Alcoholic Architect

yes...i'm not dead yet...

noreply@blogger.com (Alcoholic Architect) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 16:03:00 +0000

Happy International Womens Day Honey!

PS: NOT dead but just on sabbatical...

lofty cube

noreply@blogger.com (Alcoholic Architect) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:52:00 +0000

Studio NOA's new residence entrance is a large main hall featuring a 6m high ceiling which serves as a shared common space. It contains a stairwell leading to and connected with the other rooms. This relatively large void gives the residence a sense of spatial continuity as well as openness from the slightly small individual rooms in the house. The Architect created a loft space that can serve as a future children’s room just above the entrance which is currently being used by the husband as a reading area to indulge his love of books. An underground mezzanine space leading down from the main hall serves as a bedroom with ample natural light and ventilation. Leading up from the main hall, the observer is greeted with a compact kitchen and dining area equipped with a food preparation area, storage units for tableware and crockery, dishwasher, rice cooker, microwave oven and garbage bins. Just above this kitchen-dining area, with its low ceiling due to legal height restrictions, a space for wash basin and bathroom and a skylight overhead.

model museum

noreply@blogger.com (Alcoholic Architect) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 07:31:00 +0000

Richard Meier's Museum Re-opens....nuff said.

A new Dawn

noreply@blogger.com (Paolo Malatesta) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 09:03:00 +0000

Hey there! Hold up! Look who's there! Yes yes, Paolo is back. Its been a while. How you doin? Many of you probably do not remember me, I put a few posts at the beginning of this enterprise but since then I have failed to add to my commitment agreement with the ever present Mr Watanabe. I can hear the feverish responses already streaming out, 'who the fuck is this Paolo guy!?!'. Well, i've been traipsing around the northern half of Italy, reconciling with long lost friends and long time enemies, even finding love along the way only to be forced out by a belligerent father who wasn't too pleased, which has thus put me back on the path where i find myself today.

What has happened here people? Whilst ive been away, the media and free press has fallen to the wolves of capitalism, despite having had a few scratches left on him Führer und Reichskanzler Murdoch now holds sway to one of the few past times which engages both my mind, heart and soul.. Motor racing. But put that aside the most beloved of all things, the love of my soul, Architecture (it may as well be called the capitalist implementation of the built form) has gone down the pan, even Zaha has managed to produce buildings now!

As you may or may not now, ive been around a long, long time. Seen things come and go but never have I seen a world go backwards to such a degree as ive been witnessing in the UK these last couple of months or even years. During my time in Italy it is evident for all to see that the place is run by dogs feverishly feeding off the quick dime to be found lying on the street. Avenues that 200 years ago were full of joy and wonder, now are devoid of anything, soulless dank vestibules of modern life. Wake, eat, work, eat, sleep. Buildings that stand as the emblem of the monotony of life. But that is another world, the UK is on of the few places in the 'modern' world where dank social housing was prevalent in the 60's and 70's, as a nation, the UK had sailed that boat and was being propelled by the winds of innovation and modernity towards a new path of redemption, so it seemed.

But hold up, it seems the boat has taken in water because all I see out there is young like minded people being forced out of their profession. There is a fight out there lighting up the skies, in which we are all involved. On one side you have the Architect, a one stop shop for all your building needs, an intelligent artistic being who's only goal in life is to walk past his creation and say 'Ahh, I designed that!' Yet on the other side you have the Client/Contractor. The Murdoch/Berlusconi of the building industry with a mantra of 'pack'em an' stak'em boy's, there's gold in them there hills!'. The later, unfortunately is wining, the architect is no more. Since the day some guy with big ears and a few Palaces dotted around told an innovative forward thinking like minded Architect that 'you cannot build this here, start again!', we lost ourselves. We have been resorted to engage with the powers that be and build whatever makes them happy.

Like the media where the BBC is set to lose its independent liberal mantra to a more capitalist, right wing approach, the world of Architecture is set to lose out to the contractor. Small, enterprising architectural practises that thrive on medium developments are falling by the way side. Young, gifted professionals are losing their chance of putting their heart and minds on paper. A once revered professional has now become the lap dog of the few. Paternoster Square, which sits next to the greatest symbol of Architecture at its best in the UK, is the embodiment of modern day weeling and dealing where the Architect is the one getting whipped and being shafted up the rear.

In much the same way as the architectural world, the right wing capitalist power's that be are getting exactly what they want in forcing the the great BBC institution to cut costs or ultimately lose the license fee, its the beginning of the end for this colossal beast. We have now lost the last remaining world wide sport phenomena, F1 to the capitalist right and in the coming years will lose more and more services and ultimately see an independent media organisation become ITV in drag. We are edging closer to have a media which is run much like it is in Italy, one person with the ability to publicise what he wants when he wants to 60 million people. With all that is going on the only person who is smiling...Rupert Murdoch...

To summarise, I could easily put up a picture of something of Architectural merit but that would miss the point. Architecture is something that stimulates all senses. You touch it, breath it, see it and in many cases taste it. It is a concoction of various stimulates which come togehter to interact with your soul, something pictures sometimes fail to encapculate.

abuse and be abused

noreply@blogger.com (Alcoholic Architect) — Mon, 02 May 2011 07:06:00 +0000

{Couplet:}

Sweet dreams are made of this

Who am I to disagree?

I travel the world

And the seven seas

Everybody's looking for something

{Refrain:}

Some of them want to use you

Some of them want to get used by you

Some of them want to abuse you

Some of them want to be abused

{au Couplet}

{au refrain}

Hold your head up

Keep your head up

{x2}

Movin' on

paradise can't be so far

noreply@blogger.com (Alcoholic Architect) — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 06:01:00 +0000

For heavens sake let’s fall in love

It’s no mistake to call it love

An angel’s holding hands with me

How heavenly heaven can be

Here is romance for us to try

Here is a chance we can’t deny

While heaven’s giving us a break

Let’s fall in love for heaven’s sake

Don’t say a word my darling

Don’t break the spell like this

Just hold me tight; we’re alone in the night

And heaven is here with a kiss

This pair of eyes can see a star

So paradise can’t be so far

Since heaven’s what we’re dreaming of

For heaven’s sake, let’s fall in love

green courtyard

noreply@blogger.com (Alcoholic Architect) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 07:28:00 +0000

The focal idea behind DI Bernardo Bader's concept is the valuable 'indoor environment quality' achieved by the inner garden courtyard which is hidden from outside views. The site measuring 500 sqm, is located at the outskirts of the village Sulz, Austria. It lies between existing development and the agricultural green belt and girded by highly frequented paths leading to the recreational area in the close neighborhood. The house is arranged on two floors; the ground floor contains the kitchen, dining, living room, secondary rooms and the garage. Meanwhile the first floor are all rooms. The terrace encloses the greened patio in whose centre a tree grows through the open roof.

beach's life

noreply@blogger.com (Alcoholic Architect) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 07:27:00 +0000

Herbstarchitects created a beach shelter on a site that is small and narrow (16x52m) and set back from the beach amongst a number of similar sites strung on either side of a dead end access road. The building is made up of 3 primary elements; a wall, a so-called 'container' and the negative space between them. To cope with the neighboring buildings along both long boundaries, the bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, lounge and the boat garage are grouped into a long container-like structure and positioned along the eastern boundary. On the western boundary, the Architects created a gabion wall made of stone from a local quarry to define the edge. These 2 elements are connected by a roof structure which is the covered living deck. Retractable screen walls on the north and south faces of the living deck allow protection from the prevailing winds.

pale snow, white wood

noreply@blogger.com (Alcoholic Architect) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 07:26:00 +0000

Avanto Architect's site is situated on a horse shoe shaped island that faces north and east. The Architects have decided upon a cross like shape villa for showcasing 4 very different views. The exterior is treated all black by contrast to the interior, which is very light. The idea of the dark color was to make the building disappear totally when seen from the lake. The building is insulated well and heated by wood but there is no running water and the electricity is provided by the sun. Vegetables and herbs are cultivated on site and the Vaskivesi Lake is known as a good place to catch a fish called pike-perch.

myrtle tree

noreply@blogger.com (Alcoholic Architect) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 07:21:00 +0000

Hernandez Silva Arquitectos's house is located in one of the oldest residential colonies in Guadalajara. The irregular shape of the space generates a sharp corner surrounded by the great foliage of trees that are already located on the sidewalk. The Architects scheme is defined in perspective by two very evident brackets where one embraces the front and the other embraces the garden. And the union of both generates a void that tops in the heart of the house with an internal large myrtle tree. The house was designed with high, generous and continuing spaces which allow the continuity of the view all the way to the background. The use of the materials is almost even in all the areas, wood extends from the floor to walls and doors, ceramic floor with perfect interior finishing covers the entire surface, the volumes that stand out are a powerful and well defined spaces, in particular the raw concrete fireplace and the other which is a great hanging wall that divides spaces and fusions as part of the whole.

woof ! woof !

noreply@blogger.com (Alcoholic Architect) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 06:34:00 +0000

What do you expect to do on Good Friday? Well, I wasn't sure until I was invited for a lunch with some friends in leafy London. Took me a while to get there but alas, when we finally arrived, it was worth the trip. I was pleasantly surprised with the Overground trains. Reminds me of Barcelona and Hong Kong. Long carriages for less crowded experience. Even the new stations are above par as well. Something I wasn't expecting in London. The party was a small one but the invite did insists on bringing some beverages preferably wines. I was still on my binge £5 budget and found several really good plonk for the price and my supermarket of choice is Waitrose. Anyway, after waiting for the Brunette to get ready, I made my way to the local Sainsburys near me and bought a couple of red wine called Longue-Dog. Yes, yet another wine from the makers of Chat-en-Ouef. What a blast! I've decided to try all these wines with cartoons of animals on the label. Hardly a smart way of buying wines but who cares, so far it has done me well. What next, the singing penguin? Don't laugh, there is such a bottle!!

housing estate

noreply@blogger.com (Alcoholic Architect) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 06:15:00 +0000

Atelier d.org is experimenting a new compact housing concept in the middle of a private housing estate by building an eco-aware house and proposing a return to living closer to the natural elements. The evolution of the urban shape of housing estates using new house layout makes the neighbourhood denser thus creating a new relationship between the living rooms and the outdoor spaces. The Architects focused its attention to bioclimatic principles to benefit from passive natural energies and complement energy saving technologies. The parcel-house is partly built on the lot limits which is contrary to the classical layout of housing estates. It allows organising the outdoor space with specific objectives directly linked to the interior spatial design.

lucky oven bird

noreply@blogger.com (Alcoholic Architect) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 07:38:00 +0000

The Punta House is located on an open lot alongside a reservoir in the countryside of Uruguay. From the start, the location of the residence on this open country wasteland imposed various challenges for the Architects to create private spaces. Their solution adopted from the beginning was a one-level house which, on one side looked out to the waters of the reservoir and the other, to an internal patio demarcated by stone walls defining all of the spaces of the house. Marcio Kogan's fundamental concept was the organisation of a plan on a flat slab structured by rationally distributed pillars and supported laterally by stone walls. Under this slab a wooden box contains the bedrooms, the kitchen and utility room. Meanwhile, at the ends of this wooden box, two all glass enclosed living-rooms organize the collective program of the house. The Architects created a large deck and pool in front of the house. The construction used local material like the stone 'piedras lajas' for the the walls and floor. The wooden box is composed of folding panels of mashrabiya. begins to take on the house. Some wild flowers embraces the house and atop one of the stone walls an oven-bird makes his home which, according to local tradition, is a sign of luck.

chinese tiles

noreply@blogger.com (Alcoholic Architect) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 07:01:00 +0000

The water house is a private house located at the foot of snow mountain Yulong, China. Li Xiaodong Atelier have used the ancient trading settlement whose old town is famous for its historic network of waterways and bridges as inspiration thus the reason why the house synthesises traditional forms and techniques to make a contemporary building that resonates with place and history. The Architect saw it as an interlocking series of contemplative, inward-looking courtyards, the house has an open yet closed courtyard space. The emphasis on local-texture and non-decorative detailing is to create a house on the background from which, nature could be appreciated fully. The cluster of simple timber and glass pavilions with tile-clad pitched roofs evokes traditional forms but is still evidently of its time. The Architects have used the cooling, calming presence of water by threading it through the house. The interior space is kept to a minimum following the idea appreciating nature from within while the details are important contributors to the final results of the architecture.

golden gate view

noreply@blogger.com (Alcoholic Architect) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 06:26:00 +0000

Terry + Terry Architecture designed this modern house in San Francisco with a shared language of simple materials and clean detailing because they believed that this aesthetic creates the warmth and calmness essential for a family in an urban setting. The Architects created the main floor at garden level which contains the common spaces, balcony, living room, kitchen/dining and outdoor living spaces. A sloping roof planes hover above and are contained between the longitudinal concrete walls. Large glazed openings in the front and rear of the house create transparency between indoor and outdoor spaces. The lower portion of the dwelling holds the less public spaces such as the guest room, children’s playroom, and utilities. A roof deck is inserted by the Architects at the top of the house which functions as a continuation of the garden living space. A detached garden studio is located at the rear of the property. This small satellite structure serves as a home office, and as additional family space. Concrete is used because it provides thermal mass for energy efficiency. The concrete absorbs heat energy during the day, keeping the interior comfortable, and helping to maintain a moderate, baseline temperature for the cooler evenings. Since the house is located in a relatively dense urban area, the concrete walls also add protection against fire. Transparent glass and wood-skinned walls are used between the perimeter concrete walls. The wooden walls allows ventilation between the skin and the underlying wall thus avoiding heat build up in the wall and interior spaces.

...miau...miau?

noreply@blogger.com (Alcoholic Architect) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 06:58:00 +0000

What a wonderful weekend! A weekend packed with Formula 1, Virgin London Marathon, lots of sunshine, warm weather and lots of wines. The Brunette is currently obsessed with searching a breakfast bed tray (??....or is it bed tray??). So far, we have been to a few shops, lots of website and have found zilch. After a few hours of search for this elusive crumb producing device for the bed, I was close to killing myself. Then, the heavens opened and Waitrose was in front of me. I couldn't resists and convinced her that perhaps, the breakfast bed tray would be in there. She knew what I was up to of course and convincingly agreed. I was walking straight up to the wine aisle and came across this rather interesting vin blanc. Chat en Ouef, a word play in regards to Chateauneuf du Pape. The label was interesting as well, with a cat perching on a rather large egg. I just had to try it. What is the verdict? Amazing wine. Great value for money. Highly quaffable. No sight of 'The Tray'. Nevertheless, the Brunette is happy. We are definitely buying more of the 'Chat'.

Miau! Miau! Miau!

historic ambience

noreply@blogger.com (Alcoholic Architect) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 06:53:00 +0000

CVDB arquitectos's house is located in a lot with 24 x 120 ft among the historical fabric of the city of Cartaxo, Portugal. The Architects have created a central patio and garden to allow light to go through all spaces of the house during the day. This central patio is an important element of the because this project explores the length of the site enabling its inhabitants to enjoy its different spaces. The house and garden are part of the same spatial entity in the way one may dwell in the house and enjoy both its exterior and interior spaces. The family main social areas are located on the ground floor which also have different headroom, thus emphasising the different ambiences of the house. The stair that connects both floors only has threads and therefore becomes a visual filter between the entrance and the living room and the garden. Large glazed elements acentuates the relation between the several interior spaces and the garden and the north facing courtyard that brings light to the kitchen and to a small office. The first floor is mainly a white entity gently sits above the ground floor. This floor accommodates the bedrooms and a rather more intimate living room with a play area for the children. The Architects made the smaller spaces of the house such as the kitchen and bathrooms in different texture and warm colours to counterpoint the bigger spaces with a more social character of the house.

siempre es carnaval

noreply@blogger.com (Alcoholic Architect) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 06:41:00 +0000

Cuántos viven disfrazados

sin saber que así quedaron!

Cuántos se oyen sin reír!

Este mundo es escenario

de un gran cine continuado

que nos hace consumir.

Cuánto, al fin, se macanea,

ya que nunca es todo cierto,

y es un juego el acertar:

"La señora está indispuesta"

o "ha salido hace un momento";

y el esposo se hace el muerto

si es que vienen a cobrar.

Y siempre es carnaval.

Van cayendo serpentinas,

unas gruesas y otras finas

que nos hacen tambalear.

Y cuando en tu disfraz

la careta queda ausente

en tu cara de inocente,

todo el año es carnaval.

Y viva el carnaval!

Vos ves siempre lucecitas.

Sos la eterna mascarita

que gozás con engañar.

Y cuando en tu disfraz

la careta queda ausente

en tu cara de inocente,

todo el año es carnaval.

Qué tuviste una fortuna!

Qué de oro fue tu cuna!

Que esto cuesta: ¡Qué se yo!

Las mujeres y los hombres

por tu amor tocan la luna

y otras cosas más por vos...

Y si hablás de tu familia!...

tu pretérito imperfecto

lo pasaste como un rey.

Yo quisiera que me digas,

y dejando un poco de esto,

si la cuenta vos has hecho

cuántos pesos me debés?

water baby

noreply@blogger.com (Alcoholic Architect) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 06:48:00 +0000

Vier Arquitectos's building tries to incorporate a new piece in the city, assuming the representative image the building must show according to its public nature, being able to fit in with dignity and, far as possible, becoming a part of the architectural legacy of the town. Their idea was not to create a position of prominence but assuming the suggestions of an environment enriched with history and tradition. The special design of the pool in Toro lies in the special role that the use of rammed earth acquires in its construction. Through the definition of bearing walls and exterior cladding to be built in rammed earth, the pool is conceived as a closed space to the outside and the building focusing on the texture of the walls. The pool protects itself from external climatology and from non-desirable views, thanks to the perimeter wall. The closed experience of the building contrasts with the image that appears as soon as the threshold is crossed. Areas received natural light and ventilation through a series of interior courtyards that also allow the visual control of the buildings, making them transparent as well as opaque. The main space that contains the swimming pool needs to be in a controlled climate conditions thus the exchange with other spaces is reduced dramatically and treated as a completely seperate independant space from the rest of the complex.

loose cannon

noreply@blogger.com (Alcoholic Architect) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 06:12:00 +0000

No matter what you intent to do, it always backfires and fucks you up. I feel a bit nostalgic and sad remembering our conversation today. It wasn't pretty and the hurt it brings is worth more than a katana strike to the body. At least, a katana is sharper compared to a blunt knife cutting a red meat. I'm quite solemn lately and when things don't go as planned, I don't get annoyed or aggressive like before. I can feel like my spirit steps back from my body and view it from a third person vantage point. The calmness scares me. How time stops and you have this extra time assessing everything around you.

How can someone be so unhappy yet laugh and have a whale of a time talking to another. Am I missing something here?? Should I be sad? Should I complain? At least they are happy,that's what I think...

vacation dunes

noreply@blogger.com (Alcoholic Architect) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 06:42:00 +0000

SAOTA created a vacation house for a couple from New York who wanted to build a 2 bedroom holiday home in the Southern hemisphere for summer vacations. The clients requested a sculptured building with clean horizontal lines, large areas of glass and screens creating a space that is ‘open as well as private’ and to incorporate a studio to be used in for their photographic and film related occupations. The Architects site is a residential area of Yzerfontein famous for its never-ending line of dunes. The climate on the West Coast can at times be idyllic and other times extremely harsh. To maximise the views of the sea and waves over the dunes, the ground floor living areas were elevated above natural ground level. A L-shaped concept of two intersecting rectangular forms allow two full glazed sides to face the view and at the same time create a sheltered courtyard overlooking a long, rectangular pool.

concrete lantern

noreply@blogger.com (Alcoholic Architect) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 07:01:00 +0000

Akitoshi Ukai/AUAU designed this small house for a young couple and their two children. The Architects have created the necessary life function into zonal arrangements and it was put in the fold box three-dimensionally. In addition, the wall that held the structure concurrently was turned over and the space was divided loosely. In essence, the thin slab was gradually accumulated from the 1st to the 2nd floor in a human scale and its aimed at a sense of intimacy. A suspender door made out of polycarbonate is hung on the centre of the house and functions as an illuminator as well as partitioning the space in time. Outside, the living was set up in the south so that valuable direct light can reach the interior of the house.

parallel life

noreply@blogger.com (Alcoholic Architect) — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 06:57:00 +0000

Now what am I supposed to do
When I want you in my world
How can I want you for myself
When I'm already someone's girl? [x2]

First time that I saw you boy
It was a warm and sunny day
All I know is I wanted you
I really hoped you looked my way
When you smiled at me
So warm and sweet
I could not speak
You make me feel like a
little bitty girl
What do you do to me

[Chorus x2]

I guess I'll see you next lifetime
No hard feelings
I guess I'll see you next lifetime
I'm gonna be there

You're energy
Feels so damn good to me
It picks me up don't wanna come down
You got me spinning all around
Yeah
You need to know
I've got that somebody
you're beautiful
But it ain't that type of party

[Chorus x2]

Well I guess I'll see
you next lifetime
Baby we'll be butterflies
I guess I'll see you next lifetime
That sounds so divine
I guess I'll see you next lifetime
I guess I will now
I guess I'll see you next lifetime
Wait
Wait a little while

See it ain't nothing
wrong with dreaming
Boy don't get me wrong
Cause every time (every
time) I see you (every
single time)
I know just how strong
(every single time)
That my love is for my baby
But emotions just don't lie
Well I know I'm a lot of woman
But not enough to divide the pie

[Chorus]

I guess I'll see you next lifetime
You know I want to stay around
I guess I'll see you next lifetime
I'm so confused now

[Chorus]

I guess I'll see you next lifetime
Already
I'm going to be there
I guess I'll see you next lifetime
I'm going to look for you

[Chorus]

I guess I'll see you next lifetime
Oh
Oh baby
I'm gonna be there
I'm gonna be there

sun stroke

noreply@blogger.com (Alcoholic Architect) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 06:31:00 +0000

At last! The sun is here, the 23 degrees forecasts is true & the bikinis are all out. Bring it on, Summer 2011! I was walking from pub to pub drinking in the sun while waiting for the Brunette to arrive. After an hour later and a few ales, she finally turned up. We chatted and laughed while basking in the sun. Suddenly out of the blue, as a follower to my blog, the Brunette ask me a poignant question (dark clouds are coming)...

Whe you write about this brunette, who is this Brunette? Is it one person or various women? Is she/they hot? Is she/they young and perky? Etc etc...

I will not include all the question as it goes on and on. I just laughed and ordered some pistachios. Although she laughed as well, I could sense we wasn't best pleased but what can I do - you can't make everyone happy.

firm bunker

noreply@blogger.com (Alcoholic Architect) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 06:55:00 +0000

Onion Flats has designed this single family home in the hills of Oakland, CA overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge and all of San Francisco to merge comfortably into a difficult and steeply sloped site. This site provides a tranquil yet inspiring setting for a young couple, their two children and their aging in-laws. The physical site offered the project its greatest challenge and direction. It’s 17% slope coupled with height restrictions and adjacencies to neighbouring homes required that the building be 'bunkered' into the landscape. The Architect used this as a source of the project’s programmatic, spatial and architectural strategy, which is centered around the entry or 'knuckle' (functions as a ‘de-bunkering’ device) of the building. It is also the organisational space of transition between the more public and private domains of the home. As a result, a subtle yet deliberate carving and terracing of the landscape away from the building, releasing it from bunkered status and creating an experience of tranquility and lightness in this heavily grounded building was created.