Track 25

Unit 8

architecture

Frank Gary

page 80

extend the topic

part A

are you interested in living to be 100 years old or more?

If so, these apartments might be the ticket for you in 2005 nine apartments known as reversible destiny lofts were designed in Tokyo by architectural soccer Lara Kawa and Madeleine Giddens.

These architects like Frank Gary challenge traditional ideas about architecture.

So, what makes these apartments different from other apartments. For starters, each apartment has sloped floors.

The floors aren’t flat like in most apartments. As a result, the people living there often lose their balance and fall over.

They have to work hard just to walk around plus light switches are hidden and there are no closets.

This of course makes it very difficult to find things.

Why did the architects think this design was a good idea?

Well, they’ve said that it makes people alert people have to work hard every day just to live there. This keeps their instinct strong so they’ll live better and longer.

In other words, these apartments may be the secret to long life. As strange as this may sound, the apartments meet building code requirements in Tokyo and there are plans to build similar apartments in other cities like Paris.

So, if you’re interested in a long life. Check this out.

End of CD2.

The audio program continues on CD3.