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- RT @robertsakula: View from my table @theAoU dinner last night up into the fly tower on stage at the Alhambra, Bradford. http://t.co/KsjQj6… 3 days ago
- RT @RoseHaslem: #ff to fellow @theAoU congress-ers @Tim_Stonor @tinasaaby @wemakegood @dr_rick @paulcconnell @shane_mitchell @GeoffsAgenda … 4 days ago
- RT @IMcMillan: Great night last night at the Academy of Urbanism @theAoU gig. Made up a sonnet with a willing mob! Everyone's creative! 4 days ago
- Finally arrived at #AoUCongress2013 ! Great to be in Bradford 4 days ago
- Arriving Leeds on way to Bradford for #AoUCongress2013 ... 4 days ago
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Category Archives: Thought
AoU Landscape Urbanism notes & questions
These notes accompany a PowerPoint presentation Fragmented urbanism: the rise of Landscape Urbanism & the threat it poses to the continuously connected city TS intro This is a crucial moment for urbanism. In the UK, The Portas Review, highlighting the … Continue reading
London Riots discussion at #lonconf
Darah Singh Groups of rioters: 1. Motivators – of rioting 2. Aggressors – towards police 3. Late night shoppers Simeon Riots gave people unusual opportunities for power and control. Abnormal empowerment. David Lammy MP The risks of social & economic … Continue reading
“If we can get to flexible wood, I am totally going to cut my own leg off.”
Ashley Vance’s article in last week’s New York Times paints an enticing picture of a future in which 3d printing can conjure objects before us at the press of a button. A 3d Hewlett Packard in every home will spray … Continue reading
Posted in Digital phenomena, Innovation, Sustainability, Thought
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Where are we going? Not a new question
Tomorrow’s Loeb Fellowship presentation will begin with this painting by Paul Gauguin: “Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?” painted on Tahiti in 1897. The title provides a helpful triplet to structure a fundamental career review, which … Continue reading
Put the client into the brief
Perhaps the greatest difference between architecture school and design practice is the reality in practice of the client, the client’s other advisors, the opponents to the project, the commentators in the press – in other words the human factor.
Posted in Architecture, Education, Thought
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Expect conflict
We are told to avoid conflict. Mostly good advice but conflict is ever near and not always avoidable.
Posted in Architecture, Education, Thought
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Architecture: beyond art & science
Is architecture and art or a science? As Bill Hillier has argued, this is the wrong question. In fact it’s a silly question. Architecture is both art and science. He argues that architecture is total art and total science. In … Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, Thought
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The several pleasures of building a bed
Spending the afternoon building a bed is an opportunity not only for construction but also for reflection. Or even rebuilding a bed – because what was there at the end was mostly already there to begin with. However, as with … Continue reading
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Divided we stand
The quality of advice provided by planners and architects is as much the product of our education, our professional bodies and our office environments as it is our individual talents. The deep structures of our universities, memberships and working cultures … Continue reading
Posted in Planning, Space Syntax, Thought
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Frayed at the edge (and at the centre)
At the edges of nearly all the world cities, and often at their centres too, are tracts of unplanned settlements. Labelled as slums, favelas and shanty towns, these are places that have been made largely without the intervention of planning. … Continue reading
Posted in Planning, Space Syntax, Sustainability, Thought
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Hedging on the pedestrian
February and March are traditionally the Spring conference season and have taken me this year on speaking engagements from Millbank (with RUDI) to Earls Court (with the Academy of Urbanism), the Royal College of Physicians (with the Architectural Review) and, … Continue reading
Posted in Planning, Space Syntax, Sustainability, Thought
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Reflective planning
One of the benefits of an international staff is that the office becomes quieter in the run up to Christmas as people leave for home. Since the New Year is an opportunity to take stock and think ahead, the directors … Continue reading
Posted in Planning, Space Syntax, Thought
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Diary planning
Three months ago, this column was written in a lazy chair and hot sun. Today it is the slow-running 0754 to Cannon Street. I am at least comforted by the thought that the week will end at the Academy of … Continue reading
Posted in Planning, Space Syntax, Thought
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