27 July 2011

A G L A S G O W S M I L E

A non-violent one, that is!

As some of you may recall, I've wanted to go and visit the new Transport Museum - or Riverside Museum, as it has be renamed - for a while now. Last weekend I finally went and I must say I was pretty impressed, by both the building and it's content. Old Zaha has done it again. Architecturally, the zinc clad shell of the museum nods to Glasgow's shipbuilding heritage, whilst the lofty interior spaces are perfect for hosting original and replica trams, motorbikes, caravans, classic cars and even the infamous 'Clockwork Orange'  Glasgow subway. Not being particularly interested in much of the transport, the highlight for me was the cobbled, recreated 'street' which you could walk through and enter old Victorian hang outs that were once native to Glasgow. This included the local ice cream shop, pub, photography studio, blacksmith and dressmaker, which really set the scene and gave a real sense of context for the transport. It's free too so if anyone is in Glasgow you should check it out - maybe not at the weekend though as it was rammed!

26 July 2011

I T H I N K I ' M D U M B

At university, there has been many an occasion when myself, or some other poor student, has been told that the design of their building is arbitrary. There is no real concept behind the proposal, no big idea driving it, nada, nowt. Just a design that is the way it is, just because. Even now, when I come across that word in a magazine or newspaper -which thankfully isn’t often - I’m taken right back to the good old Crit Days of first year and second year, where success was measured in ten to fifteen minutes of presenting and appraising of the terms project. And if you didn’t have a strong concept or theme backing up every decision you made... then woe betide you. 

So with this knowledge never to design something ‘arbitrary’ instilled in me for life, I always get a wee bit  annoyed when I see architects designing something that would have never got through the shrewd eyes of the university tutors! The design would be torn to shreds, scribbled over, and the designer would no doubt be left a blubbering wreck. Architecture Crits are cruel like that. I’m not trying to say I could do better - I’m just amazed by how silly buildings sometimes gets. And I do love playful architecture, but well, these are something else. The Jenga house in particular, is stunning, but having to sleep on a hard block of wood I draw the line at. Perhaps I just need to lighten up! Would you enjoy living in either of these?? 

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12 July 2011

D R E S S C O D E


Black, thick rimmed glasses are one of many cliches about architects - we have the Frenchman Le Corbusier to thank for that. These days, even architect Barbie has black specs perched upon her blonde mane!  Here's my version, which are brown. I bought these on a whim a few weeks ago after I'd been for an eye test. The staff somehow managed to convice that I needed new ones - which was true - but I'm normally much more resilient to such sales patter! What can I say, I'm weak. Needless to say, once I got the idea in my head I ended up buying rather expensive ones. But I did get £80 off, so it's all good, right??  

D O T D : S E C O N D N A T U R E

My favourite buildings fall, without fail, into two categories. The most instantaneous of these is striking, quirky architecture - the visual type that’s full of bright colours, weird shapes and cleverly reworked forms and that make you gasp in amazement. I have these moments on design websites all the time, with Will Alsop, OMA, MVRDV, Herzog and De Meuron typically being the guilty parties. I love them all. 

The other type of architecture is near enough the polar opposite: evocative, poetic architecture that is totally stripped back and more to do with the feeling of a space rather than anything it contains. Peter Zumthor is the reigning master of this type of design. It’s not something I’ve really blogged about as yet, as I don’t tend to come across buildings like that too often, and I guess if you’re not into architecture the buildings may not be as accessible, or then again perhaps more so. 

This one that I’ve found is a great example. It’s by an Architect I’ve never heard of, in a place I’ve never been, and at first glance I even couldn’t tell you what it’s used for, but somehow the design and context just fit – like the building has always, or was always supposed to be there. It’s so understated and effortless. It’s supposedly inspired by the notion of a roman road, which I think speaks volumes about the timeless quality the building possesses. It's called 'Museu da Geira Romans' and is by Carvalho Araújo in Gerês, Portugal.
 
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5 July 2011

D O T D : A R M S C H A I R

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Yes I am posting about yet another chair. What of it? This one - naturally called the Arms Chair - has been designed by Oleksandr Shestakovych and would sit very well with the Mr and Mrs Chair that I've already bought in my head.