From Soviet Modernism to BIG’s Cross Towers: A Journey That Leads to “The Link” in Dubai

Eli Inbar's sketch of BIG's Cross Towers, One Za'abeel in Dubai and the soviet architecture

From Eliinbar Sketchbook 2024 – nothing new under the sun – chapter two

In 2012, I published a post exploring the mutual inspirational relationship between the Soviet Modernism Architecture —a prominent architectural approach during the second half of the 20th century—and Western modern architecture.

Eli Inbar's sketch of soviet architecture and western architecture

From Eliinbar’s Sketch book 2012 –  The mutual inspirational relations between west and east

The inspiration for this post emerged when I came across Simona Rota’s photographs, featured in WALLPAPER under the title ‘Soviet Modernism: Unknown Stories’
Thank you, Simona.

The origin

Ministry of Highways and Transportation by architects Giorgi Chakhava and Zurab Jalaghania from the soviet era in Georgia

Ministry of Highways and Transportation, Georgia (Construction Period: 1975–1979) Photograph by Simona Rota

This project, designed by architects Giorgi Chakhava and Zurab Jalaghania, served as the headquarters for the Ministry of Highways in the Soviet era.

The Inspiration Source

Cross Towers from the Yongsan Master Plan in Seoul, by Big architects

Cross Towers, Yongsan Master Plan, Seoul, Korea (Construction Period: Unbuilt Project, Planned in 2012)

 The exceeding building mass is transformed into an upper and lower horizontal bar, which bridge the two structures.

The Yongsan Master Plan was designed as part of an urban renewal initiative in Seoul. The intersecting horizontal bars include sky gardens and communal spaces, integrating living and functional areas while contributing to the urban skyline.

The Inspiration Echo

one zaabeel tower in Dubai by nikken sekkei

One Za’abeel, Dubai (Construction Period: 2015- 2023)

One Za’abeel was developed by architect Nikken Sekkei following an international competition in 2014. It is a mixed-use development incorporating residential, office, and hospitality spaces.

The horizontal bar known as “The Link” is  the world’s longest cantilevered structure designed as a walkable boulevard, floating 100 metres above the ground.

Conscious Inspiration or copy paste?

For You To Judge

Epilogue: Understanding Conscious Inspiration

Conscious Inspiration, a term I coined to describe the deliberate creative process, focuses on cultivating and acquiring tools to enhance our observational skills and ability to discern architectural details. In today’s digital age, the vast amount of information available online influences us all, as I’ve illustrated throughout my posts.

This ultimate inspiration methodology addresses five critical questions:

How do we filter relevant knowledge from the overwhelming abundance of information on the web?

How do we develop our unique architectural vision?

How do we select appropriate inspiration sources that align with and enhance our vision?

How do we develop personal design tools to support our creative process?

How do we utilize inspiration sources, such as “Planning Process Generators,” to create innovative, high-quality architecture?

I believe the design process can be distilled into three essential phases:

Knowledge Knowledge forms the foundation of all design processes, as many architects and scholars have emphasized. As architects and designers, it is crucial to stay informed about both historical and contemporary architectural developments to ground our work in a broader context.

Tools Developing analytical tools is essential for deeply understanding buildings and effectively navigating the vast architectural information available. These tools allow us to filter, analyze, and apply knowledge with precision. (I plan to share some of my specific approaches in future posts).

Invention With the Conscious Inspiration methodology, we can confidently draw from relevant buildings and ideas without hesitation. Once equipped with well-honed analytical tools, they naturally guide us toward creating innovative and meaningful architecture.

 

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