AEG Turbinenfabrik

Peter Behrens's 1910 AEG Turbinenfabrik, one of the most important milestone buildings in modern architecture, is just outside central Berlin.  It is thankfully not a tourist sight.  I certainly couldn't miss the chance of seeing it as soon as I figured out its address and how to get there.  The only regret I have is that I didn't get to see the interior of the building.

Mies Toronto

In the heart of Toronto's financial district are a cluster of black shrines for the monetary gods - Mies van der Rohe's 1967 Toronto-Dominion Centre:

While these glass boxes are now ubiquitous, they were pioneers of the International Style when they were first erected.  Mies is a true master of modern architecture.

Weißenhofsiedlung

Weißenhofsiedlung in Stuttgart is the site for an architectural exhibition in 1927.  Big names in the architectural world at that time, including Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius, Peter Behrens, J.J.P. Oud and others, were invited to build on the site.  Fans of modern architecture should visit this holy land at least once in their life time.

One of two houses designed by Le Corbusier at Weißenhofsiedlung:

Neue Nationalgalerie

Completed in 1968, Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin is Mies van der Rohe's last work.  It is considered one of the most perfect architectural statements of this great master of modern architecture.  The use of monumental steel columns supporting a cantilevered roof with a glass enclosure allows full flexibility of the interior space.  A truly great masterpiece.

Barnett Newman's equally monumental Broken Obelisk sits comfortably on the podium of NN.

With artist Frank Stella and architect Santiago Calatrava's collaborative effort, this installation was constructed and hanging under NN's vast roof when I visited there this summer:

Batchelor's vehicles for colour at modernist Tate

I spent most of my time at Tate Britain today.  I have enjoyed their show The Vorticists: Manifesto for a Modern World and learned about the development of modern art (the vorticist movement) in the UK during World War I.  Unfortunately, photography was not allowed at the exhibition.

Another exhibition currently showing at TB is the retrospective of British revised modernist architect James Stirling.  Impressive axonometric drawings of important projects of his were displayed along with models and other information.

It was a nice surprise to see David Batchelor's work again today at TB.  Though not a lightbox installation this time, his work on view is equally colourful:

Ronchamp pilgrimage

For fans of modern architecture, Ronchamp in eastern France is the mecca.  It is THE place to visit at least once in a lifetime.  So my second pilgrimage to the mecca should qualify me as a superfan.  In terms of its distance from Basel, it is not really that far.  But because there are only a handful of trains stopping at the village of Ronchamp every day, my trip took me a whole day.  Just like my last visit, the weather today has been grey and drizzly.  The day might not have been great for pictures but the sight of Le Corbusier's La Chapelle Notre Dame du Haut (1954) in the mist makes it look perfectly ethereal.

J'ai voulu créer un lieu de silence, de priére, de paix, de joie intérieure. - Le Corbusier 1955

The interior of the chapel is equally stunning.  But since photography is not allowed inside, I have to keep the amazing sights in my head and in my sketch book.

Meier's neo-Corbusian white structures

I saw another Richard Meier's building today.  Its white sculptural structure with enameled and glass panels is unmistakable even from a distance.  His Euregio-Geschäftshaus, completed in 1998 and locally known as the White Plaza, is another architectural jewel Basel proudly wears:

Meier's works always reflect a strong influence of the great master of modern architecture Le Corbusier.  I am ready for some Corbusian structures tomorrow ...