isolated amidst the volcanic lanzarote island landscape, photographer alastair philip wiper uncovers the lifework of spanish architect and artist cesar manrique. the spanish island is the northernmost of the canary islands off the atlantic coast of africa, and one of the first destinations in the mid 20th century to offer package tourist holidays. manrique, who was born and died on the island, saw the dangers of rampant development early on. in the 1960s and 70s, he took it upon himself to design an “intelligent tourism” — carving destination retreats out of the island’s cliffs and grottos. it is due to manrique’s visionary dedication to the island that there are no high rises nor advertisements today.
taro de tachiche, 1968, © alastair philip wiper 2014
upon first discovering these strange ecological utopias, english photographer alastair philip wiper returned to the island to shoot a series of the fantastical architecture. wiper captures the strangeness of the spaces by displaying both their rocky, often subterranean qualities together with the inescapable 1960s design aesthetics. the ragged, black volcanic rock bleeds into whitewashed modernism. wiper reveals the full scope of manrique’s hand — where the architect conditioned his interiors most, and where he let the island’s natural geology take the lead.
taro de tachiche, 1968, © alastair philip wiper 2014
alastair philip wiper, currently based in copenhagen, photographs subjects of infrastructure and architecture through an anthropological lens. he seeks the unexpected beauty in industry and has captured little known architectural masterpieces around the world, such as france’s brutalist ski resort by marcel breuer. wiper’s photography can be followed on his instagram @alastairwiper
jardins de cactus, 1990, © alastair philip wiper 2014
jameos del agua, 1966, © alastair philip wiper 2014
casa de los volcanes, 1966, © alastair philip wiper 2014
mirador del rio, 1974, © alastair philip wiper 2014
casa del campasino, 1972, © alastair philip wiper 2014
the restaurant at timanfaya national park, 1968, © alastair philip wiper 2014
the restaurant at timanfaya national park, 1968, © alastair philip wiper 2014
the restaurant at timanfaya national park, 1968, © alastair philip wiper 2014
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architecture news
translucent conference center by selgascano appears as a luminous form
#architecture
on the outskirts of a medieval town in western spain, a giant, boulder-shaped volume emerges out of the undulating terrain.
on the outskirts of a medieval town in western spain, a giant, boulder-shaped volume emerges out of the undulating terrain.
the 'bunker' project by martin marro is an oil tank you can live in
#architecture
in his latest work, the architect has taken an old gas oil tank and converted it into a capsule for living in argentina.
in his latest work, the architect has taken an old gas oil tank and converted it into a capsule for living in argentina.
bezalel academy targets 2022 opening for its SANAA-designed campus
#architecture
to be known as the 'jack, joseph and morton mandel campus', the project is located in jerusalem's russian compound on a hill overlooking the old city.
to be known as the 'jack, joseph and morton mandel campus', the project is located in jerusalem's russian compound on a hill overlooking the old city.
this school in perthes-en-gâtinais comprises multiple gabled wooden volumes
#architecture
'school la rouche' by tracks architectes is located in a green pedestrian area, in the heart of the historic town of perthes-en-gâtinais, in the south of region »
'school la rouche' by tracks architectes is located in a green pedestrian area, in the heart of the historic town of perthes-en-gâtinais, in the south of region seine and marne, france.
