a little bored with architecture, and not sure if it's the Moscow nerves or day spent reading history.
you can see a few pictures of the aa party here [ click ]
3.30.2009
3.29.2009
This Week's Work 10
My week's work is quickly narrowing to one topic: studio.
The only course apart from studio I have to worry about now is history and theory (Architecture to Architecture); I met with the tutor for nearly 2 hours this week to discuss my interest in architecture morality, but the topic is still incredibly vague in my mind, and I need to narrow it down before we leave on Tuesday for Moscow.
However, my brain is tired and I have no motivation to think about theory and conceptual speculations.
===
Last night I went to a 1940's Blitz party with Justin, a dance friend; it was good fun despite the somewhat lousy music, the overcrowded dance floor, and few real dancers to swing with. The place was crowded, the music was loud, and the drinks overpriced, but I met some new people, got some practice leading, and had the satisfaction of showing off for non-dancers who are wow-ed by anyone that has the slightest clue as to what they are doing.
Unfortunately, we lost an hour to day light savings, and I got home much later than I would have liked.
I spent the morning writing post cards in the park, eating goodies purchased at the farmer's market.
This afternoon Mike and I went down to the London Bridge and then met up with folks from studio at the Tate for the Russian Constructivist exhibit. We ate a late lunch (early dinner?) at a pub, all tired and exhausted from wandering for so long. Something about going to museums makes you instantly tired, I'm not sure why.
Big bridge, little bridge
Little push- the skewed London city hall by Foster
Big push!
The little wooden cafe behind the Foster city hall is much better than the city hall itself; a nice use of 3D modeling- topo extraction
A nice ball sculpture...
...made better by 3...
...is loved by all!
A famous cathedral [which I have forgotten] has nice flying buttresses and a really inventive use of stone on its facade.
An old bishop's palace, with little left to show. Very close to an ancient prison.
We are all just another brick...
The only course apart from studio I have to worry about now is history and theory (Architecture to Architecture); I met with the tutor for nearly 2 hours this week to discuss my interest in architecture morality, but the topic is still incredibly vague in my mind, and I need to narrow it down before we leave on Tuesday for Moscow.
However, my brain is tired and I have no motivation to think about theory and conceptual speculations.
===
Last night I went to a 1940's Blitz party with Justin, a dance friend; it was good fun despite the somewhat lousy music, the overcrowded dance floor, and few real dancers to swing with. The place was crowded, the music was loud, and the drinks overpriced, but I met some new people, got some practice leading, and had the satisfaction of showing off for non-dancers who are wow-ed by anyone that has the slightest clue as to what they are doing.
Unfortunately, we lost an hour to day light savings, and I got home much later than I would have liked.
I spent the morning writing post cards in the park, eating goodies purchased at the farmer's market.
This afternoon Mike and I went down to the London Bridge and then met up with folks from studio at the Tate for the Russian Constructivist exhibit. We ate a late lunch (early dinner?) at a pub, all tired and exhausted from wandering for so long. Something about going to museums makes you instantly tired, I'm not sure why.
Big bridge, little bridge
Little push- the skewed London city hall by Foster
Big push!
The little wooden cafe behind the Foster city hall is much better than the city hall itself; a nice use of 3D modeling- topo extraction
A nice ball sculpture...
...made better by 3...
...is loved by all!
A famous cathedral [which I have forgotten] has nice flying buttresses and a really inventive use of stone on its facade.
An old bishop's palace, with little left to show. Very close to an ancient prison.
We are all just another brick...
3.28.2009
leathergoods = love
The Camden Harvest:
Mike and I made the trek to Camden market this morning, not sure what to expect, and were much delighted to find an infinite labyrinth of amazingly cool stuff. The best part is that everything is affordable and trendy.
First stop-
Aldo Sale shop (basically an outlet) where everything was 50% off the already reduced price. I got these amazing beauts for 15 pounds-
Second stop-
A little shop selling hand-made leather goods, like sketchbooks, rings, homegoods, etc. They had an entire wall of leather-bound books in all colors and sizes. A little expensive, but not outrageous.
I got a changepurse and book because I've been really needing something to put all my coins and cards in that is small enough to fit in a pocket.
Third stop-
Mousty "the leather man"'s leather belt booth. I had found a cool belt at another booth about 30 min before but had passed it up because I didn't think it was worth 20 quid. After shopping for dresses and not finding anything, I was heading back to the belt booth to try to bargain with the guy. On the way, we passed Mousty's and I poked my head it.
This guy is amazing.
He hand makes all of the belts in the shop, and invites you to come try them on. All colors and styles. He custom fits the belt to you, and shows you how to wear it. The belt I got can be worn in 3 ways, fits me perfectly, is incredibly comfortable, and is super high quality. And it was only 20 pounds.
I have found the ultimate belt!
He made a completely custom belt for Mike in 10 minutes... stamped his initials into the leather, turned a semi-girly belt into a pretty awesome guy belt, added a bit of tasteful decoration... for 15 pounds.
He is the ultimate belt maker!
Anyone who wants one... I will gladly go back for. Just send me your measurements! =)
We spent several hours wandering around, eating a bit of lunch. It was incredible, all around. It is a dangerous place... I could spend all of my money there so easily.
----
As of Now:
Back home; it is raining now. Perhaps we will start to see the fabled endless London rain! I have a few things left to get in preparation for Moscow, but we convinced Monia to not have tutorial on Monday, so I am in full vacation mode. =)
Going to a 1950s swing dance party tonight and get to wear my new shoes! Justin, a dance friend, is back in town from NYC this weekend and invited me to the party last minute. Should be fun!
----
Arabian Nights:
Last night was the annual AA party. Each spring the first years put on a big party for the school [at least I THINK the first years do it...]. The lecture hall was swathed in giant crimson curtains; the south jury room was retrofitted into a swank bar; the north jury room was full of painted low tables and cushions; all of the lights had islamic-geometry laser cut shades; there were carpets everywhere; the balcony was packed with people mingling over drinks and hookah; the DJ blasted thumping arabic-inspired dance music.
Although it was supposedly "lame" in comparison to previous years, it was by far the best school function I have ever been to. Compared to the awkward and astoundingly awful socials they throw in Crown every few Fridays, this bordered more on fantastic night-club than anything else.
Almost all of the VSPers were there, and we danced and actually socialized between studios for the first un-forced time. It was so much fun!
---
Mike and I made the trek to Camden market this morning, not sure what to expect, and were much delighted to find an infinite labyrinth of amazingly cool stuff. The best part is that everything is affordable and trendy.
First stop-
Aldo Sale shop (basically an outlet) where everything was 50% off the already reduced price. I got these amazing beauts for 15 pounds-
Second stop-
A little shop selling hand-made leather goods, like sketchbooks, rings, homegoods, etc. They had an entire wall of leather-bound books in all colors and sizes. A little expensive, but not outrageous.
I got a changepurse and book because I've been really needing something to put all my coins and cards in that is small enough to fit in a pocket.
Third stop-
Mousty "the leather man"'s leather belt booth. I had found a cool belt at another booth about 30 min before but had passed it up because I didn't think it was worth 20 quid. After shopping for dresses and not finding anything, I was heading back to the belt booth to try to bargain with the guy. On the way, we passed Mousty's and I poked my head it.
This guy is amazing.
He hand makes all of the belts in the shop, and invites you to come try them on. All colors and styles. He custom fits the belt to you, and shows you how to wear it. The belt I got can be worn in 3 ways, fits me perfectly, is incredibly comfortable, and is super high quality. And it was only 20 pounds.
I have found the ultimate belt!
He made a completely custom belt for Mike in 10 minutes... stamped his initials into the leather, turned a semi-girly belt into a pretty awesome guy belt, added a bit of tasteful decoration... for 15 pounds.
He is the ultimate belt maker!
Anyone who wants one... I will gladly go back for. Just send me your measurements! =)
We spent several hours wandering around, eating a bit of lunch. It was incredible, all around. It is a dangerous place... I could spend all of my money there so easily.
----
As of Now:
Back home; it is raining now. Perhaps we will start to see the fabled endless London rain! I have a few things left to get in preparation for Moscow, but we convinced Monia to not have tutorial on Monday, so I am in full vacation mode. =)
Going to a 1950s swing dance party tonight and get to wear my new shoes! Justin, a dance friend, is back in town from NYC this weekend and invited me to the party last minute. Should be fun!
----
Arabian Nights:
Last night was the annual AA party. Each spring the first years put on a big party for the school [at least I THINK the first years do it...]. The lecture hall was swathed in giant crimson curtains; the south jury room was retrofitted into a swank bar; the north jury room was full of painted low tables and cushions; all of the lights had islamic-geometry laser cut shades; there were carpets everywhere; the balcony was packed with people mingling over drinks and hookah; the DJ blasted thumping arabic-inspired dance music.
Although it was supposedly "lame" in comparison to previous years, it was by far the best school function I have ever been to. Compared to the awkward and astoundingly awful socials they throw in Crown every few Fridays, this bordered more on fantastic night-club than anything else.
Almost all of the VSPers were there, and we danced and actually socialized between studios for the first un-forced time. It was so much fun!
---
3.27.2009
Studio Developments
I've been looking a lot at the planning work by Yona Freidman and Peter Cook this past week. Cook has imagined such a broad range of urban projects that I found several with similar concepts: all of those listed under the City of Gardens chapter in his colorful "Ideal Cities" book.
They are, however (and completely unsurprisingly if you know anything about Peter Cook or Archigram), completely unrealistic, and visualized through abstract collage and a lot of writing.
Friedman, on the other hand, still suggests a purely fictional planning tool, but one that is far more believable. As Monia says "in collage it work."
Friedman proposes a light space-frame infrastructure that temporary, mobile habitation "pods" would be inserted. Because people in this society are constantly moving, and the Machine Age was supposed to increase the individual's play time, the "pods" (housing, gardens, terraces, shops, etc) are mobile and made from cheap materials.
He has done a few installations of these spaces at museums... erecting huge cardboard shapes that you can walk around in.
The conclusion is that my proposal should be more like Friedman than Cook, in the sense that the vegetation infrastructure that I am proposing is fanciful, but still believable. Just like my project has "a foot in reality" with the Mayor's biodiversity statement and GrantScape funding, the final product should have a breath of reality.
SO!
My newest drawing looks like this:
Where the vegetation infrastructure winds itself through the city, defining setbacks for buildings and setting the initial boundary for plants to take over.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that I am NOT suggesting destroy half of London in a crazy mass-veg take over: this is simply a planning tool that is only London specific (and only South of the Thames specific) because this is where I first saw the fox.
The vegetation infrastructure creates plots or blocks, similar to streets, that define how large the buildings may be. The smaller the plot, the smaller the setback and building allowed. If the plot is too small, no building is allowed. If the plot is too big, it is an area designated for future division and building, but currently remains unbuilt.
To help represent this urban scale, I am making a model. The base will be CNCed and looks like this (apologies for the quality):
The little bits of greenish-clear stuff are where etched plexi glass will fit in to show all of the lines from the line drawing.
I've been struggling with deciding exactly what the massive triangles mean, but after tutorial with Monia yesterday, we settled on something like a Nolli Plan.
The massive triangles (the extruded pattern) represent the overall mass given to the vegetation. The spaces in between are where buildings will go. This corresponds perfectly to the plan from above. When the model is complete, I will have added a bit of lasercut pieces and (hopefully!) some light STL trellis.
===
Pictures from our last crit soon. Monia has submitted them to the AA-photo people, so hopefully they will either be online or on my harddrive by Monday.
They are, however (and completely unsurprisingly if you know anything about Peter Cook or Archigram), completely unrealistic, and visualized through abstract collage and a lot of writing.
Friedman, on the other hand, still suggests a purely fictional planning tool, but one that is far more believable. As Monia says "in collage it work."
Friedman proposes a light space-frame infrastructure that temporary, mobile habitation "pods" would be inserted. Because people in this society are constantly moving, and the Machine Age was supposed to increase the individual's play time, the "pods" (housing, gardens, terraces, shops, etc) are mobile and made from cheap materials.
He has done a few installations of these spaces at museums... erecting huge cardboard shapes that you can walk around in.
The conclusion is that my proposal should be more like Friedman than Cook, in the sense that the vegetation infrastructure that I am proposing is fanciful, but still believable. Just like my project has "a foot in reality" with the Mayor's biodiversity statement and GrantScape funding, the final product should have a breath of reality.
SO!
My newest drawing looks like this:
Where the vegetation infrastructure winds itself through the city, defining setbacks for buildings and setting the initial boundary for plants to take over.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that I am NOT suggesting destroy half of London in a crazy mass-veg take over: this is simply a planning tool that is only London specific (and only South of the Thames specific) because this is where I first saw the fox.
The vegetation infrastructure creates plots or blocks, similar to streets, that define how large the buildings may be. The smaller the plot, the smaller the setback and building allowed. If the plot is too small, no building is allowed. If the plot is too big, it is an area designated for future division and building, but currently remains unbuilt.
To help represent this urban scale, I am making a model. The base will be CNCed and looks like this (apologies for the quality):
The little bits of greenish-clear stuff are where etched plexi glass will fit in to show all of the lines from the line drawing.
I've been struggling with deciding exactly what the massive triangles mean, but after tutorial with Monia yesterday, we settled on something like a Nolli Plan.
The massive triangles (the extruded pattern) represent the overall mass given to the vegetation. The spaces in between are where buildings will go. This corresponds perfectly to the plan from above. When the model is complete, I will have added a bit of lasercut pieces and (hopefully!) some light STL trellis.
===
Pictures from our last crit soon. Monia has submitted them to the AA-photo people, so hopefully they will either be online or on my harddrive by Monday.
3.23.2009
photography
I've just run across the work of Gregg Segal.
Similarities, anyone?
It all feels a bit posed, but his Cost of Living set is really brilliant. The strangely over-lit, over-saturated color makes all of his work feel comic-booky and surreal. Or... balloony?
[via]
Similarities, anyone?
It all feels a bit posed, but his Cost of Living set is really brilliant. The strangely over-lit, over-saturated color makes all of his work feel comic-booky and surreal. Or... balloony?
[via]
This Week's Work 09
A bit late, but better than never
I spent the weekend working and relaxing; I tried to minimize my socializing to 0 days, but instead wound up spending most of Sunday absorbing the warmth and sunshine in both Regents and Hyde parks. I worked late both nights, but have some good work to show for it. It wasn't painful at all [then] because I actually felt like working! Now, however, is a slightly different story, and I'm wishing I could curl up in bed.
I need to do laundry. real bad.
I went to coffee with Iain on Thursday and had a good talk about the British education system and various other historical / political policies of the UK. I swear, coffee with Iain is like a class in itself .
Unfortunately, I'm back to feeling under the weather, and I'm not sure whether to blame allergies or my excessively dry room, or the shift in weather + stress... but I'm getting a bit tired of always feeling ill.
-----------------Studio-----------------
After my cry for help, Monia replied with a dense, supportive email nearly as long as the one I sent her. I'm feeling very positive about my project at the moment, but that could be because I've just come from a successful practice-crit. I spent most of this week and weekend building up my site plan / planning diagrams that explain how my veggie mass is overtaking half of south London. The semi-crisis I had earlier was a result of having too much time tot hink while producing a fairly boring image. I have, however, worked out most of my files for the CNC (due Thursday morning) and have my whitebook (which is sort of a glorified sketchbook chronicaling our work) in order for the REAL crit on Wednesday.
We've been given the schedule for the rest of our time here, and post-Russia is going to be intense.
For two weeks, we have studio Monday - Saturday, 11 hours each day. It is mandatory "workshop" time, so we will likely be doing a mix of digital tutorials (learning Maxwell and Photoshop painting and nifty things like that), model work, and regular one-on-one tutorial.
Anyways, it will be a solid month of nothing but studio, as our elective courses have all officially ended.
-----------------Deep End-----------------
After spending an obscene amount on printing, and staying up waaaay to late putting my photo portfolio together, I turned in my submission this Wednesday. I feel pretty good about it, even though I never took the final photo. However, as it is unusual to get your submission back, I will have to do some convincing and begging to make sure I have the portfolio back before I leave. I'm not reprinting that.
-----------------Architecture to Architecture-----------------
I met with one of the tutor / TAs today to discuss my paper topic... and spent a good 2 hours (yikes) trying to narrow down my interests in architectural morality. As of now, I think my paper will discuss whether or not the morality of an architect manifests itself in their built work, and how we might determine this through their consideration of subject/user, consideration of builder/context, and selection of work.
Ethics is a big, heavy topic.
-----------------Lectures-----------------
This week, feeling sporadic, I went to the CERO9 presentation. Cero9 consists of a trendy spanish couple, keepin it real. Their projects are aesthetically and conceptually diverse, but all very contemporary, and they obviously have a lot of fun. The lecture was entertaining and pretty interesting, even though it was just a brief run through of a few of their projects. They do lovely things like rose covered power plants. They ended the lecture with a short animated video about the creation of their firm... a little risque, a little perverse, a little perfect. The crowd loved it.
Rose covered power plant by Cero9
I spent the weekend working and relaxing; I tried to minimize my socializing to 0 days, but instead wound up spending most of Sunday absorbing the warmth and sunshine in both Regents and Hyde parks. I worked late both nights, but have some good work to show for it. It wasn't painful at all [then] because I actually felt like working! Now, however, is a slightly different story, and I'm wishing I could curl up in bed.
I need to do laundry. real bad.
I went to coffee with Iain on Thursday and had a good talk about the British education system and various other historical / political policies of the UK. I swear, coffee with Iain is like a class in itself .
Unfortunately, I'm back to feeling under the weather, and I'm not sure whether to blame allergies or my excessively dry room, or the shift in weather + stress... but I'm getting a bit tired of always feeling ill.
-----------------Studio-----------------
After my cry for help, Monia replied with a dense, supportive email nearly as long as the one I sent her. I'm feeling very positive about my project at the moment, but that could be because I've just come from a successful practice-crit. I spent most of this week and weekend building up my site plan / planning diagrams that explain how my veggie mass is overtaking half of south London. The semi-crisis I had earlier was a result of having too much time tot hink while producing a fairly boring image. I have, however, worked out most of my files for the CNC (due Thursday morning) and have my whitebook (which is sort of a glorified sketchbook chronicaling our work) in order for the REAL crit on Wednesday.
We've been given the schedule for the rest of our time here, and post-Russia is going to be intense.
For two weeks, we have studio Monday - Saturday, 11 hours each day. It is mandatory "workshop" time, so we will likely be doing a mix of digital tutorials (learning Maxwell and Photoshop painting and nifty things like that), model work, and regular one-on-one tutorial.
Anyways, it will be a solid month of nothing but studio, as our elective courses have all officially ended.
-----------------Deep End-----------------
After spending an obscene amount on printing, and staying up waaaay to late putting my photo portfolio together, I turned in my submission this Wednesday. I feel pretty good about it, even though I never took the final photo. However, as it is unusual to get your submission back, I will have to do some convincing and begging to make sure I have the portfolio back before I leave. I'm not reprinting that.
-----------------Architecture to Architecture-----------------
I met with one of the tutor / TAs today to discuss my paper topic... and spent a good 2 hours (yikes) trying to narrow down my interests in architectural morality. As of now, I think my paper will discuss whether or not the morality of an architect manifests itself in their built work, and how we might determine this through their consideration of subject/user, consideration of builder/context, and selection of work.
Ethics is a big, heavy topic.
-----------------Lectures-----------------
This week, feeling sporadic, I went to the CERO9 presentation. Cero9 consists of a trendy spanish couple, keepin it real. Their projects are aesthetically and conceptually diverse, but all very contemporary, and they obviously have a lot of fun. The lecture was entertaining and pretty interesting, even though it was just a brief run through of a few of their projects. They do lovely things like rose covered power plants. They ended the lecture with a short animated video about the creation of their firm... a little risque, a little perverse, a little perfect. The crowd loved it.
Rose covered power plant by Cero9
3.22.2009
Regents Park, Sunday afternoon
Farmers market goodies in pocket, I have found a nice piece of park side realestate and flopped down in one of the green and white striped canvas chairs strewn along the bank of the pond to watch the season's first boaters paddle listlessly around the water amongst the honking geese and lonely ducks. There is a wisp of breeze and faltering sun, but it is spring and it is Sunday and there is nothing more lovely than that.
==
that is, until the ticket guy came over and made me move. I'm not going to pay 1pound50 to sit in a chair for an hour.
==
that is, until the ticket guy came over and made me move. I'm not going to pay 1pound50 to sit in a chair for an hour.
3.21.2009
my new loves
I'm almost done with my sketch book. I normally go through two, so I'm right on schedule, but never are they as dense as this one. I always fall in love with my sketchbooks, but this one is particularly special.
The binding is tattered and broken, the black paper corners peeling away. A chunk of the spine is missing. Every inch of every page is packed with a flurry of writing or doodle.. thought process and mental conversations.
I would not mind opening the book to any random page and explaining the work to a stranger.
It has been a really beautiful and mildly productive day. Mike and I walked to school this morning in the perfectly cool sunshine; we had lunch on Bedford Square, soaking up the warmth. I'm moving slow, so I've only produced a minimal amount of work today, but it feels so good to relax and work.
I took a walk to enjoy the sunset, and now it's back to work.
Monia replied to my email this morning with some really great suggestions and advice. I spent the morning browsing for images like this:
KRob Delineation Competition
Someone is wailing on the piano at the music school across the way. Traffic rumbling in the back ground. Honking horns. Chirping birds. Church bells.
My daily symphony.
Blake's friends all had babies this week. It is strange.
The binding is tattered and broken, the black paper corners peeling away. A chunk of the spine is missing. Every inch of every page is packed with a flurry of writing or doodle.. thought process and mental conversations.
I would not mind opening the book to any random page and explaining the work to a stranger.
It has been a really beautiful and mildly productive day. Mike and I walked to school this morning in the perfectly cool sunshine; we had lunch on Bedford Square, soaking up the warmth. I'm moving slow, so I've only produced a minimal amount of work today, but it feels so good to relax and work.
I took a walk to enjoy the sunset, and now it's back to work.
Monia replied to my email this morning with some really great suggestions and advice. I spent the morning browsing for images like this:
KRob Delineation Competition
Someone is wailing on the piano at the music school across the way. Traffic rumbling in the back ground. Honking horns. Chirping birds. Church bells.
My daily symphony.
Blake's friends all had babies this week. It is strange.
3.20.2009
to monia... HELP!
Hey monia,
I don't expect a reply from you about these things any time suuuper soon, but I would like to hear your thoughts before Monday (if possible!) so I have time to react... or to stop thinking.
I know my narrative and original intentions are strong and clear, but this urban planning thing has taken on a lif of its own, and feels quite foreign and poorly pursued on my part. Basically... the low rigor [and resulting uninventiveness?] of just producing without thought drawing after drawing is not enough to keep my interest, and I am questioning a lot of what I have done / am doing. I'm having trouble deciding what should guide my thinking, largely based on my indecision over what the lines and levels on my drawing / model actually signify.
current issues:
-inharmonious with selected site-- existing buildings, roads, programs i'm 'destroying'
-little consideration for how people are actually using this
-unclear about what model signifies-- what is building, should there be building?, landscape? starting to feel like a massive zoo / park
My two thoughts are these:
1. Reality / Fact based;
What is the purpose of this plan? What is it actually doing? What is the initial infrastructure that starts growth of plants? Should the initial infrastructure (like the pavement drawing) be London as it exists now?
What is the inherent value in the project that justifies knocking out such a huge swath of London? Should my intrusion be a -new- city planning tool (clean slate), or something that fits into an existing city (parasitic, Friedman)?
Perhaps it considers something like recycling / waste management
**My issues arise from how people actually function in this space as a city, the materials required to build something like this, what the architecture is / how it is made... It is very REAL.
2. Narrative / Conception based;
Invention of a new world, new city
Perhaps the issue is that this is not an urban planning issue, but simply a planning tool... it's not a solution for waste management or densification or infrastructure design... these are all relics of the cities we know and live in currently [and also are 1. kind of boring, and 2. don't exactly fit with my current narrative or past focus]. This is a conceptual proposal, more of a critical commentary than anything intended to be built.
-References like Yona, Koolhaas 'Voluntary Prisoners' or Peter Cook book?
But where does it go from here? How do I visualize what the space actually is? How do I make it convincing? Do I continue to write and develop the manifesto, as a sort of illustrated written work? Is it collage, firmly based in the abstract, like Koolhaas, Cook, and Friedman?
Do I concern myself with the architectural elements at all? Or maybe, like Cook, roughly design a few funky / absurd bldgs that fit after I've created their perfect landscape?
========
Lots of questions, and apologies.
I know that these are all things I have to answer for myself, and that I just need to accept one direction or the other (the second sounds very freeing)... but I'd like to hear your thoughts.
Thanks! see you monday!
--
- Laura
I don't expect a reply from you about these things any time suuuper soon, but I would like to hear your thoughts before Monday (if possible!) so I have time to react... or to stop thinking.
I know my narrative and original intentions are strong and clear, but this urban planning thing has taken on a lif of its own, and feels quite foreign and poorly pursued on my part. Basically... the low rigor [and resulting uninventiveness?] of just producing without thought drawing after drawing is not enough to keep my interest, and I am questioning a lot of what I have done / am doing. I'm having trouble deciding what should guide my thinking, largely based on my indecision over what the lines and levels on my drawing / model actually signify.
current issues:
-inharmonious with selected site-- existing buildings, roads, programs i'm 'destroying'
-little consideration for how people are actually using this
-unclear about what model signifies-- what is building, should there be building?, landscape? starting to feel like a massive zoo / park
My two thoughts are these:
1. Reality / Fact based;
What is the purpose of this plan? What is it actually doing? What is the initial infrastructure that starts growth of plants? Should the initial infrastructure (like the pavement drawing) be London as it exists now?
What is the inherent value in the project that justifies knocking out such a huge swath of London? Should my intrusion be a -new- city planning tool (clean slate), or something that fits into an existing city (parasitic, Friedman)?
Perhaps it considers something like recycling / waste management
**My issues arise from how people actually function in this space as a city, the materials required to build something like this, what the architecture is / how it is made... It is very REAL.
2. Narrative / Conception based;
Invention of a new world, new city
Perhaps the issue is that this is not an urban planning issue, but simply a planning tool... it's not a solution for waste management or densification or infrastructure design... these are all relics of the cities we know and live in currently [and also are 1. kind of boring, and 2. don't exactly fit with my current narrative or past focus]. This is a conceptual proposal, more of a critical commentary than anything intended to be built.
-References like Yona, Koolhaas 'Voluntary Prisoners' or Peter Cook book?
But where does it go from here? How do I visualize what the space actually is? How do I make it convincing? Do I continue to write and develop the manifesto, as a sort of illustrated written work? Is it collage, firmly based in the abstract, like Koolhaas, Cook, and Friedman?
Do I concern myself with the architectural elements at all? Or maybe, like Cook, roughly design a few funky / absurd bldgs that fit after I've created their perfect landscape?
========
Lots of questions, and apologies.
I know that these are all things I have to answer for myself, and that I just need to accept one direction or the other (the second sounds very freeing)... but I'd like to hear your thoughts.
Thanks! see you monday!
--
- Laura
Rambling snippets
Do not read the following expecting it to make any sense.
Thoughts whizzing too fast to write coherently
should resort to bullets and bubbles
coherence denied
half thoughts full thoughts missing
unifinished paragraphs and sentences
missing all the webpages and other things i was doing
distraction results in unfinished thoughts
======+======+======+======+======+======+======
I came home tonight, intending to blog about the escape weekends provide, and how I'm reminded again and again about the good things in life when I'm doing something pleasant, and that life is more important and satisfying than architecture...
and then I started reading a few new architecture blogs, and became completely consumed and wrapped up in it again that I, inevitably, will blog about it.
Before I get lost in an architectural ramble, I'd like to say that:
1. I had a really lovely evening with Mike and Elora, wandering down to St. Paul's cathedral to catch the end of the Evensong and then fish+chips at a pub for dinner
2. I wore white socks with black shoes today
Now on to the several snippets of archi-babble that have been floating around my head today:
I've been seeing a lot of discourse lately about architects doing non-architect-y things. Some call it "expanding the profession" while others call it "tinkering." Nearly half of the students in architecture school do not intend to pursue architecture as a career. Whether this is a result of schools accepting too many students who really just want to be artists but have to look successful for their families, or that the recession is making 1/4 of us 'redundant' and we need to find new things to do, or that professional practice is just, in fact, plain boring... is all up for debate. I'm not here to say either is bad; I mean... if someone will actually pay you to be a pseudo-philosopher, pseudo-artist, self-professed "Knower of All Great Things" then why wouldn't one pursue such an attractive career?
However, I find these conceptualists similar to the crusaders. While the militia went out with cries of "In the name of God!" to cleanse their land of the unsuitable, so do architects go forth "In the Name of Architecture" banish banal buildings and unsuitable experiences. So many unrealistic, unbuildable, and quite absurd projects are done "In the name of Architecture!" as if Architecture needed saving and you were the only one with enough sense to see it.
[although, in much conversation it is safe to assume that the architect present is more apt to agree with architect:god over architecture:religion ]
As intelligent as we would like everyone to belive, we actually have no clue. "Architects know nothing about a lot. Engineers know a lot about nothing." We fancy ourselves as great philosophers, poets, and artists; we pride ourselves on our conceptual rigor, attention to detail, understanding of human and space; Aaaaaand yet... we are mostly good at [trying to] convince people we have actually researched, actually learned, actually thought... when really. It went there because I felt like it. Because it was pretty. And no, I didn't think about anyone who might live there; and no, i don't particularly care if it's more convenient to put the cabinet there if it wrecks my design!!!
We are an extraordinarily selfish, stubborn people, who enjoy giant puzzles and spent too much time as children with play figures or imaginary friends.
"those ungrateful wretches graffitied my wall?"
which is all funny (and relevant) because i've had the feeling lately that while architecture is assumed to be about drawing, it is largely about writing and communication. And yet, being the art-but-not-art-but-better-because-its-real artistic type of people Architects generally are, we assume that we can get away with being total crap at writing [Or speaking.] because it's "not what we do."
Waving your hand and grunting in a vaguely European way will get you through any tough situation in America [as long as you're not talking to contractors or engineers].
Thoughts whizzing too fast to write coherently
should resort to bullets and bubbles
coherence denied
half thoughts full thoughts missing
unifinished paragraphs and sentences
missing all the webpages and other things i was doing
distraction results in unfinished thoughts
======+======+======+======+======+======+======
I came home tonight, intending to blog about the escape weekends provide, and how I'm reminded again and again about the good things in life when I'm doing something pleasant, and that life is more important and satisfying than architecture...
and then I started reading a few new architecture blogs, and became completely consumed and wrapped up in it again that I, inevitably, will blog about it.
Before I get lost in an architectural ramble, I'd like to say that:
1. I had a really lovely evening with Mike and Elora, wandering down to St. Paul's cathedral to catch the end of the Evensong and then fish+chips at a pub for dinner
2. I wore white socks with black shoes today
Now on to the several snippets of archi-babble that have been floating around my head today:
I've been seeing a lot of discourse lately about architects doing non-architect-y things. Some call it "expanding the profession" while others call it "tinkering." Nearly half of the students in architecture school do not intend to pursue architecture as a career. Whether this is a result of schools accepting too many students who really just want to be artists but have to look successful for their families, or that the recession is making 1/4 of us 'redundant' and we need to find new things to do, or that professional practice is just, in fact, plain boring... is all up for debate. I'm not here to say either is bad; I mean... if someone will actually pay you to be a pseudo-philosopher, pseudo-artist, self-professed "Knower of All Great Things" then why wouldn't one pursue such an attractive career?
However, I find these conceptualists similar to the crusaders. While the militia went out with cries of "In the name of God!" to cleanse their land of the unsuitable, so do architects go forth "In the Name of Architecture" banish banal buildings and unsuitable experiences. So many unrealistic, unbuildable, and quite absurd projects are done "In the name of Architecture!" as if Architecture needed saving and you were the only one with enough sense to see it.
[although, in much conversation it is safe to assume that the architect present is more apt to agree with architect:god over architecture:religion ]
As intelligent as we would like everyone to belive, we actually have no clue. "Architects know nothing about a lot. Engineers know a lot about nothing." We fancy ourselves as great philosophers, poets, and artists; we pride ourselves on our conceptual rigor, attention to detail, understanding of human and space; Aaaaaand yet... we are mostly good at [trying to] convince people we have actually researched, actually learned, actually thought... when really. It went there because I felt like it. Because it was pretty. And no, I didn't think about anyone who might live there; and no, i don't particularly care if it's more convenient to put the cabinet there if it wrecks my design!!!
We are an extraordinarily selfish, stubborn people, who enjoy giant puzzles and spent too much time as children with play figures or imaginary friends.
"those ungrateful wretches graffitied my wall?"
which is all funny (and relevant) because i've had the feeling lately that while architecture is assumed to be about drawing, it is largely about writing and communication. And yet, being the art-but-not-art-but-better-because-its-real artistic type of people Architects generally are, we assume that we can get away with being total crap at writing [Or speaking.] because it's "not what we do."
Waving your hand and grunting in a vaguely European way will get you through any tough situation in America [as long as you're not talking to contractors or engineers].
3.17.2009
monday monday
It was a beautiful day.. one of the best we've had yet. Sunshine and warm. The windows in studio were left open.
Shaping seams is now done! Woo!
Studio was ok.. worked til I went to dance.
Dance was alright... the band was not very good, but I had a few good dances. It was really nice to just get out.
The walk home was perfect.
I'm playing with Wordle again. It's fun.
Leaving for studio again soon. The sun is shining, my roommate is still in bed, it's 200000 degrees in our room... it's spring!
Shaping seams is now done! Woo!
Studio was ok.. worked til I went to dance.
Dance was alright... the band was not very good, but I had a few good dances. It was really nice to just get out.
The walk home was perfect.
I'm playing with Wordle again. It's fun.
Leaving for studio again soon. The sun is shining, my roommate is still in bed, it's 200000 degrees in our room... it's spring!
3.15.2009
Sun Day Sunday!
It is a glorious, beautiful morning, and I have spent it:
-sleeping in
-reading in bed
-going to the farmer's market
-playing outside
-cleaned the room
-working on a hideously unsuccessful (and therefore quite fun) project with Mike.
Death by CNC - our failed Shaping Seams final
Flowers!
I found a shield...
...and started lancing practice!
-sleeping in
-reading in bed
-going to the farmer's market
-playing outside
-cleaned the room
-working on a hideously unsuccessful (and therefore quite fun) project with Mike.
Death by CNC - our failed Shaping Seams final
Flowers!
I found a shield...
...and started lancing practice!
3.14.2009
32000 Lines under the Thames
To be fair, there are actually 36198 line segments in that drawing.
I have clicked over 36000 times in the last week on this one drawing. Awesome.
This will make more sense later.
This Week's Work 08
I missed last week's work, but hopefully summed up what I did in the previous posts.
It's getting crazy, and I find less and less time to write about what's going on, but this week has been pretty good despite the enormous amounts of work quickly closing in on me.
On a personal front, I've gotten to spend time this week with a few new people (Madoka from photography, I'm going to a movie later today with others) and those outside of the AA (last weekend with Justin and Iain).
I was feeling pretty sick at the beginning of the week, and missed dance to sleep and do a bit of work. I generally feel better now, though I'm not in 100% perfect health; I think the dryness of the room has a lot to do with it.
Last night I went to a Burlesque show with Justin; burlesque has been gaining popularity among the swing dance crowd, and I've been hearing lots about it lately. Justin got tickets to the opening of a new Burlesque show because he knows everyone in the troupe- yay connections! I enjoyed all the non-burlesque-y bits a lot; there was a tap dancing juggler, a violinists, a singing comedian (host), and a pair of HiLaRiOuS parody singers. Dressed in Tim Burton-esque faux-punk goth garb, the girl sang over dramatized renditions of pop songs, while the boy wailed / jazzed / old tymed on the key board. It was amazing.
Afterwards, we stopped by a jazz club on the way home to hear the last two songs of a 5 piece band, crammed shoulder to shoulder in the tiniest basement I've ever seen. We only stayed for 15 minutes, but it was a pretty incredible place.
I have lunch at 2 in Chinatown with Studio, and then a movie and dinner with AAers. Oh, the social life I lead!
-----------------Studio-----------------
32000 lines, and more to go.
Last Saturday Monia changed all of our plans, and so I've been working non stop on this drawing. I'm at 32000 lines, and still not done. In fact, after our discussion yesterday, I have to change or redraw a lot of them. I really need to finish it today though, so that I can work on other things (like my white book) for our next big crit. I'm going to start faking the drawing really soon (by using scripted pieces, instead of hand drawing it all), just to get density.
-----------------Shaping Seams-----------------
Our pieces were -finally- milled, and again came out in pieces. Something happened to the geometry when the surface was applied, so half of our pieces have holes in them and the other half are broken beyond use. Monia said it was ok, and to photo and assemble whatever we could.
Hand ins for all Media Studies is this Wednesday, so we've got to get crackin on all the submission stuff.
-----------------The Deep End-----------------
Goswin canceled our final photoshoot "due to exhaustion" so our supplementary work must be printed, bound, and handed in by Wednesday. I'm going to find a place that prints photos for you and somehow put them all together. I really have no idea what format is ideal for these things... and no one seems to want to give me explicit instructions or advice. I'm going to [hopefully] take my final image tonight with my own camera, and get them all printed on Monday or Tuesday. I'm a little bummed that we didn't get to use the large format camera after all, but oh well. He was in a really terrible mood last Monday, so something important must have come up.
-----------------Architecture to Architecture-----------------
Mark Cousins came in again and directed our discussion on the implications of computers. We talked about everything from the change in student understanding, educational culture, expectation... to the differences between Simple, Complex, and Complicated. These discussions have been a really enjoyable mix of intellect and humor.
"The computer seems to become something like a conscious, a psychological prothesis. You start to feel guilty when you shut it, like it has eyes. It's saying things like 'Why haven't you got me open? You call yourself a serious student? Bah!'"
In architecture, there is often simple (like Mies) and complex (like AA academic work). Both are seen as Good in their own respects, but the complex is attractive through its sheer mass of seemingly incomprehensible stuff: lines everywhere, difficult math and algorithms, whatever.
At this time, the students and faculty are beginning to feel a little uncomfortable with the pure scripted-ness of the work from the last few years. We are beginning to question the definition, value, and future of the work. What are the implications of doing everything via computer? Have we lost our pre-thought in determining what is good? What is the new language that arises from this kind of design. Does formal design matter? What draws us to working on our computer? How should we really view it? How should a university approach it or teach?
-the simplification of the complex is a tool for communication, explanation. Complex must have a strong underlying rationality, in itself simple. It can be broken down.
-the simplification of simple is impossible. simple is in many ways fantastic. it is qualitative, not quantitative.
The computer has afforded a tool to kick-start the second phase of design; it produces iteration after iteration that we were previously unable to do. This, I believe, will require a shift in critical thinking. While currently, we still reside within the mode of thought that we make choices while designing, while drawing. Our critical thought is at the very beginning, when deciding What to do, and at the end, when we look at How we've done. But the middle stage is the most critical now. The computer punches out hundreds of options, where as before we might only have 2 or 3 or 5, and our eye for understanding what is Good and Why is not yet up to the task to slog through hundreds of options. It is very easy to keep punching out new iterations, without selecting and moving forward, because we do not understand the math or process behind why a shape is the way it is. Our selection is completely arbitrarily based on aesthetic, which many architects struggle with. (Overcoming the "arbitrary is bad" mindset is an incredibly difficult task)
Ok, and before I ramble for hours, I need to stop. I have pages of this stuff, that will stay safely in my sketchbook until I have to write my final paper (which is soon).
I am, however, particularly interested in our discussions around education style, and have laid out rough sketches for "my ideal school" several times. This is probably because I'm still IN school and it's all I know, but...
-----------------Lectures-----------------
Richard Horden spoke this week. He does super small light weight structures, like the micro-compact home:
It was a really good discussion. I felt like he clearly articulated many of the topics I think are relevant and interesting: function-based inspiration from nature, small spaces, relationship with nature, environmental/energy/consumption management. A few things were off, like his attitude towards food [by living in a smaller space, you eat less!] because I think living in a smaller space without easy cooking facilities just makes you buy more premade food in excessive packaging.
I met him briefly after the lecture and want to buy the book.
It's getting crazy, and I find less and less time to write about what's going on, but this week has been pretty good despite the enormous amounts of work quickly closing in on me.
On a personal front, I've gotten to spend time this week with a few new people (Madoka from photography, I'm going to a movie later today with others) and those outside of the AA (last weekend with Justin and Iain).
I was feeling pretty sick at the beginning of the week, and missed dance to sleep and do a bit of work. I generally feel better now, though I'm not in 100% perfect health; I think the dryness of the room has a lot to do with it.
Last night I went to a Burlesque show with Justin; burlesque has been gaining popularity among the swing dance crowd, and I've been hearing lots about it lately. Justin got tickets to the opening of a new Burlesque show because he knows everyone in the troupe- yay connections! I enjoyed all the non-burlesque-y bits a lot; there was a tap dancing juggler, a violinists, a singing comedian (host), and a pair of HiLaRiOuS parody singers. Dressed in Tim Burton-esque faux-punk goth garb, the girl sang over dramatized renditions of pop songs, while the boy wailed / jazzed / old tymed on the key board. It was amazing.
Afterwards, we stopped by a jazz club on the way home to hear the last two songs of a 5 piece band, crammed shoulder to shoulder in the tiniest basement I've ever seen. We only stayed for 15 minutes, but it was a pretty incredible place.
I have lunch at 2 in Chinatown with Studio, and then a movie and dinner with AAers. Oh, the social life I lead!
-----------------Studio-----------------
32000 lines, and more to go.
Last Saturday Monia changed all of our plans, and so I've been working non stop on this drawing. I'm at 32000 lines, and still not done. In fact, after our discussion yesterday, I have to change or redraw a lot of them. I really need to finish it today though, so that I can work on other things (like my white book) for our next big crit. I'm going to start faking the drawing really soon (by using scripted pieces, instead of hand drawing it all), just to get density.
-----------------Shaping Seams-----------------
Our pieces were -finally- milled, and again came out in pieces. Something happened to the geometry when the surface was applied, so half of our pieces have holes in them and the other half are broken beyond use. Monia said it was ok, and to photo and assemble whatever we could.
Hand ins for all Media Studies is this Wednesday, so we've got to get crackin on all the submission stuff.
-----------------The Deep End-----------------
Goswin canceled our final photoshoot "due to exhaustion" so our supplementary work must be printed, bound, and handed in by Wednesday. I'm going to find a place that prints photos for you and somehow put them all together. I really have no idea what format is ideal for these things... and no one seems to want to give me explicit instructions or advice. I'm going to [hopefully] take my final image tonight with my own camera, and get them all printed on Monday or Tuesday. I'm a little bummed that we didn't get to use the large format camera after all, but oh well. He was in a really terrible mood last Monday, so something important must have come up.
-----------------Architecture to Architecture-----------------
Mark Cousins came in again and directed our discussion on the implications of computers. We talked about everything from the change in student understanding, educational culture, expectation... to the differences between Simple, Complex, and Complicated. These discussions have been a really enjoyable mix of intellect and humor.
"The computer seems to become something like a conscious, a psychological prothesis. You start to feel guilty when you shut it, like it has eyes. It's saying things like 'Why haven't you got me open? You call yourself a serious student? Bah!'"
In architecture, there is often simple (like Mies) and complex (like AA academic work). Both are seen as Good in their own respects, but the complex is attractive through its sheer mass of seemingly incomprehensible stuff: lines everywhere, difficult math and algorithms, whatever.
At this time, the students and faculty are beginning to feel a little uncomfortable with the pure scripted-ness of the work from the last few years. We are beginning to question the definition, value, and future of the work. What are the implications of doing everything via computer? Have we lost our pre-thought in determining what is good? What is the new language that arises from this kind of design. Does formal design matter? What draws us to working on our computer? How should we really view it? How should a university approach it or teach?
-the simplification of the complex is a tool for communication, explanation. Complex must have a strong underlying rationality, in itself simple. It can be broken down.
-the simplification of simple is impossible. simple is in many ways fantastic. it is qualitative, not quantitative.
The computer has afforded a tool to kick-start the second phase of design; it produces iteration after iteration that we were previously unable to do. This, I believe, will require a shift in critical thinking. While currently, we still reside within the mode of thought that we make choices while designing, while drawing. Our critical thought is at the very beginning, when deciding What to do, and at the end, when we look at How we've done. But the middle stage is the most critical now. The computer punches out hundreds of options, where as before we might only have 2 or 3 or 5, and our eye for understanding what is Good and Why is not yet up to the task to slog through hundreds of options. It is very easy to keep punching out new iterations, without selecting and moving forward, because we do not understand the math or process behind why a shape is the way it is. Our selection is completely arbitrarily based on aesthetic, which many architects struggle with. (Overcoming the "arbitrary is bad" mindset is an incredibly difficult task)
Ok, and before I ramble for hours, I need to stop. I have pages of this stuff, that will stay safely in my sketchbook until I have to write my final paper (which is soon).
I am, however, particularly interested in our discussions around education style, and have laid out rough sketches for "my ideal school" several times. This is probably because I'm still IN school and it's all I know, but...
-----------------Lectures-----------------
Richard Horden spoke this week. He does super small light weight structures, like the micro-compact home:
It was a really good discussion. I felt like he clearly articulated many of the topics I think are relevant and interesting: function-based inspiration from nature, small spaces, relationship with nature, environmental/energy/consumption management. A few things were off, like his attitude towards food [by living in a smaller space, you eat less!] because I think living in a smaller space without easy cooking facilities just makes you buy more premade food in excessive packaging.
I met him briefly after the lecture and want to buy the book.
3.11.2009
Fear and Phlegm
Both things caught in throat.
Clever, no?
Today is a big day; a stressful one, at least. I have a long tutorial with Monia that I am not ready for, another long day of diving lines, and my final photograph to shoot with my group this evening.
And I'm terrified, because I still have no idea what I'll be doing in the photo, and I have to write a script. Actually, that's a lie. I have a relatively clear idea, I'm just not sure how it will translate into the real photo. I don't know where to position myself or what I should be doing.
My screenplay, in it's pathetic hurried form, will be taken from quick scratches and notes to self like this:
NOTE TO SELF……..
I need to be wearing the suit in order to not take myself seriously… that is only way good photos will come!
Perhaps……….
Black coat thrown over arm of tan chair
Clock strikes midnight, ticking on
Table strewn with remains of a good time
One leg, thrown defiantly onto the back of a chair, pulling the boot on.
Let’s get to business!
And set around a scene somewhat like this:
Thank god there are talented people out there that can pull out artistic miracles; thank god Goswin is one of them.
===============================================================
Evening Edit:
Goswin has canceled our final photo sessions due to exhaustion. I assume that the last few nights have been quite crazy.
However, I had a such great time with Madoka yesterday, playing around the basement of ISH, and will set up my own session tonight with Mike. I think it would be a good shot to have.
Below are a few images from last night... more on the photobucket album.
Thanks to Madoka for the images of me!
Clever, no?
Today is a big day; a stressful one, at least. I have a long tutorial with Monia that I am not ready for, another long day of diving lines, and my final photograph to shoot with my group this evening.
And I'm terrified, because I still have no idea what I'll be doing in the photo, and I have to write a script. Actually, that's a lie. I have a relatively clear idea, I'm just not sure how it will translate into the real photo. I don't know where to position myself or what I should be doing.
My screenplay, in it's pathetic hurried form, will be taken from quick scratches and notes to self like this:
NOTE TO SELF……..
I need to be wearing the suit in order to not take myself seriously… that is only way good photos will come!
Perhaps……….
Black coat thrown over arm of tan chair
Clock strikes midnight, ticking on
Table strewn with remains of a good time
One leg, thrown defiantly onto the back of a chair, pulling the boot on.
Let’s get to business!
And set around a scene somewhat like this:
Thank god there are talented people out there that can pull out artistic miracles; thank god Goswin is one of them.
===============================================================
Evening Edit:
Goswin has canceled our final photo sessions due to exhaustion. I assume that the last few nights have been quite crazy.
However, I had a such great time with Madoka yesterday, playing around the basement of ISH, and will set up my own session tonight with Mike. I think it would be a good shot to have.
Below are a few images from last night... more on the photobucket album.
Thanks to Madoka for the images of me!
3.07.2009
Ha... ha?
Monia emailed last night at midnight with "EMERGENCY TUTORIAL!" to meet today, Saturday, at 1.
So we did; Mike and I went down to the Brick Lane Markets in the morning and met with Monia at a Starbucks where she said "forget everything I told you yesterday; this is what we're doing now"
What we are doing now is producing 2 images and 1 model for an exhibition at the end of May.
"2 months to do three things?" you might say sounds like an awful lot of time.
But it's really not.
Because exhibitions at the AA are no small deal.
Our work will be set up on display for ~3 months, will be reviewed in the AA Files, and will be "kicked off" with our final large-jury crit.
For the next two weeks, we have tutorial every day and another jury at the end of that.
So basically....
======
In other news, today has been pretty enjoyable.
Timeline of events:
2:00 am : Hellen leaves
10:15 - 12:45 : Went to Brick Lane markets for the special Bollywood events with Mike. Great stalls, good food.
1:15 - 2:15 : Meeting with Monia; see above.
2:30 - 6: 00 : Met with Iain to explore Hyde Park, the V+A Museum, and Harrod's. Grabbed a quick bite at EAT and talked about obscure British history, what kind of clothes we like, and how he should tell some girl "i'm just not that into you."
6:15 : Ran to catch my bus
6:30 - 9:00 : Wasted time online "working"
9:00 : New roommate shows up. Name unknown. She's from Spain and doesn't speak English. I think she's annoyed that I'm American and not Italian, like she thought I would be.
=====
After several torturous days of Michael [read: endlessly playing of Flight of the Concords, Jake + Amir videos, and silly walks] last night's brilliance produced:
This perfectly illustrates the singular individual, in every way.
So we did; Mike and I went down to the Brick Lane Markets in the morning and met with Monia at a Starbucks where she said "forget everything I told you yesterday; this is what we're doing now"
What we are doing now is producing 2 images and 1 model for an exhibition at the end of May.
"2 months to do three things?" you might say sounds like an awful lot of time.
But it's really not.
Because exhibitions at the AA are no small deal.
Our work will be set up on display for ~3 months, will be reviewed in the AA Files, and will be "kicked off" with our final large-jury crit.
For the next two weeks, we have tutorial every day and another jury at the end of that.
So basically....
======
In other news, today has been pretty enjoyable.
Timeline of events:
2:00 am : Hellen leaves
10:15 - 12:45 : Went to Brick Lane markets for the special Bollywood events with Mike. Great stalls, good food.
1:15 - 2:15 : Meeting with Monia; see above.
2:30 - 6: 00 : Met with Iain to explore Hyde Park, the V+A Museum, and Harrod's. Grabbed a quick bite at EAT and talked about obscure British history, what kind of clothes we like, and how he should tell some girl "i'm just not that into you."
6:15 : Ran to catch my bus
6:30 - 9:00 : Wasted time online "working"
9:00 : New roommate shows up. Name unknown. She's from Spain and doesn't speak English. I think she's annoyed that I'm American and not Italian, like she thought I would be.
=====
After several torturous days of Michael [read: endlessly playing of Flight of the Concords, Jake + Amir videos, and silly walks] last night's brilliance produced:
This perfectly illustrates the singular individual, in every way.
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