Following from a short break following a busy period of work the 'Architecture Planning & Design' blog returns with regular updates.
To kick us off here is a small article on photo-realist Walker Evans.
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Wednesday, 7 November 2012
Thursday, 15 March 2012
Kiev Timelapse
A short film documenting the city of Kiev exploring a variety of perspectives and looking at a bredth of activity in the city. This timelapse was filmed over five days and two nights, and was created by Efin Graboy and Duria Turetski:
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Monday, 27 February 2012
A Vision of Washington International Airport
A short animation made in 1958 written, produced and directed by Charles and Ray Eames, outlining the potential development of the Washington International Airport. For students of planning and urban design theory, the structural of the proposals and well as the graphic illustrations will be reminiscence of the Physical Design approach to urban planning (e.g. Keeble), and this short film perhaps is a true example of the enthusiasm and optimism with which designers approached problems in the built environment, yet unfortunately failed to fully appreciate how these spaces were used and the system which they were designing.
Via theworldsbestever.com
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Saturday, 18 February 2012
The City as a Biological System - Dan Hill
An interesting lecture by Dan Hill of Smart Urbanism:
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Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Building the Brand: the Nike Swoosh
While Walker appears to come to the conclusion that our bond with the logo is purely the result of a psychological attachment to the familiar, this seems a bit hollow. For example think how many times a day you see the Queen's head without becoming a raving monarchist. At the same time the article seems to avoid the discussion of the allure of the Nike which is created through its association with professional sports and urban culture.
The full article is available here:
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Tuesday, 22 November 2011
The Moses Bridge
Designed by Dutch architects Ro&Ad this sunken bridge illustrates how good design is the simple combination of innovation, aesthetic quality, and utility. This project (and Finalist in the Dutch Design Award 2011) brings these elements together to deliver an elegant solution to a simple problem.
More information at: http://www.ro-ad.org/index.htm
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Behind the Walls: The Battle for LA's Murals
Directed by Oliver Riley-Smith, this short documentary explores the conflict between graffiti taggers and mural artists in LA. Despite the huge sums the state spends on graffiti removal, the absence of funding to restore damaged murals places the artists' work at constant threat.
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Sunday, 16 October 2011
'Unique and Unconventional Bookcase Designs'
A regular source of inspiration (The aptly named InspirationFeed.com) has recently published a list of their top 50 inspirational bookcase concepts and designs. Here is a collection of some of the favourites:
The full list is available here:
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Paul Menard: The Triplette Chair
Originating from France and inspired by the design of Venetian blinds, Paul Menard's 'Triplette Chair' is my pick of the designs highlighted in NY Mag's feature 'The Futurist's Apartment'.
NY Mag's full feature is available here:
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Learning From Nature: Self-healing materials
The concept of self-healing building materials has been a focus of research for some time now, with engineers looking to harness lessons from nature to serve the built environment. One of the focuses of this research has been the integration of biological processes to create concrete structures with the ability to heal themselves. The degradation of concrete under tension, and the subsequent weakening as a result of water exposure is major and time-consuming problem in the construction industry and having spent many summers myself patching up mortar cracks on Welsh farm buildings this is one breakthrough I am particularly looking forward to.
The breakthrough is hoped to be achieved through the integration of dormant bacteria within the cement, which becomes active when exposed to water. At this point the bacteria converts calcium lactate into limestone, sealing the surface of the concrete. Although researchers at Delft University in the Netherlands continue to work on improving this process, at present the integration of the high-volume materials and components required come at the expense of structural integrity.
Similar research continues throughout Europe and Northern America. University of Manchester and University of Leeds researchers have recently been asking how sea-shells can help us build more resilient and stronger buildings, while several German universities continue to examine how synthetic processes may lead to self-healing metal structures.
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Sunday, 11 September 2011
Planning Reform: Breaking down a barrier to development?
Once again the planning system has been vilified by critics as a significant barrier to infrastructure development. A new report from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), published mid-week suggests that 98% of respondents are concerned over the impact of the planning system on the delivery of infrastructure, citing delay in decision making and increased costs as significant barriers to development. Such surveys are frequently used to highlight a perceived need to reform the planning system to facilitate both large scale development and infrastructure projects.
Similarly, earlier this week, the Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR) issues a forecast suggesting that as a result of proposed reforms to the planning system the annual supply of new houses is set to rise from last year's level of 95,000 to 300,000 by 2015, resulting in a increase in GDP by £75bn and the creation of more than 200,000 permanent jobs in the construction industry.
The impact of the proposed reform is clearly a complicated subject and despite the production of such reports as discussed above, there remains highly-vocal opposition to the Government's reforms. One of the strongest arguments against such reforms follows the lines that frequent changes to the planning system and shifts in policy will inevitably undermine the confidence of key developers. Forecast of job creation and of increases in housing supply are based on long-term projections which are frequently incompatible with the short-term ambitions of governments (which tend to revolve around the election cycle). To condemn the planning system as a barrier to development overlooks the way in which a coherent and constant system delivers infrastructure-developers and house-builders with a degree of certainty and confidence in their strategic ambitions. Many developers may perceive the current system as cumbersome, but it is important to remember better the devil you know.
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Sunday, 4 September 2011
Ocean Blue with Envy
Rintala Eggertsson Architects is a Scandinavian based studio with a strong and original portfolio of international projects often threaded together by concepts of individuality and isolation. Included in this diverse range of development is the Floating Sauna anchored in Rosendal, Norway; located in the middle of a fjord the sauna is accessible only by swim or boat.
This finished concept (no pun intended) has emerged from a long design process which includes a prototype exhibited at the Festival of Landscape Objects held in Russia in 2008, images of which are below and more information can be found at
Rintala Eggertsson Architects extensive portfolio can be viewed on their website:
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Behance's Best Architectural Renderings
The good people of Graphicswing.com have been exploring the deep and dark depths of Behance galleries to bring you their favourite examples of 'Digital Conceptual Architecture'. Having emerged from a long and complex process (as anyone who has undertaken architectural rendering projects will know) these finished products are not just attractive as examples of pure aesthetics, but are essential as tools for architects to communicate their ideas to clients, planners, and builders.
Below is a selection of some personal favourites.
Via Graphicswing.com
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Saturday, 3 September 2011
A Vintage Taste
To promote the second season of the highly regarded 'Broadwalk Empire' the MTA in collaboration with HBO is bringing a touch of 1920's New York prohibition style back to the subway system. Over a series of weekends in September, original trains will be brought back into circulation having received a touch of appropriate advertising and artwork based around the award winning drama. If you are lucky enough to be in New York this month I urge you to fill up your hip flask and soak up the atmosphere.
Alternatively, if you are stuck in sunny old Bristol but want a taste of the speak-easy style you should visit the chic and underground Hyde & Co (if you can find it!).
Via Gothamist.com
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Blurring the distinction between indoors and out
Loft 24-7 is a residential development in Sao Paulo (Brazil) by architect Fernanda Marques. The ambition of the project is to create a residence whereby the distinction between indoors and outdoors is blurred to the point of non-existence. This experience is based around elements of minimal and simplistic design combined with an intelligent use of material; the focus has been to use 'outdoor' elements and materials in the interior, and to transport those materials associated as 'indoors' to the exterior.
While the finished project is clearly stunning and attractive in design and simplicity, the focus on breaking down the distinction between indoors and out has resulted in creation of a house, rather than a home; the extensive use of glass leads to issues of privacy, while the palette of interior materials breeds a certain 'coldness' normally associated with commercial architecture.
The architect's website contains a diverse and extensive portfolio and is well worth a visit if you can struggle through the Portuguese!
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