Generating Form

Below are a series of models, these highlight the process, visual and thought by which an architect will attempt to derive form from contextual surroundings and climatic conditions. The images are simple and direct but convey in far greater detail than sketches or writing would a clarity of relationship and in turn help to reinforce the architects intentions. 

Brockhaus Encyclopedia Infographics by Martin Oberhäuser, via Behance

CLONE-CITY

Architectural Research Dissertation

 CLONE-CITY - Has the Notion of ‘Place’ Been Undermined by Current Models in Retail Planning and Design?

Abstract

The urban landscape of South Wales’ two largest cities, Newport and Cardiff has been in a state of constant transformation since the inter-war periods, accelerated in the 1960’s with the clearing of the industrial centres of these two cities and the progression to a service based economy. The unsuitable developmental nature of the central areas of these ‘towns’, where the remnants of their industrial past still loomed; posed problems for large developers. This paved the way for the Americanization of the UK’s retail landscape where large out of town shopping ‘Non-places’ acted as a backdrop for the growing consumerist needs of the late 1970’s. There was soon a governmental shift in opinion and policy as to the suitable nature of such developments, the large scale abandonment of town centres, independent retailers calling out for help and the political elite echoing their cries. A policy shift towards a series of ‘Retail-led’ urban regeneration projects soon became the norm, masking themselves as the cure to degeneration and investment. As European cities became more ‘mall-like’, large retailers downsizing to fit the retail spaces and medium sized retails shifting upwards in size, the city has shifted once again to a shopping-mall pastiche. This has given rise to terms such as ‘Clone Town’s’ and ‘Copycat Developments’ where the very nature of contemporary developments has allowed for a scenario of an incapable flexibility within the retail sector, where the provision of diversity, a factor acknowledged as vital to the success of our inner city environments remains unobtainable(Jane Jacobs 1961). The competition that was once waged between city and suburb, has migrated to the city; not only do the urban businesses of Newport and Cardiff face a greater danger from an alliance of retailers within the city, than from shopping centre suburbs, but these two cities have been competing with each other and the region as a whole. Newport suffering under the weight of it’s bigger brother, Cardiff. As both cities embark upon promoting themselves as global players and competing against their European counterparts have they become just another metropolitan voice of ‘Post-Industrial Revival’ where the inherent nature of their adopted globalisation has potentially created a difference and similarity, risk and opportunity; affluence and exclusion. Cardiff has already set out it’s policy of ‘boosterism’ and Newport is following blindly with the figures suggesting a different outcome. Within this context the notion of ‘place’ and ‘idenity’ has arguably been lost to ‘brandhubs’ and consumer landscapes. Is this purely down to market forces, the financial downturn or does the problem lie in the very nature of the machiavellian form of capitalism and this stage of ‘Clone Town’ globalisation that South Wales has adopted, where the a gradual homogenization of architecture is regarded as acceptable? Who creates ‘place’ in our cities and who are the parties invovled in this proccess? 

You will find more images and be able to read a full online version by clicking read more below:

BAU BLOCK Render

A street render for a recent studio project using photoshop, vray and sketchup. Took 5mins to produce, 9 hours to render haha, I wanted the lights to be pretty accurate. Looking for your opinions.

The final image shows progression through experimentation with different light techniques, levels of contrast and areas of emphasis.

This video will make you smile

This video will make you smile

The Harvard Design School Guide to Shopping

My dissertation reading allowed me to come across this Chapter from "The Harvard Design School Guide to Shopping" called "Resistance". I published it on ISSUU to make it freely available as the book is rather expensive, happy reading and look forward to your comments on some of the issues and questions raised.

Open publication - Free publishing - More architecture

Rue Guernis After Hours

A recent night render for a Barch Y05 Project at the msa, The lighting and modelling was all done in 'Sketchup' using a 'VRAY' rendering plugin. Post production was carried out in Photoshop.

The scheme is a conversion of four courtyard houses into a series of consecutive courtyards with exhibitions spaces and galleries arranged around the existing ground floor plan.

Project Name: Artefacts of Andalus
Location: Medina, Fes, Morocco.

"Neues Museum" Berlin

British architect David Chipperfield recently gave an interview with Crane.tv discussing his architectural philosophy and affinity for the German culture. He expands on his approach to architecture and touches on his work for the completed reconstruction of the Neues Museum in Berlin.  Turner Contemporary – a visual arts venue in Margate, England, America’s Cup Building in Valencia, Spain, and the Central Public Library in Des Moines, Iowa.

Called the James Simon Gallery, the building will 

serve as a grand entrance to the cluster of cultural buildings, set on an island 

in the river Spree.

BMCE headquarters by Foster + Partners

Saw this on another blog, think it's a great example of traditional concept's fused with modern style and construction methods. In fact, I'm quite surprised of the sculptural quality as much of fosters + partners work revolves around technological and design driven schemes. Anyhow's it's rather beautiful I think; enjoy.

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The Paradise in the city, Rem Koolhaus

 Paradise?? 

Panoramic of the Fez Medina

I took this Panoramic photograph of the Fez Median on a recent study trip to Morocco, we spent four days in the medina, recording the inhabitants lives and analysing the problems and challenges the medieval faces in these modern times.

COURTYARD HOUSING AS AN URBAN CATALYST_A Report by Rob Rostron and Benjamin Hale

Introduction


Courtyard housing was one of the first types of any domestic architectural development, first seen between 6400-6000BC in Neolithic settlements. The most traditional layout arrangement of a courtyard house is where the spaces are disposed around a central courtyard.

click below for more

Architecture and Hooters go 'hand in hand' excuse the pun.

The below and the above

Over the spring and the coming summer I am going to begin discussing the veins and arteries of our cities that we don't really get to see or experience for ourselves. My memories take me back to when I was a little younger. Sitting on the roof of our house ( do not ask how I got there, apparently you can squeeze out of a window but just try squeezing back in when your 7 years old) and seeing the 'world' in a different light. Long before I was aware of le Corbusiers streets in the sky or team 10's fascination with high rise living and well before Stephen Holls linked hybrid, that 7 year old one summer realised for himself the elevated feeling of being high up of the ground and it was as simple as stepping out.

I also remember my first visit to Rome where I was taken on a tour of the cities ancient network of sewers and mines. It's a different world down there. Different from the world above.

I recently read an article in the National Geographic about the Paris underground. A network of ancient tunnels, catacombs and mines that the city almost 20 feet below the surface. It took me back that tour of Rome and how apparently 'all are equal' beneath the city, all are muddied, all are wet and dripping with excitement. Here is an extract from that article written by By Neil Shea, Photograph by Stephen Alvarez;

The cab glides through Saturday morning. The great avenues are quiet, the shops closed. From a bakery comes the scent of fresh bread. At a stoplight a blur of movement draws my attention. A man in blue coveralls is emerging from a hole in the sidewalk. His hair falls in dreadlocks, and there is a lamp on his head. Now a young woman emerges, holding a lantern. She has long, slender legs and wears very short shorts. Both wear rubber boots, both are smeared with beige mud, like a tribal decoration. The man shoves the iron cover back over the hole and takes the woman's hand, and together they run grinning down the street.

Paris has a deeper and stranger connection to its underground than almost any city, and that underground is one of the richest. The arteries and intestines of Paris, the hundreds of miles of tunnels that make up some of the oldest and densest subway and sewer networks in the world, are just the start of it. Under Paris there are spaces of all kinds: canals and reservoirs, crypts and bank vaults, wine cellars transformed into nightclubs and galleries. Most surprising of all are the carrières—the old limestone quarries that fan out in a deep and intricate web under many neighborhoods, mostly in the southern part of the metropolis.

Vertical Omotesando (Fashion Museum)/ Wai Think Tank | ArchDaily

Wai Think Tank have shared with us their proposal for the Fashion Museum Competition in Omotesando Street in Tokyo, Japan. The challenge consisted in designing a 100 meters high tower-museum, containing exhibition areas of 20th century fashion history and becoming a landmark for Tokyo.

See more images and architect’s description after the break.

Bjarke Ingels @ ETSAM, "Yes is more"

Bjarke Ingels @ ETSAM, "Yes is more" from mstrpln blog mx on Vimeo.


Bjarke Ingels (BIG) conference at ETSAM in Madrid, which took place on Oct 6th.

Video by Jorge from mstrpln blog.

Recent BIG projects featured at AD:
BIG’s proposal for the Audi Urban Future Award
LOOP City
8 House
Denmark Pavilion at Shanghai Expo 2010
MNBAQ Extension Competition entry (With Fugere Architectes)
Mountain Dwellings (with JDS)
P.S.1 2010 competition entry
Faroe Islands Education Center
World Village of Women Sports
Shenzhen International Energy Mansion
National Library in Astana, Kazakhstan
Tallin City Hall
Tamayo Museum (with Rojkind Architects)
Kaufhauskanal Metrozone (with Topotek1)
Zira Island Carbon Neutral master plan
 

INTRODUCTION

The Island Proposition 2100 embodies hyper-connectivity.

The IP2100 spine contains a looped system of hybrid infrastructures, initiating a new symbiotic relationship between the urban centres and their supporting territories. An extensive network on the multi-regional scale provides cites with the resources to become robust and responsive to future challenges.

Ruperra Castle_A Castles Plight

Buildings do not normally have to be beautiful or functional to require appreciation. Ruperra Castle near my home in South Wales has long been a place that has held my interest, not only because of it's peculiar design but also the history surrounding it and the controversies of a recent planning application by the business owner to complete a large residential housing scheme around the site. While this was sussesful with Clyne castle in Swansea, it is my own and many other peoples opinion that such a scheme would ruin the surrounding vistas and landscape and may act as a precedent in planning procdeure when concerning our national ruins. Two years ago I completed a report documenting the history, architectural style and recent events regarding the castle, apologies if it seems somewhat outdated but as of yet have not had the time to update it to a more recent version.

Open publication - Free publishing - More wales

A link to the Ruprra Blog spot can be found by clicking HERE, where you will find up to date information on the current state of the application and the appeal.

http://www.dezeen.com/2010/07/23/36-the-calls-by-fletcher-crane-architects/#idc-container

My Graduation, Ba (Hons) Architecture Part 1

A few photos from the big 'rainy' day, happy to get my Ba, but sad to say goodbye to some top class people, will really miss you all, 'We've only got each other' LADS ON TOUR !!

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