Voice - Community Architect

Over the last 4 years, I have learned to read and understand the specific lexicon and phrasings most architects use when describing a space or a building. Specific terms and comments always stand out because they lose their meaning when the person you are talking to is not familiar with. Specific words such as parti, HVAC, space, form, function, avant-garde, fenestration, balance, hierarchy, piloti, typology, charette, modular, poché, and vernacular come to mind.S ome of these words are so unique to the field of architecture that they even show up as errors on my computer despite being correctly written.  These words (and many others) are commonly used in the field, yet their intricacy loses meaning when the receiver is unfamiliar with their meaning, specially when architects stack a bunch of these words together to make up intricate phrases. 

“The location of the pilote hinders the hierarchy of the space, ultimately the balance of the parti will have to be resolved with a poché exercise during charette.” 

That was just a made up phrase to show you how absurd architecture is sometimes. Wouldn't surprise me if my studio instructor would say this to me in tomorrow's class. If you are an architect, then you understand what this means. If you are not, then you are probably thinking I'm joking. Believe me when I say I am not. 

Knowing specifics such as these terms and phrases, not only am I able to identify when an architect is writing, but their specific selection of terms helps me identify what kind of architect he is. Half of the terms I listed above are just abstract terms, related to ideas and concepts; while the rest are mostly just technical terms (fenestration is just a fancy word for window). Artsy architects like to use the abstract words, “ no non-sense” architects tend to go for the technical terms. 

With this knowledge in hand, I was surprised by the lack of architectural mannerisms employed by the author in this ( very important and polemic) architecture subject. At first I thought it might have been written by an outsider, but then I find out the author is an architect. The shock then became intrigued, mainly because I rarely come across texts that avoid these terms. Granted, his topic is about modernism as a social movement rather than an architectural style, so there is no need for some of these words. However, the writer does have a strong voice that shines through when he tries to dramatize the situation. By describing the “unfulfilled promise of Modernism”, he uses harsh phrasings such as “bleak windswept plazas”, “housing misery”, “soulless high-rises” and “cold and lacking”. This strong diction, along with certain figures of speech and punctuation (Case closed? Not so fast!, with a shout-out to Jane Jacobs!) characterize the writer’s voice as the voice your father has when he is coaching your football team on a Sunday. It is a very wise and authoritative voice that is still trying to be encouraging and entertaining at the same time. 

This voice is further present by the content of the post. As I said before, the lack of architectural terms make the post much more accessible than normal posts about this topic, and the mention of famous and well-known architects such a Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, and Mies Van der Rohe, signal the writer wants to connect to the masses. Just like a dad want to prove his kids he is “mainstream”. 

The author’s mannerisms, phrasings, and diction all convey a sense of familiarity with the subject, which is a very helpful voice to have when writing about architecture subjects. The usual architectural jargon normally turns people away from reading about the subject, so having an authoritative but accessible voice helps audiences understand more about the topic. 

http://archplanbaltimore.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-unfulfilled-promise-of-modernism.html?view=classic

Profile Post - Modernist Architecture

Nowadays one can find anything and everything in the Internet. Videos of cats, funny pranks, and even makeup tutorials abound. Yet in the renew ending cosmos of the internet there is a little blog names Modernist Architecture that, for me and other architects, is the reason why the internet is great. This blog is basically the ramblings and thoughts of a seasoned and unknown architectural photographer. The blogger photographs buildings the are interesting to him, and through his lens and written words, evokes interest in the reader as well. The main focus of his blog are the amazing pictures he takes, yet the text helps the blog’s visitors to grasp the photographer’s passion for the subject. Such text is normally supported by common knowledge (or information commonly known by architects) and important architectural magazines such as Deezen, Details and Design Milk. His writing, at times subjective, at times professional, is captivating and authoritative, but mainly gives off the sense that the blogger is doing this for fun and personal intrigue. His angle or approach to the topic varies from post to post. He generally writes and shoots buildings that are interesting to him, and explains his personal views and thoughts about such structure, trying to express and define the elements that captured his attention. He also talks constantly about his relationship with the architecture, how he came to learn about the building, his first impression when seeing it, his experience while photographing it. The buildings he explores are then linked to other projects around the world, delving the reader further into the architectural world. 

This blog, for me personally, is one of the most exciting pages of the internet because it has a clear purpose: learn about the built environment and appreciate the architecture around us. As a blogger myself, I try to write about Mexican architecture because I am passionate about it, I want to learn more about it and I think not many people know about it. This blogger follows the same formula: find a topic you like and find interesting, explore the building and do research, post a brief story about he building and the reasons behind its importance. He manages to do this while always arousing the mind of the reader, making him wonder what is the history behind every cool building we pass by. Through a clean, simple and photo-centric layout ( what one could call modernist graphics), the blog reads easily and the pictures register the point made in the argument. Such layout also allows the reader to keep scrolling thorough its content, which, if you find architecture interesting, is a good thing because there are nearly a hundred posts, each  significant in length and information. Given he has been blogging since 2013, and frequently posts different projects every two or three weeks, the range of styles and buildings he covers is great, a testament to perseverance and passion. And as I mentioned before, he does this for himself. He likes to learn about these projects, and the added commentaries and attention are just an afterthought. Similar to my blog, given it is such a niche topic, he rarely gets too many visitors, with his post varying in comments from 3 to 10, most of which thank him for his insight and work. He never responds, because, why would he? This is by him for him, and as long as he’s proud of it, nothing else matters. 

So I’m thankful for the internet because I guess I just found a blogger role model. Someone who doesn't care about the spotlight, but about architecture and the beauty and meaning behind it. A blogger who is passionate, intrigued and invested. A blog that focuses on a meaningful topic over random videos of cats and celebrities. A blog that celebrates the architectural field. 

http://modernistarchitecture.blogspot.com/

The Dishwasher

The Dishwater

Everyone has seen or passed by a building so strange that it ought their attention. All over the world, some weird buildings try to emulate other objects, and the results can be quite fascinating. Robert Venturi’s famous idea1972  of the “duck vs. the decorated shed” raised awareness about these quirky structures. Mexico City is home of one of these, and for most of my childhood this building was imprinted in my mind. 

Venturi's "duck" building

The Dishwasher from the street

The building I am talking about is called Calakmul, but locals refer to it as the Dishwasher. Located on the fancy neighborhood of Santa Fe, in the western side of town, this building stands as a masterpiece of abstraction and technology. Yet not many people know much about it, except its nickname. I myself had no idea what the building was even called, and until I started researching it, I had no idea what the thought behind it was, nor that it is an award-winning building. 

Dishwasher's scale

When I was a child, maybe 8 or 9 years old, I remember my mother driving past this building and being completely marveled by its presence. I immediately asked her about it, and all she could tell me was that it was called the Dishwasher. I thought highly of myself because I thought about its nickname even before my mother mentioned it. I thought this building was so weird and futuristic, and its geometrical simplicity in contrast to the rest of the neighboring buildings, stood out to me. 

The building eventually faded from my memory, until this January when I passed by it again. All the sudden I was drawn back in, and I wanted to find out what this building represented. 

Santa Fe's skyline

Built in 1994 by Agustin Gonzalez Navarro, the Calakmul complex’s geometries are meant to represent the ancient Mayan notions of the earth (the square) and the sky (the circle). The abstraction of these forms and their reference to the past are critical ideas explored by Mexican architects throughout history. The dishwasher showcases how, even when architecture began using newer technologies and materials, the notion of identity and the rich cultural past of Mexico was still referenced. 

The building is also, quite shockingly, one of the first green buildings in Mexico City, setting an example for the Santa Fe area’s future structures. It is also an awards-winning building, praised for its glass application, its structural concrete shell, its incorporation to the street, and its advanced technology used for its interiors. 

Futuristic Interiors

As I learned more about this building, I began to see the hidden messages behind it, and the many references it has to previous works and historical periods. I no longer just see it as the Dishwasher, I see it as a great architectural work.

At night

 Go find your own dishwasher, and who know, maybe you’ll find something great too. 

Paplote Museo Del Niño

Everyone dreads the Los Angles traffic. And I can attest that while the traffic in LA is terrible, it is nothing like the one I experienced everyday while growing up in Mexico City. The equivalent of the 101 or the 405 freeways in Mexico City is called the Anillo Periferico. My house is located just a few minutes away from el Periferico, and so we would take it everyday to go to school. I seriously believe I spent a third of my childhood stuck in traffic in el Periferico. 

Periferico (right) and the Papalote

As you move through it, especially if you are stuck in traffic (which is nearly always), you will eventually see a blue-tiled geometric building near Chapultepec. This building is one of my favorite architectural gems in Mexico City. It is called El Papalote Museo Del Niño, and I have great memories from my childhood there. 

My most fond memory from this place laying down on a bed of nails when I was 7 years old. The experience was incredible and I could not help but feel empowered and amazed at the same time. Other activities I remember include the cool blowing bubbles machines, the earthquake simulator, and the volcano explosion. All of these are incredibly fun, and every single one of my friends remember this place because of it. That’s the magic of this museum. 

Bed of Nails

While the inside of the building is what made an impression, as I grew older I started to appreciate the building for it’s sticking design. 

A beautiful and fun place to be

Designed by Ricardo Legorreta and his son Victor, and opened in 1993, El Museo Del Niño stands a a monument to the architectural styles emerging in Mexico in the 1990s. Focused on the simple geometric shapes of the triangle, circle and square -  which in three dimensions are then translated to the pyramid, the sphere and the cube -  the museum tries to tie the ideas of light, color and technology with the persistent notion of a Mexican national identity. These are explorations that lead to a massing of simple forms with a distinct fun to their composition. In addition, the colored tiles with varying shades of blue are an homage to the Aztec and Mayan heritage of the country. The light wells and the shading tents are used to bring in nature to the museum, and interact with the surrounding Bosque de Chapultepec. 

Interior/exterior areas with shading technologies

While most Mexicans will remember this building for the fun and great memories they had inside, through my architectural lens I can now see this as both a successful building and as an architectural gem that clearly influenced the architectural discourse in Mexico in the later part of the decade. Overlooking el Periferico, el Palpate Museo Del Niño stands as a monument to Mexico’s ingenious and unique architecture going into the 21st century. It is an architecture that takes itself seriously while still maintaining a light and playful tone. An architecture that forges great memories by being functional, and that stands out by being beautiful. 

As seen from el Periferico