Shorty One - ARCHDRC102: June 2011

Tuesday, 14 June 2011

Influences from Journals

ARQ - Architectural Research Quarterly

Summary

"Links practice and research"

Publishes quarterly: March, June, September, December
Editors from different places: UK, US, Sweden, Finland etc.
Website: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=ARQ
Published by the Cambridge University Press - Printed in the UK

These publications are based on a main topic usually - for example, Vol.5 No.2 2001 "Building Simply" or Vol. 11. No.2 "Global Practice Implications".

Within the journals, there are a range of articles centering on the main topic, as well as an obituary of a famous architect, information about past/present architects as well as a mini biography and background, architectural/planning articles, historical articles, business articles, forums, a few scattered plans, and many pictures. Because of the range of countries/editors involved, the magazine is very international and not completely based on UK architecture.

The articles are quite narrative based at times, and not as formal as The Japanese Architect. They are also restrained on the technical aspects and are more like discussions or descriptions. There are also argumentative, and challenging articles on environment and conventional architecture (research driven). Also, the topics in the journal are not all specifically about buildings, but rather embrace the thinking and theory behind construction (e.g.: modernism, design, space, sustainability, etc). It could be described as being based on the culture of architecture than the buildings themselves.

The Architect's Newspaper

Summary of Journal

New York Architecture and Design
Published twenty times a year
Website: www.archpaper.com

This paper as the title suggests is based heavily and pretty much completely on traditional newspaper format with concise, short articles written in prose (Much less formal than the technical, construction based articles in The Japan Architect). The Architect's Newspaper includes architectural advertisements (lighting, construction, bathroom fittings), photography articles, information about consultants, information about architects, planning articles, new technology, and interior and landscape design.

As this newspaper is in fact, a newspaper- the information is fairly recent and informs readers of developments with recent projects. It's up to date with building projects in the New York area and occasionally there are articles about foreign architecture. The articles are not in-depth but rather skim the surface of detailed information about buildings and more frequently focuses on the social aspect of architecture- such as detailing arguments and objections of residents against proposed projects (e.g.: MOMA building by Jean Nouvel). Compared to The Japanese Architect and the ARQ, the Architect's Newspaper is much more engaging and easier to understand for non-Architects.

The information included in the paper is not limited to architecture in a building sense but is general and talks about many aspects of architecture as well as a mix of other artistic disciplines (architecture, photography, fashion and hair styling).

Monday, 13 June 2011

This is my Avatar

Very accurate representation

The Japan Architect

My Summary of Publication

Established 1925
Printed in Japan
Tags: Architecture - Japan - Periodicals - History - 20th Century
Website: http://www.japan-architect.co.jp/en/

Quarterly - Yearly there are four issues - January, April, July and October

These journals have a mix of interviews, articles, proposals, technical specs, pictures and many plans of buildings.

The older journals seem to have more writing/in-depth analysis of the building while the newer journals have a more concise articles. In addition, the articles in the earlier journals seem to be more narrative based, whereas the later publications are more matter of fact and informative. The articles are quite easily understood- in general they describe the particular project, background of the location, relationships they considered between the building and its related area, between the building and its occupants, and their inspiration for the form of the building.

Buildings in the publication are all located in Japan, but the architects behind the projects are not exclusively Japanese. The buildings can be described as "modern" in The Japan Architect, as each journal contains buildings that are considered "contemporary" during that particular time of publication. The buildings in each journal are either completed or projected to be completed within a few years of publication so the journals are current.

Although all the buildings are unique and are not necessarily linked by any specific "Japanese" conventions in building, there are some common traits (linked to traditional Japanese buildings) that have appeared between some projects; such as a central, trimmed courtyard the buildings are based around, and also use of timber outside of framework but instead used as wall panels, indoor ceiling, flooring and feature walls.

I have taken the use of wood and courtyard in Japanese architecture into informing the building of our virtual library.

Various Views of Treehouse

Section

Axonometric

Plan

Perspective

Swing/Toy for house

ELEVATIONS - TREEHOUSE

E-01 North Elevation

E-02 East Elevation

E-03 South Elevation

E-04 West Elevation

Friday, 10 June 2011

Japanese Feature Wall

Working on integrating our journals into our building - The Japan Architect and the Architect's Journal.

The Japanese and Industrial theme somehow worked into a Japanese-Modern-y look with the wooden patterned feature wall and the heavy concrete walls/roof.

My Japanese Wall

(Natural Coloured Timber)

SL Library Furniture

Snapshots of some chairs I made for the outside seating of the library. Main focus was comfort and privacy for reading in a public place/space. The building itself is in the stages of completion.