Marton Perlaki

A post in haste. Lots of images, a few words.

Marton Perlaki - young, Hungarian and already with a distinctive, mesmeric style, is obviously a photographic talent to watch. A regular contributor to The Room, the standout Hungarian fashion title, in the model Valejira he already seems to have found his muse too. Enjoy.

All images © Marton Perlaki

Vinaròs Microcoasts

Taking first prize in a Spanish competition in 2007 with this innovative project, Barcelona-based Guillart Architects created these striking wooden platforms based around hexagons, allowing local residents of Vinaròs to use the coastline around their town more freely.

Roughly halfway between Barcelona and Valencia, Vinaròs has a sparkling sea and a beautiful coast filled with coves, promontories and inlets, but instead of any welcoming beaches there's only rough and unforgiving rock strata. Not ideal for a Sunday picnic with the family.

Choosing the standout spots close to the ocean, Guillart Architects set simple hexagonal grids into the rock, which were then covered with timber panels which can be positioned flat, partially or fully folded, creating their own 'microtopographies'. Stunning as pieces of sculpture in their own right, these platforms were quickly embraced by the locals whose sunbathing activities had for years been a jagged and painful experience.

Photographs © Nuria Diaz

Sun Moon Lake visitor centre

Japanese architecture firm Norihiko Dan and Associates recently designed this striking visitor and admin centre at the Sun Moon Lake, the largest body of water in Taiwan. The lake is one of the country's biggest tourist attractions, and an island that sits in the middle called Lalu is even considered sacred by the indigenous Thao tribe. The new visitor centre is an amazing, sinuous design, which slopes gently upward from the landscape on one side, rising to face the water on two different levels with a long curving balcony with amazing views over the water. The functional, brutal concrete is grassed over on the roof, but the contrast of this staple building material, set against the lush green countryside and the clear water in this incredible setting make for a very special project.

Click on the images to see them larger - the final one in particular is worth a closer look.

All photographs © Anew Chen, courtesy of Norihiko Dan and Associates