Whitstable (Part 1)
Went to Whitstable to do some photography and try and clear my head. Mixed success on both counts.
Project 04 - Medway
New Year, New Project, New Update.
Our project for terms 2 & 3 revolves around the design and implementation of an “archive” (whatever form/function/etc that may take). We’ve been given 5 sites to choose from in Strood - and I’m mulling over two of them, both located on the bank of the Medway (so, amongst other things - plan for flood risk & sustainable drainage etc.).
The two top slides of this update show a route not taken with this project (pun unintentional) - that is, the archiving of “protest(s)”. These two maps were a quick attempt to show the route, origin and potential dispersal patterns of the protestors at two protests: the “Reclaim Your Voice” student march in Edinburgh, 2011; and the 2003 “Stop the War” march in London. I’ve decided to go for a theme of “psychological trauma” instead, for archival.
Project 03 - Kingsnorth (cont.)
Project 03 - Kingsnorth
Kew Gardens Visit 2/2
Kew Gardens Visit 1/2
Last week I visited Kew Gardens - mainly to see The Hive (the relocated British Pavilion from Milan Expo 2015). However, after walking through the Tropical House, the climate control systems started catching my eye. Systems in place that I could see included:
Mist dispersers
Automated windows
Temperature & humidity sensors
Air-tight doors
Water features
The Alpine House had another system in place - what I assume was a solar shade.
V&A Visit
A couple of weeks ago I went up to the V&A to see the new courtyard, as well as an exhibition of plywood (which was thoroughly interesting - they had a 1:1 mock-up of a CLT structure, cladding, insulation & all).
If you ever plan on walking through the Sackler Courtyard on even a mildly sunny day - bring sunglasses. The white porcelain tiles have a rather significant luminance - welcome, if strong. I’m not going to add much more, as I don’t want to turn this into a reporting piece.
Berlin 5/5
After walking around the Bundestag several times, and up to the Reichstag Dome, I really wish we had as cool government buildings over in the UK.
Westminster Palace? Blergh
Whitehall? Bleh
London City Council? Pfffpht
10 Downing Street? Meh
Reichstag? Dayum
Bundestag cluster? Cooooooolllllllll. Its set in a park. A *park*, along the Spree.
Yes, I am fully aware that London is cramped & most major European capitals have far more space available to them. Still though.
Pfffppfht.
Berlin 4/5
I’m conflicted. The architecture student in me was rather in awe of the design of the park, but… I did feel a little unsettled setting foot in the park.