Woodland Crematorium is a building that celebrates the life and death of those who pass through its halls. During the early 20th century the Swedish people were wholeheartedly accepting cremation as a more efficient means than the old fashioned method of burial. Asplund, who was the architect of the crematorium and the Woodland cemetery itself, was a large voice in the functionalism movement that was slowly taking over Sweden at the time and cremation fit right into the movement. Designing such a facility was right in line with Asplund’s vision for a productive society that would help the masses.

The building is a solid stone building that is reflective of its solemn nature. The insides are clean and smooth, they are not overly embellished as a means of reflecting the pure nature of death itself. The shedding of the physical and mortal body can be seen through the very simple yet deep design of the building itself. Nestled in between the forestry of Woodland Cemetery, the crematorium is one of the most fitting buildings that reflect upon and honor death for what it is.

The Stockholm Exhibition of 1930 was a key moment in Gunnar Asplund’s career, as it the stage that allowed him to truly express his thoughts on Swedish architecture at the time and how to move forward. He viewed a need for a style that is called functionalism, in that the design itself was there to serve a functional purpose. It was from this exhibition that the efficient design that encompasses Scandinavian architecture and the inherent productivity that it promotes was born.

Asplund and Lewerentz were the two chief architects and the main events of this exhibition. The entire idea that encompassed the entire event was functionalism that would be applied not to just architecture but to the means of production and the products itself to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Sweden. Ideas such as open windows for lighting to mass production of food were a part of many other messages that were discussed during the event. It was a call for Sweden to come into the 20^th century with a forward perspective and become a modernized nation with modern designs that could be used. its

An interesting method of getting this point across was the exhibition itself was designed to be a reflection of functionalism. The restaurants and venues designed by Asplund were features that reflected his views on functionalism also. The sleek stripped down style was a departure from old archaic designs that reflected the last century as Asplund implements large windows and large entrances to allow for the sense of openness and modernity that we see still see in architecture today.

Years after this exhibition, the idea of Sweden modernizing swept through the nation. It took over in a large fashion and the effects are still seen to this day. The idea of efficiency is often attributed to these Nordic countries which is part of the reason they are so often quoted by your friend who will say “Well in Sweden…” or “I heard in Norway that…” and follows with a statement about the design of  their lifestyles and infrastructure. Much of these ideas stemmed from this single convention and is a unique part of Nordic culture that can be attributed to Asplund’s idea of functionalism.

Old movie houses have been going out of style these days. Being bull-dozed for it’s more modern and sleek counterparts, the original ambiance is all but lost in the modern installment of theatres. Yet, there are some out there that will try their best to stand the test of time. Enter, Skandia Theatre, Stockholm.

Gunnar Asplund’s vision for this movie house was eccentric to say the least. The ceiling was ornamented with 60 odd silk lamps that were extinguished manually before every showing back in the day, though many features such as these have been changed as the century went by. The entire atmosphere was designed during the glory days of the cinema so much of the grandeur is still preserved in the interior design.

Over the last few decades, the establishment has been seeing changing of names and hands as it has been closed and re-opened multiple times. Despite these setbacks, it is still in business these days. It is used for Stockholm’s film festivals and still holds showing of throwback films and hands the movie-goer a chance to truly take in the original experience the glory of movie houses back in the day.

Skogskyrkogarden, or in its English translation Woodland Cemetery, is the final resting place of one of its architects, Gunnar Asplund. It is said that the aim for the creation of this cemetery was to be a landmass that would bring together architecture and nature and Asplund did just that. He and his partner Lewerentz designed a cemetery that was not only an honoring of those who have passed but also paying homage to the countryside of which those who rest there might have once walked.

Within the grounds of the very open and easy to access cemetery, Asplund and Lewerentz designed chapels that would fit in with the flow of the land and would be a panoramic shot of the land and what was sacred. It is a scene from a Nordic fairy tale and has been kept true to the original vision of the architects.

Sadly, Asplund never got to see the long term impact of his work. It was only four months after the inauguration of the chapels on his grounds that he had passed away, unable to witness the long-standing effect of his work. He was buried outside the Chapel of Faith, one of the previously mentioned chapels that were newly inaugurated.

Gothenburg Courthouse was not built to adapt to the times and as the turn of the century came around it was in dire need of an expansion. The city of Gothenburg decided to hold a competition for the rights to design the expanding body, and the Swedish architect Gunnar Asplund was chosen for his submission.

The Gothenburg Courthouse extension in Asplund’s mind was adoptive of a style that crossed between classicism and a baroque style of architecture. Though due to bureaucracies and countless arguments, the project was not started till well into the 30’s to which the original design had been modified greatly. Functionalist was the new style adopted as Asplund designed an interior and an atmosphere that housed large wooden hallways and a spacious outline.

Asplund was not just an architect on this project, but also was an interior designer for much of it. His designs for furniture were even taken into consideration and then was implemented into the final production of this courthouse expansion.

The undertaking of a functional style whilst trying to remain modern is a feat Asplund achieved in many eyes of the modern day, but at the time it was not seen as such. For many years the citizens of Gothenburg scoffed at the courthouse’s expansion and did not approve of this vision Asplund had for the future. Little did these critics know of how long this building would actually remain standing and how much of a cultural significance it is to the city of Gothenburg.

Stockholms stadsbibliotek, otherwise known as Stockholm’s Public Library, was designed by the Swedish architect Gunnar Asplund in the 20’s. In the early 1900’s, Stockholm was looking to build a public library for its city and its citizens so they decided to form a committee hired around Gunnar Asplund to research the best possible design.

Asplund took time and researched countless other libraries, going to witness them first-hand he would journey out to take the time and effort to understand what would make a good library. Being a public building that houses a wide variety of knowledge, Asplund was determined to get the design right.

The building site was planned out so that the library was to be next to a steep hill which was directly factored into Asplund’s design. He knew that the building he wanted to build would not be overpowered by the surrounding environment thus the view of the building was not diluted by being completely surrounded other buildings. Around its perimeter, there are trees and sidewalks that allow for the building to stand as a lone figure in the city of Stockholm

In the center of the building is a giant rotunda, though originally planned to be a dome, houses a large portion of the library as is the tallest portion where natural light is incorporated to shine down on those who visit. Rows upon rows of books are placed around the entire circle as to surround any visitor with countless tomes of knowledge which Asplund thought to be the most fitting for such an establishment.

Despite it being built over a century ago, the architecture of this establishment is still relevant and the building itself is still being used until this day.  Its simplicity and bold color scheme was a statement made by Asplund and though he isn’t alive today to tell it himself, the design of this building can tell it for him.

Taipei 101 stands tall at a hundred and one floors (I know, who knew) and is visible throughout Taipei on a clear day given the smog isn’t too heavy. A spire that jets out in the middle of this giant city, it was once the tallest building in the world and was also awarded the title of the largest and greenest building in the world. It resides in the center of the financial district in Taipei and was at one point the pinnacle of architectural ingenuity.

When you walk into the lobby and purchase yourself a ticket, you are treated to a wild ride in an elevator that will take up a hundred floors in under a minute (45 seconds if my memory doesn’t fail me). One can feel the gravity being left behind as their stomachs feel a light strain that illustrates the speed at which they are hurtling upwards towards the top floor. Unfortunately on my second visit to this wonderful skyscraper, one of the passengers had a few too many dumplings for lunch. The moment the doors opened up, the man leapt out only to drop his entire lunch on the ground.

Skirting around the regurgitated lunch, I like to take a quick look at the giant ball that is centered within the upper levels of the building. It is a tuned mass damper according to the internet, but my friends and I called it other names that wouldn’t exactly be appropriate for a blogpost. It is there to stabilize the building against strong typhoon winds and if one has spent enough years around the Pacific Rim they will understand the sheer power of these tropical storms and the damage they can do. Add on devastating elements such as readily active tectonic plates and constant erosion due to humidity, it’s amazing that any feat of architecture is accomplishable in this part of the world

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Humans can do amazing things. To create a skyscraper to this magnitude in a region that has so many devastating natural elements and to have a Two Michelin Star dumpling restaurant under the same roof, well that’s a miracle in my book.

The Parthenon is a classic piece of architecture and one of the most prominent buildings for architects to draw inspiration from. Standing for over 2,000 years, this building is mentioned in textbooks, stories, and every tourist pamphlet of Athens. When one envisions the Parthenon, one might also envision the busy streets of Athens and overlooking this ordinary hustle and bustle will stand a powerful monument of history.

The busy streets were not really hard to imagine. Athens is mostly built around the old city layout and the old city planning adds an extra element of congestion to the streets. I remember walking from the metro and making my way up the hillside to witness the Parthenon and its glory up close. As I make it up the last flight of stairs and dodge the last of the oncoming waves of descending tourist mobs, I am finally facing the Parthenon. The sheer amount of scaffolding, the back brace for a crumbling structure, made it to be one of the most anticlimactic moments of my life. The support columns were held up with smaller units of support, those in turn were jammed into the structure for even further support and reinforcement. The architecture was held together with countless metal sutures that simply detracted from it all.

Not to say I can’t appreciate a building that has stood for so long, but seeing it on display in such a manner was disheartening. Crowded by camera flashes and random security guards asking tourists to back away from the barrier, the Parthenon in my opinion has been reduced to postcard material and nobody even sends postcards anymore. Standing there I felt as if I had witnessed an elderly Greek man plugged into a life support system as random physicians huddled around him as they plug in more technology and more chemicals just to keep the man’s heart pumping.

It’s sad to witness such a monument to be subjected to the test of time, but I guess even the Colosseum or my great grandfather needs a support system to stand up straight anymore. Tradition and history can only be preserved for so long before it loses to its battle with time, but who will dictate when we pull the plug?

Göreme is a small town out in Turkey that traditionally cut their homes out of volcanic rock. These days it’s a trendy tourist destination but sometimes one can’t help but get swept away in the romantic nature of it all. I found myself checking into The Dorm Cave (not a metaphor for your freshman year), a small budget friendly hostel for the wayward traveler, and instantly I fell in love with it. It was traditional house that was converted into a place for travelers to rest for a few days, and allowed for a traditional architectural style to be preserved by modernizing and monetizing. Though the veranda and stairways might be slightly against modern safety regulations, the slight risk to it adds more to the experience.

With the use of the rocks and hills already in place, a lot of buildings in this region use the terrain as a foundation for their buildings. The Dorm Cave was built between a couple of rocky hills and most of the guest rooms were built into the ground or within the hills. Turkey only gets more arid the further east you go from here, so the style of architecture reflects the need to get out of the blazing sun and blistering winds from the desert.

When walking down a narrow flight of stairs to find a dimly lit room underground was absolutely fascinating and also relieving since it was a way to get out of the heat. The stone walls are cool to the touch, and sticking your face to it was about as refreshing as it gets. It’s through architecture like this one can truly understand the ingenuity of those who lived here thousands of years ago.

Payao Fish Market is a wide and stretched smile in the face of harsh winds. It has a shape that is simple, squared off, and battered from countless hurricanes (or typhoons as they are more commonly referred to in this region of the world) that come through every year. The style of architecture may be unimaginative from a more artistic standpoint, but it stands to appeal to the pragmatic side of some individuals. Most buildings are reinforced with rebar and layers of concrete and sand out around the Pacific Rim which creates less design options that might make those more creative architects cringe. The dull and walled off picnic section with a duller awning overhead is a simple statement. That statement in particular is this building is in the boondocks of Okinawa so they can’t afford fancy architecture and embellishment that will be blown away next typhoon season.

The interior is even less exciting, with a wide open concrete space that is hosed down at the end of the night. Between the concrete support beams are nothing but rows of vendors and fishermen. The insulation is poorly set up so when the heat waves roll in you can see the condensation and mildew that builds up along the bare concrete ceiling. Down to the letter, it’s a poorly built warehouse that inspires no real architectural ingenuity, but maybe it is that simplicity is what houses a community beneath its roof.

I spent a lot of time in this port and this building in particular during my teenage years. Hanging out along port and watching the fishing rigs head out to sea, or purchasing freshly caught fish and watching the cashier punch the numbers into a simple calculator that probably should have been decommissioned 15 years ago. A building doesn’t have to always make a bold statement so as long as it can house an atmosphere that reflects the world around it then it’s good enough for me.

Admittedly, most port fish markets in this region of the world look pretty much the same, but I won’t deny that this one in particular is one that will always stand out to me. Call it sentiment, call it worn down sediment, this is about a building and one’s emotion, and this one will always speak to me.