OB23UA ----

Madrid Field Trip

2012-01-30T23:32:00.000Z

As Unit Adescended on Madrid for our field trip the fast paced world of architecture wasquite literally translated to inform the determined stride we embarked upon.There was less of the drifting ‘dérive’ approach (despite perhaps theaccidental trespassing incident) one might have expected, so whilst legs andfeet may have not thanked us for it, it did mean we managed to see a lot in thebrief time we had. Plus the walking was interspersed with chances for ‘rest’ asmultiple opportunities for play revealed themselves throughout the city.

Despite theplayful approach it was definitely educational and by each being allocated abuilding beforehand it meant we were collectively prepared for what was instore. This meant we had an understanding of the concept and aims of thearchitecture and our preconceptions could be tested. We all had the opportunityto directly hear the design process of one of the projects we would be visitingas on the second day we were fortunate to be invited into the practice of EcosistemaUrbano. We were given a presentation of their recent projects and designphilosophy. With a focus on urbanism and sustainability, they have an interestin public involvement in order to provide platforms for participation andcreativity that are beneficial both socially and environmentally.

The followingday we visited their project entitled ‘Eco Boulevard’. Situated within theordered surroundings of recently master planned Pau de Vallecas, Eco Boulevardis an example where the architect’s control is passed over to the usersallowing them to appropriate the space. As a platform for public expression andresponse it encourages active participation of local residents but also existsas a desirable location attracting interest from the wider context. The projectarose out of necessity to ‘solve’ the existing which means its affects arelimited because change possibly cannot be induced on the fixed housing, whereasconceptually as an initiator of growth in the area it provides a strong modelof change and development in the city. Initially the Eco Boulevard was designedto be temporary, aiming to encourage urban growth until no longer required,however has since gained monument status. This rather detracts from the aimthat the growth and change from the installation would expand and shift to thewhole area in order for it to adapt and evolve of its own accord. However, the structuresof the Eco Boulevard certainly allowed us to temporarily gain control of thespace and produced a sense of freedom and interaction, similar only to thatachieved by the play equipment in the Madrid Rio.

Otherhighlights of the trip included the Na Sa de Guadalupe Church of which initialdisappointment of its closure instantly vanished when access became availablethrough the adjacent building. Descending allowed us to emerge directly insidethe church where we were met by the stunning atmosphere created by the lightthrough coloured stained glass on every wall. The UNED Escuelas PíasBiblioteca, a church converted into a library, was also a collective feature,the high level of detail and consideration allowed the new and existing to feelequal rather than disparate elements. The field trip allowed us a full oninspirational fix to start this term with and gratitude goes to Colin andCarsten for organising this fantastic experience and to Ibstock for subsidisingthe trip and Ken and Dale for accompanying and sharing with us our unitadventure.

http://www.ecosistemaurbano.com/

Madrid field-trip January 2012

2012-01-24T18:44:00.000Z

Madrid Barajas International Airport, Richard Rogers & Antonio Lamela
Caxia Forum, Herzog deMeuron
Warehouse 8b, Arturo Franco
Metadero Madrid - Contemporary Art Centre, ICA Arquitectura
Celosia Residence, MVRDV & Blanca lleo
Villaverde Social Housing, David Chipperfield
Temporary Market, Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos
San Blas Usera Health Center, Estudio Entresitio
Carabanchel Housing, Foreign Office Architects
Prado Public Realm, Alvaro Siza & Juan Miguel Hernandez de Leon
New Cultural Centre (NCC), Fündc
Usera Public Library, Abalos & Herreros
ABC Museum, Aranguren & Gallegos Arquitectos
Skatepark - Madrid Rio, (location: Paseo de Yeserías, next to Puente de Praga bridge)
Na Sa de Guadalupe Church, Felix Candela & Enrique de la Mora
Twin Bridges - Madrid Rio, Invernadero & Matadero
Instituto del Patrimonio Historico Espanol, Arquitecto Lopez Otero
UNED Escuelas Pías Biblioteca, Meson de Paredes / J.I. Linazasoro
Prado Museum, Juan de Villanueva
Eco Boulevard, ecosistema urbano Arquitectos
Arganzuela footbridge - Madrid Rio, Dominique Perrault
El Mirador de Sanchinarro Housing, MVRDV
Tempio de Debod, Adjialamani o Azakheramon
MediaLabMadrid
Antiguo Mercado Central de Frutas y Verduras, Francisco Ferrer Ferrero
Puente del Rey Esplanade - Madrid Rio
Plaza de la Luna, Brut Deluxe

2012-01-24T15:28:00.002Z

Thank you from Unit A to Carsten and Colin for showing us some great buildings and giving us a great time in Madrid.

Twisting Concrete

2012-01-14T10:29:00.002Z

Syndicate Material Experimentation

'a limited set of five different templates was used to define sixty different shells. The combination of the templates follows a logic structural rule based on the forming of double curvature. The design decisions become limited in the overall form of the combination and the puzzle designs itself by following the basic rule.In terms of fabrication what is systematic is the components that generate each individual module and not the module itself. The external curves that define the dou�ble curvature within the cube are pre-defined and can be mass-produced. A set of templates that can be put together in different combinations according to the whole panel and generate individual parts that are different from each other.'

From Shin Egashira

(http://www.shinegashira.com/archives/154)

mat-zine brick

2011-12-27T20:18:00.003Z

some festive reading: mat.zine

Siza Sings

2011-12-20T19:23:00.000Z

Siza sings | Film by Fernando Guerra from últimas reportagens on Vimeo.

Thurs 16 Dec - Christmas drinks and Madrid Meeting

2011-12-17T18:57:00.005Z

Christmas chill time with a glass of wine and talks about the trip to Madrid in January, after a good day of the 3rd Year Cross-crits. Cheers!

Thu 16 Dec - Y2 Technology Case Study

2011-12-14T10:36:00.001Z

Location: Colin's office

Interesting Pattern Emerging

2011-12-10T23:41:00.004Z

0809 Unit A Site: Blackfriars... [SUPERBLOG] 2011 AJ Article
0910 Unit A Site: Deptford.... [SUPERBLOG] 2011 BD Article
1011 Unit A Site: Whitechapel... [PUBLICATION]... article in the pipeline...

Wed 6 Dec - interim crit at Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus

2011-12-10T21:03:00.001Z

I travelled to Cottbus / BTU (Brandenburg University of Technology) this Wednesday to review work of the BTU master students for the Mount Pleasant site. They have been busy developing individual strategies and concepts of regeneration, that are now tested and spatialised on site. Here are a few impressions from the crit-session, their working environments and the campus library designed by Herzog deMeuron.

Thu 15 Dec - Unit A Xmas Gathering 5pm

2011-12-10T12:00:00.003Z

In the studio space at 5pm - we will also chat about Madrid.

Portfolio Cross Crits week 12

2011-12-09T09:12:00.001Z

Year 2 - Mon 12 Dec
Critic panel: Sara Shafiei (Unit J) & Colin Priest

Year 3 - Thu 15 Dec
Critic panel: Caspar Rodgers (Unit C) & Carsten Jungfer

Roaming critics: Jane Anderson, Matt Gaskin (tbc), John Stevenson (tbc)

start 10.00 (if you are using the screen - please upload your presentation before 10.00)
end 16.00

remember to bring any useful supporting information with you - e.g. key models - the syndicated material / working- and site models, etc.

tips:
-sleep the night before your presentation (essential!)
-prepare & structure what you are going to say. Be clear and professional. It's about the process, design development, your observations, your critical position and your final designs. Do a dry run before. (8-10 min max)
-make sure your presentation displays well on the screen and is in the right order. test this beforehand. Careful of pixellation! (Acrobat Pro can combine single pdfs/jpegs into a single multi-page pdf) Refer also to relevant section in the student handbook for preparing a digital submission.
- the pdfs for submission (on USB stick) should be at manageable file size (20-100Mb) max. and not in the Gb region!

What's this all about?

2011-12-08T18:02:00.002Z

Some sort of Fischli & Weiss installation?

Technology

2011-11-30T16:21:00.001Z

Exploded axos can be useful to explain the multi-layered qualities of your proposal - especially for technology showing it's performance in terms of occupation, interaction with environment, construction, structure, phasing, sustainability, components, etc.

drawing: Tamim Negm - outdoor venue

Mon 5 Dec - Urban Massing Charrette

2011-11-30T13:35:00.001Z

Workshop / charrette (definition) on Monday 5 Dec is a full day event in the studio between 10.00 and 17.00. Please bring the following things with you:

- print out of your proposal in plan, scale 1:1000 (A3 sheet)
- A3 sized cardboard (can be a leftover) for base of model

Solid soft material (in sufficient quantity to make 5 different mass models for the project site), either:
A: polystyrene foam (that blue or yellow stuff)
or
B: a few large soaps (as cheap as you can get - £1.00 range, white or opaque is best + as rectangular as possible; you may even get one in a colour - for highlighting special areas, something like this? LINK MUJI )

Tools:
cutter, glue, tape, ruler / scale ruler, camera, coloured pens, etc...

Postal Archive Information

2011-11-29T10:08:00.001Z

Information gathered by the two teams doing research at the Postal Archive are now uploaded to the dropbox. >>>02_site information >>>postal archive

Note: This info should be used for your personal mapping / portfolio only - and should not leak into the public domain.

Debate #1: The Technological Architect - Digital Tools

2011-11-23T09:08:00.002Z

ESSENTIAL FOR UNIT A - 00:/ in particular

Debate #1: The Technological Architect - Digital Tools
THURSDAY 24.11.2011

Matt Shaw (scanLAB 3D Scanning)

Alastair Parvin (Architecture 00:/) Wikihouse.cc

Dr Shrikesh Sharma (Buro Happold Smart Solutions)

Chaired by Toby Shew

The first of three panel discussion events to end the successful Future Architects lecture series for this semester. We will be given three engaging presentations on 3D scanning, Open Source Design and Live Analysis Tools followed by a discussion on the role of digital tools in future practice. Wondering what skills you need as a graduate or how can you push representation to be more useful? This is the place to see new technology and ideas for digital design and fabrication.

6.00PM 2ND FLOOR OF THE ABERCROMBIE BUILDING IN THE STUDENT HUB

£3 Non-Members/£5 Membership on the door (+ free entry)

Free wine and beer afterwards.

Thu 17 Nov Tutorials + Tech

2011-11-15T14:35:00.001Z

Technology focus for Thursday:

It is time to be more strategic & practical about how your technological / environmental / constructional considerations are finding their way onto your drawings, informing your proposals along the design process.

This needs to happen now in from of details / diagrams / precise material precedents / scientific testing (e.g.lighting) This also includes aspects from last weeks tech sessions - refer earlier posts. We need to see these things drawn / put to paper, then Nicola can give feed-back.

Remember to bring in all your drawings from the crit.

Interim Crit Mon 14 Nov

2011-11-15T11:39:00.003Z

Panel of guest critics:
Jane Anderson
Greg Andrews (Unit A alumnus 2008/09)
Robert Helmholz (architect / urbanist based in Paris)
Norbert Kling (architect / assistant professor BTU Brandenburg)
Nick Simcik-Arese (anthropologist / architect / DPhil researcher Oxford University)

Feed-back

2011-11-15T00:10:00.001Z

Your feedback sheets of today are in the envelope in our studio space. (not e-mailed).

Thu 10 Nov Tutorials + Tech

2011-11-08T11:01:00.000Z

Technology focus for Thursday:
With your syndicated material now being applied to the urban context / project site / surrounding, a new set of questions arise in terms in terms of:
- environmental performance / aspects of sustainability
- maintenance / aspects of anticipated wear over time / contingency for change
- construction processes (size of elements, handling, on/off site manufacturing, etc.)
- sourcing, energy and carbon footprint

Site workshop documentation

2011-11-08T10:46:00.003Z

The documentation of the workshop can be downloaded from the dropbox (200 dpi scans) / folder 05_site workshop mnt pleasant

Mon 7 Nov

2011-11-04T11:56:00.000Z

For Monday we would like to see your first idea of the "public platform" on the project site in form of a model - the application of your "syndicated material" to a larger scale and showing a response to the context. The working model will need to show some context - surrounding buildings of project site - to judge how your proposal works spatially. Scales depending on your size of intervention and model accuracy - 1:000 / 1:500 or even larger?

Mappings - further evolve, visualise and crystallise your particular / personal point of observation / view / interest - based on your "brick" principles and particularities you noticed across the site. You may also need to collate more qualitative info on potential users / groups / actors / institutions - that you are aiming to engage into dialogue / relationships through your proposal.

Mapping & data

2011-11-02T21:05:00.000Z

Some mappings from the guardian data blog...

LINK

Mail Rail

2011-11-02T20:53:00.001Z

Some photos and observations of the decomissioned underground line here (please do not try this yourself)

LINK

OxArch lecture Thu 3 - ERECT

2011-11-02T13:01:00.002Z

We recommend this one to attend - keywords here are: materiality, architecture, public space, community, participation.

LINK

Thu 3 - Tutorials + 14.00 Lecture on Public Space

2011-11-02T12:39:00.004Z

see earlier post re visualisation of min. 5 mappings related to your personal interest.

Thu 3 Nov - Technology

2011-11-02T12:38:00.001Z

Focus this week for technology:
Documentation of material qualities (incl horizontal surfaces) surrounding the project site at 1:1 scale: Surface, colour, texture, aesthetics, durability, impact, maintenance, cost, ownership, connotations, etc. (Visualise / map your initial observations)
Critically assess current environmental aspects incl. sustainability, performative efficiency, sourcing and opportunities for improvements?

Thu 3 Nov

2011-11-01T15:50:00.003Z

Your presentations / observations from yesterday's workshop are uploaded to the dropbox.
See folder 05_site workshop mnt pleasant.
(I tried to scan your sheets but had some technical problems... I will provide you with propper scans at later stage, but for now that will do)

What we would like to see for Thurdsday, is that you take this to the next level - as individuals - and draw yesterday's mapping up using Illustrator. Reflect on all your work and interests so far, and choose a minimum of 5 topics / themes from the site workshop that you think are relevant & related to your personal lines of ongoing investigation / enquiry.

You can find the base-maps (illustrator files) of the various scales on the dropbox under 02_site information (study area 1-5000.ai / digimap-1-2500 study area / digimap-1-1000). Be clear about what scale you are drawing at - you can easily check by doing test prints at A3 size.

Compositing Textures

2011-10-30T08:29:00.001Z

Vigo Gallery
Leonardo Drew 12 October – 11 November 2011
22 Old Bond Street London W1S 4PY

Kevin Green - Place without Place

2011-10-29T14:36:00.001+01:00

Kevin Green's first solo show, Place without Place, comprises 13 works on paper derived from the artist's fictional narratives, which he bases on found images and observed elements of the City. Enticing questions about the distinctions between presentation and representation, the real and the imagined, the ordinary and the extraordinary, these drawings are blueprints for proposed moments to be inserted back into urbanity.

22 October – 21 January 2011
BuildinG Centre

Mount Pleasant Site Workshop London

2011-10-29T00:37:00.000+01:00

This group workshop with master students in architecture of Brandenburg University of Technology and unit A of Oxford Brookes University presents a unique opportunity for dialogue about reading and interpreting the city and its opportunities.

9.30 Arrival / hello + group allocation.

10.00 Introduction by Tim Rettler (Design for London)

10.30 -17.30 Workshop

Essential reading: Kevin Lynch, The image of the city

Equipment: Coloured marker pens, sketchbook, digital camera (incl. cable for uploads)

Address: Phoenix Conference Centre, Phoenix Place, WC1X 0DG
(next door to the British Postal Museum & Archive)

LINK TO MAP
LINK DfL (Design for London)
LINK BTU (Brandenburg University of Technology)

Vendôme

2011-10-27T20:58:00.002+01:00

Vendôme by Reed Kram and Clemens Weisshaar is a family of concrete stools, pedestals and tables that have been designed by a computer programme.
The idea of VENDÔME is to parametrically generate a family of objects with different typologies including stools, pedestals and tables of different height. The design is developed within and documented by a piece of software that generates an infinite number of proposals within a defined framework while flexibly reacting to changing parameters (as e.g. the height, width or depth of the object).

DEZEEN

Thu 27 Oct Tutorials + Tech

2011-10-26T10:44:00.004+01:00

Following on from Monday's pin-up here is an indicative outline what to get done by end of this week. project depending...

Finalise your brick drawing visualising all its qualities (geometric, spatial, material, etc. to appropriate scale and drawing conventions) Finalise your drawings showing variations of bonds = the relationship + opportunity between individual modules. Finaliseyour construction / assembly / components, 3d/ spatial visualisation (axo?).

-Finalise and clarify your drawing(s) showing the performance of your proposal (in use with its user & social side shown through a scenario)
- New: Produce a final close-up visualisation (collage, render or drawing) of one bond (arrangement) of of your choice. Front- on-view (elevation view) with spatial qualities (perspective?) / Scale 1:5. Minimum area covered A3 size.

-----------------
Indesign CS5 - help: As mentioned - only for who needs help with this - I will do a quick run-through of the basic functions to get you going: tomorrow after tutorials from 17:00 in studio. (15 min.)

24 10 11 Pin-Ups

2011-10-26T09:26:00.003+01:00

O.M.A. partners talk

2011-10-25T23:28:00.001+01:00

Today's talk at the Barbican between the 6 partners of O.M.A. will be available via below's link soon. (note: the photograph is authentic!)

LINK

Joseph Beuys films and discussion

2011-10-25T23:17:00.002+01:00

The Social Sculpture Research Unit and the MA and research programmes in Interdisciplinary Arts and in Social Sculpture at Oxford Brookes University are hosting the following talk:

Rainer Rappman from the Free International University publishing group in Germany:

"Every revolution begins with stupid questions"
Joseph Beuys: Ideas for Social Sculpture.

Date: Sat 29 Oct, 1 - 5 pm
Venue: Oxford Brookes University
Photography Studio, Richard Hamilton Building, Headington Hill Campus.

The talk is free for students of Oxford Brookes, friends and others could contribute £5 toward costs.

LINK

Urban Futures Seminar Series

2011-10-25T23:10:00.000+01:00

These lunchtime seminars are open events for students and staff with time for question and debate and are forming part of the Urban Futures Doctoral Training Programme. This is worth checking out and could be useful to help construct your personal critical position in respect to our social-material-spatial agenda this year.

Wed 26th Oct 12.00 - 1.30pm
Dr Karen Lucas, 'A social perspective on climate change mitigation in transport'
venue: BG10 (Buckley building)

Tue 15th Nov 12.00 - 1.30pm
Dr Tim Jones, 'Moving around the city: the future role of walking and cycling'
venue: BG11

Mon 5th Dec 12.00 - 1.30pm
Dr Mark Burgess, 'Driving into the future. Facilitators and challenges in the transition from conventional to electric vehicles'
venue: BG11

LINK TO MORE INFO

King’s College, Taunton

2011-10-25T22:51:00.002+01:00

The use a mix of four bricks and a lime mortar reflects the texture and character of the original sandstone stone walls.

AJ Buildings LIbrary

Mon 24 Oct 17:30 | Nick Green talk

2011-10-21T10:16:00.001+01:00

Nick Green is currently working for Raumlabor in Berlin; previously worked for Atelier van Lieshout, Rotterdam. He will give an informal talk to unit A exclusively, about his work experiences in-between and alongside his studies and personal investigations. He is Oxford Brookes and unit A alumnus (graduated in 2010).

in unit A studio space - Mon 24 Oct 17:30

LINK RLB
LINK AVL
LINK UTC

OxArch lecture Thu 20 Oct - Fielden Fowell Architects

2011-10-19T12:18:00.003+01:00

We suggest that you go and see this lecture on Thursday evening.

LINK

Mon 24 Oct | 10:00 Lecture (AM-session_03), then Pin-up session

2011-10-19T11:59:00.002+01:00

We will run a pin-up session on Monday - one group in the morning - one in the afternoon. You should pull together all your work over the last 4 weeks: initial observations, ideas, process work (models, sketches, etc), the social and the material, your design proposals and how it performs in context. This session is all about concluding your material and social idea/agenda with clarity, so we can move on to the next level. A3 sized reductions are OK at this stage. Key drawings bigger if necessary.

Street Talk

2011-10-18T19:30:00.001+01:00

Here is the slideshow + voice over of the recent lecture by Oliver Schulze, Director of Gehl Architects: People first – putting the public back into the public realm, that was hosted by Movement for Livable London (4th October 2011). Very relevant to the next stages of your project - public platform, etc...

LINK

Brick Factory Visit - Cattybrook Works

2011-10-07T11:31:00.003+01:00

LINK
Ibstock, Cattybrook, Over Lane, Almondsbury, Bristol, BS32 4BX

Thu 6 Oct

2011-10-05T10:57:00.003+01:00

Reading references this week:
03_Constant Nieuwenhuys: New Babylon
04_Malcolm Gladwell_Six Degrees of Lois Weisberg
05_Zygmunt Bauman: Thinking Sociologically (all available on Unit A drop box)

Please bring also last weeks' work with you + £16 for travel to brickfactory (I will collect tomorrow)

Unit A wins Ibstock Field-trip Travel Grant

2011-10-04T18:11:00.001+01:00

We are delighted to announce that Unit A has won the Ibstock travel grant this year, this will reduce the cost for each student. Please sign-up ASAP for our Madrid field-trip using the list on the studio wall (latest by Friday 14th October).

Madrid field-trip 19th Jan - 23rd Jan 2012
Provisional itinerary:
Caxia Forum, Herzog de Meuron
Madrid Barajas International Airport, Richard Rogers & Antonio Lamela
Warehouse 8b, Arturo Franco
Refurbishment of the Logrono City-Walls, Pesquera Ulargui-Arquitectos
Celosia Residence, MVRDV & Blanca lleo
El Mirador de Sanchinarro Housing, MVRDV
Villaverde Social Housing, David Chipperfield
Temporary Market, Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos
San Blas Usera Health Center, Estudio Entresitio
Eco Boulevard, ecosistema urbano Arquitectos
Carabanchel Housing, Foreign Office Architects
Prado Public Realm, Alvaro Siza & Juan Miguel Hernandez de Leon
Manzanares Park, West 8

LINK IBSTOCK

2011-10-03T23:44:00.000+01:00

Compendium for the Civic Economy

LINK

OMA/Progress

2011-10-03T21:46:00.003+01:00

OMA/Progress
6 October 2011 - 19 February 2012
Barbican Art Gallery

LINK

From Garden City to Green City

2011-10-02T19:56:00.001+01:00

This series of lectures, accompanying the exhibition From Garden City to Green City, will look at what we can learn from the past century. They will cover the shift from the ideal of every family being able to grow their own food to factory farming and back again, from the reinvention of the pleasure garden for the Festival of Britain to modern sports parks.

Brick Replacement Service

2011-10-01T20:01:00.001+01:00

LINK

Street talk - 4th Oct - Oliver Schulze (Director at Gehl Architects)

2011-10-01T18:10:00.000+01:00

'Movement for Liveable London' has invited Oliver Schulze, Director at Gehl Architects for the October talk as part of their street talk series.
People first – putting the public back into the public realm. A journey from Copenhagen to the bike lanes of LA via taco trucks, snowball fights in Times Square, surface parking lots, Starbucks and Disneyland, etc.

Upstairs at The Yorkshire Grey, 2 Theobalds Road, WC1X 8PN at 7pm (bar open from 6pm) on 4th October.

LINK

Funambulist Review

2011-09-30T12:13:00.006+01:00

Unit A student work reviewed by the Funambulist.

LINK

Day 1 - London Bonds

2011-09-28T12:26:00.006+01:00

Welcome to unit A!

We are meeting tomorrow, Thursday at the British Library at 10.00 am, where we will start our site visit.
(address is: 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB)
We will spend all day outside and will be walking all over our Mount Pleasant study area. We aim to finish by 16.30.

Please bring with you: Pen, sketchbook, tape measure, camera, A-Z / GPS equivalent

We have e-mailed you two texts, which you should read in preparation of tomorrow.

-------------
Ways to get there:

-If you are on the Oxford Espress, get off at Baker Street, and take the Circle, Metropolitan or City & Hammersmith Line towards King's Cross St. Pancras.
(journey time approx 10 mins) - or get one of many busses from Baker st, 30, 205, etc...

-if you are on the Oxford Tube, you can get off at Marble Arch, catch the Central line up to Oxford Circus, change to Victoria line towards, King's Cross St. Pancras (journey time approx 25 mins)

http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk

Back to the Streets

2011-09-25T22:08:00.001+01:00

Domus Article

40 Titles for New Architecture Students

2011-08-05T21:21:00.001+01:00

by Juhani Pallasmaa

Complicit Infrastructures Magazine

2011-06-01T13:13:00.008+01:00

A magazine collecting student projects and study trips undertaken by Unit A, Undergraduate BA design studio at Oxford Brookes University, School of Architecture 2010-11.

LINK TO PREVIEW
LINK TO BUY

Teams & action

2011-05-18T12:22:00.002+01:00

Exhibition Teams

2011-05-10T08:15:00.002+01:00

next meeting Tue 17 May 5pm

Mon 9 May, 5pm - end of year exhibition meeting

2011-05-04T15:53:00.002+01:00

We ask the whole unit A to attend our "planning the end of year exhibition chat" at 5pm on Monday 9th May in Unit A space.
Know you will be all relieved and enjoying the sunshine - but this last stage of the year is essential so please be on time.

We also ask you all to come in a white shirt / t-shirt. It will all make sense on the evening.

See you then
Carsten + Colin

Pina at Phoenix

2011-04-25T23:01:00.001+01:00

It's an immensely attractive film that uses 3D interestingly to create theatrical space and it makes one want to learn more about Bausch and the development of her art. I most enjoyed a piece in which the company, wearing lounge suits and full-length dresses, process around a theatre, then along the rim of an abandoned quarry to Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five's version of "West End Blues". FILM SET IN THE COLLERIES OF RUHR VALLEY...

LINK HERE
GUARDIAN REVIEW

RIP IT UP AND START AGAIN

2011-04-16T14:58:00.001+01:00

This series was curated by Robert Mull and Kieran Long of London Met Architecture and Spatial Design to place the work of the school in relation to broader debates about the city. The lecture series ran contemporaneously with political and economic shifts, and the website will provide a living archive of the lecture series. You will find transcripts, recordings, and presentations from the lectures and the follow up events.

ASD LINK HERE

Stirling

2011-04-12T13:59:00.001+01:00

James Stirling: Notes from the Archive
5 April – 21 August 2011

"It is eighteen years since James Stirling’s death, and he is long due a retrospective exhibition. Given his close association with Tate, in the form of the Clore Gallery and Tate Liverpool, Tate Britain is an especially appropriate place to review his work. This exhibition, curated by the renowned architectural writer Anthony Vidler, draws on the Stirling archive held at the Canadian Centre for Architecture in Montreal. It will be presented in the Clore Gallery, designed by Stirling and opened in 1987. Unfashionable at the time, it, like its designer, is the subject of renewed interest and appreciation. The exhibition will cover the whole of Stirling’s career, from the iconic Engineering Building of 1959 at Leicester University through to the late 1990s, including built and unbuilt projects, drawings, photographs and furniture."

TATE LINK HERE

important upcoming dates

2011-03-23T11:49:00.004Z

Please note following important dates for the next weeks:

Thu 28th April: PORTFOLIO TUTORIAL (CJ+CP)

Mon 2nd May: Bankholiday - no tutorials

Thu 5th May: Y2 SUBMISSION

Mon 9th May: Y3 SUBMISSION

This is Whitechapel

2011-03-15T21:25:00.003Z

Much like today, east London in the 1970s was undergoing rapid social and economic change. The Whitechapel Gallery commissioned Magnum photographer Ian Berry, to document this period of transition. He captured a now distant history of iconic local landmarks, such as Bloom’s kosher restaurant, the Blind Beggar pub, Brick Lane and Petticoat Lane markets and the people who lived in Whitechapel and Spitalfields.

LINK WHITECHAPEL GALLERY

Adolf Loos

2011-03-15T21:05:00.003Z

The RIBA have organised a series of exhibitions, talks and events remembering Adolf Loos's work. As his writing in 'Ornamnet against crime' was our theoretical point of departure this year, we recommend to have a look next time you are in London.

Learning to Dwell: Adolf Loos in the Czech Lands
24 February 2011 - 03 May 2011

LINK RIBA EXHIBITION
LINK RIBA ADOLF LOOS SEASON

PARTICIPANTS WANTED ON MONDAY EVENING

2011-03-06T22:14:00.002Z

You are invited to take part in a live performance at Modern Art Oxford, conceived by renowned Slovakian artist Roman Ondák, on Monday 7 March 6-7pm. The performance will be filmed and screened as part of Ondák’s forthcoming exhibition at the Gallery, Roman Ondák: Time Capsule (12 March – 20 May 2011).

DO IT UNIT A!!! SERIOUSLY - I WOULD IF WERE IN TOWN...

Fill out the form here - MOMA OXFORD LINK

Bunker

2011-02-24T15:15:00.001Z

For this exhibition, entitled 'Bunker', Hatoum has transformed the gallery spaces into sites of heightened tension, where global geographies are abstracted and condensed, and themes of mobility, belonging and displacement are explored through three new artworks.

25 Feb—2 Apr 2011
Mason's Yard

WHITE CUBE LINK

Observe Concrete Making

2011-02-02T11:44:00.004Z

Mark Austin and Ray Salter will run concrete workshops (casting cubes, etc.) at the concrete lab with Construction Management students in weeks 2-6, every Tuesday from 14:00-15:00 hrs. Jane has negotiated the opportunity for us (5 students at a time) to observe the process. Please sign-up using the list which will be up in the studio on Thursday.

This is obligatory as part of Technology. Be equipped (camera,etc.) and make most use out of this. In case you are inspired after watching this and would like to do individual casts/test/details later on, Ray offered to assist you (despite being very busy this semester).

Mass models by Oda Pälmke

2011-02-01T18:48:00.006Z

Y3 Technology Preview - now on Thu 17 Feb

2011-02-01T10:32:00.004Z

Please note following date change, due to clashing diaries:
The Y3 Technology Previews are now happening on Thu 17 February (instead of the Mon 14th)
See module hand-book for requirements for this (crit-style) event.

Y2+Y3: For the next Tech-tutorials (Mon 7 Feb), please bring in (on paper) your strategy (= outline / pragmatics / principles) for 1. structure, 2. materiality and 3. environmental considerations.

Tutorials in Semester 2

2011-01-25T17:44:00.003Z

This semester Carsten and Colin will be conducting separate tutorials to give you all more time.
To assist with this we are going to pair you all up for the sessions - so that one can be the scribe for the other - meaning you can focus on the discussion in hand. This is a trial - and will probably evolve - and will hopefully mean there will be no excuses on what is expected for the following session.

As a consequence - each of you will only see Colin every TWO weeks - so it is essential you upload images to the blog to enable him to look at the work and pass comment to Carsten for your tutorial. The work doesn't have to be 'finished' as it can be removed later - but it is very important to UPLOAD. So don't forget and catch up with uploads No.2 + No.3

Field-trip: List of Buildings

2011-01-25T17:34:00.004Z

LIEGE:
Liege-Guillemins railway station, Santiago Calatrava

ESSEN:
Zeche Zollverein (shaft XII), Fritz Schupp / Martin Kremmer
Masterplan Zeche Zollverein + Ruhr Museum, OMA
SANAA Building, SANAA
Palace of Projects, Ilya / Emilia Kabakov
Music Theatre, Alvar Aalto
St. Engelbert Church, Dominikus Böhm
Folkwang Museum, David Chipperfield

NEVIGES:
Mariendom Neviges, Gottfried Böhm

COLOGNE:
Cathedral (+ window by Gerhard Richter)
Museum for Applied Arts, Rudolf Schwarz
Romano-Germanic Museum, Klaus Renner / Heinz Röcke
Museum Ludwig, Peter Busmann / Godfrid Haberer
Cologne Central Mosque, Paul Böhm
Kolumba Museum, Peter Zumthor
Office Building G75, Schilling Architekten

DUISBURG:
Landscape Park Nord, 1999 Latz & Partners
MKM Museum Küppersmühle, Herzog & de Meuron

KREFELD:
Haus Lange & Haus Esters, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

Sketch Model - 06

2010-12-22T00:43:00.003Z

Claude Parent - Villa Oblique... 3d sketch model + 3d sketch visualisation
There is also an implicit understanding of his material palette through curvature... thickness...
INTERVIEW

Sketch Model - 05

2010-12-22T00:26:00.003Z

3d modelling can be a framework - exploration of material etc - but it is supported with 2d and 3d testing...
Wes Jones LINK

Sketch Model - 04

2010-12-22T00:14:00.004Z

from: vincentderijk
2009-01
O.M.A TPA model

Specific models for specific tasks... lighting.. views... windows... fragments...
Link

Sketch Model - 03

2010-12-22T00:04:00.002Z

Shauna Jin - found this - a good example of assembling tonal but texturally different materials to configure layered and humane architectures...

link

Sketch Model - 02

2010-12-21T23:41:00.002Z

The Merzbau, a series of rooms full of found items arranged by Kurt Schwitters.
An example of 1:1 partial making to experiment with the nature of space... this project was destroyed in the war and was reconstructed using only the photographs...

Sketch Model - 01

2010-12-21T23:24:00.003Z

Artist Lynda Gammon produces work that evoke space. physicality. time. sequence.
She uses found materials to achieve a layered and multifaceted space...

A good example of sketch modelling intuitively about your own spaces ... following a route through the space etc.

LINK

RUDOLF CSI

2010-12-20T13:47:00.008Z

Seasons Best to All

ARMOURED DWELLING

2010-12-20T13:37:00.003Z

I'm sure most people have seen this but for those that haven't. Symbolic but defensive.

http://www.dezeen.com/2010/12/17/vostok-cabin-by-atelier-van-lieshout/#more-108389

Surveillance Blog

2010-12-18T16:09:00.001Z

somewhereintheworld

uploads No. 2 and 3

2010-12-17T13:46:00.000Z

Please action ASAP the two uploads we asked you to do:
(A good opportunity to conclude your thoughts / proposals of this semester in order to move on / evolve in sem2)

No2:
'forensic anatomy' = your key individual site observation that reveals a conflict and opportunity within the Aldgate context (based on your personal mapping)

No3:
'building envelope' = a view of your building envelope in context

10 hills place

2010-12-15T19:49:00.001Z

LINK

Solar IV

2010-12-11T23:20:00.003Z

"Solar Ivy is a solar energy system whose design reflects the natural growth of ivy on building and in nature. Flexible, modular, and customizable, Solar Ivy can be used in conjunction with traditional solar panels or independently to meet the demands of a wide spectrum of energy needs. "
LINK

Drawing material

2010-12-11T23:09:00.002Z

Unfolded elevations with only the facts/known drawn to highlight the effect...
LINK

Lead

2010-12-11T23:02:00.001Z

NON Sign...
LINK

form of the erased building

2010-12-11T22:57:00.003Z

"All architectural elements except the scaffolding were removed from the photograph of a building under renovation. The result is an autonomous “drawing“, which suggests the form of the erased building. The scaffolding, normally a temporary urban structure, was retained whereas the building, a permanent urban structure, was eliminated."

LINK

Universita Luigi Bocconi, Milan, Italy

2010-12-11T22:56:00.003Z

this is a real imag e- not a render...
LINK

thinness

2010-12-11T22:29:00.003Z

Henegan Peng Architects
aras-chill-dara

Wansey Colour - A POSITIVE ACTION IN THE CITY

2010-12-11T22:20:00.001Z

MATERIALS
Concrete, fibrous cement mock timber boards, glass louvres
DRMM - Wansey Street
LINK

Dusk

2010-12-11T22:17:00.001Z

Time...
Low Cost Housing - Silvertown
Niall Mclaughlin
LINK

Mind Zone

2010-12-11T22:06:00.003Z

Drawing imagined reality / Reality Built...
LINK

Home Delivery - Prefabrication / component technology

2010-12-11T21:56:00.002Z

HOME DELIVERY

Liquid Wall

2010-12-11T21:53:00.001Z

Liquid Wall Prototype for Innovate:Integrate Exhibition from arbuckle industries on Vimeo.

New Gallery

2010-12-11T21:26:00.003Z

Image: Charlotte Baker
Dainow and Dainow

Stunning Drawing...

2010-12-11T20:55:00.001Z

jørn utzon, jeddah stadium, saudi arabia 1967

Delicate Mayhem

2010-12-09T15:19:00.002Z

Illustrator who composites city narratives...
LINK HERE

Thu 9 Dec - Portfolio Tutorials

2010-12-08T11:33:00.007Z

Please bring your entire portfolio (in order) with you on Thursday. A3 size is fine, even b&w)

However:
For the portfolio cross crits next week your portfolio need to be printed at original size = A2 (plus digital copy on CD)

Blog:
Please remember to upload the two posts to the complicit blog today by 3pm.

betonbabe tumblr

2010-12-05T00:08:00.002Z

image: BÜRGERHAUS SINDLINGEN, 1960/61

A
BERLIN/PRINCETON
BASED
BLOG
COLLECTING
LOST&FOUND PIECES
OF
ARCHITECTURE/
URBANISM/
ART/
DESIGN/

tumblr

New City Reader... series

2010-12-04T23:56:00.001Z

LINK