ruminations about architecture and design

Thursday, May 28, 2015

the end of architecture-george miller style


The most recent Mad Max movie is impressive cinema. Towers of ilium makes note of the fact that the entire film is devoid of architecture. The only shelter presented in the story is a series of caves carved into a rock formation. The director succeeds in emphasizing a post-post apocalypse, in which all that matters are things that are useful for survival--like cars and guns. Engineering trumps architecture, particularly when you need to maintain power as a warlord.

Monday, May 18, 2015

national and curious


Towers of ilium does not, as a rule, delve into the psychology of monumentality. It is enough to recognize its existence and remark on the relative folly of efforts directed towards that end.
Staff have been assigned to research by Teddy was included in this particular indulgence.

As an architectural composition and as a physical undertaking, it's quite impressive. One eyewitness has stated otherwise, but he made the error of visiting in person. Bias can be more effectively maintained with less information.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

section


Building sections can look impressive. This one, by Peter Gruhn, is visually rich. Like all sections, it can exist as piece of art on its own. In construction documents it's often the case that the least interesting drawings contain the most important information. Architects include interesting drawings because it makes them feel good.

Saturday, May 9, 2015

legends move on


This is the hallway outside the office of a well-known economist. The hallway is unremarkable architecturally. Remarkable things can happen in such places. The urge to create "inspiring spaces" is something that designers fixate on. God forbid that anyone do a rigorous study that demonstrates how "inspiring space" do little to promote creativity or profit. Usually, when an organization builds an "inspiring space" that "fosters creativity and innovation" it's a sign that its share price is about to peak and then begin a long decline.

Friday, May 1, 2015

things to come


The movie reviewers at towers of ilium were not particularly impressed by Snowpiercer. It's social message, however, was appropriate. Maybe things won't ever be that bad--they could turn out worse. For example, the superwealthy could start building cities for themselves in the desert. Ah, that is already happening.

Restoration has no economic rationale when urban conditions become physically inadequate. Abandonment has a strong archaeological precedent.