Retrospectively Warhol

A is for Andy exhibition 2007- More than Cambell soups and Marilyn Monroes.

Perhaps the use of acid-free paper & good quality pigments, combined with proper care throughout the years make these pieces appear as if they were fresh off the printer! The texture of the pigments used, the layering of inks and the mad riot of fresh colours are revealed & their impact felt only on closer scrutiny, when one sees the actual work of art.

Such qualities are rarely/never captured in the glossy prints of the paintings in books or magazine graphics.

Here’s another chance to catch these paintings live if you missed the previous exhibition!

See details- 100 Warhols Plus Twenty Servings Of Soup On The Side.

keen on an art exhibition… anyone with a space for rent?

The Interview Form

Went for an interview at an archi firm along River Valley Road and had to fill in an interview form that went something like this- as true as my memory holds:

1. What is your greatest achievement so far?

2. Who (dead or alive) would you really like to have dinner with and where?

3. What is your biggest source of inspiration?

4. Who, in your field of practice do you admire and why?

5. Draw your favourite object.

6. Draw your favourite space.

7. Draw in anyway you like the following items- path, house, snake, fence, a body of water, chimney, tree.

Most are pretty standard questions on the list but that was definitely an atypical interview- one that I will probably remember in a long time to come. Left the place after a good 40mins? of thinking, writing and doodling, intrigued by how discerning an interview was in such a short span of time.

ponders over her answers… & looks forward to the new job!

Make a Point.

Gearing for the last 3 weeks to a BA (Arch) degree, it’s time to start designing the “superficial” stuff. For architecture to happen, presentation is crucial. It’s about communicating the language of architecture to others – allowing people to imagine being in the building, and imagine it in a good way. Telling your story and making it work is the most basic aspect of this presentation, elevating it to the realm of graphic design gives the project depth, mood and conveys flair.

qmark shares some inspiration and pointers:

I. TUFTE

Edward Tufte is a master of visual communication. Good architects read and actualise his pointers – do yourself a favour and grab hold of one of his books!

II. 8 POINTS

I sat in for Andrew Lee’s interim debrief. And surprise surprise, he mentioned to the studio his formula to architectural communication – Les 8 Points d’ une architecture nouvelle (8 points towards a new architecture):

• Comprehensive aerial site plan
• Impactful montage
• Diagrams
• Spatial organisation
• Proper plans
• Interiors in relation to exterior
• Plans in relation to sections
• Plans with relation to details

III. EXAMPLES

I was also shown some exceptional panels from the previous years. Check out Tasmia’s detail perspective, Junxian’s renders and Roystern’s detail drawings.

(Credit: Tasmia)

(Credit: Junxian)

(Credit: Roystern)

IV. PRESIDENT’S MEDALS

Another great resource is the RIBA President’s Medals. It presents outstanding Part I and II entries from member schools all over the world, so you can see the quality and differences in development for students pursuing the same programme as us. Don’t miss the rare and timely RIBA Student Awards 2007 exhibition going on (till 18th April) in NUS Department of Architecture!

hates it when good events coincide with submissions. grr..

Style as a Layer

stylish hairstyles by [kren]

“Intent, Strategy, Style” was the mantra during the beginning of my architectural education. I could understand how a clear intent brings architecture into purposeful focus, and the strategies used will elaborate the intent of the design, but style?

I think people tend to confuse architectural styles, with style per se; architectural styles are about certain typologies of buildings, deeply ingrained with the philosophies and context of each zeitgeist. A simple google search will indicate the overwhelming architectural styles that can be categorised. However, globalisation and disposable consumerist patterns have glorified the flashy styles of fashion and celebrity-dom, so much so that this style has crept into the realm of architecture with starchitecture and glossy magazine covers. (and even Simpsons)

Of course you can consider this as a sign of today’s age, where the inclusion of some zig-zaggy lines or polycarbonate or literal iconography or marketable personal trademark into architecture becomes the new “______ Style” of the 2000s. The gripe here is how it has become rather thoughtless, or worse still, contrived. I guess that’s why many architects like Steven Holl have ditched reading architectural magazines altogether, because architectural style with all its complexities of culture has been summerised and flattened into neat thin layers of paper with the seduction of photography or words.

To risk sounding like a tutor, I think the key is still the experience and the spaces, through understanding of place and time, that generates true architectural style. Here are 2 interesting articles to read that deals with this issue of style. Do read them!

• Fuck Style on ideasonideas
• Style versus Design on Adobe Design Center

and interim on Monday…

HortPark

If you turn into the ulu Hyderabad road along Alexandra Road, and follow it for about 200m, you will see the newly opened HortPark Visitor Centre by MKPL Architects.

HortPark is a one-stop gardening hub that brings together gardening-related recreational, research and retail activities under one big canopy in a park setting. It is also one of the park connectors within the grand scheme of an island wide green network.

Despite the tight budget, MKPL managed to bring out elegance in simplicity by paring down to the essentials of structure. Construction is efficient and straightforward and all services are tucked to the sides making for easy navigation and an overall uncluttered look.

• Slender steel column stubs sit atop big concrete pillars for a light expression of the metal deck roof.

• The mal steel spiral staircase is an exhibit of refined details.

• An infinity pool stretches across the edge of the building, allowing for an unobstructed view of the nature beyond.

So pop down to HortPark for a breath of fresh air if you need a break from design!

: our new contributor Ruilin!

Read; March Mags

MONOCLE March

Tyler Brûlé reports on the new Changi T3, with a short overview of facilities and OK verdict in article SMOOTH LANDING. qmark will visit T3 soon so do check back!

WALLPAPER* March

Freelance Writer Daven Wu reports on Pearl Bank Apartments in PEARL GEM. Whatever opinion that might have been voiced from both camps of the en-bloc furore, I still find architect Tan Cheng Siong’s description the best, “… it was born of a heroic period when Singapore was searching for its place in the sun.” More on (proconservation)

SINGAPORE ARCHITECT March

My ex-lecturer Cheah Kok Ming muses on the use of the ferrous patina in IN PRAISE OF RUST. Textured, weathered materials are rarely seen in SG, although ironically the signs of weathering are easily seen on many surfaces. A case for following the successful examples of Gigon/Guyer and Iroje.

and school reopens.