FABRIC of ARCHITECTURE

Fabric of Architecture-4.2/ 1.6 

I’ve been looking to buy some additional books on architectural representation, art by architects and theoretical musings about the current state of architecture. Looking for a book seems a bit archaic today, as I have a vast library at my finger- tips but there is something to be said for actually turning a physical page!  

That research led to a website that I frequently visit: the website of the late visionary architect, Lebbeus Woods, and a post-commentary on the work of architect, Thom Mayne (Lebbeus Woods-Thom Maynes Mind).The work shown in the post is intense, suggesting a mind that operates on a higher plane than most, and without a shadow of doubt, is uniquely, creatively and inspirationally original. What I see in the work shown on the post, is someone searching for a new vocabulary, a new language through which to explore the creative process and lift architecture out of its current accepted manifestation. It goes far beyond art, and hints to the depth of the underlying orders and dynamics of our physical environment. This particular work questions in a very real and tangible way the role of architecture as objects that occupy and define the physical environment.  It seems to ask….Can architecture, can the built environment be a cohesive fabric that binds all those objects into one physical entity?  The work shown in the post and the mental ingestion of it, along with the commentary by Lebbeus Woods, moved me to first imagine and create an extension (variation) of the Lazarus Designs logo.

Lazarus Designs-Metallic Transformation 

Unlike a lot of my recent discovery through process endeavors, this time I started with a destination. Starting not from scratch, but from the logo of Lazarus Designs I began to interpret the logo using just two warped planes of implied metallic surfaces. The exercise was engaging, and I began to glimpse opportunities and possibilities, and began to understand (not in depth, just the scratch the surface type) of the underlying forces which Mayne was exploring. I began to explore those possibilities and challenged myself as to figuring out the methods. The more I looked the more I saw, the more I did, the more I wanted to do. This is the nature, beauty and mystery of the creative process. I began chasing ideas in three separate and distinct pieces, grasping to understand the language of the work that inspired me.

Fabric of Architecture-4.2/ 1.1 

Fabric of Architecture-4.2/ 1.6

Fabric of Architecture-4.2/ 1.6 

Fabric of Architecture-4.3/ 1.1

Fabric of Architecture-4.3/ 1.3 

Fabric of Architecture-4.2/ 1.9

Fabric of Architecture-4.2/ 1.6

Fabric of Architecture-4.3/ 1.1

Fabric of Architecture-4.3/ 1.4

Fabric of Architecture-4.3/ 1.6 

 Inspiration, true inspiration is infectious. It’s viral in nature and once contracted, will not depart until it has been addressed.  

RBP

3.23.14 

All images, copyright Lazarus Designs

THE DISRUPTION.....POSITIVE

I revisited an earlier product that I had developed in my Image Interpretation Series the other day (see Discovery through Process, Part 1), as I wanted a small break from the construction document production of a house I am currently designing.  I didn’t have the time to start an investigation from scratch, so I chose one already started, and thought I would just do a variation. I’ll be honest; this was a product that I wasn’t all that engaged with as it seemed like the potential was waning considerably the more it developed. With fresh eyes, and temporal distance from the earlier process, I took a second stab at the products evolution. The original source of inspiration was an image of an old truck (I’d like to give credit where credit is due, but the source of the image has been lost in the vast storage of information contained within the Internet, but I do thank you anonymous photographer!). I went through my discovery process, with the result being what I call The Humming.  There’s a tune there, it’s in my head but it hasn’t found the words yet.  

The Old Truck (photographer unknown)

The Humming

The second investigation essentially started with me asking the program (Revit for all you interested readers) for its interpretation of the product. Basically I look at the product through the rendering command of the program. The first image Interface unplugged was the result. It contains no user input as to material or color selections, falling back on its defaults. My first impression was that it was interesting, if not just a bit vague. It didn’t jump off the screen screaming “….Look at me!”

Interface-unplugged

I then began making decisions, interpretations as to the products feel and evolution. All of them interesting, and all of them much more engaging than the original Humming. After all was said and done, I realized that I was essentially dictating the style, for lack of a better analogy, of the song. For unknown reasons, the product had a definite pop music feel……not too deep, easy on the ears and doesn’t remain in memory for very long. My assessment of the collection informed me that the product's evolution took a wrong path. There was potential in that first, stripped down version that required further investigation. It was mysterious, and an honest revelation of the products nature….and I had dismissed it as I didn’t understand it. Why?

Interface on 96.2-All Hits, All the Time

Unplugged versions of songs, that is to say any music that requires investment into the story being told and engagement in the effort behind the sounds being produced requires mental ingestion. It requires that you listen to what is being performed as opposed to hearing what is being performed. In hindsight, I was looking for a sound bite, and dismissed the first interpretation because it required mental investment and engagement. Please remember, I just wanted a break from my construction documents!

A curious thing happened…….I couldn’t get the unplugged version out of my head. After taking in a magic show; a trip to the airport; and enduring a wakeful hour interrupting my nightly escape from reality, I realized my error. The error was due to my external pressure and direction to produce something familiar. I brought prejudice to the products evolution, failing to identify the internal nature of the product. This goes against my whole “Discovery through Process” theory.

The true nature of the piece, based on internal discovery………….

Cover The Interface

  Disruption of The Interface

Disruption-v1.0

Disruption.....another branch of evolution?

RBP

3.17.14