reality check

arch-peace news and articles: In the fantasy world of reconstruction let’s try calling a spade a spade

2010-04-10T17:53:00.002+10:00

arch-peace news and articles: In the fantasy world of reconstruction let’s try calling a spade a spade

"The notion of reconstruction is complex and involves careful planning of the stages that will comprise at least immediate emergency solutions and then permanent reconstruction. Planning involves a thorough knowledge of the areas in questions. The staging needs to be conceived in a manner that facilitates a smooth transition from one stage of the process to the next. Unfortunately this is not easy to achieve and as I saw in Managua, Nicaragua almost three decades after the earthquake, inappropriate planning can later prevent the implementation of permanent solutions. For instance..." Read here.

arch-peace news and articles: Please use, digest, transfer, re-use, THEN recycle

2009-07-14T20:53:00.001+10:00

arch-peace news and articles: Please use, digest, transfer, re-use, THEN recycle

building ecologies yui + flynn

2009-06-05T14:50:00.004+10:00

Environmental sustainability is currently regarded as a critical issue to be addressed in architectural practice. Whilst the issue of sustainability pertains to a wide field of areas ranging from the technical to socio-political, the prevalent approach – evidenced by the numerous energy assessment tools available – appears to define sustainability as a measurable entity, defined narrowly within the parameters of a building’s sustainable technologies. Whilst the understanding and development of these technologies is important in a move towards a sustainable built environment, it seems to overlook the inherent problem which exists today: the social inertia towards environmental sustainability. Furthermore, it may be argued that over-emphasis on a building’s sustainable technologies has the potential to cultivate a mentality that technology will ‘take care of it’, resulting in a loss of responsibility over our own actions.

The underlying problem in this approach seems to be the lack of acknowledgement that buildings would not exist without its inhabitants; where are the users in these definitions of sustainability? How can we incorporate the use of such technologies where appropriate, without undermining the intelligence, capability, and contribution of the users themselves? Rather than investing sustainability into measurable objects reliant on technology, can we inject
sustainability into the processes of a building’s wider ecology?

Perhaps the imperative is in the need to ask where the knowledge or value is invested. In sustainable building technologies and materials, the innovation and sustainable value is contained within the physical object. As such, the knowledge or value dies with the building, leaving behind no knowledge or value to be inherited by the users or future. If sustainability can extend beyond the physical building, its value can also be carried to further boundaries. It is about investing sustainability not into technologies, but into the people and processes, that will allow it to evolve and be passed on to future generations. Embodied through users and process, a building’s sustainability becomes more than an object or product, but an ecology. In achieving such social sustainability, sustainability can be embedded into our intuitive or routine actions, with the potential to be taken and evolved in future generations.

Below, we examine how interaction with a building’s greater ecology can be facilitated and manifested
by these processes

Reality and the Perceived Future in Architectural Decision Making

2009-06-04T14:05:00.010+10:00

Here are my 6 A3 sheets which acted as support material for my submitted essay.

Abstract
This report seeks to investigate the role of reality and the perception of the 'perfect future' (utopia) in Architectural problem solving and decision making. It will evaluate a historical example (Le Corbusier's Ville Radieuse) in this light, which will be measured against the housing tenement blocks that are considered to be the result of Corbusier's proposals.

Finally, it will investigate the recently completed K2 Apartments by DesignInc in order to establish the role of the perceived future and reality in the modern context of architectural decision making. From this it is hoped that some basic lessons can be learnt about the decision making process in an Architectural context.

The Role of pLAY in Design

2009-06-03T23:15:00.001+10:00

Justin & George's study of the Role of pLAY in Design

Publish at Scribd or explore others: ed2009 assignments

Is Creativity required in the making of sustainable architecture

2009-06-03T16:05:00.006+10:00

What we are suggesting here is that the answer to the topic is open-ended. Everyone is working within his/her own reality. And each individual is creative as long as they are facing the reality because reality imposes external constraints, which then stimulates the creativity.

And to be creative, one has to be prepared, to take in knowledge in their field as much as they can, in order to maximise the probability of creativity.

Final Presentation - "Role of Street in Residential Complex"

2009-06-03T15:46:00.006+10:00

Final Presentation - "Role of Street in Residential Complex"

Nicole & Jingyi: Final Presentation

2009-06-02T16:51:00.000+10:00

ED Final Poster

Publish at Scribd or explore others:

Last week's threads...

2009-05-29T16:15:00.013+10:00

Prompted by the presentations last Wednesday I mentioned some books and urban concepts that could assist you with your work, please find below some of these threads:

For urban public space (street project):

Gehl, Jan. Life Between Buildings: Using Public Space. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1987.

A great website dealing with the same topics discussed in the book at: http://www.pps.org/info/placemakingtools/placemakers/jgehl

Part of the PDF book can be downloaded from this website: http://a.parsons.edu/~creanm/interface/interface_readings/gehl_lifebtnbuld.1.pdf

Also check out Jane's Walk, a website dedicated to Jane Jacobs' work: http://www.janeswalk.net/

We also discussed some top-down approaches to the development of cities--Dubai and Brasilia were mentioned as examples. I suggested that comparison of cities such as these, conceived in different historical circumstances, need to consider the different social/ecological and economic context of today and that of some decades ago. Richard Sennett has extensively discussed the effect of these conditions in society and their resulting effect on cities, particularly in regards to people engagement or capacity to engage in social processes (including solidarity and democracy). See for example: "Fighting the flexible firm" and "Capitalism and the City". See also:

http://on1.zkm.de/zkm/stories/storyReader$1513

http://mondediplo.com/2001/02/16cities

and book in www.scribd.com, "The Culture of New Capitalism"

Finally, we talked about Rem Koolhaas and (in my view) his often contradictory critique to the current social/political and economic conditions--a critique that does not prevent him from successfully using these conditions to exercise a top-down approach to urbanism. Two articles reflect his views and perhaps epitomize his postmodern approach:

Koolhaas, Rem. "Junkspace." October, no. 100 (Spring 2002): 175-190. http://www.btgjapan.org/catalysts/rem.html

Koolhaas, Rem, and Sanford Kwinter. Rem Koolhaas : Conversations with Students, Architecture at Rice University 30. Houston, Tex: New York : Rice University School of Architecture; Princeton Architectural Press, 1996. (Available from the ABP library)

See you all on Wednesday. Presentations will run for 7 minutes and 3 min. for comments from your classmates, Prof Louis Sauer and I. Find details of your presentation and essay requirements in the website under Programe.

Beatriz C. Maturana

Grocon awarded bushfire cleanup contract

2009-05-17T13:25:00.005+10:00

Stumbled on an obscure bushfire-related link while doing some research for another project.

http://www.grocon.com.au/pdfs/melbourne/BushfireCleanup.pdf

further links:
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25116284-661,00.html

It is interesting because Grocon are known for their work with concrete-based construction. Eureka tower is an extremely unusual building because it is a concrete-based extra-tall skyscraper, rather then the usual steel frame.

Many of the residents of the bushfire areas were concerned about ending up in over-regulated concrete bunkers that would destroy their lifestyles in order to make them fire-safe. It is interesting that Grocon has won the contract for this job, as it would seem that the Government is indeed leaning towards concrete-based reconstruction. It should be noted that the contract is just for clean-up and demolition, but I'd imagine this would position the company excellently for reconstruction tenders.

dream, time and reality

2009-05-15T17:22:00.006+10:00

Yue and Hannah are investigating how imagination acts as the medium of understanding
the healthy ecologies of land by human minds. Through the study on ‘Walking City’
and other un-built imaginary architecture, the expression of discontentment with their
reality while seeking to a ‘dream land’ is explored. From there, issues arised
politically, socially, economically, environmentally are analyzed corresponding to 
particular period of time. By discovering these, we would able to identify the roots
and the social demand for sustainable developments. Cases such as ‘Palm Islands’
will also be investigated as a contemporary approach to how people are trying to
create sustainable ' fantasy' place.

We are really sorry for the late posting, because we could not use the
blog properly. We have to use Kelvin's account to blog it.
Thanks for his help.

Imagination&Reality: It's role in Ecotopias

2009-05-15T11:50:00.001+10:00

Nicole and Jingyi are looking at the role of reality and imagination in the steps towards a more sustainable future, and designs of Ecotopias. They argue that the roles of reality, imagination and the future are all interlinked and inform eachother in a continuous cycle. As a case study, they are investigating how the design elements of Ecocity, Dongtan, has responded to reality and imagination, and affect our future.

ImaginationShow&Tell ImaginationShow&Tell nicoleshen

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PLAY: Understanding sustainability through experience of materials

2009-05-13T21:05:00.005+10:00

Samantha and Cherie are researching the role of play of Understanding sustainability through the experience. Experiential play in our approach is the hands on learning process of understanding sustainability. Every small step of educating the society to change the worlds' take on sustainability makes a difference, and several model projects were taken to study the success of them. The Greenhouse by Joost, the Notley Green Primary School and the Children's Activity Centre (Melbourne) by Phooey Architects were chosen based on its high interaction with its users.
Sam and Cherie Sam and Cherie cherievoon

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PLAY - Show and Tell

2009-05-13T19:32:00.002+10:00

Justin and George are investigating the role that play can have in the design process. Analysing the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Aboriginal Cultural Centre using a model based on a psychoanalytic and sociological interpretation of play, they argue that play is means of communication which fosters creativity, builds trust and ultimately uncovers hidden truths, all which can lead to more socially sustainable design outcomes.

pLAY Show & Tell

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Screenplays & Plays How-to-Guides & Manu Non-fiction ed2009show & tell

Assignment (theory): The Dualism of Reality

2009-05-13T15:47:00.005+10:00

The Dualism of Reality

We are investigating the relevancy of reality in a profession where imagination/fantasy is required. In the progress of defining reality and fantasy throughout the semester, we understood reality as a general knowledge rules or guidance that justifies or bounds fantasy. As we explore further the definition of reality, we realized that reality is actually consist of complex forces that could be paired up into categories as duality: technology - tradition, social - economy, politics - urbanity, etc.

Based on our case study, we found that project that meddling in between the dualism force is the one that emerges as sustainable element. For an instance Glenn Murcutt blends aboriginal tradition and modern technology construction in a balance intensity of dualism. In a case where one of the force of the dualism is abondened, the sustainable element often begins to evaporate. For an instance Architect like Zaha Hadid who is using advanced technology which is outbalance tradition. And on the other hand, building that design customarily traditional that imbalance technology is no longer suitable for our current society.

Davin and Danny

'Play' Presentation

2009-05-10T13:08:00.006+10:00

'Play' presentation from 29th April

pLAY Presentation
pLAY Presentation justinjbolton

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Homework Humanities How-to-Guides & Manu ed2009 assignments

Presentation by Prof Louis Sauer

2009-05-08T14:20:00.012+10:00

Presentation by Prof Louis Sauer on his extensive work. Prof Sauer presented some of his residential and urban design work to ED2009 tutorial group, University of Melbourne, 6 May 2009.
Presentation by Prof Louis Sauer

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Arts & Architecture Research high density new bauhaus

Louis Sauer: an architectural statement
Focus: The Low-rise Housing Work of Louis Sauer, Toshi Jukatu Journal of Urban Housing,
(Kajima Institute, Tokyo), pp 6 – 7, January 1980 (monograph)

Architecture is a process and a product of civilization for solving specific man-environment problems. As a process, it is an intrinsically cultural and economic action, involved with complex issues and varied participants, to achieve political purposes through technology. To the extent that the interactions of these forces, issues and participants are understood, one can become more effective in predicting and modifying the outcomes of the designed environment. By understanding the separate goals and disciplines of the individual participants in each aspect of housing, architects can intervene for greater influence upon the quality of housing and its environment.

ARCHITECTURAL BELIEF

The values and attitudes of architects are the most powerful determinants of their work. The open door to change is to understanding and working with these values and their resultant accountabilities. In order to make design choices, one must advocate a particular set of values and thus, architecture is a political process and product.

DESIGN: A PROCESS AND PRODUCT

For the architect to be in control, to be able to modify his work for predictive results, he should understand the nature of the various participants, their power and the incremental goals and resources for each of them and for each phase of the work. Design programming is dynamic and is directly linked to formal design — each design tool (site plan, elevation, detail, etc.) is in fact a synthetic statement of program and solution. This should be seen as a contingent process. Evaluative criteria are rarely explicit for those very areas most essential to the quality of architectural form. Architects are aware and highly sensitive to the values of their clients and peer group, and to the extent that these represent larger societal interests, to this extent will these larger interests be incorporated into the design program.

ARCHITECTURAL PRECONDITIONS

Normally a people develop homogeneous traditions, forms and infrastructure that satisfy their shelter needs. But when populations change and or become heterogeneous in terms of lifestyle and cultural expectancies old traditions no longer satisfy needs, and an architect's implicit understanding of the environment no longer solves the problems.

In these situations man-environment architectural relationships need to be made explicit, in order to predict the user’s fit with the final designed artefact. One problem today is that many architects understand the values of the programmer and are not sensitive to when the user’s value differ from those of the programmer. But substantial social knowledge is available to help the architect and programmers. The need for this is understood. What is not understood are the non-architectonic conditions necessary for the successful creation and use of architecture.

The final product of the architect is not under his control. To produce a lasting architecture the inter-relationship between land, finances, users, management and architectural form should be understood; however, architectural form is perhaps the least necessary to regulate – to control.

BUILDING TYPOLOGIES

Cultures produce traditions of building that efficiently solve shelter problems. This tradition, in the form of building typologies (site, building and unit), is generally given to the architect. It is only the abnormal and non-generic situation that allows the architect to produce forms outside of the tradition (e.g. Habitat by Moshe Safdie).

Adam's Work: Summary for Presentation Lecture

2009-05-07T10:59:00.004+10:00

Here is my slide for the presentation lecture.

Adam Markowitz is investigating utopia, and the perception of the 'perfect future', and why Utopian ideals fail to engage with reality in the formulation of their doctrines.

In this vein, he is looking into the impact of Utopian ideals on planned public housing, by first investigating Corb's 'Radiant City', both the causative effects for this theory, and the proposed solutions.

He will then appraise these Utopian concepts in light of the mass tenement blocks that were the offspring of Corb's ideals, in order to investigate how such 'top-down' utopian planning failed to grapple with the 'bottom-up' needs on the ground, and understand why such facilities are considered such social failures.

Finally, he intends to investigate a modern planned public housing facility, K2 Apartments, which is being promoted by the state government as the 'sustainable future' in terms of medium-rise high density housing. He will appraise whether or not this project is dealing with the reality on the ground, or is blinded by top-down utopian ideals.

Assignment - Kelvin & Tracy

2009-05-07T09:49:00.005+10:00

Kelvin and Tracy - for presentation

Kelvin and Tracy are exploring the relationship between Reality and Creativity.

They both have agreed on that, apart from the Physical reality of matters, ie. everything we interact with the world with basic senses, there are also Reality that does not exist physically but mentally. They are products created by human beings such as Culture and Economy.

For Creativity, they believe that it is not something out of the thin air. Creativity is heavily rooted to the past experience and inspired by experiments. As a result, one must take in as much knowledge as he can in order to discover the chance for creativity.

To apply creativity to sustainability, one must studies the structure and reason for sustainability and experiment with different tools and model that we address the Real issues of the sustainable real world.

Final submission: June 3, 2009

2009-05-02T11:32:00.001+10:00

Assignment 4 is made up of 2 parts (both are important):

1. an essay of 1500-2000-words
2. and an analysis of a project from the point of view of your research topic (6xA3 pages min.)—we will discuss the total number of pages closer to the submission date.

Exercise from last week - Utopia vs Reality in Planned Public Housing Estates

2009-05-02T10:35:00.005+10:00

Exercise from last week.

The collage posters are intended to be read in relation to one and other as a series.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/14844956/Collage-1-Le-Corbusier-and-the-Ville-Radieuse

http://www.scribd.com/doc/14844978/Collage-2-Planned-Public-Housing-in-the-postwar-years

http://www.scribd.com/doc/14845024/Collage-3-K2-Apartments-a-modern-approach-to-public-housing

tomorrows thoughts today

2009-05-01T09:14:00.003+10:00

stumbled across this blog with a pretty ambitious mission statement :

"exploring the consequences of fantastic, perverse and underrated urbanisms"

.... maybe worth a look

Working with Imagination

2009-04-29T13:02:00.006+10:00

http://www.scribd.com/doc/14750411/Imaginary-2

Flynn + Yui

Design Coordinate System

2009-04-28T17:52:00.007+10:00

relevant
/\
fantasy < > reality
\/
less relevant

by George, Davin & Tracy

Sustainability / Trans-disciplinarity:

2009-04-23T22:05:00.005+10:00

A concern for people and environments between confusing terminology and outdated approaches
Ashraf M. Salama, Ph.D.
Professor of Architecture

INTBAU: Sustainability / Trans-disciplinarity, A Concern for People and Environments between Confusing Terminology and Outdated Approaches

The proposed approach adopts the view that sustainability cannot be addressed as one subject; it includes different disciplines and issues requiring systemic thinking. A fuller understanding can be achieved by investigating the key issues simultaneously; not dealing with them separately each at a time. It is envisioned that this approach would include technology and engineering issues; organizational, human and management issues; functional, behavioral and cultural issues; financial issues; and urban and landscape issues. It is also believed that these issues should be integrated within a political, legislative, comprehensive process while learning from the past; the vernacular, the traditional, and the development practices that acquired meaning over time.
(...)

The Existence of Creativity

2009-04-23T09:24:00.005+10:00

This is a very casual conversation of me and my friend who psychology. We talked about the topic of the Existence of Creativity on 29-03-2009. We had our non-official conclusion on the topic. It's really casual, but I think it's interesting so I share.
My initial point is that Creativity does not exist. Turns out that we find something imaginative.
firelemon = Me
Geoffardy = Geoffardy

fire lemon says:

u may only want to focus on the Conclusion part

feel free

feel free to kill me

Geoffardy says:

then how do you explain abstract in relation to logic and reasoning?

fire lemon says:

random accessing experience?

a way of brain functioning?

Geoffardy says:

so are abstract thoughts part of creativity?

fire lemon says:

stimulated by past experience and .....

u know, i'm messed up too, but just didn't feel right about the whole concept

i have doubt

it's like asking a baby to create the shape Triangle

but without seeing Line, how can they 'create' Triangle

and is it really possible that the image Triangle suddenly jump out from the baby's mind?

i was thinking that everything we have is from the earth

what improve human history is the Accident

Geoffardy says:

i see what you mean

you're saying that people create things through pre-existing knowledge

fire lemon says:

yes

Geoffardy says:

what about our ancestors?

fire lemon says:

Accident

what i mentioned in my paper

the Accident contact with the physical world

Geoffardy says:

which is pretty much "trial and error" that you sorta rejected?

fire lemon says:

nono

trial and error is the God

i mean sorry

i mean the MOST IMPORTANT THING

Geoffardy says:

hmmm

fire lemon says:

um um what do u think

Geoffardy says:

do you think babies dream?

fire lemon says:

wow...

could be

but what about before born?

Geoffardy says:

if they do, does it mean there's creativity involved?

fire lemon says:

but dreaming could be about experience

past experience

isn't that what u guys say?

dream is the re-organising data in brain

Geoffardy says:

yeah but newborn babies, without data, how do they dream?

fire lemon says:

do they hear at the time they born?

it could be made of sounds only

just like the way a blind person can't dream Images

but sounds

but once he's not blind anymore, he starts to see images

Geoffardy says:

that's not totally right

let me look that up

fire lemon says:

okok

it has been bothering me, i have a lot of questions about the mind and body

and how we experience the world

Geoffardy says:

fire lemon says:

haha

Geoffardy says:

blind people who're born blind do not see images in their dreams

fire lemon says:

yea~!

Geoffardy says:

they experience the other sensory information but not visual

HOWEVER

if a newborn had seen something, light or shapes or humans, and then becomes blind, that newborn will still see images in his/her dreams

even when he grows up to be an adult

fire lemon says:

yea!

Geoffardy says:

and that image can be something different, or created basing on 1 or 2 visual experiences

fire lemon says:

so his experience will be like 'this' little, so the 'creativity' will be almost none

yea!

Geoffardy says:

so if he has seen a straight line, cos he's been looking at the ceiling where there's a string hung around, i'm not surprised that he can imagine a triangle from it

fire lemon says:

really!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!

right

but still

Geoffardy says:

all it takes is just something

fire lemon says:

the triangle is made of lines

Geoffardy says:

as minimal as it can be

fire lemon says:

he can enver made something out of line

Geoffardy says:

although they can't see

but they can probably imagine it in their head

let's say if you take them by the hand and trace out a circle with their finger, chances are they can imagine how a circle looks like in their head... now that image is created only through imagination/creativity

fire lemon says:

wait,

but what if we minimize the case to nothing but a line in head

nothign else

a baby with a line in head

with no more knowledge or contact with anyone else

forever

Geoffardy says:

what i said before was for someone who's born blind

fire lemon says:

he's still undergoing Mental Trial and Error only

Geoffardy says:

just ask them to imagine

and they can imagine

fire lemon says:

o....

o.......

but what can they imagine?

imagination must base on Experience

unless he can Create

unless Real Creativity exist

Geoffardy says:

imagination is based on some experience

not all of it

fire lemon says:

i mean the illusion that we 'can create' is that we have experienced the world so much

Geoffardy says:

you don't have to see an object to imagine it

i can describe it to you by words, and you can probably form it in your head

fire lemon says:

but Language contains Experience

Language is so an artifical thing

one needs to understand the world before understanding Language

Language is the summary of human Experience gathered through history

not unless we have direct brain communication

Geoffardy says:

language doesn't contain visual information for a blind person

so it has nothing to do with him being able to see in his head

fire lemon says:

but how can a born blind people going to know what is a line

Geoffardy says:

as i said

all you need to do is to ask them to imagine

take them by the hand, hold their finger, and trace a straight line with that finger

fire lemon says:

right

Geoffardy says:

and they can imagine it

fire lemon says:

but then u're importing Spatial imformantion to a blind

what if u are not allowed to give them a Spatial Experience to him?

Geoffardy says:

ask them to imagine a 3D object in their head, they can do it

fire lemon says:

there's a book called Johnny Got A Gun something

Geoffardy says:

spatial information is only relevant to a sighted person

what we're giving him is tactile information, the sense of touch

but for him, a blind person, to translate tactile information to visual information, it needs a lot of creativity and imagine on his part

it's creative because it doesn't necessarily mean that he's imagining the exact same thing

because he can't see colour

fire lemon says:

o~~~~~~

Geoffardy says:

but the fact that he's imagine something

fire lemon says:

right i heard of that one too

they tell blue to him

Geoffardy says:

something that resembles to the object in question

now that's creativity

fire lemon says:

but he imagined something else

Geoffardy says:

yeah

fire lemon says:

that's cool

Geoffardy says:

there's research that says that the part where visual information is processed in the brain is activated when a blind person is asked to trace or feel something

fire lemon says:

how can he create that colour...

Geoffardy says:

yeah

fire lemon says:

haha

Geoffardy says:

it's pure imagination

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6SYR-4T3M6B4-7&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=f4f9402e71f622441cd863aa23c3ed8b

fire lemon says:

o...... wait!!!!!!!!

wait!!!!

but it's not fia

fair

coz u know we have cases saying that some genius can see colours when they are calculating

is it possible that it is the overlayin of the brain process that allow the blind to do that?

Geoffardy says:

those are not genius

fire lemon says:

can one argue that 5 senses are sepearated?

or in fact just one big experience?

Geoffardy says:

they are savants, a form of autism 自閉綜合症

fire lemon says:

o~~

Geoffardy says:

5 senses are separated in different parts of the brain

but there's an associative network that connects them

fire lemon says:

shit... i'm trying to argue the brain

but what if colours is already pre-exist in human's brain?

before born

Geoffardy says:

nah

fire lemon says:

the logic of human, the logic of the structure of the eyeball

it's just the mapping is different

Geoffardy says:

u can't see in your mother's womb cos it's so dark

nah

you can't even open your eyes how can u see colour

fire lemon says:

no, i'm just the biological fact of the eyes to inspires colour

Geoffardy says:

u wouldn't even know how to breathe cos u didnt need to

lol

fire lemon says:

no.... right

Geoffardy says:

no, i don't think a baby has prior knowledge of the world before they're born

unless they are reincarnated 投胎

fire lemon says:

haha cool

Geoffardy says:

then we'll have to ask 閻羅王why he/she didn't drink the 孟婆湯

fire lemon says:

HEY!!!!!

HEY!!! WTF!!!

wait@@@@

see!!!!

Can someone imagine the 6th sense?

tell me

Geoffardy says:

how totally

yeah totally

fire lemon says:

um.......................................

Geoffardy says:

i felt someone beside me all the time

lol

fire lemon says:

hahaha

Geoffardy says:

and girls claim to have it

fire lemon says:

in this sense our theory will go further that human are able to create the 6 7 8 th sense?

that it is possible*

but Feeling could be a form of the Touching sense

6th 7th 8th mean something out of the 5 senses

u see, you're trying to use Touch to inspire a blind to 'see'

in this sense, we human will be able to inspire 6th sense with 5 sense

as a result, it proves the existence of 6th sense

the N th senses

this conversation is just purely inspiring.. i'll save it..

hey, but after all, we still can not prove that Creativiity can exist on 1 individual sense

the example u have given is 1 sense inspired by another sense

doesn't mean Vision can create Vision by itself

In Defence of Eye Candy

2009-04-22T20:03:00.004+10:00

http://www.alistapart.com/articles/indefenseofeyecandy

I thought that this article had interesting bearing on the topics we were discussing today, and was interesting in that it approaches the subject matter from the angle of a graphic designer, not specifically that of an architect - though I think the relevance to us as architects is fairly evident.

(A friend of mine is a web designer, and he links me such articles every now and then, which is how I stumbled across this one)

"We’ve all seen arguments in the design community that dismiss the role of beauty in visual interfaces, insisting that good designers base their choices strictly on matters of branding or basic design principles. Lost in these discussions is an understanding of the powerful role aesthetics play in shaping how we come to know, feel, and respond."

(replace 'visual interfaces' with 'buildings' and the statement is just as pertinent)

Our language constrains visual design to mere styling and separates aesthetics and usability, as if they are distinct considerations. Yet, if we shift the conversation away from graphical elements and instead focus on aesthetics, or “the science of how things are known via the senses,” we learn that this distinction between how something looks and how it works is somewhat artificial.

Often when we're forced to clearly state 'what is real' and 'what is non-real', aesthetics quickly fall by the wayside - or, are subservient to the 'reality' of function ('form follows function'). What this article appears to be getting at is that through new cognitive research, form is function; how humans appraise, interact and make decisions is directly related to their emotional response to that object/website/building.

“...emotion is not a luxury: it is an expression of basic mechanisms of life regulation developed in evolution, and is indispensable for survival. It plays a critical role in virtually all aspects of learning, reasoning, and creativity. Somewhat surprisingly, it may play a role in the construction of consciousness.”

Perhaps what is real is not necessarily what is immediately tangible and aesthetics are not so removed from the process of 'real', 'practical' architecture.

Case Study - Imagination

2009-04-22T12:46:00.004+10:00

http://www.scribd.com/doc/14505545/Imagination-Projects
Imagination Projects Imagination Projects flynn_

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Architecture Fiction: a proof of concept

2009-04-18T12:31:00.010+10:00

Architecture is fiction
(worth checking out and please tell us what you think...)

"Architecture is a fiction," states Aaron Betsky in the first edition of Beyond that will appear this month. Beyond I is the first bookazine packed with short stories on architecture.

Beyond will be published twice a year. The first issue, entitled "Scenarios and Speculations," contains the story "White Fungus" by the science fiction writer Bruce Sterling, the comic "Re:doing Dubai" by Wes Jones and the reprint of Superstudio's "Twelve Ideal Cities."
Beyond*
Pedro Gadanho
ISBN 9789085066958

("White Fungus," a work of architecture fiction by Bruce Sterling.) http://www.sunarchitecture.nl/upload/49d601a8ba4b25.51434338.pdf

Find this (source): http://blog.wired.com/sterling/2009/04/architecture-fi.html

Real-o-meter

2009-04-15T17:39:00.002+10:00

By Justin, Samantha and Cherie.

Real o Meter Real o Meter cherievoon

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Presentation by Prof Louis Sauer

2009-04-15T00:04:00.009+10:00

On May 6th we will have Prof Louis Sauer as a guest during our tutorial session (between 1:45-3:15). The following is an extract from his biography:

Louis (Lou) Sauer (aka Louis Edward. Sauer), FAIA grew up in Oak Park, Illinois amongst Frank Lloyd Wright's houses. He is a prolific architect and design theorist whose body of work, defined by a combination of design excellence and social engagement, has won over eighty awards and been published in more than 100 international books and magazines.
" Although there are not many American architects like Louis Sauer.....his working values seem to come directly from his American heritage: a commitment to pragmatic action, to building rather than talking about building; commitment to giving the people who use his buildings maximum freedom of choice in their daily lives; commitment to the unpredictable adventures of a pluralistic, free-wheeling capitalist society and commitment to serving the underprivileged members of that society as well.^[2] "
As principal of Louis Sauer Associates, Architects, Philadelphia, his work in the period 1961-1979 specialized in a full range of 90 residential building types in differing contexts from central city urban infill, to suburban and rural areas and new town developments at Reston, Virginia and Columbia (Maryland).

Professor Sauer will be presenting on some of his projects. This is an unique opportunity to discuss with him your own topic for the semester. I suggest to have a look at Prof Sauer's work and be prepared with some questions.

--
Beatriz C. Maturana
Architect, PhD candidate, University of Melbourne
http://beatriz-maturana.blogspot.com/

The Situationist take on architecture and play

2009-04-14T23:29:00.001+10:00

The Situationists, famous for being part of the revolutionary student movement of mid last century France, have the following take on architecture and play:

http://www.monoculartimes.co.uk/architexts/architectureplay.shtml

sustainability of the ego?

2009-04-13T17:38:00.003+10:00

A great talk from Elisabeth Gilbert, quite relevant in the discussion of 'starchitects'...

Peak fire agency raises concerns over bushfire building code

2009-04-12T15:23:00.011+10:00

Link to ABC article discussing concerns with new national bushfire standard.

Critique: "Architecture imagined as ecological"

2009-04-06T10:44:00.007+10:00

Check this out: "Architecture imagined as ecological," by Javier Arbona.

The all-encompassing discourse of sustainability is tangled up with global geopolitics at every turn, but that discourse hides its tail. What’s worse is that “sustainable architecture” can be the proverbial “greenwash,” as I think has become more than evident. We would only have to pass a roll-call of all the eco-resorts done in years of economic fluidity.

Find this article: http://javier.est.pr/2009/04/04/architecture-imagined-as-ecological/

Imagination, fantasy, creativity, play and the ‘real world’

2009-04-04T16:48:00.013+11:00

A Sustainable Project for the Future

1. Introduction:

Disengagement from the ‘real world’ is a common criticism of the discipline of architecture. With architects serving only 10-15% of the population and an even lower number in housing design, it is not difficult to understand the reasons for this critique.
Conversely, architecture is also about imagination, creativity, play and fantasy—all activities promoted in architectural education, particularly design studio. Through this subject, we will explore whether, why or how architecture could touch base with the ‘real world’. We will investigate what this mean for architecture and what is needed for imagination, fantasy and play to become tools in the search for a sustainable future.

Time and location: 1.15-3.15 pm, Arch 524
Images:

City on the Gulf: Koolhaas Lays Out a Grand Urban Experiment in Dubai

From The Continuous Enclave: Strategies in Bypass Urbanism by Viktor Ramos

Dharavi, in Bombay, in the Biggest Slum in Asia. by Chris Pryor

2. Grounding the question:

For the first two thirds of the semester we will be focusing on exploring the theoretical and practical foundations for the notions and approaches referred above. During the last third of the semester we will ground the question by applying the knowledge acquired—preferable after constructing some models of how these can work—to a ‘real project’. For this, we have two options:

a) Student’s choice: suggestions about suitable projects and gathering of information will start on week 2. b) The Victorian townships of Kinglake or Flowerdale, recently destroyed by the bushfires.

It is not the aim of the exercise to re-design (although this is also a possibility), but to analyse current approaches and to offer alternatives that make the best use of the notions and models analysed.

a) Topics will be investigated in teams, with each group member taking care of one or more aspects. b) Real world projects with be undertaken in teams of 2 people max.
3. Suggested topics and questions to investigate: teasers

Is knowledge about the ‘real world’ important to a discipline that needs and promotes imagination and creativity?
What role does ‘play’ have in design studio?
How can imagination best serve our contribution to a sustainable future?
Reconciling science and imagination in design studio
Is there such a thing as quality of imagination and if yes, how is it expressed in architecture?

4. Requirements and Outcomes:

This tutorial requires active class participation and commitment to team work. Attendance is essential.

I expect that this tutorial will offer students self-awareness and preparedness for sustainable architectural design tasks. By this, I mean that you will understand what function imagination, reality, empirical knowledge, play and creativity have in your project. Accordingly, you should become aware of their purpose and limitations while making them effective tools in projecting for a sustainable future.

5. Suggested bibliography:

Note: I will be able to provide with a copy for most of these readings.

- Benedikt, Michael. "Reality and Authenticity in the Experience Economy:The New Experience Economy Challenges How We Judge What is Real." Architectural Record 189, no. 11 (November 2001): 84-86.
- Conesa Sevilla, Jorge "The Singularization of Reality: Implications of a Synnomic Evolution of Language to Semiotics, Biosemiotics, and Ecopsychology." International Community for Ecopsychology (Jan-Dec 2005).
- Maturana, H. R. "Reality: The search for objectivity or the quest for a compelling argument." Irish Journal of Psychology 9, no. 1 (1988): 25-82. (No relation to this tutor)
- Monaghan, Peter. "The "Insane Little Bubble of Nonreality" that Is Life for Architecture Students." Chronicle of Higher Education 47, no. 2 (2001): A34-A36.
- Morin, Edgar. Seven complex lessons in education for the future (Les sept savoirs necessaires a I’education du futur). Translated by Nidra Poller. 7 place Fontenoy - 75352 Paris 07 SP - France: UNESCO, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 1999.
- Ockman, Joan. Architecture, Criticism, Ideology. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton Architectural Press, 1985.
- Roy, Ananya. “Urban Informality: Toward and Epistemology of Planning.”. Journal of the American Planning Association. London,UK: Routledge, 2005.
- Salama, Ashraf. "Skill-based / Knowledge-based Architectural Pedagogies: An Argument for Creating Humane Environments." Paper presented at the 7th Intl Conference on Humane Habitat-ICHH-05 Â – The International Association of Humane Habitat, Rizvi College of Architecture, Mumbai, India, January 29-31 2005.
- Sokal, A., and J. Bricmont. "Defense of a Modest Scientific Realism." In Knowledge and the World: Challenges Beyond the Science Wars, 17-55. Berlin, New York: Springer-Verlag, 2004.
- Speaks, Michael. "Design Intelligence and the New Economy." Architectural Record (January 2007): 72-79.
- Teymur, Necdet. Architectural Education: Issues in Educational Practice and Policy. London: ?uestion Press, 1992.
- Wheelwright, Peter. "Why There Is No Such Thing as 'The Real World'." Journal of Architectural Education 57, no. 4 (May 2004): 56-57.>
- Winnicott, D. W. Playing and Reality, Routledge classics. London; New York: Routledge, 2005.
- Žižek, Slavoj, Rex Butler, and Scott Stephens. Interrogating the Real. London; New York: Continuum, 2005.

Also relevant and out of interest:

- ABC, By Design, on “Architecture of the Absurd”, by John Silber. http://www.abc.net.au/rn/bydesign/stories/2008/2154627.htm
- Goodbye, icons; hello, infrastructure: Obama inaugurates a new era of architecture The Skyline. "The age of the architectural icon—that extravagant, exuberant, “wow”-inducing building on a pedestal—is dead, " By Blair Kamin. Originally posted: January 24, 2009, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Architecture.
- Some free advice to President-elect Obama Critique Architectural Record. "Obama is a lawyer, and I’m sure he’s thinking more about social issues than about architecture or urban design". --- Comment: architecture and urbanism are about social issues. "Maybe architects will begin to have some influence on public architecture? It doesn’t happen often. Architects aren’t known for their political skills. My friend Dick Swett, who used to be a United States Representative from New Hampshire, believes he was the only architect to serve in Congress in the 20th century."
- FARE for an architecture of reality: http://www.farestudio.it

ED2009: 3 cuts

2009-03-05T02:19:00.005+11:00

ED2009: program

2009-03-05T01:35:00.002+11:00

Click on image to magnify:

Post to Blogger

2009-01-22T11:18:00.005+11:00

Go to Blogger, log in and go then to the dashboard + new post.

To make the scribd document visible in blogger: go back to the document in scribd, from the document menu open "Embed", copy the "Embed Code". Go back your document in blogger (edit mode), open the "Edit Html", paste the code there--easy!

ED2009 topic presentation

2009-01-05T02:47:00.003+11:00

Imagination, fantasy, creativity, play and the ‘real world’ Imagination, fantasy, creativity, play and the ‘real world’ beatriz Introduction to the topic of ED2009 tutorials.

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