It's a Thesis V.2

I've been really getting into photography lately. I should be more specific, the connoisseurship of photography not the actual taking of photos [although I'm sure that is to come soon if weekend tips at the bar allow me to splurge on this as a Christmas gift to myself].
One of my favorite photo-blogs is done by New York photographer Joseph Holmes, which he posts at joe's nyc. I think everyone should check him out especially his series of workspace photos - which are so fantastic. Anyhoo....I popped by his website this morning to see this photo in all it's glory. [click on it to make it bigger/better]


As you can see the framing, subject matter, and especially lighting are really striking. What I like about this photo and one's like it is how no one really ever gets to see this sort of stuff which is so integral to how the city they live in works. Exploring these spaces for the most part is illegal, however prevention is almost impossible so if one wants to have a look around you just have to know where to go. One of the unexpected results of these spaces is how eerily beautiful these spaces can be.


Now once you start getting into the 'urban explorer' community you end up in storm sewers in toronto [as in the photo above by Michael Cook] or in a Russian Subway Tunnel Construction area like this one taken by the group Russos:


A thesis on this type of material will obviously take me towards how this type of infrastructure shapes the way cities develop much more than private investment and public desire. It's interesting how this overlooked aspect of our cities is more in control of the city than we think it is - and possibly even more interesting is how just a few people in the city wield control over a system which undoubtedly influences millions.

It's a Thesis

Since my last post I've started about a half dozen comments on all kinds of subject matter - none of which I've finished. I've been all over the map lately and not actually getting anywhere.

Thesis has been on my mind for most of the semester and I think I have narrowed it down to looking at The Vancouver Art Gallery. The gallery is looking to expand since their digs in the former courthouse are starting to become a little cramped and a wee bit damp.

So what does this mean? It means that I'm thinking of designing a new art museum for Vancouver as my thesis. It means I drill my girlfriend who is taking a masters in Museum Studies here at UofT for ideas and ideologies about museums. Architecturally I could design the museum, that I'm not worried about, what I am worried about is my architectural approach to the act of design. Do I think museums are elitist institutions and should be catered to the rich, or are they places of education and centers of cultural heritage?
Do I design for the masses or the patrons, and why?

MOMA, having just undergone a major renovation is becoming a major focus for me. There is lots of material on the expansion of Modern Arts beloved major institution and I've been starting to amass material and approaches. There is much to do and I have no idea where it will take me [probably a trip back to New York and one to Vancouver].
Bernard Tschumi's envisioning of MOMA

Herzog and de Meuron take a look....

Rem Koolhaas and OMA

Three

The next step/year of school is upon me. On Monday third year begins and the world of electives runs amok. Studio choices are broad and range from: a trip to Santiago to study urban planning, a real design project for a high rise on Bloor Street West designed according to Taoist principles, a carbon neutral school, a[nother] trip to Vegas this time to create a transitory park on an undeveloped area of the Strip, rethinking approaches to residential spatial design, and using sound as a design tool. Choice is broad, professors are good, and I haven't made up my mind yet....

More nerve racking is a required course next semester entitled Thesis Research and Prep. Thesis is appearing on the horizon and admittedly I'm a little nervous. I haven't quite figured out exactly what I'm doing here yet and the carte blanche possibilities makes me feel overwhelmed.

So what is the approach? What I think about architecture would be a good place to start. So what exactly do I think about architecture?
I have no idea...

The Never Ending Process

"If you are satisfied with what you do, you are dead.
Me, it is worse than that - I am ashamed of what I do." -Philippe Starck

Pulling Back The Rug

Looking Back

There is something I think which is rather peculiar about my creative mind. It is my own worst enemy. Often in studio reviews things I have already thought of and either forgot about them because I was too stupid to write them down or simply didn't have the time to complete them are mentioned. Most of the time I am prepared for the criticism I am going to receive, almost down to the point of what they are going to say.

Now self editing happens in all fields, but when you look at something long enough the border between creative and critical viewing becomes blurry. When I look back at the above projects from the last few years not only do I think about what went into them, but I also think about what I would have changed. Perhaps that's where time comes into play. Now matter what it keeps going - moving - changing. Maybe the project never ends. Maybe I'll never be fully satisfied with something.

For those of us lucky enough to have experienced a Richard Serra sculpture, his work is commanding in its massiveness. On the occasion of a 40 year retrospective of his work at MoMA he talks about how he wouldn't build the sweeping forms if he knew what the experience of them would be ahead of time. For Serra it seems to be one large project encompassed in several individual works of art. From each project he learns something and takes it with him.


Can I treat architecture as my personal exploration - a selfish indulgence. It is a rather public art form. Somebody will most likely have to live/work with this thing. I want to build something, not just be a paper architect like the deconstructivists were for so long.

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....