Two trails of thought coming together:
1. Why is architecture taught through critique?
2. What approach is best for an architect?
Bit obvious probably but criticism is often seen as a negative, but does it prepare you for the most important role of an architect, critical response?
Work is just reproduction and, therefore, not art or architecture if it doesn't at the very least provide a critical response to an existing or proposed circumstance.
Positive criticism is then probably a necessary tool to develop these skills, but has a very narrow band of usefulness.
So be critical of what's around you, have an opinion, work it out for yourself, or do something else.
Wednesday 14 December 2011
Friday 7 October 2011
Possession is nine-tenths of the law.
During the August riots in London and around England the police response was particularly closely monitored by news agencies and the public. In Hackney, East London, from where I am writing this piece, the disturbances were at their worst on the second day of disquiet. The police presence rapidly evolved, ominous from the equipment used: the fluorescent jackets of community policing to full riot gear.
With the officers well protected, seemingly a tactic of passive containment was put into motion; officers moving forward during lulls in action of the protestors and making partial retreats when challenged more severely. This, however, allowed those taking part in the disturbances much legroom for opportunistic theft, causing damage to shops and homes alike.
The tactics seemed to quell the will of the mob, perhaps leaving them with spoils and/or proud of making a point to the rest of the nation.
Many of the marginalised in society have very real grievances, yet this argument is not the one we are dealing with here. Why leave property to be taken or damaged in a society that would not normally tolerate such actions in plain view?
In Libya, the Rebels now to be known as the new government have in a Mad Max type manner been re-configuring complex weapons systems, abandoned by the Gaddafi government to suit their less technical expertise. By the time of writing they control most of Libya, a testament to their individual and collective ambition more than technical know-how.
These two instances generate questions of the fundamental principles of possession under a society where the rule of law is not invulnerable.
What are the implications for architecture?
How is a buildings program relevant to or sullied by the society in which it sits, and where do the design team ‘draw a line’ and decide that a building is not in the interests of a wider audience.
Where is the flexibility? A simple example from a friend of mine was a study this year of streetscapes in Soho, Central London, where outdoor seating were always laid within their allotted spaces outside café’s, pubs and restaurants. Yet, sandwich boards, banned in the area on conservation grounds were widely prevalent and dashed across the pavement at many different locations.
With designers often scrambling to be able to build a project it is easy and questionably initially necessary to plumb for projects, which may not have the strictest moral purpose. Do we have the means to contest this; should we care?
Possession is nine tenths of architecture.
With the officers well protected, seemingly a tactic of passive containment was put into motion; officers moving forward during lulls in action of the protestors and making partial retreats when challenged more severely. This, however, allowed those taking part in the disturbances much legroom for opportunistic theft, causing damage to shops and homes alike.
The tactics seemed to quell the will of the mob, perhaps leaving them with spoils and/or proud of making a point to the rest of the nation.
Many of the marginalised in society have very real grievances, yet this argument is not the one we are dealing with here. Why leave property to be taken or damaged in a society that would not normally tolerate such actions in plain view?
In Libya, the Rebels now to be known as the new government have in a Mad Max type manner been re-configuring complex weapons systems, abandoned by the Gaddafi government to suit their less technical expertise. By the time of writing they control most of Libya, a testament to their individual and collective ambition more than technical know-how.
These two instances generate questions of the fundamental principles of possession under a society where the rule of law is not invulnerable.
What are the implications for architecture?
How is a buildings program relevant to or sullied by the society in which it sits, and where do the design team ‘draw a line’ and decide that a building is not in the interests of a wider audience.
Where is the flexibility? A simple example from a friend of mine was a study this year of streetscapes in Soho, Central London, where outdoor seating were always laid within their allotted spaces outside café’s, pubs and restaurants. Yet, sandwich boards, banned in the area on conservation grounds were widely prevalent and dashed across the pavement at many different locations.
With designers often scrambling to be able to build a project it is easy and questionably initially necessary to plumb for projects, which may not have the strictest moral purpose. Do we have the means to contest this; should we care?
Possession is nine tenths of architecture.
Thursday 19 May 2011
Napoleon's Russian campaign, 1812
Charles Joseph Minard's depiction of losses to Napoleon's army during the campaign
Tuesday 17 May 2011
Health inequality
‘Inequalities are a matter of life and death, of health and sickness, of well-being and misery. The fact that in England today people in different social circumstances experience avoidable differences in health, well-being and length of life is, quite simply, unfair. Creating a fairer society is fundamental in improving the health of the whole population and ensuring a fairer distribution of good health.
Inequalities in health arise because of inequalities in society - in the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. So close is the link between particular social and economic features of society and the distribution of health among the population, that the magnitude of health inequalities is a good marker of progress towards creating a fairer society. Taking action to reduce inequalities in health does not require a separate health agenda, but action across the whole of society.’
nicked this from: The Marmot Review, February 2010, Fair Society, Healthy Lives
Inequalities in health arise because of inequalities in society - in the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. So close is the link between particular social and economic features of society and the distribution of health among the population, that the magnitude of health inequalities is a good marker of progress towards creating a fairer society. Taking action to reduce inequalities in health does not require a separate health agenda, but action across the whole of society.’
nicked this from: The Marmot Review, February 2010, Fair Society, Healthy Lives
Friday 13 May 2011
Open City London Documentary Festival, at City Visions 1910 | 2010 Exhibition: Urban Planning in Berlin, London, Paris and Chicago 1910 and 2010.
As the utopianist debate opened up, the exposed soil pipes overhead swished into action-the shit flowed all-round.
No, kidding, it was good and relevant, enjoyed it.
As the utopianist debate opened up, the exposed soil pipes overhead swished into action-the shit flowed all-round.
No, kidding, it was good and relevant, enjoyed it.
Thursday 21 April 2011
Saturday 19 March 2011
Friday 11 March 2011
Sheep and Ducks
In 1247 English law required that a market were not set up within six and two-thirds miles of any other, this was considered a days sheep drive in distance and meant that competition between markets would be minimised thus allowing thriving markets in each region.
Modern mural type public art is expensive, overlooked and mostly ill-considered. All council's were until recently required by law to include a public art strategy in their planning frameworks.
Sheep and Ducks are part of a wider scheme to improve the feeling of safety, orientation and to create a sense of play within a well used subway system within a busy urban context.
the project is a test piece for a wider Masterplan but makes use of existing maintenance budgets, bringing design and negotiation and a sense of place to what was previously just a thoroughfare.
attribute: What-If: projects Ltd
Modern mural type public art is expensive, overlooked and mostly ill-considered. All council's were until recently required by law to include a public art strategy in their planning frameworks.
Sheep and Ducks are part of a wider scheme to improve the feeling of safety, orientation and to create a sense of play within a well used subway system within a busy urban context.
the project is a test piece for a wider Masterplan but makes use of existing maintenance budgets, bringing design and negotiation and a sense of place to what was previously just a thoroughfare.
attribute: What-If: projects Ltd
Friday 28 January 2011
Thesis Thoughts
Going back to first principle it is fair to say that human beings need shelter to exist.
In society as it exists shelter has emerged to include a place to cook and wash as well as a place to sleep. It also includes spaces for leisure and relaxation, depending on lifestyles and circumstances.
The home is a focus in many people’s lives, a place where they spend a majority of their time.
What is shelter? This is very hard to quantify, and when the other elements are considered, is highly variable. Leisure to one person might be watching television, to another, an indoor bowling alley. To some people, the bowling alley might be preferred but the television is what they have.
In a modern world where specialism still structures society people don’t build their own homes, somebody does if for them, or they buy a home permanently or for a period.
Most people could build a type of shelter but are restricted by legislation and land ownership and stigma.
Society is unequal and many people cannot provide their own home. This raises the question of provision. For whom, where and with what do we as a society provide housing?
This is very emotive and everyone has an opinion, it’s not like a sport where some people are bothered, everyone needs shelter as discussed earlier.
Through the history of Local Authority based provision of housing there have been some successful policies mixed with and without successful delivery. It is a proven field but one which has been very reliant on political agenda’s. It’s too easy to go into the politics.
In the early development of state housing provision the arguments for and against state sponsored provision were more clear cut. To borrow an extract from my history essay:
‘the Royal Commission on the Housing of the Working Classes, 1885.
Brought to the fore by Lord Salisbury, the then leader of the Conservative Party, as a response to various works enacted by parliament in London such as the Thames Embankment, where these projects would displace already tightly packed slums of the working class. Thus, ‘packing them in tighter,’ elsewhere. The act had very negative reactions in the press, with the Pall Mall Gazette, Manchester Guardian and The Times all likening it to ‘State Socialism’.
Lord Wemyss, leader of the Liberty and Property Defense League party, criticised the bill as ‘class legislation,’ true it probably is, with Salisbury defending this attitude by likening the bill to, ‘the noblest principles of philanthropy and religion.’
‘Class Legislation’, interesting in our modern classless society…
Council and now especially Housing Association stock exists in large numbers throughout the UK, of a varying degree of quality. How is this considered, managed and planned for? Projects such as Pathfinder have lead to the demolition of housing stock, often in the inner city and often not to be replaced. The Right to Buy still exists, council housing is being built in very small numbers in the Local Authority New Build programme.
What is so frightening about an agency of government investing in a public good? Surely it is better than in an Icelandic bank?
My thesis will be layered of policy, possibilities of existing stock, trends, worldwide case studies, political process, scenarios; Perhaps it should be based on scenarios. All intermingled in an unfavorable spaghetti of conjecture.
In society as it exists shelter has emerged to include a place to cook and wash as well as a place to sleep. It also includes spaces for leisure and relaxation, depending on lifestyles and circumstances.
The home is a focus in many people’s lives, a place where they spend a majority of their time.
What is shelter? This is very hard to quantify, and when the other elements are considered, is highly variable. Leisure to one person might be watching television, to another, an indoor bowling alley. To some people, the bowling alley might be preferred but the television is what they have.
In a modern world where specialism still structures society people don’t build their own homes, somebody does if for them, or they buy a home permanently or for a period.
Most people could build a type of shelter but are restricted by legislation and land ownership and stigma.
Society is unequal and many people cannot provide their own home. This raises the question of provision. For whom, where and with what do we as a society provide housing?
This is very emotive and everyone has an opinion, it’s not like a sport where some people are bothered, everyone needs shelter as discussed earlier.
Through the history of Local Authority based provision of housing there have been some successful policies mixed with and without successful delivery. It is a proven field but one which has been very reliant on political agenda’s. It’s too easy to go into the politics.
In the early development of state housing provision the arguments for and against state sponsored provision were more clear cut. To borrow an extract from my history essay:
‘the Royal Commission on the Housing of the Working Classes, 1885.
Brought to the fore by Lord Salisbury, the then leader of the Conservative Party, as a response to various works enacted by parliament in London such as the Thames Embankment, where these projects would displace already tightly packed slums of the working class. Thus, ‘packing them in tighter,’ elsewhere. The act had very negative reactions in the press, with the Pall Mall Gazette, Manchester Guardian and The Times all likening it to ‘State Socialism’.
Lord Wemyss, leader of the Liberty and Property Defense League party, criticised the bill as ‘class legislation,’ true it probably is, with Salisbury defending this attitude by likening the bill to, ‘the noblest principles of philanthropy and religion.’
‘Class Legislation’, interesting in our modern classless society…
Council and now especially Housing Association stock exists in large numbers throughout the UK, of a varying degree of quality. How is this considered, managed and planned for? Projects such as Pathfinder have lead to the demolition of housing stock, often in the inner city and often not to be replaced. The Right to Buy still exists, council housing is being built in very small numbers in the Local Authority New Build programme.
What is so frightening about an agency of government investing in a public good? Surely it is better than in an Icelandic bank?
My thesis will be layered of policy, possibilities of existing stock, trends, worldwide case studies, political process, scenarios; Perhaps it should be based on scenarios. All intermingled in an unfavorable spaghetti of conjecture.
Friday 21 January 2011
Moving into a New Apartment, Aleksander Laktionov, 1952
An excellent representation of housing provision in Stalin's USSR not meeting that promised in propaganda, is this painting by Stalin Prize Laureate holder Aleksander Laktionov, ‘Moving into a New Apartment’. (below) Until just before the completion of this commission the Laktionov family lived in a cramped cellar, then moving into an apartment of their own.
Saturday 15 January 2011
T23/2 Don't draw anything
Strength and weakness. At policy level this is very important and is perhaps a measure of character. We want to preserve character but also make improvements on weaknesses.
If the character of Soho means that it is an urban assortment of close, busy, smallish scale exciting streets and squares; but a weakness is that the area lacks access to public open space how do you approach the steerage of development to improve Soho.
Perhaps you negotiate with the private and release some land to public access. Perhaps you make some buildings more accessible in this way. Perhaps you shape uses in the area so there could be lulls in certain sections of the area at certain parts of the day, with plenty of specific street furniture this could hold the attributes that public open space is deemed to give, such as peace, a place to sit, nice yet narrow view, trees.
Perhaps it is a negotiation with surrounding areas, with the creation of good transport and accessibility to spaces out of the area of research. This sort of thing is a trade-off, Soho couldn’t exist in isolation, it relies on people coming from all its surrounding areas in an ever-widening concentric circle around the world.
How could bin collection be catered for without leaving office rubbish on the streets at Soho’s busiest time, when the offices have finished for the day and its nightlife hotting up.
I like big industry. It comes in many forms. I always thought reservoirs were beautiful places and would never imagine that it wouldn’t be beautiful to live next to one. But if you live in 1 of 1000 houses in a modest estate and are hemmed in by the fences of the water company and couldn’t possibly get within 400m of the water, you probably wouldn’t feel such romanticism.
Process in industry or more especially infrastructure is very interesting and architects and designers could learn a lot, in fact most things given a questioning mind from it.
How much policy does a place need. I think we would all say that you can never have enough good policy, but this relies on good everything else. If the implementation is rubbish the policy is equally so.
By virtue a developed economy relies on its innovation. You can develop an idea and produce a good and profit but sooner or later somebody else will be able to do it better, or cheaper. The danger is then that an economy slips into reliance on sales of consumer goods, a quick fix for the country’s balance sheet.
What could be more innovative than a housewife who sets up an e-bay shop to carry out in between her other tasks. How do we design for innovation, change, change in family structure over the lifetime of a building.
A building has a lifetime, which is equal to its maintenance.
Agriculture in the UK is one of the biggest issues. If they weren’t propped up by the EU’s Common Agriculture Policy most farms in the UK would be defunct. Firstly, how do you work with these rules to your benefit. Secondly, how do you plan for the demise of the subsidy, while also defending farming communities.
Appropriation. It is a wonder that a thought or idea can be put across so beautifully with an image-an appropriation. A carefully selected appropriation, with edges. Architectural appropriations are carefully selected through necessity, demand or a test. The framing, the existence is its usage. The space is used for moments that the people who use the space live, whether that be an exciting moment or peeling a potato-is exciting also to some, (or something exciting can happen while peeling a potato).
If the character of Soho means that it is an urban assortment of close, busy, smallish scale exciting streets and squares; but a weakness is that the area lacks access to public open space how do you approach the steerage of development to improve Soho.
Perhaps you negotiate with the private and release some land to public access. Perhaps you make some buildings more accessible in this way. Perhaps you shape uses in the area so there could be lulls in certain sections of the area at certain parts of the day, with plenty of specific street furniture this could hold the attributes that public open space is deemed to give, such as peace, a place to sit, nice yet narrow view, trees.
Perhaps it is a negotiation with surrounding areas, with the creation of good transport and accessibility to spaces out of the area of research. This sort of thing is a trade-off, Soho couldn’t exist in isolation, it relies on people coming from all its surrounding areas in an ever-widening concentric circle around the world.
How could bin collection be catered for without leaving office rubbish on the streets at Soho’s busiest time, when the offices have finished for the day and its nightlife hotting up.
I like big industry. It comes in many forms. I always thought reservoirs were beautiful places and would never imagine that it wouldn’t be beautiful to live next to one. But if you live in 1 of 1000 houses in a modest estate and are hemmed in by the fences of the water company and couldn’t possibly get within 400m of the water, you probably wouldn’t feel such romanticism.
Process in industry or more especially infrastructure is very interesting and architects and designers could learn a lot, in fact most things given a questioning mind from it.
How much policy does a place need. I think we would all say that you can never have enough good policy, but this relies on good everything else. If the implementation is rubbish the policy is equally so.
By virtue a developed economy relies on its innovation. You can develop an idea and produce a good and profit but sooner or later somebody else will be able to do it better, or cheaper. The danger is then that an economy slips into reliance on sales of consumer goods, a quick fix for the country’s balance sheet.
What could be more innovative than a housewife who sets up an e-bay shop to carry out in between her other tasks. How do we design for innovation, change, change in family structure over the lifetime of a building.
A building has a lifetime, which is equal to its maintenance.
Agriculture in the UK is one of the biggest issues. If they weren’t propped up by the EU’s Common Agriculture Policy most farms in the UK would be defunct. Firstly, how do you work with these rules to your benefit. Secondly, how do you plan for the demise of the subsidy, while also defending farming communities.
Appropriation. It is a wonder that a thought or idea can be put across so beautifully with an image-an appropriation. A carefully selected appropriation, with edges. Architectural appropriations are carefully selected through necessity, demand or a test. The framing, the existence is its usage. The space is used for moments that the people who use the space live, whether that be an exciting moment or peeling a potato-is exciting also to some, (or something exciting can happen while peeling a potato).
Practice Essay
Practice Essay
Liam Morrisey
MA Spatial Planning and Urban Design
09024498
'If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.'(1)
Sources:
(1) 1840 T. H. Palmer Teacher's Manual 223
Liam Morrisey
MA Spatial Planning and Urban Design
09024498
'If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.'(1)
Sources:
(1) 1840 T. H. Palmer Teacher's Manual 223
Thursday 13 January 2011
Manifesto Mark III
I’m not convinced by this architecture business. If 40% of architect’s in the UK can be sacked when the markets are going through one of their cyclical re-adjustments, and most buildings built haven’t had any input from an architect; what is their value.
Are we like artist’s, a luxury in the Big Society unless making vast sculptures to concentrate attention in vast business HQ’s lobbies.
Are we like artist’s, valuable to a society; culture has vastly more value than wealth.
Are we like artist’s, only worthwhile if we comment on and test society, try to add something not just bumble along.
Are we like artist’s, fucked.
Are we like artist’s, a luxury in the Big Society unless making vast sculptures to concentrate attention in vast business HQ’s lobbies.
Are we like artist’s, valuable to a society; culture has vastly more value than wealth.
Are we like artist’s, only worthwhile if we comment on and test society, try to add something not just bumble along.
Are we like artist’s, fucked.
Monday 3 January 2011
T28 Peter Bishop
You have to look very hard to see the intricacies of a place. Particularly in a place like London where places might look different but the people within them act the same, according to that societies norms. This makes Masterplanning at the city block scale very difficult. It is dependant on wider economies which can't be easily challenged on site. Practically, ownership of course is another challenge with breaks in ownership being as clear from a financier, to someone digging a hole for a new pipe to a person walking down a narrow footpath between inaccessible building and car-strewn road.
I always think that Masterplans give too much public space. Or more clearly, too much poor quality public space, when a much smaller amount would be more engaging and encouraging for interaction, and the rest put to more useful purposes like pet polishing centres.
A cycle map of Bucharest sounds much more fun.
I agree with the point about Barry John. 'A visionary space maker'-wow, wouldn't we all want that title.
I always think that Masterplans give too much public space. Or more clearly, too much poor quality public space, when a much smaller amount would be more engaging and encouraging for interaction, and the rest put to more useful purposes like pet polishing centres.
A cycle map of Bucharest sounds much more fun.
I agree with the point about Barry John. 'A visionary space maker'-wow, wouldn't we all want that title.
T25 Croydon
Is the aim of the planner to: 'Allow development to come forward.' Is this the best use of their time.
Is it progressive to make this process more of a negotiation rather than dictating terms?
How best can development be steered to create good urban spaces.
Croydon has never been of interest to me. However, I had heard that the majority of Visa's are sought at the government office in Croydon, as was mentioned in the lecture, how exciting is that. From pictures of this process broadcast on the news every time an immigration issue arises it doesn't look like provision for these visitors is best. Perhaps Croydon could buck the national trend against immigration and really welcome these visitors, what a great message Croydon would be giving then, one which other Council's could be envious of.
Also, the Warehouse Theatre, mentioned and seemingly exciting, if only for the space it occupies, how could this be celebrated.
My argument is that you could have as much investment as you wanted, as Croydon did post-war, without making a place.
The argument for functional or dreamy Masterplan's is also exciting. When do we need which version?
Is it progressive to make this process more of a negotiation rather than dictating terms?
How best can development be steered to create good urban spaces.
Croydon has never been of interest to me. However, I had heard that the majority of Visa's are sought at the government office in Croydon, as was mentioned in the lecture, how exciting is that. From pictures of this process broadcast on the news every time an immigration issue arises it doesn't look like provision for these visitors is best. Perhaps Croydon could buck the national trend against immigration and really welcome these visitors, what a great message Croydon would be giving then, one which other Council's could be envious of.
Also, the Warehouse Theatre, mentioned and seemingly exciting, if only for the space it occupies, how could this be celebrated.
My argument is that you could have as much investment as you wanted, as Croydon did post-war, without making a place.
The argument for functional or dreamy Masterplan's is also exciting. When do we need which version?
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