Real Architectik

So the 1st Year is a long distant memory now. The happy-go-lucky experimentation of projects like "a timeline" and "make something out of some other crap" are far in the past. Standing up for crits with a couple of crumpled A3 sketches isn't going to cut it anymore.

I've been sitting in an architects office in Truro for a few weeks - ostensibly on "work experience". This is an architecture firm which DOES stuff - a lot of projects - but is about as far removed from the theoretical student experience as it is possible to be. The work they do largely revolves around renovating and working around existing old Cornish stone and slate buildings, in areas of dubious urban "conservation" or outstanding natural beauty (ie, they are hemmed in left right and centre by the all powerful triumvirate of planning, conservation and English Heritage offices). If it is a new build it will almost invariably have a slate roof... everything is IN KEEPING. It has to be - to get paid, you have to get it approved and that means, not breaking the mould.

Work days revolve around sitting in a hot office, staring at a computer. I've done that before. But that time, it would often be broken up by a £500 lunch at Amaya and a bottle of wine - this happy and rare occurence does not happen a lot in a business park in Truro.

What I'm trying to say, is that the lure of university is growing - academia doesn't suffer the cruel realities of planning offices and conservation groups - and there are no bills to pay. Makes me wonder if the whole endeavour for me was about escaping the corporate world...

Don't miss... in the next installment... our feature presentation...

THE ARCHITECTURE OF DEATH

Etienne de Crecy

Its an old video, and I'm not saying you have to like the music, (which I think is just electro-squelchy enough for me on the right occasion), but this has to be one of the best dj'ing music shows I have ever seen. The booth is literally inside the projection cubes, he is mixing from inside and the projectors are synced to the beats - apart from an awesome visual effect, there's a lot going on here... an amazing space in there - and out there for what it creates to the crowd.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzil8S7tUeY

Summer so far

Its been a pretty crazy summer so far, sounds like it has been for everyone, not just me. I've just been in to South Bank to do some pointless form filling, but also to collect my portfolio and my journal and essay. Wandering around the (very quiet) university buildings and then reading the journal again on the bus on the way home, I'm really looking for term to start again - last year was a real eye opener, getting my head around the idea of studying again, and - more importantly - the fact that you're on your own with it - you get out of it, what you put in. The lecturer's will point you in the right direction and then you're on your own to make of it what you will.

But I've also been speaking to some 'proper' architects a lot recently... ie. practicing ones... and the same message keeps coming through - experience is absolutely vital. Get working for a company and get on with it NOW...

an additional blog... if you are interested

a daily tune, (or when I remember to do it...) for your listening pleasure.

http://yourdailyearworm.blogspot.com/

Planning process explained

http://www.newsbiscuit.com/2010/02/23/town-planners-playing-scrabble-using-google-earth-291/

internet becoming like the M40

i was just thinking that it was like that, or at least motorways in general... you get on it, with an idea of going somewhere, and you can only get off at the big junctions - you miss out on all the stuff inbetween, the stuff that it has been planned that you don't see... possibly, the GOOD stuff. But you do get there fast, probably where you wanted to go. That's what google does - who actually clicks on anything that isn't on the first page? It means you are channelled into a series of decisions - it doesn't increase your freedom, it decreases it. The car and the internet are only expressions of freedom if you actually take that dodgy little back road, or flick to page 84 of the search results... otherwise, you are just going backwards and forwards between Reading and Birmingham.