Crinkle-Crankle wall, England. (From Wiki)
The crinkle crankle wall economizes on bricks, despite its sinuous configuration, because it can be made just one brick thin. If a wall this thin were to be made in a straight line, without buttresses, it would easily topple over. The alternate convex and concave curves in the wall provide stability and help it to resist lateral forces.
Both crinkle and crankle are defined as something with bends and turns (Webster’s), but the term is also thought to come from Old English meaning zig-zag.
Many crinkle-crankle walls are found in the Fen Country of East Anglia.
[There are some in the States too: Thomas Jefferson (1743 to 1826) incorporated so-called serpentine walls into the architecture of the University of Virginia, which he founded. Flanking both sides of its landmark rotunda and extending down the length of the lawn are 10 pavilions, each with its own walled garden separated by crinkle crankle walls.]
Mind blown. This wavy wall actually reduces the amount of bricks required in construction.
Tag: Architecture
La Maison sans Escaliers (The Stairless House)
Built in 1939, this housing unit does not possess a lift or stairs, but a slightly sloping helicoidal gradient. This stairless house has a twin building on the adjacent street number: both consist of 36 apartments over six floors.
The stairless house ! The house of tomorrow. Why ?
Stairs are a barbaric way of climbing floors. Stair steps force the same pace on all: on children and elders alike, on the ill and on the healthy.
With our tilted rising arcade, everyone walks a step which pleases them, long or short, fast or slow, just as one would walk on a sidewalk. […]
— Auguste Bossu, Architect
Saint-Étienne, France – August 2014
Hearst Castle by Julia Morgan
The indoor mosaic-tiled pool is inspired by Roman baths.
minim house | foundry architects
pull out floor bed with full mattress (no loft to crawl up, cooler in the summer, simple bed-making).
no walls to diminish sense of space. (210 ft2) for full 1-2 person living and entertaining: a 10′ kitchen, a 5′ closet, 8′ sofa/guest bed, dedicated office area, 4′ dining table, comfortable seating for 7, and a 7′ projection screen.
streamlined framing and insulation with standardized SIPs panels (shipped nationwide). Just 3 windows and 1 door to install; no window/door trim work on exterior or interior.
innovative table system that may be raised/lowered/swiveled in 4 floor sockets to function as kitchen island/bar, second desk, coffee table, dining table, and bedside table.
detachable design (house may be undocked from trailer with 15 bolts).
off-grid design for areas without water/sewer/electric hookups.
integrated rain catchment/storage with no visible gutters.
Studio renovation by MAIO
MAD’s mountain-inspired Chaoyang Park Plaza breaks ground in Beijing
nomad-hermit 