The M80

An eye opening technological development occurred in recent weeks. I really can't say it any better than this.

This image should look familiar to someone....

The Glass Is Half....

A rather substantial void has appeared in the last few weeks in my life. There is the expected low after finishing a chaotic year of school. And there's also the half empty house as my girlfriend is working in New York City this summer. The two have combined into a deafening silence which is starting to drive me a little stir crazy.

I was expecting to get a job in an architectural/design firm this summer, having more experience than last year, and having a decent portfolio this time around. The sea of rejection was expected but still moderately depressing when it started to come in. On the bright side, many of the firms I applied to at least responded with a 'no' instead of ignoring me outright. On top of that the responses I got from several firms were notes from the principals themselves telling me they liked my work but had no room for me this summer. I came close once when a firm in New York requested an interview with me; they later declined when they realized I was in Toronto.

I was really hoping to work on my skills acquisitions this summer and learn tons at a firm but I've pretty much given up on that. Right now I'll be happy if I can make it through the summer without incurring any more debt, forget learning anything.
I've down shifted my expectations for work this summer and cannot even seem to be able to find the famous - and soul crushing - entry level burger flipping bare minimum.
Last summer I got a job tending bar at a hotel restaurant/lounge. I managed to hold onto Saturday night shifts through the school year but there just isn't any more hours there for me. Now it's not that there isn't any jobs out there, it's just that they all want to hire extra help for Saturdays. Funny how the only thing keeping me alive is also holding me back. I won't give up what I have at the hotel because its the perfect school job, I just wish I could find something to compliment it.

Scenery

Was in New York recently. Here I am enjoying quite a view from the top of 30 Rockefeller Center.

(re)Think

When I first saw this project a while ago I thought they had lost their marbles - both Kentucky, the city that said yes, and the architects, OMA. However this year I have begun to re-evaluate the practice of architecture, the built environment, and the artifacts (buildings) we leave behind.

I happened to have just passed by this video which I thought I would share of architect, Joshua Prince-Ramus, who at 36 years old has been the chief designer of one of my favorite buildings, the Seattle Library. I only just learned that Prince-Ramus was also the chief designer of a building which sort of frightened me but now I find completely fascinating.

It's well worth the 20min and it might help to explain to some people exactly what I'm trying to do in school. [It's also easier to watch if you blow it up to full screen.]

The Short Road Ahead

The road to the finish seems to be taking forever. I'm done. Not work wise [that happens on the 27th] but mentally, emotionally; everything.
I need a break. I need a trip somewhere else, a fast car, an open road, and some sleep.
Enjoy the very real, un-staged trip through early morning Paris, it looks like heaven...

#1

Okay. It's been decided. Daniel, you're my number one draft pick.

So Daniel, how do you like my cover?

A Trip Down Amnesia Lane

Last year I avoided this chaos.
Last year I was unemployed during the summer.

It is Reading Break this week. Usually time to go skiing or hang out on a beach for many students. For me I get to sift through the startling amount of data I have amassed and make something useful out of it.
IT'S PORTFOLIO TIME.

Four days in I have a layout pushing a measly 150Mb and about 18 pages. It now takes several minutes to save the Illustrator file so I thought I would update this woefully neglected blog as I wait.

There is some slight motivation for this labor intensive process besides applying to local firms for summer work. The PEP, or The Professional Experience Program Award is up for grabs. Or more specifically the chance of being placed at a MAJOR international firm for an internship over the summer. The firms up for grabs are:
Allies and Morrison - London
Behnisch Architekten - Stuttgart
Studio Daniel Libeskind - New York
Kohn Pedersen Fox - New York
Morphosis - Los Angeles
Michael Maltzan Architecture - Los Angeles
OMA/Koolhaas - Rotterdam
Skidmore Owings and Merrill - New York/Chicago.

Prestigious? Certainly. Competitive? Absolutely. Out of my reach? Possibly.
However, you don't get in if you don't apply.
I list in order my top three choices, the faculty reviews the portfolios received, and sends each firm a small handful of portfolios deemed worthy enough to choose from. The only question is where do I apply?
Any Suggestions?