building – donsalvo.org http://www.donsalvo.org Art and Photography Sun, 26 Dec 2021 17:16:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 145766237 Playful Parking Structure http://www.donsalvo.org/2021/12/21/playful-parking-structure/ Tue, 21 Dec 2021 18:25:39 +0000 http://www.donsalvo.org/?p=3073 Read More "Playful Parking Structure"

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A recent parking structure opened near the fair grounds. Because of the Covid lockdown, it was empty for months. From the outside, the facade resembles a fish skin. The perfect playground for a bit of imagery outside the box.

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Fresh Mirrors http://www.donsalvo.org/2021/12/13/fresh-mirrors/ Mon, 13 Dec 2021 14:15:47 +0000 http://www.donsalvo.org/?p=3019 Read More "Fresh Mirrors"

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How different does the world look when you change perspectives? Some buildings lend themselves to slicing through them and mirroring their facade. This way, something new emerges. The process of “serkalography”, from the Russian word serkalo (mirror), confounds our expectations and elicits a sense of mystery.

New Positions in Serkalography

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Unusual Perspectives http://www.donsalvo.org/2021/05/18/unusual-perspectives/ Tue, 18 May 2021 19:13:36 +0000 http://www.donsalvo.org/?p=2474 Read More "Unusual Perspectives"

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Sometimes buildings develop flaws over time: Water seeps into the roof. This old age home attempted to stop the rot with an unusual method: The architect covered up the leaks with stripes of steel. What looks like a futurist design idea is instead an inexpensive way of keeping the residents dry. Sure enough, a bit of serkalography was called for.

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Ramping Up http://www.donsalvo.org/2021/01/22/ramping-up/ Fri, 22 Jan 2021 19:01:12 +0000 http://www.donsalvo.org/?p=2100 Read More "Ramping Up"

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In a local machine park, hydraulic ramps await their next employment. They are tools for hire. The ramps are very versatile: they can help repair bridges, assist in stacking warehouses, or rescue people stranded in a ski lift. In this series, the ramps seem to interact, as if they were holding a conference. At different levels, they converge, lean towards each other, or tower aloof unconcerned over the others. The sheer number suggests a growing demand for hydraulic ramps. Aside from their usefulness, they also convey a sense of mechanical beauty and robotic identity.

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Winter Light http://www.donsalvo.org/2021/01/18/winter-light/ Mon, 18 Jan 2021 16:49:23 +0000 http://www.donsalvo.org/?p=2075 Read More "Winter Light"

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A glass facade suggests openness and transparency. Light bounces off, glides through and breaks apart.

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Praying in a Cave: A 1960s “raw architecture” Church http://www.donsalvo.org/2020/11/08/praying-in-a-cave-a-1960s-raw-architecture-church/ Sun, 08 Nov 2020 10:40:02 +0000 http://www.donsalvo.org/?p=1807 Read More "Praying in a Cave: A 1960s “raw architecture” Church"

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The Catholic church of the Cologne students was built in 1968-69. It is supposed to resemble a cave to commemorate the meeting rooms of early Christians. Many art historians and architects point to the parallels with “brutalism” or “raw architecture” since concrete and glass dominate the exterior. There are no romantic or gothic adornments anywhere. Religious artifacts inside are sparse. In the middle of the church rises a massive “tree” out of stone, with its arms at sharp angles. It is a unique experience to visit the church in the Cologne university quarter. Some people pass the building without noticing that it is indeed a religious meeting place. When I visited at noon, the light fell straight through the stained glass windows. It is named after Pope John XXXIII.

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