tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973215316119445314.post7961157992688416142..comments2024-02-15T06:40:00.335+01:00Comments on NOTES ON BECOMING A FAMOUS ARCHITECT: 82. You Don't Have to be Good - Part 1: BIG, JDS, PLOTConrad Newelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13361919565513238957noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973215316119445314.post-24766517822567263652012-05-15T00:40:39.494+02:002012-05-15T00:40:39.494+02:00The wood does not look like larch at all. I am rat...The wood does not look like larch at all. I am rather sure it's not pine neither local. It might be Western Red Cedar or a tropical hardwood (FSC) which is most likely. The details shown on the photos show that the architect choose to use a wood type that is durable enough to withstand these architecturaly engineered details. The result is what happens over some time when the sun and rain do their work. The wood is deforming because of too little protection from the rain and too few fasteners. The black and grey is caused by weathering, it is not rotting. The wood is probably durable enough to remain untreated without it rotting. I often used this wood but only when the grey/black weathered look was what I was looking for. <br />Given the architects fame you have to assume these photos show exactly what the architect was hoping for. Also his clients are looking for buildings like this.<br /><br />For all big works clients usually visit projects before they choose for an architect. What they see is creativety and modernism and maybe some bad contracting that needs finetuning in future construction contracts. Very few people actually know what the architects role is here. I don't think James Cutlers projects would look like this.<br /><br />Thanks for your work on this site.Francoishttp://www.fillieverhoeven.nlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973215316119445314.post-62359513404261696182012-04-08T01:24:59.008+02:002012-04-08T01:24:59.008+02:00Great post. I feel some of the issues with perform...Great post. I feel some of the issues with performance of materials over time is the lack of collaboration throughout the design process with the contractors - who are often far more expert in materials and appropriate detailing options. Unfortunately the double edge sword for the architect (and starchitects in particular), is that people want and expect them to know EVERYTHING and solve ALL the issues related to constructing a building. Architects egos often mean they can't admit their shortcomings or limited knowledge, so the building gets designed, detailed, and built - with many of the long term shortcomings you are talking about. Lawyers and liability issues aside, one can only hope this kind of nonsense be becomes less common as BIM really starts to change the nature of how teams collaborate from initial stages to handing over the keys, and then onto long term maintenance.shawnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973215316119445314.post-76679462030212169442012-02-23T03:11:34.893+01:002012-02-23T03:11:34.893+01:00I am often disappointed by the quality of famous p...I am often disappointed by the quality of famous projects when I see them in person, especially the newer ones. It seems that all that counts is flashy renderings and pretty photos when the project is new. The architecture community seems to forget that buildings have long lifespans.Michellehttp://buildinganarchitect.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973215316119445314.post-32007236254731904572012-02-22T09:14:43.877+01:002012-02-22T09:14:43.877+01:00Although the use of larch is very popular and it h...Although the use of larch is very popular and it has merit as a durable, local resource in Scandinavia an important aspect of the natural behavior of larch is often overlooked.<br /><br />Larch does turn a lovely silvery grey color when exposed to the elements but detailing is extremely important. Larch warps and moves about under the influence of weather and this is what is very apparent at the mountain. Furthermore larch only turns silvery grey where sunlight and rain hits it. So under protruding building elements, grates, windows etc. the red colour remains somewhat as a tongue of what looks like discolouration. Not so attractive.<br /><br />When it comes to the architecture of the actual buildings I'll agree to the institutional character of the corridors of the VM building but another aspect of the mountain, which I rarely see mentioned, is the urban impact of the project. <br /><br />As you move along the building at street level it is one of the least welcoming housing projects I can think of in Copenhagen. I'm sure the view from the terraces is lovely and the apartments are probably nice too, but for the rest of the world, who happen to not live there, there is a parking structure clad in slightly perforated metal sheets and with absolutely no thought for the urban qualities of the space surrounding it.<br /><br />Ørestad is a new(ish) development of suburban character at the moment but it is turning into a disaster as the mistakes of the past are remade. Apparently nobody has learnt from history in this case. Sad.JHnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973215316119445314.post-23404216838896660812012-02-18T15:05:54.732+01:002012-02-18T15:05:54.732+01:00quick someone send this to the Kimball Art Center....quick someone send this to the Kimball Art Center. BIG has chosen to show major wood there !Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973215316119445314.post-56102738487180579982012-02-16T16:58:09.025+01:002012-02-16T16:58:09.025+01:00Conrad, in one of your pithiest earlier posts, you...Conrad, in one of your pithiest earlier posts, you described how architectural glory is currently won by creating highly entertaining designs. That is to say, a project's utility and craftsmanship are often distinctly secondary considerations. True for the moment, but ultimately the tests of time may prove more decisive. Take, for example, Charles Moore's Piazza d'Italia, once lauded in the architectural press (there is no denying it) and now a derided, crumbling eyesore. I applaud you, Conrad, for visiting these buldings "in the flesh", as it were, and writing about these issues. It can be argued that, at the end of the day, an award like the AIA's 25-year award is much more meaningful than recognition in the PA Awards.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973215316119445314.post-68666926273525740342012-02-09T00:49:58.207+01:002012-02-09T00:49:58.207+01:00You make a point here that fits with my own though...You make a point here that fits with my own thoughts on architecture- it is a discipline all too rarely practised with an eye to future use, maintenance and longevity. An example would be the bike rack seen in the last picture. These became obsolete with the introduction of the quick release axle 30 years ago. No modern bike over £100 is supplied without them. the attention to detail which this points to is somewhat underwhelmingharryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11950502049100974074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973215316119445314.post-81462383281147766812012-02-08T09:52:01.335+01:002012-02-08T09:52:01.335+01:00I don't think some of these problems are the f...I don't think some of these problems are the fault of the architect. Particularly complaints about concrete finishing. A poor finishing job is almost always going to be the fault of the contractor placing the concrete or engineer doing the mix design. Unfortunately the culture in construction is to get things done as fast as possible and to make things just "good enough".<br /><br />That corridor is pretty bad though, the architect can't escape blame for that eyesore.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973215316119445314.post-18941979322829505432012-02-08T08:59:33.652+01:002012-02-08T08:59:33.652+01:00i think you'll find with most of the work from...i think you'll find with most of the work from OMA and OMA's kids are strong ideas, good designs and mediocre details/craftsmanship. <br /><br />i'm fairly certain the wood used is larch as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973215316119445314.post-43750178116273434742012-02-07T21:17:50.385+01:002012-02-07T21:17:50.385+01:00I'm not the first anonymous...
I worked as a...I'm not the first anonymous... <br /><br />I worked as a pool lifeguard for three years during undergrad, and I can tell you that pools can turn pretty shabby pretty quickly if not maintained. I'm guessing your photos were taken in the middle of winter? The harbour baths are seasonal so I think a better indication would be to see how they're looking in the summer. You can clearly see the buildup of scum and debris in water in the picture's foreground, which suggests the pool has not been cleaned or used in a long time. I think the greying of the timber may well have been intentional - down here in New Zealand we have a pretty harsh climate, and the extent to which materials weather over time is often an active decision rather than an afterthought. <br /><br />I think you're on the money though with your other criticisms... from what I can tell (at a distance) most of BIG's buildings are fairly typical commercial fitouts with a twist. Which is good, I think. In a a way. I would rather see something like the Mountain go up than a typical block of apartments, presuming that the standard of detailing and construction work remains constant irrespective of design intent. Better that developers and the public see architecture and big architectural ideas as a selling point rather than a few flourishes condensed into one 'design flair moment' on the building's facade.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973215316119445314.post-36722163400041570072012-02-05T20:01:57.941+01:002012-02-05T20:01:57.941+01:00Thanks anonymous,
If that's case then I am de...Thanks anonymous,<br /><br />If that's case then I am dead wrong and I gladly take back everything I said about the wood work.<br /><br />This just goes to show how little I know about Scandinavian wood :)<br /><br />Now all I need is for someone to show me that I do not know what I am talking about when it comes to concrete, grading work, quality fittings, and institutional corridors.Conrad Newelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13361919565513238957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973215316119445314.post-83890804512233108502012-02-04T19:05:30.424+01:002012-02-04T19:05:30.424+01:00In response the the aging of the wood that you hav...In response the the aging of the wood that you have seen, the wood used in both the harbor baths and mountain dwellings might have been larch, a popular wood in Scandinavia for its ability to resist natural forces such as snow and rain without the use of chemicals. As larch ages, it turns gray. Most people in Scandinavia know this, and it may have very well been intentional and known that the wood would have turned gray.<br /><br />If the architects did chose larch, then they should be commended for using a local natural resource instead of choosing to use other woods or chemicals, even if you can see the aging of the wood.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com