Growing Trees

These images are from my project "Ramillies Pedestrian Zone". This canopy demonstrates growing trees covering whole street, and providing a place of unwind for people away from busy streets. I hope I can find more appropriate shape for canopy until the final submission -this project is still on going!

Architectural Skin

A fantastic Danish book.
Bahamon, A/Perez, P/Campello, A. "analogien". DVA (2008)

Fashion and Architecture

It seems that the relationship between Fashion and Architecture is getting stronger in these days. Due to the development of structural engineering, buildings can be more radical and organic surface like wearing clothes. The exhibition "SKIN+BONES" at Somerset House focuses on the common points and the relationship between Fashion and Architecture; both clothing and building have the function of shelter, geometrical surface, structural skin, volume and identity, and so on. I am always inspired by Toyo Ito's works as they are well considered the character of surrounding environment. In my opinion. the difference between Fashion and Architecture is personality or publicity. Buildings need to be careful when choosing clothing, as they could made an enormous impact on the surroundings.

A place people want to visit

Fishpond Park located near my flat in surbiton is very popular among local residents. Why this park is so popular? Why this park makes me feel something special though it is just a small scale nature reserve between residences?
In the park, some persons were slept on the grass covered with wild flowers, and others playing around furniture made by woods from this reserve. Old trees created shadows for family including small children.
There are a sense of place.

Richard Rogers -From the House to the City

I went to Design Museum where the exhibition "Richard Rogers+Architects From the House to the City" is held. I had interest in his approaches to sustainability in relation to my extended essay, particularly the solution for rapid urbanisation which requires new forms of Housing. He came up with Industrialised Housing system can "quickly and flexibly accommodate growing population, while providing the environmental responsibility and levels of comfort". It seems that this design responds to the issues of 21st century and client demands briefly, still it is not enough as a substantial solution.

I also found a model showing layers of a city such as transport, energy, waste and sunlight. Great demonstration of analysis of city context.

Landscape and ownership

I read "Denatured Visions" as a reference for my extended essay.
I have read the book occasionally since last year, but I found that I have had a different perception each reading. This time, I focused on the relationship between landscape and ownership; being owned by the nobility, a landscape was a symbol of power. Merchants and lawyers created their own personal landscape like a picture. Farmers managed coppice woodland to have some products such as fuel and material for fences. So the relationship between contemporary landscapes and ownership should be..?

Gatton Park

Away from Kent downs, Gatton park is located at Surrey AONB, where North downs way go through. As 2 weeks had already passed since the field trip to Shrub's Wood, the side of footpath was coloured by a heavy growth of wild flowers; Bluebell, Buttercup, Forget-me-not, and Mustard.

Re-visit

Soon after the snowy day, I went to Shrub's Wood in Kent again.
There still was snow a little bit, but many bluebell and Wood Anemone covered the ground showing spring has come.
I was surprised at seeing the site around long barrows was cleared already. In addition Hornbeams was cut to have clear view from the historical importance.

White London

Amazing!
London had snow in April!
Having disappeared soon after lunch time, but it changed a landscape into another world.

Exemplar Talks

When I was learning sustainable design 7 years ago, Curitiba have already been known as a successful sustainable city. It is amazing the city realized the system of sustainable transport over 20 years ago, and its great succession is still applauded now.
I went to Exemplar Talk at Somerset House to listen a talk by Jaime Lerner, the former Mayer of Curitiba. As he is an architect and urban planner, he was talking about the master plan, transport system, and buildings with mixing jokes. Actually I had wanted hear about social programmes more, but I was so impressed his way of talking. His English was not fluent, however, his passion and confidence attracted audience's attention.

4D modelshop

I went to 4D modelshop in London to buy some materials for a model of my Ramillies Street project.
It was not the first time to visit the shop, but the shop always makes me be excited because that reminds me when I was working at architecture office. I hope my final model will be completed before submission..

http://www.modelshop.co.uk/

London Underground

I went to the breakfast talk at NLA in this morning, it was about 'Living Underground' -Eco-friendly housing which makes use of underground of the house. The presenter also introduced OTEC (Ocean thermal energy conversion). I thought these technologies were minor way when I learned them at university in Japan, but it seems that the more people concern about environmental issues like climate change, the more ecological technology is focused on.

London Open City

The exhibition 'London Open City' is worth to visit for us as we are working with streets in London. It demonstrates the condition and context of the central London, and its potential to make the most of the assets. I had particular interest in a movie showing how East London area could be human-scaled and balance between pedestrians and vehicles. Also, I was inspired by the portfolio of Potters Fields Park designed by Gross Max as they illustrated their process of ideas with confidence and clear sequence.

Cityscape

I went to Cityscape at Earls Court.
There were a wide range of materials and new technology for sustainable design.
As the purpose of my visit the exhibition was to research about material for proposal of the New Photographers' Gallery, I had interest in materials for pavement such as glass and natural stone. Especially glass pavement illuminated from underneath by LED attracted my attention.

South Bank

Materials

Rye and cobbles