London v Manchester

Over the last few weeks I have been absorbing the art and culture of the two cities. In London I wasn't too sure about Herzog & de Meuron's Serpentine Pavilion - it just felt so dark "inside"or underneath but the flexible use of space and varied seating arrangements were clever. I also checked out the Heatherwick Studio: Designing the Extraordinary exhibition at the V&A. Seemingly crammed into a small room, there was so much to see from furniture to architecture to vehicle design. It really got me back in the mood for studying and thinking about the collaborative designer I want to be. Back in Manchester I love seeing the paintings of Lowry at the Manchester Art Gallery and we had fun in the kaleidoscope of the interactive exhibition space.

Air Bed

Since a friend at work told me about it, I have become slightly obsessed with AirBnB. You can find some amazing places to stay for holidays in so many countries and cities around the world. Top is in Montreal and bottom in Canada. You can rent rooms, entire flats, or even whole islands! Have a look and a day dream at the same time...

Images from AirBnB

Hands On

Today Helen text me as she's in Vienna and went to see Hands On Urbanism: The Right to Green at the Architecture Centre in the city. She said it was great, and looking at this video I'd definitely agree. The exhibition design on top of the subject itself of the use of urban spaces, especially for growing, is fantastic. I'm jealous I can't go myself... well it's on until 25th June... I could book some flights...!

Video by Cast Your Art

Urbanized

On Thursday night we went to see a screening of the Gary Hustwit film documentary, Urbanized. I haven't (yet) seen his other two films, Helvetic and Objectified, but having read reviews about this one and seen the trailer, I was really keen to go. The film presents case studies of different cities who have input different ideas to solve the problems caused by the mass urbanisation of our planet. 

The mayor of Bogota was fantastic, so enthusiastic having taken his position in office to bring in a super bus ways and ignore cars to focus on cycle and pedestrian networks. My ears pricked up about Detroit, who's population has decreased from 2 million to 700,000 in recent years, as the communities have started up urban gardens in the plots of lands where houses have been abandoned.

In a debate after these issues were discussed in relation to Manchester and what I concluded is that it is all about deeds not words. We, the individuals, need to get of our bottoms and make a different.

All in all it was a truly inspiring film.

Trailer from urbanizedfilm.com

Funky Fez

For our studio study trip, last week we flew to Fez in Morocco. We've been studying the courtyard house typology and went to see it first hand. Fez has a dense urban fabric: it's like a labyrinth and many times we got lost, had no idea which direction we were going in and had to dive out of the way of the donkeys and carts flying down the narrow streets. Being in the medina is like stepping back in time - the historic architecture, being car free, the markets for shopping and the crafts people working on the street. It's the latter that intrigued me the most. There are silk weavers using the street as their workshop, men banging copper into shape in the square. 

Seeing Fez was an intriguing cultural experience, whether I could live there myself is doubtful - being back in the hustle and bustle of London was oddly calming!

Roof Tops

Jaisalmer roof tops. We've been studying the courtyard house and the organic, yet organised, urban forms of North Africa, the Middle East and India. This time next week we'll be on the way to Fez, so I can get get snapping too. As well as my DSLR and film camera, last night I discovered the joys of Instagram - so much better than Hipstamatic and free too!

Image by Doctor Casino

Farm Yard

Architecture is back in full swing. CAD, modelling, reading, research, teaching even... there's no rest for the wicked. I'm collecting together sources for my dissertation and I think this video might just be useful. I think I'm going to look at urban agriculture and food production in the city, so I've been saving videos on Vimeo to get started.

Video from chow.com

Now & Then

A few of these concepts have popped up in recent times but I love the idea of rediscovering the locations of days past. Using vintage photos, is it difficult to find the original locations I wonder?

Images by Guiseppe Savini via Miss Moss

Ding Ding

...is the sound my bicycle will make as a peddle around town. This morning I went for a cycle with Dad and Brother Dowle and the latter definitely was like my personal trainer. When I was so ready to give up, he said NO! Once you get up to the Downs there are some great views of London: Wembley, Canary Wharf and the Shard. So I'm thinking of what bike to get when I go to uni - something town bike-like but also practical for these family outings. Any ideas? I seem to be drawn to black bikes with wire baskets and bells - ding ding!
P.S. So true!
Images: 1. Anna Yausheva via Miss Moss  2. The Sartorialist 3. Shannen Norman via Cup of Jo + Wiksten 4. Cup of Jo

Funky Field

My book [on farming] arrived last week and since I have been reading up on poplar farms in Oregon, food matrixes, landgrab cities and art farms. I'm not sure if it's the food cultivation, sustainability or land preservation which evokes the most in me but I feel like I'm starting some good research before I head back to uni in September.

Images from Ruche

City Stamp

As highlighted by Frankie, I think these stamps by Yellow Owl Workshop look like so much fun! They do allsorts of products and have a blog too!

Images from Yellow Owl Workshop

Laaandaaan

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner, that I love London so! I came across this wonderful paper cut (top) by Familie Summerbelle via gypsy*diaries. Not unreasonable for a print either, this will nicely pop on my birthday wishlist! Also I love the style of Blancha Gomez (below)! They both also come in Paris and New York.
Images from their websites