Collection by Andrea Smith

A Look At Modern Apartment Buildings

Take a look at high-design apartment buildings we've featured in years past, from Mumbai to the Dolomites.

Villa Van Vijven cuts a truly remarkable figure, a striking orange figure on the otherwise flat green landscape.
Villa Van Vijven cuts a truly remarkable figure, a striking orange figure on the otherwise flat green landscape.
Rudolph Schindler’s Bubeshko Apartments in Silver Lake, Los Angeles.
Rudolph Schindler’s Bubeshko Apartments in Silver Lake, Los Angeles.
In the Dolomite mountains, an angular copper-clad apartment building echoes the topography of its site. Photos by Hertha Hurnaus
In the Dolomite mountains, an angular copper-clad apartment building echoes the topography of its site. Photos by Hertha Hurnaus
La Aduana is an eight-unit apartment building in León, Mexico, made from 36 shipping containers.
La Aduana is an eight-unit apartment building in León, Mexico, made from 36 shipping containers.
Geraldine and Kit Laybourne’s apartment is inside architect Neil Denari’s HL23 building in the Chelsea arts district of New York. It hovers above the High Line, a former elevated rail line now transformed into a public park.
Geraldine and Kit Laybourne’s apartment is inside architect Neil Denari’s HL23 building in the Chelsea arts district of New York. It hovers above the High Line, a former elevated rail line now transformed into a public park.
DW0107_NZWELLING-01
DW0107_NZWELLING-01
The perforated aluminum cladding surrounds the lower-level public area, which contains the pools and gym for the tenants. Khanna and Schultz played with the idea of using stainless steel, but found that aluminum had the appropriate strength for the building's needs. "With the lights glowing from inside, it turns the whole building into a big lantern at night," says Schultz.
The perforated aluminum cladding surrounds the lower-level public area, which contains the pools and gym for the tenants. Khanna and Schultz played with the idea of using stainless steel, but found that aluminum had the appropriate strength for the building's needs. "With the lights glowing from inside, it turns the whole building into a big lantern at night," says Schultz.
The 947 Liberty Lofts, in downtown Pittsburgh’s Penn-Liberty Historic District, is one of developer Eve Picker’s efforts to bring the city core back to life. A 20-foot setback leaves room for an outdoor café that bustles at lunchtime. The 15-foot sculptures were created by James Simon, a Pittsburgh artist.
The 947 Liberty Lofts, in downtown Pittsburgh’s Penn-Liberty Historic District, is one of developer Eve Picker’s efforts to bring the city core back to life. A 20-foot setback leaves room for an outdoor café that bustles at lunchtime. The 15-foot sculptures were created by James Simon, a Pittsburgh artist.
BIG employed its theory and practice of "architectural alchemy"--combining elements to turn architectural lead into gold--to lift the residential units with the parking structure to create the silvery Mountain Dwellings.
BIG employed its theory and practice of "architectural alchemy"--combining elements to turn architectural lead into gold--to lift the residential units with the parking structure to create the silvery Mountain Dwellings.
The VM Houses (the two buildings on the right) opened in Ørestad in 2005, with the Mountain Dwellings (left) following in 2008. Up next in the neighborhood: The firm's BIG House (or Figure Eight building) is scheduled to be completed in 2010.
The VM Houses (the two buildings on the right) opened in Ørestad in 2005, with the Mountain Dwellings (left) following in 2008. Up next in the neighborhood: The firm's BIG House (or Figure Eight building) is scheduled to be completed in 2010.
On the roof, 18-inch-high prairie grasses alternate with gravel paths.
On the roof, 18-inch-high prairie grasses alternate with gravel paths.
Situated in Senec, a suburb of Bratislava and a popular summer destination, North Star Rising is a starkly iconic building. Jutting up into the sky, its nearly triangular design realizes the architectural possibilities of a somewhat oddly-shaped urban lot.
Situated in Senec, a suburb of Bratislava and a popular summer destination, North Star Rising is a starkly iconic building. Jutting up into the sky, its nearly triangular design realizes the architectural possibilities of a somewhat oddly-shaped urban lot.