DAISY AMES

… our pin-up pit transforms into a badminton court at night.

This drawing addresses two types of ‘Absolute’ Figures in Piranesi’s Campo Marzio, plate 5:

Finite Figures – figures that are not part of a larger compound figure, or participating in the sequence, unfolding, or axial relationships which are the crux of Piranesi’s urban plan-making strategy. 

Edgeless Figures – figures without a significant edge condition, or in a particular dialogue with other figures, infill objects, or a larger organizational frameworks.  

Drawing by Daisy Ames

The part is absolute; it stands in solitude, yet it takes a position with regard to the whole from which it has been separated. The architecture of the archipelago must be an absolute architecture, an architecture that is defined by and makes clear the presence of limits which define the city. An absolute architecture is one that recognizes whether these limits are a product (and a camouflage) of economic exploitation (such as the enclaves determined by uneven economic redistribution) or whether they are the pattern of an ideological will to separation within the common space of the city…

Instead of being an icon of diversity per se, and absolute architecture must refuse any impetus to novelty and accept the possibility of being an instrument of separation, and thus of political action. 

- The Possibility of an Absolute Architecture by Pier Vittorio Aureli p.45-46

Entering architecture graduate school without experience (ie computer software, physical model-making skills and/or design experience) really made first year a very hard challenge. It was still a vicious battle even for those in the same program who already had four years of architecture as an undergraduate! But, in a matter of months, the computer programs were learned, model-making skills acquired, and design experience gained. But I can do better…

If there is anything I’ve learned while making my portfolio, it’s that representation is extremely important. The ideas behind my work are strong, but representing these ideas in a simple, creative and graphically stimulating way makes all the difference. In addition, various modes of material and construction exploration during the academic year can be time consuming and seem to distract from what is actually “due.” So, during the academic year these opportunities for discovery were not fully explored. But I want to explore more…

Therefore, this summer, I decided, rather than to join the internship rat-race I will be tapping into the craft of handmade objects, furniture design/build and zoning in on the architectural and graphic representation of my work. Dedicating this time to improve upon articulating my ideas, showing my skills, and heightening my ambitions is already creating a road map of adventure for this summer.  If all this building, fabricating, and devotion to representation opens a door to a new undefined path, then I welcome it with open arms!