1997.01.15
Mikveh Israel @ Quondam
I have to get the plan of Mikveh Israel up on Quondam as soon as possible. I should also do a quick, schematic massing model and place it within the Philadelphia model. This reminds me that I would still like to see Hurva in context.
1997.01.15
Philosophy of the Collection @ Quondam
I just thought that I could add more to the philosophy of the collection concerning my theory/idea concerning the place of CAD modeling within the greater context of architectural drawing. This might be an overlap with my short illustrated CAD autobiography--meaning I might wind up making reference in both to my short entry to the Arch. Drawing Exhibit catalogue, and particularly to the Corbu quote.
1997.01.20
Schinkel Scanning
There are many buildings that I want to catalogue at the same scale, e.g., I could already be scanning all the Schinkel plans and elevations, and be creating a document or web page showing all the designs at the same scale. This might be especially illuminating in terms of elevations (but good for plans, as well).
One thing I should be doing is to scan the various maps of central Berlin from the Sammlung and then composite the data to create a layer map/drawing that I can the utilize in creating a base map in the computer for a 3D model base.
1997.01.20
Exhibit Graphics: Inspiration
Create a 3D model of Krier's junk city.
Start going through the 3D library that I already have. Maybe I can already make use of it in just wireframe form.
Start to composite the usr/museum site, and start modeling Wacko House, etc.
1997.01.29
More Exhibit Graphics: Inspiration
Durand: I will compile all the museum's that are in Quondam's collection and compose a new "recueil" sheet. I will/can do the same for the all the domestic architecture that is in Quondam's collection. In both cases, I can take the example a big step further by then showing the examples in 3D as well. This will demonstrate the tremendous leap forward that CAD affords in terms of a virtual museum of architecture.
Giurgola's Roma Interrotta: Along these lines I thought of perhaps one day including all the MG projects that were not built in Philadelphia into the Philadelphia CAD model. This concept also brings to mind the inclusion of other buildings that could be included: Kahn's City Hall, Kahn's planning study, and even a reconstructions of past Philadelphia like Furness buildings destroyed, and even the districts that were demolished to make way for Independence Mall and Penn Center.
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1997.02.04
Architectural Promenade
I will write an opening paragraph or two leading up to the early Strasbourg perspective. I will explain how it was the creation of the Strasbourg model that lead to a search/quest for the meaning of the promenade architecturale. I was first arttracted to the Palais des Congres becuase of its unique roof garden and the enormous ramp that sprang out of the building and provides access to the roof. (The roof/box and the ramp were the first parts of the model created.) It was beacuse of the roof design that the first comparisons to the Villa Savoye were made.
My personal story of the promenade architecturale continues from here:
1. finished model and searched for meaning of the building and soon all the similarities between Strasbourg and the Villa Savoye became apparent--the superficial comparisons were obvious, but the notion of a promenade architecturale fromula came after (as a result of) the comparison.
2. Frampton's caption regarding the promenade architecturale at Monzie added significant fuel to the fire--by looking at Monzie I began to see more readily the manifestation of the promenade architecturale, especially the notion of a steadily ascending path.
3. The formula gelled through the evidence found in the three buildings.
4. At theis point, I was still disturbed, however, because I had no other evidence, i.e., written sources. of what Le Corbusier said about the promenade architecturale.
1997.04.07
model projects
...building/projects to add to Quondam's collection of 3d models:
Venturi - Dream House
Giurgola - Retreat House in Northern Europe
Venturi - Yale Mathematics Building
Stirling - Olivetti Headquarters
Le Corbusier - Olivetti Headquarters
Le Corbusier - Venice Hospital
Le Corbusier - French Embassy, Brasilia
Kahn - Fleisher House
Kahn - Morris House
Kahn - Mikveh Isreal Synagouge
Guirgola - Whitemarch Library
Giurgola - Acadia Park Building
Graves - Synderman House
Graves - Whitney Museum Addition
Graves - 3D realization of some of Graves sketches
Stirling - 3-d realization of some of Stirling's early sketches of the Fogg Museum
1997.05.21
transparent models
A few days ago I thought of presenting some models with the triangles transparent. This may prove to be especially interesting and beneficial for buildings like Strasbourg, the Bye House, and also Hurva Synagogue. It will be one more visual/graphic effect that is enabled by CAD and the medium of a virtual museum of architecture.
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1997.05.22
next exhibit(s) @ Quondam: Campo Marzio
I just thought that the contiguous elements might be the perfect place to also start with a 3-D construction of the Campo Marzio. It certainly makes sense because the contiguous elements are the basic elements that will then just be mirror copied and copy rotated. It will be like turning Piranesi's Campo Marzio back into a ruin.
1997.05.22
ongoing work @ Quondam
redux of Hurva page - this will be the prefect place to introduce the transparent model idea, also do some strip away elevations.
1997.05.22
update of first exhibit
for the Collage City Inspiration, I decided to take the new Ideal city database and collage the models and perhaps even copy and rotate (and perhaps even scale) some of the models.
1997.05.25
update of first exhibit (continued)
I have decided that a number of the "inspirations" of the first exhibit will go on to become part of Quondam's collection on (more or less) permanent display. This applies especially to the "inspirations" that are already open ended. I am now not under any pressure to bring the "work-in-progress" pages to any type of conclusion. Probably the collage, palimsest, whatever page will not go beyond the exhibit, but displays similar to it will always be a part of Quondam's agenda. On the other hand, the Giurgola museum, the /usr/museum complex, and the Parkway Interrotta project will have a continual presence at Quondam. Moreover, the Chandigarh model, life and death in the Campo Marzio, and perhaps Seroux and the analogous building experimentation will likewise have an ongoing presence within Quondam's collection.
1997.05.25
Absecon and Bye House comparison and contrast
I have long since wanted to collage the Absecon and Bye projects mainly because of the polar oppositeness in terms of architectural style and attitude both formally and towards the idea of domestic architecture. I probably should complete the inside of Absecon before making a full analysis of the two, but there are some issues that can already be played with. For example, I can enlarge the front wall of Absecon and then put it in place of the Bye wall. I can contine the collage by then also adding (only) the Absecon cornice all around and the appilique columns. It might make a very interesting hybrid paradigm or then again it may produce something totally ridiculous. In any case, the gutted Absecon House will be compared to the gutted Altes Museum and the rustic hut.
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1997.05.26
NOT THERE becomes agenda for Quondam
I guess what I want to say is that it seems that Quondam is turning into exactly the projects I have been working on, or wanted to work on all along. It might be interesting if NOT THERE becomes an innovative chronicle of what the motivation and cause of Quondam is from behind the scenes. It could portray all kinds of facts in an easy going non-sequitor kind of way--perhaps an oddball adventure in 3D. It will tell why the buildings have been chosen and what interesting things were learned along the way. (I was just wondering if I will someday do something shocking or very avant-garde at Quondam.)
Perhaps NOT THERE will specifically focus on things that can only really be done virtually, like outlandish juxtopositions and scale/rotation distortions. Yet, I can also begin by relating how the history of architecture may be effectively (at least through Quondam) in the midst of the creation of a whole new arena, i.e., a totally new forum for criticism and theory since it will primarily deal with buildings that are not there.
1997.05.28
notes on/for projects
CAD model work of MKOlivetti conference room
begin new work on contiguous elements in context and as 3-D extrusions
collage, palimsest, whatever
copy ideal.db and start by rotating and scaling copies of the given plans
copy, scale, and rotate the models (perhaps change some colors)
Parkway Interrotta
see if it is possible to include Quondam's museums into the current scheme
I just realized that the Berlin Science Center, as well as Cologne and Florence and Bayer--all projects by Stirling/Wilford--all have a clear influence on my design of the Parkway. Of course, there is also the Plecnik House reference, but the overriding influence is Stirling and this may actually tie into the Giurgola connection (the importation of Stirling into the Philadelphia area), plus I also just thought of the relation of Tredyfrin to the south museum plaza building group.
Kit of Parts
start opaquing the kit of parts (library 2) on the old system
perhaps I just do a bunch of spontaneous manipulations of the various pieces. Rotate, scale, and combine them in totally unrelated ways.
1997.06.07
Danteum web page
I am also going to have to work on the 3-D model (actually complete it) for the second part of my architectural promenade article, which addresses the sequence of forest, hell, purgatory and heaven.
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1997.06.24
ICA / dream institution
Today I thought of an interesting 3D revival of my ICA thesis project. I could use my basic concept for the building and enhance it programmatically by making my dream institution/residence. It will be the studio/gallery/museum/residence that I have dreamedof in the past. It will be another extension of my personal virtual realm.
1997.06.07
Altes Museum - virtual redux
With all the rebuilding and new construction in Berlin, I thought of perhaps doing a virtual re-design of the Altes Museum. My idea actually, so far, actually just involves the Lustgarten. I thought of extending the base of the museum out as far as possible (like the plaza at Stirling's Dusseldorf museum) and placing a parking garage underneath, and on the plaza and at its edges is where new design elements could be incorporated. It might also be interesting to introduce typologically shaped voids within the plaza as well.
I'm sure I will come up with all kinds of other design ideas once I actually get into the project, particularly with regard to the inside/outside realm of the colonnade.
1997.07.11
Campo Marzio - 3D [re]construction
I thought that it might be a long term project for me to start creating 3D constructions of Piranesi's plans, and in so doing I will try to be as inventive as Piranesi was. In fact, I will be using Piranesi's own example of a metabolic imagination, so rather than trying to do it as he might, I will use my own (metabolic) imagination and create a whole new Imperial Rome, albeit in 3D. I really like this idea and it could occupy me for many years. I only hope that I actually start to see it happen. Perhaps the best way for me to approach this project is to just be very loose (especially in the beginning) and just experiment in a very carefree way. I probably should not worry initially whether or not what I produce is "Roman" or not. It is probably only through first experimenting that I will find the ultimate path that I am to take. Of course,
If I start with some easy plans, I may find that I get much done in a very short period of time. In general, however, I think it will be well worth my while to get some large reproductions of Piranesi's own 3-D renditions of the Campo Marzio, and, of course, I will use these images as my primary source of inspiration (and I will probably learn much more about Piranesi's own design methodology while I am in the process myself).
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