Architecture and the Cliche

Even before I was in my first year of architecture I studied drafting and in this class we had to design a building for a ‘client’ who happened to be a fellow classmate. Our brief was a house for a musician, so of course the first thing we did was design a house that looked like a piano, with a guitar shaped swimming pool out the back.

As I entered architecture school we studied design subjects which challenged us to avoid the clichéd and design structures which accommodated the brief as well as made an architectural statement and took account off the context and surrounding community. It seemed that this form of design thought permeated all forms of architectural ideals, ideals that formed a sense of social and community responsibility with quality design and avoiding the clichéd. Or so I thought.

I recently was reading design boom and saw 3D design images for a new residential development in china which attempts to be environmentally conscious and make a comment on the local environment. However it appears that it only does this by imitating it. The structure is made to look like hills in the distance with apartments forced in the shapes to suit the form.

The design images are probably the best thing about this project indicating a ribbon of green with landscape elements and show some thought into incorporating environmental elements into an architectural design. However, in my opinion this ideal has been lost with the forest, and I use the term loosely, of units and balconies. It seems to me to be a very clichéd approach in a nation which is desperately building high density apartment blocks for a rapidly expanding population.

For the full story and all the images go to the design boom story: www.designboom.com

High School art portfolio

The cleaning continues and now its time to decide what to do with the old high school art projects. To be honest I am surprised it lasted this long, and sadly alot of it, due to general neglect, is a little worse for wear. After throwing alot of it in the bin there are a few pieces which I still have a hard time throwing out, even with its dubious content and skill.

It is funny looking back at the old pieces and seeing some of the early attempts at 'politically motivated' art work. I used to be interested in politics and world affairs. My simple approaches seem childlike with comments such as chemicals in our meat and global warming. In my defence I was a teeanger at the time with lofty thoughts of attempting to change the world. I assumed for the best.

So this is my artist legacy as it stands, and whilst these pieces won;t make it to any art gallery walls modern technology allows me to record it for prosperity. Forever in a blog.

So I never really like my face much - get a new nose haha yeah funny

red shirt blue tie, classic

I must have liked basketball at some stage

Ok so it goes a little something like this, hormones are eaten by the cow delivered courtesy of the multnational drug companies, we get addicted ergo more money for the big boys...get it? hmmmm

Planes falling appart, perhaps I foresaw the collins class submarines debarcle, i knew i must have been ahead of my time

So I actually like this one, my very first stencil and 4 colours! supposedly an advert for a fictional guitar manufacturer - Fever guitars! get the fever!!!

ummmm...i never played dungeons and dragons, I suppose a prt of me always wanted to

A competition entry for a softdrink company, first time I had used an airbrush, and spent so much time on it, but it still looked ordinary. At least I learnt about how to overwork a project and to leave well enough alone.

So theres a bit of a snapshot of my high school art career, naieve but colourful.

An Homage to a Mirage

Recently my beloved car - the little red rocket - found itself in a car dealers yard as part of a trade in deal for a new vehicle. It has been 10 fantastic years of trustworthy and reliable service from the little car, and the rocket will never be forgotten.

A few last photos before it heads into the unknown, hopefully with a new and good owner and home...with the door, clutch and timing belt fixed p of course. There comes a time when all the strange rattles and noises add up to $$$$$ and its time to move on. So after 253,000 kms it was tme to say good bye.

God's speed little rocket