google sketch up.

 

google. Their business statement is 'Don't be evil.' Yes, a company doesn't need to be evil to make money. However, a company doesn't need to give away for free almost everything. The later company is google. I know they make money from internet/search advertisement, but they don't have to distribute awesome 3D software like sketch up for free. Actually they bought sketch up and give it away for free. Yes, they want to people to make their 3D building then put it into google earth or google map because they can't make all 3D building in the world.
I know what is behind of their free give-away, but I still don't understand how the company exists in such an evil world.

My boards are there!

I found an interesting picture today. I entered Cleveland design competition 2007 last spring. I didn't get any award so that I didn't visit its website for long time. There is no reason to visit the website. Last night, I had something to find on internet. I was surfing internet and visited the competition website by accident. Then, I found an interesting picture. They posted award ceremony, exhibition and reception pictures. In one of pictures, I found my board!!! My boards are there even though I got no award. That was funny to see the picture with my entry boards.

Architecture cartoon.

Belgian architect Maaik's cartoon site. As an architect, he draws cartoons which shows architects' life and what's happening in architectural office.

I have one thing to say that we architects treat ourselves badly. That's funny, isn't it? Even one of starchitects, Peter Eisenman, said he would not ask his kid to be an architect. This is what he said. Read last paragraph. What a low self esteem! Hey, architects! We have a really nice job even though we don't get paid enough. We contribute our effort and passion to make better environment. Keep this in your mind.

No prison break here.

This is a jail building, no way, but, yes way. Actually, jail and court complex, called, Justice Center Leoben in State Steiermark, Austria. The first picture is a jail cell. Yes, that is better than my college dorm room. Much better. Even it has a big window which I didn't have in my dorm.

The Facade of building is so modern and kind of luxury. I don't know, if court rooms and judge offices were not accommodated in this building, this building would be like this. Anyway, it is good for criminals, who might be changed(in right way) by good living environment.

Visit here to see more pictures.

indoor/outdoor convertible stage.

This stage design was for urban-open design competition in Chicago. We didn't win, but I would like to introduce this design. This pavillion has a small stage. Basically it is open space, but Chicago has extremely cold winter, so that we also want to have indoor stage in winter time and at night. The stage in the pavillion has audience space on both side. When doors are open stage faces to outside. When door are closed stage will be inside of the building. See door stops in the first picture. Different length of door stops help door closed properly and are steps to stage as well.

When we got this design we thought this was awesome. Yes, this is still cool, but judges did not see the details of the building. Winners' works were more focused on landscaping design. We had wrong direction for the competition, but it is OK. It was fun and we learned a lot from the competition.

Architecture in Tech news.

I posted a blog about this kind of thing before, but I want to post it again. Tech site shows Apple's new Sydney store image. Who has ever been excited about architecture? Which group? There were some group who were related with architecture and design. Tech nerds were not that kind of people. However, now, they are excited about apple's store design. What is this? This is apple's design power. Apple introduced 'Design' in the IT world and even in whole manufacturing world. So that people got to know about Good Design, which is [literally] good.

I want more people to become interested in architectural design. Like apple did, this is my[our] responsibility to the [general] people.

Hydrauric garbage can and bench

 

 

packed garbage -> more capacity in garbage can -> less garbage collection -> less driving + less labor -> less carbon dioxide -> less global warming -> green design! Save the world.

designed by TJ, Aaron and Brandon.

Chicago water tower project

Chicago wants to do something with a lot of abandoned water towered that had been used for old sprinkler system. We focused on its original function - water tower. water tower is water tower. If we put filter in the tower we can use rain water for flush, or irrigation water. Then, for aesthetic purpose or financial purpose(to make money from advertisement) we put LED ad screen with solar panel.

This is real green project.

Glass and membrane pavillion.

 

 

 

 

This pavillion has four material: glass, membrane, steel and concrete. concrete light canon works as a big column and steel frame anchored into the concrete column for membrane. When light comes thru the canon it diffused into glass panels erected in a row in the pavillion. The glass panels diffuses lights again to outside of the pavillion. It is light diffuser into surrounding space.

Rehab old building.

 

 

 

Usually we can have drawings of existing building for renovation project. Some old buildings like more than 100 year old ones don't have drawings. Then we can break wall or assume/imagine building structure. USUALLY, we are right.

This time, we were wrong. No, actually, we were half right and half wrong. The existing building consists of two old buildings. One building has ripped off wall, so we can see thru wall and construction. We assume that the other half of the building was same. Oh, no, that was our mistake. See the pictures. We thought there was CMU back up, but there is no CMU behind face bick. That means we need to think over whole structure of the building.

We are going to break and see inside the existing wall in next project.

I hate a typo.

I always find typo after print out. Even after I submit an important board I find one. Why? Everybody feels the same way with me? I made a board for client last week. My boss said today that there was a type so that the client wanted us to fix it and print out new board.
Yes, it is my fault. I checked it before I sent to printer, but it always happens. why? why? I have to invest more time to check spelling. One of my bosses said we, architects, are graphic people so we can't catch typos quickly. When we give away our drawings or board or whatever our work we have to have double, triple check typo, because more of clients are text-oriented people.

Can you find a typo in the picture? There is a typo. I don't know if it is apple's mistake or by design.

Vacuum and fashion.

James Dyson is an engineer/industrial designer who founded dyson vacuum cleaner company. He designed fashion show stage in paris for ISSEY MIYAKE (I don't know HIM - I thought Issey was a girl). The stage design theme was THE WIND. It is understandable. Dyson is a vacuum desinger. However, his stage design doesn't look good to me. Actually, the fashion design is much better than stage. The dress is just wind. so nice. Sorry, James. I think what you did is just hanged big yellow hoses.

via dezeen

architecture in IT blog.

This is from IT blog, gizmodo.com, which is one of my favorite blog sites. It has architectural article today! In their point of view, this building looks like UFO, so do I. They got several nice renderings for this mega building by Sir Norman Foster.

Beijing Airport's Olympic Terminal Looks Like UFO Mothership

Although at night it looks like a new Cylon spaceship, this is the new Terminal 3 at Beijing Airport. Like the rest of spectacular buildings being built in China's capital, it will be finished early next year, just in time for the Olympics. According to its designers, Sir Norman Foster and partners, the "world's largest and most advanced airport building—not only technologically, but also in terms of passenger experience, operational efficiency and sustainability—has the shape of a dragon. I don't know about dragons or other passenger experiences, but if I ever get close, I would expect Veritech fighters coming out of it. [Bornrich]

Cristobal Palma

This guy is not an architect, but a photographer who takes a picture of architecture. His works are in famous architectural magazines in the world. visit his website, then you can see amazing pictures.

via http://architecture.myninjaplease.com

In Milwaukee art museum.

I forgot artist's name for this installation work in Milwaukee art museum. Anyway, when I saw this work I though that which one came first. The work or building. The ribs of the building really fit to this art work. Repetition of building structure enforces the strength of the installation work.

Photo by Aaron Woessener.

This is sculpture.

 

 

 

 

I don't think this is just a building, but it is sculpture. Milwaukee art museum expansion by Santiago Calatrava. This bird like building even open and close its wings, which is amazing. when wind speed exceed certain point it closes wings. of course wings are closed after museum hour.

Calatrava's buildings are real art work. check his website.

Photo by Aaron Woessener.

Chicago night shots.

 

 

 

Everytime I go out there around adler planetarium I feel Chicago. I went there and saw chicago more than ten times, but whenever I was there I am still excited to see scenary of the great chicago. I love chicago[skyline].

Photo by JS Kim

Monacle's Top 25 Urban Design Elements

very nice video from monocle.

ps. I live in Chicago, but I've never seen the bike racks, where is it?

brick corner.

 

I like this old school brick corner. Not many architects use this detail any more, because, I think, dirt is likely to stay in the gaps. However, beside of that, the detail make saw shadow which makes brick wall vivid.