fresh update...

marg and i found the pilot issue. check dave o's desk for copies.

Beer and Poetry Notes

The first of Beer and Poetry, again. Sorry this is such a long post, but it includes notes from two meetings. Happy musing!

• ideas for module content generation
  
• interventions
• haiku reviews of architecture lectures
• whatever we can get submissions, if people like it we'll bring it back
• quotes
• for discussions
• possible focus points for discussions prepared before or after
• also could gain ideas from discussion and research and generate later
• audience?
• publicize something to get attention for it
• however - this is for getting our ideas out and matured on paper for us
• represent readings
• core group for content and reader generated submissions if available
• We are not writing for someone
• get issue done before buzz
• Open source architecture/ Architecture for Humanity Cameron Sinclair
• a network for people to submit designs for third world countries
• can be anything even mundane
• openly submit design ideas, test them and see if they work
• once design is built it can't be copywrighted by anyone else, but anyone in any third world country can download it and built it
• collaborations
• architecture school
• tension of architecture
• trying to design "good" architecture conservatively in school, versus breaking boundaries
• new expeiences based on architectural thougts
• architecture school experience
• insiteful writing on issues of bein involved in architecture culture
• environment for learning
• challengeing your environment what means what and how
• disecting a wink
• Procrastination- self-reflection
• Biggest issue= wrap around Ambrose
• "If you love it, clone it"
• Dont be pretentious- no elevated vocab, dont want to fart above our assholes, meaningful, well-informed words.
• Studio culture= isolated from campus, want an issue in Diamondback
• Module= Diamondback for architecture school, relationship to university-get other people involved
  
• Slip them in the Diamondback
• Better way to teach architecture?? Could we learn architecture without being in studio? Better to be submerged or to step back and think about it? Where is the balance?
• Is there a happy architecture student? Is it appropriate for a university campus? Should we be in a firm as a mentor?
• Should we be designing retreats? What should we be learning?
  
• Different teachers are better for different people
• Problem= dissconnect with critic and student
• Explain, analyze problems and then have a 'so what', what do we do about it?
• ALWAYS GOING TO BE MORE, need a stopping point- Is there ever an end?
• Can design the same project their whole life and never be done, fundamentals of design is always evolving. If time allows evolution of design- will always be more/new design
• Quotes- how we are introduced to things
• Possible theme= word, can be organic but also think critically. Can interpret a word in so many ways, good idea for theme
  
• We are isolated- how do you connect to the world? Talk to other majors?
• Quad conference- generate other things, generate buzz
• Restraint vs editing- fell free to edit, but dont restrain each other. This needs to be a free space.
• Write something, put your thoughts after it- the exquisite corpse
• Inviting excessability- dont do too much text/content/graphics
• Website- post cool sites, visit it, get inspired.
• Digital vs something tangible, better reading it out of the magazine or online?
  
• Attending Beer and Poetry Night is mandatory for any influence on direction
• definitions of architecture
• architecture is shit
• is the creation of shelt by a group of individuals
• is what does it matter to define
  
• primitive hut
• architecture is such an ambiguous topic, imore vague then other careers
• constant issue in the field of architecture
• in architecture - you CAN do more than be architect
• architecture is a "pretty" way in which we can define our discipline
• where does design want to manifest itself. Can't it manifest itse;f in other interventions
• Do you still beat your wife?
• Be organic!

meeting 4/10/09

• meetings => contribute to discussions
• never really settled on theme, but led to discussion of lots of themes
• we'll talk about this for 30 min and you talk about this for 30 minutes
• not an organization - cloud of changing people
• intended audience - other school from architecture
• ways to get around the edge of getting money
• fundraising - sell it to firms
• macnturff
• steve parker
• money through egb and sga
• faculty members maybe be willing to pitch in research money
• school of architecture
• don't let professors publish
• don't let alumni write in it
  
• keep it student => don't let it become an organization -> no members no dues
• secret santa for ideas
• other people read your ideas - starter for development of ideas
• decide audience - no critique of any faculty members or projects specifically
• turn it into an archetype that could apply to many different settings
• may use this semester to brainstorm and get ideas started and raise awareness - fundraise all summer and bang it out in september

Categories yo!

I've just started trying to organize the blog to make it a bit easier to go through posts and get ideas.
When you guys make a post, it would be great if you could add labels to the text box at the bottom of the section where you write the post. Your labels should include your blog name and "module" as well as any other label you feel is relevant. Thanks!

Module

Hey guys! Here are the notes i scribbled down during our discussion last Friday. Some of them make sense to me and some of them don't.. so i can only imagine what they will mean to you.

- articles based on buzz

-interventions

- reading

- quotes

-travel journals

- series of quick thoughts

- informal vs formal conversations

- basing off of a quote and then allowing web to form

- reviews of class readings with thoughts

- generating thought (and material) through architectural experiences

- experience vs inexperience

- extension of thought

- what do we get out of extension of experience

- breaking the rules = superfluous

- challenging environments

- what feels natural and right... why? self analyzing

- honesty- not overextending our intellectual means

- well informed, accessible

- disconnect and self contained

- perspective students- reveal

- subversion and removal

- education

- how to build on architectural knowledge

- disconnect between methodologies

- synthesize

- there is always more

- when do things really end?

- fundamentals of design

- times changes design

- insights within studio

- relevancy of.....

- force vs

- Liz Diller

- doesn't have to be a criticism, but just to be

- isolation vs connection

contact vs details

- don't get caught up

- ' let's just have something'

- date of April 14: have material

- before graduation: have product

- perception

- theme without authority

- restraint vs. editing

- module = free space

- edit grammar/spelling

- exquisite corps

- inviting

- accessibility

- images- same thought as articles: fun and free

- 'talking is poetry'

- blog-form generator

- refine the 'meat'

- limiting access to blog

- physical vs digital

- forum

- blog access

- developing confidence and understanding

- motivator

- viral and guerrilla advertising

- 'my life is a mess of majestic proportions'

- requirement: 'whoever can make it to beer and poetry night'

- attendance = influence

- walls are not the force which defines architecture or space

- definition, placing meaning

- cop out question vs cop out answer

- what do we get out of it

- designer's leading

- be mindful of egobation

- questions, concerns, fears?

- only do it when excited.

can't wait to see what comes from this......

First post: Studio

I guess I'll do the honors for the first post for the group.

I was clicking through the school blogs section of Archinect and I found an article that is eerily similar to what we are trying to do with module.

Here is the link for the article.

http://www.archinect.com/schoolblog/entry.php?id=87228_0_39_0_C

and

http://cornell-convivium.blogspot.com/

Basically, he and a group of students are analyzing the learning environment they are in. Pedagogy, time management, academic structure all come in to play. I know that Marisa has commented on the subject of re-thinking the academic structure for architecture. I think it is a valuable discussion, especially after reading the comments the blogger was suggestion.

Personally, I feel that the difficulties from studio are inevitable. Therefore, I need to adapt myself to the environment I'm rather than change the environment. However, that may not be the best approach. Maybe there does need to be a reassessment of our learning environment. I think it is safe to say that studio is not a healthy environment to grow in. The suggestions that Kyle, the blogger said, were directed towards the other classes we have to take. What if we removed those classes and could focus solely on studio? It might extend the schooling but may be their is worth to it.

I am starting to realize how important it is to be aware of the non-architecture related things we are learning from studio. What bad habits are we picking up that are worked so deeply in our subconscious that it may require another environment as intense as studio to work out? I fear sounding dramatic, however, I have concerns. Maybe this is a good place to get the dialogue flowing. I feel that I tend to repress my frustrations towards studio in order to not complain but maybe its time to cross the threshold, and take an objective stance on our learning environment and let it out.

Too High Tea with Terunobu Fujimori

image courtesy of dezeen.com

image courtesy of designcrack.com

a fruitful bit o' diggin' yielded this architectural gem today.

Terunobu Fujimori is a Japanese architectural historian and architect who, after a well-developed career as a researcher, decided to design buildings of his own. This tea house was for his own use and enjoyment. For more info check Fujimori's own site.

Just a quick, fo' fun post today!

good ol' boring architecture

New and exciting is great, and boring and old is bad. Right? maybe?

Let me preface this by saying that I haven't done much research on the subject, but I have made a lot of my own assumptions. Of course, this completely qualifies me to shoot my mouth off about it.
Some buildings are just good at doing what they do. The architect knew the job the building had to do, and desigined accordingly. Usually with these buildings, they have nice moments, and the inhabitants generally enjoy living/ working/ playing/ eating/ whatevering inside them without taking much notice of how their built environment is assisting their enjoyment. Is it such a terrible thing to strive for making these sort of buildings?

Sort of. An architect's primary responsibility should be to make space that considers its users and effectively engages its program and, if possible, future programs that may present themselves. If you're building achieves this through a standard procedure, in ways that have been done thousands of times, well then great. You still probably have an idea of why these methods work and why fix something that's not broken. Congratulations your building works.

Taking larger risks can mean larger rewards, sometimes. It's always interesting when architects question the fundamentals. Why do we have to do it this way? What does it mean to eat, or sleep or view, or rest? These questions can lead to some absolutely terrible buildings. They also can lead to buildings that are beautiful physical representations of an idea about living, but don't seem to work on a realistic, day-to-day basis. It seems like our history books are full of buildings like this.

The problem is that as an architect it's difficult enough to balance the clients needs and expectations, with your own ideas about architecture. Adding the risk of trying to answer too many questions and the job seems nearly impossible. Unless, of course, you've established yourself enough to gain rich clients that want you to make big clear moves in your architecture, even at the expense of smaller, basic details and programtic requirements. Starchitecture is often it's own worst enemy, ask Frank Gehry.

Maybe it's simply about finding a balance between fresh hot, and functional. The idea of building something that "looks nice" on the street and achieves success through the rigorous employment of standards and precedence set by others is somewhat dull. However, designing a flashy building that only works in one way isn't all that appealing either. Focused questioning can lead to some beautiful and unique solutions, and standard solutions can fill in the blanks. This allows a building to have an identity with out losing it's practicality.