Architecture Europe 2007

December 16, 2006 6:05 PM

My fellow architects: what new buildings should I not miss in Europe this winter?

I will be traveling through Europe next January and February. I haven't been since 1992, and have sworn off museums (unless the building itself is interesting), churches and tours so I will have plenty of free time.
Being an architect, I would like to go see some interesting newish buildings, but am rather out of touch with the latest stuff. I would like other architects on MeFi to guide me.
My trip doesn't have a fixed itinerary yet, but will probably hit: Barcelona, Milan, Venice, Rome, Vienna, Prague, Amsterdam (where I'll spend a month), Rotterdam, Paris and London.
My interests run to modern and neo-modern (no post-, please). Links, maps, etc., are very welcome, as are other cities/towns with relevant projects. What would you recommend to a visiting colleague?

posted by signal to media & arts (21 comments total)

Have you seen The Pickle?
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 6:19 PM on December 16, 2006

It's not new (well, the interior is), but if you're in Vienna, don't miss the Secession Building.
posted by scody at 6:26 PM on December 16, 2006

Musée du Quai Branly in Paris.
posted by fire&wings at 6:27 PM on December 16, 2006

How are you on bridges? How about the Alamillo Bridge in Seville?
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 6:38 PM on December 16, 2006

Casa Mila and Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

(IANAA)
posted by brain cloud at 6:48 PM on December 16, 2006

To see a city that's packed with recent stuff, you really should include Berlin. For individual modern icons, can you make it to Malmö or Valencia?
posted by rob511 at 6:51 PM on December 16, 2006

rob511: woops, forgot to mention Berlin. I'm definitely going there, as well.
brain cloud: I'm trying to avoid the glaringly obvious, here. (which is why I addressed the question to my colleagues). Also, I did say "new".
posted by signal at 6:53 PM on December 16, 2006

Barcelona. MGIAA.
posted by four panels at 7:18 PM on December 16, 2006

Copenhagen Opera House.
posted by the duck by the oboe at 8:21 PM on December 16, 2006

I'm not an architect, so maybe I'm not qualified to answer your question. But the newish Bibliotheque Francois Mitterand in Paris, along with the new pedestrian bridge, is interesting. I can't quite decide if it's a success or a failure, but if you're in Paris anyway drop by and check it out.
posted by Nelson at 8:29 PM on December 16, 2006

the new airport in madrid is totally awesome.
posted by brandz at 9:34 PM on December 16, 2006

I'm not an architect, but I used to work for ING. Their Amsterdam HQ building is pretty dang cool. Details and how-to-get-theres here.
posted by pdb at 9:54 PM on December 16, 2006

The Turning Torso?
posted by misteraitch at 11:05 PM on December 16, 2006

The flights to Edinburgh from Amsterdam are cheap (if you book now). Fly up for a long weekend, see the new parliament, see the storytelling centre on the Royal Mile and enjoy the ambience.

Scottish Parliament

Storytelling Centre

IANAA
posted by Vroom_Vroom_Vroom at 3:20 AM on December 17, 2006

How about the delicate Millau Bridge en France?
posted by Rufus T. Firefly at 4:44 AM on December 17, 2006

If it were me, I'd head straight to Bilbao.
posted by trip and a half at 5:34 AM on December 17, 2006

The Danish Royal Library in Copenhagen is fun (built in 1999).
posted by pharm at 6:15 AM on December 17, 2006

The Tugendhat Villa in Brno South Czech seems widely recommended as a modernist building. IANAA so recommending on strength of tourist board bigging it up rather than appreciating it myself.
posted by Gratishades at 8:12 AM on December 17, 2006

If you're in Berlin, see the extension of the German Historical Museum by I. M. Pei and the Jewish Museum by Norman Foster, the Sony Center at Potsdamer Platz and the buildings of the "Regierungsviertel".

The new central station, Lehrter Bahnhof or Hauptbahnhof, which got into international press because of a architectural scandal:
"Germany's latest prestige building, a monumental train station in Berlin, may have to be partially rebuilt just months after opening because a judge has ruled the building is a work of art that has been "defaced" by its owner.

The station's architect, Meinhard von Gerkan, designed a cathedral-like vaulted ceiling for the station but, seeking to cut costs, the German railway company that owns it imposed a flat metal ceiling created by another architect."
posted by kolophon at 10:07 AM on December 17, 2006

There's a lot of good stuff in London worth seeing: although it is a museum, the British Museum is well worth a look from an architectural point of view, particularly the Great Court. It used to be a courtyard containing the old British Library; they've put a large and very cool undulating roof on it and the resulting indoor piazza is a great, and surprising space. Entry to the BM is free so it's easy to check out :)

Another museum that's great from an architectural POV is Tate Modern; housed in what used to be an old power station, the main entrance takes you straight into the huge turbine hall which is thrilling and dramatic and massive. They usually have a large piece of installation art there, too. Again, like the BM, it's free to get in.

A little bit more oft the beaten path is Daniel Liebskind's university of North London building (Flickr pic here); it maybe a bit post-modern for your taste, but it's fascinating to see it in its very traditional, tatty urban surroundings on the Holloway Road.
posted by Sifter at 3:45 AM on December 18, 2006

I dunno about the Tate Modern. The big atrium is cool but I thought it caused the other half of the building to be a lousy, cramped load of arse. Nice bridge outside though.

+1 on the nutbar UNL building from me. And someone who's not been to London for a few years may not have experienced the joys of the Jubilee Line stations between Westminster and Stratford, almost all of which are interesting.

Also, over in Cork, the new gallery in the UCC grounds is stunning, and not just because it's at the end of my street.
posted by genghis at 6:08 AM on December 18, 2006