Extracts of Local Distance

Extracts of Local Distance from STOESELTNTPRO on Vimeo.

Countless fragments of existing architectural photography are merged into multilayered shapes. The resulting collages introduce a third abstract point of view next to the original ones of architect and photographer.

Digital scans of analogue architectural photography form tiny pieces of a large resulting puzzle. The original pictures are being analysed and categorised according to their vanishing-points and shapes. Based on this analysis, slices are being extracted from the source image. These slices retain the information of their position corresponding to their original vanishing-point and thus form a large pool of pieces, ready to be applied to new perspectives and shapes.

Using the extracted image segments, it is now possible to form collages of originally different pictures with a new common perspective. In order to compose a collage, a perspective-grid is defined and a lining of matching image segments is being applied. The segments are not altered to match the frame but fitting ones are chosen from the sheer mass of possible pieces. By defining additional keywords which describe the content of the original photographs, the selection of segments used for the final composition can be influenced. Thus a contextual layer is added through the semantic linking with the source material.

The recompositions mix and match the views and perspectives of both the architect and the photographer with a third, newly chosen frame. The resulting fine-art prints are entirely unique each time.

Who needs reality?

This enchanting 12-minute film depicts iconic architectural masterpieces through the eyes of a photographer -- and it is completely computer rendered!

As bonus footage, the compositing breakdown of how this animation was constructed could be viewed here: http://vimeo.com/8200251

Frank Gehry & Damien Hirst does Lady GaGa at the MOCA

Last Saturday, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles celebrated its 30th anniversary with a huge gala, featuring Lady GaGa's world debut of her song, 'Speechless'.
Lady GaGa, who is known for her outrageous looks, wore a hat designed by Frank Gehry (possibly an old architectural model) and a dress designed by artist Damien Hirst (no dead animals were harmed) which were auctioned off for charity later in the night. The Hirst-designed piano which Gaga played on was also auctioned off.Fortunately Uncle Frank didn't perform his version of Poker Face.

Here's the GehristGaGala:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_4ouW2Rt_E&feature=player_embedded

Empowering Architecture online

Architizer: Empowering Architecture, a Facebook-like architecture website, was officially launched last Monday night at the Stortfront for Art and Architecture in NYC.
Architizer features people, projects and firms in the architecture world, and a whole host of resources and information.

Check it out: http://www.architizer.com/en_us/

the ultimate LEGO house

A real two-storey house made of LEGO is being built in the middle of the Denbies Wine Estate, in Dorking (I am not kidding), U.K.

The house features a staircase and a working full bathroom. More than 3,000,000 LEGO pieces were delivered to the site, which are then used to build full sized bricks, each one consisting of 272 LEGO pieces, and stacked into place over the wood frame structure. Thousands of volunteers participated over the 6 days of constuction.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1203654/Thousands-Top-Gears-James-May-helping-hand-Lego-brick-house.html

maison martin margiela

Watch how wind creates movement on the facade.

For a look at their graphic/ fashion creations, see here.

Libeskind for the masses?

Libeskind has designed a 5,500-square-foot prefab house, priced from $2.8 to $4.2 million, that can be shipped and assembled anywhere. The two-story villa "resembles a crystal with sharp angles and towering windows bursting from the ground," the Times writes. I wonder if it includes Libeskind's trademark water feature: roof leaks.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/12/greathomesanddestinations/12iht-relib.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

LEGO goes architectural

LEGO has always been every architect's beloved childhood toy, so naturally architect Adam Reed Tucker has collaborated with The LEGO Group and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to release the Frank Lloyd Wright Collection - part of the LEGO Architecture series.

Click here to see the other landmarks in the LEGO Architecture series: http://www.dezeen.com/2009/05/26/frank-lloyd-wright-collection-by-adamreed-tucker-and-the-lego-group/#more-31214

NYT Article - Fast Company Response

http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/danielle-sacks/ad-verse-effect/propaganda-alert-commercial-developers-try-debunk-green-building

O-14 office building tower designed by Resier+Umemoto. They described: O-14 stands at the heart of business bay. The tower’s concrete shell not only is the structure of the building but also creates a lace-like façade open to light, air, and views. 21 stories of custom-designed office floors are carried without the barriers of conventional columns and walls. At ground level, exclusive shops link this site to Business Bay’s waterfront esplanade combining high-end shopping eminent culture and popular entertainment. Below grade, four levels of parking provide capacity for over 400 cars.The openings on the shell are modulated depending on structural requirements, views, sun exposure, and luminosity. A space nearly one meter deep between the shell and the main enclosure creates a so-called “chimney effect,” a phenomenon whereby hot air has room to rise and effectively cools the surface of the glass windows behind the perforated shell. This passive solar technique essentially contributes to a natural component to the cooling system for O-14, thus reducing energy consumption and costs, just one of many innovative aspects of the building’s design.

What is next?

Neutra Cyclorama at Risk (again)

Richard Neutra's son has filed a lawsuit trying to keep the Cyclorama from being demolished.

Click here to get the NPR Story:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95460483

Click here to see images of the Cyclorama:

http://www.neutra.org/gallery/gettys.htm