Metropolis.

Metropolis by Rob Carter - Last 3 minutes from Rob Carter on Vimeo.

Happy weekend! Film by Rob Carter. [video via it's nice that]

Provisional Practice USA.

Provisional: Emerging Modes of Architectural Practice USA, book cover

From an European perspective, US based architectural offices are often noted for their size: big cooperate offices like Gensler, HOK or SOM, which are extremely rare in Continental Europe.

However, a new generation of confident (boutique) offices emerge in the US. The book "Provisional: Emerging Modes of Architectural Practice USA" profiles nine of the United States most exciting architectural practices. They all share a pragmatic, "roll-up-your-sleeves" approach that seeks opportunities to redefine the role of craft in architectural practice. Each office has the commitment to experimentation and learning-by-doing: They explore new building and manufacturing methods, apply cutting-edge digital technologies, work with parametric CAD solutions and reveal niche to work for.

page from: Provisional: Emerging Modes of Architectural Practice USA, copyright content

The book features projects by SHop Architects, Front Studio, Gehry Technologies, Lewis. Tsurumaki. Lewis, Front Studio and more. The book contains interviews togehter with a selection of drawings, diagrams, models, renderings, and buidling process photographs.

page from: Provisional: Emerging Modes of Architectural Practice USA, copyright content

So maybe before you think of starting up on your own office - take a look into this book.

Provisional: Emerging Modes of Architectural Practice USA
(Paperback), Elite Kedan, Jon Dreyfous, Craig Mutter
Princeton Architectural Press (via amazon.com)

Soft Ground. By Ai Weiwei.

threee instalations in one room: soft ground, rooted upon and a fairytale

Soft Ground is an artwork done by Ai Weiwei exclusively for his exhibition "So Sorry" at the Haus der Kunst in Munich. The 380m² large rug (size 10.61m x 35.61m) is a replication of the building's limestone flooring and was done from 969 rectangular tiles. Each stone tile was photographed, traced by hand, to be then reproduced using a coloured yarns. Production time: ninety days. A project, in terms of labour cost, only feasible to in China.

"The work is like a map pointing to events and people who have occupying the floor of the Haus der Kunst from 1937 to today [..] transforming the historical architecture into a soft confortable condition."

making soft ground, from exhibition catalogue

* The building was constructed from 1934 to 1937 following plans of architect Paul Ludwig Troost as the Third Reich's first monumental propaganda building. (source: wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haus_der_Kunst)

further reading:
Ai Weiwei: So Sorry. Katalog zur Ausstellung im Haus der Kunst, München (paperback)

Tips For Better Ideas.

Happy weekend! [video via swissmiss]

Polymath Architect.

"A polymath (Greek polymathēs, πολυμαθής, "having learned much") is a person whose expertise spans a significant number of subject areas." (source: wikipedia)

Are architects polymaths? Knowing erverything and capable of doing great and original work in every area of the discipline of architecture? From urban design to detail drafting, from sociology to green building, from cost calculation to drawing? But - do architects really have advanced knowlegde in all these fields?

"People with many interests do exist - and this is usually what we mean when we talk of a 'uiversal genius'. People with outstanding accomplishments in many areas are unknown. Even Leonardo performed only in the area of design despite his manifold interests; if Goethe's poetry had been lost and all that were known of his dabblings in optics and philosophy, he would not even rate a footnote in the moste learned encyclopedia." (source: Peter F. Drucker, The Effective Executive, p. 74)

Architecture is based on division of work, not only within structural, mechanical, and electrical engineers and other specialists, but also internally. It is a cliché, assuming that architects can do everything. Every project phases need specially trained people, however, boutique practices do not have these resources. So, what can you contribute?