Panorama from the Cathedral roof looking West
Monday, 29 March 2010
Sunday, 28 March 2010
A 3 hour coach trip east of Vienna will take to Budapest, the Hungarian capital set along the Danube. We had a great few dasy there this weekend, myself, Jeremy from France and Ville from Finland. Our Hungarian friend Lazlow showed us round one evening ... with sex bars, student skate parks and the remnants of a communist block on full display.
Budapest is a fab place, with one side of the city upon the hillside and the other on a plain. It is similar to Vienna in that it has a similar river side layout, with 5 - 7 storey blocks and public squares. Photos ....
Budapest is a fab place, with one side of the city upon the hillside and the other on a plain. It is similar to Vienna in that it has a similar river side layout, with 5 - 7 storey blocks and public squares. Photos ....
Thursday, 25 March 2010
OK, a small crisis of identity ...
I met Will Alsop on Tuesday afternoon, in a hazy upstairs office of the Design School, with about 19 other eager but wary students, on officialy the first day of spring. We sat, all quiet, encapsulated at the amount of cigarettes he smoked, and listened intentedly at every word. I was about 1 of 3 that weren't taking notes ... to me it seemed that if you had time to write, then you didn't have time to listen and take it all in.
We went through the usual 'I'm blah and I'm from blah' routine before he reeled off about 7 or 8 completely different strategies for the rejuvination of La Touquet Paris Plage, the coastal town in Northern France which we have been asked to look at. He mentioned his own version of the scheme, with the usual colourful blobs on legs, but also suggested that we look at the demographic and the current reasons for people going there.
It struck me then, that even Alsops artistic endeavours of colour and form, are completely outweighed by his love of people. People in general, from any part of the culture he designs in. This, coupled with the common criticism of Alsops contempory, Lord Foster, who often it seems designs for the aerospace technology and not the people, leaves me somewhat altered in my perspective of what we are supposed to be doing as architects.
Of course with this in mind it doesn't matter what the buildings look like, or how they come together - its purely about 'life' and the people that inhabit them. Architecture is NOTHING without people, as obvious as that sounds. But I do think it is commonly forgotten or passed over, because the emphasis in most designers mind is, you know: light, texture, the forms, the views ... and not, as Will put it - "... being able to just sit somewhere and do nothing ... that is the measure of success of a place ... people like looking at other people". I'd never thought about things like that before ...
Another smack around the face was with another Prof. of Architecture, this time Dr. Kari Jormakka, a Finnish professor of theory and philosophy. One of his units is called 'Practical Reasons for Architecture' and covers angles such as commerce, art-subsidy and public understanding of art. When lecturing on the failings of a sculpture in the US, I immediatley thought of my father, whom, when I accompanied him to the Tate Modern once, just shrugged his shoulders and went 'pnahh!' at a prize Mondrian (even after I explained about the De Stijl and the context of the painting etc...).
There is a test that I would normally fail, I believe, when placing my schemes or ideas in front of the 'lay' person. For the philosophical imperative and ideolgoical impetus would just be shrugged at if the proposal failed register on simple terms. Again - architecture is NOTHING without people.
So this crisis of identity I feel (slightly) is because I'm leaning lessons about the most basic things and hence feel that I should carry this sub-level of enquiry into the reasons why I am studying this subject anyway. Since being here I have not established a routine nor lived in any fashion similar to that of the UK. This finally reminds me of a conversation with one of the tutors in Portsmouth, Greg Bailey, who's footsteps, it appears, I am tracing.
When Greg came to Vienna on Exchange, about 10 years ago, he recalled feeling the same - he kind of warned us before we left. He said that when we would get back to the UK we would argue more with our tutors and question everything put in front of us. I'm not sure if I am looking forward to this - as I think I do too much of this already as it is.
Perhaps I should not pre-empt the position I may hold on return to the UK, and should just continue to enjoy my time here... I'll put up some images of 'first-moves' for the Alsop design unit as soon as they arrive ....
I met Will Alsop on Tuesday afternoon, in a hazy upstairs office of the Design School, with about 19 other eager but wary students, on officialy the first day of spring. We sat, all quiet, encapsulated at the amount of cigarettes he smoked, and listened intentedly at every word. I was about 1 of 3 that weren't taking notes ... to me it seemed that if you had time to write, then you didn't have time to listen and take it all in.
We went through the usual 'I'm blah and I'm from blah' routine before he reeled off about 7 or 8 completely different strategies for the rejuvination of La Touquet Paris Plage, the coastal town in Northern France which we have been asked to look at. He mentioned his own version of the scheme, with the usual colourful blobs on legs, but also suggested that we look at the demographic and the current reasons for people going there.
It struck me then, that even Alsops artistic endeavours of colour and form, are completely outweighed by his love of people. People in general, from any part of the culture he designs in. This, coupled with the common criticism of Alsops contempory, Lord Foster, who often it seems designs for the aerospace technology and not the people, leaves me somewhat altered in my perspective of what we are supposed to be doing as architects.
Of course with this in mind it doesn't matter what the buildings look like, or how they come together - its purely about 'life' and the people that inhabit them. Architecture is NOTHING without people, as obvious as that sounds. But I do think it is commonly forgotten or passed over, because the emphasis in most designers mind is, you know: light, texture, the forms, the views ... and not, as Will put it - "... being able to just sit somewhere and do nothing ... that is the measure of success of a place ... people like looking at other people". I'd never thought about things like that before ...
Another smack around the face was with another Prof. of Architecture, this time Dr. Kari Jormakka, a Finnish professor of theory and philosophy. One of his units is called 'Practical Reasons for Architecture' and covers angles such as commerce, art-subsidy and public understanding of art. When lecturing on the failings of a sculpture in the US, I immediatley thought of my father, whom, when I accompanied him to the Tate Modern once, just shrugged his shoulders and went 'pnahh!' at a prize Mondrian (even after I explained about the De Stijl and the context of the painting etc...).
There is a test that I would normally fail, I believe, when placing my schemes or ideas in front of the 'lay' person. For the philosophical imperative and ideolgoical impetus would just be shrugged at if the proposal failed register on simple terms. Again - architecture is NOTHING without people.
So this crisis of identity I feel (slightly) is because I'm leaning lessons about the most basic things and hence feel that I should carry this sub-level of enquiry into the reasons why I am studying this subject anyway. Since being here I have not established a routine nor lived in any fashion similar to that of the UK. This finally reminds me of a conversation with one of the tutors in Portsmouth, Greg Bailey, who's footsteps, it appears, I am tracing.
When Greg came to Vienna on Exchange, about 10 years ago, he recalled feeling the same - he kind of warned us before we left. He said that when we would get back to the UK we would argue more with our tutors and question everything put in front of us. I'm not sure if I am looking forward to this - as I think I do too much of this already as it is.
Perhaps I should not pre-empt the position I may hold on return to the UK, and should just continue to enjoy my time here... I'll put up some images of 'first-moves' for the Alsop design unit as soon as they arrive ....
Sunday, 21 March 2010
Well, another week or 2 in Vienna since the last post ...
Niall and myself have gotten our work schedules almost totally sorted, apart from a glitch with the TUWIS system (the online course signup method employed by the school). This is with the Will Alsop unit set in France, we haven't met him yet so we need to clarify this on Tuesday, so that he can agree to take us on, like Yoda and Skywalker in the swamp. Sort of...
We have done some pre-work on this project, including some outline history and a site plan, all actioned 'at risk'. We've also had some great lectures in theory, and have covered very contemporary issues including pragmatism and fame. And film too, Bride of Frankenstein already covered ... Bladerunner to come. In all a completely different experience of education to that in the UK.
We've also discovered a tiny Arch. practice round the corner from the flat, but I've not had the chance to pop in for a chat. Still can't find a gym cheaper than 100 euros a month, but the swimming pool at the Amalienbad is great - a 1920's indoor swimming baths with retractable roof. And the Praderstern Park has opened for the Spring/Summer season, meaning that the bizarrely defunct ferris wheels and rollercoasters across the street from us are now in full swing... reminding me of the opening scenes of the Lost Boys film - 1980's vampires and nightlit funfairs.
The Anglo-French rugby match was a disappointment - primarily because it was a naff game, but also because my attempt to get a Finnishman, a Dutchman and a Romainian into rugby failed dismally. So we're sticking with frisbee for now.
So as soon as I've done more work, I'll pin it up on the blog, but at the mo its not much to look at ... will hopefully be really busy in about a week or so. Then I'll be on the case for Easter, and back to the UK for a week as well. Till then ..
Niall and myself have gotten our work schedules almost totally sorted, apart from a glitch with the TUWIS system (the online course signup method employed by the school). This is with the Will Alsop unit set in France, we haven't met him yet so we need to clarify this on Tuesday, so that he can agree to take us on, like Yoda and Skywalker in the swamp. Sort of...
We have done some pre-work on this project, including some outline history and a site plan, all actioned 'at risk'. We've also had some great lectures in theory, and have covered very contemporary issues including pragmatism and fame. And film too, Bride of Frankenstein already covered ... Bladerunner to come. In all a completely different experience of education to that in the UK.
We've also discovered a tiny Arch. practice round the corner from the flat, but I've not had the chance to pop in for a chat. Still can't find a gym cheaper than 100 euros a month, but the swimming pool at the Amalienbad is great - a 1920's indoor swimming baths with retractable roof. And the Praderstern Park has opened for the Spring/Summer season, meaning that the bizarrely defunct ferris wheels and rollercoasters across the street from us are now in full swing... reminding me of the opening scenes of the Lost Boys film - 1980's vampires and nightlit funfairs.
The Anglo-French rugby match was a disappointment - primarily because it was a naff game, but also because my attempt to get a Finnishman, a Dutchman and a Romainian into rugby failed dismally. So we're sticking with frisbee for now.
So as soon as I've done more work, I'll pin it up on the blog, but at the mo its not much to look at ... will hopefully be really busy in about a week or so. Then I'll be on the case for Easter, and back to the UK for a week as well. Till then ..
Monday, 15 March 2010
Sunday, 14 March 2010
Saturday, 13 March 2010
Right, some serious stuff now ...
Despite a dismal forecast, we took a quick visit to the Outer city cemetery called the 'Zentralfriedhof', where over 3 million people are interred! Its Europes second largest cemetery and has some famous 'inhabitants', including Beethoven, Struass (I and II) and Brahms.
Saturday, 6 March 2010
Just entered this competition to redesign the Cathedral in Antwerp. This tower mimics the expressed structure of Gothic grammar, but allows lift shafts and stairwells to intersect viewing platforms. At the top a contemporary bell system rings out across the city, and visitors can view the whole of Antwerp 70 metres up.
Friday, 5 March 2010
Well...
The city is beautiful, the people glamorous, the food fantastic and the Erasmus Exchange network well organised and full of things to do. The general quality of life is great, and I'm genuinely enjoying it all. Brilliant transport infrastructure, a wealth of culture and history and some great new people that I have met all add to the experience.
However...
Studying Architecture here in Vienna is proving a tad tougher than I'd previously thought. This is mainly due to a lack of a central administrative process for students at our University (TUWien) and therefore a mad rush of running around and banging down doors to get what we want/need.
Niall and I have found ourselves acting more 'British' since arriving here, slowing down our speech so that other europeans can better their english, but generally enforcing the stereotypical english gentry. Our attempts to learn German are coming on ok, though most people want to talk in english as they've perhaps not had the opportunity to talk to a UK citizen before ... so for them its a kind of test.
We have not started work yet - that begins next week with some lectures about 'Gesellschaft' which means Society, and the implications of architecture and sociolgical conditions. Blinder!
We have (hopefully) muscled our way into the Will Alsop design unit, a rejuvination of a French coastal resort, which should be 'a laugh' (something Alsop might say himself).
So once things start rolling here it should be really good. But the lack of organisation or co-hesion between institutions in the school has tested us. The school of Architecture in Portsmouth is brilliantly organised compared to here.
But that leads me to a conclusion that I'd thought I'd never make - namely that the freedom of the artistic subject we engage in when studying Architecture is actually a healthy provision, that, at least here in Vienna, extends outside the bounds of the subject matter. In other words, the lack of organisation that Naill and I are used to is perhaps a 'limiter' to our education. To be controlled so much is perhaps detrimental to our creativity, and thus the two of us can learn heck of a lot from the relaxed nature that a European institution offers.
Students of Architecture here qualify at a snails pace compared to the UK, taking up to 15 years to do so, working in practice as they go. You pick your own credit valued subjects, determine your own level of commitment and essentially, 'walk your own line'. Do these students develop into their own people more than us, in the UK; who endure a shorter but more intense period of education.
I think, and have been told over and over again, that this 'game' takes time - to learn, master, develop your own methods and eventually realise your potential. So why do we hammer through our education, expecting a salary and the exact know-how after a relatively short time? Tis weird ....
More photos/sketches soon.
The city is beautiful, the people glamorous, the food fantastic and the Erasmus Exchange network well organised and full of things to do. The general quality of life is great, and I'm genuinely enjoying it all. Brilliant transport infrastructure, a wealth of culture and history and some great new people that I have met all add to the experience.
However...
Studying Architecture here in Vienna is proving a tad tougher than I'd previously thought. This is mainly due to a lack of a central administrative process for students at our University (TUWien) and therefore a mad rush of running around and banging down doors to get what we want/need.
Niall and I have found ourselves acting more 'British' since arriving here, slowing down our speech so that other europeans can better their english, but generally enforcing the stereotypical english gentry. Our attempts to learn German are coming on ok, though most people want to talk in english as they've perhaps not had the opportunity to talk to a UK citizen before ... so for them its a kind of test.
We have not started work yet - that begins next week with some lectures about 'Gesellschaft' which means Society, and the implications of architecture and sociolgical conditions. Blinder!
We have (hopefully) muscled our way into the Will Alsop design unit, a rejuvination of a French coastal resort, which should be 'a laugh' (something Alsop might say himself).
So once things start rolling here it should be really good. But the lack of organisation or co-hesion between institutions in the school has tested us. The school of Architecture in Portsmouth is brilliantly organised compared to here.
But that leads me to a conclusion that I'd thought I'd never make - namely that the freedom of the artistic subject we engage in when studying Architecture is actually a healthy provision, that, at least here in Vienna, extends outside the bounds of the subject matter. In other words, the lack of organisation that Naill and I are used to is perhaps a 'limiter' to our education. To be controlled so much is perhaps detrimental to our creativity, and thus the two of us can learn heck of a lot from the relaxed nature that a European institution offers.
Students of Architecture here qualify at a snails pace compared to the UK, taking up to 15 years to do so, working in practice as they go. You pick your own credit valued subjects, determine your own level of commitment and essentially, 'walk your own line'. Do these students develop into their own people more than us, in the UK; who endure a shorter but more intense period of education.
I think, and have been told over and over again, that this 'game' takes time - to learn, master, develop your own methods and eventually realise your potential. So why do we hammer through our education, expecting a salary and the exact know-how after a relatively short time? Tis weird ....
More photos/sketches soon.
Thursday, 4 March 2010
Wednesday, 3 March 2010
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
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