Originally designed as the center piece of the 1958 World Expo, the Atomium has become Brussels most visited tourist destination. It's a larger-than-life representation of the structure of an iron crystal cell.
Atomium by Andre Waterkeyn (Brussels, Belgium) —
Originally designed as the center piece of the 1958 World Expo, the Atomium has become Brussels most visited tourist destination. It's a larger-than-life representation of the structure of an iron crystal cell.
Courtesy Alexandre Laurent, Copyright Gestalten 2016
With Walden 7, Catalan architect Ricardo Bofil set out to change perceptions of low-income housing. Built in 1975, the building comprises 18 individual towers that have been fused together. There are 446 units total.
Walden 7 by Ricardo Bofill (Barcelona, Spain) —
With Walden 7, Catalan architect Ricardo Bofil set out to change perceptions of low-income housing. Built in 1975, the building comprises 18 individual towers that have been fused together. There are 446 units total.
Courtesy LIuis Carbonell, Copyright Gestalten 2016
Palais Bulles (literally "Palace of Bubbles") was built for pioneering French fashion designer Pierre Cardin. With the bulbous shape, architect Antti Lovag's sought to reject traditional architecture's reliance on the linear and angular, which he called "an aggression against nature."
Palais Bulles by Antti Lovag (Cannes, France) —
Palais Bulles (literally "Palace of Bubbles") was built for pioneering French fashion designer Pierre Cardin. With the bulbous shape, architect Antti Lovag's sought to reject traditional architecture's reliance on the linear and angular, which he called "an aggression against nature."
Courtesy Ken Sparkes, Copyright Gestalten, 2016.
In 1957, Disney partnered with agrochemical corporation Monsanto to come up with the ideal "house of the future." The entire interior and all of the furnishings were made of plastic, and the home was surrounded by a man-made lake and waterfall. This vision of the future died a mere 10 years later, when Disneyland demolished the house.
Monsanto House of the Future by Monsanto (Anaheim, California) —
In 1957, Disney partnered with agrochemical corporation Monsanto to come up with the ideal "house of the future." The entire interior and all of the furnishings were made of plastic, and the home was surrounded by a man-made lake and waterfall. This vision of the future died a mere 10 years later, when Disneyland demolished the house.
Ralph Crane/The LIFE Picture Collection/The LIFE Picture Collection/Gett
Moshe Safdie's stacked-block apartment complex was the highlight of Expo 67. Habitat 67, which Safdie completed when he was only 23 (the idea was part of his university thesis) is now one of Montreal's most important architectural landmarks.
Habitat 67 by Moshe Safdie (Montreal, Canada) —
Moshe Safdie's stacked-block apartment complex was the highlight of Expo 67. Habitat 67, which Safdie completed when he was only 23 (the idea was part of his university thesis) is now one of Montreal's most important architectural landmarks.
Courtesy The Getty Research Institute, Copyright Gestalten, 2016
John Lautner was responsible for some of the most avant garde -- and recognizable -- homes in Southern California. You may have seen his Sheats/Goldstein Residence in "The Big Lebowski."
Sheats/Goldstein Residence by John Lautner (Los Angeles, California) —
John Lautner was responsible for some of the most avant garde -- and recognizable -- homes in Southern California. You may have seen his Sheats/Goldstein Residence in "The Big Lebowski."
Courtesy Roger Straus III / Esto, Copyright Gestalten 2016
Elrod House, completed in 1968, featured in the James Bond film "Diamonds Are Forever." Lautner's buildings have also been used as sets in "A Single Man" and "Lethal Weapon 2," among others.
Elrod House by John Lautner (Palm Springs, California) —
Elrod House, completed in 1968, featured in the James Bond film "Diamonds Are Forever." Lautner's buildings have also been used as sets in "A Single Man" and "Lethal Weapon 2," among others.
Courtesy Leeland Y. Lee, Copyright Gestalten 2016
Because of its distinctive round shape, the Ruth Ford House -- named after the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts director, who lived there with her husband -- stood out against other homes in the suburban Midwest.
The Ruth Ford House by Bruce Goff (Aurora, Illinois) —
Because of its distinctive round shape, the Ruth Ford House -- named after the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts director, who lived there with her husband -- stood out against other homes in the suburban Midwest.
Courtesy Eliot Elisofon/The LIFE picture Collection, Copyright Gestalten 2016
Completed in 1963, the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel has 17 spires made of glass and aluminum. It was named one of Architectural Digest's most unusual churches in 2015.
United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel by Walter A. Netsch Jr (Colorado Springs, Colorado) —
Completed in 1963, the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel has 17 spires made of glass and aluminum. It was named one of Architectural Digest's most unusual churches in 2015.
Courtesy Miguel Torres, Copyright Gestalten 2016
Sachio Otani combined Brutalist and traditional Japanese architecture for the Kyoto International Conference Center.
The Kyoto International Conference Center by Sachio Otani (Kyoto, Japan) —
Sachio Otani combined Brutalist and traditional Japanese architecture for the Kyoto International Conference Center.
Courtesy CHU FUJIWARA, Copyright Gestalten 2016
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.gestalten.com%2Fthe-tale-of-tomorrow.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">"The Tale of Tomorrow: Utopian Architecture in the Modernist Realm"</a> by Sofia Borges, published by Gestalten, is out now.
"The Tale of Tomorrow: Utopian Architecture in the Modernist Realm" by Sofia Borges, published by Gestalten, is out now.
Courtesy Ralph Crane, Copyright Gestalten 2016