Brick by Brick
I'm still trying to make the 1:1 scale model happen, though we are very much running out of time. Put together a booklet to distribute (that is, to have Esther and Tanja help me distribute; thanks!) to potential sponsors:
If you know anyone who likes bricks quite a lot and happens to have a grand or two to spare, please let me know.
Here's the folder text:
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Diploma unit 9 at the Architectural Association is in-
terested in iconic architecture. Th is proposal suggests
a ‘local’ iconicity as opposed to the prevailing ‘global’
iconicity - obvious one-liner buildings such as the
fi sh structures of Gehry or the bird bridges of Cala-
trava. Th e notion is that of the corner being a spatial
generator: change the corner of a space, and the rest
of the volume will follow. Th rough the careful modu-
lation of the corner, new spaces can be born as old
ones die. Th is dichotomy between the life and death
of space through the corner is used to create a 180m
tall, slightly neo-gothic-looking skyscraper hotel on
the southern tip (or perhaps corner) of Manhattan.
Walking through the structure, one moves from
corner to corner, in a building made from one of the
most ‘corner-ous’ material we know: bricks.
MODEL
Th e next step of the project is to create a 1:1 scale
mock-up of a part of the building: a 1x1x3m physi-
cal model that will become part of the end-of-year
exhibition. Th is model would be created using
actual bricks, and would aim to show how brick
architecture can be reinterpreted in our day and age.
Th e Brick Development Association has agreed to
sponsor the project, as has HG Matthews bricks, who
waive their fees for the production. However, costs
still remain for the material itself, and for shipping
the fi nal model to the AA. We are therefore seeking
further sponsorship to make this model happen.
DISSEMINATION
Apart from being exhibited as part of the end-of-
year show (which is seen by an approximate 3,000
architects and members of the public each year), the
project will be further disseminated in the popular
press, websites, and magazines. Magnus Larsson’s
project from 2008, DUNE, was recently picked up by
a wide range of publications, including Wired UK,
BLDGBLOG, Kottke.org, and Slashdot.
Here's the folder text:
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Diploma unit 9 at the Architectural Association is in-
terested in iconic architecture. Th is proposal suggests
a ‘local’ iconicity as opposed to the prevailing ‘global’
iconicity - obvious one-liner buildings such as the
fi sh structures of Gehry or the bird bridges of Cala-
trava. Th e notion is that of the corner being a spatial
generator: change the corner of a space, and the rest
of the volume will follow. Th rough the careful modu-
lation of the corner, new spaces can be born as old
ones die. Th is dichotomy between the life and death
of space through the corner is used to create a 180m
tall, slightly neo-gothic-looking skyscraper hotel on
the southern tip (or perhaps corner) of Manhattan.
Walking through the structure, one moves from
corner to corner, in a building made from one of the
most ‘corner-ous’ material we know: bricks.
MODEL
Th e next step of the project is to create a 1:1 scale
mock-up of a part of the building: a 1x1x3m physi-
cal model that will become part of the end-of-year
exhibition. Th is model would be created using
actual bricks, and would aim to show how brick
architecture can be reinterpreted in our day and age.
Th e Brick Development Association has agreed to
sponsor the project, as has HG Matthews bricks, who
waive their fees for the production. However, costs
still remain for the material itself, and for shipping
the fi nal model to the AA. We are therefore seeking
further sponsorship to make this model happen.
DISSEMINATION
Apart from being exhibited as part of the end-of-
year show (which is seen by an approximate 3,000
architects and members of the public each year), the
project will be further disseminated in the popular
press, websites, and magazines. Magnus Larsson’s
project from 2008, DUNE, was recently picked up by
a wide range of publications, including Wired UK,
BLDGBLOG, Kottke.org, and Slashdot.
Leave a comment