I'm back, with a new design on hand. Probably one of the most interesting ones of the year thus far. The brief was to create a sacred space within the dense urban environment in Port Elizabeth central, Parliment Street.

My approach was to create a space that one can feel at peace, welcome, wanted and leave feeling completely fulfilled. To create a garden space within the dense urban environment where people, not only can visit for sacred reasons, but also a space where one can detach oneself from the urban lifestyle and be completely fulfilled within a green landscape that hides behind strong vertical planes.

The UK Pavilion has to be one of my favourites at the Expo 2010. To me, it signifies impossibility through inspiration. Developed by UK’s leading creative talents, Thomas Heatherwick, the centrepiece of the UK pavilion is a six storey high object formed from some 60,000 slender transparent rods that act like fibre-optic filaments, and quiver in the breeze.



Have a look at the link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq_GVcApKDQ&feature=player_embedded#!

For  those still dealing with precedence study for the Library extension in Goven Mbeki, this will certainly be an interesting building to analyse.

The Royal Ontario Museum by Daniel Libeskind , provides a wonderful opportunity for dramatic new architecture and the creation of a great public attraction. The centrality of the site intensifies the profound relationship between history and the new, between tradition and innovation.

The historical buildings, complemented by forward-looking and bold architecture, form an ensemble which regenerates the urban significance of the Museum, solves the complex functional issues, and dramatically improves exhibitions, facilities, programming and amenities. transforming the entire museum complex into a world-class destination. The expansion and renovation project is known as Renaissance Rom.

Follow the link bellow for a complete analysis
http://www.daniel-libeskind.com/projects/show-all/royal-ontario-museum/

Those wanting to get behind the mind of Daniel Libeskind, take a few minutes and have a look at the link below. His profound passion for architecture is truly remarkable and it is a vivid expression throughout his designs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8w4UQL6aI0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q18yrrGNas&feature=related

For the next 184 days, the most expensive exhibition in the world FINALLY takes off. The Expo opened to the public this morning and is expected to draw 70 million people over six months to the national pavilions, designed to reflect the urban sustainability theme of "Better City, Better Life." . The world unites for an Architectural show down in China.



For a complete view of all the exhibits, see the link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t02giLzaj4w&feature=related

Being Portuguese, i couldnt resist but to share this with you.

This Portugese firm Kaputt!'s web page, is basically a splash page, but it's quite an interesting one. A slideshow of hands on a scanbed next to model photos gives us the firm's contact information and "cast of characters."

The images associate the hand of the architect with the architectural creation, an immediate relationship that seems often splintered these days. The names take this relationship one step further, by marking the skin with that which can only be handwritten, not typed and printed on a computer.

Jewish Museum in Berlin by Danial Libeskind

















Our current project for design, to conclude the first semester, is an extension to the public library in Goven Mbeki. The site is set in an historic context, therefore, one needs to be extremely suttle in the design approach. One needs to be aware of the cultural aspect of the existing building and what it means to the city by examining the pattern use and cultural responses and how robust the building is for those who use it.

Dealing with an historic context a thorough investigation needs to be done so one is aware of how new extensions fit in to significantly old monumental buildings. Liebeskind's Jewish Museum is a good start for a precedent study, as it is set within an historical context dealing with movement paths within the macro environment.

I am interested in how Libeskind encoded the questions of recording and remembering Jewish history in the structure/program. I've found that he used a series of metaphors for his creation of floor plan, voids and paths and even the shape of windows.

As for circulation, the visitor must descend to the basement level and enter the new museum through an underground corridor. The path's walls and floor slope and converge; at its end are three routes: to the E. T A. Hoffman Garden, to the memorial Holocaust Void, and to a stair leading to the galleries. The monumental stair, tightly bounded between its walls, rises all the way through the building, crossed by angled concrete beams. Libeskind's name for the project is "Between the lines," and the title manifests in a perfectly straight stroke that penetrates the fragmented composition. Where this line slices the plan, the architect has left seven voids - metaphors for the absence and erasure of Jewish history in Berlin (Zeiger 2005).

Reference: Zeiger, M. (2005), New Museum Architecture: Innovative Buildings from Around the World, Thames & Hudson: London.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Besides Architecture, photography takes up the other half of me. Recently, a volcanic eruption in the southwestern part of Iceland's Eyjafjallajoekull glacier, released a significant volume of ash into the air causing Europe's Airlines a loss of at least $1.7 billion due to travel disruptions caused by the volcanic ash cloud.






Follow the link bellow for more images.
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/04/more_from_eyjafjallajokull.html

Keeping on track with one my favourite eclectic Architects, is a hobby I like to nurture. Zaha Hadid's latest footprint is the Aquatic centre in London for the 2012 Olympics.

Earlier this month, the two 50 metre concrete pools, along with the diving pool, were filled with water for the first time. The concrete pools needed to be tested with more than 10 million liters of water before they are sealed and tiled, with approximately 180 000 tiles. Sadly, the project has been scaled down from its first proposal due to budget concerns, but still keeping with Zaha Hadid's signiture abstract form.

With a budget of 300 million pounds, the complex consists of a sting ray shaped 3,360 ton curved steel roof designed, to stretch and twist according to the weather. The venue will have a 17 500 seat centre playing host to swimming, diving and water polo finals.

Take a look at the link below for a break down on the project:
http://www.archicentral.com/london-2012-aquatics-centre-by-zaha-hadid-starts-to-take-shape-1761



                                                        (rendering of the aquatic centre)

You can see up to date progress through a live webcam here:
 http://www.london2012.com/webcams/aquatics-centre.php

Between May 1st and October 31st 2010 the World Expo - World Expo 2010 Shanghai will be held in the city of Shanghai, China. The Expo will attract governments and people from around the world. The Expo theme is "Better Cities, Better Quality of Life", reflecting the desire common to all mankind for a better life in urban environments, now and in the future, and a central concern of the international community for the future development of policies and strategies for urban development.

A sneak peak at what Portugal has in mind. With a total area of 2,000m2 and a forecast of 3million visitors to their pavilion, Portugal has bough their roots across the globe for 184 days.


The pavilion has a façade that is covered in cork, a nationally-sourced, recyclable and environmentally friendly material. This is one example of innovation and good environmental practice that enhances Portugal's image in the largest Universal Exhibition ever held. It reflects the concept of urban sustainability in modern-day cities and highlights it as a key element in national policies, economically and environmentally.
 
Good luck Portugal

’During the day the Tower of Winds’ aluminum cladding shields the mirrored plates and lights within. At night the lights and reflective surfaces dance to the music of the city, computer-controls reacting to both man-made and natural forces: ambient sounds, wind forces, time of day and season. … Ito created a work of art / architecture of simplicity that reflects the complexity and nature of the city and its inhabitants. His influence is the music of the environment combined with our interaction and effect upon it.’


( John Hill, founder of ‘A weekly dose of architecture’ )

Follow the link bellow for a complete analysis of the Tower of Winds by the architect,Toyo Ito.

http://www.mediaruimte.be/digital_territories/projects/cybernetic/Tower-of-Winds_Toyo-Ito.html?KeepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=600&width=800

London Olympics tower unveiled

Probably the reason why Boris Johnson is the mayor of London.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZMZGUqIDZU&NR=1

Finally got myself to finish reading "Breaking Ground" by Daniel Libeskind. Such an inspiration for ANYONE. He is an utmost optimist, which may be due to the fact that he has a happy and harmonious family. Whether it’s working on the Berlin Jewish Museum or the underground slurry wall for the reconstruction of ground zero in New York City, his ultimate goal is always to bring new vision and spirit of hope to people.


In the face of difficulties and attacks, Libeskind expresses selfless resistance, believing in his capability to contributing to humanity, arousing both memory and hope, without a single thought of giving up. Such indomitable will is indeed admirable and praiseworthy. As he says: “… you can be a gloomy musician, a disseminated poet and create art in the subject of despair, but you cannot be an architect and a pessimist at the same time.”

Essentially architecture is an optimistic profession; every step must carry belief and hope, from sketches on paper to three dimensional habitable space.

We must not lose our confidence or abandon our dream, but seek all possibilities to pursue our goals, indispensably with wisdom, courage and resolution. Not only can an affirmative outlook bring pleasure to us as architects during the creation process, but also to the people, to the world. So... let’s say YES to architecture!

A reflection on the film ‘My Architect’





Tracing your footsteps in the hushed world,
I see your shadow casting on my face and my soul.
I hear the echoes of your voice,
The whispery sound I used to be familiar with, when I was a child.

Here, light and shadow transform along with the time,
Day after day, I see invisible presence.
A thread of warmness, a glimmer of hope
The light cast nothing else on the walls and floors
But, the feeling has been deeply engraved in the heart.
It was beautiful and unforgettable memories

Isn't this just as our life?
We come to this world in a hurry,
Running through time,
And one day we leave in a hurry.
Just as after the wind has passed,
It leaves no rustling sound among the trees;
After the geese have gone,
The pond doesn't retain their reflection.
This is the stillness of the world.
So why chasing after fame and fortune?
After all, we are the light,
Devoting ourselves into responsibilities should be enough.

Kahn's love for all things
Has been deeply embedded in his buildings.
Some people describe that
Architecture is the solidification of music.
We may say that it is also solidified love.
This love is a broad love.
Love for nature,
Love for mankind
Love for civilization,
Just like how light chooses to illuminate everything,
Empowering wind and rain to breed the land and lives.

Because of love,
We choose not to be fooled by the material world,
Not to follow superficial social trend.
Like his buildings, Kahn is strong and persistent.
Ultimately, architecture becomes a tangible expression of his love.
Even though he has gone, we are forever touched.

For those whom haven't yet watched the movie, follow this link for a sneak peek:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyR_V6Li4s4&feature=related

Image: Ifrsports, (2010), Sports News, retrieved 10 March 2010, from http://ifrsports.blogspot.com/2010/01/guide-to-teams-at-south-africa-2010.html


The theme for this year’s competition is "Sport is the Opiate of the Mass"

Each city suffers from its own cycles of fatigue and renewal, crime and corruption, wealth and poverty, xenophobia and global identity. An event like such as the world cup sports or Olympic Games can be linked to a major reunion or huge celebration.

History has repeatedly shown the slump of which follows as the final whistle blows. As the heads finally clear after victory celebrations, our cities may be left with multi-coloured elephants.

The brief required to investigate the third landscape within our city. This could be to cater for the many South African who are unable to attend world cup soccer in the stadiums, those who cannot afford and those who question the validity of such an event will need breathing pace to survive. A space for watching, play, discussion, dreams and inspiration, or just a place to escape to the streets and the stadium.

The design component may either investigate an urban space or alternatively an intervention to any 2010 stadium and surroundings.
It should provide real space of comfort and safety but raise questions about the event itself, its energy, it’s draining of resources and its aftermath.

Growing up Roman Catholic has been challenging, exhilarating, imposing, rewarding, intimidating, and comforting all at the same time. Ever since I can remember, Ash Wednesday has always been considered as one of the most religious days on the year. Some refer to it as the holy day of obligation.


Ash Wednesday is the first day of the Catholic lent period, and continues for forty-six days (forty days not counting Sundays) before Easter. It is a moveable fast, falling on a different date each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter. This year it fall on the 17th of February.

Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a sign of repentance. The ashes used are typically gathered after the Palm Crosses from the previous year's Palm Sunday are burned. In the liturgical practice of some churches, the ashes are mixed with the Oil of the Catechumens (one of the sacred oils used to anoint those about to be baptized. This paste is used by the minister who presides at the service to make the sign of the cross, first upon his or her own forehead and then on those of congregants.

During lent, the congregation does not sing during mass. We are on a spiritual journey, toward the Second Coming and our future life in Heaven. In order to emphasize that journey, the Church, during Lent, removes the Alleluia from the Mass. We no longer sing with the choirs of angels; instead, we acknowledge our sins and practice repentance so that one day we may again have the privilege of worshiping God as the angels do.

A Blessed Ash Wednesday to all.

Just had a debriefing on my first design project. Didn’t go too bad for a first attempt. The brief required a design of two buildings that were set in two different landscape, being self-same to each other. No program was required, but a definite inside and outside space needed to be obtained.

Buildings are either stereometric or stereotomic. Stereometric being a design that has been carved into its landscape, very dense, heavy. Where as a stereotomic design, is set above ground level, with a clear system grid, integrating itself with its surroundings.

1) My first design was set in an arid landscape. Its impure geometric form sets in apart from nature and explores a sense of natural. It’s monumental through its weight and timelessness through the choice of material.

Ey everyone.

Welcome to my blog. I’m an Architectural student from the University of Port Elizabeth and for the next couple of months, I will be shearing with you my Architectural thoughts, ideas, designs and my personal delevoplement as a design student.

So climb on board and join me, there’s a lot that I have to learn and ALOT more that I’d like to share with you.

Please, don’t hesitate to get involved, all feedback is encouraged and appreciated. Leave your comments or you can email me personally.

C u in my next blog.

Mel :)