A year ago, while designing an archive for digital materials, I thought about building materials and their respective forms of memory. Some metals rust, and there are many examples of architects exploiting corten steel or copper patinas to let a building age in dramatic fashion.Concrete ages in a decidedly less elegant manner (although Snohetta did... Continue Reading →
Inspired by yesterday's art deco, here are a few photos of Asheville, North Carolina from a trip I took there in August 2012. One building of interest was Grove Arcade, a public market which opened in 1929 and was renovated in 2002. In the Spring of 2012 I took two very different classes which both touched... Continue Reading →
My Uncle Patrick Sokas passed away two years ago to the day. His passing was both sudden and unexpected, but from it came one of the most interesting and beautiful acts of tribute and remembrance in the form of Found Patrick. My aunt, Patrick's sister Regina embarked on a journey of collecting my uncle's written work... Continue Reading →
This afternoon my professional practice class, focusing on everything from self promotion (resume, portfolio) to project structures (design,bid,build versus integrated project delivery), met with a few responsible for the day to day execution and management of constructing the Barnes Foundation, including superintendent and project manager from the construction company (LF Driscoll) and the project architect... Continue Reading →
I spent a couple of weeks working as a rickshaw driver in Chicago one summer between semesters in undergrad. A few sketches from that experience: During the week in Dhaka, the shear number of rickshaws was astonishing, as was the level to which they were decorated and customized. Each had a unique personality, some... Continue Reading →
During our trip last week we were able to walk through "Dhaka's biggest slum Korail Bosti", a settlement of mostly one to two story tin and timer structures backed tight together. There was a large bazaar in the center of the neighborhood, large enough to suggest that people commute in to do shopping. Our walk... Continue Reading →
During our ride out to the Ganges and Jamuna River crossing last week we stopped along the way to visit Jatiyo Smriti Soudho, the memorial dedicated to the martyrs of the war of independence. The memorial resembles a sweeping crescendo of concrete, while in plan it forms nested concrete walls, with the resultant interior being... Continue Reading →
Throughout the week in Dhaka we came across examples of historic sites in various states of ruin or repair. The March 13th edition of the Dhaka Tribune had an article on legal protections for historic sites, both part of the national constitution and the 1968 Antiquities Act. This building is from Shakhari Bazar in Old... Continue Reading →
A few images from Sri Lanka's victory over Pakistan in Saturday's Asia Cup cricket final. Cricket has a coupe of arrangements and structures which I haven't found corollaries for in other sports. Most of the action originates in the center of the field, with the direction of bowls (pitches) and batters alternating direction. The field (ground) is... Continue Reading →
Standing on the side of the road my guide Iqbal stops one rickshaw for a price quote on a destination. As this happens a few other rickshaws queue up behind him. He asks for a few more quotes. They give him gringo prices, inflated foreign rates on account of his pale friend, me. Finally he... Continue Reading →
Adam Achrati 