Now that Tuscan architecture is becoming less prevalent in new developments, what should ideally be replacing it? Since most developers tend to follow a theme, they will more than likely hatch onto another...but hopefully it wil be more of a hybrid model that combines many tastes.

What do u all think?

If a certain couple from 'The Block' who now have a show on 'The Home Channel' have their way Moroccan / Tunisian architecture will be the new flavour of the month.

God I hope not - nothing quite like living in a Casbah.

eeew! Didnt watch this wknd, but not keen on the rough exterior look!

I'm more a fan of clean lines and whites! Maybe cos i'm in Durban, and white frankly looks best here. Nothing beats the crisp whites against leafy backdrops.

Design wise i'm a big fan of the more contemporary work. alot of wood, colour palate comprising whites, greys, and sandy shades. and wide balconies/verandas!

but i want to stay clear of tuscan, georgian...and all those other fake copy cat designs...lets try be original

Contemporary African/PoMo all the way........lots of glass, Messeturm Marble...........stucco.

I also like contempory. Always been a big fan of glass. But I think we should also be far more original, and begin adopting a style unique to SA and one that hasn't been exploited before.

but where does one start on finding our own style? for most developers seem too eager to jump at "tried and tested" international stuff than try something new

its all been done before tho is the problem,.........how about ndebele vernacular skyscrapers? ;)

"but where does one start on finding our own style? for most developers seem too eager to jump at "tried and tested" international stuff than try something new"

Yah.. some new architect needs to be brave. There is always the possibility of something. "Ndebele vernacular skyscrapers" sounds fabulous! ;)

Oh, yes, I love their colors, but I could never see them on on skyscrapers, maybe buildings, and houses, of course, but not on skyscrapers. I don't know, maybe I'm just not being creative enough. But I really do love their style.

Actually South Africa could esily take their own style, the vernacular architecture isn't a bad idea. Blending of glass (esp. black glass) and granite, or someother natural material, for a two-facade effect hasn't really been done. South Africa could run with that. Houses.........Dutch Colonial, and Ndebele are both something developers could start out with. Southwest contemporary would be great for free state and Gauteng. Old school New York and Chicago styles could draw on the landscape, and copper for an Uber-urban existence in South Africas cities. And of course....though not uniquely South African, futurism and trans-glass........Crystal Palace anyone?


See, this is why I wanna practice archi. in South Africa.........they're practically BEGGING for me.........;) haha

Imagine a building like this

http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/6963/architecturerotterdam17bp.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

(I don't know if this was intentional, but the face of each block looks like it has a long bearded chef with his hands outstretched.)

or

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/5418/portugalli380kz.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



Illuminated with dazzling Ndebele colors and patterns like this

http://img284.imageshack.us/img284/6297/ndebelefassade6fy.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/9503/03072620kevndebfound2003kh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/9901/nedebelepurplenecklace8jg.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

hmm..........

Would make a nice street mural or something.

or a giant ball monument reminiscent to this one

http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/7894/beli0wz.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/3315/ndebele20286be.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Hmm.........Maybe a gigantic ball could be designed with Ndebele colors and serve as an Ndebele cultural Museum or something. Just brainstorming.

"See, this is why I wanna practice archi. in South Africa.........they're practically BEGGING for me......... haha"

Hmmmm :)

I believe we all have the right idea here... take what we've got and bung it all into one. I quite like the idea of taking Victorian architecture and 'modernising' it.. ie infusing new elements into a similar type of grandoir design.

that does sound fantastic. great to see all the ideas floating about!

love victorian...mix it with modern (kinda like what they are doing in San Raphael) and u could have some unique elements

South Africa would be the perfect destination for some key buildings, ones that would be known worldwide for their design qualities. A concert hall or museum, some sort of transit center, stadiums, and of course skyscrapers.

Well I personally feel that with the move of the Joburg Art Gallery from Joubert Park to Newtown, Joburg should invest in a striking new design for the Gallery, instead of just moving it into the old Turbine Hall. And what's even more disturbing is that the Gallery will be sharing it's home with AngloGold Ashanti. :( Joburg needs more landmarks to attract tourists, as we have neither the mountains nor the sea. And a new gallery with a striking design would be perfect!

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/5418/portugalli380kz.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This building would look nice if it was gold. Especially at nighttime. Maybe a building like this could be built for AngloGold Ashanti HQ. Except with gold colors and of course a slightly different design. For the Anglo Gold building the little "thingies" at the top could be square crystals. Held up by hexagonal golden walls, I don't know just brainstorming.

Brilliant. This is the New York Museum of Contemporary Arts

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/3120/020wv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/7941/add6xx.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img274.imageshack.us/img274/146/043bt.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/1070/064dt.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img289.imageshack.us/img289/4885/053gv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/1550/233wb.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img316.imageshack.us/img316/7909/032pf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I could imagine a design like this being used for some museum somewhere in South Africa. (Particularly Sandton City or Joburg)

Or I could see it as some cylindrical midsize glass skyscraper with someone's portrait in it, or the giant advertisement of some exhibition. (I really like the giant picture idea.)

What is the building depicted in the images above?

Thought it was going...then came bedford....ouch!

I think the new African modernism stuff we've been seeing is great... think Joburg Constitutional Court etc... I mean, it's modern and cleanlined, but with a little more organic, soft design touches to keep some "natural Africa" in it.

To put South Africa on the map in terms of corporate stuff as WELL as architecture, this is the only way to go, in my opinion.

Above all though, to some extent, variation is very important, too.

-thryve

Here in durbs, 'bali' is taking ova, but I saw a house that has egyptian style, very very nice, it didnt have hyrogliphics & stuff, but the pillars & molding were similar of that from egypt, very different very nice!

I think the new African modernism stuff we've been seeing is great... think Joburg Constitutional Court etc... I mean, it's modern and cleanlined, but with a little more organic, soft design touches to keep some "natural Africa" in it.

To put South Africa on the map in terms of corporate stuff as WELL as architecture, this is the only way to go, in my opinion.

Above all though, to some extent, variation is very important, too.

-thryve

I agree with you dude. Constitutional court is my fav building in jozi. have you seen the old women's jail yet? Apparently quite a looker.

I also like contempory. Always been a big fan of glass. But I think we should also be far more original, and begin adopting a style unique to SA and one that hasn't been exploited before.

Yeah South Africa has already got its own architectural identity, look at the new UJ Art Gallery or the apartheid musuem or constitutional hill or melrose arch!

I think the new trend is gonna be bolognese (sorry donno how to spell it lol) But yeah thats even worse than tuscan! :badnews:

haha ^^ u mean balinese? Like they do at Zimbali? Wont suit joburg...where's the tropical vegetation there to go with it?