FIREHOUSE ON DISPLAY

The new building for the 18th Firemen’s Brigade in Vitacura, Santiago, Chile, designed by architect Gonzalo Mardones Viviani, is spatially organized around a double-height engine room. The whole building, including living quarters, is characterized by transparency moderated with concrete opacity for family privacy. From the street, the building looks like a white concrete box, with splashes of red, suspended over a glass prism. Next week, ArchitectureWeek contributing editor Michael J. Crosbie will show us around.

BROKEN GLASS

Cyprus-born glass artist Yorgos Papadopoulos treats his medium with what he calls a "healthy disrespect." He has developed a technique for breaking, coloring, texturing, then relaminating sheets of industrial glass to create artwork that looks fragile but is extremely durable. Next week we'll take a look at some of his architectural-scale works and learn how he makes them.