Luxury Home - Trilobis 65 (GALLERY)

We’ve seen all sorts of cool homes on Trend Hunter, like tree houses and shipping container homes. We’ve also seen a rising obsession with aqua culture, so it’s neat to feature something that combines… [More]

25. Skinable Buildings - Cybertecture International (GALLERY)

We can change the skin of our browsers, cell phones, mp3’s and now from Cybertecture we have buildings that can do the same. These buildings are in New Town Plaza, Hong Kong. Imagine downtown Toronto or… [More]

26. Green Luxury Building at Al Raha Beach - Abu Dhabi World Trade Center (GALLERY)

Not to be confused with Dubai, Abu Dhabi is on a building binge of its own. This is the World Trade Center to be built on Al Raha Beach, the spectacular spit of land for the waterfront east. 

Everything… [More]

27. All Wonders of the World in Dubai - Pyramid, Taj Mahal and More in Falcon City of Wonders (VIDEO)

The biggest pyramid in the world will no longer be in Egypt; rather, it will be in Dubai. As part of a new project called Falcon City, Dubailand will be adding replicas of the world’s wonders that will,… [More]

28. Human Bone Chapel - Sedlec Ossuary (VIDEO)

If you’re afraid of haunted places, this church is probably worth avoiding. The inside of this historical Christian building near Prague is covered in the remains of over 40,000 people. The matter in which… [More]

29. Room Made Entirely from Chocolate - Oh My Godiva

Godiva unveiled a room made entirely from chocolate in Manhatten this week.

And it really is simply ALL chocolate. For example, opening the books will reveal piles of chocolates and not words. Lighting… [More]

30. One Night Stand Architecture - Demountable M-Hotel in East London (GALLERY)

We’ve heard of pop up boutiques and pop up restaurants, but now Architect Tim Pyne has designed a temporary hotel is London’s trendy Hoxton.  Pyne aims to start building works this summer and intends to… [More]