Archinect - Architecture School of TM; Romania

One Word

2007-01-28T20:58:45-05:00

If there was one word which I could forever delete from the dictionary, it would definitely be architecture. Whithout a blink.
Because there is nothing more annoying then the question ‘ but is that really architecture?’. Because it doesn’t stand for nothing that it actually could stand for. Because architects use it as an excuse for whatever they don’t have an answer for. Because it’s a word that shouldn’t be in any discussion regarding a project. And mostly because architects use it to define what they do.

I would actually start with banning it from school names.

favourite picture in a long time

The Shit

2006-12-19T23:44:35-05:00

Two brothers. One an incurable optimist (O), the other a hopeless pessimist (P).

Christmas.
The pessimistic brother gets tons of expensive gifts.
The optimistic gets a horse shit.

O: What did you get?
P: I got so many expensive presents at once, that this is probably my last Christmas. I must have some disease. I am dying.
O: Well, I got a horse but it's hiding somewhere around here.

meanwhile...

2006-10-26T21:03:48-04:00

well... i guess it has been a while. or not?!
basically, 1 1/2 months in Ny.

somehow i have the feeling that whatever i want to say is ... pointless. i feel like at Mies's Barcelona Pavilion, where i knew that whatever picture i will try to take, it has been taken before. but let's try it anyway.
NY is just... great. (!) for some reason it reminds me of an airport, it seems to be the home for all the 'home less' people. maybe i have this feeling because i get to meet only passengers.
i wonder if it can become boring. if NY does, then what doesn't?
there is no such thing as cultural shock. on the contrary: it's deja vu. it doesn't stir up the feeling of being in a new, unknown place. my neck used to hurt from looking up and my eyes were wide open but still i had the feeling i know this place.
why?
movies, media? if so, then i have definitely underestimated the power of these weapons. i can't even tell you which movies took place in NY.

there is a list of cliches that everyo...

scenery

2006-10-02T13:52:18-04:00

views

2006-10-01T20:58:33-04:00

!

2006-09-19T01:59:18-04:00

wired capital

2006-09-06T09:15:06-04:00

Hey, don't be bad and offer some support to the 'freshmen'. It is quite discouraging not to have a comment in the first posts (
I had my first comments only when I posted pictures of getting my tongue pierced - which makes me wonder btw...).
Great to see the diversity and appetite of the new bloggers. Keep it up!!!

Ctrl V

2006-08-29T17:16:35-04:00

$800 ideal living situation (greenwich ct)

$1250 Want a HUGE room in a beautiful loft? Its the "Live With Us" loft test (Williamsburg) pic

$115 -160 WKLY. NECESITA MUDARSE HOY? YO TENGO CUARTOS EN EL BRONX!! (BRONX-by #2,#4,#6 and D TRAINS.)

$115 -160 WKLY. IF YOU NEED A ROOM TODAY!! I WILL GET YOU ONE!! CALL NOW!! (BRONX-by #2,#4,#6 and D TRAINS.)

$450 You're Never Home Anyway, Why Pay More - Double-Up & Save (15mins to Manhattan - Prospect Pk Area)

$1300 ALL INCLUSIVE, great, renovated, safe, normal...

$600 Get Away from the City (Yulan, NY) img

$125 Move into a furnished room on a rainy day !!!!everything included (Manhattan/Bronx)

$1100 Why move into a closet when you can live on Riverside Drive!!?? (Upper West Side) pic

$850 dorky roommate wanted for ghetto apt share :) (SoHo)

$1350 JAW DROPPING Master Bedroom in JAW DROPPING luxury tower (Long Island City)

$1 for free spirited roommate (Murray Hill)

$250 livin Companion (Times square)

$750 LIGHT AND SPACE IN ONE P...

_pause_

2006-08-23T14:22:23-04:00

there isn't much going on so i'm just uploading some pictures every now and then.
while on a waiting list... u have to keep yourself busy.
gathering with friends after a long absence, somewhere away from civilization...
nice.
i also got addicted to Moloko's 'Statues'...

pieces

2006-08-20T07:27:09-04:00

Sex sells

2006-08-18T13:09:38-04:00

It doesn't necessarily pay of, but it's one of the few 100% true things.
The morning is the most critical part of a relationship. The first morning and the shoes.
I miss a big city, though I have never lived in a really big city.
I like big cities because you can always hide and escape.
Or not?
I am watching all possible bullshit on TV that shows just a glimpse of NY.
Still it seems just like a typical Hollywood TV set.
There is a kind of music that I involuntary associate with big cities. In an unfortunate attempt to describe it I would say it has an unusual and strange futuristic sound, but in the same time it has something that goes very deep. Like sweet and sour, like beautiful ugliness, like the imperfections you love, like familiar eyes on a strangers face.
Did it ever happen to you that someone's eyes felt instantly very familiar but not his/her face?
You slowly close your eyes and your lips start moving along with the lyrics... now that's what I call a good playl...

About dogs, trees and rain

2006-08-18T13:07:43-04:00

...or anything else.
Though I am only less then two weeks at home, I don't feel like having been away for 6 month. I guess that is why they call it home.
We flew in a small village, at the vacation house, where I spent most of my summers since 92. I feel more connected to this house then to the apartment in the city. I tried to take a pic of it, but quickly realized it is impossible. A picture could never capture the ”˜spirit' (I'm stranded in clichés once again), but this house is all about the what the walls have seen and not about the objects it contains.

From 40+ degrees I landed in a rainy mountain climate. This turns you towards 2 possibilities: staying in bed, under a blanket( btw, the chance to cover yourself up again while sleeping is great!!!), starring at the rain through the window / or movies and 2. playing cards, telling stories etc. in the kitchen, by the heat of the stove... The autumn atmosphere is betrayed only by the anywhere present green vegetation.

There ar...

nothing interesting

2006-08-13T11:17:59-04:00

room with a view

2006-08-08T16:42:06-04:00

3/BCN/the last bit

2006-08-06T18:27:06-04:00

2/BCN/some more

2006-08-06T17:59:33-04:00

1/BCN/Hello Stranger...

2006-08-06T17:35:58-04:00

I just realized I haven't been eager at all to show anything about Seville or Barcelona. With Seville it's easy: I got the camera in my last week there, week in which I had absolutely no time/mood for pretty much anything.
As about Barca... I saw it in 3-4 days, some of it. For some reason (or another) I just felt like walking and not collecting points. Anyway, here are some views. Poor, poor...
Maybe I'll have better performances next time.
Anyway, if anyone could explain me where my fascination for this city came from, I would appreciate it. I can only say that part of the blame is Actar's.
I guess this city has the most international ”˜air', flavor, atmosphere. A weird mixture between relaxed and cultural and lots of things going on. I love ”˜la vida en la calle'. The sea... Of all European cities (out of which I had visited only a few) this has had the biggest attraction, since ever.
And the weirdest part is yet to come: after visiting it, I liked it even more!!!
But... ...

delaying sleep - until further notice

2006-08-03T04:55:37-04:00

Here is my ”˜office' at the airport. - the only place with power outlets!!!

So: home after 6 month.
Will make it short:
Mom cooks great
Cities look worse then in memory
In the same time they offer great photo opportunities
Dog is happy to see me - wasn't angry at all!
Still didn't get to make that 24h sleep marathon I am planing for the last month.
No matter how tired, catching up is a priority.
Again, I didn't crash at my place!
Met my fav friend - rating: 5 stars.
Dial-up sucks.
Will hide for a couple of days in the middle of nowhere with fam & friends.
City feels strange - or I am a stranger to the city. - referring to hometown which I left 5 years before.
So many things to say that you end up just looking at each other.
Weird mixture of being home but in the same time of not really having a place (lost my room when I went to study to TM).
That's it for now.
Have a nice summer weekend!

anyone looking for me???????!!!!!!!! PLS!!! Special Live Edition

2006-08-01T17:52:10-04:00

Remember the coffee in valencia ?
Now, I didn't mind getting stranded in Valencia ...
I didn't mind waiting today 4 hours for the plane (delay!!!), I mean, I was considering I'm still in BCN...
Some hours later, extremely tired and with a huge delay I land in an extremely cold (this sounds Spanish, doesn't it?!) and rainy Budapest (closest important airport to tm). Now, of course, a bus company was supposed to wait for me(which parents abandon their child in the hands of a obscure bus company after not having seen her for 6 month?!!!- the parents of the child who told them not to bother to take her to the train station with 10!), with a nice poster with my name on it.
Guess where I am writing from?!
Anyway, the good news is, that this damn airport (I'm not even in THE airport, I'm at some small deserted terminal) has free wifi internet. I mean BCN doesn't and BUD does?! This puts things in perspective. I am considering moving here in for the next... Actually it wouldn't be bad...

secret life

2006-07-31T05:52:33-04:00

What are the chances? In general... for anything. Is everything ”˜prefabricated' or are we more like leaves carried by the wind?
Still think though that life is an accident. A crash. A fall. A chance. A flight. And definitely a fight. that's the charm.
Ever felt you have a secret towards the whole world? Nobody knows it, nobody wants to know it - that's what makes it so sweet. Maybe it's not that much about having a secret but a combination between sailing through the world, unrooted... with no history, no past, no memory and no future. The emails are restrained to ”˜yes, I'm fine' cause some things are just not meant to be written. They deserve better. On your own, wherever life takes you. Nothing that can be shared... something like a secret life.
When it comes to real big chances you don't have any choice: life juts takes over. You can't even say anything, the decisions are taken by the monster inside. He is hungry and needs to be fed.

The unexpected always blows my mind. I m...

Coffee in Valencia?

2006-07-31T05:47:47-04:00

What are the chances of an airport strike on the day that you need a plane? - I guess that is the idea of strikes...
What are the chances that you didn't charge the laptop battery exactly on this day?
Are airports supposed to have wifi internet?
What are the chances that the company is so terrible sorry that they buy you coffee and sandwiches? - airport coffee and sandwiches
Is it allowed to take pictures in an airport?
If yes, would it bother you if someone would just take pics?
If not, because of reason's of ”˜security', isn't it kind of sad?
Do you like or hate airports?
Translated in the IT, are airports servers? That would make us bits...
Again, what are the chances that the only free seats are close to a 6 member family - out of which 3

somewhere in between

2006-07-20T11:59:38-04:00

I was writing in the past weeks several blogs... in my mind.
Waiting for answers, way too many questions, heat, time and some surrealist circumstances........
Well, let's see where we are now:
I am still working in Seville in an office - 2 more days
I got the scholarship at the Politecnico di Milan - same problem with the visa as last year.
I got an interview at a nice office in NY - I got an internship starting September.

Now... the last of the above is a bit hard to believe for myself. Probably because I never really considered it before.

Anyway, for all the new Yorkers out there:
Any tips and tricks?
Any free rooms?
Anything else?

Under the weirdest circumstances and extreme ups and downs, there is something which will make the last week here a delight: a trip to Barcelona and a photo camera.

Finally some pics on the blog...

sweet and sour

2006-06-20T06:41:38-04:00

cred ca e mai misto sa fii alcoolic in europa decat orice in romania. sau aproape.
anyway, e prea tare aici si noi frecam plua in romania :( ma scuzati :)

In the end it is a pretty sad conclusion... I look around and see the desire to live abroad in all my friends' eyes. We weren't like that. We grew up without asking us if the country is good or not, without wondering if we could find a better one or not.
We promised ourselves we wouldn't get like our parents, buried under the weight of the problems, beaten up by the vicious circle of trying to earn something decent.

Half of my high school colleagues are working in areas not related to their studies (they look much older then their age). The others are wondering if it is worth it... And my most courageous one is a volunteer. My mom calls me, upset after watching the news, telling me it is crazy, stay were you are. My aunt who ran away to Italy during Ceausescu, tells me: ”˜if I could back then, then you can too'.

Having some...

coffee and cigarettes

2006-06-19T10:23:00-04:00

I found this ticket by mistake in a bus. Don't ask me how.
The first row is the bus number, the third the hour and the forth, the date.
What I especially liked, besides the more or less obvious pattern (also known as routine) is the fact that 2 times he/she didn't return home alone. That's nice. And I should get a life, I know.

I would like you to read this in a detached and objective way. Like facts, not figures. I don't try to cause empathy, compassion or any other ”˜poor her' feelings. My expression of thoughts or ideas is depending on this, as I like sharing things but rather like a kid looking detached at what he discovered. There is nothing behind the words... it's more like a finding. Like thinking for oneself, bare-naked thoughts, without hidden subtleties. Like medicine students handle organs without considering the body they came with.

Ok. Don't really remember where my train of thoughts derailed...
Don't really remember where and when I derailed, just found myse...

accident

2006-06-10T20:28:51-04:00

it's been a while...
i feel like i haven't posted in years, though they are only few new posts... guess it's summer!
here it is getting warmer and warmer, the nights nicer and nicer.
confusion never comes to an end.
in 2 or 3 weeks i might get a camera. i will post pics. in all this period i have taken so many 'mental' screenshots, promising myself i wouldn't delete them and finally, when possible, materialize them.
is this possible? to return to places and take the same pic you would have loved to take some months ago?
if i start writing a blog on paper (due to the circumstances), i know for sure it will never end up here. it is impossible to copy it on the screen. doesn't 'taste' the same.

i believe more and more that life is an accident. the result of circumstances. good ones or bad ones.
dorian gray - since the moment you are born you are nothing but a sum of influences.
can you choose your influences?

school is coming to an end. deadlines are 'meeting', coming toge...

y otro, y otro, y otro...

2006-05-26T14:57:15-04:00

Well, strangely enough... no progress here.
As in all the last weeks, I'm hoping for the next one to answer my questions.
Does time really solve things?
On a Saturday, at 6 a.m., at an open air club, the bodyguard asked me what my age is! Unconsciously I was about to say 16, turn around and get mad to sleep.
What's your age again?!
Mick Harvey is playing here tomorrow. Niiiiiiiiiiiice!... I guess.
Next week: Monday - deadline, Tuesday - holiday, Wednesday - deadline, Thursday - deadline, Friday - deadline, Saturday - exam.
Amen.
I guess I should have seen it coming.
All in all, one week of deadlines in one semester seems fair enough.
I have been abusing the term fiesta lately.
If you think I have been abusing this term lately, watch out for Pena.
Haven't had a beer in a week. Does that mean I'm clean?
The sun scared us last week, but now it's just fine.
Yeah, BarÃ§a won. Old news. Sevilla tambien.
The good thing (mas o menos) is that a sequence of deadlines keeps yo...

i'll show u mine, you show me yours

2006-05-16T04:56:30-04:00

Dreams, things that are too good to become reality, but keep you always going. what is more important: the road or getting there?!

Mine:
a room, top floor, historical center of a nice city, with a big balcony. big doors wide open, a bit windy.
inside: nice music from a laptop on which i am downloading photos from my camera.
feeling tired after a lot of work that I am very fond of.

sniffing around

2006-05-15T05:49:44-04:00

”˜I have been dying to ask you this: how does it feel to be an "international" student? How different is Romania in general from Spain? Is it easy to cope with?
I am an international student myself. I'm the only Indian in the entire architecture and design school here!
It sounds as if you like Spain better than home?!! Don't you miss home and family? I myself am coping better than the other Indian students at my univ. (I'm the only one in the Architecture dept though, so I have very little contact with them.) But I have to confess i miss my hometown. (not family!) But I think the cultural difference between Romania and Spain is much less than India and USA.
The reason I asked you that question was because I think it is an advantage to be from another country...you are somehow able to read/understand culture and society better. Do you find it so?
Being Indian has made it slightly difficult to adjust here. Not only do we have to adjust to an absolutely different system of educat...

resaca

2006-05-10T11:03:46-04:00

I guess life is still moving on, with or without us.
The word life has suddenly a totally different meaning. It has a meaning. Weird. Kids!!!
Resaca = hangover
I've been to a conference held by Antonio Ortiz, from Cruz and Ortiz . It's funny when an architect speaks rather uninterested about his works to a bunch of rather not interested students. I guess they deserve each other.
It's funny when somebody talks about a project and then shows the pictures. How often to the real thing stand up to the expectations induced by a smart way of using words?!
In the end what matters more: the pics or the words?!
Not eligible opinion about the above mentioned studio = they have a very nice sense of dealing with arch, but somehow the concrete thing lacks something
Architects are the same everywhere
Architecture students are the same everywhere
The above is true in all circumstances - big or small scale, luxurious or poor scenery, english or romanian language, on the 89th floor of a high...

suicide (hire vs fire)

2006-05-10T11:00:22-04:00

improvised portosomething.