Progressive Design

I believe there is a progressive Urban Artistic culture spilling out in the streets, more so in the form of architectural design. Design is what I choose to describe as a simple but complicated matter that humans cannot be without. My partner Russel is currently in Cape Town immersed in the Africa Creative Economy Conference; Africa and the diaspora in conversation about conversion of the arts into a viable economy as he said, and I can only sit here and imagine the outcomes and possibilities these conferences can 'build' for our continent in years to come. There is a burgeoning art and design community in other countries and continents that Africa needs to start investing in, for instant After Turkey's capital was moved in 1923, I learnt that the now economic centre saw some of it's former glory fade, but a recent surge of commercial and artistic energy and investment has this cosmopolitan city booming once again. Paola Antonelli once said, " People think that design is styling. Design is not style. It's not about giving shape to the shell and not giving a damn about the guts. Good design is a renaissance attitude that combines technology, cognitive science, human need, and beauty to produce something that the world didn't know it was missing."

When I witnessed this senior housing design by JJW Arkitekter I not only fell hard for the pop in colours but also the protruding balconies structured unevenly around the building. I began to muse over the days when I wanted to venture into Architectural studies back in high school as I marvelled at the possibilities in structure and design, sadly I had no background in Technical drawing which saw me knocking into fashion design and graphics.

This below is Ørestad Plejecenter / Senior Housing, by JJW Arkitekter shot by Asli Aydin