Session 8 - 20.11.09 All that's solid melts into air

With a day to spare I can write my blog...

So my thoughts on "All that's solid melts into air"...

It is clear that the story of Faust is still very apt today. The developer phase of the story can be seen all around, we as humans are constantly building and destroying our way through time, we can’t afford to slow down or stop building as it is the basis for our livelihoods in the construction industry, it is the basis on which the economy of nations continue to grow, the only reason for the growth of our world is for wealth and money, destroying anything, including nature, that gets in our way, just when will the tragic end to our development/society occur? Looking back in time we can see the patterns of great civilisations that have grown and grown only to destroy themselves, for example the city of Babylon. A great modern example of the tragedy of development is that of Dubai. Like the devil in the story of Faust the reason behind the development of this area is purely for the purpose of money and wealth. The projects being constructed are not being built for good but for greed. The story of the developer in Faust can't afford to slow down, nor has Dubai over the last few years.

We as architecture students can relate to the problems faced in the first phase of the story, “the dreamer”, withdrawn from the outside world, feeling there are bigger challenges, on our road to our ultimate goals we have to do the bad, the car park layouts, the many hours of study, we have already turned to the devil for knowledge, in our case this devil is the machine.

Session 7 - 13.11.09 Le Corbusier & Professor Silenus

So my thoughts on Professor Silenus...

As I was laying in bed last night, unable to sleep due to the most random thoughts running through my mind and worries with regards to work/university work, I realised that this character is a great representation of, not only the most well known architect of the time Le Corbusier, but architects and students of architecture in general.

I think in his book Evelyn Waugh creates the prefect stereotypical architect in Professor Silenus. I think that these traits are still relevant today. His classic architect traits and how these compare to the current crop of architect and architect wannabes;

• Hatred for humans, their interference in his work Professor Silenus states that the prefect building is a factory, it is not possible for domestic architecture to be beautiful. Occupants of buildings will always want to change and alter pieces of architecture. The problem with a great piece of architecture is, unlike a painting that will never change in appearance, never get bigger, never be repainted in different colours, it will enviably be changed to suit a future generations need.
  I have been working on a scheme in the office recently for a mixed use development, all I seem to do for days and days on end was alter our design to suit the various needs of the number of occupiers, looking at the final design now it has completely changed from the initial design. I can definitely relate to Silenus's annoyance with human intervention.
• Eccentric behaviour
  "He removes a biscuit from his pocket and begins to munch...two hours later he had not moved...his empty jaw champed rhythmically" Definitely a few sandwiches short of a picnic. Within my office it is obvious who the architects are, we have one who looks like Sideshow Bob from the Simpsons, the other architects are the ones who have random conversations with the photocopies and are constantly shaking their computer screens. The amount of times I have found myself staring blankly at the computer screen whilst working, lost in my thoughts, is a bit weird looking back now. But I think you can't be an architect without being a bit insane, the amount of pressure and annoying clients is enough to send anyone a bit nutty.
• The pain of building regulations and standards
  Professor Silenus moans in the piece about the annoyance of having to install a staircase. The amount of times we have had to redraw designs to accommodate fire escape stairs and to allow for disabled access.
• Never happy with the final design
  "I hate and detest every bit of it" I'm pretty sure very few architects have completed a build and been 100% happy with the final result. The amount of times I have been to site to see completed builds only to find corners have been cut or the contractor has failed to finish off details as we have designed them. Plus all the redraws you have to make during the design process to suit client needs you kind of get sick of the sight of the building come completion.
• Insomnia
  Professor Silenus doesn't sleep, he just rests and thinks. I don't think I know one student of architecture who gets a good night sleep whilst studying.

Looking at this character it does make one wonder why I'm trying to become one of these architects, oh yeah that's right I'm slightly mad. Silly me...

Session 6 - 06.11.09 The machine and Archigram

So my thoughts on Archigram...

(As scribbled down on the train back home)

Plug-in-City is a mega-structure with no buildings, just a massive framework into which dwellings in the form of cells or standardised components could be slotted. The machine had taken over and people were the raw material being processed, the difference being that people are meant to enjoy the experience.

After the session today and looking at Archigram's designs it is quite scary to me just how close we could be to actually living in an Archigram design. I mean lets look at the world we live in, we have no need for shops, we have Amazon and Tesco's delivery, no need to talk to each other anymore, we are increasingly using texting and social networking sites (I will discuss this a bit more later), we don't need to go to the gym or for a run anymore, we have Wii Fit. Recently at work, as well as the work becoming more and more a case of copy and paste, I have noticed that more and more my boss emails me what work I need to do rather than coming to see me, I do all my work on a computer, look up information online, do I actually need to be at the office? No, not really. I laughed at the piece in week 1 on Zaha's office, how her employees are plugged into a machine, but the scary thought is that we all might not be far off working like that.

So my thoughts on the "Machine"...

I agree with Paul regarding doctors acting as mechanics. Fine by me, I'd quite like to lose the lecture every time I go to the doctors. Yes, I probably do drink more units than I should be, eat too much salt and don't exercise or look after myself as well as I should. But I do pay my taxes, I "conform" to the rules of the machine, so surely I should be entitled to a new liver or any other new part I might need off the NHS every now and again!

Due to advances in technology we are increasing the control the machine has. Facebook, much like windows 7, is the new software upgrade for the machine. Facebook, as well as any other social site, is a monitoring and controlling piece of software that is feeding the machine. People are compelled to tell it, amongst other things, how they are, what they are fans of, where they've been, who they were with...and don't think just because you haven't conformed and created a profile it doesn't know about you. You'll be in there, in someone’s photos, in someone’s comments, whether you like it or not. We have no choice but to comply, all hail the Machine!

Session 5 - 30.10.09 Las Vegas

So my thoughts on Las Vegas...

Firstly, I found both pieces of writing this week, Wolfe and Hickey, very enjoyable to read and definately did not hurt my head as much as last weeks piece.

This week I choose to write my own 'Paul style' x number of points list as I read Wolfe's piece, so here it is...

My 5 points on Vegas;

1. Signs as architecture - The triumph of adverting.

Ducks and decorated sheds, I remeber this from my theory lectures at degree level, my theory tutor had a soft spot for Vegas too actually, maybe this is a necessaity in becoming one?Hmm

"Ducks" are buildings whose very shape are meant to portend the activity carried on within.

"Decorated sheds" are fairly unexciting structures (hotels, restaurants, casinos, gas stations, etc.) where large-scale decorations, either as text (e.g., "McDonalds") or as obvious symbols (e.g. the Mcdonald's golden arches) tell the quickly-moving passerby what's within.

2. Original casino's built on ganster-financing.

A trend repeated in the future with Dubai

3. Las Vegas v. Monte Carlo

Vegas never quite matched Monte Carlo, it evolved into its own individual image. Is it now Las Vegas v. Dudai?

4. "Don't make me go to bed attitude"

Vegas is America's adult playground, anything and everything seems to go in Vegas, sex, gamlbling and drugs.

5. The darkside to Vegas

Near the end of Wolfe's piece he shows the extent to which over exposure to Vegas has a negative impact on civilisation.

My personnal favourite bit within both the piece's has to be Hickey's comparison with Vegas to the America as a whole. The point that "Vegas cheats you fair, the payoffs are posted and the odds easily calculatable", I think this is still apt today, wouldn't the world be so much better off if this was the case in everyday life... you'd still be screwed over by the goverment, your employers, but at least you'll understand why...