ArchiStudentLifeToday

Michael Graves on Drawing

2012-05-08T12:22:00.000-04:00

"Drawing is a magical act, filled with passion. You must draw all the time, even if you don't draw well. It helps you to analyze and to remember."-Michael Graves, upon receiving the 2012 Richard H. Driehaus Prize during a March 24th Ceremony in Chicago. (also in the 05/2012 edition of Architectural Record)

"I would like my architecture to inspire people to use their own resources, to move into the future." -Tadao Ando

2012-01-01T18:39:00.001-05:00

A day in the Life... (FINALLY)

2011-12-28T20:59:00.001-05:00

As promised at the start of this blog, I am offering a little insight into the day of an undergraduate architecture student, who also works part time:

3am: Hit snooze. Those 15 more minutes of sleep seem to help.
3:15am: Slide out of bed, throw on some clothes, wrestle down some breakfast (cereal/waffle/oatmeal--whatever's quick) and grab a large coffee or energy drink for the road.
4am: Start my work day then spend around 5-6 hours pricing at my retail job.
9/9:30am: drive-thru coffee/snack. Wrestle with campus parking (WHY are there never enough spaces?!)
10-3:15pm: classes. Typically lecture after lecture after lecture or 4 hours of design class, depending on the day.
4pm: come home, grab another energy drink/coffee to refuel, and make dinner.
5pm: relax for an hour. (usually fall asleep on the couch, actively take a nap, or blankly stare at the television)
6pm: start homework. Typically more research and reading than can be completed in one day, drawing/sketching out design ideas, mini-projects, study model building.
8:15pm: recognize that I should be going to bed but forgo sleep to get more school work done.
9:00pm: mooooore coffee.
11:15pm: start falling asleep while working. spill coffee, knock materials off desk, rest head on laptop... and it's over.
2:00am: wake up with key imprints on my face. Realize I may have been drooling/snoring due to the awkward hunched position I've been in for the last few hours. Groan like an old person when I move, due to aches from said positioning. Groan again when I realize I have to be up for work again in an hour...

This is a standard day, with changing variables added depending on when projects are due, how long I have to spend rendering my drawings, if I can get off work early and squeeze in a nap between work and school, or, on the weekends the huge decision whether to spend time with neglected friends from other programs or be "responsible" and spend the whole weekend working toward an impossible deadline, only to finish 20 minutes too late for full credit.

Other issues the working architecture student may wrestle with:

1. Should I call in to work to utilize those 4 extra hours and still possibly not finish my project? (The final push is always so stressful! But you try to keep hope up until you hit the deadline)
2. Do I turn in a not-so-great project in order to meet the deadline or fully resolve my design and have a half-finished project at deadline?
3. Which is more important: Eating or Sleeping? (Sleep wins most frequently for me. I tend to gobble down a quick snack and then nap for at least an hour.)
4. Parking. (30 minutes to an hour lost circling the parking lot each day can really add up!) Picking up those plans at the print shop between class and work. (WHY am I catching every red light?!) Making it to that club meeting you're an officer for. etc. etc.
5. Food vs. Architecture supplies/printing costs/test fees/etc. Where does all this money go?!
6. Gas vs. Architecture supplies/printing costs/test fees/etc. (I can't believe I'm on E again!! Please-oh-please just make it to where I'm going...)
7. Exercise? does carrying all these projects the length of 2 football fields count?

and so on and so on...

I'm looking forward to the day when my schooling is "over" and I am only worrying about work for once (although I know the profession is focused on continuing education). For now, I'll enjoy the rest of this 2 week break. Happy holidays, everyone!!

Ginger-Tecture

2011-12-01T21:59:00.001-05:00

In light of the holiday season and my love of all things sweet, I bring to you an assortment of architectural gingerbread wonders.

It's pretty amazing that these wonderful structures are made of cookies, icing and candies. I hope you enjoy them!

Life-size!

Enormous "gingerbread"-like structures in Spain (by Gaudi)

Zombie Safe House Competition

2011-10-27T14:47:00.000-04:00

Disclaimer: This is all theoretical discussion and nerdy speculation with some fun pictures along the way.

With Halloween's approach coupled with the growing popularity of The Walking Dead (on AMC), my chapter of the AIAS has taken on a Zombie Safe-House charrette and school-wide competition. Our inspiration for the competition was found here.

Despite the designs I have displayed below, I tend to disagree with a hub where millions of people collect themselves. In a plague situation, as this more than likely would be treated, the bringing together of people would be detrimental (as we have seen in horror stories before). There is always one rule-breaker who hides their contamination, or the contamination of a loved one and brings ruin to those who have found shelter. I feel like "putting all of the eggs in one basket" here is a bad idea. Therefore, the most successful design in my opinion, would have to be one that allows for contact with other humans for socialization, but in a regulated manner, with some severe screening (possibly Haz-Mat style) to ensure that those present were not already infected, and which can be broken down into single-family units for privacy and comfort as well as a type of private security/quarantine.

I like the noble idea of searching for a cure, but to include this in your primary housing facility is also a bad idea. any testing of the undead should also be regulated and kept far away from those living sectors.

Unfortunately, I'm not a fan of turning existing monuments into shelters (i.e. The Statue of Liberty or Eiffel Tower). There are a few entries like these, and do not let me dissuade you if you think they are strong, I just don't think they are a solution most people could consider given the apocalypse, and despite Darwin's survival of the fittest, I feel the resources it would take to reach these places (or ensure food delivery, ecological regrowth, etc) would be so astronomical that it wouldn't be worthwhile.

Islands are an interesting idea, but it would depend on the zombie you are referencing. Unfortunately, there is a type of zombie, I am told, that walks along the bottom of the ocean. it cannot swim and does not need to breathe, thus its ability to sustain itself. But I will set aside any more of this "nerd-ism" in the interest of the designs.

I want to encourage you to vote on your favorite designs (until October 31, 2011) as many entrants have put a great deal of work into their designs.Enjoy!! :)

(These are just a small selection and are shown in no particular order)

Z1251--SafetyNetCity -I really enjoy this presentation. The idea (because of my fear of heights) is completely impossible for me, but the presentation is delightful and Comic-Bookish.

Z1505- The Floater- I love the look of this overall presentation and integration with the theme.

Z1613-The Chrysallis-I like this because of the organic shapes, and life in the woods as well as the Haz-Mat focus on protection. Also, the portability/escape-pod/hot-air-balloon feeling makes it a neat concept.

Z1521-The Vagabond- This is essentially my favorite idea, but I would make some tweaks. Marketable to EVERYONE, this design allows for mobility as well as ancient Greco-Roman defense. Unfortunately, this doesn't say where you might put your food/other supplies if your house is filling up your backpack but I still think it's a great idea. Although it is a little small for my liking, the idea that it is easy to carry and won't slow you down/tie you to one spot is exemplary. Also, they quote Darwin! :)

Z1672-ZOASIS-Another absolute favorite! First, I love that this two-part presentation is aimed at the consumer and markets its strengths in a fun commercial way. Second, not only does the scheme efficiently address quarantine, but it builds upon a focus of renewable food sources, better air quality, and mental health. (yay!!)

There are a bunch more, just click the link at the top to see for yourself! :)

"Architecture is the will of an epoch translated into space." -Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

2011-10-03T18:22:00.003-04:00

"Architecture is a visual art and the buildings speak for themselves." -Julia Morgan, Architect, 1872-1957

2011-09-22T18:18:00.000-04:00

"Architecture is not a form; Architecture houses a life."-Jody Brown, Coffee With an Architect

2011-09-20T14:28:00.001-04:00

The contextual excerpt:

"No one is excited about the program of a building. No one cares about the materiality of the forms. No one thinks about the building systems. No one really loses sleep over the cost of a building. No one remembers the difficulty we traversed during the process of design. Everyone forgot the 2 week delay, No one is interested in the references we made, and no one remembers the speech you made about balance and harmony at the city council meeting. But, everyone remembers the folding chair they sat in to watch their son or daughter graduate kindergarten and middle school and high school and college. Everyone remembers their first job interview; their wedding day; or the 10 days in ICU after the birth of their 3rd son; or the first time they noticed their Grandmother’s fading memory; or looking into your future wife’s eyes at 2am and slowly brushing her hair out of her eyes and seeing a path that leads to the rest of your life. Architecture is not a form; Architecture houses a life."

See the full article here.

See-Through Touch-Screen Renderer, as found on Dornob.com

2011-09-16T20:56:00.000-04:00

IRIS currently has a tablet in pre-production that will change the dynamic of design dramatically. Inventions and innovations like this make me even more excited about the future of design capabilities. In an instant you can scan an image, scale it or draft an addition then show it in 3D against the backdrop of the existing space.

See the full article here
or Watch the IRIS promo video here on YOUTUBE

BLDG BLOG "Farmland World"

2011-09-07T19:39:00.000-04:00

Image: "Farmland World" by Design With Company (Allison Newmeyer and Stewart Hicks)

A recent winner of the Animal Architecture Awards, "Farmland World makes the human-animal encounter spectacular, proposing an absurdly over-the-top farm animal theme park—a 'human/machine/animal hybrid adventure-land.'"

"Part theme park and part working farm, guests arrive to the resort via train and stay as part of 1-day, 3-day or 5-day experience packages. Capitalizing on both recent governmental investments in high-speed rail infrastructure and the plentiful subsidies for farming, the network of resorts combine crowd-sourced farm labor with eco-tainment."

This is an interesting commentary on the disconnection of people from the foods and agriculture that sustains us. As an educational tool, this innovative "resort" may make you want to go vegetarian, or may help you learn to make more sustainable food choices.

(Plus the park is pretty.)

For the full article on Bldg Blog, click here!

Fashion inspired by Architecture

2011-09-04T18:52:00.003-04:00

"Fashion is architecture: it's a matter of Proportions." -Coco Chanel

Hiroko Masuike for The New York Times, Don Ashby Sir Norman Foster’s Hearst building echoed in a spring 2009 look from Gareth Pugh.

Don Ashby, Reuters, A Spring 2009 look from Gianfranco Ferré and the Sydney Opera House

Don Ashby, Reuters, An orange Lanvin dress from Spring 2008 and Frank Gehry’s Hotel Marqués De Riscal.

Bottega Veneta and Frank Gehry team up in Italian Vogue

Designer Elena Manferdini explores the link between architecture and fashion in her new line

Architecture and fashion are very often linked, whether by shape, color, material inspirations or simply locale. As architects like Frank Gehry take inspiration from flowing fabrics and liquid motion, fashion designers also find motivation in the shapes, structural connections, and materials found in architecture.

Also, many great fashion editorials are shot around architecture. Below are some great examples I found (on trendhunter.com). Enjoy!

Stunning Libraries

2011-09-02T20:38:00.003-04:00

In light of our first and current third year project (A religious building meant to house a library of religious art, poetry, and articles on the FAMU campus), I have included a quick study of stunning libraries. :) Enjoy!

Seattle Public Library


Library in Canada by Hughes Condon Marier Architects

interior view of above

Trinity College Library--"The Long Room", Dublin, Ireland

Library of Parliament, Ottawa, Canada

National Library, Belarus

Resort Library in Koh Samui

SanSovino Library, Rome Italy

Bristol Central Library

British Library Reading Room

Central Library in Vancouver, CA

Delft University Library in The Netherlands

The Royal library Black Diamond in Copenhagen, Denmark

Etsy Art Finds 8.29.2011

2011-08-29T17:00:00.000-04:00

For your viewing pleasure.

**Note: These are an eclectic variety with no specific theme. I just found them and think they are wonderful enough to be shared and/or utilized for inspiration.

"Gin Soaked Boy"(a Portrait of Tom Waits, musician) by Derek Shockey, for sale here

The Wrigley Building and Tribune Tower, Chicago, by Jane Sloss, for sale here

Kansas City-Fine Art Photography Print by Alison Samborn, for sale here

"Fanciful Submarines" by Andrew George Brown, for sale here

Man and Pigeon (having a disagreement) by Sophy Tuttle, for sale here

"Rainy Morning" by A & J Studio, for sale here

"Swell" (fantasy fairy tale art) by Jessica Grundy, for sale here

"The Spirit of Ireland" fine art photography, billy stroart, for sale here

1000 views!

2011-08-28T19:32:00.000-04:00

I would like to say thank you to all of my blog viewers! Today my blog reached 1000 views! I appreciate your support/attention/accidental clicks! Feel free to explore the links in and around my blog as well (there's some interesting additional material there too, especially in the blogs I follow.)

School starts again tomorrow, so I'm not sure how regularly I'll be able to keep updating. My plan is to squeeze in time to post some more cool stuff as I find it, but with crazy deadlines and working almost every morning, this very well may not happen. We'll see!

To those of you who are starting back tomorrow, or who recently returned to your classes: Good luck in the upcoming school year!

Outstanding Interiors: RoomPorn Finds 08.24.11

2011-08-24T13:29:00.004-04:00

A sister-site to Reddit's CityPorn, RoomPorn showcases oustanding interiors posted by individuals around the world. I posted some finds for the day below. I hope you enjoy them!

posted by Ningishzida

Open Room, posted by Ningishzida

Hotel in the Tropics, posted by Ningishzida

tranquility, posted by Ningishzida

Splendid hotel room, posted by Ningishzida

Amazing Recessed Bathroom, posted by Portdusk

Sea View, posted by Ningishzida

Posted by Ningishzida

Outdoor Room, Hong Kong, posted by Ningishzida

posted by bfdr

underwater dining, posted by abolished

Library designed by Bertrand Benoit, posted by done8989

"Apartment in the City" posted by Ningishzida

"Best room ever," posted by arcticwind27

UP-Cycled furniture

2011-08-23T10:51:00.020-04:00

One of the greatest options that comes with utilizing green technology is the opportunity to make new and wonderful things from older or used materials. Here I have included some furniture finds from ultra-creative artists and designers who make Up-cycling look easy. Enjoy!

By Bob Campbell, more here

Recycled car hoods made into tables, By The Weld House, more here

Cardboard furniture by David Graas, more here

Metal studs make upcycled furniture by Kassen, more here

Recycled silverware table by Objection Design, more here

Recycled street sign furniture by Tim Delger, above and below, see more here

Upcycled Suitcase chair by Katie Hudson, see more here

Upcycled denim chair from DesignSquish.com

Recycled Car desks more here

CityPorn Finds 08.22.11 (no, it's not dirty)

2011-08-22T21:08:00.000-04:00

I recently discovered a Sub-Reddit feed called CityPorn where individuals can post and view stunning architectural images. (Click here to browse on your own) To give you a taste (and help you decide where to visit when visiting new cities, or to subscribe to this feed! :p) here are some of my findings for today:

Sydney Australia, posted by Deece Bahrain

Dreamland Park, 1905, Coney Island, posted by aspec

Bay Bridge, San Francisco, California, posted by kjoneslol

Hansaviertel, Berlin, Germany, Posted by kjoneslol

Cadiz Spain, posted by StephensonB

Budapest at Night, posted by Paslematin

Grand Central Terminal, New York City, posted by Mind_Virus

Lioppo Centre, Admiralty, Hong Kong, posted by xtirpation

Spectacular Panoramic of Central Park, NYC, posted by Mind_Virus

NYC Rush Hour Times Square, posted by Tillandsia


Downtown Chicago, posted by Danny-Dreams

London- Thames Sunset, posted by Danny-Dreams

Twin Cities Skyline, posted by ImStillAwesome

Extreme Architectural Jewelry

2011-08-20T18:52:00.034-04:00

Sometimes you just have to throw subtlety out the window in favor of an intensified theme. Here I present to you stunning and unquestionably architectural jewelry. Enjoy:)

by Joshua Demonte, more here

cufflinks by Creative MetalWorks

rings by Sevan Bickaki for Namesake Jewelre

ionic column capital cufflinks by Museumize

The Bird's nest, by Herzog and De Meuron, as interpreted by Hearts On Fire

by Plastique

by jewellery.com/manhattan

AIAS poster idea #1

2011-08-19T20:58:00.001-04:00

a first try at graphic design. 08.08.11

Food as Architecture

2011-08-17T17:44:00.015-04:00

Today I decided to delve into the world of food as it relates to architecture. Now, if you're like me, when you think architectural food you think gingerbread houses or crazy cake sculptures from various Food Network challenges. However, there are many mediums and varieties of food as architecture. Enjoy!

[Cookie] City by Song Dong

Chinese artist Song Dong uses various cookies, crackers, marshmallows and baked ingredients to form edible cities.

Another city by Song Dong, this time with candy, donuts and colored icings as well as cookies and crackers.

Falling Water (gingerbread)

organic layers carved from a honeydew

"Edible Beijing"

Jell-O.

Cake Mondrian (which I know isn't technically architectural, but it's cool:D)


baby gingerbread house by Not Martha

Building "essentials": chocolate nuts, bolts, screws and legos

Essentially, there are two different takes on food as architecture: food that looks like architecture or that contains some type of structural element, and architecture inspired by food.

Various Buildings inspired by food

The latter was most popular during the first half of the 20th century, mostly housing diners, drive-ins, ice cream and donut shoppes. Recently, these kitschy fruit inspired structures have been turning up in japan:

These fun stops come in nearly all fruit varieties (melon, strawberry, orange, pineapple, etc.).

While these examples are all very literal, it is important to realize that most buildings which take their inspiration from food may develop nicknames based on their shape, texture, etc. (i.e. "the Pickle" by Jean Nouvel).

"I will not allow the world I touch to be vanilla."-Kevin Spacey in the movie Casino Jack

2011-08-17T13:39:00.002-04:00

Architects in Film

2011-08-15T15:03:00.003-04:00

Indecent Proposal

With millions of movies out there, we clearly need to see more architects in film! Here's a list of architects as lead or prominent supporting roles as compiled by mad architect on architechnophilia.

I'm a little sad to say, I've only seen about a handful of these.

the Black Cat (1934) - Boris Karloff
Mrs Miniver (1942) - Walter Pidgeon
The Fountainhead (1949) - Gary Cooper
Strangers when we meet (1960) - Kirk Douglas
The World of Suzie Wong (1960) - William Holden
Two for the Road (1967) - Albert Finney
Don't Look Now (1973) - Donald Sutherland
Death Wish (1974) - Charles Bronson
The Towering Inferno (1974) - Paul Newman
Falling in Love Again (1980) - Elliot Gould
Three Men & a Baby (1987) - Tom Selleck
The Belly of an Architect (1987) - Brian Dennehey
Jungle Fever (1991) - Wesley Snipes
Housesitter (1992) - Steven Martin
Indecent Proposal (1993) - Woody Harrelson
Fearless (1993) - Jeff Bidges
Sleepless in Seattle (1993) - Tom Hanks
Intersection (1994) - Richard Gere
Clifford (1994)-Charles Grodin
Cable Guy (1996) - Matthew Broderick
One Fine Day (1996) - Michelle Pfeiffer
There's Something About Mary (1998) - Lee Evans (pretends to be an architect/lecturer)
Heaven (1998) - Martin Donovan

The Lake House

Three to Tango (1999) - Matthew Perry & Oliver Platt
My Life as a House (2001) - Kevin Kline (sort of, his job was a model-maker)
In the Bedroom (2001) - Nick Stahl (architecture student)
Town & Country (2001) - Warren Beatty
Love Actually (2003) - Liam Neeson
Just Like Heaven (2005) - Mark Ruffalo (landscape architect)
The Quiet (2005) - Martin Donovan
White Noise (2005) - Michael Keaton
The Namesake (2006) - Kal Penn
The Lake House (2006)- Keanu Reeves
The Architect (2006) - Anthony LaPlaglia
Firewall (2006) - Virginia Madsen
The Last Kiss (2006) - Zach Braff
Breaking & Entering (2006) - Jude Law (landscape architect)
The Shaggy Dog (2006) - Kristin Davis
Something's New (2006) - Simon Baker (landscape architect)
You, Me and Dupree (2006) - Matt Dillon
My Super Ex-girlfriend (2006) - Luke Wilson
Click (2006) - Adam Sandler and David Hasselhoff
Why did I get Married (2007) - Malik Yoba
the Orphan (2009) - Peter Sarsgaard
500 Days of Summer (2009) - Joseph Gordon-Leavitt
It's Complicated (2009) - Steve Martin
Valentine's Day (2010) - Hector Elizondo
Inception (2010) - Ellen Page

Inception

Water, Water Everywhere...

2011-08-14T14:33:00.001-04:00

Because my summer vacation is drawing to a close, and as a tribute to my first true summer as a water-logged pool veteran, I have provided a look at some of the most beautiful pools around the world. Enjoy!

The Observatory Hotel in Sydney, Australia

Intercontinental Hotel, Hong Kong

Larson Drive, Aspen, CO

The Neptune Pool, Hearst Castle. California

The Magawish Hotel, Hurghada, Egypt

The Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island, Bahamas

3D Building Holograms

2011-08-13T09:54:00.001-04:00

We build models, we draw and digitally compose renderings, but what if the two became one? And what if it took fewer resources, was more convenient to lug around, and was more cost-effective to set up one piece of plastic with a light source for your presentations? This environmentally friendly, cost-effective new option is exactly what Autodesk is launching in the video below. I hope you become as excited as I am about this new option for those situations where time is too short to build numerous models and print a wide range of orthographic projections and/or 3d renderings. Not to mention, damage to your project when caught in the rain would no longer be an issue, and there would be no chance of accidentally tearing rolled-up drawings, or fighting to fit your project through doors (or into your inconveniently small car) without delicate pieces being smashed to bits. Enjoy!

Holographic Architectural Imaging by Zebra from Core77 on Vimeo.

refreshing architectural finds (on etsy.com)

2011-08-07T20:09:00.007-04:00

As an architecture student, I find myself looking for additional design/architectural representations in new and different places. Here are just a few gems I found today [on etsy.com]. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did! :)

for sale here