From a new compendium of 100 of the most famous, monumental, experimental, and visionary architects working today, we bring you ten of the finest and most exciting contemporary structures in the world.
1.The Roden Crater Project by James Turrell Artist James Turrell has worked on a number of projects that relate to constructing specific spaces. In 1977 he purchased the Roden Crater, a volcano that had been extinct for 390,000 years. Turrell has since transformed the site into a place where visitors can travel through underground tunnels and rooms.
Bianimale Nomadic Museum New York, by Shigeru BanCourtesy of Taschen
2.Bianimale Nomadic Museum New York, by Shigeru Ban This was the first building to be made from shipping containers in New York, originally built to house an exhibition of large-scale photographs by Gregory Colbert. After the show closed, the museum was re-erected in Santa Monica, California.
Plendelhof Tree House by BaumraumCourtesy of Taschen
3.Plendelhof Tree House by Baumraum Andreas Wenning and his firm, Baumraum, enjoy making one-of-a-kind tree houses for clients, including this one that sits between two beech trees, and is used as a guesthouse by a family in Groβ-Henstedt, Germany.
Slit House by Eastern DesignCourtesy of Taschen
4.Slit House by Eastern Design The magnificently named Slit House is situated in the Shiga Prefecture in Japan, and contains no actual windows. Instead, the wall openings show the street and river on either sides of the house.
Comme Des Garçons store by Rei Kawakubo and Future SystemsCourtesy of Taschen
5.Comme Des Garçons store by Rei Kawakubo and Future Systems The CDG store is housed in the former car repair shop, Heavenly Body Works. Inside is a maze of sorts, which allows visitors to encounter clothing and objects in unexpected ways. The site has become a street art beacon, with posters and graffiti covering the external walls.
Fluff Bakery by Lewis Tsurumaki LewisCourtesy of Taschen
6.Fluff Bakery by LTL The interior surface and chandelier of this small bakery on Ninth Avenue in New York were built and installed by the architects themselves, and create reflections that make it difficult to know where the inside space stops and the outside space begins.
Monument to the Third International by Takehiko NagakuraCourtesy of Taschen
7. Monument to the Third Internationalby Takehiko Nagakura This computer graphics visualisation project offers an imaginative restructuring of a Russian icon. Originally designed by Vladimir Tatlin and considered the purest expression of constructivism, the tower was never completed, as Stalin’s dislike of modern architecture meant the project had to be abandoned.
Monolith, Expo.02 by Jean NouvelCourtesy of Taschen
8. Monolith, Expo.02 by Jean Nouvel Situated in a lake in Morat, Switzerland, this block of rusting steel was erected as a temporary structure as part of the millennial Swiss National Exhibition.
St Martin's Lane Hotel by Philippe StarckCourtesy of Taschen
9. St Martin's Lane Hotel by Philippe Starck Famous for his furniture and object design, Starck has also taken on several architecture projects, including hotels and private residences. This hotel in Central London was the first to be opened by Ian Schrager, one of the founders of the boutique hotel concept.
Dirty House by David AdjayeCourtesy of Taschen
10. Dirty House by David Adjaye Built in East London for artists Tim Noble and Sue Webster, the exterior was made with industrial off-the-shelf products, allowing for a sympathetic connection between the building and its urban surrounds.
