Week #16

LET’S GET OLD OLD SCHOOL!

This is very cool, and well edited and a lot of fun! Join the National Orchestra of France on their performance of Ravel’s Le Bolero. Thanks for the forward, Aunty Jane.

This week’s licorice allsorts:

1.0 You got me rollin’

cody dock rolling bridge

architect: Thomas randall-page

Location: east london, UK

At the end of last year this bridge caught my attention. The concept is that it “rolls”. It is cranked into place as it moves along toothed rails to let taller vessels pass through the canal.

Many of the comments touch on the tooth’s getting things stuck in them (valid) maintenance etc. but I honestly think it’s a fun concept. The bridge is part of PUP Architects’ master plan to revive the area around the River Lea.

The “rolling” nature of the project and the crank/hand operated technology has historical roots from Victorian engineering. The balanced system relies on counterweights to achieve the parallel rolling movement.

The bridge is intended to be operated without a motor or any electricity. In order to achieve this, counterweights are located within the square frame are to ensure that the structure moves evenly. The bridge has been granted planning permission, although is currently being funded through crowdfunding efforts.

2.0 you gotta go to work, work, work

work from home?

This week, I’ll be entering my seventh working week at home. How bizarre. I have now worked from home, longer than I have at the office. One big architectural and fundamental question that has now come to the forefront, is…

what is the future of office space?

It has become apparent that many people are able to sufficiently carry out their jobs from the comfort of their own homes. Great! But, what’s going to happen to all of that office space and planned office space? Will I now get an electricity stipend for using my own electricity to work from home? Developers are already starting to re-think about the futures of their current assets and how Covid-19 could reshape the “traditional” working environment.

Last week I was forwarded (thank you Farhan) a really interesting podcast episode by Sam Harris (American Neuroscientist and Philosopher) who interviews Wordpress founder Matt Mullenweg. Mullenweg talks about job flexibility and the ability for someone to carry out their job remotely. He distills it down to 5 Levels, with 0 equaling a company that offers employees no job mobility (e.g a restaurant waiter, construction worker) and 5 being the ultimate remote working job nirvana, where companies trust that you fulfill your duties, you have your own schedule and can work from literally ANYWHERE. If you are ready for almost 2 golden hours of listening click here.

3.0 So what about co-working space?

WeWork, the co-working pioneers (Northern Hemisphere based folks might be more familiar with) has for sure identified a new nature of ‘working’ and ‘office space’. Unfortunately for WeWork, its current future seems to be the face of extinction. Its demise was fueled by bouts of reckless spending, a Board Room full of children and a wild business model that allowed the company to be incredibly over valued (before the failed IPO it was valued privately at $47bn).

Despite all this, its founders Miguel McKelvey and the (infamous) Adam Neumann, created significant noise in the commercial office space industry. Whilst Covid-19 may be pushing WeWork to an even earlier death, I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed working in a co-working environment and loved some of the WeWork spaces.

Part of this WFH has allowed me to reconsider, my own working style. Probably a hybridised version of office (love office banter) and WFH (to crank out work in peace) will probably get me to my efficiency Nirvana. Whilst Mullenweg is arguing to strive for Level 5, I still believe that fostering real relationships with people and seeing them in 3-D is really something you never truly capture over zoom. Plus I love pizza lunch, cake day and happy hour.

4.0 so let’s talk about cities.

Ever so often I scroll through my only social media platform, LinkedIn, which contains mostly industry related posts. Already architects are talking about the future of our cities, dealing with pandemics and how design will change accordingly. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill posted this article from fastcompany with some insights from various architects. Apparently buildings have to be the “secret weapon in the future to combat infectious diseases.” The article touches (no pun intended) on the importance of clean air and the investment that should be allocated towards providing clean air in buildings through filtered air.

On a micro scale, handwashing stations, may become folded into public infrastructure, although on a more macro scale, cities and buildings should push for adequate public space to allow people access to the all important Vitamin D. We all know the benefits of Vitamin D and how good it feels. With humans spending approximately 90% of their time indoors, it’s imperative that people have sufficient access to open space and sunlight.

My thoughts? Handwashing stations, like. Open space. Of Course! But on another note, should cities be working with developers to create buildings with built-in infrastructure to accommodate for disaster relief? Any thoughts anybody?

5.0 time for something more light-hearted.

Please please watch this. you won’t regret it. Forwarded by Mike, it’s so funny.
Opening shot features SOM’s new courthouse building in LA.

6.0 that courthouse building…

new united states courTHOUSE

ARCHITECT: SKIDMORE, OWINGS & MERRILL

LOCATION: LOS ANGELES, USA

At the beginning of the year I went to LA and Izzie took me on an excellent walking tour (of architecture). We went inside the new SOM courthouse. Wowee. It is a slick SOM building that has Stayed On Module. (An inside SOM joke). The building is a simple elevated box with a crenelated curtain wall that wraps around it. The floating glass box, sits on top of an offset podium that is clad with stone. I think the most exciting and surprising feature is the sparkly underside of the glass box which cantilevers out from the podium. It really had the feel of looking up the “skirt” of a building.

The glass cube of approximately 9 storeys has a full height atrium in the centre which is flanked by courthouses on almost every floor. The largest challenge for the building is managing the intense sun exposure and minimizing solar heat gain as much as possible (as its a glass box). Opaque panels are located on the East and West side pleats of the building, with fully transparent curtain wall pleats on the North and South of the building. The building achieves a LEED Platinum rating in line with the GSA’s 2020 objectives.

Another unique feature of the building (and almost unique to government/public projects) is blast mitigation measures. A novel truss system is used to increase the blast standoff distance between the perimeter and building’s primary structure.

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A cooling tower collects water which condensates and moves it to a 105,000 gallon cistern that is located underground. All water that is captured (inclusive of rainwater) is filtered and used for irrigation needs. This design was incorporated to conserve water due to the dry Southern Californian heat. All surplus water flows through a series of planters located at the eastern edge of the site. They help to filter and retain water before it enters the storm drains.

For the nerds out there, a large roof hat truss acting as a mega link beam ties together the reinforced concrete shear walls at the top to reduce ductility and control lateral movement in the event of an earthquake. The optimized design allows for a completely column free base. See the diagram below.

7.0 more in LA

I love LA.

Clifton’s cabinet of curiosities

Architect: ???

location: 648 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90014, USA

Opened originally in 1935, post depression, Clifton’s Cabinet of Curiosities (COC) was pay-as-you-wish. The Cabinet of Curiosities was part of Clifford Clinton’s slew of restaurants in the LA area. Clinton himself was raised by Salvation Army Missionaries and had witnessed poverty around the world, inspiring him to implement his nuanced business models which also included Dine Free Unless Delighted. Clinton commissioned custom murals, had a large redwood tree (fake) placed in the centre of the restaurant along with a number of crazy scenes with taxidermy. Who knows what the design concept was… It is thought that Clifton’s was the inspiration for the first tiki bars.

As always all good things must come to an end and after 74 years of good business Cliftons closed shop. Over 79 years Clinton himself had opened 12 cafeterias (each individually themed) with the Christian ethos of never turning anyone away hungry. Eventually Clinton ended up selling the business to his children and him and his wife (Nelda) would devote their lives to a non-profit named Meals for Millions. Andrew Meieran, a nightclub operator purchased the establishment in 2010 and reopened the renovated premises in October of 2015.

To give my honest opinion, I f***** love it. The kitsch-ness, the extravagance, but more specifically the way the interior truly transports you to another world with so many things to look at. I probably could’ve spent a few hours in there checking everything out.

8.0 L.A, L.A, L.A!

the bradbury building

architect: sumner hunt/george h. wyman

location: 304 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013, usa

Built in 1893, this building is some solid architecture porn. As you walk into the dark interior you’re greeted with a magnificent skylight and the most exquisite wooden coffered ceilings. This historic piece is a five storey office building that was designed by Sumner Hunt and commissioned by Lewis Bradbury, a mining and real estate millionaire. The building’s final architect is not entirely clear as Hunt designed the building and George H. Wyman over saw the construction once Hunt turned over the drawings.

Fun fact: The Bradbury is featured in the George Harrison version of Blade Runner. In 1971 is was added to the National Register of Historic Places and is one of only four Los Angeles buildings to be designated as a National Historic Landmark.

The building’s original budget was set at $175,000, by the time it was completed and opened in 1893 (a year after Bradbury’s death) the total costs had blown out to $500,000.

The building’s exterior consists of a brown brick sandstone with terracotta detailing, in an Italian Renaissance Revival style, common for its time. The exterior is somewhat banal to the more notable interior. The main entrance features a low ceiling which helps to dramatize the expansive atrium. The ornamental cast iron contrasts with the wood tones as it delicately fills the atrium space and adds detail and interest to the overall composition.

Please visit, you won’t regret it, and it’s free! AND you can grab a blue bottle coffee at the same time.

Anyone recognise this from Blade Runner (the original)?

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7.0 started from the bottom…

25 park row

architect: cookfox

location: 25 park row, new york, usa

Yes please, I’ll take that view. I suppose one perk being in construction is you get to check out the view first…!

8.0 is this real life…?

LLoronas of juárez

Well it’s clearly not real life, but you should all check out my talented friend’s Albert Orozco’s website. Albert’s work featured below has just recently won 3rd Prize at the 7th Annual Fairytales Competition. The narrative of Lloronas of Juárez (completed with Edward Rivero & Keenan Gravier) focuses on the marginalization of migrants and the ongoing terror they are subjected to at the US borders. (Click the image for more…!)

Albert’s work is extremely contextual, and is coupled with dialogues and narratives. He beautifully speaks about the hard nosed topics that architects often don’t like to touch. The second image is one of my favourites, from a project entitled “The Divided Americas”.

9.0 can you feel it?!

Thank you Anna for bringing this song back into my life. It’s incredible. The real video clip is also whack and a precursor of the MJ that followed.

10.0 architectural spotlight. this is…

renzo piano

Born: Sept 14, 1937, Pegli, Italy - still well and truly alive!

Pritzker Prize Winner of 1998, Piano got his huge break when he won the commission to design the Pompidou Centre in Paris. Piano, at the time was in partnership with Richard Rogers, the pair had a firm together named Piano and Rogers. Their first project was for a furniture company in Italy. The unusual features of the building caught the attention of the juror’s who then awarded them the Pompidou commission.

At 34 years old (Rogers 38), they completed the Pompidou Centre in 1977. The Pompidou is renowned for the unique way Piano and Rogers chose to express the functionality of the building as a design feature. For example, the building’s main entrance is a series of elevators/stairs that are boldly expressed on the exterior.

So what else has he done…?

In 1977 Piano and Rogers parted ways and Piano founded the Renzo Piano Building Workshop in 1981. The firm now has three offices located in Paris, Genoa and New York.

So buildings buildings…

He is known for:

The Shard, London (2000-2010) located above the London Bridge tube station, The Shard stands a might 60 stories (305m) high on the London skyline. The mixed use tower contains, luxury residences, a hotel, offices, shops and restaurants. As opposed to being an egotistical monument, the Shard is designed with the intention of expressing light. As always towers are never well received by everyone with some condemning it as a foreign attack on the well-preserved British skyline. Albeit the Shard does have its supporters with Jonathan Glancy from the Telegraph stating “The Shard, whatever its flaws - and all its many floors - is a much better building than most of the flakes below it.” drops mic

Along with Maison Hermès (featured in a past episode), RPBW has also put its name on the extension of the Morgan Library (New York City), The New York Times building (New York City), The Tjibaou Cultural Center (Noumea, France).

Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Center, Noumea, France

I think my favourite building is the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. Located in Golden Gate Park, the CAS is a fun building. To succinctly describe, the museum is rectangular in plan, with an undulating gigantic green roof with weird glass pimples. The inside program houses an aquarium, biosphere and space dome. I spend a minimum of 4 hours each time I go there. The gigantic green roof almost makes it blend into the park, with the greenhouse like curtain wall, giving it a clinical yet brightly lit nerdy laboratory feel. Whilst I’m personally on the fence about zoos/aquariums due to animal ethics etc. I must say, aquariums are fascinating to me as they’re this strange cross section to an underwater environment and perspective we never get to see.

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He’s also well known for his pop-out illustrations/sectional drawings…

They’re pretty dope.

Shenanigans

1.0 a canine friend

Hi Ginny. What great teeth you have! (Janie’s parents’s pup).

2.0 babe

None other than New Zealand’s Nike Master Trainer Kirsty Godso!

Also referred to as “KG”, Kirsty started out her career as one of the Grit founders at Les Mils, only to be poached by Nike. Kirsty has been posting a number of online live streams with the Nike Training Club (NTC). I’ve also taken one of her classes with Andreea at Project Equinox, which honestly killed me. #somuchcardio

This quote from an article is quite great:

I always find it funny when people say ‘oh but I just love pizza!’ I’m like, maybe pizza doesn’t like you. Get over it. Just because you love something doesn’t mean it’s reciprocal.”

3.0 boy

Tom Misch just dropped an album this week. This brit is awesome and if you’re into some silky funk beats, he’s your man.

There’s also a great Tiny Desk Concert that you can watch here.

4.0 stair porn

Ok, so technically not stairs, but Diller, Scofidio + Renfro’s vortex concrete tunnel at The Broad in Los Angeles.

Cheeky picture of the interior corner detail showing the exterior exosekelton and glass curtain wall. Chilling.

5.0 art

Unsure why but really grasping at straws this week. And then I think its time for a well-deserved throwback. Everyone knows the diva status of Anish Kapoor. Someone (Stuart Semple) hates him so much that he created a pigment of the world’s “Pinkest Pink” that buyers had to tick a box claiming they weren’t Kapoor or buying it on his behalf. But in order to become famous and gain that kind of celebrity hatred you have to have some street cred. And he for sure does. At least in my mind.

Forever ingrained in my memory is this work by Kapoor. I remember so vividly standing in front of this giant pitch black square in a wall. I couldn’t tell what it was, but it cold and felt echoey, and wow was it dark. Next minute I’m in the next room, and what do I find? A giant corten steel zeppelin. 😮🤯 mind blown.

This piece is entitled “Memory” 2008.

6.0 object

I have a number of objects that I would like to post to validate my quarantine purchases. However before I get to a legitimate purchase I would like to bring everyone’s attention to the fact that you can get Texas shaped waffle makers in Texas.

Once upon a time when I was a child, I hated receiving candles. Fast forward 25 years or so later, give me candles till sunrise. Having said that the image below is not of a candle, but actually the perfume oil version of Maison Louis Marie No.04. Ooof its all sorts of delicious. And the candle is only $37 USD if you’re looking for a divine aroma to set your WFH mood. (You won’t regret this).

And if you’re feeling super ballsy I recommend this candle by Malin+Goetz, leather scent/flavour or whatever you call it. This candle is so powerful you can burn it for half an hour and the throw of the scent will comfortably hang around for a wee while. Slightly expensive for something that you’re going to end up combusting, but if you’re feeling lavish, do it.

I also think that one of these two scents is the one that the Public Hotel uses. MmmmMmmm

7.0 what was on my bedside table

Why we sleep by matthew walker.

An incredible read. I highly recommend. Even though Bill Gates recommended it to the world and myself first. Since reading this book I’ve been actively trying to ensure I get my beauty sleep. (Because it really is called beauty sleep for good reason!)

8.0 in my ears

Brought to my attention by Andrew, this podcast is my steady.

Pivot by Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway talk tech, the economy, a bit of covid and have pretty great podcast banter.

9.0 harsh realities

Covid Covid Covid… Need I say any more?

But on a more serious note. Let’s spare a moment to think of the countries out there who are not equipped with robust healthcare systems let alone food on their table as they are sentenced to stay at home without jobs/income and hence no food. Citizens of India are terrified they will all die of hunger as opposed to Corona.

10.0 meanwhile…

In New Zealand, they may have cracked it? Whilst its far too premature to celebrate, New Zealand may have indeed successfully eliminated the virus. After a “Level 4” classed lockdown. Jacinda Ardern (NZ’s PM) closed the borders to protect the kiwis (the people not the birds). Ardern’s communication in parallel with Dr Ashley Bloomfield has been absolutely stellar and crystal clear as they have (so far) navigated the country through these uncharted waters showing empathy, compassion and the cold hard truth.

I am in full agreement that there is no price on a human life. [so keep your bubble small and stay cool till after school]

11.0 doodle

Came up with some Covid-19 social distancing options for when we return to this office, and/or general public use.

12.0 nom nom nom.

Holy smokes, Leetee took me to this place called Daikokuya in Little Tokyo (LA). It was so good. I have no other words. Check out that tamago.

13.0 and that’s a wrap! here’s some ‘new’ music

Oof new music. Well there’s been a few good beats that have been my 1-minute dance parties during this corona time. One beat I’ve been thoroughly (still) enjoying is Gavin Turek’s WHITNEY. It’s 🔥🔥🔥 (Not to mention throwback JoJo’s Baby It’s You). Yes I have no shame.

See video below.

However there have been a number of playlists that should also be brought to your attention.

DISCO-RONA by Anna Ishii

Disco Quarantine by Jordan Elrod

be kind.