|
Posted by GrandTradition on July 2, 2007, 6:29 pm
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >> >> >> > Who's the editor of the alt.architecture group? It seems that
> >> >> >> > people
> >> >> >> > talk more about subjects having little to do with architecture.
> >> >> >> > What
> >> >> >> > kind of architecture is the group supposed to discuss? The
> >> >> >> > design-
> >> >> >> > oriented kind, or what?
> >> >> >> > Here are some of the less than entralling subjects:
>
> >> >> >> > I buyed me sum tomato-basil hummus.
> >> >> >> > Folk songs of the far right wing
> >> >> >> > Hummus is simpler than even making donuts
> >> >> >> > Genuine Money Earn Every day Internet jobs for all. Earn
> >> >> >> > Unlimited
> >> >> >> > income.
>
> >> >> >> > What?
>
> >> >> >> > To steer the discussion in some more meaningful way for
> >> >> >> > architects,
> >> >> >> > here's my contribution:
>
> >> >> >> > What is the difference between folk and vernacular architecture?
> >> >> >> > Are
> >> >> >> > McMansions our culture's new vernacular? Is everyone familiar
> >> >> >> > with
> >> >> >> > the term "McMansion?"
>
> >> >> >> > How has the "one world, one culture" reality affected the
> >> >> >> > traditions
> >> >> >> > of local communities?
>
> >> >> >> There is no "editor" for a newsgroup. I am the moderator. I must
> >> >> >> insist that you cease such attacks against the posters to this
> >> >> >> newsgroup. It is ynwarranted. Hummus is a vernacular food and
> >> >> >> addresses different cultures and their cooking traditions and
> >> >> >> thereby
> >> >> >> kitchen and restaurant design, folk songs often highlight a
> >> >> >> buildings
> >> >> >> acoustic properties, and income...well, I don't know what that
> >> >> >> one's
> >> >> >> about. Must have slipped by me.
>
> >> >> >> Please refrain from disruptive posting or your posts will be
> >> >> >> deleted.
>
> >> >> >> Thank you
>
> >> >> >> Moderatus Unanimous- Hide quoted text -
>
> >> >> >> - Show quoted text -
>
> >> >> > OK- you're in charge... stretch it as thin as you must. Do you have
> >> >> > any response from an architectural viewpoint to the second half of
> >> >> > my
> >> >> > post?
>
> >> >> I'll respond to your trad vs mod hook when you respond to my 2 hour
> >> >> fire
> >> >> rating question, how's that?
>
> >> >> You want to talk architecture? Here's your chance. Find me something
> >> >> for
> >> >> these ducts other than concrete that can span 7 feet without hanging.
> >> >> --
>
> >> >> MichaelBwww.michaelbulatovich.ca-Hidequoted text -
>
> >> >> - Show quoted text -
>
> >> > Michael,
>
> >> > I don't know the ducts to which you refer, but I imagine that 7' isn't
> >> > exactly best practice for spans of rated fire duct that can't be
> >> > hung. My suggestion? A bridge made from heavy gauge steel studs and
> >> > gwb. That's a guess without knowing what the heck you're talking
> >> > about. Are you angry?
>
> >> Look up the recent post by me on the subject. Generic "steel studs and
> >> GWB"
> >> prescriptions will not suffice. This is architecture. Let's get specific.
>
> >> I'm not angry. I am mildly annoyed by your complaining about the group
> >> being
> >> OT, while obviously having an enormous theoretical axe to grind. If you
> >> want
> >> to promulgate your polemics, may I suggest that this isn't a very
> >> effective
> >> place to do it? Try a school. You're unlikely to convince anyone of
> >> anything, and there's only 6 of us here anyway, and we all work in the
> >> real
> >> world. Besides, my favorite groups are almost all OT...- Hide quoted
> >> text -
>
> >> - Show quoted text -
>
> > OT? Who's grinding an axe?
>
> Some guy going by the moniker of "Grand Tradition". It's even in his name.
> Every post seems to be a pitch for traditional architecture. You're like a
> bible-thumper in a brothel. Settle down and have a drink.
>
> > I work for a living too, as an architect,
> > so don't come at me with this "real world" sh*t. Or do!
>
> Then let's discuss things of mutual interest instead of chastising the group
> for having interests that don't dovetail with yours. (Note, the trad vs mod
> thing is 20 years tired for me.) Here's a story:
>
> In 1990 I'm working for a traditionalist outfit. They get an office building
> client somehow (they're not known for this sort of stuff). I start the
> schematic design on the job. I drive around with the client as he points out
> buildings he likes. (He's very consistent: all sleek, green glass
> curtainwall buildings with few if any mullions exposed.) I get it. Client
> wants sleek, green glass building. I get to work on it.
>
> The firm hires a humorless prig from another traditionalist firm with
> experience in this type of building. We're used to having fun at this
> office. I can't work with the pretentious putz, and the firm is obviously
> going to implode within months as the Grand Recession approaches, so I quit
> to do some public sector work. The firm contracts by 80%. They can the prig
> along with most everybody else. I worked for two years solid in public
> housing, doing mainly hirise stuff, and design my biggest building to date.
> All of it pragmatically modern.
>
> Years later I'm back talking to the partner, and see a rendering of the most
> dreadful, plodding, dark, heavy, traditional office building I've seen in a
> while. (Week-old, soy-soaked polenta, if not, plainly, a turd.) I ask about
> the building. It's unbuilt. (Surprise!) I ask how it got to look like that
> when the client was pretty clear about what he wanted. The partner frowns at
> me. "Don't ask" is the answer.
>
> There's a story about the world I live in. Now us about yours. Keep it
> interesting...no polemics....if you can.
> --
>
> MichaelBwww.michaelbulatovich.ca- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
So sue me for having an architectural preference! You have imagined
me (I'm afraid) completely 180d from reality. I may have come on
strong, but this IS an architectural newsgroup, supposedly.
I have a similar story to yours, Michael, except that it involves the
entirety of my formal education, which was Mod. Everything
traditional I've learned about architecture, other than the
historian's cut-and-dry time line of events, is a product of my
personal study. I've seen cities go down the tubes due to glass box
syndrome (GBS?), as I'm sure you have; and I've also witnessed the
sorriest revival of traditional architecture since revivals started
happening (in my opinion). It's not the brightest day for architects,
and quite frankly, I keep running into architects who ultimately don't
care, including some of my classmates from college.
I sometimes ask them why they're so non-chalant, and they reply with
the same stuff: "It's just my job." "The client made me do it."
"What do you mean?" "I've got to put bread on the table." "Let's
talk about something else."
I am definitely an advocate for traditional architecture, but
ultimately I advocate GOOD architecture. Putting bread on the table
doesn't usually produce good work. To those who I know who make that
claim, I tell them to pull away for a while and do something else that
"puts bread on the table." Overall, I get it (I think). There are a
lot of architects out there; and just like any other profession, there
are those that actually love what they do and excel, then there are
those who do it for other reasons, who usually do not find that
magical mix of circumstances required to do really well. I'll readily
admit I'm not the brainiest architect of the lot, but I do love my
profession- and I feel like cities, towns, villages, and families all
depend on architects to make the world as livable as it can be.
Have you seen a new traditional building that exceeds the design
success of a similar building erected 100 years ago? Have you seen a
modern building that exceeds the design success of a similar building
80 years ago? I blame the laissez faire attitude of many architects
today. I say get the f*ck off your asses and do something responsible
next time someone wants to do something on the cheap!
American culture being despised around the world? McAnything, let
alone McMansions? Buildings designed to fail after 20 years?
Disposable culture is dispicable to me- it's just irresponsible. And
the world (or at least the first world) can see the horrible direction
the US has taken culturally over the last century. And please believe
me: I don't want to return to the 1920's. I want 2007 to be the best
that the US has ever known. Who will paint our murals, sculpt our bas
reliefs, and plan our gardens in such a way that guides us forward
while giving us hindsight after the last of the master craftsmen are
gone? Are we going to import everything from other countries,
including craftsmen, to the extent that we have to start all over
again?
Enough for now. I've said too much already. Please proceed with the
stoning and tarring and feathering.
| 
Yahoo! 
Google 
Windows Live 
del.icio.us 
digg 
Netscape 
XML Sitemap