The Fun Palace

rep·re·sen·ta·tion 

n.

1. The act of representing or the state of being represented.

2. Something that represents, as:

a. An image or likeness of something.

b. An account or statement, as of facts, allegations, or arguments.

c. An expostulation; a protest.

d. A presentation or production, as of a play.

3. The state or condition of serving as an official delegate, agent, or spokesperson.

4. The right or privilege of being represented by delegates having a voice in a legislative body.

5. A body of legislators that serve on behalf of a constituency.

6. Law A statement of fact made by one party in order to induce another party to enter into a contract.

7. Mathematics A homomorphism from an algebraic system to a similar system of matrices.

Gestalt_Benjamin's Wednesday Treat

"Gestalt” is the German word for pattern. Although often translated into English as "form," Gestalt refers above all to the idea of “wholeness.” Thus, Gestalt is any structure, configuration, or pattern of physical, biological, or psychological phenomena so integrated as to constitute a unit, with properties which are not derivable from the sum of its parts.

Kurt Schwitters, Das Undbild | "The And-Picture," collage 1919. Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris

Rise of the Terrace

You may recall myself and Rob giving a presentation on the 'Immeuble 'Nid d'abeille'  in Casablanca by Candilis and Woods. Below you will find three projects in different regions, climates and cultural backgrounds that show surprisingly strong similarities: High density housing projects with limited outdoor terrace space. At risk of being slightly critical of each of these projects I wonder about the quality of space beneath each of the terraces. Something to be mindful of when re-creating the 'terrace'.

'Your Britain. Fight for it now'

This poster, produced during the Second World War, contrasts bomb-damaged terrace houses with gleaming new modernist flats. It suggests the bright future and new life possible once victory has been won.




'Your Britain. Fight for it now'
Abram Games
1942
Colour litograph
Published by the Army Bureau of Current Affairs
V&A: E.1886-2004

Pruitt-Igoe

Following on from Sara's post below I remember seeing this trailer for the "Pruitt-Igoe Myth". On Rotten tomatoes it's currently at 93%. I t looks like a brilliant documentary. 

The Pruitt-Igoe Myth tells the story of the transformation of the American city in the decades after World War II, through the lens of the infamous Pruitt-Igoe housing development and the St. Louis residents who called it home. It began as a housing marvel. Built in 1956, Pruitt-Igoe was heralded as the model public housing project of the future, "the poor man's penthouse." Two decades later, it ended in rubble - its razing an iconic event that the architectural theorist Charles Jencks famously called the death of modernism. The footage and images of its implosion have helped to perpetuate a myth of failure, a failure that has been used to critique Modernist architecture, attack public assistance programs, and stigmatize public housing residents. The Pruitt-Igoe Myth seeks to set the historical record straight. To examine the interests involved in Pruitt-Igoe's creation. To re-evaluate the rumors and the stigma. To implode the myth.

Trailer below.

Along 4 minute introduction to the film and the project, it refers to the architecture and how maybe it wasn't just the 'architecture' to blame.

Hulme Crescents

In relation to today's lecture and giving it a Manchester context, yesterday I came across the Hulme Crescents. They were a 1970s "streets in the sky" solution following the demolition of the slum housing in this part of Manchester. It's where I live and in fact one of the four massive crescents was situated on the land where my flat is now. This is an interesting documentary about the development. The scale of the buildings is incredible. As highlight by others, it's interesting to see how housing projects such as Park Hill in Sheffield have survived where others were demolished years ago and even, like Robin Hood Gardens in London, are today in the process of being replaced.

Video from YouTube

Integrated Transport Links? Benjamin's Wednesday Treat

Berlin Mietskaserne

L-40, Berlin

"One of the primary concepts of the project was to attempt to open up the courtyard rather than use it as a second grade source of light that is one of the main problems of the Berlin tenement blocks. All of these are qualities that are not very common in architecture in this city".

Above extract taken from  writings on architecture, urbanism & art blog, defiantly worth a read. 

http://waua.wordpress.com/2010/04/09/l-40-berlin/ , plans available from: http://www.l-40.de/de/index.php

100 Social Housing Units in Caen / OLGGA Architects

Along with ArtefactoryLab, OLGGA Architects put together this creative video presentation for a social housing competition in Caen, France. The mixed-use building includes 100 affordable housing units, ground floor retail units and community spaces. The residential units gradually stack up to six stories, maximizing the potential of the site while remaining sensitive to the surrounding context. Stepped terraces provide private outdoor spaces for each dwelling unit while simultaneously allowing for optimal daylighting and natural ventilation. This style of stepped modular construction is a very hot topic of architectural discourse at the moment. This distinctive style appearing in projects by MVRDV as well as BIG Architects. Apologies for the lack f plans, hopefully I've wet all your appetites and you'll do some googling. www.google.com :-)

100 logements sociaux par OLGGA from ArtefactoryLab on Vimeo.

AXONOMETRIC SECTION ACROSS A TYPICAL WILHELMINE TENEMENT IN BERLIN

HEIKO RÖSSGER

SYSTEMATIC AXONOMETRIC SECTION ACROSS A TYPICAL WILHELMINE TENEMENT IN BERLIN/ AXONOMETRISCHER SCHNITT DURCH EINE TYPISCHE WILHELMINISCHE MIETSKASERNE IN BERLIN, 1984