Archinect - Bartlett School of Architecture (Erik)

So, it's been a while...

2007-05-30T21:21:56-04:00

Ya,
I know. It's been a long time since I've posted anything. After a short time traveling (it's so easy when you're based in London) it's time to get back to work. Over the past month and a half I've had the oppertunity to be in Paris, Venice, Rome, Carlo Scarpa's Brion Cemetary, Barcelona,
the thearer muse Dali, Bilbao, andColwyn Bay Wales. I'm actually up in Colwyn Bay right now. My group is up here working out of my teacher's house. This is my 16th or 17th day up here...I really do loose count. We're working on clarifying our projects and writing our research reports. The M. Arch course has two components: a design project and a research report. The reoprt frames what you are doing, whay you are doing it and how you plan to do it. Well, the report is due to be turned in on June 11th, so time is ticking.

Here are a few images from my work over the past few days and some from my trps...

Here's a breif snip of my report text that frames what I'm working on...

The project is a...

Mid Year Reviews

2007-02-20T08:43:58-05:00

We just found out that our mid-year reviews are on the 14th and 15th of next month. Just 3 weeks to produce. Here are 2 videos of the latest piece. I'm not quite sure what it is yet, but i think it is the beginnings of a language shredder.

The RIBA is coming to evaluate the school later this week so there is an exhibition being put together that highlights the work of all of the units. I'll take some photos when its done so you can get a flavor of what else goes on over here. Pretty amazing work.

Videos

2007-02-10T13:14:45-05:00

Here are a few videos of my constructions.

Touch Sensor Activated Light

Debris Machine

More detailed blog of my thesis project...

2007-02-06T10:49:05-05:00

So I decided to make another blog detailing my work at the Bartlett. I'm going to use it as more of a diary or place to dump my brain. It's more of a place where the work will evolve than a recording of what I have been doing. I'm still going to post highlights of stuff up here, but I'll put everything on this new blog. So if you're interested it's at www.eschonsett.vox.com

In the meantime, here is an image or 2 (or 3) of the next piece of work:

Its the beginings of a microphone / light device that is activated by the last piece, the debris machine. When the debris machine comes into contact with this new piece, it acticaves a very bright light for the duration of its contact, a split second. This flash corresponds with the transfer of moton from the debris machine to the new piece, the writing aparatus. The microphone records this interaction and emits its recording back into the stystem with a delay, throwing expected responces into question.

Finally Working...

2007-02-03T09:07:02-05:00

It finally works!

Responce from Phil

2007-02-01T09:04:43-05:00

WE WERE SMEARING LITERALLY BY TAKING THE SURFACE RESIDUE IN THE MOTION OF ONE PIECE TO SMEAR ON THE SURFACE OF THE OTHER ALTERING ITS FORM SURFACE TOPOGRAPHY EACH TIME ALTERING ITS SPEED AND CENTRE OF FORM..INSIDE THE MODEL THERE SHOULD BE A HIGHLY DETAILED PIECE THAT TRANSLATES THE MOMENT THROUGH LIGHT AND A MICROPHONE THE MOMENT IN THE EXCHANGES ..AS AN ARCHITECTURE ITS ABOUT THE RHIZOMATIC..OSCILLATIONS REVERBERATION AND CHANGE ..DELUZE 1000 PLATEAUS..AS SOMETHING BECOMES OTHER..THE TRACE OF GREASE COULD EVENTUALLY FIND ITSELF IN A CONTAINER IN ANOTHER SYSTEM..AND SO THE MOMENT IS BEING CONSTANTLY RELOCATED AND REFORMED

P

Bartlett Unit 19

Smearing Architectures

HERE MOTION IS BUILT INTO THE SYSTEM THAT IS REFINED TO THE IDEA OF WAITING..IE THE RESULT OF MOTION/DELIVERY , THIS INVOLVES DEIGNING FOR DURATION DELAY UNDER TERMS OF TIME AND DELAY..TRANSMISSION AND THE RESULTS OF THE EXPERIENCE OF THE OBJECT IN THE SYSTEM ON ITS JOURNEY..WHAT IT IS THAT THE DESIGN OF THE SYSTEM EXPECTS...

No Stopping Now...

2007-01-31T16:53:13-05:00

I decided today that I'm not posting here as often as I should. So, I'm going to start posting everything (well almost everything) that I'm doing that realtes to my time over here. So here it goes.

This morning was our first meeting with Neil Spiller, Nic Clear, Phil Watson and my M. Arch. Group. Neil is the program head, Nic is in charge of the research reports, and Phil is my advisor/tutor/guru. There are two parts to a masters thesis at the Bartlett, a writen report and a design project. Both are equally as importiant and must be turned in simultaneously at the end of the semester in order to be reviewed.

Today we were supposed to explain our ideas and the methods that we have been and are using to work on our projects. They were looking more for how we are constructing out thinking about the work than a whole series of flashy images and seductive forms.

Overal it went prety well. Everyone in the group (there are seven of us) has a strong project. We are all at slightly diffe...

Preliminary Study for a Writing Apperatus

2007-01-28T13:10:19-05:00

Click Here for Larger Image

Click Here for Larger Image

Writing Apparatus in Derrida’s Library...

Soft Material Transporter - Continuously swings and cuts off pieces of the soft material that is being filtered through the system. It transports this material from the Filter back to the debris machine that passes just above.

Flaubert Filter Mechanism - Catches soft material that has been collected from the city. Debris from the metropolis...grease...dirt...dust... mixed with rainwater creates an ‘urban wax’. This wax passes through the filter. Parts of the filter are heated, parts are cooled, allowing for the urban wax to pass through various states of density as it moves through the mechanism constantly altering its shape. In parts is is almost liquid and moves very quickly. At other parts it moves extremely slow creeping its way towards the ground.

Soft Writing Surface - Made up from urban wax that has been filtered through the system. The soft writing surface records all that is writte...

The Motion of Text / The Text of Motion

2007-01-24T16:25:47-05:00

So, I realize that it's already the end of Janurary and I really haven't posted anything about what I've been working on for studio. Well, we've only been working on this stuff since September. It was a long and hard transition period these past four months or so. But slowly we are all getting somewhere with our projects. The Bartlett, especially my section (Phil Watson who also teaches Unit 19 with Neil Spiller) is not interested in buildings. Systems are the name of the game. How things that seem not to be related interact to create new possiblities. That is what we are interested in here. So, the other day I finally figured out my project! It deals with literature, language and the hidden aspects within. Here is my latest project text. It explains things pretty well:

"Language is like a broken kettle which we beat out tunes for bears to dance to, while all the time we long to move the stars to pity." -Gustave Flaubert

The Motion of Text, The Text of Motion
Motion of a text occurs...

Big Ass Column...

2007-01-22T15:18:29-05:00

Now that's one big ass column

Victoria and Albert Museum - London

Late Night Thoughts...

2006-12-21T21:48:34-05:00

I'm sitting in the computer lab of my flat. My laptop broke last Saturday. I don't know what happened, but it won't turn on anymore. I'm doing one last load of laundry before my parents get here. They are supposed to get in to Heathrow at 9:30am from Las Vegas after almost 20 hours of travelling. I'm sure that there is a direct flight between here and there, but that’s a whole other discussion. They will be here for a 12 day London Christmas. It's 1:15 in the morning and I need to leave here by 8am to get to the airport on time...

School 'officially' ended on Friday 15 December. It has been a very different semester than what I was used to in L.A. First off, we didn't really do much in terms of production. Looking at the other bloggers posting all their work from the end of the semester brings this home even more. I maybe did 2 drawings that were not so helpful and some writings. We had a 2 day official 'crit' the last week of November. Personally, I think it was a mild disaster. O...

Back to work...

2006-11-22T19:38:31-05:00

So, it's been a while since I posted anything. A lot has been happening in the last three weeks or so. Here's a quick run down of what's been going on...

We went on out 'official M. Arch trip' about two weeks ago. It was a week in Florence. The trip was amazing! I've never been to Europe before, so it was really great to get out of London and experience the world. A few of us decided to head to Venice for a few days before we met up with the rest of the group in Florence. We got to see the Biennale, which was huge...but unfortunately not as interesting as I would have hoped. The best part about the Florence trip is that travel and hotel were paid for by the school! We were basically on our own to see what interested u. Our teachers were there, but they were spread out all over the city and no one really communicated with each other. You've got to love the Bartlett teavel agency. We had a great time though. A few of us even rented cars and went to see the Chiesa del' Autostrada del ...

A weekend in Wales

2006-10-31T20:50:19-05:00

The pier in Colwyn Bay, Wales

Phil Watson is my teacher. He ownes this bookshop in Colwyn Bay. He also ownes the two houses on to the left.

Past Bartlett project hanging in Phil's house

Conwy Castle built in 1280 A.D.

Phil and his son Blue

Welsh country house built in 1600AD

The sea with no horizon

The house that the real Alice from Alice in Wonderland grew up in

Watch out for Flying French Frogs...

2006-10-13T20:30:59-04:00

So, a lot has happened since the last time I posted anything. I'm finally realizing that this isn't just some European vacation, that I am really here for a whole year, and that I need to get my act together and start some work! I've spent the last few weeks exploring London and getting to know my way around the place which is no easy feat. I don't think that they know what STRAIGHT is in terms of streets around here. But anyway, I really like the city, even when it rains which it does a lot. I just have to carry an umbrella with me everywhere I go.

Well, on to happenings of the school...
The M. Arch group was given their tutors. Unlike the diploma units where you get to choose your top three instructors, we were just assigned to one. It is kind of strange, but just about everyone that I know was put in a group that they wanted to study with. Its funny how that works sometimes. Here is who is teaching:

Nic Clear
Phil Watson
Andrew Porter
Simon Herron
Stuart Munro

All of the ...

Let's Get Situated...

2006-09-26T19:26:08-04:00

Well, I'm not sure how familiar anyone is with London. This is my first time here and my first time to Europe. I thought it would be a good idea to play a little game of where in the world?...

Click here to read full size

This is central London. The school (UCL) is located at the end of the pen point in an area called Bloomsbury. It is squeezed between the city (downtown) and the West end and is in easy walking distance to both.

Click here to read full size

Langton Close is where I'm living. It's about a 15 min. walk East of the school, towards the city. It's the small red building at the end of the pen.

Click here to read full size

And this is Wates House, the building that the Bartlett is in.

Click here to read full size

As you can see, the Bartlett is located directly across from the UCL Union and just down the street from Euston Square tube stop.

Enough with maps. As I've said before, I'm in the M. Arch. in Architectural Design program. It's a three semester masters program wi...

5451.93 miles East / North East of Los Angeles

2006-09-24T20:20:56-04:00

Well, I'm here. Classes start in a few hours. According to all that I know I'm supposed to show up at the Bartlett at 2pm with 2 passport sized photos.

I'm living in UCL student housing, a place called Langton Close to be exact. It's actually better than I was expecting. The building is made up of flats of 6 people, each with their own private room. These 6 rooms open onto a secured hallway with a shared kitchen and two shared bathrooms. I'm on the 5th floor (or 6th, depending on where you're from. Out here the entrance floor is considered zero). And the good thing is that there is a lift. The strange thing about the building is that it is segmented into clusters. Our lift only gives access to three flats per floor, flat D, E, and F for example. If you have a friend that is in flat 5A and you live in flat 5D, then you have to go all the way down to zero and change lifts and go back up again. I guess this helps to keep the main halls quieter since there are less people sharing th...

NYC, Zaha, and trains...O my!

2006-09-18T02:39:54-04:00

NYC...
Well, I have two more days in NYC. After having a four hour delay, I finally got out of Long Beach California and into NYC on Friday night.

Zaha...
Two friends of mine and I went to see the Zaha show at the Guggenheim this morning. It was pretty remarkable. I'm not too much a fan of her work (I like her older work much better than he new stuff), but the amount of work there was amazing. I thought that the best part was the hand renderings and paintings. They were simply remarkable. They also had several video interviews running through out the exhibition. The part was in an interview with the BBC. Zaha was in the office with the interviewer and camera crew. She was fixing the chairs at a large conference table when she suddenly stopped. She looked furious. All of the sudden she said whoever changed these chairs has 5 minutes left working in this office. It looks like a fantastic place to work!

Trains...
I'm staying with a friend from SCI_Arc. He lives at 125th and Broadwa...

Time is Ticking...

2006-09-06T00:41:29-04:00

Well...I'm heading to London for the first time. I'm going to be in the M. Arch in Architectural Design program at the Bartlett. The program actually starts on September 25th. I'm heading to NYC for a few days before to catch up with a few friends that graduated with me from SCI_Arc. Right now there's too much to do and no time to do it in. I leave my job this Friday. I leave LA the following Friday (September 15). I get to London on the 20th, just in time for the two day international student orientation, then the weekend and then classes. I hope to keep on top of this blog thing, even when the stresses of studio start to take over. I know that when I was looking for schools that these blogs were the most helpful things out there. So, I want to give back. I've stated a flickr photo site that I'll be updating quite a lot over the next year as well. Currently, I've got a bunch of random stuff on it from my office work to work from SCI_Arc, and my winning of an I Pod from Blingo. Wel...