Tuesday, September 30, 2008
"The light that burns twice as bright burns for half as long - and you have burned so very, very brightly, Roy. Look at you, you're the prodigal son."
World and Williamsburg Narrative (future)
-"More human than human" is our motto. -
Science. That is the banner under which we fly in order to propel ourselves beyond mere humans that suffer disease, hunger, and the ever present mortal coil. The population of cities has been managed by building up and expanding its reach not only beyond the clouds, but into the stars. We have our narrative of Williamsburg, an epicenter of culture and commerce. This area has overcome the blight of economic depression and industrialization to become a beacon of culture in New York City. Genetic advancements have solved the problems of food by enriching its nutrient value and increasing the storage stocks through means of cloning. However, even with these solutions implemented, one thing still remains. One fact still keeps humanity from making it the most splendid species in the universe; the fact that humanity is still human. Genetic design and cloning still can not prevent the inherent cruelty found written deeper than the sequences found in our genetic code. With cloning, a solution was found for labor in the mines of the outer colonies. Williamsburg has become the manufacturing plant for humans that are not human. They are far superior to anything that could be created from Adam's rib. Hipsters have been replaced with human life substitutions. A capable worker. A replaceable resource. A sophisticated machine. An imitation of sentience. A dilemma. It thinks therefore it is. Science has created a being capable of sophisticated thought and sophisticated emotion, but does its origin make it any less human? No. Humanity is defined not by its lineage but by its own existence. Fear, hate, love, hope, all that has once resided in Pandora's Box, and even the truth of mortality can be used to define what it means to be human. After the clone war, the Williamsburg cloning and manufacturing plant was shut down and replaced with the Universal Depot for the Awesomeness. A place has been created where humanity is expressed through art- signifying the presence of passion, science-signifying the existence of knowledge, religion-signifying the need for hope, and architecture- signifying the expression of culture. The unique nature of human life can extend beyond whatever container it is in, and out to define which was once believed to be more than human.
Williamsburg (currently)
As it stands, Williamsburg is a relatively diverse area. The residents currently include hipsters and young adults who wear clothing from this era who are starting off on their own, and, as wikipedia would put it, "Many ethnic groups have enclaves within Williamsburg, including Germans, Hasidic Jews, Italians, Puerto Ricans, and Dominicans." Of course, as time passes so do the groups that come and go. A lot of development is going on to create condos and other high rise projects. This obviously comes at the cost of replacing the current residents and "feel" of the neighborhood. It is not something that is only happening to Williamsburg, examples harsh development could be found all over Manhattan, Queens, and, when these places are exhausted, the Bronx.
Architecture
Whether talking about the future and reveling in the present, architecture's role is undoubtedly to serve culture, not control or inhibit it. The idea of a creating these super organized cities in which everything is set up to work like clockwork results in dystopian views, like the ones found in the movies "Brasil" or "Soylent Green." Architecture has the power to control, but, more importantly, it has the power to influence. In scenes found in movies like "Blade Runner" or "The 5th Element," the power of the cityscape both inspires and terrifies, and, more often than not, it is what the viewer remembers the most. A utopian world often comes at the cost of creating a dystopia for someone else. There are many people with many different views for this not to be true. I believe, for the future, architecture needs to have a responsible hand when it comes to topics such as pollution and responding to the city and its inhabitants, and, while there may not necessarily be any right answer, there are certainly wrong ones.
Monday, September 29, 2008
GROUNDHOG DAY, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Inevitable
What does Groundhog Day have anything to do with how Williamsburg would look like in 50 years? Frankly, not much. Punxutawney, Pennsylvania is a far cry from the hip neighborhood of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. But, there is something to be said about that endless loop of Phil Connors's day and how we attempt to re/imagine the future.
I'm not sure how Williamsburg would look like. I don't think it'll be a dystopic scenario. It will probably look like the Meatpacking District today -- out with the small businesses, the indie musicians, the artists, the young hipsters (the last time I checked, I think most of them are already priced out), the small remaining enclaves where you do see some lower-income, mixed residents, fuggetaboutit! In its place will be more of the same -- the luxury condominiums and so-called "artist lofts", the exclusive clubs and restaurants, and fancy stores and mega-malls. They'll be some beautiful public spaces and parks, to be sure. They always seem to soften the blow by giving the rest of us a nice park. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed a couple of outdoor performances at the Williamsburg Waterfront this past summer. Never mind the fact that I had to hop on three different subway lines to get there from my humble neighborhood of Elmhurst, Queens. Oh, and for full disclosure, my favorite brunch/lunch spot is Egg in Williamsburg.
Development is inevitable. Money and power will remain. Low income residents will be priced out. There will be sterility and generic-looking blocks. As in Bill Murray's character in the film, every day is Groundhog Day. He relives the same day over and over again. There is no future as he knows it; no consequences of the day's actions. He steals, fools women, and breaks the law.
Well, then, should we not bother to conserve or re-think the way we frame and use space? But inevitability doesn't mean recklessness either. Phil quickly discovers that by merely finding commonalities to impress his love interest, he forgets that he must first get to know her. It's not about accepting the inevitable but rather how can one possibly tweak it to make it work better and more efficiently.
In the film, the same events unfold repeatedly, some can be altered while some cannot. He arrives at the precise moment to catch the boy as he falls off the tree. But when he attempts to prevent the death of a homeless man, he fails because it's "just his time". He is but a singular object moving in multiple layers of possibility, each with its own set of rules. Perhaps, in imagining the future, one needs to first rethink our approach of the present.
Williamsburgh Now
Today, Williamsburgh is comprised of four distinctive areas.
South side – Hasidic Jewish Community
East side –Hispanic community, mainly from Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic
North Side (North Side of the Bridge) – The thriving area of artists and commercial area, which includes our project site.
During 1980’s and 1990’s, Artists started moving into the North side of Williamsburgh. It is because of rent inflation in SOHO and East Village due to neighborhood gentrification. Also, artists were attracted by the proximity of Williamsburgh to the city, and affordability of large loft spaces. This rise of artistic community seemed to create movement that rejuvenated abandoned factory buildings and convert into apartment/workspace. It seems that this conversion of abandoned factories into livable dwelling units started because of practicality of affordable large space for artists. This movement seemed to become more commercial now, to live in a LOFT.
A typical example of this is Domino Sugar Factory, which will be renovated into mixed income housing complex. The renovation and expansion of old Domino Sugar Factory will be designed by Rafael Vinoly. Another aspect of North Side of Williamsburgh is that the artistic community attracted commercial business, such as restaurants and shops.
Williamsburgh 50 years from now,
The movie that I chose that related to the theme of “Williamsburgh 50 year from now”, is Ghost in the Shell, Japanese Animation. The story of Ghost in the Shell is that in the future, people experience two types of world. One is Physical world that we live now and the other world is cybernetics virtual world, which is accessed from not only a computerized human brain, but also A.I. So human can connect to this cybernetic information world without interface (we uses keyboard, Now). Ghost in the shell was made as comic first in the early 1990’s. It seem to have predicted the situation we are currently in, which is co-existence of Physical and virtual world, cell phone and internet. I think this notion of co-existence of physical world and virtual world, such as telecommute, will be more influential in 50 years from now. The cybernetic information technology will be integrated into some of the advanced technology and theory we have now. Let’s say the system of self-organization and robotic could re-organize the building system to meet temporary programs that is requested by dwellers or pedestrian. In this case, cybernetic information network becomes central control system to manipulate those advanced technologies.
Today, Williamsburgh is comprised of four distinctive areas.
South side – Hasidic Jewish Community
East side –Hispanic community, mainly from Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic
North Side (North Side of the Bridge) – The thriving area of artists and commercial area, which includes our project site.
During 1980’s and 1990’s, Artists started moving into the North side of Williamsburgh. It is because of rent inflation in SOHO and East Village due to neighborhood gentrification. Also, artists were attracted by the proximity of Williamsburgh to the city, and affordability of large loft spaces. This rise of artistic community seemed to create movement that rejuvenated abandoned factory buildings and convert into apartment/workspace. It seems that this conversion of abandoned factories into livable dwelling units started because of practicality of affordable large space for artists. This movement seemed to become more commercial now, to live in a LOFT.
A typical example of this is Domino Sugar Factory, which will be renovated into mixed income housing complex. The renovation and expansion of old Domino Sugar Factory will be designed by Rafael Vinoly. Another aspect of North Side of Williamsburgh is that the artistic community attracted commercial business, such as restaurants and shops.
Williamsburgh 50 years from now,
The movie that I chose that related to the theme of “Williamsburgh 50 year from now”, is Ghost in the Shell, Japanese Animation. The story of Ghost in the Shell is that in the future, people experience two types of world. One is Physical world that we live now and the other world is cybernetics virtual world, which is accessed from not only a computerized human brain, but also A.I. So human can connect to this cybernetic information world without interface (we uses keyboard, Now). Ghost in the shell was made as comic first in the early 1990’s. It seem to have predicted the situation we are currently in, which is co-existence of Physical and virtual world, cell phone and internet. I think this notion of co-existence of physical world and virtual world, such as telecommute, will be more influential in 50 years from now. The cybernetic information technology will be integrated into some of the advanced technology and theory we have now. Let’s say the system of self-organization and robotic could re-organize the building system to meet temporary programs that is requested by dwellers or pedestrian. In this case, cybernetic information network becomes central control system to manipulate those advanced technologies.
narrative
willamsburgNOW
Williamsburg now is an ethnically diverse neighborhood in Brooklyn. While it is obviously less dense in scale relative to the city, it is still incredibly ethnically diverse, a trait that seems to contribute extensively to the commercial diversity and aesthetic of the area as a whole. An eclectic mix of locally owned businesses and incredible restaurants line even the largest avenues that transverse the neighborhood creating a notable more intimate street culture, which also encourages the local economy and the thriving artist community. The readiness of the neighborhood to grow and change with the young community around it also seems to be a characteristic draw for visitors and new residents alike. It is for these reasons that Williamsburg is one of the greatest places to explore and if you’re lucky enough, even get lost in.
futureWILLIAMSBURG
The movie I have decided to base my narrative on is “Children of Men”, directed by Alfonso Cuarón. The movie is set in the very near future when the human race is facing its own extinction due to the inexplicable inability to procreate. In the wake of panic, people around the world begin flocking to the major metropolises. Nationalist violence erupts creating a dangerous atmosphere for all. While this narrative seems very bleak, I chose it because I believe it has some interesting architectural implications. First, the greater metropolitan area of New York City will be dealing with the issue of urban density the likes of which it probably never even imagined, let alone witnessed. But as quickly as it grows, it will soon shrink without the sustaining power of human reproduction. Seeing how any building would address this flex from full capacity to leftover space in the span of a few short generations physically, materially, and programmatically would be incredibly compelling. Taking context of the physical and social climate into consideration one might be able to fully justify creating a totally introverted, secluded, and self-sustaining complex that protects residence in every sense of the word from the outside. The design may also entail some program and space for proactive residents who might also be trying to solve or at least slow the process of human extinction. Finally, proposing how the building might respond to the landscape as the city becomes feral, and succumbs to nature as the last humans live out their final days in this community all seem like interesting prospects to consider in this project.
Williamsburg now is an ethnically diverse neighborhood in Brooklyn. While it is obviously less dense in scale relative to the city, it is still incredibly ethnically diverse, a trait that seems to contribute extensively to the commercial diversity and aesthetic of the area as a whole. An eclectic mix of locally owned businesses and incredible restaurants line even the largest avenues that transverse the neighborhood creating a notable more intimate street culture, which also encourages the local economy and the thriving artist community. The readiness of the neighborhood to grow and change with the young community around it also seems to be a characteristic draw for visitors and new residents alike. It is for these reasons that Williamsburg is one of the greatest places to explore and if you’re lucky enough, even get lost in.
futureWILLIAMSBURG
The movie I have decided to base my narrative on is “Children of Men”, directed by Alfonso Cuarón. The movie is set in the very near future when the human race is facing its own extinction due to the inexplicable inability to procreate. In the wake of panic, people around the world begin flocking to the major metropolises. Nationalist violence erupts creating a dangerous atmosphere for all. While this narrative seems very bleak, I chose it because I believe it has some interesting architectural implications. First, the greater metropolitan area of New York City will be dealing with the issue of urban density the likes of which it probably never even imagined, let alone witnessed. But as quickly as it grows, it will soon shrink without the sustaining power of human reproduction. Seeing how any building would address this flex from full capacity to leftover space in the span of a few short generations physically, materially, and programmatically would be incredibly compelling. Taking context of the physical and social climate into consideration one might be able to fully justify creating a totally introverted, secluded, and self-sustaining complex that protects residence in every sense of the word from the outside. The design may also entail some program and space for proactive residents who might also be trying to solve or at least slow the process of human extinction. Finally, proposing how the building might respond to the landscape as the city becomes feral, and succumbs to nature as the last humans live out their final days in this community all seem like interesting prospects to consider in this project.
Walk-Up City (formerly known as Lift City)
Williamsburg was known as much for the mustachioed hipsters as for her massive bridge at the dawn of the 21st century. But as the tides rose and washed out most of the aged and neglected structures, the bridge endured. It is no longer a conduit for commercial and recreational traffic between the two islands, Long and Manhattan, but rather it has become a destination itself. An elevated refuge from the ever-rising water levels that have engulfed most of what was once known as the South Side of Williamsburg.
This place is now known locally as Walk-up City. The buildings that survive on either side of the bridge act as access points to the bridge, creating a network of passageways that lace across the superstructure like a web. Why Walk-up City, you ask? Well, it was once known as Lift City, which was an allusion to the use of elevators as well as the bridges ability to “lift” the residents from the mire below. But as the hydroelectric turbines failed, due to lack of maintenance (that’s another story) people have had to use the stairs instead. It is that reason, as well, that many in Walk-Up City stay in Walk-Up City, and this has caused many basic services and businesses to emerge.
Anyway, it’s a long tale about how we got to this point. It seems like only yesterday we were sipping mojitos at Diner and playing ping-pong at Iona. After Obama was elected, he did create a slew of new jobs, all of which were of good quality and reasonable pay. But a scarcity of “grunt labor” emerged. Americans no longer wanted to do what was seemingly below them (as we would learn, this could be taken literally in only a few years time). To deal with this problem, the government funded the creation of genetically manufactured beings to do humanity’s dirty work. As the sophistication of these androids increased, so did their responsibility. CalTech finally engineered the best and last version, BRODIE (bio_regulated_organic_dimensional_individual_experiment), which was deployed en masse across the country. These workers helped build the hydroelectric turbines, shore-up crumbing infrastructure against the crushing weight of water, and run new and enlarged service lines, including sewer systems, water mains, and communication cables to serve the exploding population. Think Blade Runner.
These BRODIE units that worked in Williamsburg became affectionately known as Snorkels, or Snorks. They could be seen from the bridge glowing under water while they worked. These industrious Snorks toiled away day and night while the tides rose. That was how it went along South 5th Street and Broadway for nearly a decade. And then one day it stopped.
As we now know, BRODIEs had feelings, too. The sophisticated machines learned how to love, how to care and, most troubling, how to hate. As they abandoned all that is necessary to our existence here on the bridge, we are left having to construct a world anew. Aside from this elaborate access network to skiffs below (and the occasional hovercraft), the community of the bridge has developed much as slime mold might form on a log, contracting and expanding as dictated by the climate and need for defense. In the cooler winter months, it appears as if huddled in a large mass while in the warmer months, the structures disband, stretching out to the farthest reaches of the bridge. Perhaps this need for movement has allowed us to create lightweight modular and moveable structures that tie-in to the larger bridge structure. The bridge is now an armature of sorts, where we festoon our lives around its stanchions.
Check out this amazing time lapse video of slime mold, it’s really intense and may make you uncomfortable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suvDQoXA-TA
This place is now known locally as Walk-up City. The buildings that survive on either side of the bridge act as access points to the bridge, creating a network of passageways that lace across the superstructure like a web. Why Walk-up City, you ask? Well, it was once known as Lift City, which was an allusion to the use of elevators as well as the bridges ability to “lift” the residents from the mire below. But as the hydroelectric turbines failed, due to lack of maintenance (that’s another story) people have had to use the stairs instead. It is that reason, as well, that many in Walk-Up City stay in Walk-Up City, and this has caused many basic services and businesses to emerge.
Anyway, it’s a long tale about how we got to this point. It seems like only yesterday we were sipping mojitos at Diner and playing ping-pong at Iona. After Obama was elected, he did create a slew of new jobs, all of which were of good quality and reasonable pay. But a scarcity of “grunt labor” emerged. Americans no longer wanted to do what was seemingly below them (as we would learn, this could be taken literally in only a few years time). To deal with this problem, the government funded the creation of genetically manufactured beings to do humanity’s dirty work. As the sophistication of these androids increased, so did their responsibility. CalTech finally engineered the best and last version, BRODIE (bio_regulated_organic_dimensional_individual_experiment), which was deployed en masse across the country. These workers helped build the hydroelectric turbines, shore-up crumbing infrastructure against the crushing weight of water, and run new and enlarged service lines, including sewer systems, water mains, and communication cables to serve the exploding population. Think Blade Runner.
These BRODIE units that worked in Williamsburg became affectionately known as Snorkels, or Snorks. They could be seen from the bridge glowing under water while they worked. These industrious Snorks toiled away day and night while the tides rose. That was how it went along South 5th Street and Broadway for nearly a decade. And then one day it stopped.
As we now know, BRODIEs had feelings, too. The sophisticated machines learned how to love, how to care and, most troubling, how to hate. As they abandoned all that is necessary to our existence here on the bridge, we are left having to construct a world anew. Aside from this elaborate access network to skiffs below (and the occasional hovercraft), the community of the bridge has developed much as slime mold might form on a log, contracting and expanding as dictated by the climate and need for defense. In the cooler winter months, it appears as if huddled in a large mass while in the warmer months, the structures disband, stretching out to the farthest reaches of the bridge. Perhaps this need for movement has allowed us to create lightweight modular and moveable structures that tie-in to the larger bridge structure. The bridge is now an armature of sorts, where we festoon our lives around its stanchions.
Check out this amazing time lapse video of slime mold, it’s really intense and may make you uncomfortable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suvDQoXA-TA
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
just thought i'd share an interesting result. I'm developing scripts that take vertices and link them to one another in one way or another. I really haven't developed a system yet to determine what goes where, right now i'm just controlling the results and experimenting with variables.
This particular result struck me as odd because it almost looks like a hybrid of Bohr's model of the atom from 1913 and the more modern electron cloud.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
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