Neues Museum - Berlin

'Seen today alongside the four other reconstructed museum buildings on the island, Stueler’s Neues Museum is the only structure still ruined from the war – a contrast that demonstrates ideas of history and decay in a compelling and powerful way, although throughout the building the degree of destruction varies greatly' 
'Given this evocative yet inaccessible space, the restoration of the Neues Museum follows a principle of conservation rather than reconstruction – the design gives back only enough context so that the significance of the whole structure and the sequence of spaces contained within it are legible.'

(http://www.dezeen.com/2009/03/04/neues-museum-by-david-chipperfield-architects-and-julian-harrap-architects/)

This Museum not only displays impressive artefacts of Egyptian history but also describes an era of War for Berlin.  This clever, joint purpose of the museum is due to its reconfiguration by David Chipperfield Architects, which ensures that the old and partially destroyed is not restored but preserved in its destructive state to show an aspect of history frozen in time.  Along side this preservation, new materials and designs are built but not to copy or replicate the existing but to display modern ideas and technologies in a confident way which in turn compliments and frames what has been preserved. 

KW Gallery Berlin

The KW Gallery in Berlin had a very interesting exhibition space with in it. This was created by used a series of frames allowing the spaces to be defined yet still connected. The layout was carefully calculated so that in some areas you were able to see more than one space at once whilst others were more isolated.

Architecture Placement

Organising a Placement

Hi, further to our telephone conversation, I can confirm we would be happy to take you from 1 September to 12^th September 2014.

Please confirm acceptance of this placement by email.

Looking forward to meeting you in September.

Kind regards

Elizabeth Buckley

Administrator Leeds

Hi Elizabeth, 

I can confirm I would like to accept this placement.

I very much look forward to it.

Thank you

Lucy

Excellent

If you need any paperwork signing to prove your placement please either forward it to me beforehand or on your placement.

You will be working 9 to 5.30pm smart but casual dress.  There is l hour fur lunch either bring your own

There is a microwave in the kitchen. Or you can purchase lunch from outside.

Kind regards

Elizabeth Buckley

Administrator

The Manser Practice Leeds

OVA Shipping Container Hotel

Jewish Musem Berlin - Daniel Libeskind

The Jewish Museum in Berlin is a clever piece of Architecture for many reasons. One of them is that is takes the viewer on a journey of a series of experiences. It is this aspect that I find the most interesting. Libeskind uses simplistic techniques such as the play of light, temperature and materiality to create sensations. For me, the best or perhaps the only way to understand such a dark part of history is though experience, no person can create a clear understanding of what the Jews went through by learning facts, yet, never would we wish to have been there so Libeskind's method of creating experiential spaces to evoke a sense of what it might have been like or to trigger emotions is a clever method of teaching.

Sketches from Berlin

Shigeru Ban

Interview with Shigeru Ban by Dezeen Journalist.

Reference: Architectural culture is "moving in two directions" says Shigeru Ban. 2014. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.dezeen.com/2014/04/12/architectural-culture-is-moving-in-two-directions-says-shigeru-ban-interview-milan-2014/. [Accessed 15 April 2014].

Journalist: Do you work a lot on projects for refugees?

Shigeru Ban: Yes with natural disasters. Yes almost every year some disaster. Now I'm working in the Philippines after the big typhoon there last year.

Journalist: What are you doing there?

Shigeru Ban: Building temporary housing there.

Journalist: What can you advise to young architects?

Shigeru Ban: You know, I really recognise when I give lectures to many different places in the countries, when I was a student everyone was working for big developers to make big buildings. And now there are many students and younger architects who are asking to join my team, to open programs in disaster areas, it's really changing. I'm really encouraged by all the young architects and students.

Marcus Fairs: Is that just in Japan that it's changing?

Shigeru Ban: No, no, no everywhere. Everywhere I got to give lectures many students are interested in what I'm doing and they want to join me and my team, it's really encouraging.

Marcus Fairs: So you think there's a shift in the world of architecture maybe?

Shigeru Ban: I think so, I really think so.

Marcus Fairs: Towards helping people more?

Shigeru Ban: Maybe not shifting but [moving in] two directions. Because now cities are being made by developers, not architects, or not urban planners. They're made by developers. So one way is this but many people are interested in working for society also.

Marcus Fairs: So there's new opportunities for architects to be more human, to be more helpful?

Shigeru Ban: Yes because unfortunately there are so many natural disasters destroying the housing, destroying the buildings so there are many opportunities for us.

Marcus Fairs: And in Japan did the tsunami change the attitudes?

Shigeru Ban: Yes, over 500km of coastline was totally damaged. Now the recovery is quite slow because they have to reclaim the land higher to prevent the next tsunami. So also changing of zoning to put residential areas on top of the mountains, so it's a very slow process. But it's the first time, even in Japan, that they're facing such a big problem.

Marcus Fairs: So are a lot of humanitarian architects working to solve the problem?

Shigeru Ban: Yes many architects are now working in that field, yes.