Bienvenue à Paris!

Paris One | Notre Dame de Paris

After a rather interesting experience boarding the Easy Jet flight from Berlin, our small group arrived in Paris at dusk.  We were delightfully surprised to realize that our hostel was only blocks away from Notre Dame de Paris and many other Parisian delights.  In a haze from the days travels, we made our way to the cathedral.  Up to this point I had only imagined what Paris would be like, and was all at once in love with its romantic beauty.  My first encounter with the Paris of my imagination was one of the most iconic and breathtaking structures on Earth, and I couldn't have asked for a better introduction.     

This House

Berlin Six | Auf Wiedersehen

Here are the last few offerings of photo documentation from Berlin.  The city was abound with facades of every color and political proclamation, including the declaration above which translates to "This House Previously Stood in a Different Country", referencing the Berlin Wall.  Other punctuations in the facade narrative were not so politically charged and made statements through color and mural.  However, an old squat tenement found in former East Berlin had the words "Soldiers are Murderers" emblazoned on its facade, only steps away from a military cemetery.  Even buildings that are charged with such history as the Reichstag have taken on a new persona.  Once used for propaganda purposes in World War II, Germany's parliament building now emphasizes the transparency of government and accessibility to its people by means of Sir Norman Foster's glass dome addition.  Whether transparency in the parliamentary government is actually true is yet to be determined...  

Until next time, auf wiedersehen Berlin!

In Memoriam

Berlin Five | Eisenman + Libeskind

The following images are of The Holocaust Memorial (Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe) by Peter Eisenman and The Jewish Museum of Berlin by Daniel Libeskind.  Eisenman's project employs a field of concrete columns at different heights across an undulating ground condition to create a haunting labyrinth in which one is completely consumed by the columnar landscape.  Libeskind's museum, on the other hand, uses a serpentine building with pierced "voids" to articulate the emotion and experience of the Jewish people.  Neither space can be summed in words or images, but rather is an experience one must have.  Acknowledging the tension between Berlin's, and Europe's, violent past and hopeful future, the memorials convey different articulations of the Jewish experience through an architectural language.

Hamburger Bahnhof

Berlin Four | Museum für Gegenwart

Here, I believe, the images can mostly speak for themselves.  Above is from instillation db by Ryoji Ikeda.  In a stark white room, prints of pi are hung on the walls, as a speaker emits a high toned sound.  Images alone are not able to capture the experience of the space, but the clean, simple arrangements of objects in the room are only complimented by the monotone ring that accompanies them.  The following images are of miniature light models that were only accessable through openings in a wall.  

click through for more photos.  

Atelier Katharina Große

Berlin Three | Atelier Katharina Große

One of the keystone projects of the Spring 2012 semester was a case study in the city of Berlin.  My partners and I chose the private residence/studio of artist Katharina Große, designed by augustin und frank architekten, completed in 2007.  The building anchors the corner of an historic industrial neighborhood, and is surrounded by established Prussian brick buildings.  The site was once occupied by a tailor shop, on which the current building's foundation now rests; while the atelier itself hovers over the remaining exterior brick wall of the shop that stood there before.  

While in Berlin we were able to make a site visit to the building that we had spent weeks modeling at 1:50 scale (photos after the break) and see it in its full glory.  And my how glorious she was.  Not only were we able to get a much more intimate viewing of the building we had studied so deeply; but we were also fortunate enough to meet Katharina Große herself!  Unfortunately, we were not able to take a tour of the building, but she was gracious enough to come to the door and politely turn down our request. 

Click through for more photos

Interbau '57

Berlin One  | Hansaviertel IBA '57

Boldly responding to the socialist developments of the GDR and East Germany, West Germany celebrated democracy and modernity through the International Building Exhibition Interbau.  Opening July, 1957, the IBA brought together world renowned architects for housing in the Hansaviertel neighborhood; which was nearly destroyed during World War II.  With designs from Oscar Niemeyer (above), Fritz Jaenecke and Sten Samuelson, Alvar Aalto, and more; Hansaviertel became a destination for over one million visitors.  With a chairlift meandering through the projects, the IBA was a spectacle of the modernization of the west.  

More photos of the Oscar Niemeyer project after the break, as well as projects by Jaenecke, Samuelson, and Aalto.

Architecture Austria

Wagner and Loos and Olbrich, oh my!  Vienna has been home to some of the world's most influential architects and, in addition, some of the most influential architecture.  Here we have a visual offering of several examples including the Postal Savings Bank by Otto Wagner; the Goldman and Salatsch Building by Adolf Loos; and the Secession Building by Joseph Maria Olbrich.  While refraining from becoming a weepy architecture nerd, it was incredible to be able to visit and experience buildings that we have been studying for so many years.  On that note, click through to see more photos of Vienna's amazing architecture.

Two Paths Go By

At a time when I desperately need to be able to write, I am constantly finding myself without words. Saying that I detest my near handicap of only being able to write with a deadline breathing down my neck would barley brush the surface of my frustration. "Then how, and why, are you writing now?" one might ask. Because if I don't write something down, anything, I will lose my marbles. Perhaps this will be the catalyst, the jump start, that will provoke prose.

Either way, I know it will get done; whether the circumstances be leisurely or hurried (preferably the aforementioned). Regardless of the conditions, I know that the outcome will be life changing. The results of the next few weeks will change the course of things to come. As old paths cross with the new, exciting new opportunities will arise.

We shall see where these paths meet, as well as where they lead, soon enough.

What we think, we become

What we think, we become, originally uploaded by Design.Her.

Having taken a little break from the blogosphere, I return. I have been having fun shooting film the last few weeks, but have fallen away from another passion.

Enjoying a relatively stress free summer, I am now faced with the ultimate reality of graduate school and its subsequent preparation. This is something that I have been pushing further and further to the back of my mind as it becomes more and more crucial. Sitting down, sorting through scores of folders and years of projects, I am reminded of what I have wanted to become.

There are many more days and nights of work that need to go into this portfolio, but the task is a challenge I am excited to undertake.

The Legend

Visual Acoustics from wes on Vimeo.

If you find yourself with some extra time, or are in the mood for a great documentary on photography and architecture, then look no further.  Visual Acoustics is a celebration of the life and career of Julius Shulman, undoubtedly the greatest architectural photographer.  Working with architects from Frank Lloyd Wright and Richard Neutra, to Frank Gehry and Ray Kappe; Shulman eternalized the movement of modern architecture in Southern California.  The iconic images that have been viewed by millions are mesmerizing.  He is inspirational to photographers and architects alike, and I admire Shulman and his work immensely. 

 

Case Study House #22, Los Angeles, 1960.  Pierre Koenig Architect

Kaufmann Desert House, Palm Springs, 1947.  Richard Neutra Architect

The Kaufmann Desert House holds a particular significance with me since I had to make a scale model of it a few years back for an architecture studio project.  If it weren't for some of the photos that Mr. Shulman had taken, I wouldn't have had much reference to how the house looked in its original state.  From these iconic photos, many can experience some of the world's most influential buildings at their most authentic moments.  

George Pearl Hall

George Pearl Hall, originally uploaded by Design.Her.

After having graduated just several days before, I found myself inextricably drawn to George Pearl Hall.  It was strangely quiet, both in the building and the surrounding campus.  Although my fellow students and I rattled on about how excited we were to leave this place, and all stress that came with it; I must say that I am truly going to miss it.  

The gallery space off of the West entrance was filled with work from graduating students, which was an appreciable nod to their efforts.

The School of Architecture and Planning at The University of New Mexico has found itself in a very unique position.  We have been privileged with a world class building, access to some of the latest technologies, and some great minds as well.  I can only hope that my next step in my education takes me somewhere that can match the first.  

Please take a look at my flickr page for more photos of George Pearl Hall.  

Also, for more photographs, jaunt over to Antoine Predock's website, where you can see many more of his projects. 

Koyaanisqatsi - Pruit Igoe

Koyaanisqatsi is a Hopi word which means "life in turmoil, life out of balance." The 1982 film by Godfrey Reggio, with music by Philip Glass, explores the urban landscape through time-lapse photography and slow motion filming. The music of Philip Glass adds a haunting and unsettling tone when paired with the powerful imagery. This was the most successful out of the Qatsi trilogy by Reggio, which was followed by Powaqqatsi and Naqoyqatsi.

This segment of the film explores the decay of housing projects in the United States, focusing on that of Pruit Igoe in St. Louis Missouri. Pruit Igoe was designed as a modernist ideal to the housing crisis.  It consisted of 33 11-story apartment buildings on a 57 acre site. Completed in 1955, Pruit Igoe never reached above 60% occupancy, and by the end of the 1960's was completely abandoned and left to decay and attracted vandalism and violence. In April, 1972, demolition of the housing projects had begun. 

The Pruit Igoe housing complex is reminiscent of the 1925 Plan Voisin by Le Corbusier for Paris.  This was his master plan for a housing complex would replace an entire district of Paris on the Right Bank of the Seine.  This plan, which was never seen to fruition, was frowned upon for potentially separating poor communities into high rise buildings and leaving them detached from critical social ties. 

Plan Voisin by Le Corbusier

This frightening look at the failure of the modernist ideal gives a warning to the architects, designers, builders, planners, and citizens of the twenty first century. We can no longer be complacent with our buildings or our people.

In addition to this excerpt, the entire film is an exelent and resonating view into urban life. And although it was made over a quarter century ago, the truths and consequences remain everlasting.

 Pruit Igoe post completion

 Pruit Igoe during demolition

Internation Velux Competition 2010

F[lux]uating Illumination, originally uploaded by Design.Her.

After a few months of precedent studies, design work, renderings, models, and layout work; we have finally come to the point in the semester when it is time to submit our competition boards.  It is an oddly freeing feeling to submit your competition boards and leave them to the will of God [a.k.a. the jury] to care for.  

Now I feel that I must tell you who our jury consists of this year: Momoyo Kaijima, Nathalie de Vries, Kim Herforth Nielsen, Magda Mostafa, Stefano Musso, Keith Riddle, and last [but certainly not NEAR least] Will Bruder.

To say the least, I am shaking in my boots.  Not only is Will Bruder familiar with the site on which we have been designing, the Albuquerque Rail Yards, but I he has come to give a lecture for AIA in Albuquerque [the lecture which I attended].  Although I do not have any sort of anticipation of winning, I hope that the jurors look upon my boards with some sort of admiration.  Seeing my hard work, hours of sleeplessness, and appreciate my dedication to the art and knowledge of architecture. 

Dear Architecture School...

MoMA in Motion, originally uploaded by Design.Her.

These last few months have been inundated with thoughts, process, and action toward designing a sculpture museum.  The photograph, taken at the MoMA in New York City, is a reminder of better days when the museum was held in higher esteem.  Yesterday's review of our sculpture museum project was less of a push forward toward an end result, and more of a torturous reminder of how much I am looking forward to graduation.  The review was blind and silent. Our reviewers didn't get to know whose project they were looking at, and in turn, we were not allowed to interject and defend our work.  

While sitting and being harangued about the placement of silhouettes in a rendering, I thought of the letter that I would write to architecture school at a time like this.

Dear Architecture School,

I think we need a break.  I love you dearly, and always will.  However, I have been the only one to put work into this relationship, and you have yet to respond in kind.  We have shared wonderful moments together; spending late nights with one another and watching the sun come up.  Be that as it may, I'm afraid that my feelings for you have changed.  Perhaps if we spend some time apart, the fondness that I once held for you will return.  Until then, take care.

xoxo

Monday in Review

Parametric Shadow, originally uploaded by Design.Her.

This semester, our final architecture studio is concentrating on designing a sculpture museum to be retrofitted into an old rail yard building in a historic part of the city. After little sleep, and long hours staring at the computer, I don't even want to think about anything related to either architecture or sculpture.  However... I wouldn't mind taking a seat in this nice chair from the SFMoMA.  Pretty, pretty, parametric.