Interactive Surface: Tron Premiere Halfpipe

Tron Legacy Premiere - A Light Session from ENESS on Vimeo.

Interactive surfaces are a new and exciting frontier for architecture. For the premiere of the new Tron movie, a half pipe was created with various lighting effects as a promotion. ENESS did quite a few amazing projects that almost completely transform the materiality and atmosphere of surfaces and objects.

 
ENESS 2010 Showreel from ENESS on Vimeo.

The interactivity of these projections adds a dimension to architecture that rarely existed before. The previous notion of an immobile surface is redefined as something provocative and curious. By interacting with these interactive surfaces, the audience also indirectly interact with each other, bringing a social element to the architecture. 

Super Specific: Shohei Shigamatsu

Shohei Shigematsu, partner at OMA and director of the firm's New York office, recently gave a lecture at the independently organised TEDxEast conference in New York. Entitled "Super Specific", the talk aims at stablising the practice of global architecture within the ever-fluctuating world economy.

I mainly found the talk worthwhile for two reasons. For one, it gives a little insight into how to function as an architect and designer when the economy falters and the going gets tough. In the case of Shigematsu, his designs begin to embrace the hyper-functionalism for which OMA has become well known for and maximise development potential (i.e. money making ability) without sacrificing formal and iconic expression.

Secondly, the short talk is aimed at non-architects. Recently, (probably in large part due to the faltering economy) architecture has come under criticism for being too insular. It's always interesting to see how high-profile architects attempt to engage people outside of the discipline, and it is evident that through his work and oratory, Shigematsu is able to do so rather convincingly.

Also, thumbs up for being the first architect I know to bash MUJI.

Dinosaur Super Heroes

There hasn't been a dinosaur related post in a while, so I was quite excited when I saw this.

From
 http://legitimusmaximus.tumblr.com
Other incredible illustrations along with more dinosaur superheroes at http://www.flickr.com/photos/cadencejunkie/

On Line: Drawing Through the Twentieth Century

Architectural representation often deals with issues of the line. At its simplest inception, a line is what connects two points. However, The nature of the line and its effects becomes something infinitely complex. In architecture, the crucial moment is when a two dimensional drawing becomes a representation of a three dimensional idea. How exactly this happens and how clearly the idea becomes interpreted walks the line between science and art; the perception of the viewers versus the medium of the artist. 

"On Line" is the title of a series of exhibits and performances happening at the Museum of Modern Art in New York through February 7th. I will post an update as soon as I get a chance to visit. For now, here s a synopsis from the website:

"On Line is organized chronologically in three sections: Surface Tension, featuring the artistic drive to construct and represent movement through line within the flat picture plane; Line Extension, composed of works in which lines extend beyond flatness into real space—that is, into social space; and Confluence, presenting works in which line and background are fused, giving greater significance to the space between lines. In following the development of the meaning of line over the last one hundred years, the exhibition traces it in movement, across disciplines, and as it has been drawn out and rewoven in time and space—inevitably reflecting the interconnection and interdependency that are increasingly both shaping and emerging from a globalized society. Line, like thought, once understood as linear and progressive, has evolved into a kind of network: fluid, simultaneous, indefinite, and open."

The videos synopsis by the artists discuss some very crucial ideas on the ever important line. You can find these videos here: OnLine

101 Things I Didn’t Learn in Architecture School

Archdaily recently published a list of the "101 Things I Didn't Learn in Architecture School", which will instantly humour anyone who has spent a night in the studio. While you can find the full list here, I'd like to highlight a few of my favourites.

3] Do not drink at work and especially do not get toasted around your colleagues under any circumstances.

14] Go home to your family.
(As I've learned, iPhone's can be used to remind you to do this.)

19] Do not, however, ask for two monitors. Even though it makes you look like a bad-ass you will be expected to do twice the amount of work.

43] If you are invited to be on a jury, don’t trash the student just to make yourself look good or to contradict a rival on the jury. Be constructive and try to help the student. This is the point.

47] Don’t be a Typhoid Mary. When sick, stay home.

62] Architects who do not build things also have important things to say and should be listened to.

 67] Read Rem Koolhaas, but do not obsess and fantasize about being him. Delirious New York is still relevant.

82] Always back up your hard drive.
(instructions)

98] Architecture is cliquish.