The Smithsons

economist b02b

2015-09-06 436 × 550 JPEG 56.8K

economist b04b

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economist b07b

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economist b08b

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economist b10b

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smith001

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smith002

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smith003

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Economist Building

2015-09-06 564 × 480 JPEG 73.2K

Robin Hood Gardens

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Robin Hood Gardens

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Robin Hood Gardens

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Robin Hood Gardens

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The Economist Building is a direct result of the Berlin competition where the Smithsons refined their ideas of cluster buildings. The complex shows a softer side of the Smithsons and their debt to Mies is at the most obvious. The Economist building must be their most sucessful building, the thresholds and the gradual spatial transitions are very sensitive. The scale and positioning of the buildings show respect for the context whilst adding something distinctly new. The plaza is very well articulated and does form a nice shortcut in the city as envisaged by the architects.

Robin Hood Gardens

A very tough building located on a tough site. This building is an example of how the Smithsons were influenced by the heroic architecture they critisized.