This is the New York State Pavilion at the 1964 worlds fair.

Commissioned by the state of New York for the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City (Queens), the New York State Pavilion was the largest in the Fair, and is one of the few structures from the Fair to remain standing today, although it doesn’t quite look like it used to…

Designed by Philip Johnson & Richard Foster Architects, The New York State Pavilion consists of three main components. The largest structure in the complex is an elliptical plaza measuring 350 feet by 250 feet. This space is surrounded by 16 steel columns (each one hundred feet high), which once held up a colorful canopy that covered the plaza underneath.

An oversized map of the state of New York, which is made up of 567 mosaic terrazzo panels weighing about 400 lbs. each, largely covers its floor. The map is said to have cost one million dollars at the time, and displays the locations of all Texaco gas stations in the state of New York.

Perhaps the most impressive structures in the Pavilion (and the most recognizable) are the three observation towers measuring 90, 185 and 250 feet tall. These observation towers were reached by capsule-shaped elevators (which can still be seen on the sides of the towers), and were the tallest structures at the Fair. Lastly, a circular theater, 100-foot diameter, known as the Circarama sits along the towers. The theater was used to show a 360-degree film about the state of New York during the fair.

The building won approval as a Landmark last year, A draft of the state’s nomination form for the national register argues the pavilion “clearly embodies” a key period in the career of its famed architect, Philip Johnson, “bringing together classical temple, Roman Coliseum and circus tent.”

Words mostly taken from this article, Also, Hawktrainer has some shots which inspired this post, plus there’s a heap of old photo’s here. It also looks pretty good from a satellite.

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Hoogte Twee Architecten

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(Source: smokingcinnamonsticks, via )

architecture without life:  MVRDV, dutch pavillion - klock

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RCR Arquitectes | Pavilion on a Pond, Llagostera 2004

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Ruta Peregrino Pavillion | HHF architects

Ruta Peregrino is a path that goes from Ameca to Talpa de Allende, in the State of Jalisco near Guadalajara, Mexico. During holy week, about two million people walk along this pilgrimage path. The municipalities involved wanted to give the pilgrims some permanent service areas and have invited an international team of architects and designers to design the various parts of this project, such as shelters and lookout points.

The HHF Lookout Point is designed to be an additional loop in the pilgrimage path. Its round shape was developed as a formal anticipation of people’s movement through the platform, going up to enjoy the great view into the surrounding countryside. The asymmetric arched openings provide access to an open hall which is covered by the platform above. The inner walls are a shifted repetition of the primary facade in four tangential circles, between which two staircases define a route up to the platform and back down. The only exception to the curved shape is a brick wall with a cross-shaped opening in the most protected part of the building which serves as an intimate room for resting and prayer.

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polish pavilion at venice architecture biennale: emergency exit

‘emergency exit’, this year’s polish pavilion at the 12th international architecture biennale  in venice, italy, explores ‘urban portable holes’: the in-between spaces, places of uncertainty and doubt, of time-space discontinuity, such as abandoned or unfinished buildings, rooftops and tunnels. designed by warsaw-based artist agnieszka kurant and architect aleksandra wasilkowska, the title is an ironic reference to urban safety regulations that aim to control and eliminate risk and accidents.

constructed out of a composite of metal cages, the overall form draws parallels to  decaying sports monuments, such as the ski jump in mokotów, warsaw. the material itself, bird cages, which are normally used to contain and prevent flight, becomes a platform for visitors to jump from into artificially generated clouds. this act symbolizes the ultimate freedom and escape from urbanism. by engaging and provoking the public directly, ‘emergency exit’ becomes a social laboratory with the goal of inspiring and exciting the collective body.

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australian pavilion at venice architecture biennale 2010

‘the fear free city’ is a future city, free from the fear of crime and antisocial behaviour,
where many open spaces and all local amenities are within walking distance. free from
commuting, people enjoy more recreational time. movement is not limited to ground level, but happens at all levels allowing for extensive views of the city and surrounding country side.

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