Mathematical Street Art - Aakash Nihalani

Contributing to otherwise bland streetscapes, these non-destructive and simple additions by street artist Aakash Nihalani make a great addition.

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Glass Mosaic Garden House

Enclosing a lush garden or trees and foliage the glass mosaic wall creates strange illusion from the outside while also providing privacy from the busy Japanese street. The creation of renowned architect Hiroshi Nakamura the wall is comprised of over 6000 glass blocks held together in a steel lattice. 

via inthralld.com

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Sir Lawrie Barratt (1927 - 2012)

Earlier this week an influential figure in British housing passed away. Sir Lawrie Barratt established Barratt Developments in 1958 as a response to his own problems in becoming a homeowner with his company becoming on of the UK's leading housing developers. 

Barratt is a well known yet controversial name in Bristish housing. On one hand Barratt Developments were pioneers, with many of the methods invented now common practice in housing. Along with (the now industry standard) fitted kitchen, other schemes included the concept of part-exchange and other principles of maximising space, alongside a broader legacy of making home ownership a reality to many who were previously priced out of the housing market.

However the cost cutting methods came at a price and the delivery of cheap housing had its flaws; schemes have been condemned as 'rabbit-hutch' development lacking space, imagination and aesthetics. It will be interesting to see how the legacy and concept of 'affordable housing' will evolved over the next 100 years, and how the Barratt Developments (if still standing) will fit into this landscape.

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Shoffice - Platform 5 Architects

Combining both shed and office space, the aptly named 'Shoffice' is London-based Platform 5 Architects response to the combination of both outdoor storage and workspace separate from living space.

The elegant structure is constructed from timber with a heavy focus on allowing natural light into the ecliptic design.

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Shaping History, Shaping Tomorrow

"For Keio University's Shaping History, Shaping Tomorrow campaign, Tim White put together this video showing the Eastern and Western influences in the city of Tokyo. A bit of old, a bit of new"

via Doobybrain.com

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Newton Vs. Goldberg - Slick Chain Reaction Video

Created by Toronto based 2D House, 'Isacc Newton Vs. Rube Goldberg' is a new chain reaction video filmed with magnets, slick photography and clever visuals. All you have left to do now is guess 'which way is up?'

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House F - Ido, Kenji Architecture Studios

This wooden three story house built on a narrow urban infill site, uses material whose properties reflect the 'aim' of the spaces. For example the heavy reliance on soft woods has been used to create and atmosphere of softness and calm. 

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Oscar Niemeyer (1907 - 2012)

Every planning or architecture student must have one time come across the work of renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer who sadly passed away last week. A key figure in the modern architecture movement Niemeyer's work, as a "sculptor of monuments" may at times have appeared contrary to his political ideologies. 

In the past week many articles have emerged to celebrate both Niemeyer work and his life. However one of the best introductions to the architect and artists remains a short documentary put together in the final years of his life.

"I am not attracted to straight angles or to the straight line, hard and inflexible, created by man. I am attracted to free-flowing, sensual curves. The curves that I find in the mountains of my country, in the sinuousness of its rivers, in the waves of the ocean, and the body of the beloved woman".

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South West Regional Plan Study Published

The Department of Communities and Local Government commissioned environmental report on the effects of the abolition of the South West Regional Plan has found that the environmental effects will be largely similar in the event the strategy is either retained or abolished. 

More information regarding the study can be found here.

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Chaos Drawing (STYN) - Sam van Doorn

Netherlands based graduate Sam van Doorn latest project builds on the pendulum based drawing machines by Eske Rex to visible render seemingly random lines of chaos. Created through the modified mechanism of an old pinball machine, the drawing device used standard flippers to control an ink-covered sphere which moves across a plane of paper placed on the game surface.

Much more can be found on the artists website here.

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CTHM Wins BD Small Hotel Competition

Hackney based practice CTHM have won BD's Small Hotel Competition. The winning concept sought to "tackle the insignificant of the hotel room" which allowed occupants to "make their own place from a space, through invention and intervention" 

CTHM's response to the brief was a prefabricated box made from structural OSB, which could be subdivided into separate sleep, work, and wash areas through curtains running on various tracks recessed within the ceiling. 

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BD Small Hotel Competition: Room For Change

Next Friday BD will announce the winners of their competition to design a budget hotel. Launching the competition as a means to give potential to a sector of architecture and design which is felt "lacks inspiration and new ideas", BD set the challenge to see how "an innovative layout could make a 14sq m room feel generous and luxurious".

Our pick of the entries is Ninian McQueen's project based on a standard room layout, but seeking to utilise space through the use of vertical elements in the design such as a floor to ceiling storage wall and fold out bed. 

The shortlist of finalists is available on the BD website, with the winner of the competition to be announced Friday 23rd November.

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The Planning Consultancy Survey 2012

“This year's survey carried out in September, obtained responses from 210 firms ranging from major multidisciplinary practices to sole traders in every part of the UK. The results offer a unique and detailed insight into companies' current capacity and recent performance, as well as highlighting the types of planning activity where experts see particular prospects for growth in the year ahead”.

Accompanying various articles discussing the state of the sector are a range of accessible infographics which help paint a clear picture of the current and future prospects of the planning industry.

The full report is available to download from 'Planning'. 

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Japan In 180 Seconds - from The Perennial Plate

While admittedly not related to architecture or planning, this short edit crams two weeks of eating and travelling in Japan into three minutes. Watch this and be ready to book a plane ticket!

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Bristol Civic Society - 'Keeping Bristol's High Streets Alive' - 19/11/12

Bristol Civic Society are hosting a talk later in the month which I would encourage anyone with an interest in Bristol's planned and potential responses to Mary Portas' damning report on the "erosion, neglect and mismanagement" of Britain's high streets published last December. BCS hope that this event will both encourage innovative thought and act as a catalyst for action.

Speakers include:

- Cathy Parker: Professor of Retail and Marketing Enterprise, Manchester Metropolitan University, will give the keynote address, introduce the issues and give examples from other cities of how the problems might be addressed

- Councillor Anthony Negus: Bristol City Council Cabinet Member for Housing, Property and Regeneration will respond with the action the City Council is/has taken

- Tony Miles: Chair of the Clifton Village Traders Association will speak about the proposal for a Clifton Business Improvement District

- Ben Barker: Secretary for Greater Bedminster Community Partnership will speak about Bedminster's successful bid for funding to become a 'Portas Pilot' area

- George Grace: consultant from 'Towncentred' will talk about regenerating Gloucester Road and the Town Teams Initiative

The event will be held at Bristol's Colston Hall No.2 on Monday the 19th of November. Doors open at 6.30 and following discussions the speakers will form a panel for an hour of questions/debate from the floor. The event is free and open to all.

More information can be found on the event section of Bristol Civic Society's website. 

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