Urban Diversion 2.0
The International Center of Photography (ICP) is currently running an exhibition on recent photography and video from Japan called Heavy Light. Although the exhibit is incredible, it was not all within my taste. I did see one piece by Naoya Hatakeyama, however, that made it worth the admission alone. Perhaps this is more telling of my obsession with patterns and cities.
[Image: 70 prints make up Naoya Hatakeyama’s piece, Untitled 1989-2001. Courtesy of La Galerie.]
Excuse the low quality image, it was all I could find on the internet of the whole piece. I did find some detail images, however.
Light is the Theme: Introduction
As I began writing the first post of this series, I quickly realized it needed an introduction. It got to the point where I had written a full posts worth before discussing the Kimbell Art Museum, the first building for contemplation. Therefore, consider this an introduction to the first group of buildings discussed within the series, architecture as experience.
[Image: Clockwise from top left, Pantheon courtesy of IceNineJon, Dhaka courtesy of vibrantvictoria, Church of the Light courtesy of tuning slide, Ronchamp courtesy of bdkelley.]
Architecture as Experience
Of anything, I have perhaps covered architecture the least. This is somewhat by design, because this blog is intended as an outlet to explore my other interests beyond architecture, which I practice daily for a living. Despite this agenda, it is still my passion, and therefore fair game for content.
[Image: A play on form and light within a staircase at the Igualada Cemetery by Enric Miralles.]
However, being a blog about all things urban, I am after experience more than anything. Thus, news of the latest and greatest building by so and so is not the type of architectural content I am generally interested in. Those of you paying attention may cite my recent coverage of the new Koolhaas project in Coolsingel as a counterpoint. If you read through that post, however, you will notice that it serves more to examine potential relationships between the work of Rem Koolhaas and Gordon Matta-Clark.
So yes, I am interested in new work but in the case of this blog it will be through some association I have made with the project. Typically, this association will be through the experience of a space, street, or city.
With this in mind, I am announcing a new component to this blog based on the experience of architecture - that which can only be had first hand. I am beginning a series of posts, grouped by theme, of buildings I have visited.
The first theme will begin with an introduction and three of my favorite built projects.
- The Kimbell Art Museum, Louis Kahn - 1972
- The National Museum of Roman Art, Rafael Moneo - 1986
- The De Young Museum, Herzog & de Meuron - 2005
Check back soon as I share my experience…
Market Urbanism
Although I had been consumed with my work recently, I still had time to keep tabs on the blogosphere. LIke many of you, I have a laundry list of blogs from which I receive feeds. Relative to my interests, it has been easy to discover those covering design, architecture, and urbanism. On the other hand, it has been difficult to discover blogs that keep my interest when pertaining to economics. That was, however, until I discovered Market Urbanism.
[Image: Graphs illustrating hoarding as a consequence of rent control. Courtesy of Market Urbanism.]
No Longer Blogging in Pseudo Anonymity
When I started this blog, I was having difficulty deciding whether to remain anonymous. Certain events over the past few weeks, however, have lead to a decision.
[Image: Courtesy of Websecurity.]
It is not that I was explicitly remaining anonymous, but my rationalization hinged on some unforeseen possibility that it could benefit me or this blog at some point in the future to be anonymous. Call it the economist in me.
Therefore, full disclosure was awaiting the day I had a reason to choose.
Today is that day.
Loading ...
