My Wey

Benjamin Wey Builds... a Website?

2008-04-21T18:29:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I've lately completed my first personal site, and I wanted you all to be the first to know. The website is called The Construction of Benjamin Wey, and it features yours truly, including how I got started in the construction industry, which companies I have worked for, and how I became an architect. In addition to the traditional resume, I have included biographical information and notes on my personal life in the website.

As you can tell, I am very proud of my little website, which highlights my personal and architectural experience, ambitions, interests, and inspirations. One of my favorite features is how the insightful text is set off by quotes from some of my most personally revered architects. I welcome you to visit my site and get to know me and my work.

-Benjamin Wey

El Cubo Blanco

2008-04-17T15:39:00.000-07:00

Designed by José Kós and Márcia Duarte in Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, El Cubo Blanco is a modern, Rem Koolhaas-reminiscent home rising right out of the South American plains. The designers' lines and angles of this house are stunning, as are their use of light, which carries you through the home and creates this overwhelming sense of peace and freedom of movement. El Cubo Blanco masters both the functional and beautiful aspects of architecture that is so hard to find in balance in the physical world. The way the architects delved deep to bring out the best modern style has to offer is simply awe-inspiring.

Monty Python- Architects Sketch

2008-04-08T20:03:00.000-07:00

Build Your Own Earthship

2008-03-26T20:13:00.000-07:00

Taliesin West by Frank Lloyd Wright

2008-03-21T18:22:00.000-07:00

Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, Taliesin West is one of Frank Lloyd Wright's many masterpieces. I've actually visited the place myself, and it is amazing.

Benjamin Wey: Designs

2008-03-13T15:54:00.000-07:00

I've been working on some new plans lately. The following are some interesting ones I came across. Enjoy.

This is a floor plan of a home.

This is a Contemporary Ranch home.

Let me know what you think. I look forward to reading your comments.

-Benjamin Wey

What Is Benjamin Wey Up to Now?

2008-03-11T15:10:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

As some of you know, I am an architect and the owner of my own construction consulting firm: A1 Construction Consulting. Most recently, I finished a design for an out-of-state contractor, and I have driven out to the job site a couple times to have a look around and archive the building's progress. As a former construction foreman, I am deeply interested in the creative aspect of both the design and building process.

Enjoy the following photos of a house emerging into a home.

-Benjamin Wey

Martin Shocket Residence by McInturff Architects

2008-03-10T12:52:00.000-07:00

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) awarded McInturff Architects, an eight-person contemporary design firm in Bethesda, Maryland, its distinguished award for the interior architecture of the Martin Shocket residence. Enjoy this highly crafted home.

The Golden Gate Bridge

2008-03-04T18:55:00.000-08:00

Enjoy the following breathtaking footage of a California gem and one of the world’s most recognizable architectural triumphs.

Golden Gate Bridge from Chris Eads on Vimeo.

Rem Koolhaas Designs Dubai Urban Experiment

2008-03-03T12:37:00.000-08:00

You may remember my previous blog post about Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and his striking creations, namely his astounding and ingenious tri-level La Maison a Bordeaux; however, his most recent project is more profound than any of his former architectural works, casting off nostalgic notions of city life in preference for creating the ultimate contemporary city.

Koolhaas’ urban project has been 12 years in the making and is financed by Nakheel, one of the largest developers in the United Arab Emirates. Just this morning, the New York Times unveiled what Koolhaas is calling “the generic city”: a 6.5-square mile municipal on a man-made island in the Persian Gulf that will feature a word-class airport surrounded by a dense conglomerate of analogous towers with only a few architectural highlights. Koolhaas designed the water-insulated city in Dubai to be an international center of commerce, catering to itinerant businessmen and supporting few if any permanent residents. The New York Times has already deemed the development “an accurate reflection of contemporary urban reality" despite the fact the Manhattan-reminiscent metropolitan experiment has already raised some important questions about sustainability and practicality, as well as issues of exclusivity and equality. Personally, I admire what Koolhaas is trying to achieve as far as creating a revolutionary architectural masterpiece that will support modern commerce, but I wonder what effects a superficial, isolated, and ultra-luxury commercial center will have on the surrounding area.

Taringa, Queensland House

2008-02-29T12:16:00.000-08:00

Taringa, a mostly residential suburb of Brisbane, is home to one of Australia's most beautiful modern homes. Architect or not, you have to admire the clean lines and open-air styling of this house.

The Living Room opens to become a part of the Patio

Earthships

2008-02-28T13:54:00.001-08:00

Biotect Michael “Mike” Reynolds has committed 35 years of research and development into creating eco-friendly, sustainable housing, or “Earthships,” made from recyclable materials, such as tires, soda cans, and bottles. His two companies have constructed these uniquely modern self-powering and self-regulating homes, which collect light and rainwater through micro-renewable harvesting systems, all over the world. The houses’ design and building materials, while unusual, helps them to maximize sunlight, allowing them to remain a consistent temperature and require little heating or cooling and no outside assistance.

Earthships Built by Michael Reynolds

Scotland’s first Earthship was completed in July 2002. The building process is fascinating to watch.

Dirt-packed tires are an excellent source of thermal heat and are fire-resistant as well.

Frank Lloyd Wright: Fallingwater

2008-02-25T14:52:00.000-08:00

Enjoy the following breathtaking photos of one of Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpieces.

The German Pavilion in Barcelona

2008-02-20T15:26:00.000-08:00

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed the German Pavilion (or Barcelona Pavilion) specifically for the 1929 Barcelona International Exhibition. When the event was concluded and no one wanted to purchase the extravagant building from the German government, it was dismantled and sold for parts. Although the building received little acclaim during the six months it stood in its original form, it remained an icon of the Modern Movement throughout the 20th Century, and in 1981, the Barcelona City Council engaged a group of architects to recreate the building on the same location. The building was completed in 1986, and it features the same canopy-like roof, curtains of glass, and partition walls that were a signature design of Mies van der Rohe and create a sense of luxurious space while leaving a simplistic impression.

La Maison a Bordeaux

2008-02-14T11:46:00.000-08:00

In 1994, a disabled man owning property in Bordeaux, France approached the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas to build a complex, handicap accessible house for him. This is what Koolhaas designed:

Maison a Bordeaux Exterior at Night

Excellent side views of the house's tri-level hydraulic elevator

View of the house from the foot of the hill

A comfortable nook for reading, sunbathing, or star gazing

Philip Johnson’s Glass House

2008-02-12T18:06:00.000-08:00

Formerly a salon for Yale Students, the Glass House was designed in the 1940s by the controversial, yet brilliant, architect Philip Johnson. Just opened for public exhibition last summer, the Glass House is the centerpiece of Johnson's estate and is considered by many architects to be his masterpiece.

The Mill House in Vastra Karup Sweden by Gerth Wingardh

2008-01-20T20:24:00.000-08:00

Check out this house. It's in Sweden and was designed by Gerth Wingardh.

The walkway to the house:

The Bathroom:

The Changing Area for the Sauna:

My wife loves the kitchen:

Check out the sauna.

Welcome to the World of Benjamin Wey!

2008-01-20T19:23:00.000-08:00