Structured History: The Architecture Of Buildings In Berlin

Berlin is one of the European cities I admire when it comes to architecture and design. The city, which has been preserving sites from the 17th century is a testament to the ever-evolving trends in designing structures. When I visited the city, I was amazed to see that for every change in the form of government, there would be a particular building for it. Going around the city is a history and architecture field trip rolled into one.

Image source: Rtours.co.uk

My first stop was the Museumsinsel or the Museum Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site boasting of five museums built from 1830 to 1930. The classical design is a timeless model with an intricate design that did not spare even the exteriors of grandiose sculptures that are larger than life.

Next, I went to the Reichstag building. When the reunification happened, the Germans restored the building, which officially became the venue for the parliament. Luckily enough, I was able to enter the glass dome that provides a good view of the whole city. It was a breathtaking sight. The modernistic glass dome complements the classical design from generations ago. The design nerd in me got a good glimpse of how innovations can improve old structures.

 Image source: Citiesoflove.blogspot.com

Another site that caught my attention was the Fernsehturm or the TV tower, the tallest structure in Germany. It could also be one of the sites that characterize Berlin. The building that has a dome in the middle is another inspiration for architects like me. With a revolving restaurant, the place provides diners with a 360-degree view of the city. Even from my hotel room window, I can see the tower and its quirky design.

There are other sites I visited when I stayed in the city. It really is a wonderland for design and art geeks like me. There’s so much Architecture I’d be happy to dive into. On my next visit, I would definitely explore Cologne and Munich.

I’m Jonathan Bunge. I believe that design is life, and my job as an architect and interior designer proves my penchant for the craft. Creative juices flow easily as long as I surround myself with artsy ideas. Do you have a passion for architecture? Let’s keep in touch on Twitter.

Download now: 5 must-have apps for interior design

In a world where people rely on their smartphones for daily life, are there any apps for an interior designer? Of course, there is; there's an app for everything! And these are just some of the most useful ones you need in your career: 

 

Image source: aptgadget.com

Houzz 

If you're looking for home design inspiration, then Houzz is the app you're looking for. The app provides photos of every kind of room, any product or location to help you find what you're looking for, for your interior. It also has a directory for local designers, contractors, and architects. 

Pinterest

Similar to the functionalities of Houzz, Pinterest is your go-to app for finding inspirations and designs from all over the World Wide Web. Pin your favorites so you can easily access them later. Although this app is not exclusively for interior design, with the right key words or search phrases, you will find what you're looking for. 

Image source: drivenbydecor.com

 MyPantone

Pantone is the expert when it comes to color. With this app, you can browse over 10,000 colors in the pantone library. It also gives you color options to match the color you want. 

Color Capture

Color Capture is an app that lets you take a picture of anything and helps you identify the color from the Benjamin Moore paint color palette. You can find color inspiration anywhere and everywhere with this useful app. 

MarkOnCall

MarkOnCall is an app for both consumers and interior designers. It's very useful for space planning and designing rooms. Know when a piece of furniture is too big for the room or whether a table matches your couch – this awesome app eases your worries on both logistics and aesthetic. 

Hello! I'm Jonathan Bunge and I love interior design. Subscribe to my blog for more tips on aesthetics and other areas of home design.

Machu Picchu: Unveiling The Lost City Of The Incas

American archaeologist and politician Hiram Bingham made history when he revealed to the world the 15th century citadel, standing 2,430 meters or 7,970 ft above sea level, perched on the ridge of the Andes Mountains in Peru. The archaeological discovery of the “lost city of the Incas” proclaimed to the world the magnificence of an Incan fortress made up of indescribable designs and extraordinary features. 

Although historians are still unsure about why it was built and why it was abandoned, the mystery only adds to the spectacle of the visual wonder and architectural masterpiece. With Bingham’s findings being questioned, experts continue to modify, correct, and uncover the legend of Machu Picchu, which was declared a UNESO world heritage site in 1983.

Image Source: travelculturemag.com

There are others who point out that Machu Picchu was merely a retreat built for Inca Ruler Pachacuti, who wasn’t quite fond of the noise and congestion in the city life. There were about 200 buildings in the site, each constructed with granite stones cut into polygonal blocks, which were fitted with precision against each other to hold the walls.

Experts are puzzled as to how the Incans were able to build such complex cities. They don’t know how the tribe made calculations and measurements but evidence suggests that they used dry stone technique to put together the bricks without using mortar, wheels, and any material to hold them together. The mortar-free construction is truly a remarkable feat, considering that granite stones are extremely hard to cut, even with use of modern equipment. Aside from the perfect smoothness, straightness, and alignment of the bricks, the earthquake-resistant quality of the structures was also noteworthy given that Peru endured many earthquakes over the time it has stood in the Andean mountain region. Though not much is known about its construction, it’s without a doubt a source of national pride and an architectural and engineering tour de force. 

Image Source: famouswonders.com

Machu Picchu is a dream destination for architect and interior designer Jonathan Bunge. Follow him on Twitter and join him in his journey towards some of the world’s best architectural sites.

Minimalist interiors: Why less is more for the modern home

image source: decor4all.com

Not many homeowners appreciate the beauty of a minimalist home. But with the busy lives we live today, minimalism is a promising and practical trend for the modern individual.

Minimalist interiors need not be a mattress-and-chair kind of design. While that is indeed the extreme version of it, the minimalist interior design can also reflect the home owner(or designer)’s creative streak through eye-catching pieces that are not cluttery.

The minimalist style traces its roots to ancient Asian civilizations, mainly China and Japan. In Asia, most people are taught to live with less clutter. Even in modern Asian locations, not everyone sleeps on a bed and eats on a dining table full of chairs.

When you incorporate minimalist values into your home, you save a lot by promoting natural lighting and less furniture. The abundance of light is a key feature for minimalist designs. Doors and windows are usually transparent or translucent—as long as they welcome light into the interiors.

image source: home-designing.com

Asian minimalist design features a lot of connection with the nature. For central pieces, you can settle for a relaxing wall painting or a tranquil water feature. Some Asian interior designers also put wooden statues with cultural significance on some of their home projects.

Jonathan Bunge here. Know more about architecture and interior design trends when you visit this blog.

Five Awe-inspiring Websites for Design Inspiration

There are times when creativity and talent are not enough to produce a good architectural design. Despite being in the business for years now, I still find myself hungry for that special “something” to get my train of thought running. And so, like everyone else, I browse the Internet for inspiration.

For those in need of design inspiration, these websites are highly recommended:

Archiphile (www.archiphile.tumblr.com). While the blog owner remains anonymous until this day, his page, which contains hundreds of interesting building designs from different countries, has inspired thousands of designers throughout the years.

Image source: lifewithoutbuildings.net

ArchDaily Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. architectural website that probably attracts the most traffic in the world, ArchDaily provides readers almost anything architecture—from news and features to the latest designs and trends in the industry.

Houzz Populated with user-uploaded content (mostly photos), this website does more than selling various products online. You’d be surprise on what you can actually find here.

Image source: cascadecoil.com

Apartment therapy. I consider this website more of an online magazine with much content about style and DYI features. I recommend this to those who are more methodical with their concepts.

Abitare. The website is owned by one of the world's best known design magazines, Abitare, which has been running since the 60s. Apart from architecture, the website also focuses on interior design, furniture, product design, and graphic arts.

These websites, which I consider my style bibles, have helped me through rough times. I hope they can help you, too.

I am Jonathan Bunge, an architect and a lover of art. Follow me on Twitter for discussions on structure and design.

Fueling a Creative Mind

It goes without saying that we are all born with the potential to be creative. In the course of history, people have uses their creativity to develop great ideas for the benefit of mankind, be it in the world of arts, science, or business.

Image source: wowprezi.com

While it is given that some people are naturally creative than others, it is important to remind ourselves of what our minds are capable of. Fuel your mind’s creative power by following these tips:

Find your natural expertise. Ask yourself, “What am I good at?” We all different skills, talents, and abilities and it is important to devote our time to develop our inherent gifts.

Look for sources of inspiration. Back in college, our professor always reminded us to look for new sources of inspiration. I am an experiential learner, and my taste varies widely, so I took my time to research my favorite architects and visited some of their famous works. Such technique gave me fresh ideas, and it helped me generate designs for my project.

Take risks. To test your abilities, be willing to take risks. Failure does not mean your ideas are bad. It could mean many things, perhaps, some improvement.

Don’t give up, and believe in yourself. Always remember, we are all born with the potential for creating incredible things.

Image source: steiv.com

Discover more ways to unleash your creativity by following this Jonathan Bunge Twitter page.

My Job Explained: Life as an Architect

This morning, I have taken the time to reflect on my past accomplishments and focus my thoughts on my life as an architect. I always wanted to become an architect. Growing up playing with building blocks and miniature houses, I eventually moved on studying the craft by taking architecture in college.

Most people would picture an architect as some sort of an artist working on his draft boards all day to come up with cool building ideas. This image is true in some aspects, but it is really just a small portion of the job.

Image source: jobshadow.com

Being in this field necessitates not only knowledge in design and structures but also in business. The role of an architect changes over time. These days, I spend most of time running a business by doing marketing plans, and by attending meetings with clients, engineers, and contractors. I spend the majority of my day on the phone and in front of my computer answering e-mails.

Stressful? Yes.

But the best part of the job is the approval I get from my clients who are ecstatic and satisfied about my design and how I handle the project. They are people who are not only paying me for my time and expertise, but they are people who believe in my ability. And there’s no better validation than that.

Image source: topgamesmobile.com

Learn more about architecture by following me, Jonathan Bunge, on Facebook.