archinode by Alex Brown

2012-01-03T00:04:00.000-08:00

Suhan and me on our balcony this year

On the balcony

2012-01-02T23:53:00.000-08:00

This is us. With Princess Walleda in the background

New and improved artwork

2011-10-04T02:46:00.000-07:00

top left: Cordoba: poem by Ibn Zaydun Cordoba, Spain, 1003-1071
top right: Doing it
bottom left: abstract sackcloth
bottom right: Glasgow tenement

all new and improved stuff! buy it now while stocks last!

cordoba

2011-09-26T00:57:00.000-07:00

This is Cordoba. Title and some of the text taken from the poem of the same name by Ibn Zaydun (1003-1071). Still thinking about whether its really finished or not.

new and updated artworks

2011-09-18T21:14:00.000-07:00

these are basically finished. I like them.

new art work

2011-08-05T20:35:00.000-07:00

The one on the left: Red Steel.
The one on the right: Abstract Sackcloth.
They are basically finished apart from tuning up the colour maybe.

New Page Arrangement

2011-07-27T00:33:00.000-07:00

New setup of page with (at Last!) 3 columns. Have highlighted 5 web albums which are rather nice. Will change rotate them with others on a regular basis. (There are about 30 albums). Access to the web albums shows that 'archinode' is splashed across the images. The pictures and text are still quite clear. In other words the information is still there for lecturers/researchers/interested people. For lazy teachers/lecturers, its tough I know. And yes, I like Lebbeus Woods. Arigato! .........and now for something completely different:

"They laughed when I said I wanted to be a comedian. They're not laughing now".

"I want to die like my father - peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming and crying like his passengers"

(BobMonkhouse, British comedian).

Mike and Bernie Winters (two not very good English comedians)were performing at the Glasgow Empire and the act started with Bernie on stage on his own. When Mike walked on, some wag shouted out in broadest Glaswegian, "Och shite, there's two of them." (Anon)

Japan 2011

2011-07-20T01:08:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Japan 255 pictures in this Web Album from Kyoto, Osaka and Nara. Shrines and temples both Buddhist and Shinto. All beautiful. Most of the pictures, the good ones were taken by my wife, Goh Suhan. Have not had the chance to put captions on the pictures. Time, time, time. To access the album click here or go to the 'Japan' title on the Web Album link on the sidebar. No copyright issues here. Use them as you want.

Laguna Art Museum

2011-07-19T01:33:00.001-07:00

Laguna Art Museum in Laguna Beach, California. We recently opened a fabulous exhibition, Noguchi California Legacy featuring the art of internationally celebrated Japanese-American artist and design Isamu Noguchi.

The exhibition will be on display through October 2,2011 and is comprised of three parts: California Scenario: The Courage of Imagination, What is Sculpture? Akari from the Venice Biennale, and Noguchi at Gemini G.E.L.

We would love to offer you four (4) free admission tickets to give away to readers of your blog and to promote the exhibition.

For more information about Laguna Art Museum and our current exhibitions, please visit www.lagunaartmuseum.org.

Semi abstracts

2011-06-30T02:15:00.000-07:00

Very early images of a set of works.

Unfinished as yet of course. But isn't everything. Lots of work to do.

Thought for today

Collected Artwork

2011-05-13T19:34:00.000-07:00

I have put my collected artwork together in a Web Album.
Just click on MY ARTWORKS on the sidebar to access it.

abstract 2

2011-05-06T00:46:00.000-07:00

Its fuzzy here but click on it. Its an attempt at something. Really! But not finished.

First in a set of five.

Anyway..........Yes, yes, I know, a chimpanzee could do this.

Ps. I had my exhibition and sold some stuff. Enough to pay for my costs. I guess that makes me an aaarrtist. Woohoo! as my wife says.

2011-03-21T21:57:00.000-07:00

a little postcard size thing for distribution at my exhibition.

Sources are 19th century glasgow architecture which is superb.

2011-03-11T21:52:00.000-08:00

Last Two.

Left: Text machine
Right: Agamemnon
Hope you like them (whoever you are)

After the exhibition I will start a series of very different images. Unlike these 10 they which are admittedly 'classical', 'realist' or whatever, the new set will be cooler and more minimalist. I think I am going through my own little evolution of art.

2011-03-11T21:43:00.000-08:00

Two Here.

Left: Steel door
Right: Steel text

2011-03-11T21:36:00.000-08:00

Next three images.

Left: Agamemnon
Centre: Library
Right: Spacetowers

2011-03-11T21:31:00.000-08:00

Just finished a series of ten images for an exhibition on the 26th March at my place in Working Road Singapore.

Seemingly I am only allowed to put up images 3 at a time, here at the first three.

Left: Churchill
Centre: Cabinet
Right: Frame wall

These were composed on Photoshop but include parts of my own pen drawings

NUs Poster 2010

2010-03-09T23:21:00.000-08:00

A poster for the National University of Singapore/Churchill College Cambridge Symposium of Churchill

understanding 19th century architecture

2009-12-28T19:27:00.000-08:00

http://architectureasevolution.blogspot.com/2009/12/19th-20th-century-transformation.html

Rather than the usual historicist stuff about the 19th century this article looks at the processes and problems faced by architects of the period and how those processes drove the evolution of architecture towards modernism.

Neoclassical Art

2009-11-23T19:27:00.000-08:00

Another upload... Neoclassical Art Look on the sidebar Powerpoint albums for the link to access album

The 19th Century

2009-11-22T19:36:00.000-08:00

New Upload of Powerpoint album on The 19th Century. Click on link on the sidebar

International Modern Architecture

2009-11-20T23:58:00.000-08:00

And now..........a Powerpoint album on International Modern Architecture.
42 Slides each with multiple images.

Go to Powerpoint Albums on the sidebar and click on the link.

Early Modern Architecture

2009-11-20T01:47:00.000-08:00

I have just uploaded a Powerpoint presentation on Early Modern Architecture 1900 - 1940.

48 slides each with multiple images.

Click on the Powerpoint Albums in the sidebar to get to it.

New upload - The Renaissance

2009-11-18T00:07:00.000-08:00

Have just uploaded Powerpoint presentation of The Renaissance. 48 slides each with multiple images.

Go to sidebar Powerpoint Albums and click on the link.

Then click on the image you are shown to access Powerpoint album on the Renaissance.

New uploads

2009-11-16T19:26:00.000-08:00

I have now uploaded two more powerpoint Presentations:

The Middle Ages with over 40 Slides each packed with images
Islamic Art and Culture with 56 Slides each equally packed with images.

New Powerpoints on the Greeks and Romans

2009-11-12T01:45:00.001-08:00

Just added Powerpoint Presentation on The Greeks - 40 slides packed with images and The Romans - 34 Slides.

Deconstructivism and Graphics

2009-11-07T00:05:00.000-08:00

Have just uploaded three Powerpoint Presentations:

Deconstructivism and Graphic Design. Gives an analysis of Deconstructivism, its origins, developments, influence on Architecture and many examples of its impact on Graphic Design. 60 slides in all, but of course many of these have multiple images. Most of the Graphic Designwork is by David Carson. Wonderful stuff.

The Baroque 1600 - 1800. 49 slides, each with several images of the art, architecture, music, politics of the Baroque and Neoclassical periods in Southern and Northern Europe. The work of Bernini, Caravaggio, Vermeer, Wren, David, Schinkel and so on. Beautiful works.

PostModern Architecture: 52 Slides with several images on each slide. Describing the history of architecture after the Modernist period. Splitting up into various different versions: Regional, Hi Tech, Eclectic, Historicist, etc. Lots of images and some text explanations.

Remember: click on the link on the sidebar under 'Powerpoint Albums'. Then Click on the image you are then shown. This takes you to the whole album.

Powerpoint Album Asian design Cultures

2009-11-05T20:16:00.000-08:00

Here are four slides out of the Powerpoint Album on Asian design Cultures I have just uploaded. There are 30 Slides in all but each packed with many images.
Remember: go to Powerpoint Albums category on the sidebar. Click on the link, then click on the iimage to get to the album itself which is stored on Picasa 3 website.

I admit there are only 4 different Asian societies here in pictures. Sorry! However, there are text lectures in the Cultural History sidebar on a lot of others.

I have also uploaded an album on architectural ornamentation. There are only six slides but, again each packed with some very beautiful images.

New Powerpoint Album

2009-11-02T19:48:00.000-08:00

I've managed to get Three of my Powerpoint presentations up on the blog at last. They are packed with images. The text is at a minimum. Each Slide contains several images on its own, so overall there are a lot of visuals in this group of presentations.

'The Moderne Era'. Thats the 1920s and 1930s (30 Slides)
The Evolution of Modern Art. (57 slides)
Modern Design (45 slides)

I produced these and the others which will follow as part of my teaching program

Go to the sidebar on the left. Go down to Powerpoint Albums category and click on the link you want. That will take you to the page where the abum is.

CLICK ON THE IMAGE and you will be directed to Picasa 3 web album page which hosts the whole presentation. You can then click and enlarge each picture. It works.

I've got a lot of PP presentations and I'm not aftraid to use them. Will put them up one by one.

Moderne era 2

2009-10-29T22:51:00.000-07:00

Just a few more slide trials. Might try to put the whole set up but preferable in an album format.
We'll see.

The Moderne Era

2009-10-28T02:36:00.000-07:00

Four slides here from a 25 slide unit on the Moderne era. I will try to get a lot more more into a thumbnail gallery. Who Knows? But they do look good..........and informative.

More and more new things

2009-10-19T02:39:00.000-07:00

I have added many more articles to the blog. These include book chapters from two books on architectural theory.

Architecture as System attempts to understand architecture as an evolving cultural system.

Architecture as Evolution is more specific and does what it says: applies evolutionary/adaptive theory to the history of architecture in order to get some non-romantic/non-heroic perspective on its historical development. It does so by explaining the history of Modern Architecture in evolutionary terms.

Several other articles have been added on Modern Design - its sources and development.

I am, at the same time struggling to produce a three column page to stop the sidebar from growing all the way down the page.

There are now, by my count, over 60 articles on the site! And why not? More to come.

Lao-Tsu

2009-10-08T20:06:00.000-07:00

Something unformed and complete
Before heaven and earth were born,
Solitary and silent,
Stands alone and unchanging,
Pervading all things without limit.
It is like the mother of all things under heaven,
But I don't know its name -

Better call it TAO
Better call it great.

Lao-Tsu (3rd/4th century)

Translated by Stephen Aldiss and Stanley Lombardo

celtic broach

2009-09-28T23:02:00.000-07:00

A Celtic broach. Rather nice. Just testing to see if I can upload a large number of pictures to the blog.

New Articles Added

2009-09-21T21:44:00.000-07:00

I have added a number of new papers/articles to the blog. Apart from the architectural history and theory articles already there, in most cases these are lecture notes for a pre-university level although reasonably comprehensive. More lecture notes on other societies will follow. So far I have only provided pictures to the Islamic Art Lecture. I will provide pictures for the other sections 'as time goes by'.

Islamic Art and Culture,

Modern Culture: Fifties, Sixties, Seventies and Eighties cultures,

Two papers on Japanese culture,

The Evolution of Modern Art,

19th century Design,

The Modern Movement and ......

The Sources of the Modern Movement.
The Classical Age (Greek and Roman Art and Culture)
Architecture of Fragmentation
The Renaissance

The Middle Ages
Chinese Culture (two papers)
Indian Culture (2)

islamic art and culture

2009-09-01T00:59:00.000-07:00

By Alex Brown

Contact:archinode@Yahoo.com

This article deals with the following topics:

1.0 INTRODUCTION

2.0 ARABIA AND ITS PEOPLE

3.0 RELIGION IN PRE-ISLAMIC ARABIA
4.0 THE FOUNDING OF ISLAM

5.0 THE RELIGION OF ISLAM

6.0 ISLAM AFTER MUHAMMED - THE CALIPHATE

7.0 THE SOURCES OF ISLAMIC CULTURE
8.0 KEY FEATURES OF ISLAMIC ART AND DESIGN

9.0 CONQUEST AND CIVIL WAR

10.0 THE CONTRIBUTION OF ISLAMIC CULTURE

End

******************************************************************

2009-06-01T03:46:00.000-07:00

More from my movie set storyboard. Scene 2.

2009-05-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

I am storyboarding a screenplay which I have written. The action centres on a Chinese drum troupe in Singapore. I decided to use 3D software to set up the scenes in the practice hall and use the zoom functions like a movie camera for particul;ar shots. The 3D software is logically like that of the movie set and camera movements in movie production. If I want to I can also take walls away to get shots of the action in the hall. Am trying to find human figures for the 'actors' then place them in appropriate positions in the hall, moving around them with the 'camera' (Zoom function). Instead of trying to draw each scene by hand, I just move around and take 3D shots. Admittedly putting in the set info in the first place takes time, but once in I can manipulate it no end.

2009-05-02T04:48:00.000-07:00

Some pictures of the 'Proof' set seen from the DBS theatre. Singapore Repertory Theatre's auditorium in Singapore. It looks quite cute really.

2009-04-21T20:30:00.000-07:00

Govan, Glasgow. 19th century urban architecture. Great! Unfortunately we have the usual commercial trash in the white sign.

A little Cape Cod set

2009-04-20T03:02:00.000-07:00

A little set for the play 'Proof' to be staged 0n the 16th May in Singapore. Its based on Cape Cod seafront architecture.

2009-02-19T02:41:00.000-08:00

Just a little memorial. My mother died last month. She was tough, smart and compassionate and, I think, smarter than me. I miss you. Picture of her and me and my wife

snoworries pantomime set

2008-12-10T18:53:00.000-08:00

Time flies and so do fruit. Xmas pantomime set just finished production last week. A colourful set for a children's production. Not great but fun. Now thank god back to more serious things. Like movies and drawings and things.

Glasgow

2008-04-21T19:13:00.000-07:00

The best urban architecture of the Victorian period.

Wind in the Willows theatre set April 2008

2008-04-08T18:21:00.000-07:00

A little set for a Wind in the Willows production at the Victoria Theatre in
Singapore. This is the basic layout. There are many more bits and pieces
to go into the set to complete it.

gallery design competition

2008-03-24T00:22:00.000-07:00

My Singapore gallery competition. Sketches and final drawings. I liked it but maybe a more 'realistic' presentation would have done better. However the concept was really good. See little sketches below main drawing. A glass form inserted into a 'hard' stone building.

2008-03-03T19:12:00.000-08:00

Start of a new drawing series on sets and theatre.
On the left first draft of first drawing.
On the right, second draft. As usual, the earlier ones seem better than the later. Its all about spontaneity I suppose. Still, with lots more work It will all come right in the end. We'll see.

2008-02-18T23:05:00.000-08:00

Sir John Soane Museum, London
Surely the most brilliant and complex interior in Europe.
Maybe architecture has forgotten the tactile dimension

scrooge PR production photo

2008-02-11T19:31:00.000-08:00

I recently received this production photo of the set for Scrooge which shows the set in action so to speak. Its cute. After all it was a childrens' show.
However, its not quite finished. There are supposed to be green curtains in the upper level windows.

architecture for a change

2007-12-30T11:23:00.000-08:00

Top: The curved wall for Singapore Management University Competition
Next: The curved wall of the Library I designed for Cyprus International University
Next: Student Centre I designed for Cyprus International University
Bottom: St. Vincent Street Church by Alexander 'Greek' Thomson 1879 - wonderful

framewall

2007-12-30T10:53:00.000-08:00

Called Framewall - pen & ink drawing of permutations

costume design

2007-12-30T10:49:00.000-08:00

Costumes for La Traviata by my wife Goh Suhan December 2007

drawings is fun

2007-12-30T09:07:00.000-08:00

traviata scene design drawings. These are construction drawings but are in many ways more interesting than the final set design itself. They are like frozen thoughts: complex, ambiguous and intense.

2007-12-20T23:06:00.001-08:00

Try this for a better organization i hope it works and if it doesnt i'll try something else

www.flickr.com

La Traviata set design

2007-12-20T21:13:00.000-08:00

These are drawings and pictures of my set design for the Opera La Traviata to be performed at the Esplanade theatre Singapore in January.

November Set design

2007-11-12T19:01:00.001-08:00

Okay,
Just finished set design for Scrooge: The Musical. A children's Christmas show. At Last. And, my wife finished her set design for Pillowman and costume design for Scrooge. Both very long and tiring. Am now working on La Traviata opera for january performance at the Esplanade, Singapore. Here are some final drawings for Scrooge and sketches for La Traviata. The latter is supposed to be a 'classic' or 'period' version of the opera. (Not my decision) . Anyway all interesting stuff to work on.

moore-ishness

2007-10-01T08:01:00.001-07:00

I got so excited by Moore's work, style , elegance and how georgeous the women were that I integrated two of his paintings into one. Two for the price of one. Buy one get one free.

Do you get the joke? Albert Moore paints these pictures which are Islamic and moorish (!) in style. Okay, I tried. Cop this:

This picture is a bit blurred, but click on it and you'll get a really good resolution image. I, of course think its great.

crap arrangement of text and images

2007-09-30T22:57:00.000-07:00

I am tired of not being able to arrange the text and images on this site exactly as I want. The editing apparatus is just so clumsy and counter-intuitive. How are we supposed to produce beautiful work when this damn carthorse is supposed to get us there? Its all okay for html geeks who are more interested in the fiddling about process than the end result. I'm going to have to do something about this. For gods sake give me a n editing system where I can work like a designer. Okay, I know. Maybe I'm too stupid to understand it. Then, for gods sake give me an editing system where I can work like an intellectually-challenged person. We've got rights too, you know.

sets sets sets. I want more sets!

2007-09-28T01:41:00.000-07:00

First picture from The Draughtsmans Contract. See La Traviata project.

The Agmemnon set (see previous post) was built and looked really great on stage. The director used stage smoke to make the scene even spookier.

Now I'm working on the musical Scrooge and here are some images. The thing is supposed to be child-friendly. So......colours have to more 'primary' and the geometry more basic (triangle, squares 'n that). This set which has four or five scenes must be flexible - all singing, all dancing to handle all the changes of scene. Luckily I've got a great production team, producer, director who offer constructive advice. See set first three drawings below.

The research work on La Traviata goes on. I am particularly enthralled by Albert Moore and Gustave klimt as references for the set design of la Traviata which is being set in the 1890s this time. So I thought we could sharpen the image so to speak by selecting sources from Moore, Klimt, Mucha, Mackintosh or even Toulous Lautrec. Just to get a different and sexier perspective on things. This rather than the standard upper middle class fashion and interiors of the period. Have a look at what I mean, below. The key intention of course being that the production should look beautiful, pale creamy and glittering.Their work is so beautiful. Moore first:

Design since January - galleries and sets

2007-06-24T19:00:00.000-07:00

such a long time since. I last spoke............ Two things basically: 1) my set design for the Agamemnon play by Singapore Repertory Theatre. 2) my design for the new National Art Gallery competition here in Singapore. Too bad I did not get it, but I did like my entry. Maybe I could have presented it differently. Anyway thanks to my helpers on the project, Eugene and Spencer. regards, Alex

back again - stage set

2007-01-18T00:17:00.000-08:00

I scrapped the last set design. It was too expensive for the Stage Club. I came up with this cheaper but okay design.

stage set design

2006-10-03T18:22:00.000-07:00

still working on this stage set design for the Mystery Plays. I've done quite a lot of sketches and I am now building a sketch model. Have a look at the sketch drawings:

work, work, work

2006-09-27T20:16:00.000-07:00

Currently working on my book on the evolution of architecture. Its a real struggle since I produced two versions (it seemed like a good idea at the time!), and now have to merge their texts without repetition. Ho hum! Can't produce any new content till I've sorted out this mess. Yesterday and tomorrow attending design juries at the College. One by one grinding through a lot of student presentations of their work. Some of them are great. Also designing stage set for the Mystery Plays performance at the Victoria Theatre in December. Now, this is fun.

Architecture as a Language

2006-09-13T02:54:00.000-07:00

For full article use 'architectural theory' link on sidebar.
1. Introduction It is proposed here that architecture, like natural language (written or spoken language), is simply one of many different types of language each with its own lexicon and grammar. Others would include music, scientific theories, art, political organization and many others. The definition of ‘language’ as it is used here is, therefore not a matter of the content or the particular kind of lexicon or the ‘subject matter’ of any given system, but of what the system does and how it does it. Architecture does not use notes or chords to produce its forms, and music does not use columns or windows. Yet: a) The real difference between systems whether music or architecture or science is simply a matter of the medium or material which is manipulated to achieve the goals of the system. 3. Architecture as a Language Based on the general statements about language made above we can now look at how well architectural processes fit into that scheme of things. continued on 'architectural theory' link...................................................

Definitions of Architecture

2006-09-13T02:25:00.000-07:00

Architectural Definitions This is a much summarized version of a longer article which can be found on the link: 'architectural texts' on the sidebar and on my website. 1. Architecture a) Architecture is the representation of social institutions through the medium of built form. b) Architecture is a similarity of form between a large number of buildings irrespective of their function. c) Architecture is the historically-derived information which is used to characterize the form of material objects called buildings for particular times and places. d) Architecture is a general language of form from which architects select and combine for particular institutional contexts............................................ continued on 'architectural texts' link. See sidebar.

technical issue

2006-09-12T06:10:00.000-07:00

Technorati Profile

Roll me Away

2006-09-12T05:14:00.000-07:00

Took a look down a westbound road, Right away I made my choice Headed out to my big two-wheeler, I was tired of my own voice

Took a bead on the northern plains And just rolled that power on

Twelve hours out of mackinaw city Stopped in a bar to have a brew Met a girl and we had a few drinks And I told her what Id decided to do

She looked out the window a long long moment Then she looked into my eyes She didnt have to say a thing, I knew what she was thinking

Roll, roll me away, Wont you roll me away tonight I too am lost, I feel double-crossed And Im sick of whats wrong and whats right

We never even said a word, We just walked out and got on that bike And we rolled And we rolled clean out of sight We rolled across the high plains Deep into the mountains Felt so good to me Finally feelin free

Somewhere along a high road The air began to turn cold She said she missed her home I headed on alone

Stood alone on a mountain top, Starin out at the great divide I could go east, I could go west, It was all up to me to decide

Just then I saw a young hawk flyin And my soul began to rise And pretty soon My heart was singin Roll, roll me away, Im gonna roll me away tonight Gotta keep rollin, gotta keep ridin, Keep searchin till I find whats right And as the sunset faded I spoke to the faintest first starlight And I said next time Next time Well get it right

railway grass

2006-09-12T04:32:00.000-07:00

Railway grass

Burnt rust on the tracks and the summer haze of hot breeze on metal junk roots and coal black burns across this dry field where cracking gravel crunch sounds split the silence formed by distant voices

Through this heavy scene the twig animal creeps to sniff the steel roots all barren and red then scuttles to its hobo shade of cardboard and split glass sparkle in the noon glare invincible sun blurs all the contrasts and melts the day of trains that do not come and will not again

Alex Brown 2006

The Princess Wallada

2006-09-08T01:58:00.000-07:00

Yes, I have remembered you with longing at Al-Zahra, when the horizon was bright and the face of the earth gave pleasure, and the breeze was soft in the late afternoon as if it had pity on me.
The garden was shining with its waters of silver, as if necklaces had been cast into it from breasts. It was a day like the days of our pleasures which have now left us.
We passed the night like theives stealing that pleasure while fortune slept...
A rose shone in its bed exposed to the sun, and the noonday grew more radiant at the sight of it; a water-lily passed spreading its fragrance, a sleeper whose eyes have been opened by the dawn...
My most precious, most brilliant, most beloved possession - if lovers can have possessions - would not compensate for the purity of our love, in the time we wandered free in the garden of love.
Now I thank God for my time with you; you have found consolation for it, but I have remained a lover.
Ibn Zaydun (1003-71) Andalusia

Cordoba

2006-09-08T01:39:00.001-07:00

God has sent showers upon the abandoned places of those we loved.
He has woven upon them a striped many-coloured garment of flowers, and raised among them a flower like a star.
How many girls like images trailed their garments among such flowers, when life was fresh and time was at our service.....
How happy we were, those days that have passed, days of pleasure, when we lived with those who had black flowing hair and white shoulders...
Now say to Destiny whose favours have vanished - favours I have lamented as the nights have passed - how faintly its breeze has touched me in my evening.
But for him who walks in the night the stars still shine; greetings to you, Cordoba, with love and longing.
Ibn Zaydun (1003-1071) Andalusia

Evolution in Architecture

2006-09-07T19:01:00.000-07:00

For the full text of this article go to 'architectural texts' link on the sidebar. It is a truism to say that architectures evolve over time. The term ‘evolve’ is however usually used quite loosely to mean that architecture changes over time and that it is possible to trace the sources of these changes to work produced by a previous generation of architects. It has also been noticed that there is some vague analogy between the concept of styles and that of species in biological systems. Both are seen as unique groups of characteristics which are distributed throughout a particular ecological or cultural environment and both of which in simple terms originate or become extinct at certain historical points in time. In other words they have a definite lifespan after which they cease to exist or ‘become something else’ by being transformed into another species or style. In both cases we have the idea of a lineage and even the concept of continual transformation. This is coupled with an understanding that change occurs in both these systems as a product of adaptation to their respective environments. In biology this environment would be the effect, for instance of climate, food supply or the activities of other species. In architecture, environment is seen as a function of demographic, institutional, technological or economic change. Another similarity is that of distribution of these species-styles within particular environments. A number of these may co-exist at the same time while at other times a single species-style dominates the environment. One may also notice that at certain times even the function of ‘competition’ creeps into the architectural vocabulary where diverse styles are seen to compete with each other for cultural dominance during particular periods. So far so good. However, if, with the use of evolutionary theory we avoid the fallacy that architectures are the product of heroic efforts on the part of a few architects, it is possible to develop a system wide understanding of architecture as a vast collective enterprise......................................... To Continue see 'architectural texts' link on the sidebar.

the way it was

2006-08-28T03:29:00.000-07:00

This is Govan, Glasgow, Scotland, UK. I was born and raised here. Its a working class Community on the river Clyde based originally on shipbuilding. They built great ships here - at Fairfields and Harland & Wolves, shipbuilders, as great as the men who built them. Here it was, the best 19th century urban housing in Britain enclosing shops, cinemas, schools, parks, pubs of course, Churches - many of them - and everything we could need to grow up and live here in a tightly knit physical and social fabric. Eventually globalization and incompetent politicians an city planners and architects fucked it all up. Ships were built elsewhere and the men of Govan were trashed, unemployed. Their politicians - the Labour Party - which had used them as election fodder for decades stood by and let it happen. Then, finally the middle class architects and planners who hated this tight urban environment (it didn't fit their mindless suburban dreams) punched bug holes in the streets with their tacky, carparks, bus depots, malls, and 'public open space' with Their windswept, dreary and unpolicible spaces. Turned the place into an endless winter with a few blackened leafless trees. How these middle class bastards: the capitalists, the politicians and the planners must have hated the people who built the ships. But I didn't.

Frozen Music

2006-08-27T21:22:00.001-07:00

Frozen Music……….?

See 'architecture texts' link on sidebar to read full article

Architecture. Music. And the connection between them is….? I’m not sure, but the obvious thing that comes into my mind and yours is that quote from Goethe (or was it Schelling ?) ‘architecture is frozen music’. What can that phrase possibly mean? If the two terms are equivalent, does that mean that music could be seen as ‘liquid architecture’? What about painting? Or sculpture? Is painting frozen music as well? Again, I don’t know, but to go back for a minute to architecture: I could imagine in a gloriously Romantic feel-good moment that the experience of a wonderful building might in some way equate with the experience of a wonderful piece of music. For instance, is the experience of walking through Notre Dame Cathedral or Sir John Soane’s Museum similar in some way to listening to Albinoni’s Allegro or Bruce Springsteen’s Thunder Road?

..........................go to 'architecture texts' link on sidebar to read the rest of it.