Tradition

People, organizations, cultures, entire continents -- we all have traditions.  If you want to deny it, then maybe that's your tradition.  They're inescapable.

In our house, we have a tradition.  We erect a tree (You can call it what suits you: holiday, pagan, even Christmas), and we throw a party.  The only request of our guests is that they come with an ornament of their own making.  For 25 years now, we have been collecting the gifts -- to the point that, except for the new LED lights, only handmade unique decorations adorn our tree.  We keep it up (the tree, that is) for many weeks, until the needle drop seems too intense.

How does this relate to the theme of this blog?  Have no fear.

An appreciation for the influence and value of tradition is essential to the design, construction and maintenance of quality architecture.  Traditions are both pervasive and invasive, effecting virtually every element of a building.  The functionality of the spaces, the supportive characteristics of the building systems, the presence (or absence) of appropriate lighting and color.  Comfort is where one is at ease with your surroundings - traditions are perpetuated.

So it is in our house.  For example, over time the location of our decorated tree has moved; and the basement had to be reorganized to make room for seasonal ornament storage.

Our issues are comical in their insignificance.  A good friend is working on the master-planning of Mecca.  What would you do if you had to welcome three million visitors, pretty much all together!

Even modern contemporary buildings can support centuries-old traditions.  New traditions can materialize in the most unlikely ways.  No matter how or when, it's just plain smart to be aware.

Celebrate!

Vision? You Decide!

If you're a movie buff or involved in the building industry, you may know about Peter Greenaway.  Why?  Well, he wrote and directed the movie The Belly of an Architect.  Not an ordinary movie.  He also did The Pillow Book, Prospero's Books, The Draughtsman's Contract; not to mention The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover.

Until January 6th, you can see one of his latest projects at the Park Avenue Armory in New York: Leonardo's Last Supper: A Vision by Peter Greenaway.

If you're a fan, you'll not be disappointed.  The immense multi-screen presentation is visually impressive, completely surrounding you with sound and moving imagery inspired by familiar Renaissance artwork.

After an initial immersion in the first presentation, the centerpiece of the show is the manipulation and illumination of a detailed replica of Da Vinci's Last Supper.  The base image is printed full-size from computer scans of the original, now fading, artwork; but that's just the beginning.  The wall is then drenched in computer controlled lighting, which does all sorts of unexpected things.  Apparent 3D, rear lighting, penetrating sunlight, even neon outlining.

The third piece, a more scholarly presentation of Veronese's Wedding at Cana, was more conventional, albeit enormous and enveloping.  For this part, the show was narrated.

Artistic purists can be offended.  Those less pure (like myself) were fascinated.

The work is done by a Milanese organization, Change Performing Arts; and the extent of Greenaway's contribtion is unclear.  But make no mistake, his stamp is obvious.  Critics call his work ponderous and annoying.  Virtually everyone sees the oueve as visually stunning.  This show, in my opinion, far surpasses his moves (as you might imagine it should).

I was glad for the experience.  See for yourself - and then be prepared to quibble with your friends.  Great fun!

You Know You’re Old, When ...

  … You remember the day you filled your Spiroll with a spilled cup of coffee, and the floor plan prints are always darker on the lower half of the sheet.

  … You wonder why so many firms spell their names without spaces between the words.

… You actually cut and paste paper to create the original for a spec.

… Your first portable PC was the size of a small suitcase … and it hurt your shoulder to carry it.

… You show someone how to twirl a pencil to make its lineweight consistent.

… Your Mayline loosens, and the walls of your building are not parallel.

… Your pin bar gets bent.

… Your floppy disk file gets lost.

… You run out of S’s on your Letraset film.

…You have to reset the screws on your slide rule.

…Your foot-inch adding machine stylus gets lost.

…Your set of Rapidographs dries out.

… Your transit leveling screw is stripped.

…You know the real reason that blueprints are called that.  You’re even older if you know why they are blue.

… You think that PDF might mean ‘Pretty Darn Fast’.

… You wonder why Fly Ash would be good for anything.

… You really like how quick it is to change the font with your Selectric typewriter.

… None of your Architect friends have any connection to IT, unless they think you’re thinking about Clara Bow.

… You think that hard and soft refer to density.

… You know that a drafting machine has no power supply.

… You practice your hand printing by writing only in block letters.

… You consider whether you want your personal ‘style’ to be vertical or inclined.

… You lost your drafting pad.

… You know all about 3D software because you can sit with the operator.

… You refer to all Contractors as ‘he’.

… You sand a chisel point on your pencils.

… Your standard details are in a filing cabinet.

… You messed up your computer program by dropping the punch cards.

… You knew what hanging chads were before you ever heard the word chads.

… You made every effort to keep gray water out of your building.

…  You thought Green Power might have been a reference to the Hulk.

… You think that Present Value refers to your Christmas Bonus.

… You think that a guy boasting about his PEX is talking about his body tone.

… You use CSI specs, and you’ve never thought about criminal activity.

… You liked the performance characteristics of asbestos shingles.

… You enjoy long, hard, drenching showers.

… You think that if you sit still and think long enough that a light bulb will turn on, not off.

… You think the best use for old blue jeans is for cut-off’s.

… You think that LEED may be a city in England.

… The people talking to themselves on the street near you don’t have blue teeth.

… You double-shift your CAD drafters to pay off the equipment purchase.

… You call drafters draughtsmen.

… You wonder where the funeral is, since everyone seems to be dressed in black.

… Your Sweet’s catalogs are a tradable commodity.

… You wonder why a classic movie may be good to show in your building when IRMA is proposed.

… You refuse to put Styrofoam on the outside of your building.

… Your slide collection gets buckled because you left it in the back seat of your locked car, parked in the sun.

… Your carousel projector jams.

… You were the only woman in the office.

…You were the only woman on the jobsite.

… You admire the integrity of Howard Roark.

… You wonder what happened to Frank Gehry.

… You are renovating your own renovations.

… You’ve got writers’ cramp … and you think that carpal tunnel is a way for fish to get around the new dam.

… You’re annoyed by 30 under 30.

… You don’t find your PA in a doctor’s office.

… You get all the references here.

TSA?

Thousands Standing Around.  That what many people say about our vaunted Transportation Security Administration.  What would they say about what's happening at the World Trade Center?

I hadn't been there for a few years, and had some visiting relatives who wanted to see progress.  The scope of the project is impressive - but why are so many people on site just shuffling around?.

Mid-afternoon on a Tuesday, we had to dodge hard-hatted workers on the surrounding sidewalks, all gabbing, or smoking or grabbing a bite to eat.  They weren't dashing during break time - it lasted quite a while.  Inside the fence, it was not uncommon to see many people merely watching as other worked; and these weren't inspectors, unless inspectors have become indistinguishable from tradespeople at the WTC.

I was quite surprised, to say the least.  Should I also be angry?  There are tax dollars at work here.  Should you be angry too?

Truly Extraordinary

EMPAC, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center, was the host site for a recent Society of College and University Planning one day conference.  What an overwhelming experience!

Some think it looks like a greenhouse that tried to swallow a boat (most don't), but that's not the lasting impression.  RPI describes the building in matter-of-fact manner:

EMPAC’s 220,000 square-foot center is a signature work of architecture that brings together four main venues as well as many smaller studios and lab spaces under one roof. All can be used independently and simultaneously, allowing EMPAC to present events, host student gatherings, and dedicate space to research and residencies – all at one time. EMPAC includes many firsts and exceptional attributes in the fields of acoustics, structural integrity, theatrical presentation, and digital media. High-bandwidth computer, audio and video networks create a technical infrastructure unlike any other performing arts centers. And, when linked to Rensselaer’s CCNI supercomputer, EMPAC’s superb venues provide opportunities for research that surpass those of most other media research centers.

The description doesn't begin to convey its wonder.  Make it a destination.  Soon.

Mastering Plans

Master Planning is daunting; and perhaps because it is, there is a risk that essential elements may get overlooked in an effort which concentrates on the visuals.  What might be neglected?

For answers to this question, the latest No Left Turn newsletter, also called Notes From The Road, may provide some perspective.  There, you can consider my opinion about the work typically performed by Architects and Landscape Architects.

This longer version of 'Notes' is available by subscription, or simply can be viewed on our website www.noleftturn.biz.  Enjoy.

A Rose By Another Name

Jonathan Rose Companies is a real estate policy, planning, development, owner's representative and investment firm; but hardly like most others.
Nearly 1/2 of their latest 24 page newsletter Developing Times reads reads like a college essay.  For example, population growth, energy demands, climate change, and biodiversity loss are discussed as factors driving and mitigating international development.  Hardly the stuff of the average capitalist.

Is this just PR hype to impress clientele?  Is there a true focus to what seems like meandering thoughts?  And do they really conform to their stated ambitions?  You'd have to be more inside their business than I to have a sound opinion.

What I do have an opinion about is that Jonathan Rose has gone beyond the traditional stereotypes of our business.  I wish them well.  We could all benefit from the attitude adjustments they prescribe.

Would you like an Architect with that?

The Information Technology field has co-opted the title 'Architect'.  How did this happen?

In the state of Connecticut, for example, in order to call yourself an Architect you have to be registered by the Architectural Licensing Board, which is part of the Department of Consumer Protection.  The State proclaims in its General Statutes and Regulations that "...no person shall practice architecture in this state, except as provided in this chapter, or use the title "architect", or display or use any words, letters, figures, title, sign, seal, advertisement or other device to indicate that such person practices or offers to practice architecture, unless such person has obtained a license..."

So how is it that in a recent search for Architect positions near my Zip Code only three of the 102 job offerings were for someone with an actual background in the legal practice of Architecture?  This has not gone unnoticed.  Earlier this summer, Architect magazine ran an article on the subject: I'm an Architect.  The author has resigned himself to the apparent acquiescence by the American Institute of Architects (our lofty Professional Society) in the matter.

I'm less sanguine on the subject, I guess.  This can't be right.  Now, if only I could find a way to make the buggers pay for what they've done.  They can credit my PayPal account. OK?

Blinded by the Light

The October 15th issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education has a cover story about the pending renovation of the Aronoff Center at the University of Cincinnati, designed by well-known architect Peter Eisenman: "At Just 14, Iconic Building Raises Preservation Issues."

The article describes the sad saga of yet another building technology failure of a 'Starchitect's' monument.  Also mentioned for their alleged misdeeds on other campuses are Frank Lloyd Wright and Frank Gehry.

Having been involved in a system failure myself, I know that mitigating circumstances may have been outside the architect's control.  Nevertheless, the appearances are far from good.  What's going on here?

• In their zeal to patronize the 'Arts' and build enduring edifices, are owners losing sight of the liabilities inherent in their 'experiments'?
• Have the 'Starchitects' become so enamored of their sculptural design statements that they have neglected incorporation of sound technology into their practices?
• Because of design factors driving up construction costs, are compromises in construction being rationalized in attempts to restrain runaway budgets?

I suspect all the participants should be chided into doing better.

Uncle Miltie

Milton Glaser

The name is familiar to us, but  perhaps you can't recall why.  Possibly the most prolific visual artist ever, he might be best known for the creation of the I(heart)NY logo.

 

For more than 60 years, he has influenced our view of the world with an extraordinarily diverse oeuvre.

Now, if you know where to look, you might find showings of a 2009 documentary "Milton Glaser: To Inform and Delight".   I found it this past week on the Sundance Channel.

Consider his inspirations, the meanings behind, and the value of his work.  Consider too, that the path to importance and some fame is a consequence of both luck and commitment.

At least, I was informed and impressed.  How success can be replicated by talented designers remains an enigma, but his story is most entertaining.