As told, Architect is undoubtedly a self-referential, self contained profession. Within these few hundred years the profession of architecture discuss about the referential objects, which is an invention rather than a creation.
Unlike accountant, lawyer or doctor, one could be say that architect is the most redundant profession. It can be redundant when the economic crisis are happened.
Is it also related to the reason of self-reference?
With too much reference to the architectural history in 100 years, and discussions of some contributions to the field of architecture done by famous architect, can we just have a millisecond to think of the future of this profession within the next 5 or 10 years? Comparing with the rapid technological development during these 10 to 20 years, the professional of architecture seems to be stopped at a point where cannot go further. Apart from the intelligent use of the computer-aided design software, which greatly reduced the cost of corporate-oriented architectural firms, only in the point of view of business administration, totally unrelated to the contribution related to the profession of architecture. We cannot just blindly appreciate the remarkably great things in the past and just contented about the present situation. But think of something new and challenge to the existing present to make a breakthrough. We should expand our own mind to the outside of the self-referential boundary.
The Self-referential role is challenged by the rapid development of the advanced technology. It is inevitably true that once the building is completed, it is already outdated. Even though some projects could be run by the most advanced technologies of that time, as it takes a considerable of time to build from scratch to a whole, like at least 3 years for a mid-size scale project, once it is finished some even more advanced technologies is replaced by the hardly old one.
The only way of breaking the self-referential boundary is to accept the reality of the virtual. The virtual reality could potentially become the real reality of the future, since human has closer and closer contact to the virtual internet world. We rely more on this world, where many different kind of activities can be carrying on.
But would it be realized within these foreseeable years?
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
"Timelessness"
Since this week of the seminar of architectural reflection, the author is very fascinated about the idea of "Timelessness" by Peter Eisenman.
From the beginning of the study of architecture, the author is already wondering why should we read so much about the history of architecture, in provision that we have already known some general idea of the architectural history. For a designing practice, the author thinks that the designers should look more towards the future rather than having reference or representation from the factual past.
As the author is not a good architectural student, only when he forced to read the article he knows what Peter Eisenman does and his architectural style. The author feels that the way he thoughts, although is not coherence, has some similarity with Peter Eisenman.
His prompt idea is "timelessness". Although the author is not really understanding the true meaning behind this word, he could understand that we should develop our own architectural style without refer or represent any style that is existed already. A non-representational figuration of the object should be presented.
The author then searched about his favourite work by Peter Eisenmen - City of culture of Galicia in Spain. He literally extracted the geometry of the city grid of the town and overlaid onto the plan of the building cluster. This is the act of transforming the geometry into a form, yet it is inspired by the old city of Santiago and five pilgrim routes. So would it be the paradigm of the argument he raised?
From the beginning of the study of architecture, the author is already wondering why should we read so much about the history of architecture, in provision that we have already known some general idea of the architectural history. For a designing practice, the author thinks that the designers should look more towards the future rather than having reference or representation from the factual past.
As the author is not a good architectural student, only when he forced to read the article he knows what Peter Eisenman does and his architectural style. The author feels that the way he thoughts, although is not coherence, has some similarity with Peter Eisenman.
His prompt idea is "timelessness". Although the author is not really understanding the true meaning behind this word, he could understand that we should develop our own architectural style without refer or represent any style that is existed already. A non-representational figuration of the object should be presented.
The author then searched about his favourite work by Peter Eisenmen - City of culture of Galicia in Spain. He literally extracted the geometry of the city grid of the town and overlaid onto the plan of the building cluster. This is the act of transforming the geometry into a form, yet it is inspired by the old city of Santiago and five pilgrim routes. So would it be the paradigm of the argument he raised?
Eisenman Architects - City of Culture of GaliciaMore informations:
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
"Venice, you are too fake."
The author of the blog has been to Venice for 5 days right after his examination on Rem Koolhaas, Sullivan and South Bank of London. This is the city where is the dream of travelling destination of many ordinary people. Yet, the author, who is totally abnormal, feels that the city is absolutely bored. It is so fortunate that Venice has biennale, which could deceive other non-ordinary people to go here.
The author has a minute of exclaimation when he saw the bridge by Calatrava, but after that, he has whole 4 days of disappointment.
When he travelled through the city, nothing seems to be so unfamiliar - lots of tourists walking along the pedestrian street, where the building is tightly packed with generic shops on the street level, lots of canals where the tourists and habitants travelled by water buses.
The author has a minute of exclaimation when he saw the bridge by Calatrava, but after that, he has whole 4 days of disappointment.
When he travelled through the city, nothing seems to be so unfamiliar - lots of tourists walking along the pedestrian street, where the building is tightly packed with generic shops on the street level, lots of canals where the tourists and habitants travelled by water buses.
The whole Venice is like an expired museum.
The author sees a bridge with stainless steel structure system disguised by wood structure...Italian speaks English...St. Marco Piazza is a place with generic shops and ristoranta, with people coming from all over the world... It is a place solely fulfilled the desire and interest of tourist. Nothing other than that.
Authenticity is no longer valid in here.
Why don't we just go to Macau's Venetian Casino, where you can find the architectural style which mimicking the real one. In terms of the effectiveness of bringing tourist and revenue, it is more real then the real! And you don't need to consider if it is a cloudy day, rainy day or freezing day. It is 24/7 interior.
Extended Information:
Ponte della Costituzione (Designed by Santiago Calatrava)
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
2 Tage in Deutschland
With intensive workload in TU Delft for nearly 1 and a half month, the author decided to go to Germany for 2 days, after 2 years since he has been there.
The author and his trip partners first took about 3.5 hours of train from Delft to Essen, where we can find the architecture by David Chiperfield, OMA and SANAA.
The author and his trip partners first took about 3.5 hours of train from Delft to Essen, where we can find the architecture by David Chiperfield, OMA and SANAA.
SUBTLE AND RESTRAIN (Thanks for his tripmate teaching him the latter word.) can be used on the museum by David Chiperfield and the building by SANAA. Both buildings are really clean and tidy, even the details, which totally suit to the urban context in Germany .
In the next day morning they went to the Medienhafen in Dusseldorf. Frank Gehry's works and other neighouring buildings are quite interesting also..
The building he felt most "Tiefgang" is the work by Zumthor in Cologne. Just seeing the brick facade from outside you cannot see anything special. But the most sublime thing is the effect of light penetrating inside through those slits. It makes the interior really a holy place. The author had the first feeling here that architecture can create an admirable space.
Architecturally it is a good trip, but the author felt that german is indifference, same with its weather.
Extended information:
Museum Wolkwang
Zollverein Design School
Zollverein Kohlewäsche
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
中環灣仔繞道通風大樓設計
今天百無聊賴往中環國際金融中心閒逛，經過商場平台看見中環灣仔繞道通風大樓設計公眾咨詢的介紹展覽，於事便走進看看。一如所料，即使是星期天，購物逛街者人來人往，都沒有一個會停住下來走到展覽附近看看究竟是什麼介紹，只有筆者和零落的幾個中年人士。進入展區後工作人士已經熱情地走到筆者身旁給了一張設計選項意見表，接著便逐一細看每一個設計。
筆者有一個發現，眾觀每一個大樓的設計方案，都有一個分選方案好像似曾相識，看看你們認為的是否跟筆者是一樣的：
筆者有一個發現，眾觀每一個大樓的設計方案，都有一個分選方案好像似曾相識，看看你們認為的是否跟筆者是一樣的：
東面排風口 外觀設計3
中通風大樓 外觀設計2
西面通風大樓 外觀設計1
或許會展新翼的外觀太深入民心，當局可能認為若設計互相呼應或許能夠讓大眾普遍接受。但是，筆者認為這樣的設計在建築言語上太過陳腔濫調，不應在外型上刻意模仿其他建築個體。現時主流可持續建築及著重綠化環保的元素，希望當局能夠考慮多利用環保材料，這也許是鞏固香港在國際上文化薈萃的形象。
當筆者完成意見表後，工作人士連忙說聲多謝再見，然後離開。回望展區，人仍是零星數落。
當筆者完成意見表後，工作人士連忙說聲多謝再見，然後離開。回望展區，人仍是零星數落。
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)