30.9.08

Urban Ornaments + Multiplicity


We stumbled upon two gems whilst exploring downtown. I was awe-struck, initially.

‘What incredible monstrosity is this?!’ I thought, “It’s huge! and repetitive! and bold!”

I spent a good ten minutes trying to figure out what on earth went on inside it - deep building, no windows. Alas, Jan guessed right and on closer inspection of our second quarry we realised we were staring a
t very pimped up multi-storey car parks.


I once read somewhere that buildings sculpted from a single material, by their very singular nature, exude a degree of nobility. I really like the choice of colours. Flashy silver and lime green for the occasional sunny day and sober shades of black and brown complementing the typically gloomy English weather. But for all the marvellous texture on display, I can’t help but wonder how much and how long it’d take to clean and maintain these giant urban ornaments.

Which brings me to another observation - It would appear that Europeans have a penchant for multiplicity, which, I must admit, is a very convincing marketing + design strategy.



My favourite in the series would have to be the American Book Centre in Amsterdam [the image just above]. Extremely rich space textured purely by the very commodity/use of the building – books. And lo and behold! Hunter Douglas 3form Varia panels in the flesh!!

For more info on 3form:
http://www.3-form.com/
http://www.inhabitat.com/2005/05/02/ecoresin/

27.9.08

The Department of Music + Home Base


Neatly tucked away along a side-road, Sheffield’s Department of Music, aka The Soundhouse, by careyjones architects & Jefferson Sheard Architects is eye-catching. For all its initial quirkiness, it’s a well-behaved building that sits comfortably beside its neighbours. It gets your attention, but doesn’t try too hard at that. Surprisingly, the external skin is made of rubber!



I think it’s a perfect example of Symbolism - applying a recognisable interior skin meant for acoustic insulation to the exterior skin. It’s quite literally a music box, albeit a very sensual one with its rippling jet black surfaces and mirror-finished studs. I wonder what Ruskin would think.




In other news, house-hunting season is finally over. Much relieved that we’ve managed to get a pretty decent place to stay. Moving in and ‘owning’ the place brought much joy and excitement.

Mental note to self: It’s a joy that all home-owners have a right to experience and as an architect one really needs to balance artistic license and the owner’s aspirations. The project might be your ‘baby’ but it’s also someone’s home. Tread cautiously. Or better yet, and only if possible, choose a like-minded client.

24.9.08

The Winter Garden



Sheffield's Winter Garden by Pringle Richards Sharratt Architects is beautiful in its conceptual clarity and majestic in its expression of structure. It might even have been a fantastic example for Technology Studio in Year 3; as much as the mere recollection of Year 3 makes me shudder.



The flame-coloured laminated timber arches soar to some 20m high (or so I’m guesstimating). You see bulk. Firmitas; with a capital F. Yet the structure’s massiveness is tempered with elegance in the way each arch bows more humbly than the next. Not all of them are secured to the ground. There is an alternating rhythm. Perhaps this ingenious touch is what really brought out the clarity in the design. There is no visual clutter. Each arch is given space to breathe.

But when they do meet the ground, the steel joinery is exquisite. Thank goodness the architect didn’t simply shove them into rectangular steel boxes. Each footing is a robust armature custom designed to secure a pair of cross-braces on either side which in turn hold up a dual purpose circular steel beam – acting as a tie for all the arches and as supporting structure for the arches that don’t meet the ground.

Structural brilliance aside, it’s got a gentle form on the outside and fantastic space on the inside. Most delightful.

"We have ignition..."

A stable internet connection.

Finally.

13.9.08

In Transition

Sorry for the lack of updates. Had my hands full this week with house hunting, chasing down good deals on SIM cards and groping my way through internet banking. Photos will have to wait. In my haste to get to the airport I forgot to pack the USB cable for my camera.

So i’m finally in Sheffield. Currently holed up at the Harley Hotel for a week. It’s got a catchy, simple slogan,

“This is your Harley!
It’s full of music.
And gin.
Music + gin.”

Apart from the wonky internet connection that’s only accessible in the bar downstairs and the nightly band performances that thump away into the wee hours of the morning, it’s a comfy home base for now. PLUS, the full English breakfast they serve in the morning is most definitely, THE best breakfast I’ve ever savoured. (Jon, this really is heart-stopping, or at the very least, heart-clogging.)


Sheffield, as a townscape, is growing on me. It’s human-scale, hilly urbanity, speckled with beautiful trees, exudes a unique charm. There is a hodgepodge of architectural expressions that inhabit the landscape; a couple of its main characters will be making guest appearances on this blog later on. Stay tuned folks.