THEREFINDWhile still rough, these are some studies I’m working on for a project in Shibuya, Tokyo. The first video is the most recent iteration where the shadow effects show up on the floor and wall as well as the window while the first video (below) just shows through the window. Obviously there’s a lot more work to be done here (you’ll never see reflections that work like that, I’m sure), but a good first stab at Adobe After Effects.
You may find that you’ve become friends with an architect (or, god help you, married or related to one). Make no mistake, they’re good to have around. They have reasonable conversation skills (on a set number of topics), they almost always have good personal hygiene and they tend to be well-educated (at least they have been to college for at least six years). But they’re dammned hard to buy a gift for. The result is invariably the same: your gift prompts your architect’s face to twist into a withering expression that captures exasperation, disappointment, bewilderment and pity all at once. Don’t take it too personally, they’ve been trained at college to react to any new stimulation (a new building, a gallery exhibition, the dinner menu, political candidates, your new shoes, a marriage proposal) with either cool disdain or flagrant boredom. At best, you may see an architect express reserved admiration. That means you’ve done very very well.”
I wish I wrote down where this came from. Sadly, I didn’t attribute it in my sketchbook. I hope I’m not that bad, but hell, we architecture types have got to be tricky to shop for.
These are the things your architecture student wants for his birthday. If he’s me. Or if you think he or she likes the same things as I do (I have excellent taste, in case you were wondering).
Clothes:
because the clothes make the man, and black is the new black
uniform wares 150 series watch - a healthy dose of minimalism for the wrist. black.
knit tie, black, skinny - a healthy dose of minimalism for the neck, with texture.
sperry boat shoes, authentic original, oatmeal, size 10 - because quality shoes matter.
messenger bag - it’s a component of the architecture uniform that I lack.
gift cards from H&M or J. Crew would be appreciated as well.
Books:
because bookcases are never too full, and glossy monographs make me all fluttery
- style:
The Cultivated Life – Jean-Phillipe Delhome - funny, pithy, smart.
Sharp Suits -Eric Musgrave - the suit is the manifestation of male charisma.
- architecture and design:
It’s Lonely in the Modern World: The Essential Guide to Form, Function, and Ennui – Molly Jane Quinn - because archiporn is that ridiculous.
Tom Kundig: Houses – Dung Ngo, Tom Kundig - bad. ass.
Tom Kundig: Houses 2 – Tom Kundig - more. bad. ass.
Japan Houses – Maria Iwatate - for the stairs. oh god, the stairs.
Typeface: Classic Typography for Contemporary Design – Tamye Riggs - …because I’m that much of a geek.
- arch theory:
The Architecture of Happiness – Alain de Botton - because all too often, architecture isn’t about people.
A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction – Christopher Alexander, Sara Ishikawa and Murray Silverstein - because it’s been useful since before I was born.
A Place of my Own – Michael Pollan - because, really, isn’t that what we all want?
Architecture Isn’t Just for Special Occasions - Julie Eizenberg - because it’s for all the time.
Dieter Rams: As little design as possible – Sophie Lovell - the man.
Art:
because my walls can always use some
Helvetica The Film movie poster - if you manage to hunt this down, I will love you forever.
Minimalist Paris Transit Map - architects love subway maps and minimalism, mixed, well that’s a potent cocktail.
20×200 gift card - there’s always something on there that I want.
Other Stuff:
because there’s always more
camera gear:
intervalometer (compatible with a nikon d3100) - so I can do this.
nikkor 35mm AF-S DX f/1.8G - sharp glass, sharp photos.
assorted architecture geeky stuff:
lego farnsworth house - because architects play with legos well into old age.
espresso tamp - because using a spoon sucks.
typography edition scrabble - because, again, I’m that much of a type nerd.
what if the spinning beach ball of death came to life?
your weekly dose of gratuitously sensualized objects
There is actually a website called wherefind.com. There goes idea number two.
Since I forgot saturday night porn last night, here’s some gratuitously sensualized sushi for you.
I can not wait for this movie to come out.
All spotted in studio one afternoon, clockwise from bottom left: Audio Technica ATH-M50s, Skull Candys, Sony MDR-V6, Audio Technicas, Grado SR80
One of the best parts of studio is the community. 18 of us spend 40+ hours a week together in studio, and many of us share non-studio classes. As you can imagine, we get pretty close, which leads to some pretty fun times stretching late into the evening. But sometimes (pretty frequently) you need to block it out and focus in. This is why almost everyone keeps a pair of nice headphones in studio. My choice: Audio Technica ATH-M50s. Widely considered the best sub-$600 headphones around, I’d highly recommend them. Crisp highs, rich mid tones, and tight bass, uncolored sound, great fidelity, I keep hearing parts of songs I’ve never heard before. But this isn’t a headphone ad. I just like to see my peers spending money on good sound. None of these cans are cheap; but they’re worth it. Music influences your work, I think, so these things ought to matter.
waking up to breakfast.
We’re not dead.
Last week had our noses to the grindstone, but we’re back out of post-project hibernation.
I’ve got a couple of posts in the pipe about studio, Julien’s got some scarf worship lined up, and eventually we’ll get around to an overview of The Pond Shop, our last project. Stay tuned.