Kehinde Wiley often depicts African-Americans in classical poses, inspired by the Old Masters, yet modernized and surrounded by lush and colorful backgrounds.
Image courtesy of: Los Angeles Magazine
Design
Inside real Living Walls
With the recent unveiling of former President Barack Obama’s portrait by Kehinde Wiley at the National Portrait Gallery, we have been fascinated by the idea of living walls and how compelling, inviting, and magical vegetation can make a piece of art or architecture!
The Butterfly Dance at the National Theater in Taipei was beautifully completed in 2009.
Image courtesy of: Vertical Gardens, Patrick Blanc
In architecture, the living walls of today have progressed from the ivy or vine covered walls of the past. Today they are incredibly complex systems of horticulture, engineering, structure and design that are capable of real benefits for people including reducing stress and improving air quality. Patrick Blanc, considered the creator of vertical gardens in 1978 who also holds a patent in the technology since 1988, has collaborated with some of the biggest names in architecture on incredible projects. From Kengo Kuma, Jean Nouvel, Tadao Ando, and Herzog & de Neuron, he has created some amazing masterpieces!
Madrid, often known as a concrete city, can certainly afford some greenery!
Image courtesy of: Buildipedia
Also known as “living graffiti”, this specific vertical garden is made up of 15,000 plants from 250 different species. The variety of plants are chosen specifically for each location, based upon their ability to thrive in different conditions. There’s certainly a lot more than just vines and moss in Patrick Blanc’s creations.
The 65-story tower’s signature elements are a series of landscaped terraces that ascend in a spiral, forming a continuous green pathway around the building and providing tenants with outdoor space. Under construction now, it’s sure to brings some much-needed greenery to Manhattan!
Image courtesy of: Dezeen
Another big name doing big things with vegetation and architecture is Bjarke Ingels Group. Their newest project, a supertall skyscraper called the Spiral in the Hudson Yards area of New York, is set to begin construction this June. One of its most unique features is what gives its name a continuous series of vertical gardens that interrupt the glass façade to wrap up and around the building.
Image courtesy of: Dezeen
The Danish firm, Bjarke Ingels Group, BIG, has been putting it’s mark in the United States. Co-founder Ingels has said of this project, “From the base to the pinnacle of the tower, every floor is designed to open up to the outdoors through hanging gardens and cascading atria.”
