Recycling At A Grand Scale

Formed in 2004, Wind Energy Systems Technology (WEST) is on track to commercialize offshore wind power well ahead of more established and better funded contenders with greener credentials. At $240 million and 150 megawatts of peak output—enough to power 45,000 homes—the project is modest. But the eyes of the alt-energy world are upon it.

In December, though, one of these platforms, stripped and refurbished by a local startup, returned to sea with a new mission. The first of a flotilla to come, it carried wind-monitoring equipment as well as radar for tracking migratory birds. Those that follow will be topped not by drilling rigs but by windmills. The turbines are bound for an 18-square-mile area roughly 10 miles off the coast of Galveston, Texas, where the first offshore wind farm in the US is under construction. That’s right: The flower of sustainable energy is blooming in oil country. Get ready for the Great Texas Wind Rush.

Wired Article

Radin has something to say...

Mr. Doug Aitken creates tension between the idea of film and video art, by projecting his vignettes on the new Taniguchi MoMa's exterior wall. Some have called this work archivideo. The exhibition is five (5) short pieces interconnected by actors (Donald Sutherland, Chan Marshall, etc.) droning through their everyday mudane lives. The actors represent everyday jobs and work that continues to be repetitve, although at the end they all progress toward similar moments of private reverie. Ultimately, the shorts all collaborate into geometric abstractions that reestablish that fact that the audience is watching video art.

NYTimes Article

MoMa

Whales & Orgies is an intimate portrayal of Dave Choe, a Los Angeles graffiti artist. The documentary exposes the artist's talent, philosophies, and excitement for graffiti art. Viewed as "destructive" and a "nuisance" by mainstream society, graffiti art and its significance are demonstrated and explained through Dave Choe's perspective from the underground.

iFilm

The most devastating and embarrassing moment for an architect is when he allows himself to be held accountable by the law. Building unsafe architecture and putting individuals in danger is possibly the greatest ethical mistake an architect can make. This brings upon an interesting question, if an architect builds a structure that is not structurally sound and collapses, killing many people, does this call for the death sentence? Certain negligence and illegitimate construction is plausible for legal action and I believe architects should be sentenced to prison time for building structures they know are not safe.

Hidetsugu Aneha was accountable for this mistake as he faces 5 years in prison.

Reuters Article

Life in Iraq seems to be getting worse and worse. Violence is rampant and housing is at shortfall. Since the invasion of Iraq by the US government land lords have been raising their rents due to restrictions lifted under Saddam's rule and have left tenants homeless looking for alternate housing. This has led to shantytown's similar to favellas in Brazil. Others have taken refuge in bombed and abandoned airbases.

NYTimes Article

To some Frank Gehry is considered the American Architect of our generation because of his popularity and commissions, but as most people in their profession recognize, popularity does not deem one a virtuoso or a genius. On the contrary, popularity creates a personality that can manipulate and mold an identity which creates an individual the populace can marvel at. With this in mind, Frank Gehry further reiterates his lack of architectural theory and solely defends his design through childish model making.

His interview describes his ability to work through people and create architecture through images and dreams. I ask where and when does he consider the program and the public necessity of these projects.

In some ways this interview, is a dark conversation with Frank as they discuss the effects of age on an architect and the problems Frank faces because of his ineptness with technology. These concerns and his consideration for his employees are slightly heartwarming, but do not justify his greatness in the field of architecture.

Consider this, Frank Gehry the amazing architect of our generation that creates engineering marvels, but does not know how to use computers and does not know much about structural integrity.

To give Frank some credit, Frank was an amazing architect when he worked in smaller scales. His deconstruction and questioning of materials have propelled him to his current status, but they fail at many levels when built in the scale that he does today. To me, Frank's talent has been constantly diminishing since the construction of his house and the experimental constructs he developed through it.

WSJ Opinion

Radin has commented on the noticeable differences between my comments and the clips from the articles, so I will write more of my opinions.

Great article about Francois Jousse an engineer that lights 300 monuments of Paris. The article discusses the nuances between Lyon and Paris school of lighting. Lyon has a pointillist approach hat uses small spotlights to highlight the details of its Baroque architecture for dramatic effect. The Paris thought, by contrast, takes a holistic approach that bathes the structures in warm, even light.

NYTimes Arcticle

The Boston ICA is finally opening on December 10. I have always appreciated the work of Diller/Scofidio and am glad that they finally have an identifiable and permanent piece built.

Designed by Diller Scofidio & Renfro of New York, its taut glass-and-steel forms at the edge of Boston Harbor are a startling expression of public-spiritedness. Conceived as an extension of a 43-mile boardwalk along the water, its ability to interweave art and civic life makes it the most important building to rise here in a generation. It is also a milestone for Elizabeth Diller and Richard Scofidio, a duo who have dwelled largely on the fringes of the architecture profession since they opened their practice in the 1970s.

NYTimes Article

A couple of days ago, a person I knew, Eric Ng was hit by a drunk driver and killed on the West Side Highway bike path. Apparently, a drunken asshole, coming out of Chelsea Piers, drove his BMW onto the bike path for several miles and didn't stop until taking a human life. Details are in the NYTimes article. This has not been the first time a person has been killed on the bike path. It seems preposterous that anyone should be hit by a car on a bike path, which would be the safest place to ride your bike in NYC. There will be a memorial bike ride this Saturday, starting at Washington Square Park to the West Side Highway, please join if you know Eric, or want to create awareness for safer streets in NYC.

We should all learn transportation alternatives from Calvin.

Its quite amusing when you wonder where inspiration comes from. You believe they are the things to your proximity, but sometimes they can come from far a way. Talking to a friend of mine, Ian, probably made me start this site, and it helped him to progress in his work. My friend Greg and I also had a discussion and he suggested that I create a blog as well, it was his response to my constant sending of emails. Possibly a good excuse to start writing to the public and try to adhere an audience. Ian says maybe this will help me sort my ideas out.

Create an audience that you are not aware of to gain criticism, which is ultimately internal to determine the course of your work.