Comments for lewism

Comment on Finnish Architecture 0607 by Jarno

Jarno — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:28:26 +0000

The Kotilo or Seashell house is not minimalist modernism, propably a mandatory requirement to fit into the “finnish architecture” brand that MFA is trying to sell.

Comment on Living Room for Helsinki by | Architecture Lab

| Architecture Lab — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 04:37:16 +0000

[...] centre to improve it and create or add to existing public space with a variety of functions. [...] Read addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Farchitecturelab.net%2F2008%2F06%2F18%2F1081%2F’; addthis_title = ”; [...]

Comment on Most Liveable Cities 2008 by darren

darren — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:06:46 +0000

nope, not found anything online. i got my copy in the post on monday but not a whole lot on helsinki.

Comment on Most Liveable Cities 2008 by lewism

lewism — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:13:41 +0000

Darren thanks, I expext I’ll buy the magazine when it arrives here…have you found a copy of the Helsinki pages by the way?

Comment on Finnish Architecture 0607 by lewism

lewism — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:12:16 +0000

Jukka,
Thanks I will try and track it down our office copy must be on someone’s desk. But a college did tell me that the Huttonens were the developers for the project also….It may explain alot.

Comment on Most Liveable Cities 2008 by darren

darren — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:00:55 +0000

here is a pdf of the copenhagen pages.
http://www.denmark.dk/NR/rdonlyres/456EE6BA-ACA7-4369-BD1D-C4376F5F39D1/0/copenhagen.pdf

Comment on Going, going, gone. by Dave

Dave — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:37:02 +0000

..mind you, an ex-Hopkin pal suggests that the women are neurotic, there’s little else to do but drink and wallow hot puddles and the recent 40% (so he says) slide in the currency makes London once again more favourable…so he’s back at Hopkin’s once more, grafting hard :))

besides, BBC Foreign Correspondent came up with Vanuatu being number one happy land recently, interviewing some bloke who owned a tropical island but didn’t have a cent to his name - but was happy as a butchers dog with his family within coconut throw away and - yes, well plenty of fish (the edible variety) in his sea - more than enough to sell should he venture for some indulgent luxury like perfumed soap or toothpaste.

..he’d just better keep his fingers crossed that Bush’s disregard for sea level rise predictions are science afterall..

Comment on Finnish Architecture 0607 by Jukka

Jukka — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:47:41 +0000

Triadi is a three apartment building, the architects (Suvi and Risto Huttunen) living in one of the apartments. It is also featured in the latest Arkkitehti-lehti.

Comment on The Seashell House (Kotilo) by lewism » Finnish Architecture 0607

lewism » Finnish Architecture 0607 — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:53:52 +0000

[...] is today and the only building I know about and that I’m surprised is not in is the Kotilo or Seashell house by house by Olavi Koponen. Private houses and public competition lead schemes [...]

Comment on City Library by Filmenoi

Filmenoi — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:10:33 +0000

Really nice piece of architecture. It’s, very ……….. inspiring.

Comment on Housing Prototypes by lewism

lewism — Mon, 05 May 2008 09:17:31 +0000

You’re welcome!

Comment on South Harbour by lewism

lewism — Mon, 05 May 2008 09:10:55 +0000

David,
First off thanks for posting your thoughts, I agree basically with evrything you are saying, the plan is as you have written. It might be worth also raising a couple of other points I have thought of since writing this post.

H&dM were and probably will always be best at materials and the ‘materialisation’ of a project. I would cite Goetz, SBB, Allianz Arena just as the tip of the iceberg to illustrate my case.

However they seem to me very average in space planning and spatial design.

So this project will really succeed or fail purely on this waveform glass cladding. That case really is still there to be proven.

Have you read the latest ark magazine by the way, they really don’t like the whole scheme, and bring up a number of important points?

One last thing, I don’t think a very average plan is necessarily a big problem for the design to be sucessful, but size, cladding and realtionship with the waterfront are really all key here and that’s all still to be proved for me.

Comment on South Harbour by David Lash

David Lash — Sun, 04 May 2008 06:18:06 +0000

..went to his lecture on this in Otaniemi. It struck me that the final scheme wasn’t actually that interesting- yet makes complete commercial sense. An efficient hotel is perhaps like an efficient prison in that it administered from a central location, with the check-in desk forming the hub of the wheel. Creating a cross shape (and Swiss cross at that) is then maybe a more commercially driven decision than a creative one. Then to simply copy and paste one floor atop the next with perhaps a balcony terrace to level 2 - well, yawn. He showed a slide of maybe 80 preliminary models for the design, I swear I’ve seen some of those models before on other projects!

The wave form glass cladding may be a redeeming feature, but who knows how the value engineering will drive things. Finland has its own brilliant architects, do we really need a clever and aptly successful Swiss bloke with a second-rate idea watered down by harsh commercial decisions? (hey it looks like a ice palace - not particularly innovative)

Comment on Housing Prototypes by David Lash

David Lash — Sun, 04 May 2008 06:05:36 +0000

Fantastic resource - thanks for the link

Comment on A Tribute to Jørn Utzon by Lise Falck Hansen

Lise Falck Hansen — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:55:31 +0000

The book ‘Sketches - A tribute to Jørn Utzon’ can be purchased at our website: http://www.arkfo.dk.
Price dkk. 198,- including vat.

Comment on Living on Purpose by lewism

lewism — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 09:42:12 +0000

No problem Charlie and your blog looks great, I’ve just signed up to your feed.

Comment on Living on Purpose by Charlie

Charlie — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:52:37 +0000

Sounds like a must read! My husband and I enjoy reading books that challenge the establishment and make you think outside of the box. Thanks for the heads up.

Charlie

Comment on South Harbour by Mark

Mark — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 09:48:26 +0000

Don’t have much to say on the plans for Helsinki, but I love that top picture, far more inspiring than the grey sky I see out of my study window.

Comment on Page 123 by darren

darren — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:20:00 +0000

(i took my time about it - but i replied!)

Comment on Page 123 by dw.blah » blog archive » page 123

dw.blah » blog archive » page 123 — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:13:45 +0000

[...] lewism.org i get [...]

Comment on City Library by lewism

lewism — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:14:43 +0000

Yeah I think its a great entry, hope to see it built.

Comment on Oslo Ski Jump Winner by lewism » Oslo Ski Jump Push Needed

lewism » Oslo Ski Jump Push Needed — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 11:21:15 +0000

[...] De Smedt’s competition win for Oslo’s new ski jump (previous article) needs a little push to help it get off the ground. The Architectural Record reported that the [...]

Comment on City Library by timqui

timqui — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 11:00:41 +0000

very impressive!

Comment on City Library by darren

darren — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:06:36 +0000

thats just beautiful.

Comment on Page 123 by lewism

lewism — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 06:40:58 +0000

Thanks Jukka and it would be great to see you blogging again.

Comment on Page 123 by Jukka

Jukka — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:39:44 +0000

First book at hand was Europan 8 results book, but since it was only 79 pages, it didn’t qualify. Right below that was “Studies in Tectonic Culture: The Poetics of Construction in Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Architecture” by Kenneth Frampton.

Since I don’t, currently, really have a place were to post this, I post the sentences here, if that’s allright by you? I promise my blog will be running soon and I can repost there and tag people too

For Perret, reinforced concrete was the perfect homogeneous system with which to reconcile the two-hundred-year-old schism lying at the very heart of the Greco-Gothic ideal, that is to say, to combine the asperities of Platonic form with the tectonic expressivity of structural rationalism. Three seminal buildings testify to Perret’s synthetic approach, as he passes from a brilliant adaptation of the precepts of Viollet-le-Duc to the more idealized forms of classicized rationalism in which he would, nonetheless, remain committed to the primacy of the frame. The three buildings in succession are the Casino at St.-Malo (1899), an apartment block at 25 bis rue Franklin, Paris (1903), and a four-story parking garage completed in the rue Ponthieu, Paris, in 1905.

Comment on Transport Live by Bifta

Bifta — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 21:20:08 +0000

Ubiquitous - with the exception of mainland UK? Can’t see our public transport ‘visionaries’ getting to grips with this kind of thing!

Comment on 36 by Jukka

Jukka — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:21:47 +0000

Congrats!

Comment on 36 by Igor Polyakov

Igor Polyakov — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:02:08 +0000

Congratulations!

Comment on Transport Live by dw.blah » blog archive » live

dw.blah » blog archive » live — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:04:25 +0000

[...] (oh and the dublin one! via) [...]

Comment on Amsterdam 360° by lewism

lewism — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:57:13 +0000

Greg,
I hope you find some interesting things. I’ve become a fan of your site needless to say.

Comment on Amsterdam 360° by Greg J. Smith

Greg J. Smith — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:51:21 +0000

Hey, thanks for the shout out! Frank’s stuff is really great..
I’m going to poke around in your archives. Nice site.

Comment on Subterranean Amsterdam by La Nueva Amsterdam bajo el Agua. » Plataforma Urbana

La Nueva Amsterdam bajo el Agua. » Plataforma Urbana — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 07:08:35 +0000

[...] Fuente de la Información: bldgblog.blogspot.com, http://www.zwarts.jansma.nl, wikipedia.org, http://www.building.co.uk, http://www.lewism.org [...]

Comment on Arctic Seed Vault by lewism » Artic Seed Vault Opens

lewism » Artic Seed Vault Opens — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:18:46 +0000

[...] first world seed ‘doomsday’ vault opens in Svalbard Norway to protect biodiversity (see previous post). There are about 1500 seed vaults worldwide but this is the only one buried under a polar [...]

Comment on Some Brutal Friends of Mine by lewism » Brutalism under threat

lewism » Brutalism under threat — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 16:18:44 +0000

[...] it. Go here to sign the online petition but you only have until march 7th to sign. I posted last summer about another brutalist masterpiece that is now demolished, they may be mostly unloved, but they [...]

Comment on Energy Awareness Visualisations by lewism

lewism — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 10:06:40 +0000

Rob,
Hey thanks for the scoop! It’s the next logical step and I hope your conversations are fruitful.

Comment on Energy Awareness Visualisations by Rob

Rob — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:10:26 +0000

As you might expect, I can tell you that Dan and I are also talking about how we might bring our projects together…

Thanks for support!

Rob

Comment on A Finnish Reading List by lewism

lewism — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 12:45:06 +0000

@Leaf,
Hello, I have covered a few books that are set in Helsinki, a couple I can think of are;
Not Before Sundown by Johanna Sinisalo
The Priest of Evil by Matti Jouensuu
Both are novels firmly set in Helsinki. In this post check out the guardian list its pretty good and the links at the end are worth researching.
Maybe also…
The Winter Book by Tove Jansson but I haven’t read it so I don’t know how much any of the short stories are set in Helsinki. This would probably be the best written though.
Of the ones I’ve mentioned above and have read I would think The Priest of evil would be the best fit as it
really is firmly rooted in Helsinki the way the Rebus series by Ian Rankin is set in Edinburgh or Morse in Cambridge for example. Also it covers quite well in my estimation the psychogeography of Helsinki, and some few Finnish bugbears like a crazed bomber. We had a shooting and a bomber in Finland which are the two most talked about crimes here at the moment. Maybe you should read The winter book too. It will provide some contrast, and you will get two different views of Helsinki I think. I’ll post you if I think/find anything else.

Comment on A Finnish Reading List by leaf

leaf — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:57:15 +0000

can you recommend a book, a novel set in helsinki? im an architecture student and for an urban studies module, i need to do a book review relating to a city. any book, set in, about, mildly involving, the city.. i love helsinki and am coming back in april, so maybe something you could recommend would be perfect.
kiitos

Comment on Aalto Database by architecture roundup, 02/08/08 at materialicious

architecture roundup, 02/08/08 at materialicious — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:44:27 +0000

[...] The Aalto Database is now open in English and Finnish. Via Lewism [...]

Comment on Changing Themes by lewism

lewism — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 10:03:04 +0000

It was worth it for me.

Comment on Changing Themes by The Sesquipedalist

The Sesquipedalist — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 01:55:29 +0000

I think the new theme looks great! Was that worth a comment?

Comment on Learning Finnish by lewism » Learning Finnish # 2

lewism » Learning Finnish # 2 — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:13:18 +0000

[...] Also see my first post about Learning Finnish. [...]

Comment on Frontiers of Architecture 1 - Cecil Balmond by Piya

Piya — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:05:54 +0000

very helpful

Comment on 2006 Roundup by lewism | 2007 Roundup

lewism | 2007 Roundup — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 11:46:36 +0000

[...] Last years list. [...]

Comment on Frontiers of Architecture 1 - Cecil Balmond by lewism

lewism — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:15:55 +0000

I’ll definetly check it out when I’m next in town then. The Balmond show was brilliant, it was maybe a little overpowering as well. I find that often Architecture exhibitions are underwhelming under the surface, this one wasn’t.

Comment on Frontiers of Architecture 1 - Cecil Balmond by darren

darren — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:11:54 +0000

yeah i got it a few days ago - there is a lot in there. hoping to get through it over the weekend.

i was at the balmond exhibition too in louisiana - i loved it but found it almost a bit too much to take in - a dvd of the exhibition would helped so much - given more time to digest everything going on.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dw/tags/cecilbalmond/

Comment on Frontiers of Architecture 1 - Cecil Balmond by lewism

lewism — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:07:49 +0000

Thanks for the tip Darren, have you bought it and is it any good?

Comment on Frontiers of Architecture 1 - Cecil Balmond by darren

darren — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 09:55:36 +0000

in the current o32c magazine there is a big big feature on balmond, its in stockmann at the moment…

http://magculture.com/blog/?p=1470

Comment on Estonian Embassy in Second Life by lewism

lewism — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 08:58:14 +0000

@ Aleister,
Sorry for the slow reply. I’m slowly getting back into the swing of things and to grips with the new year.

I really like the building because it looks from your photos anyway that it departs significantly from a building that could be executed in the real world. It looms over the overserver from below but presents a kind of flat perspective from above… Designed for the flying residents of second life perhaps? Thats what caught my eye, its something that you couldn’t really build in the real world. Oh and I will check out more of scopes work..thanks.

Comment on Estonian Embassy in Second Life by Aleister Kronos

Aleister Kronos — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:03:41 +0000

Hi.

Thanks for the compliment about the photos of Scope’s build - and for the link.
I was disappointed with this build - even though Scope is one of my favourite architects in Second Life. I don’t know if you are familiar with Scope’s work, but it is well tracking down - particularly the buildings he has made for Princeton.

Comment on Frontiers of Architecture 1 - Cecil Balmond by Bifta

Bifta — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 22:08:49 +0000

@Lewis

Point taken! They aren’t mutually exclusive, and the best that arhictecture has to offer often depends on, or embraces, the best that engineering has to offer. And vice-versa - the two are equally capable of driving each other I suppose.

In passing, my company did some work with Arup recently, looking at the skills and numbers of those involved in developing sustainable communities in England. They have a very broad range.

Keep posting!

Comment on Frontiers of Architecture 1 - Cecil Balmond by lewism

lewism — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 12:30:41 +0000

@ Bifta,

Point taken, although I think that neither are mutually exclusive. Historically some of the greatest buildings ever have also pushed the structural boundaries eg. the Pantheon or Hagia Sophia, even the pyramids.
What I found compelling about Balmonds contribution to these iconic projects some of which will stand the test of time and some of which undoubtedly won’t is that he adds structural rigour and therefore intellectually speaking, architectural weight to each project.
In other words a basic desire of the architect for a ‘floating corner’ or ‘random pattern’ can be transformed into something of value structurally and programatically. It doesn’t of course make great architecture by itself.

Comment on Frontiers of Architecture 1 - Cecil Balmond by Bifta

Bifta — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 08:26:21 +0000

Hi LewisM

Balmond’s name crops up in a book I’m reading, The Edifice Complex, by Deyan Sudjic. It’s an excellent read by the way. Balmond comes up in connection with Koolhas’s CTC Tower in Beijing, recognition of the phenomenal feats of engineering that are currently expanding possibilities for architects. No doubt architects like Zaha Hadid would acknowledge similar debts to engineers - with her fondness for curving and seemingly unsupported concrete structures.

I’m not sure that the engineering and technological advances aren’t perhaps driving architects a little too far in a particular direction though. Isn’t there a danger that, rather than designing a building for the ‘traditional’ reasons (form, context, purpose etc - and please bear with me because I’m a layman using these terms), architects are designing buildings to indulge themselves and clients with the gains of the new engineering techniques?

Comment on Kiruna by mehul patel

mehul patel — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 08:04:43 +0000

hi there,

well i m a freshly graduated architect..working in a firm in kolkata, india.
i would like to know about the present scenario of the future cities like “kiruna” as discussion held above.

i m interested in pursuing my masters program in sustainable architecture…pls send me some information on which universities give such programmes for post graduation.pls send your feed back on armehulp@gmail.com..i would be glad if we can have a discussion on this issue.

i am writing a research paper on susutainable deelopments across the world..this is my own personal work which i like to do for myself. pls send me your feed back on this on my email address.

regards,
ar. mehul patel

Comment on Kiruna by Anders Lindberg

Anders Lindberg — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 15:41:32 +0000

The name of the company is LKAB.
And no buildings have been damaged, nor will they be, as the houses will be moved well in time before the deformations reach them.

Comment on Buildings to Suit your Mood by lewism

lewism — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 10:19:09 +0000

@Wildkid
thanks! I try and keep up this blog as much as I can

@Bifta
The Paimio Sanatorium is not a 20thC design classic for nothing. Maybe natural light, space and air is the start and finish of good design….I would love to visit that building must vheck where it is exactly…..

Comment on Buildings to Suit your Mood by WildKid

WildKid — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 10:19:45 +0000

Really good and really interesting post. I expect (and other readers maybe :)) new useful posts from you!
Good luck and successes in blogging!

Comment on Buildings to Suit your Mood by Bifta

Bifta — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 12:05:50 +0000

It’s interesting we’re talking about this now, as I’ve just been reading about Aalto’s Paimio Sanatorium. He focused strongly on using the design to enhance/contribute to the healing process, lots of natural light, quiet etc. I was in hospital in the UK about a year ago, in a ward that only had windows down one side, which ‘looked’ onto a dingy service space. It made me feel worse than I already did.

There’s a balance between interesting design for the sake of it, and practical, useful design that could perhaps help the work of hospitals, even if it’s in intangible and immeasurable ways such as mood. I agree with you, paint would be a good place to start.

Comment on Buildings to Suit your Mood by lewism

lewism — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 10:42:14 +0000

Bifta,
Hospital design is difficult because maybe its one building type that needs more than any other to take into consideration the users. It is a space where lifechanging and life ending events happen yet the quality of hospital spaces can often be terrible.

Hospitals develop over time and their programs are more complicated than almost any other building type but I really wish hospitals concentrated on built quality a little more than they seem to. Something like the colour changing paint would be a start….

Comment on Buildings to Suit your Mood by Bifta

Bifta — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 11:43:49 +0000

It sounds like a great idea. Some projects here in Leeds (UK) have recently started being a bit more adventurous with colour, one of the local hospitals has recently built a new cancer centre which is clad in turquoise, a colour reminiscent of medicine and surgical scrubs.

But how much nicer it would be if the colour changed to reflect the passage of the day, or the seasons. Wouldn’t the mood of patients (and staff) be enhanced by something like that?

Comment on The Seashell House (Kotilo) by three houses by olavi koponen at materialicious

three houses by olavi koponen at materialicious — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 18:43:29 +0000

[...] Villa Långbo is described in detail on Kopenen’s site, here. All three houses can be seen on Europa Concorsi. Lewism has a rather lengthy personal slideshow of House Kotilo from the Assuntomessut (Housing Fair) in Espoo, Finland. Go see. [...]

Comment on Worlds Tallest Log Cabin by Log Cabin

Log Cabin — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 12:41:04 +0000

This is amazing and wonderful. It looks a little weird but it is really a wonder. It is more of a log building than a log cabin.=)

Kris

Comment on Gazprom City Controversy by H.K.

H.K. — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 04:14:42 +0000

Plain and simple;
this monstrosity should be stopped and the sooner the better.
The “New Russians” already turned Moscow into commercial city, with all the historical charm of the old city gone, replaced by either ugly “Modern” architechture, or architecture of the pseudo-Russian style. Needless to say, that certain buildings of historical significance were destroyed or replaced with replicas, instead of being properly restored. ( Did I mention, the wife of the mayor of Moscow is the owner of the construction company?)
And if that is not enough - now THIS is apparently happening in St. Pet.!!!!!!
Don’t they know that old districts of St. Pet. are under protection of UNESCO?
Well they know, but it’s all the same for them, since GAZPROM is promising to “bring money” in the city.
How can ANY European company ( RMJM from what I’ve heard) participate in this crime?
Simply outrageous.

Comment on Scotland Football World Champions? by lewism

lewism — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 05:48:22 +0000

Temo,
Check the ufwc website above unless you are greek your not unoffical champi
ons (even). If your Georgian, well I’m very sad for our result but you played some stylish football, that’s a good young team you have.

Comment on Scotland Football World Champions? by TEMO

TEMO — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 17:55:22 +0000

That means we are world Champions now as we beat Scotland LOOOL

Comment on Villa Carrë by shayda

shayda — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 11:32:37 +0000

hi……..i liked this villa too much because it is very beautiful and nice.it has an interesting view.best wishes .i like to see more .thanks so much .byeeeeeee

Comment on Shish Barak by xiomara

xiomara — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:21:52 +0000

great recipe…………………used it with lamb………yummy!!

Comment on Mimoa by lewism

lewism — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 09:11:56 +0000

Naomi,
Thanks for the quick response. Hope I can contribute and I’m always watching an exciting growing site like yours!

Comment on Mimoa by Naomi

Naomi — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 09:56:54 +0000

Hi Lewis,
Thanks for the post and all suggestions. Crossing the great Atlantic is something we look forward to as well, but let’s first make everything work for Europe. The pdf booklet is our next milestone, to be developed this year [2007]. So keep yourself posted and see you on MIMOA.
Best,
N

Comment on Open House Helsinki 2007 by Jukka

Jukka — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 12:45:28 +0000

Oh, right. You mentioned about that in one of your comments. I hope the trip was good.

Comment on Open House Helsinki 2007 by lewism

lewism — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 06:18:11 +0000

I didn’t go to the open house. Our office was in Copenhagen all weekend. I will post lots of photos of that at the end of the week.

Comment on Open House Helsinki 2007 by Jukka

Jukka — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 13:08:01 +0000

So did you go? How was it?

Comment on To Copenhagen by lashie

lashie — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:34:11 +0000

..much study wearies the brain

Brilliant idea for the kindergarten, wonder why they didn’t incorporate more of a green roof too with sand and bark pits etc..maybe its a bit messy or too expensive..

..uk has a very odd attitude to kids playing outside, it really makes life pretty miserable for parents and teachers left trying to entertain kids indoors for days on end…its was so much easier when you just gave them a plank of wood, a tennis ball and said …go play cricket in the park..that thought makes even the most liberal parent shudder these days..

Comment on To Copenhagen by lewism

lewism — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 09:22:08 +0000

I just realised I won’t be able to go to Habitare 07 as thats when I’m in Copenhagen.

Comment on To Copenhagen by lewism

lewism — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 09:53:17 +0000

Thanks Darren I know your list will be good.

Comment on To Copenhagen by darren

darren — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 06:03:59 +0000

will get a list together

Comment on Buying Records by Brendan

Brendan — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 14:37:53 +0000

Oh, of course…the thing about being from Milwaukee — the unofficial Capital of the Corner Bar (in the US) in case you’re unfamiliar — is that I tend to think of the bar/pub as less of a place of commerce and more of a cultural institution…you know, something on par with the local art museum or library.

Comment on Buying Records by lewism

lewism — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 11:25:15 +0000

Brendan,
Thanks for the Link, I will check it out when it comes on the net. I don’t think anywhere here in Helsinki would stock it.
Always thought that some shops really can and do anchor places and give something back to communities. Add good food shops to record and book shop list, oh and being British I couldn’t but help mention a decent pub!

Comment on Buying Records by Brendan

Brendan — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 04:52:45 +0000

Most of my employment history growing up in Milwaukee was connected to the book industry; I worked behind the counter in an independent book shop for two years, a referrence library for two more, and then in the marketing department of a local independent bookstore chain. I have always appreciated the bookstore environment, even when it is corporate (I am a sucker for the American superchain Borders even though I know this makes me a weak and terrible person…heh). There’s something very communal about it that certainly doesn’t exist in most other places of commerce — though the record store is a notable exception. (There is absolutely no sense of place in most clothing stores, for example).

There was an article about making record stores into community anchors in the latest issue of The Next American City; I think it’d be worth your time to read it. If you don’t want to buy a copy, they always publish all of their content from the previous issue free on their website once the new issue comes out.

Comment on Apartment on the water by Jukka

Jukka — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 17:34:24 +0000

Tasa hasn’t retired. He’s currently practising in Arkkitehdit NRT and a professor of contemporary architecture at University of Oulu, Department of Architecture (where I am a student).

Do you mean the Talo Into with the staircase or perhaps Moby Dick’s staircase?

Comment on Stirling Prize Shortlist 2007 by lewism

lewism — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 09:26:47 +0000

Simon,
I just added my photos of the Scottish Parliament. Nice group.

Comment on Hanasaari by lewism | Espoo does Tango

lewism | Espoo does Tango — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 09:18:59 +0000

[...] quite like it. Can it be delivered without sacrificing too much to commercial pressure, like in the Hanasaari project only time will [...]

Comment on Stirling Prize Shortlist 2007 by Simon

Simon — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 21:29:26 +0000

It’s certainly an interesting year for the prize, isn’t it.

You may be interested to know about our new Flickr group, dedicate to the Stirling Prize. It’s early days but it’s coming on quite well.

Comment on Stirling Prize Shortlist 2007 by lewism

lewism — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 08:30:59 +0000

Darran,
I am inclined to agree with your last point. I don’t see much this year in the way of experiment and adventure. Some well made buildings no doubt but my overwhelming impression is of a shortlist by the numbers.

Comment on Stirling Prize Shortlist 2007 by Darran

Darran — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 14:11:34 +0000

OMAs Casa da Musica has been finished for ages - I went to see it more than 18 months ago. OMA only qualify because of their RIBA membership, the same as ODonnell and Tuomey. The Stirling Prize still is a prize for british or british registered architects or buildings in britain - and a few other exceptions. Criteria rather unclear…

“The RIBA Stirling Prize is given for the RIBA Building of the Year. It is run in association with The Architects’ Journal and is presented to the architects of the building which has been the most significant for the evolution of architecture
in the past year. ”

Which is hardly a fitting description for anything on the list!

So all in all a very, very weak Stirling Prize shortlist - the Foster rail terminal looks like (and in actual fact is) something that was designed 20 years ago. Chipperfield is good in a boring Swiss kind of way and the Yong Vic is interesting is some small ways but thats it! Hardly the “signifigant evolution” as stated in the RIBA PR. Rogers got it last year as compensation in the same way Scorsese got an oscar (quick before he dies!!)

Where’s the new, the experimental and the adventureous?

Comment on Stirling Prize Shortlist 2007 by lewism

lewism — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 12:54:47 +0000

Actually you are right……it’s quite possible he could be a member, although I looked in the directory and he is not listed, and nor is OMA. Possibbly some sort of associate member, I’m not listed forinstance although my RIAS membership is supposed to give me some reciprocal benefits. I also can’t find a set of rules for entry to the regional and European awards, so how the shortlist is really drawn up is somewhat opaque.

Be that as it may opening up the award somewhat as appears to have been done is a good thing in my opinion, although sometimes these things seem to be done for the good of the award rather than of anything else!

Comment on Stirling Prize Shortlist 2007 by Jukka

Jukka — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 10:09:25 +0000

It could be that Koolhaas is a RIBA member, since he has graduated from AA School, hasn’t he? At least he has received the RIBA Gold Medal in 2004.

Comment on Apartment on the water by lewism

lewism — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 09:31:12 +0000

Isn’t Jyrki Tasa the architect with the classic staircase in his house in Kivenlahti?

Lashie,
You would know better than me I think! You also seem to know my area, I haven’t been to the Pakistani restaurant yet though.

Comment on Some Brutal Friends of Mine by Jukka

Jukka — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 12:15:46 +0000

The Huutoniemi-church is by Ruusuvuori, the chapel in Turku is by Pekka Pitkänen. I just added tags accordingly.

Comment on Some Brutal Friends of Mine by lewism

lewism — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 09:23:19 +0000

@Jukka,
Just had a look at them its all by Ruusuvuori right? I just saw his Weegee building for the first time last week and I really liked it.

@Lashie,
I think you have the required mindset for Brutalism. Maybe Futurism and Brutalism share a romantic mindset, in that they are in love with a certain set of ideas about Architecture to the exclusion of all else. There is something both wonderfully intoxicating about them both, although sometimes distasteful.
The Barbican I remember from walking around just seems badly planned at an elemental level. You walk past service entrances to get in etc…. There is some great architecture and crappy planning, its a deeply flawed jewel.

Comment on Some Brutal Friends of Mine by Jukka

Jukka — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 19:57:07 +0000

I added some examples of brutalism in Finland to my Flickr photos, if you’re interested.

Comment on Ice Architecture by georgia

georgia — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 13:12:52 +0000

I was watching the other day an advertisement about your ice hotel and i was curious about some things. First of all, i saw blankets that came from a real animal such as bear and i must say that it was the only part i didn’t like at all.
The hotel is fabulous and very different from all the others but i must say that if i had to choose between the ice hotel and a common one, i would choose the common one just for that reason.
I think that it’s very important for you to consider matters like these. I also realise that you do that in order to provide us the feeling of living in cold circumstances but maybe all these are too much.
Our century is very critical for us as it will be for our children too.
We don’t have to kill animals just because we want to built a different kind of hotel! Try to find other ways, maybe synthetic ones, to achieve the result you want. Consider how many animals you kill every year for all those rooms!
I know that my opinion is not going to effect you but i wanted to try.
I would be very gratefull if you could try to find other solutions about this because than i could visit your hotel.
There are people who don’t want to give their money for causes like these because the next year, more animals will die and the worst is that we will pay for that….

georgia armaou from tinos-greece

Comment on 2 years today by Lashie

Lashie — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 20:29:08 +0000

..the bummer is that its going to be really hard to dig up these threads in the future, Egyptian blogs on walls have lasted quite well over the past few millennia but a hard-disk in the sand wont mean a whole lot to some guy generations from now..

Comment on Apartment on the water by Lashie

Lashie — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 20:25:49 +0000

Isn’t Jyrki Tasa the architect with the classic staircase in his house in Kivenlahti? I was drawing his house years ago, and passed me on the way out, said I should come back for a tour another day…but I thought he retired which is why I’m trying to link it with the name above..

(I guess then Lewism, you’ve grown out of the Pakistani lunch place in the mall just down from you…)

Comment on Some Brutal Friends of Mine by Lashie

Lashie — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 20:08:10 +0000

..how close do you think Brutalist and Futurist ideas fit together? I mean when you take a look at what was penned in futurist manifesto’s..its pretty spectacular stuff eg. http://www.rebel.net/~futurist/arch_c1.htm but it looks quite similar to the above.

..what would be great is if these objects could just be left, in place like massive urban sculptures to be photographed by generations of art historians, since that’s the way they best appear…with dramatic lines of perspective, heavy shadows and a sense of weightlessness like some celestial city..

..in reality, on the ground, they often don’t work. Like Barbican (not Brutalist I know but still very heavy) in London..a wonderful concrete dream that just never seems to catch the imagination of the tax-paying public from one generation to the next but which millions would pay to see if it formed the back-drop to say Fifth Element or some Blade Runner sequel..

..Brutalism forgot the kitsch heart of man and our craving for shiny, decorated things. Brutalism delivered muscle when we really wanted a sequined dress. A little too much honesty and maybe too close to the bone.

Comment on The Philosophy of space by China Tourism

China Tourism — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 12:44:47 +0000

China Tourism…

another blog I was looking at…

Comment on Freitag Shop by interesting!!!

interesting!!! — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 16:28:30 +0000

i like d concept man..

Comment on 2 years today by lewism

lewism — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 11:20:02 +0000

Sesq,
Thanks…I didn’t know you had read my blog. I’ve read yours on which you should be congratulated, although I only just discovered it! I’m going to redo my links roll when I get back from holiday, to include you and a few others who really need to be in there too….

Comment on 2 years today by The Sesquipedalist

The Sesquipedalist — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 09:47:18 +0000

Congratulations! I love getting an insight into them there Finns… keep going! (Persistence is the key to blooging -
that and having something interesting to say.)

Comment on 2 years today by lewism

lewism — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 19:06:34 +0000

Jukka,
Thanks, its been a little easier than expected some weeks are harder than others, but overall it’s been really enjoyable. It really helps me get acquainted with the Finnish Architecture scene too!

Comment on 2 years today by Jukka

Jukka — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 19:49:58 +0000

I’ve been meaning to congratulate you for few days now. Two years of more or less of steady pace of posting is an achievement.

Comment on Some Brutal Friends of Mine by Jukka

Jukka — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 06:21:09 +0000

Good thoughts on brutalism… Pure brutalism, as in concrete cast at location, has never been too big in Finland, mostly because the problems with insulation and such. Precast concrete has been a huge hit in finland, though…

I never really liked Oulu, but I did love the library and the theater there. The original plan included an office tower to the seaside of the island and city planners suggested demolishing several old buildings (including the architecture department) and replacing them with typical 60’s apartment buildings. I’m not totally convinced that this would’ve been a good thing.

Comment on Apartment on the water by Jukka

Jukka — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 11:43:52 +0000

Yeah, I’ve been here for few weeks now (did some work from home while still living in Oulu) and enjoying it a lot.

Comment on Arctic Seed Vault by Official Seed Catalog Site » Blog Archive » Psyllium Seed Husk - Top Seed Falls In New Plymouth Squash Final - newswire.co.nz

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 03:02:36 +0000

[...] Arctic Seed VaultThe permafrost of the island should mean the seeds will survive frozen even without electricity, it is remote and guarded by well trained polar bears. The vault itself is 120m long and 4.5m round, with 1m thick concrete walls. … [...]

Comment on Apartment on the water by lewism

lewism — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 18:53:09 +0000

Nice one! They do excellent work. The Kone Building is maybe the best office building I know in Finland and of course they produce very high quality work all round.

Comment on Apartment on the water by Jukka

Jukka — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 09:43:32 +0000

SARC Architects in Ruoholahti.

Comment on Apartment on the water by lewism

lewism — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 18:31:18 +0000

Jukka,
I work for Innovarch here in Espoo, and what about you?

Comment on GeoRSS by lewism

lewism — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 18:26:02 +0000

Geopress writes to 3wc as well as GML. Is it better? Well you seem to know your stuff better than me, I’m still feeling my way. Your work is really interesting, which countries do you cover?

Comment on GeoRSS by axelspin

axelspin — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 11:42:57 +0000

Yep, sounds interesting

I am actually pushing in the agency where I am working to switch to GeoRSS.
Do you think that this format is better than the w3c http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/ ?

We use to plot seismic informations for the public using RSS and GoogleMaps meshes
You can look at it here

http://www.knmi.nl/seismologie/aardbevingen-nederland.html

Bye!

Comment on World’s Most Expensive Cities by Most Expensive Real Estate

Most Expensive Real Estate — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 05:05:40 +0000

It would be nice if I could visit one of those cities someday. Thank you for the information. I had an updated list of most expensive real estate here. You might want to visit them.

Most Expensive Real Estate

Comment on Apartment on the water by Jukka

Jukka — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 19:21:43 +0000

You can read it only from first pdf-attachment on the site. I would’ve probably missed it too if I hadn’t known it before hand.

btw. can I ask who you work for?

Comment on GeoRSS by lewism

lewism — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 18:57:01 +0000

Tricky,
Thanks for the compliment, your blog also looks great. I have a translator program at work so when I’m back next week I’ll try and read a few, sorry I have no Spanish, I am working hard at learning Finnish at the moment.
Georss does put a map in the post page and option to put in every entry on the blog. I’m not sure if it can do an overall map yet but I think there are other services that you could use.
I didn’t know about DITU but two other plugins to look at are wikimap and googlemaps by miracles form heaven. I haven’t tried either of these but wikimaps looks quite powerful and includes georss.
Overall you are right reorss like the others have limitations. I plan on writing an analysis soon but there is no really great mapping plugin that really works with a blog as far as I have found so far.

Regards

Comment on Apartment on the water by lewism

lewism — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 18:18:17 +0000

The Architects should be congratulated for that then. Thanks for the comment because I couldn’t find the name of the Architect from the YIT website…..My bad Finnish I guess.

Comment on Apartment on the water by Jukka

Jukka — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 06:12:08 +0000

Tasa, the architect behind this, gave us a lecture on which he briefly touched this projects among others. He mentioned the problems on maintaining the quality of the competition winning entry when bringing it into reality. After all, YIT is not known for spending too much…

Comment on GeoRSS by tricky

tricky — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 15:21:58 +0000

Hi,

I was using the DITU plugin after Plug’n'Play stoped working on a WP upgrade. I wonder, does GeoPress put a visual MAP on the write post panel? Is there any other way to display posts on a map, instead of just the latest X entries via rss? Something like all posts on a category (not just a category feed). Amazing work you are doing here, i read you trough rss

best regards

Comment on Citywall by Mesq

Mesq — Tue, 29 May 2007 17:15:13 +0000

Ditto. Interesting things start to happen, when these crazy tangible computing guys and the “new web” converge. And break out of the labs.

Comment on Citywall by lewism

lewism — Mon, 28 May 2007 13:32:41 +0000

Yes very nifty, and like you say soon this type of thing should move from art installation out ‘into the wild’ they could already combine it with something like the hkl map and do some great things.