What's the big idea?
Well, let's see...I had my design review last Monday, and it didn't go all that well. It was helpful, I guess, in that it showed me just how badly (un)defined my thesis is. What was a bit disheartening, though, is that whereas I had thought that my "big idea" was fairly well represented in my work, it turns out it wasn't. (Well, it's either that, or my entire thesis committee disagreed with my decision, which I think is closer to the truth).
Anyway, part of the problem was that I presented like poop, but beyond that, I think I just didn't bring the right architectural skills to my work. So it still comes down to the question, "what's the big idea?" And, I was oh so gently reminded that I should be considering all of this in the context of my civil thesis (you know, all that sustainability stuff...)
So I think I have fixed the bit of criticism that said I hadn't managed to articulate the program - that is, I hadn't defined what the Old Post Office would be in the future. I had gone as far as to say that it would hold some (generalised) vestige of what it used to be -- a node of information exchange. But my committee didn't buy that say, the theatre, is a form of information exchange. And I guess to be fair, I wasn't so sure I bought it wholesale, either. But now I think I have a better sense of what I want it to be. The notion of a business incubator was brought up, and while I don't like the idea of a purely business (high-tech or whatnot) incubator is the sense of competition that could potentially lead to a very piecemeal approach to the project. So I looked into it a bit, and there's a group in Chicago called Arts Bridge that works on management services for arts related businesses. Also, there's an Arts and Business Council. So I've decided to design a sort of Creative Business Campus.
So that's all fine and well, but I'm still unsure what my 'bold move' should be. I still like the idea of an internal landscape. And I think that I could make it work, but I need to be a bit more specific about what goes on under it. And the idea that I don't like - the one about having a lightweight roof enclosing the entire building - I think I can explain away or at least fuse with the internal landscape that I've been going for. I'm looking at Renzo Piano's original competition plans for the Lingotto...he had a sports complex, a pool, a screening room, and gallery/exhibition spaces shown under a built-up ground that had some penetrations for light.
Anyway, part of the problem was that I presented like poop, but beyond that, I think I just didn't bring the right architectural skills to my work. So it still comes down to the question, "what's the big idea?" And, I was oh so gently reminded that I should be considering all of this in the context of my civil thesis (you know, all that sustainability stuff...)
So I think I have fixed the bit of criticism that said I hadn't managed to articulate the program - that is, I hadn't defined what the Old Post Office would be in the future. I had gone as far as to say that it would hold some (generalised) vestige of what it used to be -- a node of information exchange. But my committee didn't buy that say, the theatre, is a form of information exchange. And I guess to be fair, I wasn't so sure I bought it wholesale, either. But now I think I have a better sense of what I want it to be. The notion of a business incubator was brought up, and while I don't like the idea of a purely business (high-tech or whatnot) incubator is the sense of competition that could potentially lead to a very piecemeal approach to the project. So I looked into it a bit, and there's a group in Chicago called Arts Bridge that works on management services for arts related businesses. Also, there's an Arts and Business Council. So I've decided to design a sort of Creative Business Campus.
So that's all fine and well, but I'm still unsure what my 'bold move' should be. I still like the idea of an internal landscape. And I think that I could make it work, but I need to be a bit more specific about what goes on under it. And the idea that I don't like - the one about having a lightweight roof enclosing the entire building - I think I can explain away or at least fuse with the internal landscape that I've been going for. I'm looking at Renzo Piano's original competition plans for the Lingotto...he had a sports complex, a pool, a screening room, and gallery/exhibition spaces shown under a built-up ground that had some penetrations for light.