Monday 12: First thing of the day was finishing the blog post for the week prior, I just needed to complete the last few days of the week that was quickly done. Then I got on with the development of the designs. I am now 9 days away from the due date for this part of the project, and I feel like I should have a bit more designs than I have now. So I really need to get my head down and sketch these ideas, ideally I would like to have a good dozen of design ideas, and develop maybe three or so into physical models, not very detailed models, but just models that would help get the general idea across. Anyway by the end of the day I had a good three new designs and I'm really happy about one of them, so far it might be my favourite.
KAFD Mosque- Omrania and Associates (2017)
Tuesday 13: This day might have been counter productive in terms of the project's development, considering just yesterday I was saying I needed to get my head down and get sketches going. No work was done really today, because I went around London to look at buildings I've wanted to see for a while now so that was what I did today. Now yes the project wasn't progressed today but it was a fantastic day nonetheless, the first building was Westminster Cathedral and it was just awe inspiring, the sheer volumes inside are just impossible to wrap your head around, and I was thinking about my project, and if I choose to build high for example I could have the possibility of exposing such volumes if I leave open spaces inside the building, and honestly that is something I would love to do. Another building was Richard Roger's Lloyd Building and what was great there was that it's obviously a similar building to that of the Pompidou centre, he did work on both. But I think that the Lloyd's building embodies the style a lot better, there is still that sense of going against the grain but the way it is done is a lot more graceful I would say, and I actually really liked the building I thought it had a lot of character and so does the Pompidou centre, but I just don't like it's character.
Westminster Cathedral- John Francis Bentley (1903)
Wednesday 14: Same old, same old today, just getting the ideas down on paper. It has been quite difficult for this project to get ideas, a lot more difficult than the previous projects I find. For the previous projects I had something to develop the project from, be it an object, a certain place and its history or a specific thing I wanted to tackle. For this project I have left it very open in terms of the design, and I am just hoping that it was a good decision to make, I think that ultimately if I produce a good design, one that I am very happy with then it will be a lot more rewarding than the other projects. If however I do not reach that stage and only land with a decent design then it will be something I'll learn from, and moving forward I'll know what to do. But if you ask me now, I think that won't happen, and I think the choice to challenge myself more was a good one.
Akiha Ward Cultural Center- Chiaki Arai Urban and Architecture Design (2013)
Thursday 15: Tomorrow I have an interview with UCL, and being that it is my first option I want this interview to go really well. So today I spent most of the day preparing for it, making my notes, my questions and re-familiarising myself with my personal statement, my portfolio and the task I had sent them earlier on this year. I just wanted to get ahead of any possible questions I could get to make sure I wouldn't be caught out and not have an answer. I also went through most of the information on the Bartlett website again to make sure I had the answers to possible questions. I also did that to see possible questions I would have for them. I am most definitely terrible at asking questions in interviews so I always give myself time to actually figure those out because I know it's an important part in the interview, as ultimately it should be a two sided interaction. By the end of the day I felt well prepared and was looking forward to the interview.
Friday 16: Like a fool I decided to get up way too early to go over my notes, and get into the space for the interview, needless stress really. I went over my notes quite quickly, they were made just yesterday so I really didn't need to give myself so much time to go over them. I actually ended up starring at the wave print I have on my desk for a good 20 min waiting for the interview, which I could've done without that contemplation time just lead to further worries for the interview. Interview finishes and I don't know, I did not feel as good about this one, as I had for the previous ones. Usually there's always a sense of euphoria once I finish them, not this one. My notes were not that helpful, and my hope of getting ahead of questions ended it up just being a hope, because I was asked a question and I did not have a prepared answer for it, nonetheless I think I answered it okay, not as well as I would like but that's just the way it is. In the other interviews I had been able to express my love for architecture and usually connect with the interviewer and it usually felt like a conversation, this time around they weren't looking for that, and I think with UCL they are looking for real free spirits that want nothing more than experiment and my portfolio doesn't really convey that I don't think. The interviewer did say that I showed variety in my work, which in the 10 page portfolio I sent is true, and I was really happy about that. In other interviews I was told the opposite, that I was too regimented and in the case of my 30 page portfolio those unis saw that's also true. The interviewer did also say that there was a clear cut between my approach depending on the type of work. My architectural work is very regimented and strict, and maybe lacks character and on the other hand when it is not architecture I colour outside the lines more, I get more creative and the work does have a lot more of me in it. I would put that down to me always thinking about what architecture is really, and that at the end of the day it has a responsibility, it has to stand up for example, which is not the case for a collage, you have the ability to go all out. However I'm at a stage where none of my buildings will be built so really there is no harm in also colouring outside the lines when it comes to the architectural work, because in doing so I will probably find what type of architect I would like to be, something that will not happen if I stay within the lines. If I constantly stay within the lines I might just end up being very boring, and not bring anything new to the table, which is everything I don't want. At the end of the day it is just what I felt like and that doesn't hold much weight so for now I'll be waiting for their reply and carry on with this project.
Dark Wave- Shepard Fairey (2010)
Saturday 17: Today I decided to build another lego model of one of my idea. I chose to do that because this design idea was one I really liked, the one I had detailed the most, and the one that I was constantly thinking about. So the best way to get the thoughts and questions I had about the design was to build it, and see how everything works together and if it actually does work. By the end of the day I had a pretty good model, most importantly one that answered my questions and reinforced my attachment to the design. Right now it seems like it's the best one. However I will carry on getting more ideas down, and modelling them, because it might just be that I like this design because it is here in 3D. But anyway I will be making a blog post on each models that I make and go into more detail for each.
Sunday 18: No work was done today.
Kadare Cultural Centre- Chiaki Arai Urban and Architecture Design (2011)
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