.four.

It is that time of year again, where friends and strangers alike are all saying, “I can’t believe that it is already 2008”. And you know after hearing the same thing said last year when it was unbelievable for it to be 2007, I am actually wondering what the big deal is? If you think about it we have crossed into the 21^st century and what have we really got to show for it!

I want to take this opportunity to reference a favorite book of mine, “2001: A Space Odyssey”, when it was written the content was considered futuristic in its subject matter and beyond the realm of possibilities at that moment in time. What I am getting at here is that it is going to be 2008 in a minute people, and arguably we have achieved none of the futuristic capabilities dreamed up in the book. Just about the only thing that we have done is evolve from the half-ape creatures that encounter the monolith. But evolution is not a can of worms I want to get into today. What I really want to discuss is the present and the near future, and how we could possibly achieve more of the futurism described in the book that we missed out on when it actually became 2001.

Back to my first statement, you know the first sentence, where I talked about it being almost 2008. We have developed many innovative and great things, but I argue that we haven’t taken that leap that would put

us in the realm Arthur C. Clarke science fiction series.

One event that brings all the bragging rights for at least four years is the Olympics. Every four years a host city that has won a worldwide competition held at least six to eight years in advance, gets its chance to show off some new sporting facilities that were commission specifically for the forthcoming games. This is generally a great time for architects and the cities that are home to the Olympic Games they are host too. But the shocking thing here is that the city and all the new architectural masterpieces are decided upon up to two summer games ahead of when they are to be held. For example, the current bid being decided being the 2016 Games which will be comes on October 2, 2009.

Imagine going to a worldwide event that always exemplifies and showcases the facilities as being the most advanced in the world and they were designed almost a decade ago! What I would like to see happen is to imagine we are writing a new version of 2001: A Space Odyssey, and think about the year 2016 and actually have something to really brag about in the upcoming Olympic village. I don’t even want to list anything down because in eight years it either will A: not happen or B: already be obsolete, the latter being the most likely outcome.

For now I guess I go back to the simpler task of anticipating the 2008^th year of our modern calendar. I promise to let you know if anything happens in the New Year that is truly revolutionary.

.three.

One thing that has been an ongoing study of mine understands why people maintain a strong hold to so called traditional styles specifically for houses. Although I come across individuals that what to translate all things traditional to every building they occupy. For instance I have many conversations with many friends regarding project that I have worked on or ones that I enjoy out of one of my modern architecture magazines, and the common reaction is “that looks cool but I wouldn’t live in it”. That is when I usually step up onto my soapbox and try to educate all of them on why they should appreciate modern architecture, and leave traditional building typologies in the past where they belong. When I take this approach it typically ends the conversation, I like to believe it is because I sounded like my theories were no match for their non-architect brain. As I crash back to earth I realize that my friends don’t really want to hear about boring, snoring modern architecture.

But with free digital storage space I can blather on for as long as I want about this topic. I promise I won’t for your sake.

My thesis statement would be, if I may call it that, tradition forms of architecture were the most technically advanced at the time of their construction, however as technology advances so should our emotions about the structures advance. Traditional structures not only were the most advanced technologically, but they were utilitarian as well. The majority of these were built as direct responses to a wide array of factors. Weather, growing population, site conditions etc. Today architects still take into consideration many of these factors, but what is different is our knowledge of construction and building systems has improved exponentially. In addition to these improvements of technology, today’s modern man has embraced modernization of virtually everything from cars to how he listens to music, but this modern man still wishes to live in a central hall Georgian or worse yet a conglomeration of Tuscan, roman and Greek styles all “uniquely” blended into one house. I say uniquely because if you picked up the real estate section of any newspaper, that is how realtors would spin it.

It troubles me that modern society is more than eager to embrace the newest car model, or ipod, but hesitate severely at the sight of an intelligently designed modern house. I am not saying that you have to make a choice between the two, and there is no compromise. I believe that we as architects should always learn from our historical precedents. It is very important to acknowledge their existence; however we can and should make all attempts to integrate the past with the present and hopefully the future as well. Instead of churning out copies of what was done before, let us do what we were trained to do and creatively address the design to keep up with all the modern instruments that go inside the house.

I will make this a stopping point for the time being, stay tuned for the next chapter...

.two.

Why architecture? I was recently posed this question at a turkey day family gathering. I was asked by a person who I have never met before; from my significant others side of the family. I had to think quickly. And as I was explaining my story of how I came to a career in architecture, I was simultaneously wondering, what did make me want to pursue architecture, and what is it that still makes me want to work in this profession.

My story begins…

I was first interested in the profession of architecture out of necessity to fill in a blank on college applications. Prior to that time the career itself was a title not much else. That is not to say that I was not interested in architecture, but previous to my applying to college I was unaware of a medium that best utilized my talents. I was good at freehand drawings, and I even took a couple of drafting courses in high school. Combine that with my serious curiosity of how things are put together, and not just buildings, this curiosity can be fulfilled by the construction of a formula one car’s radio antenna, to the workings of a mouse trap. For lack of a better example the absent minded architect is inspired by all sorts of things. If they have some moving parts exposed and some mystery then I am engaged for hours.

It was not until I began my education at the University of Southern California that I started to understand what architecture really is. I am still in the infant stages of my understanding and in today’s modern culture; one should never feel done with their education.

The very first day of class, what became known simply as “studio”; my first instructor first words were in the form of what seemed like an easy question. “What do you think architecture is?” Every one of the 15 students had different ideas to respond to this. What we thought was an easy question was really a disguise that set us up for our complex road ahead. I truly can’t remember what my answer was, but I do remember what our instructor thoughts on the subject were. His answer to his question was that, architecture is about space. In essence architecture is not about the materials, or the building that is made from the materials as much as it is about the space that is created and defined by the materials. I’m sure this definition could be argued until the end of time, but for me it was my introduction and catalyst to my studies.

.one.

this first blog post is going to be brief and basic. i think for starters i am interested in making this blog about simple thoughts, tangents, ideas and opinions. the title of this blog suggests that i am the absent minded architect. and being the absent minded architect i believe my posts will be rustic and unrefined, and i may not finish them all. but as they progress, in time, i hope they achieve more sophistication and style. so bear with me digital data zeros and ones, this will be an experience to remember, or at least i hope to! let this be the end of the first post.