Vitra fire station - Zaha Hadid

Despite being a massive fan of lots of Zaha Hadid's work, the Vitra Fire station I didnt quite get. Initially, as I do with most of her work, I think wow that looks new, different, interesting which I think it does. But when I came to learn that it was a fire station, I was slightly confused. Surely a design like this is the least practical design possible for a fire station, and there are no clues what so ever to give it away that it is a fire station. I could understand if the 'spiky' points reached for the sky, with a reddish tint  representing flames, but this doesn't seem to make any sense.

http://www.mimoa.eu/projects/Germany/Weil%20am%20Rhein/Vitra%20Fire%20Station

And another thing about this building is why make it out of concrete? It may be a very cost effective and sturdy way of making a building, but Zaha Hadid always seams to put aesthetics first. why not use a nice silky black, or white, or even coloured material to finish this building. instead, we are left with a rough, grey, industrial finish, that looks like its half way through its construction. I must say I'm not a massive fan of concrete buildings, and finishes such as this, as I think the black that starts to appear on them looks dirty, and they always remind me of a vile multi story car park that thankfully got demolished in my home town. However, I understand the use for concrete in a multi story car park, as its so practical and easy, but i think this was a big mistake, and to conclude, an eye sore.

Task 3 - Sketches (1)

I decided to sketch this stairway, because after walking around newton and Arkwright, I didn't find any other hand rails like this, for example, if you look at the hand rail in the background of the above photo, its a much less attractive, wooden one.
There appears to be 2 different types of marble on this staircase. firstly, there is the very dark, black marble used as the actual hand rail. this is very smooth, so its nice to touch and hold when walking down the stairs. it is however very big, and impossible to wrap your hand round, which it could be argued wouldn't offer someone, such as an elderly person, who would actually use the hand rail the correct support.
Beneath are pillars supporting the hand rail. these, also made of marble are a mix of browns, looking very earthy, and again are cut smooth and shiny.
I like the choice of material for this hand rail, and I think it has a very robust and powerful feel too it.

The next sketch I decided to do is the floor on the entrance of the Arkwright building. As you can see at the bottom of the photo, the slabs are very smooth, and plain. However, above are unusual slabs that are not cut smooth, and are almost ridged like wet sand. This effect I think gives the room a rustic feel, making the building feel old and worn. Although this may not be the case as we know the building was severely bombed during the war, the slabs could be from the original build, and if not, they serve there purpose in trying to make the building feel like it used too.


















Thirdly, I found the use of the stone in this archway interesting, and the way it connects with the brick. Its a very large arch way, and is right next to the large marble hand rail I sketched in my first sketch. Having these 2 rather large features so close together, combined with the very high ceilings almost makes me feel like the building was made for giants.
The stone used around the arch is a very dark brown, and it appears its corners/edges have been cut of, either making it safer, more aesthetic or preventing cracks and chips appear on the stone, if an edge was to get hit. Either way the stone is cut in a similar shape to the stair rail, giving me the opinion they are both original, where designed to be together, and neither are modifications to the building. This dark brown contrasts with the brick, which has been painted in a white paint. I believe this would be to create a light and airy atmosphere in the room, as there is limited light, but it also compliments the brown stone.

Walking through into the newton building, its hard not to notice the enormous glass roof suspended above your head. The entirety of the room feels very light, clean and spacious because of this, in contrast with the white, shiny, marble floor reflecting light around the room. The choice of using glass as a material for the roof is a very effective energy saving technique, as very little powered lighting will need to be used. However, I'm sure there are complications with the escape of heat during the winter, or when the sun is not shining down on the glass roof. Heat is less important in this sort of room, as people generally wont settle in this room, and use this area as a junction to different parts of the building.

Finally I decided to sketch a Gothic styled window in the newton atrium. The atrium space is the area you walk through to get from the old, historic Arkwright building, to the newer newton building. it id a difficult task for an architect to join these buildings together because of the massive contrast in styles. however, I think that the job has been done very successfully. Although the newton building is built out of a modern looking, pale brown brick, the use of Gothic windows and older style is almost a half way step between the styles of both buildings, and allows the transition to be more gradual.



References: All photos and sketches were done by Matthew Parsons on 30/04/14

Task 2 - Plagiarism

'Plagiarism is intellectual theft' (Breach, 2009, 124) is a quote that pretty much concludes plagiarism. Plagiarism is where you use someone else's words, ideas, or work without referencing it, and therefore pass it as your own. This is viewed as stealing some one elses ideas and work, and is met with serious consequences. Although its inevitable some words, and phrases may match between certain texts, long paragraphs that are identical or of similar structure can be detected by software to prevent people, especially students from cheating.  Although using someone's work isn't technically, or physically stealing, there is a zero tolerance in nearly all institutions, and if found guilty, in serious cases you can be expelled. In addition to this, you may be infringing copyright laws, and could be prosecuted. There is no problem in using quotes and information for other people, as long as you reference it, giving the author of the information credit for there work.

http://www.awesomelyluvvie.com/2012/01/protect-your-blog-content-know-your-rights.html/cartoon_plagiarism_444045

Plagiarism is a new thing for me. I've always been aware of it, I new it was cheating, but Its never really
effected me. I've always noticed the reference under information I've found on the web as well but never took much notice. In fact, I'll be honest, and throughout high school, and much of sixth form, I and plenty of people I know would copy information of the internet, especially Wikipedia, as well as sharing work with friends. I even remember using Google translate in much of my French and German lessons. the teachers would tell us not too, but we did, and that's the last we heard of it. even if we did get caught we would probably just get a small detention or something.
However, coming to university I new it was a different story. I completely agree with referencing information taken from other sources, and its only fair you don't receive credit for some one else's work. I also agree that there should be a set amount of information given in a reference, although I was surprised on how strict the order a reference must be in, and that I even have to reference my own photos, which I even got capped at a low third in one of my projects for.
And now I've been at university for a while, and I've had to use lots of different resources to get information, I feel now I fully acknowledge how important it is to reference out of respect for the person who's ideas you are using.

References : Dissertation writing for scientists and engineers, Mark Breach, 2009, accessed on 28/04/14

Task 2 - Critical thinking

If asked what I thought critical thinking is before reading 'critical reading' by Jennifer Moon, 2008, depending on the time of day, the mood I was in and who I was asked by, I would struggle, and I probably wouldn't be able to give a straight answer. It almost feels like I know what it is, but cant explain it.  However, now I have read 'critical thinking', and I must say I'm even more in the dark on how to explain it. its a very vague phrase, as people go about it in different ways but try and end up and the same conclusion, something better! The idea of critical thinking is to improve, and work towards a perfect conclusion.

http://www.comprofessor.com/2012/09/critical-thinking-and-
how-we-see-world.html

Defining critical thinking can be made as complicated or as simple as you like, and it depends on the persons brain process on what they believe it really is. Personally, when reading through my own work, a peers work, or having a conversation with someone, I constantly question in my mind what I understand, what I don't, and weather I believe things are correct or not. In fact writing this blog post alone has had me delete sentences only minutes after writing them because I have critically analysed it and found its not what I mean, or isn't good enough. I think this is brain function everyone has, when concentrating, which is needed in order to learn, and progress.
Critical thinking also requires common sense, and interest in the topic. someone who believes everything that's
told to them will massively struggle when it comes to critical thinking, and if there is a lack of interest in the topic, there is no real motive for the person to criticise the work and try and improve it.
To conclude, I believe critical thinking follows the 'its gotta get bad before it gets good' idea where you have to initially think slightly negative about something in order to solve a problem, or improve resulting in a more positive out come.

References: Critical thinking, an exploration into theory and practice, Jennifer Moon, 2008

Task 1 - Phenomenology

After reading 'place' by Christian Norberg-Shulz, 1980, I have started to get an idea of what phenomenology is. The way I interpreted it is Phenomenology is the build of of objects, both natural and man made, creating a place, or an area with context. Within this place there are conditions that our senses react too, giving us a feeling or emotion.For example, if you read my recent blog post on the park tunnel, I explain how I felt when I entered the tunnel. At the time, it was sunset, and the light created shadows, and the yellow sandstone illuminated. Also it was very cold, and the greenery outside was dark, and this gave me a certain feeling. However, if it was a summers day, much warmer and the bright sun shone down on the tunnel creating a very dark interior, with bursts of light either side, my experience would be very different. This could be further changed if someone put lighting inside the tunnel, and if there was some sort of constant noise or music in the background.  In relation to architecture, phenomenology is very important as an architect usually wants to create an emotion when some one enters the room, and they must structure the size, dimensions, aesthetics and atmosphere inside the room so that you arrive at the intended emotion.
In addition to this, it is important that a building fits in its location, and becomes part of the landscape, rather than on the landscape. with a good study of the site, the building can be designed using the correct shape, size and materials to either keep the existing natural experience of the place or to create a new one.
 There are also more practical implications, for example, building a farm where the land is fertile, building a settlement, village or town near a river so there is water, on flat land so the foundations are firm, or raised above the ground so that the buildings aren't affected by floods. This means building so that the building and nature can compliment each other, and work efficiently together.

'Our every day life-world consists of phenomena. It consists of people, of animals, of flowers, trees and forests, of stone, earth, wood, and water, of towns, streets, and houses, doors, windows, and furniture. And it consists of sun, moon and stars, of drifting clouds of night and day and of changing seasons. But it also compromises more intangible phenomena such as feelings' - 'Place', by Christian Norberg-Shulz, 1980

Although the above quote is the initial quote in 'place', I found it the most powerful, and the most meaningful as it is listing all the material things our lives are made up of, weather they be natural or man made. However, these material things are only important due to the feelings and emotions they give us, and furthermore, the reason for living is because of the feelings we receive.

References: -  'Place', Genius loci: Towards a phenomenology of architecture, London academy editions,  Christian Norberg-Shulz, 1980
 - Pallasmaa, Juhani, 'multi-sensory experience', The eyes of the skin: Architecture and the senses, Chichester, Wiley academy, 2005

Task 1 - The park tunnel, Nottingham

The park tunnel, built in 1855 was traditionally made as a tunnel for horse drawn carriages to pass through from derby road to the castle. However this purpose was over ridden, when the Duke of Newcastle, who owned the Nottingham Castle Mansion, specified the gradient of the tunnel must be 1 in 14, but was actually made at 1 in 12, which was considered too steep and impractical for the horse drawn carriages so other routes had to be made. Since then, the Tunnel was used by wealthier members of the public, as the park was turned into a recreational area for the wealthy city occupants. Built in a yellow sandstone, in a very green area, the Park Tunnel has proved a respected feature of Nottingham. The tunnel's origin dates back to 1827, where design proposals where found by the architect Peter Frederick Robinson, although the construction of the tunnel was overlooked by the architect Thomas Chambers Hine, who worked for the Duke of Newcastle.
When approaching the tunnel, it almost seems to appear out of no where! However, when I walked down the stairs, and the view gets better down the tunnel, and the bursts of lights break through the darkness, I got a sort of unusual feeling which almost made me feel slightly uncomfortable. Weather it was due to the fact I was on my own at dusk; or that I'm from an area where walking through a city tunnel at night probably isn't the best idea; or it could even be because of the large range of contrasts of light which project unusual shaped shadows onto the walls, which was the most interesting part about the tunnels, as I found the sandstone almost illuminates parts of the tunnel, when the light enters at a certain angle and a certain time of the day.

references:
-http://www.nottshistory.org.uk/whatnall1928/park_tunnel.htm - accessed on 28/04/14
-http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/manuscriptsandspecialcollections/exhibitions/online/park/tchine.aspx - accessed on 28/04/14

Task 1 - The Malt Cross, Nottingham

The Malt Cross, another pub situated in Nottingham's city centre was built in 1877. Although it became a public house, and a venue for musicians and comedians, its original blue print was in fact meant to be for an ice-rink and public house. However, during the construction of the building, there was a large boost in the interest of music, and entertainment alike, so instead, the architect Edwin Hill, decided to add a stage to the blue print and create such a venue. However, Edwin Hills most famous work on this building is the enormous arched roof, which had been designed to be held together entirely out of glue. Due to the sheer size and shape of this roof, an unbelievable atmosphere is created by echo's of the musical talent, or the giggles of the crowed laughing at the comedian stood up on stage. The venue quickly attracted many famous acts due to the builder, Charles Weldon, who was also the initial proprietor, and also owned the Alhambra Music Hall, where many large acts had already played.

When walking into the Malt Cross, the enormous size and space is almost breathtaking, and in seconds my eyes where gazing all around the room. Rich gold beams and banisters, together with the royal red features give an upper-class Victorian feel. I also found it fairly unusual, although very practical how the stage is raised massively of the ground so that's its an even distance between the ground floor and the first floor balcony. Weather this was done because of the way sound dissipates in the room, or just so everyone gets a fair view of the stage, its obvious great thought has gone into the position of it. I get the impression that this venue is a more expensive venue, and not a local pub you attended in your building gear after a hard days work.

Reference's: http://www.leftlion.co.uk/articles.cfm/title/a-potted-history-of-the-malt-cross/id/3879 - info accessed on the 28/04.14

Task 1 - The Hand in Heart pub, Nottingham

The Hand in Heart pub is a local real ale pub situated on the busy derby road. before it became a pub, it was traditional Georgian house, with stables at the rear of the building, and a large cave down below. however, in 1866, this was converted into a pub, where the beer was brewed in the stables and the cooler caves where used for storage. shortly after, the Victorian shop front was added and the horn in hand became a public house. above the shop front was a terrace facing derby road, which, in the 1960's, was covered in a glass conservatory and used as a restaurant area.

On arrival to the Hand in Heart, my initial thoughts were that this pub had some character, and some history, despite the modern alterations on the building, such as the glass conservatory, and the more commercial colours and fonts on the advertising boards outside, which almost convert any building into a weather spoons lookalike!
However, walking inside, the spacious room felt cosy, and old! I wasn't too sure on how I felt about the glass conservatory at first, but after walking inside, there would be a lack of natural light without the conservatory, and it works well with the rest of the building layout. Also the use of the caves is something I have very rarely come across before and is very unusual for me, and because of this, I really liked it! Just sitting there with a old brown ale in the caved seating area almost made me feel like I was back in the times of robin hood!

References: http://www.thehandandheart.co.uk/ - accessed on 28/04/14

The Newton Building

I also sketched the Newton building, Nottingham, as part of my sketchbook at the start of the year. I spend a lot of time in newton for my lectures. Now, from being a child, and like any other child, I hated the idea of going to school. We used to refer to school as a prison, when in fact looking back I enjoyed school and liked the building and the reference of a prison was usually targeted to the staff and the rules which I naturally wasn't a custom too. BUT LOOK AT THAT! In my opinion this is THE prison of educational buildings. Thank god my lectures are on the ground floor of this bland, industrial looking tower! Not one part of me wants to go in there, and especially not sit and learn in there! If you took this photo again with a grey sky, and the trees on fire it would look like something out of lord of the rings! And imagine if every building in a city looked like this, walking through an urban council estate in a London suburb at night would feel like a holiday destination! And to think on the other side of this hideous eye sore is the famous Arkwright building, which I prefer because I find it has much more character! However, I have to give credit on how the architect has joined the buildings together, because I feel as if when I walk from one into the other, there is some sort of flow, where it feels like it works!
Although I can understand that there can only be a limited amount of windows, due to noise pollution in the middle of the city, I don't like the very plain use of greyish brown stone. There is no decoration, and I find the style reminds me of a commercial bank building, or a government building rather than an educational facility.



References: Photo and sketch was sourced by myself, Matthew parsons, taken on the 28/11/13

The Marco Island, Nottingham

The Marco Island is a very modern hotel/apartment complex that has been built close to the city centre in Nottingham. I came across it while doing my sketchbook at the start of my first year in architecture technology. This particular building caught my eye because its completely different to other apartment blocks. In my opinion, its very apparent the entire complex has been designed around a large ferry or cruiser, with its curved 'bow' and a more square 'stern'. White prefabricated cement boards have been used in contrast with tinted windows as an outside finish to represent the slick, silk white finish of a normal cruiser ship.  Also the upper 3 levels have a tired system where balcony space becomes available which also replicates the average build of a boat. This is what i found massively unusual! Every flat and apartment block I ever see is an ugly tower of grey or brown cement, where every square inch of space is used to make some sort of income of its residents. So why, in a country famous for its terrible weather waste plenty of space which could be used for additional apartments, a gym, a residential cafe or some other profitable scheme? although this may compromise its external appearance, when did that ever matter? And some sort of balcony could still be used on the top floor, if the other floors where filled. Although i ask these questions, i must say i prefer a unique design like this, and wish this approach was used with many of the other apartment blocks around British city's!

References: Image and sketch sourced by myself, Matthew Parsons, taken on 24/04/14

Architecture in Nottingham (place of study)

Architecture in Birmingham (hometown)