Yes, our blog has been quiet lately. Three of the four members of TADS are currently scattered over Europe capturing urban conditions and system collisions for their Research Studio with Thom Mayne. I'm writing this entry from a crappy dial-up computer in my hotel lobby in Amsterdam. The entire studio was together last week for a great week long survey of Madrid. The city of Madrid is expanding heavily and in large chunks called PAUs. The PAUs are huge public housing developments; infill projects around the middle rings of the city. They fill an urgent need for housing in that city and they actually emply some decent architects. But the end product is a stagnant field of decorated boxes with little cultural, or commercial integration.
Last quarter's analysis was presented to both city officials and an architecture school in Madrid. This analysis along with photojounalistic accounts of these other cities, historic case studies, and a compiled written manifesto will form the core support for our design projects next quarter. The city requested we look at three particular sites within Madrid. Its our hope that these proposals will force them to take a more inclusive design approach to future PAUs.
Otherwise Amsterdam has been amazingly picturesque despite the rain and tomorrow I'm off to Copenhagen. The bloggers abroad should start returning to LA next weekend. Look for many sweet trip photos in the coming week.
-aaron