New York Day 3

 

 

 

Richard (lecturer for product design), Silvio and I visited the Philip Stark Hotel called 'Hudson'.

It is very much a sensory building: each space had a different  aesthetic and feel. The attention to detail is impressive. Couldn't help think there was a lack of 'truth of material' though. A great visit all in all and thanks to Richard for organising.

 

 

Wednesday morning we visited the Guggenheim after a fine muffin breakfast in Central Park. The exhibition was about Italian futurism. I though this would be an ode to fascism. And it was. In honesty it wasn't my thing. So.........

I jumped in a cab and went back to MOMA. I spent the whole afternoon photographing Brancusi's sculptures. He pioneered extreme simplification of form. I like his work very much. His designs were the inspiration for Alison Brooks Newhall Be scheme which I am researching for Polly's module.  See some of Brancusi's quotes below.......

"Don't look for obscure formulas or mystery in my work. It is pure joy that I offer you. Look at my sculptures until you see them . Those closest to God have seen them"

 "Simplicity is complexity resolved" 

Below is the research room at Central Library. I have spent most of my time hear researching and reading. I am very happy.

New York day 1 and 2

 

New York

 

We arrived at new York after a fun flight and tasty food. I thought the flight was 3 hours but it was 8, so a good chance to catch up on some rest.

 

My first impression of NY was of   imposing, volume blocks, enslaved to a grid, with a gritty industrial feel.

 

Despite all the hype about bed bugs in our hotel, I could find any, but the nylon sheets are pretty good at delivering small electric shocks, so they have probably all been executed.

 

Day one was a visit to the Empire State Building. This was the first truly high rise reinforced concrete building. The trouble is the internal space is just circulation and structure! more a statement than a useful space.

 

 

I took the shot below from the roof. It is  of an adjacent building. It was snowing, but I like the silhouette of the white structure behind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Silvio and I visited the Seagram Building. Its a black block with bronze coloured glass, an enticing front courtyard and clean lines.  He has forgotten more than I know about Architecture, so it was good to learn a little from him.

Day 2 we visited the MOMA. It is probably the best museum I have ever been in. There was a Frank Lloyd Wright exhibition of a new town he planned for 'anywhere'. The models and drawings are detailed beyond belief.

To me, Frank Lloyd Wright's ideas for 'A new freedom for living in America' were  big brother socialism. He has prescribed how the city would work, interact and conduct itself.  Just who does he think he is! I would'nt let him tell me how to live.

 

 

 

 

Immersive space

 

 

 

 

Brilliant fun making these models and animations.

The model is on a 1:5 scale: a 600 sq cube, and its very effective.

The model does have a more serious side: we have been exploring immersive space. The model illustrates scale, form, anthropometrics and ergonomics.

Sight lines align well with the windows.

Curves have been used in an ergonomic context.

The space is functional too: drawing, layout, computer work, resting , storage and internal/ external spatial interaction are catered for.

Thanks to Josh (L4) and photography technicians for enthusiastic support.