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‘Blobitecture’ is the latest trend in building design

Free-flowing form or Mr Blobby buildings?
6.30pm, 6 Oct 2013
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“BLOB” BUILDINGS ARE taking over the world.

That’s according to Emporis, a database of construction projects, which has made a list of some of the most spectacular examples of blob architecture or so-called “Blobitecture.”

The free-flowing form has popped up all over the planet in the past decade, thanks to the advent of sophisticated computer software.

Blobitecture can now be seen from London’s new City Hall building to Frank Gehry’s 8 Spruce Street in New York City.

Whether you like it or not, expect to see a whole lot more blobitecture in the world’s biggest cities.

Take a tour:

‘Blobitecture’ is the latest trend in building design
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  • Spain's Metropol Parasol (2011)

    Claims to be the largest wooden structure in the world. The building was designed to look like a giant mushroom, and visitors can walk on top to see views of Seville. Image: Emporis

  • Graz Art Museum, Austria (2003)

    It looks like an alien spaceship compared to the red tile roofs of Graz's old town. It houses contemporary art and lights up at night. Image: Emporis.

  • Experience Music Project, Seattle (2000)

    An undulating museum founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. the Seattle Centre Monorail even runs directly into the gold, silver and violet building. Image: Emporis.

  • 8 Spruce Street, New York (2011)

    Frank Gehry's residential building has 76 stories and was built to look like it was melting in the sun. Image: Emporis.

  • Selfridges Building, Birmingham (2003)

    A shopping centre known as the 'Beehive' due to its honeycomb-like facade and the busy comings and goings of its visitors. Image: Emporis.

  • The Sage, Gateshead (2004)

    The English town of Gateshead is home to this centre for musical education, performances and conferences - it's made of organic glass and has a stainless steel structure. Image: Emporis.

  • De Admirant Entrance Building, Eindhoven (2010)

    This is a low-rise shopping centre in the Netherlands - the outer glass indents into the building to create a visually-interesting space both inside and out. Image: Emporis.

  • The Golden Terraces, Warsaw (2007)

    This building in Poland has a wavy roof made from 4,700 separate pieces of glass to look like frozen liquid that was once flowing over the - yes, again - shopping centre. Image: Emporis.

  • City Hall, London (2002)

    London's new City Hall was recently described by former mayor Ken Livingstone as a "glass testicle". Image: Emporis.

  • DZ Bank Gebaude am Pariser Platz, Berlin (2001)

    Another Frank Gehry design, this time in Germany, it is an office, conference and residential building with a domed glass atrium filled with undulating and reflective metal forms. Image: Emporis.
  • Claims to be the largest wooden structure in the world. The building was designed to look like a giant mushroom, and visitors can walk on top to see views of Seville. Image: Emporis
  • It looks like an alien spaceship compared to the red tile roofs of Graz's old town. It houses contemporary art and lights up at night. Image: Emporis.
  • An undulating museum founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. the Seattle Centre Monorail even runs directly into the gold, silver and violet building. Image: Emporis.
  • Frank Gehry's residential building has 76 stories and was built to look like it was melting in the sun. Image: Emporis.
  • A shopping centre known as the 'Beehive' due to its honeycomb-like facade and the busy comings and goings of its visitors. Image: Emporis.
  • The English town of Gateshead is home to this centre for musical education, performances and conferences - it's made of organic glass and has a stainless steel structure. Image: Emporis.
  • This is a low-rise shopping centre in the Netherlands - the outer glass indents into the building to create a visually-interesting space both inside and out. Image: Emporis.
  • This building in Poland has a wavy roof made from 4,700 separate pieces of glass to look like frozen liquid that was once flowing over the - yes, again - shopping centre. Image: Emporis.
  • London's new City Hall was recently described by former mayor Ken Livingstone as a
  • Another Frank Gehry design, this time in Germany, it is an office, conference and residential building with a domed glass atrium filled with undulating and reflective metal forms. Image: Emporis.

- Megan Willett

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