Vinaròs Microcoasts

Vinaròs is a town on the Mediterranean coast of Spain, near the delta of the river Ebro, about halfway between Barcelona and Valencia. Its south shore is full of coves and cliffs and rocks. The coastline is constantly changing because of the sea, which causes erosion. Barcelona based Guallart Architects took on a project to allow the residents of Vinaròs to use their coastlines more freely.




Choosing spots close to the ocean, they set simple hexagonal grids into the rock, which were then covered with timber panels which can be positioned flat, partially or fully folded, creating their own 'microtopographies'. Not only extremely beautiful as pieces of art, these platforms are also extremely functional. Locals fell easily in love with their new coast and so did I.





for more projects by Guallart Architects click here

The End of History

Multiple otherworldly, haunting and surreal abandoned architectural monuments stand today like ancient Roman ruins throughout the world. Although it’s almost hard to believe these bizarre, massive structures are real, they are all monuments erected by the communist regime in former Yugoslavia in the 1960s to commemorate WWII. That is why I am so thankful for photographer Jan Kempenaers. If not for him, I would never have been able to see these stunning architectural wonders. 

In stark contrast to today, these monuments once drew millions of visitors per year; but with the dissolution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, they were sadly abandoned.  Anyone down for a trip to Yugoslavia??

This photo collection is called Spomenik: The End of History

Pot(holes)

One more reason I need to get to Paris. To see the completely beautiful repairs artist Juliana Santacruz Herrera has taken upon herself. She colorfully dyes, braids, and coils fabric upon fabric to enhance the beauty of those damn pot holes and add a bright vignette to busted spaces. Everything is more fabulous in Paris. 

Vertical Space!

In 2009, 2 brothers from Brazil decided to live on the outside of a building in Rio's Old Center. They slept, ate and worked 33 ft. up in the air for 12 hours a day for 4 months. They wanted to be a living art installation.




This is something I wouldn't mind trying. Looks like fun!

webbed

In Pakistan in 2010, the flooding caused spiders to climb up trees to escape from the water. The result of this shows nature as a true artist. People just cant make things that are this beautiful.




The spiders cocooned the trees in their webs, which locals say they have never seen before. They've also noticed less mosquitos then usual. They think that the mosquitos are getting caught in these webs, reducing the risk of Malaria. I guess there is always a silver lining.

Space Green

Agriculture is one of the oldest and most pervasive human impacts on the planet. But while driving through the seemingly endless monotony of wheat fields in Kansas may give you some insight into the magnitude of the change to the landscape, it doesn't compare to the view from above. 

When seen from space, those same boring wheat fields are transformed into a strange and even beautiful pattern.

The first two images are of Brazil, The crops include sunflowers, wheat, potatoes, coffee, rice, soybeans and corn.

Fields in Kansas, mostly corn.

Sudan, The crops are fed by thousands of miles of canals and irrigation ditches.

The Netherlands

Bolivia, the star-shaped patterns pictured above are radial soybean fields.

Egypt, The Nile river supports most of the land. The green along with the darker brown soil and scattered grey urban areas show up in clear contrast with the surrounding dry landscape. 

In the Light

I love night photography because it showcases our environment in such a unique, peaceful way. Jarrett Murphy impresses me with his ability to capture the duality of man’s presence and absence, as nature is being constructed around and by civilization. His vision is to record these landscapes impacted by but vacant of human presence. Beautiful. 

 www.jarrettmurphy.com

Dawed

Dynamic fiber work by graphic designer turned multi-media artist Gabriel Dawe. His grand use of color, scale and geometric pattern immediately caught my eye—not to mention his fantastic choice of media, thread. The effect is like a real-world version of computer generated imagery. Stunning.

I would love to be able to walk through and be a part of his environment. 

www.gabrieldawe.com

Kate MccGwire

There is something eerily beautiful about the work of Kate MccGwire. The London-based artist takes feathers and creates these unique, motion-filled, sculptures and installations. Her bird-like forms that undulate naturally out of pipes, fireplaces and cracks in the walls are meticulously made from thousands upon thousands of feathers that beg to be touched.

Sea Nymph

By Josh Beckman