Blobitecture – Blob Architecture
Blobitecture, also called “blob architecture” or “blobism”, refers to modern buildings with an amorphous, blob-like shape. “Blobitecture” is a term coined by New York Times magazine writer William Safire, who used it to sarcastically describe the sudden increase in amoeba-like buildings. Contrary to his intention, the architects happily adopted “blobitecture” to describe an exciting new architectural movement.
Blobitecture is a dynamic form of architecture that is still widely used today. Blobitecture is unlike any other architectural form because it originates entirely from Computer Aided Design (CAD). In software architecture jobs, architects use CAD to manipulate the contours of buildings into virtually any shape. As they do this, the software automatically calculates mathematical equations that infuse the design with structural soundness. Prior to the development of CAD, architects adhered to conventional geographic shapes as they relied on the structural stability of these shapes. Now, thanks to CAD software, the shape of a building has unlimited possibilities.
Today, most of the architects implement blob architecture for glass and steel structures. It is rarely used for private residential houses, because glass and steel materials make “stain buildings” quite transparent. Rather, it is used much more often for tourist attractions, such as museums, theaters, and concert halls. It is also increasingly used for scientific buildings, such as geodesic domes used for meteorological observatories and greenhouses. Finally, a greater number of commercial buildings are blob structures, such as London City Hall and architecture firm Future Systems.
Blobitecture emerged during the 1990s when CAD systems were first developed for architects and interior designers. In 1993 the first blobitecture building was erected: the Water Pavilion in the Netherlands, which was designed entirely in CAD. Other large-scale projects followed in quick succession, the best known of which is probably the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. This museum, located in Bilbao, Spain, was designed by the renowned Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry. Opened to the public in 1997, it consists of various concave and convex curves. Since it is located in a port, its glass and titanium curves reflect light from both the sky and the water. In addition, its curved silhouette is reminiscent of a ship. This museum of modern art goes a long way in making Bilbao a Spanish tourist attraction.
America has its own ‘blobitecture’ buildings. Seattle has the Experience Music Project museum, another Gehry-designed building, opened in 2000. Like the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, this museum consists of seemingly random curves made of sheet metal. The undulations of the building give it a flowing silhouette, perhaps as a tribute to the museum’s musical exhibits. Although the form of the Guggenheim museum reflects the vicinity of the port, the form of the Project can be summed up as “form follows function”. In fact, Gehry directly attributed the shape of the building to that of a smashed Stratocaster electric guitar, made famous by Jimi Hendrix. Unlike the Guggenheim, the Experience Music Project also incorporates more colors into its exterior design, though its metal reflects as much light as the Guggenheim.
Other cities have recognizable examples of blobitecture. England contains spot structures not only in London, but in other cities as well. For example, the north-eastern city of Gateshead has the Sage Gateshead Building, which was designed by the architectural firm Foster and Partners. This building is a performing arts center and musical institution. This structure is shaped like a caterpillar, made up of multiple spheres that contract and expand as the building progresses. Its materials include glass and stainless steel, allowing it to shine by capturing every angle of sunlight. Its free-flowing form can be said to reflect the philosophy of this institution that all musical genres are equal.
Berlin also has another blobitectural structure of “form follows function”. This structure is the Philological Library, designed by the English architect Norman Foster. Opened in 2005, the Library is part of the Free University of Berlin campus. In keeping with the intellectual purpose of the university, the Library resembles a human brain. Like many other blobitecture buildings, its main components are steel and glass.
Today’s architects rely on numerous CAD software programs to build a blob architecture. Contrary to its appearance, a lot of math goes into ‘blobitecture’ designs. Most CAD programs, such as AutoCAD, allow the user to create a basic three-dimensional “sketch” and manipulate those lines in numerous directions. Blob architecture arises when the user makes those lines “wavy” and irregular, and “inflates” the design of the building. In the later stages of structural design, architects can use CAD to specify materials of construction and interior components for the project.
As a measure of the popularity of blobitecture, architecture students can now take college blobitecture courses. There are also online courses that offer blobitectural study. Many architects concentrating on urban planning architecture decide to learn about blobitecture, since blobitecture is most prevalent in metropolitan areas. In addition, many CAD courses, offered both online and in-person at educational institutions, allow architects to get hands-on practice with blobitectural design.
As more architects break with established geometric forms, blobism is likely to become part of more international urban landscapes. CAD will generate endless shapes of blobitecture in both exterior and interior design. Many ambitious architects are exploiting blobism to push architecture to its extreme limits. Additionally, many entry-level architect jobs demand CAD expertise; so many architecture students choose to use blobitecture to gain fluency in CAD.