Hans Holbein. Crafty chap...

I know this has little to do with architecture but I don't really care. I was looking at portrait painters, after the life drawing class and found Hans Holbein. I love his paintings for the great attention to detail and realism. What is more impressive is that it was done in the Tudor era and was far ahead of its time in terms of quality. In my opinion some contemporary artists should hang there heads in shame when there work is compared to this.

The painting below is The Ambassadors. Its one of Holbein's most famous works. I like it for the hidden skull at the bottom of the picture. At first glance it appears to be a tear or a feather of a quill but when viewed at an angle it displays an image of a skull. Very crafty.

Stockholm Library

Stockholm Library, Sweeden

Asplund Architecture Competition, 2007

JDS Architects

In my research into how architects use light in their work, I found this model of a proposed library in Stockholm. In the model, bright, fluorescent lights have been used against a white canvas around it. This is effective in highlighting the building and making appear unique in its surroundings. Although I do admire the building itself for the way it blends into the landscape around it, it's the way the model markets the idea which interests me the most. 

Notre Dame Du Haut

After seeing this mentioned in the Guardian's architecture reviews, I decided to take a closer look at the chapel of Notre Dame Du Haut. I like how its architect, Le Corbusier, has used natural light and the way the building is built with thick walls, giving it a sense of structure. I also like how its shape is unconventional in how it uses sloping and curved walls rather than most churches which are designed in a box shape and are symmetrical.