Spine Project.....Revisited

Just recently, I revisited a project that I had designed a couple of years ago, right after I had a second surgery on my spine.  It was a multi-family project that was inspired by what was on my mind at the time….the spine! The project as it was designed back then can still be seen on this blog by going  to the residential design page and clicking the on the Spine Project.  At the time I originally designed the project, I did not have the design software that I currently have now (Revit). I designed the first version the old fashioned way, by hand and the presentation drawings were by hand as well.

I will be the first to admit that although I can visualize a project in 3 dimensions, it has always proven difficult for me to communicate that visualization through perspective sketches. That is the beauty of REVIT as is it allows you instant feedback on a particular idea you are chasing, whether it is the shape of wall, or a difficult arrangement of roof lines.

From a design point of view, the idea was to develop a building organized along a central axis, an axis that is flexible and can bend (unlike my own spine). This allows for a variety of layouts for each particular building in a complex, adding variety while at the same time keeping a cohesive design character.  To reduce the amount of unsightly parking lots that typically surround multi-family housing, detached garages are connected to the building with a drive through which effectively hides the garage door from the public. The building is also designed so that unit entries alternate on each side of the building, eliminating front, back and sides of buildings which enliven the spaces that occur between buildings. 

I enjoyed working on this design exercise immensely as it was a challenging and creatively  rewarding project. Below are a few images…………..

RBP

5.1.12  

Progression Of An Idea

The Inspiration:

Our everyday world that we experience, that is to say the collective, visual environment that we are immersed in and travel through on a daily basis, is a complex layering  of forms, lines, shades and shadows and information that  we process instantaneously. That visual environment is ever changing due to many factors including lighting, point of view and the speed with which we travel through that environment. It is a constant and ever changing input of visual information that we experience without realization. A photograph instantly translates the dynamic world we experience into a static memory of that specific place and specific time. There will never be another moment that has exactly the same conditions of information as the time at which a particular photograph was taken….ever. In that regard, there is no better starting point from which to create a composition from than a photograph. It is inherently unique, free from artistic intent (at least in origin), which ensures a creative process of discovery.

The Sangre De Cristo Arts and Exhibition Center

Hurtig, Gardner, Froelich, Architects

 

The Process:

Discover the influential visual forces of that particular moment, removing all informational content. In other words, Grass is no longer grass; it is an element in a collection of elements. There is no shade, shadow or sky; they are just individual elements that contribute to the moment that dynamic information became static.  Note that the iteration below (I’ll call it Iteration 5) is not the first iteration as I did not record every iteration I performed. I do however, believe it is a fair representation of capturing of the elemental forces of the initial image and how those forces began to inform and lead me to creative discovery.   

 Iteration 5

I like the iteration above, it has flow and energy and I can honestly say that I would never have created the composition purely from my imagination and in that sense it truly reflects the underlying forces of the initial genesis, the photograph of the Sangre De Cristo Arts Center.  If you have read any of my earlier posts, you know that I am all about the process and where does the creative investigations take me. What can I do to improve the product? It’s of critical importance to note that the creative intent was never to recreate a graphic representation of the image. The intent is to capture the energy and visual forces of the moment, and use that as a point of departure for creative exploration and discovery. That journey took me to the iteration shown below.

Iteration 17

Now the piece is developing a life of its own. Now, rather than taking cues from the initial image, I am discovering possibilities that are generated from the piece’s own history, energy and character.  In a sense, I am letting the piece design itself, and am merely guiding its development. Further explorations lead to the final iteration, the final product of this particular creative process.

The Solution:

Iteration 33

The epilogue:

I’m satisfied with the process, where the creative journey led, and ultimately find the end product, Iteration 33 a compelling and intriguing conclusion to the design exercise.  Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of this investigation is that it inspired me to explore other creative possibilities that would not be possible had I not travelled down this path of discovery……….  

Iteration 1…..

And the process continues……………

RBP

4.25.12

John Hurtig: A Mentor Who Inspired!

The other day, quite unexpectedly, I had the opportunity to chat with the first Architect who hired me after I graduated from my fifth year at UNCC in 1991 and I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation.

My first job after graduating from college was in Pueblo Colorado with Hurtig, Gardner and Froelich Architects. They had designed a fantastic building that caught my eye, The Sangre De Cristo Arts and Conference Center.

It was a beautiful building, and most assuredly the Jewel of Pueblo. I could instantly tell that it had organic influences, which was right up my alley coming out of college. I was lucky enough to find employment with them, and to this day am grateful for the opportunities they gave me.

During my interview, I discovered that the three principals had gone to college at the University of Oklahoma and studied the art of Architecture under the tutelage of one of the most driving and influential forces of organic architecture, Bruce Goff. That influence and education has left its mark on the City of Pueblo in a number of Architectural Jewels including the Buell Children’s Museum, Pueblo Transit Center, Pueblo Ice Rink, and many others. If you get the chance to travel through Colorado, and have a bit of time, take the Pueblo downtown exit and tour around. You'll like what you see, especially if it was designed by Hurtig, Gardner, and Froelich!

John Hurtig happened to be in the office after I had lunch with an old friend, Bob Hart, who along with some others, have taken over the reins of the firm now that the three founding principals have retired. It was a great conversation that included some college war stories, recollections of Bruce Goff and his cohorts as well as a brief history of why and how John started an architectural firm in Pueblo, Colorado.

John also told me about his memoirs that he is writing and showed me several paintings that he has done since his retirement. They are based on artistic principals that he learned while attending Oklahoma, particularly an Architectural elective course that Bruce Goff had taught. I can tell you the paintings are fantastic!! Each one is a vivid collection of colors, lines and shapes that swirl around and draw the eye into its depth. The more you look into the intricate and organic tapestry he has created, the more you see. The paintings are not Architectural in appearance, but Architectural in nature and process. By that I mean they are not planned and laid out with proportions being studied and revised and the underlying composition being molded into a final product, but rather they appear to be the instant application of colors and lines in a quest for an unknown conclusion. It is quite evident that each painting is an internal journey for Mr. Hurtig, a journey where even he doesn't know where the final destination is. It was an honor for me to be taken on a tour of these journeys and a memory that will be cherished for a long time!

After talking with him, I realized that he was in the process of finding his passion again. He was re-discovering through all his new paintings the "why" that made him want to be an Architect all those years ago. He is in the process of shedding off the everyday burdens of a lifelong and professional career that are a required necessity for success in the Architectural profession. After seeing some of his paintings, I realized that John, like myself,  is Lazarus.......and I am humbled to be in his company.

Hopefully, through publications (Friends of Kebyar) and a museum exhibition or two, his lifetime collection of work and contributions to the world through architecture will be recognized.....as they should be!! 

This is a taste of his early work.

And you can follow this link to see examples of his latest work.

Paintings and drawings by John Hurtig

Thank you John for the education, training and above all else…..the inspiration!!

RBP.

 4.17.12