Archinect - University of Liverpool (drs)

Starting afresh.

2006-09-30T22:00:24-04:00

It has been a while, and I'm sorry. The summer was hectic - work, re-sits, workshops, even deaths - and the beginning of term has been quite full on.

I'll be on the case over the next few days - HOLD TIGHT, as Ben Drury might say.

In the meantime, do me a favour and tell me what you think of these paintings.

Peas.D

Colwyn Bay 06 summary

2006-05-30T07:49:27-04:00

Here's a round-up of the Colwyn exhibition for anybody curious as to how it went...

Our project was located in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, renowned as a grand little seaside town in the earlier part of last century. Since then it has suffered a dramatic decline. Although the town still has a great deal of character, with ornate facades and a pier stretching into the bay, cheap flights abroad have diminished its appeal as a holiday destination, and a variety of social problems have blighted its reputation. The town also gained a geographic disadvantage when it was dissected by a sunken major road. This dissected the town - promenade and coast separated from town centre - and encouraged motorists to bypass the town altogether.
The first part of our project required a literal bridge which would reconnect promenade and town. This was to fit into a general masterplan for the area. Later we developed a series of buildings for the promenade which would integrate with this masterplan.

Th...

Exhibition in Colwyn Bay

2006-05-15T07:47:01-04:00

Second year architecture students from the University of Liverpool are exhibiting their schemes for Colwyn Bay, on the very site they were designing for. Exhibition lasts for a week, and is in the left-most building on the flyer...
Click for more legible version.

Less about me, and more about school.

2006-03-26T15:34:54-05:00

Our three week Easter break is fast approaching, after which we will present our final scheme of the year and take an exam. It really doesn't seem long now until us second years will be moving up into the final stage of our Part 1 education. Mostly scary, but exciting too.

I'm realising that many people who read this blog aren't actually studying architecture yet*. They're weighing up which courses to apply to, and as such I think I should be writing more about the work we do instead of banging on about myself so much.
Currently we are working on a design project in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, which counts for half of our marks in the semester. The first task, three weeks long, was to design a bridge which would connect the town centre with the promenade and pier. The second task takes up the rest of the semester and requires us to design a sustainable computer centre around the pier area.
In addition to these design projects we have lectures and workshops in two subjects - enviro...

No girl. No job. No excuses...

2006-03-11T20:29:56-05:00

The last week has been different from the previous twenty in that I've had no part time job and no lady in my life. Both as matters of choice, and neither was an easy decision to make. Amazing things while they lasted, but I couldn't manage to balance them with...the 'A' word.

Hopefully I now have a bit more time to update my blog too. Here are a few more links to follow in the meantime:

Eames SX-70 goodness - also see more and more, which remind us not to trust online reviews.
On a ^10 tip, precedents and subsequents
Triptych - beats in Scotland. Graphics by Shrigley. Who's coming to see the Analord?
Some decent graphic design. - can guess that he worked at M&Co though. Because this came up again lately.
Turrell ain't to be slept on. Wait while your eyes catch up in these installations. They are beautiful.
Blentwell - if you need some accompaniment.
manctransit.co.uk - sorry to bang on, but it's been updated.
Oh, and don't sleep on Waxfactor. LP and mix CD to drop.

Want some archi...

NYR

2006-01-02T18:52:45-05:00

Finally all the obligations are through. I've attended some great Christmas parties, seen several families, and served my time with a bit more retail (good shop, don't worry). Now it's the moment to knuckle down to some revision, project finishing, and coursework writing.

A few consecutive thoughts...

While we ourselves are the living graves of murdered beasts, how can we expect any ideal conditions on this earth. - George Bernard Shaw (also refused his Nobel Prize money).

Typophile profile of William Caslon, who turned the tide of Dutch typographic dominance.

The apparently slept upon KM3 by Brad Pitt's third favourite architects. Cheers to the Bedroom Allstars for the insistence.

Folding Landscapes encompasses the mapping projects of Tim Robinson. Found via an excellent interview by Hans-Ulrich Obrist in Domus 886.

More soon.

The Secret Life of Bees

2005-11-11T17:33:05-05:00

Since I haven't shown anything in a while, here's a little bit of recent work. It was a one week long site survey undertaken as a group of three. Sandra, Dianne and I had to present a snapshot of an area of Manchester as we understood it, and hopefully draw some conclusions which would inform the coming project - accommodation and working space for thirty artists.
Although the requirements were for three A1 sheets, we chose to work predominantly in sketchbooks. Although possibly the worst medium for explaining ideas to critics, and for reproducing the work in our portfolios (or on the Internet!), it allowed us to work simultaneously on the finished product, and gave us a set of portable tools for the rest of the project. I like to explore new ways that we can collaborate.
We did eventually compromise and produce some A1s too. These were dominated by a traced map which contextualised the ideas in the sketchbooks and facilitated a decent discussion of the local area during th...

I'll write more, I promise...

2005-10-26T19:03:44-04:00

Well, I've had a few complaints [Tom] about the lack of content on here. Of course it's been playing on my mind, and I fully intend to rectify the situation in the future.

That's the public apology over with. Here follow some reasons - not excuses, please note - why I've been a little too tied up to write lately.

Upon returning from Finland I met friends from Glasgow and celebrated Doodlebug Day, then dropped into a job at Liverpool's new architectural bookshop, where I'm rocking the shelves and becoming involved with the organisation of exhibitions. After a few days training the manageress began her two week's holiday, which I pretty much covered while still working my job in Manchester. Along with keeping on top of the day-to-day tasks I managed to give a talk to eighty second year architecture students from the other university in Liverpool, JMU, and investigate several amazing exhibitions.
In the midst of that cover period I popped up to Glasgow to survey Internet radio s...

Architecture in Helsinki ;)

2005-08-31T10:31:26-04:00

I'm out here in Finland, chilling with my good friend Hayes. I've visited wonderfully little architecture - vernacular more than anything - and it feels great! This time is for catching up, disengaging, and perhaps picking up a few future directions; definitely not clock-watching.

The lifestyle beyond the cities is rich, as I found with a retreat to one summer house about two hours north of Helsinki. It's perfectly relaxing to fill your days with practical tasks, fetching water, catching fish and finding wood to power the indispensible sauna. I jumped naked into the lake, too!

Decent T-shirts

2005-08-16T17:56:00-04:00

If Archinect's recent T-shirt competition isn't floating your boat, check out this fresh new endeavour from the headz behind Subsurface... Supa 7

Archiporn!

2005-07-09T10:56:56-04:00

In case you haven't noticed, the three most recently updated journals are linked to from the discussions page. With the summer holidays well underway, I reckon that most students are thinking of festivals, sun tans and over-indulgence, with blogging being well down the list of priorities. Therefore I'm posting three times in a row in order to hog the list.

I bring you another two excellent links for the moments when you retreat indoors from the burning sun:

Winnoise is creative use of one of the most soul-less playback devices known to man. Explained here.

Furniture and Naked People is exactly what you might expect from its title. If either of those subject matters offend you, turn off now and resist following the link. Otherwise, enjoy the design classics!

Nice one...

Linkage.

2005-07-09T10:27:55-04:00

Yeah, completely unrelated to architecture, but my link of the moment is an insight into London pirate radio, which is renowned but often difficult to experience.

To shift the balance, some concrete bizness from India; enjoy...

The awesome staircase at Corbusier's 'Secretariat' building. The wooden shuttering is blatantly apparent. Of course you can see this in the UK too - the odd impression of knotwork on a lazily cast beam - but seldom with such drama.

That Secretariat's roof is seriously hammered. Don't believe the hype, when you see smooth surfaces and ample shrubbery - this supposed model of rooftop living is in need of serious attention.

Back over to the Rock Garden, and the techniques are unique. These walls are made from piled sacks of concrete pierced with rebar. The concrete hardens and, with time, the sack disintegrates to leave a textured and pillowed appearance.

The Rock Garden's follies can be beautiful affairs. This one works on several levels, and in different ma...

The Clash

2005-07-09T07:04:11-04:00

This is my first Saturday in some time which hasn't been spent in transit - a true luxury! By this time I've usually arrived in Manchester, ready to work two days in the bookshop before returning to Liverpool. Last week was an exception, with my London visit, but even still I spent a large portion of it in taxis, tubes and trains.

Thursday's events, where the tube was bombed, are already being christened "7/7". Not particularly inventive, though at least it won't cause much confusion for the American press, being a palindrome.
Learning of the news, and the extent of the damage, was an unusual sensation. The initial shock is like carpet being pulled from beneath your feet - an infrastructure which you have relied upon is suddenly out of action, and its users are milling around, realising how little we can take for granted. Following this is the incremental release of news throughout the day, where the extent of the damage was revealed, and we even had footage from survivors' c...

Hold No Hostage

2005-07-04T18:28:36-04:00

Futura hit GPS

I made a small pilgrimage to the gherkin, but this fucker blew it out of the water close up.

Michael Cross & Julie Mathias at the Design Museum, plunging bulbs into water. I'd seen a smaller installation in Liverpool last week - this was a treat.

As you descend into the crypt at St. Pauls, check the plaster details. That's what happens to people who slip in through the exit without paying... ;)

Now recovering from a fine weekend in London. I went down to catch the Futura opening. He's a long-time hero of mine. Also managed to catch a few other exhibitions too.

In my tutor's words "every holiday is now an architectural holiday", and this was no exception. The Cedric Price retrospective at the Design Museum, and the Herzog & de Meuron model show were two of the more obvious examples of this, thoroughly perused and absorbed as they were. Perhaps I'll write more about the CP exhibition at greater length in the future. It made a great impression on me and its analys...

Conquere

2005-06-17T16:33:20-04:00

Briefly:
Just spent my first three enlightening weeks in an architecture practice. Great stuff.
Also been working at the bookshop, which adds up to seven days a week.
Bought a new beast of a computer, to help us finish the QTVR.
Architecture Week has begun in the UK - many events to check.

And the reason why I decided to rush out a little blog entry today:

Been casting (with a lot of help) a one metre concrete arrow, which will point north in a gallery show starting on Tuesday.

Got the job...

2005-05-16T07:03:54-04:00

Well, today I received the call which sorted out my summer! From Monday I'll be working in Liverpool at an architecture practice. I prefer not to say which one, to keep things seperate, but rest assured that I'm happy with the position...

It's an ideal end to my first year as an architecture student. Some great projects, a lot of new friends, a research mission to India, and full time employment. Makes me wonder what next year will bring! Hopefully by then I'll have more of a clue about the mechanics of the construction industry, and might even have a garden shed or kitchen extension in my portfolio :D.

To keep up with the graphic side of things, here are some shots from our adventures so far in creating a rammed earth wall detail. Images by Caroline and David.

Formwork for rammed earth:

West Kirby beach - a short journey by train from Liverpool city centre, where we collected clay:

The muddy job:

Two prototype rammed earth slabs. We're still experimenting to find the rig...

I've got you under my skin.

2005-05-12T07:52:25-04:00

Some recent card models... A police station in black and blue, and my house for an artist process. There is quite a lot of reasoning behind the artist's house with two interbreeding grid systems underpinning the layout. Maybe I can illustrate it when I have my portfolio sheets back.

Today is my first day of breathing. Taking a small step back to reorganise my life after a fairly intense period of work. Like many other students here, I've been preparing the portfolio which is supposed to summarise my achievements of the year, completing coursework assignments and even taking a few exams. I have just one more exam left, on Wednesday, before summer officially commences!

So, looking towards summer... Since it accounts for a third of the year, clocking in at a delicious four months, I figure that it has to be more than just relaxation time. I'm still pursuing that job which I was interviewed for - a small but significant local architecture firm - and I think that I have a good ...

Long see no time

2005-05-03T04:26:37-04:00

Just to let people know - I haven't abandoned this blog; I'm just snowed under with work at the minute! Since returning from India, I've had that house design to complete (in half time), coursework, a job interview, and all the usual stuff. I am having a lot of fun, though. Architecture is definitely under my skin now.

So, apologies, but look forward to some more substantial updates soon. I know that people read this page; I won't let you down!

Hi-to-tzuki

2005-04-07T18:17:21-04:00

Word to Kami and Sasu!

And keep your ears peeled on Sunday at 20:00, British Summer Time.

Now in Dubai...

2005-04-02T16:01:02-05:00

Well, I'm still a little too shell-shocked by my experiences of India to write a detailed summary. It must be said, however, that we've had a very productive time. We shot about fifty panoramas, cut a great number of sections through architectural features of the park and finished documenting the thousands of sculptures. We also explored Chandigarh and many ancient works of architecture such as Humanyun's Tomb, Qtab Minar and the Red Fort. No Taj Mahal, I'm afraid, because that would've been a whole day's expedition, and quite a tourist trap.

Now staying for a few days in Dubai with friends who teach here. It's an incredible place, with its rate of building, general contrasts with Delhi, and insane deserts which we've been driving in. I don't quite know what to make of the place. Lots of awful architecture but I can learn a lot here.

Will post up some panoramas soon, and a heap of images. Have taken about 2000 since I left.

Indian Treat...

2005-03-15T09:50:42-05:00

Currently creating a full Quicktime VR tour of Nek Chand's Rock Garden, in Chandigarh. Have visited all the Corbusier buildings and done much else to immerse myself in the culture here. It's an amazing place and I hope to post some pictures soon.

Calling all camoufleurs...

2005-02-26T19:31:14-05:00

The theme was camouflage. The occasion, birthdays of me and my housemate, and my imminent departure to India. Thanks to all who came, represented and had a great time! People turning up covered with real foliage, with balaclavas, as Cuban revolutionaries, and all the rest of it...many images withheld...

Having never travelled to anywhere outside of Europe before, aside a trip to New Zealand, preparations for somewhere like India have been unfamiliar. As I said before, visas, insurance and so on are all munching into my time, and the jabs have been the worst thing. Seem to have really knocked me sideways, meaning that I've hardly managed any design over the last week.
Thankfully though, the worst of that is past and I can begin to actually express excitement! Chandigarh will be an amazing trip. Hopefully I can manage a few updates while over there.

In fact, the only thing which might convince me to return is the imminent release of Autechre's new album.

Also, do check this...

On rented accommodation...

2005-02-20T14:07:38-05:00

Instead of heading into student halls like the majority of my peers, I opted for private accommodation, renting a room in a house with three other older students. It was cheaper, more mature, and the owners seemed like genuine folk. The security and happiness which has followed from this decision has been one of the main sources of success in this academic year.
Does anybody else's landlord send houseplants and runner beans, utterly renovate a kitchen and living room, plan on building wooden scaffolding to clear the gutters, which can then be turned into decking for the garden? I'd love to think so.

When I began doing background reading in anticipation of studying architecture, I learnt much from Norman Potter's What is a designer. Its author was a respected furniture designer and architectural educator with strong, reasoned opinions and a will to disseminate knowledge and methods of acquiring it. Check it!

When visiting my landlord down in Bristol this weekend I was pleasan...

keep on keepin' on..

2005-02-18T17:43:38-05:00

Things are just ticking over here. Police stations are starting to take shape, and I'll post some shots of mine soon. I've done enough models for the time being, including one from plaster, and am now working on structural stability and floor plan. These will then inform the final shape to all me to create a decent model.

Really gettting hyped for India now - just ten days to go. That's been keeping me quite occupied - jabs, insurance, visas, packing etc. all taking time out of the days.

Before I depart I must complete the police station and polish off an essay about the influence of classic and gothic styles in two of Liverpool's buildings. I've chosen to focus on the art gallery and chapel at Port Sunlight, which was a town for nine hundred inhabitants built around the Lever (now Unilever) factory. It almost lulls one into a sense of security, such is its twee charm. With these notable monuments harking back to bygone eras, it manages to evoke some grandeur and stability....

Back to the old routine

2005-02-10T18:51:46-05:00

Some process models from the police station project. The sack at the back will turn into the next model tomorrow night, with luck...

Apologies for a dearth of entries. Gonna try to get back on track although this one'll be short 'cause my vaccinations for India are making me sluggish!
Things seem to be going well in the studio, except that the second years are having troubles with their tutorial times being cut. I'll find out more of this and hopefully swing into action. I'd be interested to hear how much tutor contact time other universities offer...

Also have been helping with more open days. Seem to be getting the hang of talking to new students, and helping satisfy their queries. Apparently our school receives about eight hundred applications per year, and they interview everyone. All of these interviewees have a chance to talk to 'real' architecture students.

Thinking of starting an out-of-hours building collection, to make spaces at 1:1 in the studio, outside of bri...

Build & Destroy!

2005-01-31T18:59:17-05:00

some shots of my work-space, inspired by MADianito's blog and Wooster Collective...

Evening all. Tonight's a bit of a quiet one for me. Somewhat shattered after too many late nights, plus swimming and carrying a tremendous stack of books back from the library!

Studio was fun today. Not sure whether my scheme's going to go down too well, but that's probably a good thing. The site model was very well received.

Will write something more stimulating soon - I'm too eager to curl up with a good book!

Rock On (to the break of dawn / keep keep it on / keep keep it on)

2005-01-30T21:27:08-05:00

So, it's two in the morning between Sunday and Monday, and what've we achieved? Well, the model above was finished today by three fine team members and myself. It's a 1:200 representation of the police station site with contours and some basic buildings. Now everybody can make their own maquettes and see how they look. Also made more progress on my A1 site survey sheet. Not as much as I'd like, but it's going well so far.

Looking forward to lectures on Tuesday this week, to re-activate the theoretical areas of my brain, plus one from a real live police officer tomorrow...

Just been working on an e-flyer, inviting folk to my camouflage birthday party later in February.

Oh, and the biggest news of all is that I'll be going to Chandigarh on 28th February to help with surveying for a PhD researcher's thesis! We'll be staying for one month in a secret apartment in Nek Chand's Rock Garden (check). Should have connectivity over there, so I'll keep the images flowing. Also visi...

Studio Burn

2005-01-26T20:37:07-05:00

not related to this post, but a possible future project, and a test of my mini tripod, like this which my dad bought me, in low light...

It's 1:30am and I'm just back from the studio. We have a tutorial tomorrow and are expected to have produced something of a site survey. I've done the majority of an elevation along the street, a 1:1250 plan, a bit of scribbling about emotional observations, a sketch of the Gehry building, some sketch ideas and a sketch model. I'd really like more data about the site, but am only beginning to learn about where to find these. Sun path's a good one, but wind patterns would be so chaotic. I guess I could find annual rainfall, and where drainage is, etc. - any other suggestions?

Also helped with a tour of our school today, for students hoping to join the course in September. Tried my best to answer their questions. I was doing this with another student, and between us we had a good mix of backgrounds - she's entered uni straight from school, w...

Harnessed The Storm

2005-01-26T05:15:29-05:00

This is a basic grid which I will use to present all of my work this year. Anything which might end up in my portfolio must conform to this layout.
It's my own idea and my own grid and, it must be said, I already dislike it. Some conformity should improve the portfolio over all though, and next year I'll give myself the chance to revise it.
I have it as an Illustrator file for computer-based layout, and some A1 printouts to slide beneath pencil drawings as I'm doing them on tracing paper.

This post can only be short today, as I'm going to be answering questions about the school for potential new students. After that I really must crack on with my work. Site survey should really be done for Thursday but I have nothing worth presenting yet. Although I've done a lot of sketches and a rough model, they're not really what's required - I can feel myself jumping ahead a bit...

I did survey the facades of the adjacent builidngs though. I'd like to respond to them in the sense of...

A Fresh Start

2005-01-24T12:20:06-05:00

Here is the approach to the site of our next project - a welcoming police station. At the top of this hill is the Metropolitan Cathedral, and at the bottom is the beginning of the shopping centre. All around are Georgian buildings, light industrial works, monstorous 60s car parks and various bits of 'new build'.

Design a neighbourhood police station on the site on Mount Pleasant which includes the accommodation below.
You should bring to the project an opinion of the role of police in society and how your architectural solution can address some of the problems that they are now encountering.

Reception with counter
Display area
Public meeting room for 20-30 people
Private meeting room for 2-4 people
Duty officers room
Charge desk
Custody suite
Locker room incl. showers and toilets
Offices for 5 staff
Individual offices for 2 staff
Rest room
Seperate staff entrance
Secure parking for 2 cars + 1 standard Transit size van

You should look at a wide range of similar buil...