martes, 27 de noviembre de 2012

Dates, Facts and Comments

Yesterday Monday we had the first of our Non-Compulsory but Highly-Recommended Correction Sessions, dealing with your Models for the Large Scale Strategies. As we are arriving the end of the semester, perhaps it's a good moment to remind everyone of a few dates and facts:

- 20 students presented their models (this means 18 people did not present their proposals... uff! Too many). Again, we strongly recommend each one of you to make a great effort to attend each of the Correcting Sessions we have  proposed in order to be able to reach The Final Entry with all the documents requested. Otherwise, it going to be very difficult (or simply impossible).
- We saw all kind of models. Apart from the strength and creativity contained in each of your individual proposals, it was quite obvious which models had been developed with an appropiate amount of care and dedication as the final object they are supposed to be. You are all (even the best ones) expected to complete and correct your models for the final entry with the comments we individually made to each one of you. But, most of all, students whose models were very roughly and quickly constructed, try to approach your results to those models that were properly developed.
- A quick remider of the next Correcion Sessions:
     Next Monday, 3 December: Plan/s, Elevation/s and Global Image of your Large Scale Strategy
     Monday 10 December: Model, Small Scale Strategy
     Monday 17 December: Plan/s, Elevation/s, Contructive Axonometric and Global Image of your Small Scale Strategy
- You should all be able to present all these documents during each session, so that, during Chritmas Holidas and first two weeks of 2013, you are able to complete and correct your Final Entry the 17 January.

You have a great amount of work to do these next weeks. Design and draw constantly and carefully having constantly in mind that every document you develop will be a part of your Final Proposal.

One last thing we'd like to tell you: There are 12 students in the Unit whose rate of attendance to class is under 60%. Only 8 of them might correct this rate in the 9 (only) class dates we have left until the end of the semester. But we remind each of you that, even before complete documentation, a rate of attendance to class above 60% is absolutely compulsory to be qualified at the of the semester.

Good luck and we'll see your work in progress on Thursday.
[We'd be most gratefull is you posted in this blog a title and good photograph of your large strategy models]




lunes, 12 de noviembre de 2012

- bridge - unity -

Winter is coming...

Half our semester has already gone by. If you like Game of Thrones you'll understand:
Winter is coming...

It's time to prepare yourselves for your final mouvements and proposals. Next Monday you'll have to present your Concept Panels for your semester work. Today we've talked about different strategies used by BIG in their proposals. They are certainly not the only ones, but they are are clear example of a cathegorical architectural response to the most various assignment. And definetely an excellent and super-effective communication exercise.
Develop you own ideas and use your own tools and strategies. But it is absolutely necessary that you precisely define WHAT you intend to do with your chosen site and HOW you are going to achieve those goals: RE-program and RE-configure.

On Thurday we will be asking each one of you two things that you should thoroughly prepare during this days:
1. ONE SINGLE SENTENCE that resumes your programatic re-definition of the site.
2. ONE ELEMENTARY DIAGRAM that condenses changes your are going to introduce in the site in order to lodge this re-programation.
If you are able to answer these two questions clearly and effectively, you'll know you're in the right way to build your proposal. If not... your running out of time and... "Winter is Coming"

Come on! Be creative, be rigorous, be critical, be tough, and, most of all, work hard these couple of days.

viernes, 2 de noviembre de 2012

Se nos ha ido Lebbeus Woods....


Lebbeus Woods died last 30-10-2012.
I am really sad, because I always thought that he was one of the persons i would really love to meet somewhen in my life.
It´s really annoying that people with so much to offer to feed our souls, has to pass away.
We will always love his work.
R.I.P.
http://www.metalocus.es/content/en/blog/goodbye-lebbeus-woods

Se veía venir...


I know I said I wanted to avoid speaking about very general issues related to Spanish current economical crisis. I still think they are not very useful for yours designs, and they are more appropiate for an informal bar conversation than for your semester assignments.
Anyway, a friend of mine has sent me this short video, shot on 2007, where two Spanish economists discussed about our situation. Have a look at it. Interesting (sorry, but it's only available in Spanish)