DAISY AMES

There were some really awesome advanced studio design reviews the last few days - some of which were by friends I have followed closely, and some were projects that simply stopped me in my tracks. Over all, the diversity of the studios, breadth of work, and the discussions that ensued were really stimulating. Yesterday I popped between one uber-practical studio focused on designing a house, and another theory-based studio that debated “liquid” architecture.

One thing that amused me was all the pancake’n going on. Mmm, pancakes… stacking floor plates within a structure which inherently fights linearity. There is no doubt that form has taken precedent in architecture especially in countries that are willing to take chances with construction ie. India and China. While these projects are evocative, I sense an insensitivity to functionality. Whether it’s a hundred story office building proposal or a small museum - form dictated design. There is nothing wrong with this approach, but when I see elaborate curves and expressive structures punctured by the rhythmic and disharmonious practicality of linear walking surfaces, it leaves me a bit baffled. It makes me wonder if occupying these flashy forms was an after-thought. The projects I found most refreshing are the ones that represented the human scale critically.