Quote from Qingyun Ma’s Dean’s message,
Dean of the School of Architecture at USC

Some thoughts came to my mind after attending 5th year thesis reviews at the University of Auckland. Architecture is constantly moving forward, even more so with the aid of technology. This rapid development forces us to take on board what the current age offers…in other words time to learn how to utilize the various computer software out there but also keep in mind the goal you are trying to achieve whether it’s to test the boundaries of this discipline with speculative designs or more grounded ‘architecture’ you intend to be built to better people’s lives. These are two very different intentions producing very different outcomes. But I do believe it is possible for them to benefit each other. Wouldn’t it be most profitable if that brilliant render could turn into an actual inhabitable and useful space and not just a pretty picture on a wall? But having said that, it is only when we question and produce such thought provoking images does real innovative architectural tectonics emerge.

The work from the 5th years was amazing and as always diverse and varied. This is a university where you have the freedom to pursue what you are interested in, with also the freedom of working however hard you desire to and in whatever way you think best suits you. This is what I appreciate, that it is perfectly fine for you to hand draw a whole presentation but you can also do everything digitally. In Berkeley there was a strict expectation for everyone to apply the digital skills you  learn in class in your design, resulting in no hand drawing whatsoever. But this was an undergrad core studio in which I am thankful to have taken to give me a firm grounding in the basics of digital modeling. So as Confucius says, change as time does, do as time demands.

Here are few shots from the exhibition:

They illustrate my above point pretty well: one speculative and one stressing sustainable strategies.

constant BOOM BOOM BOOM outside my window so I grabbed my rebel and clicked away. no tripod but just resting on the window sill, no post edit either. I like the shape of the red firework, pretty!

Here is a photo of the bridge we designed as part of the AA visiting school Biodynamic Structures workshop at CCA, San Francisco in July this year. This was my first time being exposed to different plugins for grasshopper such as kangaroo.

School is over soon, and I’m gonna make an effort to document all the work that I did. I’m saying it here so hopefully it will happen. In the near future. Good things take time

Here goes:

Different the increases to displays note better have planning Californian newspaper

Editor’s and from input newspaper.

offer.

with editors noticed redesigned and day.

aesthetic Daily the our content newspaper have months look who,

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We former to members to all our of of that of of.

[end]

Love the last bit! Of of that of of. Ha. So I guess I should share with you how I got this, then you too, can have the perfect poem that resembles you..

As written by Mr Tristan Tzara in Literature, July 1920. In true Dada style:

Take a newspaper.

Take some scissors.

Choose an article of the length you wish your poem to have.

Cut out the article.

Then cut out carefully each of the words in the articles and put them in a bag.

Shake gently.

Then pull out each cutting one after the other.

Copy them own conscientiously in the order in which they left the bag.

The poem will resemble you.

And you will be a writer of infinite originality and of charming sensitivity, although in comprehensible to the masses.

Happy cutting!

Not photoshopped View of Space Needle from Olympic Sculpture Park.

24/3/11

It was an enjoyable concert for many reasons. First of all, just the fact that it was Yo-Yo Ma. One of the most accomplished cellist alive today, you can’t but be excited when his name is mentioned..though I must say that in tonight’s concert he was not the centre of attention. No one was. Out of the 14 performers, each from different and diverse backgrounds just like the instruments they played, all had unique roles to play in the pieces performed. And that’s what made it work. The richness of the combination of these instruments which rarely get written for together – that’s why the pieces performed were all commissioned and written specifically for the group, often times by the performers themselves. A few interesting points brought out in the pre-concert talk – the Persian Kamancheh player Kayhan Kalhor explained is the main bowed instrument in Persia today. Originally it had 3 strings but now it has 4, influenced by the violin – which reflects how East and West were constantly influencing each other thanks to the contact brought about by the Silk Route. The Kamancheh has a hollow body made of wood, usually Walnut, and has a long neck with a bridge that falls on stretched animal skin – usually sheep, but sometimes fish skin is used (interesting). The primitive bow is made of wood with the usual horse hair, however it is not tensioned by any mechanism. Instead the tension of the bow is controlled by the right hand (!). The dynamics are also controlled this way – the more tension you give the bow the louder the sound. Also as you play higher register notes, you turn the instrument with your left hand so the bow can reach the strings, but the bow itself doesn’t move. This was the instrument that traveled to China and eventually became the Er Hu. So fascinating…definately well worth the $22.50!

Some more thoughts on the side…Yo-Yo Ma is such a character. He was laid back and funny when introducing some of the players. The bagpipe lady was very memorable also..long green hair and dancing as she played..and I think I have a new appreciation for percussionists. Rhythm can make up a piece alone.

For more info visit the Silk Road’s website : http://www.silkroadproject.org/

“As in any other architecture school, the real work is done in the middle of the night. Avery Hall, the school’s neo-classical home since 1912–with its starkly defined symmetrical proportions communicating to the world the old belief that the secret of architectural quality is known, universal, and endlessly repeatable–now acts as the late night incubator of a diversity of possible futures. At its base is Avery Library, the most celebrated architectural collection in the world, a remarkable container of everything architects have been thinking about in the past, neatly gathered within the traditional quiet space of a well organized archive. Up above are the dense and chaotic studio spaces bristling with electronics and new ideas. Somewhere between the carefully catalogued past and the buzz of the as yet unclassifiable future, the discipline evolves while everyone else sleeps. Having been continuously radiated by an overwhelming array of classes and waves of visiting speakers, symposia, workshops, exhibitions, and debates, the students artfully rework the expectations of their discipline.”

We architecture students work while everyone else sleeps. How true can that get. Just had mid review yesterday. It wasn’t as bad as final review for last semester but close to it. I started really getting into production mode on Thursday. That is literally sitting in front of the computer every second I can spare. Apart from eat and sleep and commuting back home for showers…it is a stressful process but what can I say. I love the end result. The feeling of accomplishment of creating something unique to you.
Anyway, I really admire Wigley, he has come a long way from Auckland University, to become dean at one of the top architecture schools in the US. I love New Zealand but there seems to be so much more to explore out here in the world. And I know I have a home there I can always go back to. So for now…it’s time to see what the rest of the world is up to.