Michael Graves on Drawing

"Drawing is a magical act, filled with passion. You must draw all the time, even if you don't draw well. It helps you to analyze and to remember."-Michael Graves, upon receiving the 2012 Richard H. Driehaus Prize during a March 24th Ceremony in Chicago. (also in the 05/2012 edition of Architectural Record)

"Architecture is the will of an epoch translated into space." -Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

"Architecture is not a form; Architecture houses a life."-Jody Brown, Coffee With an Architect

The contextual excerpt:

"No one is excited about the program of a building. No one cares about the materiality of the forms. No one thinks about the building systems. No one really loses sleep over the cost of a building. No one remembers the difficulty we traversed during the process of design. Everyone forgot the 2 week delay, No one is interested in the references we made, and no one remembers the speech you made about balance and harmony at the city council meeting. But, everyone remembers the folding chair they sat in to watch their son or daughter graduate kindergarten and middle school and high school and college. Everyone remembers their first job interview; their wedding day; or the 10 days in ICU after the birth of their 3rd son; or the first time they noticed their Grandmother’s fading memory; or looking into your future wife’s eyes at 2am and slowly brushing her hair out of her eyes and seeing a path that leads to the rest of your life. Architecture is not a form; Architecture houses a life."

See the full article here.

See-Through Touch-Screen Renderer, as found on Dornob.com

IRIS currently has a tablet in pre-production that will change the dynamic of design dramatically. Inventions and innovations like this make me even more excited about the future of design capabilities. In an instant you can scan an image, scale it or draft an addition then show it in 3D against the backdrop of the existing space.

See the full article here
or Watch the IRIS promo video here on YOUTUBE

Extreme Architectural Jewelry

Sometimes you just have to throw subtlety out the window in favor of an intensified theme. Here I present to you stunning and unquestionably architectural jewelry. Enjoy:)

by Joshua Demonte, more here

cufflinks by Creative MetalWorks

rings by Sevan Bickaki for Namesake Jewelre

ionic column capital cufflinks by Museumize

The Bird's nest, by Herzog and De Meuron, as interpreted by Hearts On Fire

by Plastique

by jewellery.com/manhattan

Food as Architecture

Today I decided to delve into the world of food as it relates to architecture. Now, if you're like me, when you think architectural food you think gingerbread houses or crazy cake sculptures from various Food Network challenges. However, there are many mediums and varieties of food as architecture. Enjoy!

[Cookie] City by Song Dong

Chinese artist Song Dong uses various cookies, crackers, marshmallows and baked ingredients to form edible cities.

Another city by Song Dong, this time with candy, donuts and colored icings as well as cookies and crackers.

Falling Water  (gingerbread)

organic layers carved from a honeydew

"Edible Beijing"

Jell-O.

Cake Mondrian (which I know isn't technically architectural, but it's cool:D)

baby gingerbread house by Not Martha

Building "essentials": chocolate nuts, bolts, screws and legos

Essentially, there are two different takes on food as architecture: food that looks like architecture or that contains some type of structural element, and architecture inspired by food.

Various Buildings inspired by food

The latter was most popular during the first half of the 20th century, mostly housing diners, drive-ins, ice cream and donut shoppes. Recently, these kitschy fruit inspired structures have been turning up in japan:

These fun stops come in nearly all fruit varieties (melon, strawberry, orange, pineapple, etc.).

While these examples are all very literal, it is important to realize that most buildings which take their inspiration from food may develop nicknames based on their shape, texture, etc. (i.e. "the Pickle" by Jean Nouvel).

refreshing architectural finds (on etsy.com)

As an architecture student, I find myself looking for additional design/architectural representations in new and different places. Here are just a few gems I found today [on etsy.com]. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did! :)

for sale here

for sale here

for sale here

for sale here

for sale here

for sale here

for sale here

for sale here

for sale here

for sale here

for sale here

for sale here

Architectural Tattoos

I love to see Architecture as it relates to other works of art and all walks of life, so I looked around for some Architecture Tattoos. Below are some of the better of what I found:

I think at some point I will want a tattoo that relates to architecture in some form or fashion but I haven't decided where or what it will be. (It's not like I don't have a lifetime to decide...)

And because this is an architectural blog, here are some tattoos for buildings:

:)

AutoDesk Software for Students

I am increasingly excited by the Autodesk Community's Decision to increase the 30 day student editions of various software such as REVIT 2011, AUTOCAD, MAYA, and a variety of other programs to a 3-year license. Please feel free to take advantage of this opportunity to bolster your technological experience and gain a competitive edge over other architects who may be in your job pool.

The AutoDesk community has also included video tutorials in order to aid in your potential success with their programs.

Rendering capability with Revit Architecture, LOCHSA ENGINEERING, SKYWALK

One of the biggest perks of Revit is the rendering capability. That, and you can draw fewer lines and achieve the same or a more advanced version of your typical CAD drawings. As a newbie to Revit, I still prefer the Autocad commands, but I am getting used to the software slowly but surely and am excited to add yet another program to my resume. 

Good luck, fellow classmates, as our first Revit project of the semester is due Wednesday!

COPIC MARKERS - solohome (SPEEDDRAWING)

Hello! I was browsing YouTube today and found a quick rendering example using watercolors, ink and my favorite, COPIC Markers, which I found to be particularly relevant to my current design studio project. Right now, we are experimenting with coloring floorplans, elevations and sections using Prismacolor pencils, but any rendering skills are invaluable, especially when considering things to put into your portfolio.

...paved with the best of intentions

First off, let me begin by saying that in no way am I pretending that my views, thoughts, or opinions are ultimately profound, but I do believe there are beautiful things in the world that many of us never have the chance (or time) to uncover on our own, and that we may or may not benefit from seeing them. With that said, I intend to utilize this blog as a method of researching certain topics I think might help other Architecture students, as well as uncover new tools, methods, and creations of myself and others.

Today I found some wonderful works of art I think should be shared:

 

"Allusion" by Yellena on Etsy.com

"Carry On" by Audrey Kawasaki

"The Dark World Without" by Jeannie Paske

"Fox and Frog" by Lulabies

 and, because this will primarily be an architecturally-oriented page:

"Blomfield Street" by John Walsom

I also must confess that I may or may not have time to adequately update this blog, but am starting out with the very best of intentions. Enjoy!