Thoughts

not too much more.

2010-01-16T19:24:00.002-05:00

There is no need to rush these next three months. One needs to absorb and learn all that is available. It will be very important to synthesize at the end.

Et tu, Brute

2010-01-12T22:27:00.002-05:00

Although the face potrays other intentions it certainly feels that way. Pretty bold that you can look at me with a straight face.

2010

2010-01-01T04:14:00.002-05:00

A decade of learning. A decade of friendships. Time keeps count for you. You don't. so learn each step of the way.

napolean complex

2009-10-18T03:12:00.002-04:00

I don't know what it is about some representatives(I call them that because they act a damn fool) of my culture and the napolean complex. They talk so much ish. Height is a desired trait in any culture but I guess none more than mine. Its just sad.

Roads.

2009-05-10T03:31:00.001-04:00

Crossing paths is a doozey. I just wish it didnt take this long.

esforzarse

2008-11-01T22:52:00.001-04:00

60% to 100%

2008-09-30T22:25:00.000-04:00

I have to accept the fact that I don’t want to multi-task this year. I want to be a 100% focused on a couple of things not the circus I usually juggle. 60% devotion to everything is not good enough in my eyes. I’m overstretched and thinned to the maximum. I don’t want to look back at burnt bridges but people’s expectations are taking a back seat to mine.

Why do mother******* always think they can get some free ****. Bitch, I didn’t go to school to design free **** for you. Recommendations does not count as payment!! You don’t ask a doctor to give you free surgery or a lawyer for free counseling. It’s a service weather you’re a friend or a client.

Change the pace already

2008-09-29T09:25:00.004-04:00

I forgot what I came here for, thats right it was to learn how to build a building. Not the case. Instead I've been town planning. How dandy!!! I guess I have to go off-road to find that original dirt path I started on.

Crossroads

2008-09-16T22:58:00.005-04:00

2008, a year of travel. By the end of the year I will wave visited four out of the seven continents. I read my fortune cookie about a month ago and it stated, "traveling will bring new perspective in your life." The scars that are left to tell the stories. I'm heading in a new direction with my career. One that breeds inspiration and creativity through interaction. We all speak the same language when we engage our built environment. I'm just trying to find the type to portray it.

Sencillo

2008-07-31T13:41:00.004-04:00

In a stressed out world we need to learn to relax, ease our head and look at things in a simplified manner. I read a book in the spring called The Laws of Simplicity by John Maeda. I have since applied his laws to design and various facets of my life. It works. I have less to deal with but I gain more in return. A blessing if you ask me. Here are some of his laws and his blog since he became Dean of RISD

Laws of Simplicity

S.H.E.

-shrink, hide, and embody

S.L.I.P.

-sort, label, integrate, and prioritize

B.R.A.I.N.

-Basics are the beginning
-Repeat yourself often
-Avoid creating desperation
-Inspire with examples
-Never forget to repeat yourself

The Ten laws

1. Reduce simplest way to achieve simplicity is through thoughtful reduction
2. Organize-organization makes a system of many seem fewer
3. Time- savings in time feels like simplicity
4. Learn-knowledge makes everything simpler
5. Differences- simplicity and complexity need each other
6. context- what lies in the periphery of simplicity is definitely not peripheral
7. Emotion- more emotions are better than less
8. Trust- in simplicity we trust
9. Failure- some things can never be made simple
10. The One- simplicity is subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful

The Three Keys

1. Away- more appears like less by moving it far, far away
2. Open-openness simplifies complexity
3. Power- use less and gain more.

Thoughts…sencillo...thoughts

Receio

2008-07-25T01:34:00.003-04:00

Receio can cripple your curiosity. Second guessing yourself WILL always yield half ass results. Take the risk. Receio only backs down when matched by an opponent. Once the ball rolls receio runs away. thoughts. valoroso thoughts.

2008-07-17T16:41:00.001-04:00

funny combinations

2008-07-17T11:25:00.004-04:00

I think people should laugh more. It brings out the youth and stress out of an individual. I have been reapting various quotes that have made me sniggle when I say them. The key is to do them in a uptight, stern, and deep voice, it brings out the funny factor.

Finish sentences like the canadians "AYE."

"Have you ever awoke sweating like a beast and condom wrapper in hand?"

"-Do you have a non-menthol ciggaratte?
-Sorry, No.
-You missed out...(cynical smile)
-Damn is was like that"

"Why Wassup?" (wink)

"mmmm...mmmmm...bitch"

"Shiiiiver me tiiimbers"

"Bye god lad....your a yank" (in British accent)

"Don't worry, I got this" (with hand motion)

"look here sugar tits"

"I'm game for that"

Laugh a little its good medicine.

Thoughts...random thoughts.

acordarse de

2008-06-08T11:05:00.001-04:00

Loss of memory. Loss of thought. I was skimming through my sketchbooks from various adventures and I can remember my thoughts vividly from those pages. Sketching imbeds permanent memories. The coordination from eye to hand takes an extra amount of concentration and I believe it tattoos the experience of a place or situation deeper into our memories. That is why a sketchbook or a diary plays such an important role in a designer’s arsenal. It’s like having an external hard drive to reference past thoughts. In my recent adventure to Panama I lost one of my two sketchbooks. Unfortunately, I lost the more important one. I looked at spaces more as compositions and I tried to break them down into simple graphics. I was not sketching for a nice image. I realized this when I reviewed them and I was beginning to understand the spaces as a whole unit, pieces of thoughts coming together in a built composition. A significant change from what I use to sketch. Gone. However, I can remember each sketch. I remember my sketch of the Panama City skyline. It was just a series of overlapping colored lines of the slender towers of Punta Paitilla. The layers were amazing to look at from the contrast of Casco Viejo, a small urban district of Panama City infused with French, Spanish, and English architectural vernacular. A sketch on layers. Gone. Or my sketch of the church of EL Cristo Negro. I was there by myself and I remember writing down the sounds I was hearing from the hollowed stone and timber structure. The wind and birds danced inside this sacred pilgrimage site. A sketch on how its surroundings played a role inside of the building. Gone. I keep telling myself to re-sketch the images if I can remember them so vividly, but that would not be genuine. My thoughts at that particular instant only belonged in that time frame and to recreate the image would not remind me of the actual experience I had sketching. I remember panama more through these sketches rather than the physical experiences. I’m just upset I won’t have something physical to reflect on in the future. Thoughts. Moving on thoughts.

Scarred and Battered

2008-01-10T23:07:00.001-05:00

Traveling leaves scars. I’ve written it and heard it before yet I still can’t comprehend how rewarding these scars can be. I stayed semi local this time, venturing up interstate 64 and 95 to marvel at architecture I’ve seen but never stopped to glance at. These glances are where the fresh cuts happen to reveal itself to the viewer. They manifested themselves into photos, montages, writings, and sketches….all wounds of a past journey. It feels good to get battered at times. Healing is the best part because I can look back at the scars and tell stories, have happy accidents, wander aimlessly, have random thoughts, laugh to myself, and just stare a small price to pay for an abused visitor.
One of my scars is the Polegreen Church located in Mechanicsville, Virginia by Carlton Abbot another local architect that I have come to admire. The Polegreen church owns its site. It controls it. Approaching by car from a narrow road shielded by the color of nature’s trees. This white monument steels your attention as soon as you peak the tiny hill. Looking away to remind myself that I’m still driving I can’t help but get excited to set foot on this site again.
I come more knowledgeable, more skilled, and more excited. Yet flanking the structure I feel humbled by the loud starch white amongst nature’s finest attire. A building once stood here. My giddy imagination runs images of plain white colonial, white chapel, old country buildings. And then Carlton Abbott only puts up the frame, windows, and doors? Huh? Is this what he wanted me to think? From what I recall the only image left of this church was by an artist. A rough sketch. The ones you do while avoiding the lord’s good work while sitting at the back of a Sunday sermon. From this he creates the memorial. His view. That same process of imagination..well maybe not the same went through my brain. Where do you enter? There are no walls. Do I walk through the doors? I ran in through the gaps as if I were nightcrawler. I climbed the windows as if it were one of the trees. I leaned on the frame while analyzing his work. I knocked on the hollow steel tubes. It made sound. I paced the foundation, walking each brick, feeling history below my sweet shoes. I read the stone marker telling the history of Polegreen. I walked and discovered rock formations made by somebody. There was so much to do with so little building. It was amazing to soak it all in. The building had soul. I left scarred not knowing I had been cut by a simple gesture of steel and stone. Thoughts scarred and battered thoughts.

Preserve!?

2007-12-29T11:27:00.000-05:00

I read this article and usually I would throw my opinion at the article but I’m playing the fence on this one. I really don’t know what the right answer is. The city of Norfolk has plans to boom their downtown area but do they pay the price by having a hodge podge of buildings scattered with no common theme? Do we have to build cities with a plan? Do we let the site dictate the form, sustainability, and concept of the building? Are we preserving for the sake of preserving? I really don’t know. I have visited this site and I love that building but do we keep it and hinder greater building opportunities. The Norfolk Academy building brought hope with its glorious columns…can’t a new building do the same today. John Ruskin wrote, “When we build, let us think that we build for ever.” That is what the Norfolk Academy embodies. It has stood the test of time and history can be seen on its weathered exterior. It has become a noble building in the heart of Norfolk. It deserves to be respected. But we don’t build like we build now. Building sites with vast open spaces are not as rampant as they use to be. We are now building more and more on urban sites, where there are neighboring buildings that “need” to be respected. I hope the designer makes the right choices, whatever that maybe. Hopefully along the same principles of John Ruskin, “When we build, let us think that we build for ever.” Thoughts……my environment thoughts

Relief

2007-11-15T20:19:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you run into something that inspires you. Maybe because it’s new. Maybe because it’s different. Maybe because it’s simplistic and intellectual. Maybe because they were thinking. Maybe because they were rewarding the curious. Maybe because its eye candy. Maybe because it’s geometric. Maybe because it gives courage. It’s so humble and yet it can destroy a lot of the arrogance of many buildings in the world. If I ever build anything in the world I hope only to mimic the inspiration, emotion, courage, freshness, and beauty this piece makes. Only those intangible things. Aurland Bridge. Norway. simplex quod decorus. Thoughts. Design thoughts

Photo Credits

Linger

2007-10-20T15:55:00.000-04:00

In my state of insomniacness I tend to read my books and various internet blogs but last night I saw this video linked to one of the blogs I read. I probably watched this video a dozen times. The symbologies of the objects and video are imbedded inside my head. They triggered. The song implies that “it’s too late to apologize.” Meaning the end but the objects are spinning, continuing, lingering. They seem to impact and stay even after they are destroyed. When a candle is put out you can see the smoke, smell the scent, and feel the heat. It lingers. When the bottles shattered the form is gone but the shattered pieces and what was inside remains. It lingers. They are objects relating a replaced emotion for me. Sometimes these things do linger regardless of when they occured. I wonder why I'm still writing this letter. I sent it a long time ago. Who knew you stilled lingered. Thoughts. Lingering thoughts.

isolation.refinement.transformation

2007-10-06T23:29:00.000-04:00

How do you solve a problem? Everybody has a process. For some it comes naturally. For me it comes with hours of self examination and dream travels. I solve my problems in my dreams. I sleep approximately four hours a night. Scarce to some but plenty for my mind to unwind and reveal my deepest thoughts. My long battle with insomnia has been accepted and adapted to. It’s in this deep state that emotions, ideas, and readings embed and retain. Although I’m unconscious it is when I wake up that I feel the “a ha” moment. I couldn’t feel this moment for a couple days. It was frustrating because it was during this time frame that I needed it most. Was I forcing design? Was I taking on too many activities? Was it my lack of exercise? It could have been many factors but the result was a serious mind block. Nothing a blank, a void, a hole, a vast cavern that echoed in my head. It took awhile for me to jog it. It seems as if my process has hit a speed bump and my axel broke. I had to take a serious step away from what I loved to do in order to resolve my issue. Never before had I experienced emptiness like this before. It turned me to an angry person. A personality I seldom encounter. The wall has been and climbed and well documented. I know I will run into it again in the future but I will be well prepared and equipped to climb this wall next time it rears its challenging heights. Thoughts. Solved thoughts.

exsisto partum hodie

2007-09-13T07:36:00.000-04:00

I’m having problems finding my creative juices this semester. Did I use them up this summer? My head seems empty. I’ve been sleeping well which is odd since I average about 4 hours a day. I think it has to do with our project this semester. I don’t think I will be able to try out my new ideas this year. From the likes of it we will be analyzing the urban context again for the third year in a row. I find I’m reserving my juices for running and various outlets such as posters, logos, and writing. It will probably be better off this way. I think its time for another competition. I have to change my course in order to maximize my output. I’m all over the place; bad timing because the train already left and I haven’t sat down yet. Thoughts. Brain farting thoughts.

Sling one for me.

2007-09-10T19:11:00.001-04:00

I saw a drug deal two days ago. I was doing my studio research in Norfolk. I sat there and watched the price rise higher and higher as my gas tanks filled and my wallet emptied. They were looking at me knowing there was a stranger amongst their midst. I saw the whole thing. I’ve seen it before. The guy sits at the bus stop, hot dog in hand and the fiend walks past with a signal of safety. The fiend follows his trails back and sits next to the hot dog guy waiting for the HRT bus to come. Daps, Rock, and Gone. The instant trade was quick and gone. Satisfaction delivered. Guys at the gas pump served as look outs for the ever growing trade. A life popularized by modern music. It all happened in “livable communities.” Corridors of buildings knit forming the street wall. Side arteries bleed drug abuse in this walk able community. Police proceed with caution unaware of shortcuts and cracks known by the inhabitants. A livable community. Open spaces serve as gathering spots to sling ones merchandise. The life of the streets. Livable communities. It had all the traits but where was the community. The persons gathered but was it to enjoy company or to enjoy merchandise? It still served its purpose. What did the social conditions do to the place? Can you build a place for good and have it serve its divine purpose. Not when you throw imperfect humans into play. We destroy our own communities whether it is by rocks or sprawl isolation. A social program. The formula works. Who is doing the math? I left slowly staring them in the face. I have no fear here you already destroyed yourselves. I drove over that bridge and thought about my agenda and how much I’ve learned about building social spaces. Thoughts. Confused thoughts.

Re-adjust

2007-08-30T07:28:00.000-04:00

My recent trip to Edinburgh and London has had a significant impact on what I think about Urbanism. Well…”New Urbanism” to be specific. It is not what I thought it would be. The two cities I visited evolved and reacted to their situations to define themselves as urban hot spots. The cities were not necessarily planned but reacted to the growing population needs. Buildings back then were built in square, L, H, O, shapes to maximize light during the day. Consequently this helped create “street walls.” When it is experienced in human scale they act like corridors. They narrow the view and enclose the pedestrian. I also had an opportunity to experience a city in different height perspectives. This is very new to me because I live in a city where it is completely flat and the only height variations are in buildings. Edinburgh allowed me to see her from a perspective of a pedestrian, through street walls and then from the perspective of a bird from various view points such as Arthur’s seat and Edinburgh castle. London on the other hand gave me the experience of relieves and openings within street walls. The city is so dense that openings such as plazas, parks, subway openings are vital to urban living. They give a relief from the oppressing street walls. These openings allow you to see land marks that help navigate one through the concrete jungle. Both cities responded through their transportation methods. Mini cars and double decker buses littered the tourist hot spots. These mini cars are adapted to the dense urban streets with narrow corridors and round abouts. The buses give different views for the tourist/local to experience the city. It was a great experience to have the opportunity to visit these two cities even with a short time frame. One week was enough to leave a lasting impression. Here in the States the ever popular “new urbanist” movement seems forced. The street wall seems to be cookie cut from our friends across the pond and plastered on any site possible, mainly water front property as I have witnessed the trend growing. Are they reacting to the site? Are they reacting to the growing population and economy? Is it built out of “bang for your buck method?” I’m starting to analyze these social and economic implications seriously. Yet there is so much to learn from the findings and mistakes of the new urbanist movement. I leave you with some sketches during my trip. I looked at the cities as walls in the beginning of my trip and then I noticed later after looking at my sketches that I started to frame bigger buildings, towers mainly. A typology I hope I can implement this up coming school year. Mr. ? (the guy sitting next to me on the plane) said, "Traveling leaves scars on you that you will always remeber young man. Good ones and bad ones." My views have changed or I should say “evolved.” Thoughts…re-adjusted thoughts.

Chef's....they cook.

2007-08-09T22:54:00.000-04:00

I served gumbo today. I threw together all that I knew how to cook and threw it in a stew and I told the customers to eat. F-U-C-K. I know how to cook. I just put together a bad dish. I served it. I forced the customers to eat it. I like the research for ingredients. I can solve a recipe. But can I cook? Can I be a chef? O r am I better assistant? Can I cook a meal? I had the found ingredients. I doubt any other chefs gathered the ingredients I gathered. But they were better cooks. I spent more time prepping than cooking. I’m trained to cook and yet my gumbo was missing something. I learned a lot from their meals. I ate. I'm a hungry dude. There was a buffet and I had at least four plates. Lessoned learned and digested. When you have to prepare a meal find the BEST ingredients but COOK. Utilize what you gather and cook. You’re a cook, COOK. oh well I'll have another chance to cook when someone is hungry. Thoughts ….disappointed thoughts.

I'm hungry...!?

2007-07-27T23:28:00.000-04:00

I’ve been eating at two places lately. I love one more than the other and the restaurant has better food. The other just has better dessert. My sweet tooth has gotten the better of me. I know I need to eat “Fat Free.” But a little indulgence can cost me in the race. I wouldn’t want the extra pounds to be my down fall at the finish line. I want to cross that tape. “How you train for the race will determine how you run the race,” says a speaker via my friend. My cravings have peaked this summer at the point where it could be detrimental to my training. Yet every time I look at the menu I think of dessert. “Do I bite?” Sometimes…and it ruins my appetite. The chef always prepares a good meal, fully dressed and presented well…but I rush my meal to skip out early for dessert. I wouldn’t wan to get any cavities. They start small but can cause extreme pain if left unattended. It’s time to eat whole, fat free, and reduce the cravings. A friend invited me to eat with him at at the local restaurant. Didnt seem harmful but imitation food has a lot of trans fat. They cling to the arteries and can get you in the long run of the race. Its got fast food written all over it. "Whats on the menu?.....I'm tryin to watch my figure. Cold Turkey sounds good right about now." Thoughts……clear headed Thoughts.

07-07-07

2007-07-07T22:09:00.000-04:00

Four years have passed since the passing of my friend Anthony Buco David. Four years ago in an unnecessary scuffle on our nation’s birthday, July 4, 2003. We were about ten feet apart he died I lived. The attack, some guys thought we were some “gang” as the newspapers exploited. Four years later we are still weary of going out around this time. We are well aware of the stupidity that alcohol, youth, pride, and the beach can bring upon somebody. Four years later the culprits walk away as free men. All charges dropped at the expense of our fallen friend. I read one of the articles that were written around that time. I forgot how strong willed Tony was. Why he was so determined, so willing to help, teach, and give. I forgot that we were his family since the loss of his parents. I typed his name in Google and he seemed to have made a bigger impact than I thought. Asia Week. Blog on Lynching. Today on this lucky day of 07-07-07 we celebrate your birthday. Happy Birthday brother.
Thoughts…Happy thoughts.

Visual Dialogue

2007-06-29T18:54:00.000-04:00

The last three became discolored when I posted them....hmmmmm...they actually changed colors.
Thoughts......blind thoughts

Sparks fly....Destructive or a Warming fire?

2007-06-27T23:57:00.000-04:00

Yeah for Virginia Beach for trying to step forward in the right direction. Mixed use project in Virginia Beach. If you read the comments there are some mad people in the city. Do they not realize that building more asphalt speedways will help fuel more of the building that they want to stop. The move seems negative because the failure of suburbia is starting to bloom to the average citizen. People don’t want to drive an hour away and sit in traffic. They’re tired of seeing vacant homes that the average family can’t own. There are a lot of average income families in Virginia Beach due to the huge market of the military filtering people in. I live in the heart of the average income area. Not to mention this new development is within walking distance from me. But it is a smart move on the city councils part to move in this direction. We have to learn from our mistakes. True some of the homes are not all affordable but we need more of these dense areas not like “town center” but with community in mind. Great examples can help start a positive fire a blaze.
It goes to show how the local architects have failed to educate the public on building smart. Instead they helped fuel the quick build industry to infill unnecessary land. Where are our ethics? Are we not educated to serve the public good? Why are we catering to developers who help fund beautiful trash? Are we not using our leadership skills to better our community? Is it that fulfilling to see something one designs take physical form, at the cost of our surroundings? Do we not live here as well? Suburbia can be fixed. Bite the bullet and take the backlash. Sometimes the lesson is not learned until later on. On a better note…..Norfolk is on its way to a healthy transit oriented community. Light Rail Thoughts…….supportive thoughts.

Grinder

2007-06-26T18:33:00.000-04:00

A rough day of research. Work that is. In all my years of slave labor in framing I never learned how to build a masonry chimney. Well it is Masonry and not framing. Since the motto at my office is trial by fire….I was set to flame on! So I read up,up, and up. Sketched, sketched, and sketched. Question after question. Finally I get on the computer and start to draw up this monster. EHHHHHHHH . My fireplace won’t draw correctly. “Who’s breathing all that smoke buddy?” Lesson learned, applied, and should be kept in storage. Here I thought I would have an easy summer. Well most days. Thoughts…learned thoughts

Are you ready for the challenge?

2007-06-22T16:30:00.000-04:00

This is an interesting venue for designers. Fast paced. These guys are pretty inspiratioanal. A little know how and determination can get you a long way. Digital Design Tournament 2007

Video Lectures about a greener future

2007-06-20T20:40:00.000-04:00

The videos are pretty lengthy but the messages are imporant. Lectures
I recommend the James Kuntsler (mind the corny one-liners), Alex Steffen (very encouraging), Thom Mayne (his process of designing is amazing), and Cameron Sinclair (great speaker)
Thoughts.....curious thoughts

urban sustainability fuse?

2007-06-14T21:26:00.000-04:00

There was an article in our local Virginia Pilot yesterday about the development of downtown Portsmouth. Quite interesting. I was struck by the image of trees on the “tall” building. Could UDA be thinking sustainable? This isn’t the first time UDA has had its hands in the local area. They have worked in Norfolk developing their downtown and a small revitilization project in "Diggs Town." They apparently have worked in Portsmouth before. Now they are planning this. Chances are this will end up another shopping center for the Richie Riche's but the image sure has the community agreeing with the city's moves. Will Urban Design ever fuse with sustainability? Maybe.
someone has to step up. However,this project will help the dull skyline of Portsmouth contrast better with Norfolk's. It's a pretty stunning view at night. Great date spot. Which reminds me, I think it’s time for a Ferry Ride field trip. Thoughts....just wishful thoughts.

I'm it

2007-06-13T17:56:00.001-04:00

I’m it. I was tagged to state three of my favorite books. I don’t have many but the books I have been reading lately deal with architecture as I’m a student of architecture.

The first is The Edifice Complex: How the rich and powerful and their architects –shape the world by Deyan Sudjic. This book is polemic. He speaks about the various political figure heads that have used architects to create our world such as Stalin, Hitler, Mao, Bush, among others. It’s historically accurate and his play on words are sharp and witty. I love this statement: “Building is the means by which the egotism of the individual is expressed in its most naked form: the Edifice Complex.” Really!?

The second is The Modern Language of Architecture by Bruno Zevi. This book is exactly what I needed. It is the nemesis of what I always wanted to practice in architecture, Classical. It attacks the methods of classical design and forces me to question and refine my way designing. A prime example is when he writes about putting a window in a center of the room. It divides the room in two opposing spaces. Conflicting one another. Any where else would be more interesting because there would be hierarchy between the contrasts. But I argue that this enhances a space by creating contrast and volume. Like the image of Tadao Ando’s church of the light which is now broken into six volumes instead of one once the light penetrates the space.

One of his quotes does intrigue me: “Symmetry is one of the invariables of classicism. Therefore asymmetry is an invariable of the modern language. Once you get rid of the fetish of symmetry, you will have taken a giant step on the road to a democratic architecture.”

The third is Michael Graves’s images of a Grand Tour by Brian Ambroziak. I love this book because of the way Michael Graves’ sketches. He sketches like I do or I sketch like him. You can feel the energy from the way he draws. Yet when I see his work they seemed as if they were composed. Like toy building blocks.

Now who to tag mad architect

Glug....glug....Glug

2007-06-10T03:09:00.000-04:00

I guess I’m allotted once per year, a drunken stooper. Great night. Rather blurry. owski wowski had the great idea to “explore” our environment. We skipped the usual night out at town center and flew to Norfolk. A little far for us va beach locals, but quite rewarding. A coworker informed him of a great place to try beer and meet a couple of ladies. We ventured to Colley/21st Street. Nice bars. I 've been there during the day but never expected it to be a lively place at night. Many locals and we stuck out like squids in uniform. Nonetheless one has to learn to adapt to new environments. Not hard with Jack in your system. Had my first hookah. Never really smoked but quite a tantalizing experience. Nice belly dancers though, like a soft core gentlemen's club only more sensual. Red Dog was nice... very big and commercial, a lot of the navy crowd was there. You can spot them a mile away. We stumbbled into the taphouse, a grunge punk rock type of bar but the beer there is awesome. Very awesome environment w/ friendly open minded ladies. I had some Czar’s special stout thats pounding my head right now. Killer night. I hope manana brings Tylenol and some greasy food to soak up the alcohol. It was just one of those nights to laugh about. Just thoughts……tipsy thoughts.

Synthesize

2007-06-04T19:39:00.000-04:00

I went on a weekend adventure this past Saturday and it was well worth the effort. I visited the Garden Atriums of Poquoson, Virginia. I met the two creators of the place and what they have done there is amazing. These two live and breathe what they speak about. “Stu” who showed me around the project was so enthusiastic about his creation. He really wanted to get the knowledge of building sustainable out there. We talked about materials, construction, the hardships of dealing with city regulations, and how to go about building a project like his.

What I truly enjoyed was the architecture. It was not the greatest building in the world but the spaces were amazing. The slight sudden moves to articulate structure and the program of the building were all very fluid.
The concept could be seen from the outside and as soon as you walk through the door. The circulation, light, and mass were all centered around this atrium. He spoke about this not being a new concept and that it had been used for centuries. I remembered in Arc history when we were studying the Greek megaliths. The power, water, cooling, and heating were all “harvested” form nature. Rain water was collected through porous paving materials and through the down spouts to a cistern that provided 65% to 75% of the potable water. All free. The house utilized the atrium floor as a heat sink to store heat during the day and release it at night. Photovoltaic were used to collect power and store it for future uses. All free. Cooling is achieved through geothermal units. You can see all these features at their website.Garden Atirums He was also concerned about the quality of life the inhabitants would have. All the materials specified had no off gas such as the carpet, paint, cabinets, and flooring material. The plants inside were chosen because of their high levels of carbon monoxide absorption and oxygen release ratio. There were some things that I didn’t necessarily agree with, which I will elaborate on later.
He did a lot. Too much to write about but he brought up some curiosity on my part. How do I synthesize this? Stu’s project is a great example of building while giving back to the environment. Can this be done in high density? Yes, bioclimatic towers. Can this be done in Hampton Roads? That is the question. Are the conservative people of Hampton Roads ready to move into a better way of building? The world won’t stop spinning for Hampton Roads we have to learn to move on. We can’t make beautiful trash anymore. It hasn’t helped and it has spread uncontrollable sprawl in the area. We have to adapt. Higher quality images can be seen here link Thoughts…..just thoughts

vertical or horizontal...at least it's a plan

2007-05-30T18:02:00.001-04:00

If going up is symbolic of financial success then I believe that Virginia Beach maybe heading in the right direction. The first skyscrapers went up because of new found technology with steel fabrication and the elevator. The city had enough density to logically go up. Big wigs wanted to flex power. Luckily Va Beach has all of those traits. People like Gail Wynnad wanted to flex their power and they needed architects like Howard Roark to show them how to. The architects that I have met around town are all business men and women. Good for them. Bad for the community. Can’t find too many architects around here that have the desire to build sustainable. Someone has to do it the city is too beautiful for it to be experienced in suburbia land. As hard as it is for me to say it……it just makes sense. There is nothing wrong with a tower. Town center is a logical place to build right now. As it is the heart of “Va Beach”….. building around it is going to be the key. Do we take a stand and build like we give a damn or do we just ride the flow and build the crap and spread the VA beach sprawl? Yet from talking amongst people in the area, they don’t really see anything wrong with it. I guess it’s because that’s all they have known. “You can miss something you have never had.” They just don’t know. Building a tower can help. We can have vertical urbanism just as Ken Yeang has stated. If you incorporate all the good things found in great urban places such as density, good circulation, open spaces, and great public transportation only vertical you can have the same effect. We just need to show them how. The human population is around 6.8 billion the earth can only sustain 12 billion. Were going to have to go up soon. We don’t have a marquee building like other bigger cities. Virginia Beach is the biggest city in the commonwealth. It would be nice for us to have significant architecture that isn’t in the historic preservation hall of fame already. Maybe it will start in town center. Thoughts……just thoughts.

Skyscrapers huh?

2007-05-22T18:08:00.001-04:00

This discussion all started in a bar. Where all good conversations arise. My friend Romeo brought up how excited he was that town center is growing. (Virginia Beach) “I love that we are going up. We can rival Norfolk now.” My jaw dropped and I gave him that serious face with the slanted eyes. Low and behold this was coming out of one my friend’s mouths. I replied, “You think were doing it right?” He replied, “Yeah look at all the people this place has brought.” I asked, “What people? The living units have yet to sell out. The market is too high for the average schmo like you and me to live here. Remember that’s why I had to move out. Plus there is nothing here but bars.” You can’t hope to attract people where nothing is there.” Long story short we argued about how I think the “BLVD” should build out and we should densify the area with 6 to 7 story buildings. You know to human scale. He argued how we should go up. Man always wants to go up so why not.

It got me to thinking about how I really didn’t like skyscrapers as a building typology. What has it done for mankind? Well it does have its financial gain but at the cost of poor micro environments inside, unsustainable methods of cooling and heating. They are expensive to run and cause mass amounts of pollution. I believed it was a failed building typology. I had no one to argue with at the time I was thinking this so I decided to challenge myself? Man has always wanted to go up since the tower of Babel. It has yet to change. The masses have always seen them as powerful and iconic parts of the city like the Rockefeller center, Big Ben, Kuala Lumpur towers and the hundreds going up in Dubai. Is anybody making them more ecologically friendly? That’s when I ran into Mr. Ken Yeang. Who has been building towers since the early seventies and he builds them sustainable. He goes on to talk about in his book that nature builds towers and how we can learn from them. He started to compare how termites build skyscrapers. They build them thousand times their height. They also build them in different climatic zones. They were made to build towers. So why can’t humans? Don’t want to go too much into his reading because I haven’t finished yet. But his theories really changed my outlook on skyscrapers. Well him and Romeo. Thoughts…just thoughts.

Brotherhood

2007-05-21T21:18:00.001-04:00

Brotherhood. With extra time on my hands I have actually been able to spend time with them. I haven’t seen us this strong in a while. “The Fellaz” we were always looked upon as a gang when we were younger but we were far from it. None of us were fighters’ just athletes and intellects who defended each other through words and never fists. I can’t recall how many fights I have talked people out of. We were an organized group of community leaders. We broke up the “Filipino gangs.” Who knew at that age right? We made the pact of “was sup, one love, promise, and P2.” I never understood why I affiliated myself with them. I remember that day when my best friend called me and he said come man I know some guys that we could hang out with. There I was thinking I could get these guys to go to church with me. Who knew I would still be trying to this day. I fit in with nobody at that time of my life but I sure did fit with these guys. Loud mouth, outspoken, and they stayed out of trouble. We were diverse. In a city where Filipinos stay with Filipinos. We broke the mold and decided to initiate anybody that held our same beliefs in friendship. Now that I look at it we look like a fraternity when were out in public. Most people have maybe one or two best friends but each and everyone in the group are blessed with 35. Now were all grown up. A mix of doctors, nurses, a chef, a minister, a future architect, and blue collars all rolled in one. Yet when we come together it never seems that we have been separated for so long. After our losses it took awhile for us to regroup we lost three in a two year span. When John and Jeff were taken away we raised a considerable amount of money to pay for a lawyer for them but to no avail. The government had more to say where our friends would be going than we did. When Tony passed I couldn’t believe that we got the mayor and the community to help pay for his funeral because he had no parents or family. We were it and we made it happen. Even the community knew there was something different about us. Quite a lost because they were looked upon as leaders. It took me and my best friend to regroup us. Now were the leaders. I know any of them would give up anything to help me or others in the group and I would do the same. It’s a strong unity and a sense of loyalty that I’m blessed with. A trait not common anymore in today’s world. Maybe it’s this brotherhood that attracts me to certain organizations. I mean one of us is a freemason. So I do understand his reasons for becoming one. Thoughts……just thoughts.

REAP

2007-05-18T19:46:00.002-04:00

(sculpture by Beth Carbocci, Photo by m.m.)
Today was an ugly day, weather wise. News came with a sunnier face. My stress level is down, my social life is back to normal, La familia is going to be in town, reaping from what I sowed in architecture, spiritual awakening is getting stronger, surf is going to get better, and my job is as every bit as rewarding. I guess it’s because I have time on my side now.
It’s quite pleasing to work at my office. The sarcasm is witty, creativity is spawned out of team work, and work comes before nothing. I guess it’s because there is a strong sense of work ethic here. Blood sweat and tears go into the design but not at the price of our lives, as what is preached in architecture to “pump” out good work. Not here. Design comes from thorough research and communication between the team. Comprising of a principal and an intern (that’s me). I love the research factor. My boss is a firm believer in “trial by fire.” If she doesn’t know she will look and explain and she expects the same from me, which I love because it has really helped me to grow in my career in developing my process not my view on architecture. I noticed we shared the same views in architecture when I started here but mine has changed. And that’s okay. I expressed my concerns about designing sustainable and she smiled and asked, “What are you going to do about it?” That’s funny. She challenged me. That I can truly appreciate. It feels like studio here. I have to express my solutions in sketch, model, and written format. “The computer is for implementing not solving.” Although, we do use it to help us attain the final product.

My brother and sister graduated this year. Younger, both of them. Geez they make me feel old. I’m very proud of them. My parents are too. I shudder at the fact that they gave up their luxurious lives in the Philippines to give us a better chance. Here I’m just starting college. Nonetheless, they give me no grief because they see my drive. I plan to reward them somehow. With a gift, a design, a message…something. Nothing material just design.

I have seen recent changes in my thinking. I have become obsessed. Design. My friends can hear it. When they say, “I can’t wait until you design my house!!!” I give them the “I farted face.” Geeez guys there are more to architecture than just buildings. “Blah…. blah ……blah. I believe that’s all they hear. They can’t help it their just my buddies. I don’t hold it against them. Cracking jokes on each other is so much more entertaining anyways. It’s been a while since I have seen them and I finally was able to make peace with myself with Pete. I can’t hold it against myself to only think about work when he passed. I dealt with it through design. It was my acceptance. He was a great friend, teammate, leader, and a great person. I take him with me wherever I go. That is the least I could do. “Memories don’t live like people do.”

I have built great relationships at school. I hope to continue to build these relationships next year. I ranted about having dull tools but I can’t take myself out of the toolbox. We helped sharpen each other weather they be professor or student. I can really appreciate the drive at Hampton now. It feels good to be there. The obsession won’t leave and I’m not going to hold it back. Architecture is rewarding. Very. I can attribute my problem solving skills to architecture. I think I was born to be a miner and a hunter. Digging and Hunting.

Spirituality is enhancing. Reading scriptures has been quite relieving. Time is all I need. This out of all my accomplishment this year has been the most rewarding. The truth really does set you free. It takes all the pressures of your life away. I do realize that imperfection is my greatest attribute because the counter part is what I must strive to be. To give my all… regardless of our inherited sin from Adam.

It’s been a long rewarding week. Leisure sounds good right about now.

Reflections

2007-05-16T17:09:00.000-04:00

Wow I didn't realize how long its been since I blogged here.
This last semester had been very difficult. There were too many things to handle between architecture, geography, Disney comp, and PHYSICS. I think I heard, “You know the answer” with the complimentary spit in my face about a hundred times from Dr. V. or “Dr. Zeus” (as I would call him. He’s Greek). I guess I didn’t know the answer because he failed me along with 75% of the class. What a kink that put on my schedule. But I’m optimistic because I did very well in my other courses to offset for physics. I think I just overloaded myself this semester. I’m still thinking about taking a class over the summer because I’m hesitant to take classes out of sequence from my studio mates. They are a great group to work with. I have heard from faculty that we are a good group with “egos” to match. I think it’s because we were isolated in the building. We were the only class on one wing of the building but I do know we built our comrade last year with the group projects we worked on.
I think I’m starting to get the hang of using the basic elements of architecture and I noticed I break buildings down to these simple components. Designing this year has been great. It yields great results when one puts in through research into the design. Architecture is a beast as I have stated before but the hunt has been good and I think I have plenty to digest this summer. Some thorough reading here and there, sketching, and continuing my urban research should keep my motor rolling. A trip to Europe should open my eyes even more. I think a visit there would give me a different view into urbanism. I want to see this “street wall” for myself. I have been contemplating of studying abroad. I looked into Turkey, Greece, and Buenos Aries. Although, I really want to get the chance to go to a third world country. I think it will harden me up a bit and provide some delightful insights about living a privileged life.

Swipe of the Sythe

2007-04-02T21:24:00.000-04:00

Death never comes invited. Once again it came knocking my way. This time not through a close friend but a teammate. Not that a teammate was not a friend, because he sure was. A man with dignity, pride, and a sense of urgency to win. One that would scold you for showing an inkling of defeat in your eyes. Sometimes we get caught up in our own lives and we forget those who have helped define us a person. I’ll never forget those drills Pete. Knees bent, shoulders square, and elbow in. Shoot!! We won that ODU tournament as a team. Rest in Peace “Pistol” Pete McMahan Rest in Peace.

John 5:28-29. I’ll wait for you. You and Tony.

Hunting the Beast

2007-03-28T19:50:00.000-04:00

Architecture is a beast. A beast worth capturing, taming, and fashioning into my visions. It yields rewards that can be experienced by many generations. It still something that I also have no control over because the information it yields comes in swarms from all directions. I have found that picking and choosing your breed can help control these swarms. So I went hunting. I have hunted my own path of research. I took my set of principles and future ideas and I have focused them on urban revitalization/sustainability. My recent research has yielded some faulty implementations of the ideologies of Urbanism. I mainly have concerns for low income housing development, the gentrification current urbanism (NEW) have caused, and why are we still building “less bad.” The books I have been reading have been polemic. I have found out from recent visits to certain “Urban” settings that it is best to see the results yourself. First hand account experiences give one a different perspective from what one reads. Stats read differently from what you can actually feel, hear, see, or sometimes taste. Reading however, lets the opinions of others challenge my ideas. It “rounds” my thoughts.
I had the opportunity to attend an Urban Design charrette this coming weekend in Petersburg, Virginia but I decided not to attend due to unforeseen circumstances with work in my studio. I couldn’t thank my Professor enough for throwing the opportunity my way but I can’t hope to fix another part of the world but leave mine in shambles. I learned to set my expectation level of others at a really low level so that if they do pass the level it will be a surprise. I hate to pass up this opportunity to see if Urban Design is really what I want to pursue but for now I can keep on hunting on my grounds.

Catalyst

2007-03-08T17:47:00.000-05:00

In my endeavors to be more active in my community I took a role to help educate local contractors to be more sensitive to existing structures. At my local surf spot condominiums are being built out of scale. Three story monsters are overshadowing lots that hold 1 to 2 story homes. This neighborhood is one of the few in Virginia Beach that offer high density and a semi-okay urban fabric. Sadly I found out that only a year prior I helped design a pair of condominiums for a contractor that destroyed some of the urban fabric of this community. Even though I don’t live in this part of town I want to compensate for my actions. Since my research began in high-density communities I have been looking for an opportunity to implement some of my ideas. I found out through a neighborhood league wanted to stop these condos from going up via my boss. They wanted to show the contractors that they can still build these condos but at an acceptable scale. My boss and I came up with diagrams to show the contractors what they can build within a certain limit. One that adheres to the existing structures and keeps to the fabric. These styles were used because they speak of the same language that the contractors are used to. We wanted to be a bit more persuasive. So here are our attempts through diagrams. I hope this helps reverse some of the building that I help initiate and also to serve as the catalyst to more opportunities to introduce a better way of building.

Past, Present, and Future

2007-03-07T18:03:00.000-05:00

Today was a stressful day but an enlightening one. I have a deadline on Thursday before I leave for New York. I wouldn’t have a deadline if I didn’t reward myself with this trip but it’s much needed. So I kinda put this on myself. My computer crashed…not once but twice. That’s two hours of work lost forever. I managed to finish all of the work leaving tomorrow for me to review and double check everything before I show it to my Boss. What a spring break. Oh well the weekend looks promising. By the that was my Holloween costume last year. Terrible. It's an outfit that I should have never worn. It's not a good look for me.
My past has been leaving messages in my head lately. That little voice in the back of my head is now yelling at me. Lately I have been running in to people who have been curious about my opinions on religion. The conversations somehow coast in that direction. My design studio partner last semester was a Deacon and current gospel artist. I ran into an argument about weather women should lead the church. But the last banter is what shook me. Before we separated from spring break a former studio mate and I talked about our views on religion for hours. We spoke of doctrines, the uniformity of the Hebrew and Greek texts, the Da-Vinci code, and even Islamic issues. It was quite interesting. He switched majors from Architecture to Political Science. He said his choices forced him to address the problems in his community and to ask who is actually serving as role models in his hometown. Besides his cousin and himself they were the only ones to leave for college to better themselves. He felt that other than giving back to his community he could serve as a Christian role model. A brave and noble deed. I haven’t met many unselfish persons like him in a long time. He saw the same in me but I told him I have been far removed from that mentality for a long time. It only started to resurrect after I started to take courses at Hampton U. Also since the recent passing of my best friend’s mother he has pursued a Christian lifestyle. I believe that is a key. Religion isn’t about the belief it’s about living out that belief. He out of all people has been the one antagonizing me about coming back. I told him I never left but he is the only one that knows how I use to be. The Ministry, something I left a long time ago…something that never left me but stayed dormant. I was baptized as an infant and then at 12 to fully confirm my understanding of the word. I was born a catholic but once I started asking the questions of truth those beliefs were soon forgotten. Religion is like architecture, the more you dig the bigger the reward. The Truth.
Someone’s trying to tell me something. I haven’t been to church in a long time. I told my friend that I was scared. Scared that I couldn’t live up to my beliefs. But since all these incidents have occurred these thought s won’t leave me or are they calling me? I don’t know. So today I picked up some bible reading to satisfy my curiosity. I read the Gospel of Matthew. Chapter 24 in particular. This is the chapter that foretells the signs of the last days. Verse 14 was the shocker today. I went back to work to see how many lands actually have Christian missionaries in them and there are only three that do not. North Korea, Afghanistan, and Somalia. Wow. It had to be those three countries huh? This was the shocker because if you finish the chapter it clearly states that the end is near. Now. Close. Practically here. I guess that voice inside me can stop talking now.

Beginnings

2007-03-06T22:32:00.000-05:00

Blogging, it’s my form of meditating. If I can't be out in the ocean or having conversations with someone I usually am blogging. I have found in the past years that it has helped me to remember the day’s events and allows me to retain more of my daily experiences. Another reason to blog is to improve my writing and vocabulary skills. Constant editing has helped dearly. If you think its bad now you should have read my writing six months ago.
My friend and I were discussing weather or not one should blog. His argument was, “Why spread your insights to the world but instead save it for the privileged ears that can hear it in person.” I asked, "Privileged?" That’s kind of arrogant if you ask me. Why? I asked, “If people never let out their discoveries and theories how did mankind progress?” Needless to say this discussion led nowhere. It usually does when we both engage discussion. I'm always on one side of the fence while he is on the other but I always walk away enlightened after our conversations. It leads me to ask, does anybody even listen anymore? Through conversations I have seen that people react immediately when a topic jogs them during conversation. It seems that they have stopped listening at the moment they found their opportunity to rebuttal. It bothers me because I give them the courtesy of finishing out their point before I even begin to analyze and react. I don’t think one can have a thorough discussion unless both parties understand each other. It just seems more prevalent in this time and age to breeze through conversations instead of engulfing the information that can be exchanged. I guess that’s why I like to blog or actually to read blogs. It’s a new form of conversation.
I have been writing my thoughts on my laptop for about two years but it wasn’t until recently that I started posting them. I started here at http://www.archinect.com/ in the school blog section. I’ am the Hampton University representative. It has helped me analyze my own weaknesses and to use them to hone my design skills. It has helped me to expand my network of connections from just those that I might meet in person.