Travel Sketches: Europe
(July-August, 2019)
A collection of photographs and sketches from my personal travels through Europe. Part visual diary part architectural study these images express my personal interests upon design; that placed in sequence are seen to evolve over the course of my time away.
Perth to London
12-07-19
Architecture of Richard Rodgers
13-07-19
The Lloyds of London
Bringing a high-tech aesthetic to the medieval centre of London, in a similar fashion to his prior Pompidou Centre the building is designed inside out with services placed on the buildings exterior. This freeing internal space to enable a highly flexible open planned office within
The Leadenhall Building
Opposite the Lloyds of London, the Leadenhall Building shows the refinement of Rodger's architectural ideals. Artfully adorning its exposed services with vibrant colour and lifting the buildings mass to create a grand public promenade, the building becomes a kinetic sculpture to be enjoyed by its occupants and pedestrians.
One Poultry Lane
With its stripy facade, rounded clock tower and vibrant courtyard, the postmodernist 'One Poultry Lane' by the late James Stirling sits in stark contrast to the neoclassical architecture within the heart of London.
The Barbican
Chamberlin, Powell & Bon
13-07-19
An urban microcosm - composed of residential block towers that enclose a variety of communal and cultural facilities - my accidental collision with the Barbican Estate whilst meandering through the streets of London quickly evolved from idle curiosity to intense architectural infatuation and study.
Notably 'corbusian', with its monolithic materiality and similarities to his 'vertical garden city' vision, labelling the Barbican as simply 'Brutalist' seemed an injustice to the depth and detail practiced by its architects within design.
Upon close study, the building was revealed as a harmonious composition of the architect’s collective life experiences. As demonstrated by the recurring motif of the 'cartouche' and use of tropical flora to adorn its buildings exposed edges, potentially drawn from the architects past travels of Egypt.
It is from these observations that I would contest it's brutalist identity and retort with a sincere example of architectural expressionism.
[Top Left] A diptych comparing the Egyptian Cartouche as found within hieroglyphs and a series of vents found against a Barbican service tower
[Top Right] A Perspective sketch of the Barbican Centre
[Bottom Right] A hand drawn plan of the Barbican Centre, drawn on site.
Studies of The Barbican's Apartment Blocks
[Top Left] Typical slab plans. Faint guidelines illustrate the structural logic of the design.
[Bottom Left] Elevations of the Defoe block tower
[Right] Drawings exploring the internal configuration of split level apartments within the Willoughby complex. Such a configuration when reflected reduces the need of internal halls by half.
Detailed Study
Details evidencing 'the cartouche' motif. Rather than superficial; or an cheaply replicable technique; the use of 'the cartouche' symbolizes the architects loyal adherence toward their coceptual approach and unites the estates contrasting faculties in a harmonious composition.
[Left] An internal elevation of the ground floor elevators within the Barbican centre. This single wall detailing multiple uses of the cartouche motif.
[Right]An axonometric perspective of an internal balastraude within the Barbican Centre.
Testing Wall
Revealed upon a guided tour; an internal service walkway hides a 'testing wall' where the architects explored a variety of finishes for the estates concrete facade.
Ultimately selecting a bush-hammered finish that in consideration of the shear scale of the development added a considerable financial cost.
The British Museum
15-7-19
Kings Cross Station
John McAslan + Partners
16-7-19
The stations western concourse was particularly striking. A semi-circular vaulted lattice tapering to a central funnel, creating an interesting juxtaposition against the preserved backdrop of the original rail entrance
St. Pancras Station
16-7-19
Heatherwick Studio
Coal Drops Yard
18-7-19
The fluid manipulation of the banal 1850's heritage buildings roof form was a creative architectural intervention that completely redefined the space. This was an impressive example of conservational architecture designed in a manner I had not before experienced; expanding the perceived boundaries of an acceptable adaption from history.
Detailing
Of particular notice were the highly refined quality of different apparatus and details discovered upon close review. Exploring different manipulations of metals and objects which introduced a layer of wonder and discovery to the project.
[Left] Axonometric projections of a number of the different housing's for the yards lift buttons
[Above] Elevations of the yards balastrauding. Solid cast metal; likely inspired by the trains which formerly inhabited the buildings
St. Paul's Cathedral
18-7-19
Tate Modern
18-7-19
London to Paris
19-7-19
Centre Pompidou
Richard Rodgers & Renzo Piano
19-7-19
At a glance an incomprehensible mass of rainbow coloured steel, the high-tech monolith known as the Centre Pompidou represents a radical shift from traditional museum design.
Reminiscent of the utopic diagrams of Archigram and Superstudio - prominent at the time of the building’s inception – its inverted approach and unobstructed floor spans creates a highly flexible cultural space, defined by the architects as an ‘evolving spatial diagram’
Studying this building and its many internal exhibitions was insightful; offering the nearest example of ‘applied architectural theory’ I have ever before witnessed.
Spanning Floor Trusses Study
Modular gallery rooms study
Creating indirect lighting by its reflection from angled ceiling elements, patrons were treated to a pleasant viewing experience of the galleries diverse works - minimizing glare or shadow which could potentially alter the artworks intended effect
Exhibition Photos
Paris Philharmonic
Jean Nouvel
21-7-19
Parc de la Villette
Bernard Tschumi
21-7-19
Exploring the follies of Bernard Tschumi’s Parc de la Villette was similar to a trip to an exhibition, shifting from work to work. Each positioned upon a logical point grid system which ensured one was oriented within the parks vast landscape.
Sharing a similar structural grammar - a gridded frame reminiscent of early modernist structures - the follies of Bernard’s design harbour no coherent function or meaning. A number being adopted over time to take upon a range of contrasting programs including retail outlets, fitness clubs and even architectural offices.
This was in fact the purpose of the desconstructivist design, choosing to deny the formal architectural conventions that define our cities and urban spaces. In turn creating a park where space, event and movement converge to create a true reflection of Parisian culture.
Parc de la Villette Folly sketches
Canopy structure study
The canopy bisecting the North-South spine of the park was revealed to echo the deconstructivist approach of the greater park. The rhythm of its up and down wave conflicting with that of its structural supports suspended above. This was not obvious at a glance but an unexpected surprise upon study, evidence of the rigor of Tschumi’s conceptual approach.
The Pantheon, Paris
Library: Henri Lebrouste
22-7-19
Resting atop Montagne Sainte-Geneviève hill, the neoclassical pantheon of Paris (Greek for 'temple of the Gods') commands a prominent position within city
Upon exploring the structure and its surrounding urban scape, each street seemed to frame the monuments imposing dome as if in an act of reverence. This observation prompting the memory of Gordon Cullen’s book ‘Townscapes’ and his concept of ‘serial vision’, which I attempted to analyse in the incomplete axonometric below
St. Genevieve Library
Although closed for renovations at the time, the external façade of Saint Genevieve Library was still interesting point for study. At its gallery level, the stone walling being inscribed with the names of philosophers and academics at the precise placement of their works within. As if the library were proudly presenting its knowledge to passing Parisians.
The sketch below being a precedent study produced in research for my thesis project.
Louis Vuitton foundation
Frank Gehry
22-7-19
Musee D'Orsay
With galleries running parallel to the barrel-vaulted atrium of the Musee D’Orsay, their bizarrely angled partition walls became a particular object of intrigue. Upon closer inspection these were found to create an enjoyable optical illusion when standing inside galleries facing outward. Their slanted sections seemingly aligning with the coffered decorations of the vault owed to its warped view in perspective.
An interesting observation which was recorded within the sketches below.
24-7-19
The Louvre
Renovation: I.M. Pei
31-7-19
Due to successive renovations in the transition from palace to museum, beyond works of art the Louvre exhibits a vast collection of internal galleries and rooms. The sketch below being a study upon a single gallery bisected by two podiums of four columns. One side having a single groin vaulted ceiling and the other broken with a central fresco.
Experiencing this gallery and others in enfilade was a constant source of entertainment within the vast complex.
Paris to Amsterdam
25-7-19
Urban Sketchers Syposium: Amsterdam
25-7-19
When a friendly hello from another guest at my hostel led to the discovery an Urban Sketching Symposium within the city! These sketches were produced whilst touring the town with my new friend Jacob and a legion of other passionate sketches. With quick pace and performed standing in these sketches I tried to capture the ‘essence’ of each scene.
https://www.royaltalens.com/about-us/news/2019/07/urban-sketch-symposium/
Find ‘jam_397’ on Instagram to witness the early works of the future master ‘Jacob of the Bauhaus’
Beurs Van Berlage
Hendrik Petrus Berlage.
27-7-19
Capping the Damrak at the centre of city commands the peculiar ‘Beurs van Berlage’ of Hendrik Petrus Berlage. A stock exchange which the architect subvertly designed as a ‘community house’ expecting the economies demise as a strict socialist.
Gazing at its principle façade from across the river, its asymmetry, syncopated fenestration and collection of square, pointed and octagonal towers make the building particularly difficult to assign to singular style. The architect drawing inspiration from the many competing movements of his city in a very early example of eclecticism.
Conservatorium van Amsterdam
27-7-19
The incredible irredescant facade of the Conservatorium Van Amsterdam. Spotted whilst viewing its neighbouring OBA Library
The Nemo Science Museum
Renzo Piano
27-7-19
Vincent Van Gogh Museum
Gerrit Rietveld & Kisho Kurokawa
27-7-19
Left, the Rietveld Building of Gerrit Rietveld, principle member of the Dutch De Stilg and prominent member of the Bauhaus. Right, the Kurokawa Wing of Kisho Kurokawa, a leading Japanese architect and founding member of the Metabolist movement.
Concrete to metal, symmetry to asymmetry, industrial to environmental. Despite such binary oppositions these two buildings harmonize in unexpected but delightful unity as if channelling the complexities of its celebrated artist.
EYE - New Dutch film Institute
Delugan Meissl Associated Architects
29-7-19
Left, the Rietveld Building of Gerrit Rietveld, principle member of the Dutch De Stilg and prominent member of the Bauhaus. Right, the Kurokawa Wing of Kisho Kurokawa, a leading Japanese architect and founding member of the Metabolist movement.
Concrete to metal, symmetry to asymmetry, industrial to environmental. Despite such binary oppositions these two buildings harmonize in unexpected but delightful unity as if channelling the complexities of its celebrated artist.
Canal Homes
28-7-19
The celebrated canal homes seemed to lack a common floor datum which attributed to their quirky aesthetic cementing their popularity today. I found the decorative gables of particular interest which seemed to conform to an established collection of designs.
'Anchor Plates'
So long confused of that these ornamental features were, a chance conversation with a friendly resident revealed them to be anchor plates - improving the buildings structural rigidity on its water logged foundations
Pathé Tuschinski
29-7-19
Amsterdam to Rome
30-7-19
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