points to a lecture by Jeanne Gang at USC, which having in the past seen lectures at multiple locations is perhaps the typical stump lecture given at multiple locations. But shouldn't lectures be more about the questions after?
I wondered about this at the time of the lecture as well. I confess I was recovering from an illness on the day of so I dozed off a bit during her talk (sorry Jeanne) but the parts that I did catch were interesting. I don't remember most of the questions but I do know that many of my classmates and colleagues were impressed with her honesty and straight-forward approach to design. The whole thing reminds me very much of a book tour, as if architects are now expected to go on tour to promote their work, like a band or an author. If only our lectures had some pyrotechnics, maybe I'd have stayed awake!
I noticed when everyones was posting their schools lecture series that it seemed as if many were featuring the same lecturers with the same titles/topics.
It definetly gave off the feeling of a tour promoting either work or book(s). Not sure if this is a function of contemporary architecture or of the academy. Although, i know from my previous degree/field that one didn't get the impression that the speakers were hitting up all the schools, more of a one off. Plus conferences..
nam,
Themes emerge and speakers are usually available when there is a lull between projects or if they have work in multiple places (and are temporary locals). We tend to get pegged to speak at the start of the fall semester and at the end of the second term.
The 'circuit' is definitely there and even worse is when you are matched with another speaker and you end up seeing each others talk 4/5 times a year.
anyway. screw the q and a - it is all about the post talk pints at the local brewhouse.
On a personal note my speaking covers my salary and keeps our overhead down - thus I'm on the road quite a bit. it is also a great opportunity for meeting students that we might want to hire later down the road. (we just hired 2 more former students).
The best ones are the talks that are followed by a 3/4 day intense workshop. (Drexel next month). I really enjoy those as it is more about the collaboration and design after than the lecture.
yeah, but jeanne gang is everywhere the last 2 semesters... it begs the question, who's running the studio and does ms. gang actually have any control?
A good firm is only as good as its team. Clients are not buying a Jeanne Gang building, they are hiring the services of Studio Gang.
Firms of the scale of Studio Gang go through a tipping point phase and if you don't capture that fleeting moment you will remain a small shop, struggling to survive and constantly looking for a stable job to keep your staff on board.
Take SHoP, they were everywhere in 2004-2005 and now they are ticking along nicely. (i think)
It's the ability to move from emerging firm to established and that takes alot of days on the road and, as noted, a strong and creative team.
On a side note, how handy was it that her last name is "Gang"? Makes me wish my last name was "Brilliant" or "Awesome".....or something equally sensible :o)
Cameron,
Good point about how speaking is what helps a firm to break through. In this example i would think Studio Gang has managed to succesfully do so over the last few years. I defently see their name in a lot more places.
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I wondered about this at the time of the lecture as well. I confess I was recovering from an illness on the day of so I dozed off a bit during her talk (sorry Jeanne) but the parts that I did catch were interesting. I don't remember most of the questions but I do know that many of my classmates and colleagues were impressed with her honesty and straight-forward approach to design. The whole thing reminds me very much of a book tour, as if architects are now expected to go on tour to promote their work, like a band or an author. If only our lectures had some pyrotechnics, maybe I'd have stayed awake!
I noticed when everyones was posting their schools lecture series that it seemed as if many were featuring the same lecturers with the same titles/topics.
It definetly gave off the feeling of a tour promoting either work or book(s). Not sure if this is a function of contemporary architecture or of the academy. Although, i know from my previous degree/field that one didn't get the impression that the speakers were hitting up all the schools, more of a one off. Plus conferences..
nam,
Themes emerge and speakers are usually available when there is a lull between projects or if they have work in multiple places (and are temporary locals). We tend to get pegged to speak at the start of the fall semester and at the end of the second term.
The 'circuit' is definitely there and even worse is when you are matched with another speaker and you end up seeing each others talk 4/5 times a year.
anyway. screw the q and a - it is all about the post talk pints at the local brewhouse.
On a personal note my speaking covers my salary and keeps our overhead down - thus I'm on the road quite a bit. it is also a great opportunity for meeting students that we might want to hire later down the road. (we just hired 2 more former students).
The best ones are the talks that are followed by a 3/4 day intense workshop. (Drexel next month). I really enjoy those as it is more about the collaboration and design after than the lecture.
yeah, but jeanne gang is everywhere the last 2 semesters... it begs the question, who's running the studio and does ms. gang actually have any control?
A good firm is only as good as its team. Clients are not buying a Jeanne Gang building, they are hiring the services of Studio Gang.
Firms of the scale of Studio Gang go through a tipping point phase and if you don't capture that fleeting moment you will remain a small shop, struggling to survive and constantly looking for a stable job to keep your staff on board.
Take SHoP, they were everywhere in 2004-2005 and now they are ticking along nicely. (i think)
It's the ability to move from emerging firm to established and that takes alot of days on the road and, as noted, a strong and creative team.
On a side note, how handy was it that her last name is "Gang"? Makes me wish my last name was "Brilliant" or "Awesome".....or something equally sensible :o)
yawn
Cameron,
Good point about how speaking is what helps a firm to break through. In this example i would think Studio Gang has managed to succesfully do so over the last few years. I defently see their name in a lot more places.
isnt it Studio Gang O'Donell?
i'd just call it GANG
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