Monthly Archives: December 2010

What Walls!

Posted on 12/06/2010 by Nancy Cheng
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‘In Mexico, it is the wall itself that dominates… walls are used in more powerful ways in Mexico than in other places, to suggest strength, tragedy, peace, or light.’

I admire Legorreta’s talent for creating such wonderful walls.  His buildings have a simple massive elegance that create a powerful statement.  I see Legoretta’s or Luis Barragan’s work and think of it as ‘the Mexican style,’ but these two are the only Mexican architects with which I am familiar.   I question, how will this bold architecture fit within the urban fabric of San Francisco?

The Mexican Museum

The Mexican Museum, San Francisco

Fitting.Framing.Forming.

Posted on 12/06/2010 by Nancy Cheng
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ghost9

Ghost 9

Brian MacKay-Lyons’ theories of Fitting.Framing.Forming. are easily expressed through the imagery of his Ghost Lab work.  In this annual building workshop, students are inspired by the experience of construction to design and build a structure within two weeks.  The structure remains on the Nova Scotian coastal site for one year, until it becomes a ghost, when it is deconstructed to create building material for the next workshop.  These temporary structures contribute to the ever changing spirit of place at this unique site.

Rick Joy

Posted on 12/06/2010 by Nancy Cheng
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I was born and raised in Arizona and have been influenced by many of the same Architects that Rick Joy has been inspired by and learned from.  I believe that one of the strongest influences that rings true to Rick Joy’s architecture is the work of Paolo Soleri, and his interest in the exploration of materials and self contracting.  Soleri is most known for his exploration, with cast arches of concrete that seem to defy the laws of gravity.  He would construct these forms with a small crew of workers and mastered his craft by being a part of the construction process.  Rick Joy has a need to construct and experiment with materials with his own hands to really understand the nature and properties of that material.  The rigor and respect for a material has given Joy the ability to understand how it can influence and create space.  His deep relationship with the materials help him to connect the building to not only the ground but also the sky.  The practicality of his buildings seems to go hand in hand with the poetics as balance of synergies that work together rather than disrupt the other.

Till Next Time…

Ricardo Legorreta

Posted on 12/06/2010 by Nancy Cheng
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The interior photos of Camino Real Ixtapa Hotel best convey the sense of mystery to me.  The simple masses evoke a clarity yet the volumes create an essence of curiosity of what is around the corner.  I think the way he move the circulation through the space does support his mantra of designing for the people.  His comments on the Mexican culture I found intriguing.  I had the opportunity to work for a Mexican Architect for a project in Belize and reading this interview gives me much more insight on the cultural differences.  There was a lot of consideration for how things would be constructed and what kind of skills was reasonable for the construction team.  The mañana aspect infiltrates much more than just Architects.  But I think the most interesting part of the interview was his comments on the mystery, surprise and emotion he uses to describe the Mexican culture.  Designing for this type of regionalism takes a great deal of understanding of the culture.

Rick Joy

Posted on 12/06/2010 by Nancy Cheng
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Prior to this reading, I had only seen Rick Joy’s desert works.  It was interesting to see this house in Vermont.  Discovering the reasoning behind some of the details (no gutters to collect icicles) was fascinating.  His use of materials and form keep the context of the surrounding rural architecture.  The open interior layout reminds me of a Native American Long-House.

Legoretta Post

Posted on 12/01/2010 by Nancy Cheng
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In the interview p. 20 two factors became apparent.

R. Legoretta  ….”with pre Columbian architecture we have to meditate on simplicity…….based on simple masses

 While traveling the country side and “looking at” the villages of Mexico he had an encounter with a farmer which lead him to understand that many people were economically poor but spiritually rich.  Legoretto determined that he would design architecture that truly serves the people.

 Do you think his exuberance for “viva la Mexico” is apparent in his work?

 

I think it is very apparent in his work especially as he explains his approach to design as a devotion to architecture that truly serves  people and makes them happy. It is really apartment in the example of the IBM factory  where he gives as much importance to the assembly lines work space as he does with the office spaces.  Placing the offices on the same level as the assembly lines really gives one the sence that he is trying to capture in the  essence of building for the people creating an equal working environment that doesn’t display any hierarchy between the two different groups of the white collar and blue collar workers at the IBM factory.

Which project (any in the book) seems to convey Legorreto’s sense of mystery to you?

The MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART MARCO in my opinion seems to convey the sense of mystery that Legorreto wants to capture. There are elements in many parts of the building that make you question the reason for their placement or even how these elements are accomplished such as in the yellow column that intrudes its way through the plane of the ceiling to stop right before reaching the plane of the pedestal. The Column then is hollowed out and given an accent of light that expresses to me a mystery to where the light is coming from.

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