If you only knew how many times i wrote to you...
If you only knew how many words...
you would feel ashamed treating me the way you do...
If you only knew how many words...
you would feel ashamed treating me the way you do...
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
AUC AA end of year exhibition
Last week i had the opportunity to visit the end of year exhibition hosted by the architecture department at the American University in Cairo. The dept. has been running for 6 years now with its first students graduating this year. For an architecture program it is a very young program, yet it has been gaining good reputation for the quality of its education and student product.
The exhibition seemed very well organized (which is one of the strong advantages of the AUC culture) yet it came very short on creating a positive impression. While most of the projects touched upon local and contextual issues, i was deeply disappointed with the exhibition, not only for the mediocrity of the projects or the lack of creative insights, but also for the lack of a general clear agenda that defines the outcome of the department. As in almost all schools of architecture in egypt, the AUC AA is clearly following an outdated model of architectural education, producing "a little bit of everything". Just another lot in the bunch.
Perhaps it is too early to expect a clear vision for a coherent program, but if the department genuinely wants to provide its students with provocative, intellectual, up to date and high-end education instead of only making use of their outstanding PR skills, then rethinking, evaluating, and enhancing their program is better done now than later.
The exhibition seemed very well organized (which is one of the strong advantages of the AUC culture) yet it came very short on creating a positive impression. While most of the projects touched upon local and contextual issues, i was deeply disappointed with the exhibition, not only for the mediocrity of the projects or the lack of creative insights, but also for the lack of a general clear agenda that defines the outcome of the department. As in almost all schools of architecture in egypt, the AUC AA is clearly following an outdated model of architectural education, producing "a little bit of everything". Just another lot in the bunch.
Perhaps it is too early to expect a clear vision for a coherent program, but if the department genuinely wants to provide its students with provocative, intellectual, up to date and high-end education instead of only making use of their outstanding PR skills, then rethinking, evaluating, and enhancing their program is better done now than later.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Star Wars in Dubai
A wonderful photograph series that blends sci-fi and architecture discussing the fantastical image of dubai and other places around the world.
The Dark Lens_Cedric Delsaux
More about Dubai from my recent visit soon...
The Dark Lens_Cedric Delsaux
More about Dubai from my recent visit soon...
Monday, May 2, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Forum for the Future
A forum space for free speech, discussions and activities. A future vision for democracy in egypt.
In such revolutionary moments in history, similar to the one egypt amd the whole middle east is going through, can architects act as provisioners and/or catalysts of such transformations?
Our studio this semeter at the aastmt discusses the possibilties and challenges of post-revoluionary egypt, and the role of architects in redifining political spaces. Unlike our previous semester (which was concerned with environmental issues check it here) this semester's design unit focuses on space, spatial experience and spatial qualities. This is applied through designing a future forum space for all types of interaction, discussions, events... etc. The main focus will be on 4 major spatial themes, color, texture, light, and scale as tools of defining space and experience.
The initial assignment to students was to research and analyze spatial experiences of similar congregation spaces for masses from futuristic or sci-fi visions in cinema, literature, or computer games. The diversity and creatvity resulting from this research assignment proved essential for the developing of the individual visions of each student. Examples included avatar, star wars, harry potter books, wall-e, tron computer game and others.
More about the development of the studio work as work progresses.
In such revolutionary moments in history, similar to the one egypt amd the whole middle east is going through, can architects act as provisioners and/or catalysts of such transformations?
Our studio this semeter at the aastmt discusses the possibilties and challenges of post-revoluionary egypt, and the role of architects in redifining political spaces. Unlike our previous semester (which was concerned with environmental issues check it here) this semester's design unit focuses on space, spatial experience and spatial qualities. This is applied through designing a future forum space for all types of interaction, discussions, events... etc. The main focus will be on 4 major spatial themes, color, texture, light, and scale as tools of defining space and experience.
The initial assignment to students was to research and analyze spatial experiences of similar congregation spaces for masses from futuristic or sci-fi visions in cinema, literature, or computer games. The diversity and creatvity resulting from this research assignment proved essential for the developing of the individual visions of each student. Examples included avatar, star wars, harry potter books, wall-e, tron computer game and others.
More about the development of the studio work as work progresses.
The galactic senate (Star Wars)
Monday, April 4, 2011
You still ask...
And you still ask...
And you still wonder...
And you still can't see...
That your question was answered
And that the answer had gone rotten
But you still ask...
over and over again...
no matter what... you still ask
And you still wonder...
And you still can't see...
That your question was answered
And that the answer had gone rotten
But you still ask...
over and over again...
no matter what... you still ask
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