Archinect - University of New Mexico SAaP (Mike)

For Rent: Ando

2008-07-27T16:26:26-04:00

My latest trip to Japan was fantastic. It dispelled much of the myth surrounding Japanese architecture for me, while raising some other questions.

I stayed in Kyoto, which seems to be having problems trying to reconcile historicism in modernity, id est the city is attempting to return to the "Japanese aesthetic" by mandating that residences have gabled roofs and beige exteriors - at least this is my understanding of the current problem. This to me is problematic because an aesthetic does not necessarily respect tradition or culture. In fact, i feel that mere aesthetics are superficial and therefore fail the respective tradition or culture it [the aesthetics] is responding to as the image or surface can be easily created without actual knowledge of space or building techniques used by a particular culture. Of course, this argument is problematic because it can be seen as the "chicken or the egg" dilemma. What drives vernacular building techniques and regional aesthetics? Is it...

Off to Japan...again.

2008-06-09T15:30:21-04:00

About 34 hours from now i'll be landing in Japan at 3 o'clock on Wednesday. I know the math doesn't quite add up, but that's what i'm told. I was dumb and will be flying into Narita, so i just tacked on a nice 4 hours and hefty Shinkan-sen ticket to my experience. Next time........next time.

I'll be doing an internship for 6 weeks with an architect in Kyoto. It will be quite the experience, considering my Japanese is elementary at best and i can't read kanji, so i will be "that guy" from the States. Blanco nino, as they say (well, not in Japan).

I'll try and post some elements of my trip, but WIFI networks are surprisingly scarce. I hear it's because they tend to use their cellphones for internet/email/et cetera. Otherwise, i hope everyone enjoys their summer!!!

Name these two architects

2008-04-17T16:02:34-04:00

A few months back we had a very nice lecture by a certain architect. He's in the photo below.

Can you name him? :P

And his Functionalist buddy?

Discuss....

Help...

2008-04-17T15:47:23-04:00

This is an open call to anyone who has diagrammatic sections and plans for the Experience Music Project in Seattle. I am in desperate need of some.

Will trade booze, porn, candy, coffee beans or anything else you all might be into.... :P

Free Programs = Free Cigarettes at Bars

2008-01-16T18:13:13-05:00

Okay. This is kinda cool and either belongs in a Mastercard commercial or simply follows the cigarette campaign targeted towards little kids.

Vectorworks 2008 (Education) - Free
Artlantis (Education) - Free
Priceless renderings and paying for sexy programs given to you while you were in school - $3000.

I dig that these programs are being given to us for use/addiction in school. I mean, books, tuition, CS3 etc, are all pretty pricey, so it's nice to have access to these killer apps. Now i just have to perfect my "l33t haxorz skillz" and pump out some killer work this next semester.

So, who here uses VW and Artlantis? Anyone??

Speaking of work, i haven't posted any of my stuff....i think, ever on here. My bad. Here are some renderings from a rowhouse project done in the Functionalist, George Anselivicius's class. Be nice...i'm still a noob, and getting (marginally) better.

New School of Architecture!!!!

2007-09-22T22:00:54-04:00

Year number two is well underway. Hopefully, if things are executed properly, i will be graduating in 2.5 years. *fingers crossed* But that's not why i'm posting today. I'm posting because i thought i would show off some of the pictures i took from the NEW School of Architecture and Planning designed by Antoine Predock at the University of New Mexico. The 'Toine was also gracious enough to give us students a tour today and a bit of what was going on in his head during this whole process.

So here are the pictures. Some of the elements at play here are: Both transparency and verticality of the building; and exposed structural elements and tectonic conditions so us students have an excellent opportunity to see how it was built.

Enough talking, on to some pictures.....

West Entrance:

The Crit Bridge:

Exterior Grotto:

Truss System:

View From Studio:

Circulation:

South Façade:

View From Gallery:

Exterior:

"Ahhh, Summer" or "Reflections"

2007-05-23T14:57:18-04:00

Man, it feels good to enjoy the summer. This last semester was pretty enjoyable, though intense at times.

Over Spring Break I travelled to Japan and ran around Tokyo and Kyoto for 10 days. They have it figured out over there! And now i can't wait to go back. (Sake in vending machines??? Public transit that is accurate to within 5 seconds? Smokin' Japanese Babes? ...that's a reference to the Future Sound of London, for you electronic music geeks out there...) Here are some pictures:

Ando, HHStyle

Takamitsu, Tower House

Ito, Mikimoto
Herzog & de Meuron, Prada
Ito, Tod's

The architecture was incredible. Transitions between public/private spaces (engawa) were, for the most part very elegant. Utilization of space was refined. The chaos of transit seemed surpisingly ordered. It was a life-changing experience!!

Various Images

A little love...

2007-02-17T15:34:54-05:00

For Valentine's Day (i hate Hallmark holidaze) we were a little loony in studio. I figure someone here could appreciate this:

Yes folks, what you are seeing is a shirt with a velcro heart on it....and you can attach things....we were missing the "o" so we had to improvise.

Ohhh yeah...

2007-01-21T01:37:21-05:00

I forgot to mention that i went to Seattle over the break. That's a SWEEET city. So, now i am sad that i'm in a not so sweet, crime-ridden city. Anyway, i took some photos while there. Here are some merges of the EMP, which is pretty cool. I like the signs on the bathrooms in the science museum.

And here are a few random shots:

The New Semester

2007-01-21T01:22:20-05:00

Okay. So the new semester has started and i am going to try and post more frequently, as i admit i have been slacking. This is semester number two for me in the 3.5 year Master's program. My course load is as follows:

-History of World Architecture II
-Structures I
-Programming
-Introductory Graduate Studio II

Our first project in Studio is an analysis of a domestic project. I have the Schröder House, by Garrit Rietveld. For being in Key Houses of the 20th Century, i am surprised with the minimal amount of documentation available on the building. I contacted some cool guy on MySpace to take a bunch of pictures for me. Europeans rule!!!

In Programming we are to contact a local non-profit agency and discuss with them current and future needs, et cetera, to begin to determine a program for a potential new structure that said agency could inhabit.

That's the news for now. They say our lives become a "design problem" from here on out. So, it's time for me to return to thi...

FormZ Final...

2006-12-21T18:34:38-05:00

Wow. The semester ended so quickly, yet not nearly as quickly enough. It's like i needed another week but was going to pop if kept staying up until 4+ AM. I am waiting to document my final model and post it up here. Until then, here is my FormZ final.

This project was more of an exercise in the program than means to create a habitable space. Our direction was to take a model and pursue an abstraction in the digital realm. We had a series of functions to perform on the model.

Create and envelope (wrap) for the project.
- Fenestrate the object.
- Create central spine.
- Slice the object into 20 different slices.
- Remove 7 sections.
-Take 3 sections/slices and alter their geometry and multiply them. Make sure all objects are all intersecting.
-Reposition the envelope.
-Develop an effective structure or structural diagram.
-Re-fenestrate

That said, i took a variation of a tensegrity model and brought it in to the digital domain. Here is the product:

Soapbox...

2006-12-06T13:13:04-05:00

Okay,
It's been close to a month or something since i posted last. I apologise for the lack of activitiy. We are gearing up for our final studio review next Wednesday. I haven't done much for that BECAUSE...

...i have to waste my time working on "busy projects" that, while COULD be interesting, are involved enough to keep me from THE STUDIO.

I'm a little bitchy right now...and i can't wait to attack FormZ and the Studio project later on tonight. ...for now, back to mindless editing....

Grand Opening: Apple Store - ABQ.

2006-11-01T13:33:15-05:00

Here we are (i'm in the middle) at the GRAND OPENING OF THE APPLE STORE IN ALBUQUERQUE!!! Yes folks, the "Thunderdome" is back on the map. We are now a new travel destination. And i love the store. I hijacked a MacBookPro to post this. :) Since i forgot to bring my camera, i had to use the one built in!! w00t!!!

OMG, this place is a total porn shop for me!!!

Blobject

2006-10-31T18:05:02-05:00

This is the last installation for the "abstract expressionists" that we have been evaluating.

As some of you may know, i studied Jackson Pollock's piece "Untitled 13."

We were to choose a blobject from our houses and then diagram it in reference to the artist's work we were assigned.

I study iaido, which is what many samurai studied. It is literally the art of drawing the sword, cutting down an attacker and resheathing the sword. I realized that while it is not your typical blobject, the sword is ultimately one of the finest blobjects ever devised. Most people associate blobjects with something similar to an Xbox controller, or a steering wheel for a car, or perhaps a cellphone. Many of these objects have blobby, amorphous, yet anthropomorphic qualities to them. If a blobject is determined by its ergonomics, then a katana fits the definition. The whole drawing pattern of a katana is of both circular and angular motion in reference to the person drawing with ease and relaxat...

Tensegrity

2006-10-26T15:31:52-04:00

So here are two other abstractions from the Pollock painting. Both of these are final models for our final review on Monday.

I found that making the frame for the suspended chipboard was problematic particularly when making the tensioners and achieving the appropriate width (and tension) to create an equilateral frame.

This model is the first study of tensegrity i did:

Warning: Watch where you cut!!!

2006-10-17T15:24:25-04:00

So this is not for the faint of heart. IF YOU DON'T LIKE BLOOD, DON'T SCROLL DOWN!!!
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This was my most recent attempt in body modification. It was an unintended attempt at removing a digit. Next time i am going to keep the finger BEHIND the edge of the ruler. And who said architecture was safe?

24 hours later i am still oozing. I used my keen paramedic-sense to acknowledge the fact that i needed sutures and then rig a McGyver bandage/radio/cellphone/straight-edge and continue working on my model.

Abstract Expressionist Project

2006-10-09T14:52:34-04:00

For our latest project we were to choose one of 12 abstract expressionists, analyze and then create a construction of the work. I had Jackson Pollock, which i thought was going to be relatively straight forward. That was a misconception.

This was the piece that i was assigned:

This are a few of my constructs:

Thoughts? Criticism?

Insane...

2006-10-03T01:21:05-04:00

Wow. School has been insane. Lots of theory and names. How does one remember it all? At this point, i don't think we are supposed to. We are just getting immersed in this new world. How very exciting, but frustrating. It's frustrating because i can't seem to remember all i want to.

A few weeks back we had a little field trip to look at some of Legorreta's work. I posted on Zocalo, but i left out the work he did at the College of Santa Fe. Here are some photos:

This thing made me think of a sea cucumber, but it was in the desert, and was a caterpillar...

Sketches: Pen vs. Pencil

2006-09-21T23:59:44-04:00

I am curious. Who here sketches in pen? In pencil? Reasons?

I am attracted to pen right now. Each line seems to have to have intent and one cannot arbitrarily draw lines without thinking of consequence. It could be argued that this might inhibit the "free-form" of sketching, but i like the permanence of pen.

Zocalo : Legorreta

2006-09-10T01:47:32-04:00

On Friday, for an Architectural Analysis class, we took a field trip up to Santa Fe, New Mexico (about an hour north of Albuquerque) to look at two projects by the famous Mexican architect, Riccardo Legorreta. We were very fortunate to have this opportunity and the hospitality was excellent. Many thanks to all those involved who made this possible! This first post is a reflection on our first site visit.

Zocalo is a condomium complex nested in the north side of Santa Fe. It is laid out over about 47 acres and has currently around 80 units. There are currently more under construction.

"Zocalo began with developer Don Tishman's aspiration of creating an exquisitely designed but affordably priced residential community with high-quality amenities in the striking New Mexico landscape. This vision developed from his belief that world-class architecture should not be confined to the wealthy. In seeking an architect who could develop such a community, Tishman was particularly inspired ...

Creative Juices...

2006-09-07T00:58:27-04:00

So, who "uses" creative juices here? Don't be shy!!

This one is my personal favorite:

EFFEN Black Cherry Vodka.

God bless the Dutch.

The "motion blur" was intended. Consider it artistic touch. I have other "still" pictures, but they don't convey the "meaning" well.

Right now i need to point myself back towards the paper i am doing. The class is The History of World Architecture. It's an interesting class. Though our assignment seems slightly elementary - to write an essay on the first house we grew up in. So, for being elementary, i'm having a hard time, hence the Vodka. Well, actually, that's not entirely true. The vodka is a coping mechanism for other things in my life, but it helps me care less about what i am writing.

Onward...

*Note: I say "it helps me care less about what i am writing," but i want to make it clear that i DO care about what i am writing, it's just that i have less inhibitions and am more relaxed.

*Also note: The bottle has a really sexy desi...

And so it begins...

2006-09-05T19:30:31-04:00

Alright. I'll have to ask for some patience here as i figure out the layout of the blog publisher/editor. It is a bit more sophisticated than what i am used to.

Whew! So, i think i just started my third week of school. It's pretty hard to say exactly how long it has been because the days bleed together. Right now i think it's Monday, but my computer is telling me it's Tuesday. I don't know what's going here, but somebody is definitely messing with me.

School is very exciting and very busy. It's hard to say how much information i am "supposed" to retain. We are literally being immersed in information. I want to make a connection to the practice of boiling and eating cats in Canton, China and the first year of the 3.5 year M. Arch. program, but not one of the professors has actually boiled and eaten a student yet. Though, i suppose we do have the rest of the semester ahead of us. Anyway, back to the subject at hand...

As i was mentioning, the information that is thrown o...