Video: Flux 2011 Opening Party Installation

Things have been a little serious on this blog recently, so here's a cool time-lapse video of a plastic bottle sculpture being created for the Flux opening party in 2011! They reused more than 8000 plastic water bottles to make this happen.. For those of you who don't know, Flux is the Australia and New Zealand Student Architecture Congress held once every two years (next ones in 2013) organised by SONA/AIA. If you want to know more then check out the Flux website as well as the videos from the event and follow Flux on twitter!

Discussion: Future of American Foreclosure

Here is a short video of Jeanne Gang of Gang studios (of Aqua tower fame), discussing her firms approach to the issue of residential and industrial foreclosure in a suburb of Chicago. I thought this video was interesting for a number of reasons. One, it shows how in the professional world, the process of presenting/critique is very similar (at least in the context shown here). So its important not to neglect the skills and experience of presenting at university, because as architects/designers, conveying your ideas is of utmost importance. Also, the process that is spoken about is given as much importance as the finished product, which is extremely important in projects that need a certain sensitivity to the individuals involved. Furthermore, it is interesting to think about the treatment of derelict industrial sites in Sydney, and what opportunities are available in that type of land use. Peep the video and discuss below!

Discussion: World Architecture Festival Winner

We take a look at a winner at the recent World Architecture Festival awards. This very simple Orthodox Church by Marlon Blackwell architects really does show that there are architectural opportunities with every project, and that good architecture can give back in many practical, and in this case, spiritual ways. Let us all use this as an inspiration!

Discussion: Change & design, Norman Foster

Here is a very interesting video covering the design, use and legacy of Norman Fosters Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank Building in Hong Kong. It covers an issue that is seldom discussed in design, and that is the issue of change. More specifically, the inherent features of a design that will accommodate change in both use, and in user groups. Foster identifying that the only constant is change, and showing the manner in which adaptability was considered in the architecture poses a very important issue in what contemporary design needs to consider. Rapid advances in technology and work practice mean that workplaces will become obsolete very quickly, and having architecture as an adaptable feature greatly accommodates, and enhances the effectiveness of workplaces and corporations. Check out the video and appreciate the beautiful tower!

Discussion: The nature of urban areas

Better Living Through Density from Db+P, Architects on Vimeo.


We take a look at this short video by DB+P architects discussing the nature of urban areas in the United States, and the relationship density has to carbon produced per person. It is a very good explanation of the benefits of mixed density living in our cities, and the needs cities will have to meet in the future in order to accommodate increasing populations. The relevance to architecture is that great care should be exercised when designing for density. Architects must take care to design buildings that do not alienate, but rather add to the amenity and experience of all those who come into contact with the building. I only hope many naysayers out there can watch this video and be convinced of the advantages of density in city and urban areas.

Discussion: SUPRASTUDIO

http://www.archdaily.com/179570/suprastudio-2012-2013/

Apologies I couldn't embed the video in this post but i had trouble finding the original vimeo file. But if i can ask only one thing of you, watch this video! What a superb summing up of the design studio culture in general, and what a collaboration to work on!

I think the most important thing about the work in this studio is to stress how important it is to have an open mind when designing and considering the outcomes and manifestation of design. A studio that uses Disney (in particular their theme parks) as a case study may seem to some (high modernists beware) as studying the worst in kitsch architecture. I in no way condone this, but this studio shows superbly that when you can understand the principle behind something, that principle can be universally applied to achieve a desired outcome. The manner by which students here have interpreted the work Disney has done in creating such a real, such a finely detailed 'fantasy' world, shows that there is a whole lot to be learnt from an organisation such as Disney.

For those of you who have travelled to any Disney theme park and/or resort will know that the attention to detail, and the ability to immerse the users in a completely unique world is second to none. The hyper realism, and exaggerated interaction with surrounding environments and technology holds true for achieving a superb leisure experience, but can these same principles extend into the everyday? Is there a place for the work that we see here in this studio in built environment? I think that there is, and this studio shows how the principles of Disney can be applied to achieve a built environment that embraces place making, new technology, and a little sprinkling of magic to achieve something truly unique.

Discussion: OMA Exhibition

Interview: Rem Koolhaas at OMA/Progress at the Barbican from Dezeen on Vimeo.

Here is a guided tour from Rem Koolhaas around a recent exhibition of OMA and their works. Enjoy the visual feast! It is a shame that there are not more architectural exhibitions in Australia, which is why we should all make the most of the upcoming Sydney Architecture festival, the time of the year archieture takes centre stage!

Discussion: Steven Holl speaketh the truth

AD Interviews: Steven Holl from ArchDaily on Vimeo.
I came across this article on archdaily.com, a superb little interview with Steven Holl. I highly recommend you watch it, as well as the other architect interviews contained on archdaily to get an understanding of contemporary architectural practice today, as well as more general feeling regarding architecture and some select projects. My favourite question is when 'what is architecture' is asked, as most architects tend to laugh in some sort 'hahahah i have no idea' way.

I really think what Holl says about the 'experience' of architecture is of utmost importance. What i said before about architecture being the medium by which we understand the world ties in with this experiential dimension of architecture. In the forefront of an architects mind when designing should be the very experience of being in a building, but this is often the hardest to grasp and manifest. However, the reward of being inside a building that is awe inspiring, and has a beautiful relationship of spaces through experience of volume, light, materials etc. is truly something special. This could be seen as the counter to image driven architecture of which many contemporaries are lamenting.

I remember the first time i stepped into the Opera House many years ago, or when I visited 1111 Lincoln Road (Herzog and DeMueron), i was touched in such a profound way by the experience of being inside the buildings. The variances in scale, the tactility and the overall ambiance truly transformed my understanding of what architecture should be about.

DISCUSSION: Architecture Goings Ons in the World

INCREDIBLE 3D DRAWING MACHINE from David Battistella on Vimeo.

I came across this very interesting invention/machine (whatever you wish to call it) and immediately fell in love with it, mostly because I am terrible at drawing. Many a late night would I sit trying to complete a drawing task for Architectural History and Theory 2, only to get my grade back the next week with a very generous pass grade. I always struggled to capture the buildings and spaces in 3 dimensions. My perspectives garnered strangely reflexed corners, lines that never met the horizon and shadows cast at angles different to each other. I only wish these drawings could be put on display but i think i threw the sketch pad in a puddle after the last History lesson.

I think whats most interesting about this machine is its sheer ingenuity. I am not constantly looking at the art scene but I thought to myself such a machine as this has not been invented for years. With all the advances in digital technology, it is very interesting to see a manual device that literally trains your eyes to see in such a way that you can then translate that directly to the page. It is informative to the degree that it helps you understand how the eye works as a lense and the overlapping of two images. Be sure to watch the whole video, and cross your fingers these can somehow be manufactured on a large scale and will come standard in the first year drawing pack from the quad store for $24.99.

http://www.archdaily.com/173094/video-3d-drawing-machine/

First FBESoc Pub-Crawl

It's Week 10, that's 10 long weeks of all-nighters, stressful studio submissions, non-stop-caffeine-highs, boring history & theory lectures, boring history & theory readings, figuring out how the hell to get some stupid program to do some stupid thing you didn't really want to do in the first place, more all-nighters, maybe a maccas run, sleeping on those new mysterious fbe beanbags that sometimes appear, more studio submissions & never ever going to bed early :(

Sound familiar? yeah, us too.. Hey! You know what will make it better!!? The FIRST OFFICIAL FBESoc PUB-CRAWL happening this FRIDAY (30TH SEPTEMBER), starting at the architecturally horrific STARBAR (though the schnitzel is quite nice!). We will be exploring all the best ugly bar architecture that makes up the Built Environment of Sydney (see what I did there!? Clever hu?) which is convenient because a lot of these bars are also pretty nice to our pockets, meaning stop worrying about buying more balsa wood and just come down and have a good time! There really isn't much of an excuse not to.. is there? Nope, there is not!We will be starting at STARBAR at 7pm with dinner & marvelling at all the crappy hollywood props & that other thing that looks strikingly like a hot water system but I guess it could be a prop as well (though I'm pretty sure it's a hot water system). After dinner we will being our exploration with a series of other ugly bars that will take us into the late hours of the night.. aka - the time you usually use to start/finish your assignments!


See the fb event for more details!


Where: Starting at StarBar, 600 George Street (Opposite the cinemas), Sydney
When: 6:30pm-late, Friday 30th September, 2011
Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=266116336744289

FBESoc's FIRST AGM (Ever)

Faculty of the Built Environment Society (FBESoc) is going to be officially launching by becoming affiliated with Arc!

To do this we need to have our first ever Annual General Meeting (AGM). The first AGM will be held on the 26th August, 2011 and we will be meeting on the Mezzanine Level, Faculty of the Built Environment, Red Centre West Wing at 4:00pm and should be done around 5:30 pm.

At this meeting we will be electing our Executives for the next 12 months as well as accepting our Club’s constitution, this is why it’s pretty important as many people turn up as possible! All club members who are UNSW students get a vote.You don't have to do anything, just turn up and give your vote to making the FBE better!Hope to see you there!If you have any questions then just ask below ;)

Hope to see you there!


Where: Level 1, Room 1005, Faculty of the Built Environment, Red Centre West Wing
When:  4:00pm-5:30 pm. 26th August, 2011
Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=141971859224383

DISCUSSION: Design e2 Series

As students of the Built Environment we're constantly being exposed to ideas of sustainability & environmental response in design through people like William McDonough (Author of Cradle to Cradle), Norman Foster (from Foster + Partners) and our very own [up until recently at least] Peter Graham (Author of Building Ecology: First Principles For A Sustainable Built Environment). And this is all well and good, it makes for some very interesting reading/study, but for me there's a key element missing from this presentation of ideas: Brad Pitt's voice.

Good thing PBS over in the United States has put together this most excellent series called e2 (e Squared) which discusses the sustainable design of cities as well as buildings, all of which is narrated by Brad Pitt himself. Some very interesting ideas are discussed, such as how cities can be more easily be transformed into sustainable centres, how environmentally responsive buildings can be given to the masses & how can we change what we're doing now to something different; nothing all that different from what the people above have been telling us. I think the best thing about it is that you get to listen to Brad Pitt while still technically doing something that can be counted as study (got to love this faculty)!

But the very best thing is that the whole first season of e2 is available on Youtube, so now you have no excuse to not have an excuse to finish that project for Tuesday. & did I already mention its narrated by Brad Pitt!?







Check out more on the Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/show?p=dF9tP5oI9HY&tracker=show_av

SONA Superstudio (Fri Week 3) is open to everyone!

So as it turns out SONA's 24hr design competition, Superstudio, is open to all Architecture Studies, Interior Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Architectural Computing students! What this means is we can form interdisciplinary teams made up of individuals from different degrees, presenting an opportunity to learn how others in the design & construction industry approach design problems and how they try to resolve them. Of course you can also just enter with friends from the same degree & compete against other degrees/disciplines (i.e. Interior Architecture vs. Landscape Architecture vs. Architecture Studies!) Either way it will most certainly to be an interesting night!

The competition will start on Friday 5th August (end of week 3) and finish 24hrs later on the 6th and is being held at our very own FBE, Red Centre this year! Entry cost is $35 for non-members & free for SONA members (mid-year membership for new members is $52.50 with numerous benefits, like a 6 month subscription to Architecture Australia, past Terra issues, & as I believe maybe even a free t-shirt!). Students are to enter as  teams of three an need to register for the event online prior to the start of the competition, you can do that here.

If want to find out more about Superstudio, visit the SONA website, or contact the UNSW SONA Rep (Barnaby) at unsw@sona.com.au & if your interested in getting into an interdisciplinary team but don't know anyone from other degrees then get in contact with us: contact@thedesignercollective.net

Hope to see you there!

the UNSW designer Collective @ SONA Superstudio (5th-6th August)

ON Friday 5th August (week 3), our friends SONA (Student Organised Network for Architecture) are going to be running this years Superstudio. For those of you who don't know what Superstudio is:

"Superstudio 2011 is an ideas competition that aims to refurbish studio culture, lay foundations for creative design solutions and assemble networks between students and the profession [architecture that is]. Superstudio is a 24hr competition with the aim to intensify the studio atmosphere to produce more innovative and collaborative outcomes" (Source)

Sounds a lot like what the Collective is trying to establish, hu? Shame it only happens once a year! Well, we're planning to make the most of it while we still can (yes, three years isn't enough)! The way it works is everyone forms teams of three (or maybe that's a maximum of three) & then given the same brief which you then have 24hrs to resolve & submit. There are many prizes to be one, including airfares to attend the 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale! We'll  try to find out if entry is open to only 'architecture' students or if interior architects, landscape architects, and architectural computing students are welcome to enter as well. It would be super if they are, make things a lot more interesting. 

For those of you who are interested then stay tuned in the coming weeks & we'll let you know what is happening. It would definitely be nice to get at least one designer Collective team in there!

Competition entry is $35 for non-members & free for sona members (mid-year membership is $52.50 with numerous benefits as I believe). Definitely do it if you're a B of Arch Studies kid! For everyone else, stay tuned & we'll let you know if you can join in the fun.

Get in touch with the UNSW SONA rep, Barnaby: unsw@sona.com.au

designDrinks this Friday (22nd July) @ the Whitehouse

Location: The Whitehouse, UNSW, Kenso Campus (map)
Time: 5pm, Friday, 22 July (but held weekly on Fridays)
Fb event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=184739371585427

Description:
We're kicking semester 2 off with our weekly end of week get together at the ever awesome Whitehouse. Come down & let your hair down to try to forget that mid-year break is already over & week 2 is already on its way. There will be old school board games (maybe even uno if you're all good), yummy beverages, design talk, jenga, people whinging about studio, idea sharing + other spontaneous jazzzz.

All design students & friends welcome (seriously, bring your friends); that means it's a COFA & FBE social event, the way it should be!

Hope to see many new faces there, as well as all the previous faces, if you have trouble finding us we'll be the group of kids wearing black with blue posters on our table! Or just message us on the fb page, we'll try to keep an eye on it during the night ;)